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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: 8,500 lbs plus dry weight
In the last year or so I am seeing a slew of new bunk house campers with dryweights in the 8,500 lb range. Mostly the triple slide island kitchen bunk house campers that I would love to have. What in the world are people towing these things with? We two a 7,000 lb dry camper with an E-350 V-10 and I cannot imagine adding another 1,500 lbs to it. The typical travel trailer buyer does not have a diesel dually. To those that have purchased these what are you towing with and how is your experience with it?
2002 E350 V-10 3.73
2006 Cherokee 32B
I think that V10 would have the power to tow one of the 36' triple slide campers (10,000 lbs loaded) if it had the 4.30 gear option. I would be concerned with the wheelbase of the E350 though. We actually considered getting the Coachmen version of the camper we now own b/c the Coachmen weighed a lot less. We were going to tow that one with my previous 2500 Suburban, but the wheelbase is what scared me, not the power. My crewcab Dodge has almost 2 feet more wheelbase than that Suburban.
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dragr1
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05/18/13 06:03am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 8,500 lbs plus dry weight
We've got a Jayco 33bhts triple slide and tow it with a '12 Ram 3500 Crewcab 4x4 single rear wheel diesel. Tows it with ease.
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dragr1
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05/17/13 09:59pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: ~Post your campsite photos here~
Townsend KOA site 123. It was beautiful and the colors were perfect.
http://i48.tinypic.com/jrbqxy.jpg
this is from the rear of the camper
http://i46.tinypic.com/2sb5ops.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/20jfk44.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/2nbzluf.jpg
How did you like the Townsend KOA? We've been going to Townsend for years but have never camped b/c I didn't trust our old motorhome to make it that far. But now we have the new camper and truck so we are thinking of camping there this next winter. Plenty of waterfront sites big enough for a 36' travel trailer?
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dragr1
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04/29/13 08:34pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: ~Post your campsite photos here~
Stone Mountain, GA back in January:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/549880_539579772732218_1627433884_n.jpg "width=650"
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/734569_539579752732220_711284423_n.jpg "width=650"
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/578349_539579736065555_528977960_n.jpg "width=650"
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dragr1
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04/28/13 05:06pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Outside fridge vent covers-keep wasps out?
Thanks guys, exactly what I was looking for-about to order!
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dragr1
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04/28/13 02:34pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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Outside fridge vent covers-keep wasps out?
So I noticed yesterday on our Jayco that wasps had gotten into the outside fridge vent covers and started building a nest. Has anyone modified these with some smaller screens to keep flying insects out? Or better yet, can a fix be bought on the internet?
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dragr1
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04/28/13 01:33pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: 2012 2500 dodge crew cab question
I do occasionally have a thump that comes somewhere from the rear of the truck. When I had my Ford it did the same thing.
Im thinking about taking it to the dealer because I feel like my brakes hang on too long when the camper is hooked up after I have been at a stop and let off. Camper brakes stay on for a second or two longer. I will see what they say about the clunk too.
Would like to know what the dealer says about that b/c my camper brakes seem to do the same thing.
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dragr1
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04/18/13 04:19pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2013 Jayco Flight 33bhts -general questions
Hi There....
Pressure regulator: is it adjustable... is it installed at the hose bib or right at the trailer....? is it plastic or a nice brass one? What type of hose are you using... I use one of the white ones... i had a coiled hose, i didnt get good pressure out of it... just my experience...
Furnace vents: do they close? I tune the ones closest to furnace down and try and equalize the airflow. I had to install a vent with a shutoff right near my furnace.... helped a ton
Awnings: all of my buddies with thier auto's love them until it gets windy. My traditional one seems to be a tad more robust...
