RE: GVWR Question
GVWR is max weight EVER, so full of fuel, people, and stuff, with TT attached also if towing. Just pull it on the scales to see how close you are.
RE: When to use water pressure regulator on fiver?
Have personally stayed at two different CG's where water pressure was fine until after midnight. Then pressure went very high. Easy to tell those who did not use as regulator by the water flowing out the doors and underbelly, accompanied by load cursing.
I suggest everybody connecting to shore water use a regulator.
RE: 2013 Ford Explorer
If tow rating is 5000#, the tongue weight rating is likely still 500# as it was in 2010, however it was 716# WITH WDH and proper options then. If it still is, a TT with GVWR of 5000#, minus weights to be put in the explorer over the driver of course, should be fine.
Why the statement about other stuff in SUV? We have an Expedition, and with wife, me, and a 58# dog, plus almost 960# tongue weight, we are almost to our SUV rear GAWR.
RE: Camping while traveling
We always use campgrounds. In over 200,000 miles we have made reservations ahead for about five special events. Other than that we MAY call ahead an hour or so. So far we have been turned away ONCE, and the CG actually called ahead to the next CG to reserve a space for us. Admittedly we didn't always get the best spot, but all we wanted was to sleep safely for the night. Almost always had electric, although it was, rarely, only 20 amp.
RE: Trailer Wheel Ratings?
Wheels on every hard sided TT I've owned (three) have had rating stamped on rear, or in valley under the tire.
Note inflating a LR-E tire fully on a LR-D rim is a TWENTY THREE PERCENT OVERLOAD. Some call that safe I guess, but I do not!
RE: Two "controversial" questions...
Have personally seen THREE 5ers blow rear tires at speed. In all three cases they were towing nose high, so overloaded rear tires blew.
You can always fully load it and then weigh axles on scales. I'll bet rear axle is heavier.
RE: WD front end is light
Personally I ALWAYS adjust the WDH so I get at least some ADDED weight on the steering wheels. I never let them get lighter. As you said, add washers. On my Equalizer I found on my rig that each washer added about 75# to the front TV axle, and took off 75# from the rear TV axle. I'm sure that is TV and TT dependant, but it is a place to start.
RE: No electric in rig - although plugged in - bad batteries.
Battery provides 12 volts for lights, water pump, fridge control board, and usually water heater CONTROL board.
Wall outlets, A/C, microwave, fridge (if not on gas), and water heater (if not on gas) use 120 VAC. Converter in RV also uses 120 VAC to charge 12 volt batteries.
RE: Equilizer hitch needed on 3500?
8500# TT needs a tongue weight of 1105# to 1275# to tow properly IMHO. 1000# is a bit too light for a hardsided TT.
Note most receivers are rated for 10" from the hitch pin to the center of the ball. If you use a 15" pin to ball drawebar, the maximum tongue weight decreases A LOT. Say the receiver was rated for 1000# (with normal 10" drawbar). If a 15" drawbar is used the maximum tongue weight rating falls to 667#. Be careful out there.
RE: Truck or SUV recommendations
Our 2010 std length Expedition hauls our 28.5 foot TT just fine, even in our lovely Colorado mountains. However it is just wife and I and a 58# dog in the Expedition. Rear GAWR is close, so if you have a big family or plan to put lots of junk in the SUV you may have problems.
RE: 30 amp service in garage
Also be sure you run WIRE capable of 30 amps. DO NOT just change out a 15 amp receptical to a 30 amp one.
If it was me I'd run WIRE for 50 amp 240 VAC RV, and then just install one breaker and a 30 amp outlet. Wire is the hard part to do, and I might get a 50 amp RV someday, so .....
RE: Equilizer hitch needed on 3500?
But if it was mine, I would NOT tow without sway control. I doubt your new Chevy applies JUST the TT brakes when needed, does it?
RE: squirrels under the hood
Ultrasonics works for us, and has for about 25 years with no problems. Only issue is putting transmitter under front of car (or TT) and powering it.
RE: McGyver stories
Well likely nobody will believe it, but here's mine anyway.
Took a very nice lady for a drive to see New England foliage. Coming back late I blew a driveshaft U-joint in the middle of nowhere. Hadn't seen a car or house in a long time. Fortunately it was the rear U-joint, so the dtriveshaft beat up floor under the back seat/trunk, but did no real damage. No way the U-joint could be reassembled, it was toast.
I had a Bowie knife, so I found two limbs that look straight, and cut them to a bit over two feet. I also had a coil of nylon rope. Jacked the car up, put the spare under one wheel, rock under the other, let the jack down, and tried rocking the car. It stayed, one problem solved. Young lady and I crawled under from opposite sides. I put the limbs on either side of the driveshaft, covering the U-Joint. She held limbs while I wrapped the rope around limbs and shaft as tight as I could get it. Then had her start car and gentle try to move while I lay on ground and watched. Rope unwound of course, but car was still up. Grrr. Back under we go, and rewrap rope other direction. Jacked up car, remove rock, remove spare and put in trunk. Both of us were pretty dirty, but were hopeful. Got in car and drove to nearest town. Anything over about 5 mph was not possible cause the vibration got REALLY bad, but it beat walking.
Finally hit a town, stopped in gas station (that was back when gas stations all did repairs, for you youngsters). Asked if they could replace a U-joint. They said pull it on the lift and they'd look. I laughed and said see if you can get the part first. Turned out NAPA had one, so I pulled it on lift. You should have seen their faces, LOL.
We called her folks and mine so they wouldn't worry, as it was nearly 11:00 by the time the car was ready. I gave the repair people a nice tip for staying after closing to fix the car. We then drove back. I dropped her off, then headed home myself. Cleaned myself up, and made it in bed not much before dawn.
Funny thing was she still went out with me quite a few times after that. She was a special lady.
