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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Good and Bad about Blue Ox Sway Pro
I love the system. No troubles once you dail it in as with any system.
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DMza061403
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05/07/13 05:55pm |
Towing
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RE: Ford F250 Tire Upgrade
Thanks everyone. It's a 6.7 and 3.55 gears. I did plan on a 2" lift to help out.
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DMza061403
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05/06/13 06:03pm |
Tow Vehicles
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Ford F250 Tire Upgrade
I'm looking to upgrade my stock 265/70r18 michelins for a larger tire it not to compromise load rating and handling when pulling the 9500lb or so TT. I'm looking at Nitto terra grappler 295/65r20 which has a load rating of about 4k. Anybody run this set up for a beefier look but not compromising pulling?
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DMza061403
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05/05/13 08:06pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Another assist with the numbers please
Guys,
Thanks again for the thoughts....as mentioned I did make the trip great, and if there would've been issues with the tongue weight it would have shown on this trip. Sorry the weights were confusing, as I mentioned I went to the scale a few different days and posted a different board with the numbers there. After looking at the numbers and your inputs I was very comfortable with the safety and ability of the TV with this camper as it was loaded.
There certainly was a few tests as roads were horrible in places...even passed a TV/cargo trailer that the hitch broke loose on a very bump bridge. Braking was routinely tested with the surprising lake tubes flying out of boats, people moving in to my travel distance, and occasional traffic issues going through rush hour in Houston.
Thanks,
Dennis
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DMza061403
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07/24/12 10:44am |
Towing
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RE: Another assist with the numbers please
Just an follow up thanks to those that gave me input. Trailer pulled great the entire way of 1500 miles. Nothing more than the expected pull from passing semis. Truck was easily controllable and no sway in trailer.
It was eventful though, had 2 water ski inflatables fly at me from boats that were in front of me, had a semi not too far in front of me have a severe crash in to a median in Arkansas, had a car try to merge in front of a line of cars and crash three of them about a 1/2 mile ahead of me, had to swerve numerous tire treads, hit Houston at rush hour was exciting, and then you had the expected drivers lane change into my following distance I was allowing with the load...was glad to pull in to Flatonia, TX last night for sure...but, I am extremely comfortable pulling this trailer about anywhere now.
Thanks again,
Dennis
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DMza061403
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07/19/12 09:44pm |
Towing
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RE: Another assist with the numbers please
Berky: I've done it both ways but with both days of scaling I lowered the entire weight of the TT on the hitch and then hooked up the WD bars. I was told this was the better way to do it unless you need to gain extra links to help level the TV and TT which I don't because the truck doesn't hardly drop when the full load is applied with no WD bars hooked.
I think it is pretty well lined out, pulled much better today than it did on the last camping trip where the white knuckle experience occured. Maybe it's the weight in the TT being more than that trip or with the process used to hook up and transferring less weight round with more links added, but whatever reason it pulled comfortable today on the interstate.
Thanks,
Dennis
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DMza061403
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07/16/12 06:25pm |
Towing
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RE: "Updated" another help with the numbers please
I did utilize yesterday's numbers on the TV scale weighs as it would be very close with today's weight. The TT was considerably different in the loading today as it was packed to take some household goods that the relocation company cannot transfer for us so I'm sure it is at the top end of the rating. As mentioned, it seemed to tow pretty well today but I can always improve which is why I posted again for your feedback.
Not sure about the rotating latch mechanism being able to be different. It rotates about 180 degrees to lock in to place.
Thanks,
Dennis
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DMza061403
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07/16/12 06:03pm |
Towing
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"Updated" another help with the numbers please
I went back to the scale today with the trailer loaded for the 1300 mile trip tomorrow to see if the numbers make more sense to ensure the recommended percentages are in place for the smoothest and most controlled ride possible and also to ensure that no part of the TV or TT are overloaded. The drive at 60 mph for about 30 miles roundtrip of interstate roads to the scale seemed pretty controllable. Did not notice sway or really a rough ride. T/H mode was going about 1350 RPM and getting about 14 MPG.
Here are the updated facts of the TV, TT and WD hitch.
TV: 2011 F-250 with 3.11 and 6.7 diesel classIV hitch
GVWR: 10k
GAWR: Front 5200 Rear 6100
GCWR: 19k
TT: 2011 Dutchman Denali 35'
GVWR: 9680
WD Hitch: Blue Ox Sway Pro w/1500# bars and 16 chain links available and ball sits back 13" from reciever inlet/bumper.
Scale Results
TV alone:
Steer axle: 4680
Drive axle: 3300
Gross Weight: 7980
TV & TT (WD hooked up 8th link)
Steer axle: 4500 (120 added back)
Drive axle: 4820 (180 transferred back)
Trailer axle: 8440 (60 added)
Gross Weight: 17760
TV and TT (WD NOT hooked up)
Steer axle: 4380
Drive axle: 5000
Trailer axle: 8380
Gross Weight: 17760
Thanks again for the inputs and help determining if appropriate weight was added back to the steer axles, proper percentage of weight is on the tongue and sufficient load is transferred back to the TT axles. With your suggestions let me know what you recommend with the links (add more to transfer less load or add more to transfer more) etc.