Thermostat: can't really help you. but... i have a little oregon scientific thermometer that i keep in an open spot in the room, just to cross check my temps.. my old duo-therm is accurate to 1 degree... who makes your t-stat?
hope that helped a little. but i hope to get more info back from ya. it'll help diagnose better
Brass Camco regulator connected on the hose at the trailer end, also have a 90 degree elbow at the trailer where the hose connects, hose is not coiled at all
I believe the vents are somewhat adjustable, I'll try to adjust as you described
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dragr1
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04/04/13 09:27pm |
Travel Trailers
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2013 Jayco Flight 33bhts -general questions
We purchased our 2013 Jayco Jay Flight 33bhts about 3 months ago and we have really enjoyed it. But I have a few questions for any experts on the forum:
-Water pressure is extremely low with an inline pressure regulator on the hose-does the trailer have a regulator built it? Am I over regulating the pressure down to where it's almost barely adequate to take a shower?
-The furnace works great and it's located on the very back wall of the trailer-in the back bed room the vent will almost blow a hat off your head, but as you go towards the front the vent a air speed drops way more than I would have thought-I would expect some but at the front most vents it's almost barely blowing-is this normal?
-Heat vent in the bathroom isn't open and doesn't really appear that it can be opened? Guess I just need to remove it from the floor and see what's going on there
-Power awning- we'renot used to this and we like it but it seems like it's way more susceptible to wind gusts than normal awnings-suggest a tie down kit?
-Thermostat has temp settings but doesn't tell you the temp inside-anyone replaced this with something else? If so, what?
Thanks for any help!
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dragr1
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04/04/13 08:44pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Ram 2500 hemi owners.....
Those towing mpg numbers aren't bad considering that my '12 Ram 3500 CC 4x4 Cummins with the 6spd auto and 3.73 gears only gets 9.5 to 10mpg towing my Jayco 318bhts (36', 10,300 pound)travel trailer.
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dragr1
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03/31/13 09:16am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW towing Jayco 334RBTS-which WDH?
The only thing that I took out of the TT was 2 bikes. I usually have 2 adult mountain bikes on the rear bumper of the TT. For the last weigh this past weekend they were both in the bed of the truck. Previous run also had some firewood in the bed and this last weigh did not.
All this guessing is just speculation. I've really got to get all 3 weights.
You are right, need all 3 weights. Need to move past the guessing zone...
The point on the truck front end weights, If you can shift 130# from rear axle to the front axle, then something has to show up on the TT axles as an increase. If not, you have defied the laws of physics... Or the scale error is masking it. +/- 40 to 50# scale error can be seen some times. Remember, weighing a 70,000LB semi they are not worrying about 50#
I also like your winter camping. Looks great. We snuck out in early March and this past Monday we had another 6" of snow...
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b378/JBarca/T310SR%20Camping%20Trips/Delaware%20SP/site593-9-13rear_zps83e8d810.jpg
Can't beat Bacon and Eggs on a winter campout or any time for that matter... No bacon at home... to much smell in the house and too many calories...
Camping ain't camping w/o bacon and eggs!
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dragr1
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03/27/13 06:29pm |
Towing
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW towing Jayco 334RBTS-which WDH?
In the mean time here are a few pics from our first trip out back in January to Stone Mountain, GA:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/549880_539579772732218_1627433884_n.jpg width=640
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/734569_539579752732220_711284423_n.jpg width=640
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484731_539579596065569_664097566_n.jpg width=640
Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum limit of 640px maximum size.
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dragr1
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03/26/13 10:01pm |
Towing
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW towing Jayco 334RBTS-which WDH?
Weighed it again, but just didn't have time to unhook and weigh seperately.
Moving up one notch on the frame brackets did change the distribution of weight on the truck some.
Front 4600
Rear 4580
Trailer 8760
Trailer axle weight was exactly the same as last time. The front axle gained 120 pounds and the rear axle lost 160 pounds. I know it's not the same since I couldn't weigh the truck and camper seperately. But, it's all I could squeeze in time wise today. I did determine that now the front axle weight of the truck is within 60 pounds of what the front axle weighs w/o the camper in tow.
So, is having the front and rear of the truck being almost identical weight ideal?
On the way to the campground it was definitely noticeable to be towing better. One the way home we had another 30-40 mph windy day with higher gusts. The wind gusts would cause a little sway but nothing that was uncontrollable. You could really feel the wind push me around though.
One other thing I noticed today was that the equalizer bars were actually bending under load. I didn't think these solid steel square bars would bend like other weight distribution bars. Is this normal?
OK trying to piece together the weight and your latest L bracket move. I assembled the weights from your thread. Ideally you can get all 3 weights sets at one time, but lets see what we have with what you got.
12/29/12
Before Weights
Truck Empty:
Front axle: 4660
Rear axle: 2880
Total 7540
1/23/13
Front 4480
Rear 4740
Trailer 8760
Total 17980
3/25/13
Front 4600
Rear 4580
Trailer 8760
I do agree that with the last L bracket move you shifted weight (~129#) to the front of the truck. But something is not adding up with the TT axles. If you shift 129# to the front, something has to go to the TT axles. I see the numbers on the screen say the TT axles did not change, but something else did. Did you take something out of the camper to lower the GVW?
It does sound like your stability did increase with the L bracket move. This can very well be from the L bracket move. It puts more tension on the square trunnion sockets which then creates a stiffer TT to TV connections.
To the front axle and the rear axle being about the same weight, this is by chance, not intent and sometimes it just comes out that way. It is not a bad thing. The main thing about WD is what is going on with the front axle. The rear comes along for the ride. If you had a gasser engine the weight would be different yet the hitch is set the same.
Your rear axle "appears" to have gained 1,700# from this last trip to the 1st empty truck weighing. Since your front axle is close to back to empty truck weight, well you must have gear in the back of the truck or you have one heavy bugger of a loaded tongue weight. At this point it is speculation as we do not have the unhitched truck weight or the TV and TT hitched and no WD bars engaged.
The Equal-I-zer like Barney said counts on the trunnion sockets to be tight. On page 23, EQ states to grease the trunnion socket to the hitch head area. The grease will cut down on the wear and it will cut down on some of the anti sway control friction. You may or may not notice it. The sockets will pivot easier greased. Are yours greased now?
To the torque, The manual did not state what size bolt or grade it is. As a point of reference a Grade 8 (6 radial lines on head) has a dry bolt torque of 120 ft lb at 75% of yield. A grade 5 (3 radial lines) dry bolt torque is 78 ft lb at 75% of yield. The 150 ft lb estimate really needs to be on a 5/8" bolt if it is that high.
http://www.engineershandbook.com/Tables/torque.htm
What bolt dia size are those socket bolts? You really do not want to go a lot above the 75% of yield tightening if you plan on reusing the bolts. I have heard reports of these socket bolts loosing often. The TT shop may have really tightened them to keep them tight.
A better way for anti back off is to create this type of joint. I use this often in high vibration situations. Get a bolt with enough threads exposed. Torque the 1st nut to were you want it. Then install a lock washer, then install another full nut as a jam nut. lock washer is between the 2 nuts. Make sure you hold the torqued nut when tighten the jam nut. You can then pivot the bolt if they move from the sockets turning and and the nuts will not loosen. A single normal spring lock washer and a single nut will loosen over time in a pivoting situation.
At this point you will have to establish what torque they are set at. You can try and de-torque measure them to get in the league, but need to torque them up to be sure what they are set at. Good idea to do this now before they do loosen up then you have no idea where they were when it worked alright.
Hope this helps
John
The only thing that I took out of the TT was 2 bikes. I usually have 2 adult mountain bikes on the rear bumper of the TT. For the last weigh this past weekend they were both in the bed of the truck. Previous run also had some firewood in the bed and this last weigh did not.
All this guessing is just speculation. I've really got to get all 3 weights.
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dragr1
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03/26/13 09:32pm |
Towing
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW towing Jayco 334RBTS-which WDH?
The camper to do list:
-Get all 3 weights at the scales
-Check the bars for parallel to the TT frame
-Measure TT and TV for sag when loaded and unloaded
-Check bolt torque and bolt diameter on equalizer head
-Check to make sure wdh bars are flat on the L brackets
What else am I missing?
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dragr1
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03/26/13 09:28pm |
Towing
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW towing Jayco 334RBTS-which WDH?