Dennis
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DMza061403
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07/16/12 02:43pm |
Towing
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RE: Another assist with the numbers please
Guys, thanks for taking the time to give me some feedback, but see my admission of error in that the detailed numbers I mislabled the weights. Where I gave the weights on the "TV & TT" I switched the numbers inadvertantly.
So, W/O the WD hooked up on the scale the numbers were:
Steer axle: 4440
Drive axle: 4940
Trailer axle: 8060
Gross Weight: 17440
With the WD Hooked up the numbers were:
Steer axle: 4520
Drive axle: 4780
Trailer axle: 8080
Gross Weight: 17380
It is a Crew Cab with 156" WB and the hitch ball sets 13" back of the bumper/reciever.
As for the conclusions on the scales, this is what the read outs said and I was parked correctly on the 3 scales so I don't know why they would not make sense.
I guess I need some help understanding the impact of 160# steer axle difference between TV alone and then with the WD hitch hooked up and if with these numbers is my weights distributed about where they should be with 10%-15% tongue weight and the other numbers on the steer, drive and TT axles or should I be adding more links or taking some away from the bar to get within the general parameters of safe towing.
Nobody has said anything, but I assume I am well within the parameters of my TV with all of this rigt?
Thanks again for the time to help me sort out this combination for my TV and TT
Dennis
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DMza061403
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07/15/12 07:22pm |
Towing
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RE: Another assist with the numbers please
Thanks for the thoughts thus far. With Ron and Berky's thoughts you would recommend to try only 7-8 links up from the bar to transfer more weight to the TV steer axles to have even more improved control? I just wanted to ensure I had enough weight on the TV so the TT wasn't "driving" the TV with sway.
Keep the thoughts coming, as I mentioned a 1300 mile trip will be the first long drive with this TT. Only time I've driven a trailer that far was with a gooseneck with a dually and it was effortless...would like this to be the same!
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DMza061403
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07/15/12 04:46pm |
Towing
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RE: Another assist with the numbers please
I made a mistake with the numbers. They are reversed...the TV & TT scale weights are backwards as if you couldn't tell. Thanks again.
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DMza061403
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07/15/12 01:58pm |
Towing
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Another assist with the numbers please
Awhile back I posted about a sway question, because Tuesday I take off on a 1300 mile relocation trip with the TT and I do not want it to be a white knuckle experience. So, I went to the scales today and here are the numbers. The TT was loaded as going out on a trip with the family and dog present in the truck for scaling.
I did change the way I hook up the WD hitch. Before I was told to not retract the power jack all the way to make hooking up the WD hitch easier. Today to take to the scales I lowered the TT all the way down on the hitch and then hooked up which allowed me to hook a longer strand of links transferring less weight to the trailer axles. During the severe sway event the WD hitch was on the 7th link up from bar.
Here are the facts of the TV, TT and WD hitch.
TV: 2011 F-250 with 3.11 and 6.7 diesel
GVWR: 10k
GAWR: Front 5200 Rear 6100
GCWR: 19k
TT: 2011 Dutchman Denali 35'
GVWR: 9680
WD Hitch: Blue Ox Sway Pro w/1500# bars and 16 chain links available
Scale Results
TV alone:
Steer axle: 4680
Drive axle: 3300
Gross Weight: 7980
TV & TT (WD not hooked up)
Steer axle: 4520
Drive axle: 4780
Trailer axle: 8080
Gross Weight: 17380
TV and TT (WD hooked on 9th link)
Steer axle: 4440
Drive axle: 4940
Trailer axle: 8060
Gross Weight: 17440
I tried to just put on a link to get some tension on the bar and with this the TV and TT were pretty level front to back without much drop at the hitch.
Let me know what you experienced folks think of the numbers, where I'm at on hitch weight and ideas to make it an even more smooth tow. Adding links helped quite a bit as I towed about 30 miles on interstate at 60 mph to get to the scales today.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Dennis
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DMza061403
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07/15/12 01:37pm |
Towing
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RE: Sway Question
Thanks for the thoughts thus far. I will go to the scales and weigh with WD in place, drop the bars and weigh, and then weigh only the TV and see what those numbers are.
I do have the TV tires inflated to the maximum.
Thus far, seems if i add more links of chainto get more tongue weight it may help. If I drop the entire weight of the TT on the hitch the rear of the TV barely squats so I'm thinking anything I transfer back is getting me away from the 15% or so of tongue weight I'm trying to get too.
Thanks for the thoughts thus far
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DMza061403
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06/24/12 02:11pm |
Towing
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Sway Question
Wondering thoughts on my sway question. I have a Blue Ox Sway Pro with the 1500# bars. My TV is a 11' Ford F250 diesel with 3.55 rear end. My TT is a "12 Dutchmen Denali weighing in around 9k lbs. Driving on the intertate at around 60-65 with the TV in tow/haul mode it is turning around 1200 rpm. Also there is a feeling of the rear TV wheels "skating" and trailer is swaying.
There was some wind on that day but nothing like I've felt towing other trailers/campers. I came home and unloaded essentials to take TT to storage and when I pulled from a stop at a light it felt like I could fairly easily spin the tires.
I'm feeling like I do not have enough tongue weight and need to add more links of chain to the bars and lower the front of TT slightly down versus completely level to see if this helps add that weight.
Any other thoughts to this? I know the TV is more than capable of towing this trailer safely but want it to drive better before next trip.
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DMza061403
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06/23/12 10:53pm |
Towing
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