One other thing is that the sway part of the hitch (The square pieces on the head that the bars slide into it) are really tight. You really have to pull on the bars to get that part to move. I thought that I could remove the bolt and that maybe it was too tight. But when I removed the bolt the square piece was still tight in th head. I thought about removing the square piece to grease it, but unless I really hit it hard it jus wasn't going to come out, so I left them in there and put the bolt back.
Is it supposed to be that tight or did the camper dealer that I bought it from (they put it together and installed it) over tighten these bolts?
Those square pieces (bar sockets) are supposed to be very tight. The bolt that goes through them is supposed to be torqued before every tow to around 45ft/lbs or more. The interface between those bar sockets and the upper hitch head surface is the main anti-sway feature of the hitch. The interface between the ends of the bars and the L brackets is secondary.
Click here to download a copy of the owners/installation manual. Then look on P.15 where you will find the following warning:
"Never tow with loose socket bolts. Tighten socket bolts to a minimum of 45 Ft-lbs torque before each towing session"
Also notice the "caution" just below the above warning in the manual.
Barney
Those bolts are at least 45 ft lbs. I bet the camper place tightened them way more than that, probably at least 150 ft lbs. I'll read the manual again about them.
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dragr1
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03/26/13 06:46pm |
Towing
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RE: Sway problems
Kennetth,
Here is one more, a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 using an Equal-I-zer on his big Jayco
Even on his 2012 truck he could not find a sticker as to the rating of the WD reciever. A buddy of mine with a early 2000 Dodge CTD Dully had only a 1,000# reciever. They did not use to put much rating into the recievers. They are now getting better at least on the newer models.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26606477/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm
That's me and I replaced the factory hitch to be safe. There was no sticker anywhere on the factory hitch. Dodge wasn't much help on their website either. On the Ram forums the consensus was the max was 12000 pounds and 1200 pounds tongue weight. So for a few hundred dollars I upgraded to a 18000 pound 2500 pound tongue weight receiver. Cheap insurance.
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dragr1
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03/26/13 11:52am |
Towing
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW towing Jayco 334RBTS-which WDH?
One other thing is that the sway part of the hitch (The square pieces on the head that the bars slide into it) are really tight. You really have to pull on the bars to get that part to move. I thought that I could remove the bolt and that maybe it was too tight. But when I removed the bolt the square piece was still tight in th head. I thought about removing the square piece to grease it, but unless I really hit it hard it jus wasn't going to come out, so I left them in there and put the bolt back.
Is it supposed to be that tight or did the camper dealer that I bought it from (they put it together and installed it) over tighten these bolts?
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dragr1
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03/26/13 11:48am |
Towing
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW towing Jayco 334RBTS-which WDH?
Weighed it again, but just didn't have time to unhook and weigh seperately.
Moving up one notch on the frame brackets did change the distribution of weight on the truck some.
Front 4600
Rear 4580
Trailer 8760
Trailer axle weight was exactly the same as last time. The front axle gained 120 pounds and the rear axle lost 160 pounds. I know it's not the same since I couldn't weigh the truck and camper seperately. But, it's all I could squeeze in time wise today. I did determine that now the front axle weight of the truck is within 60 pounds of what the front axle weighs w/o the camper in tow.
So, is having the front and rear of the truck being almost identical weight ideal?
On the way to the campground it was definitely noticeable to be towing better. One the way home we had another 30-40 mph windy day with higher gusts. The wind gusts would cause a little sway but nothing that was uncontrollable. You could really feel the wind push me around though.
One other thing I noticed today was that the equalizer bars were actually bending under load. I didn't think these solid steel square bars would bend like other weight distribution bars. Is this normal?
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dragr1
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03/25/13 08:50pm |
Towing
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW towing Jayco 334RBTS-which WDH?
Headed back out this coming weekend, raised the sway bar brackets one notch up on the frame. Also, I'm going to try and stop at the weigh station on the way back if we have time.
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dragr1
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03/18/13 08:30pm |
Towing
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RE: 2012 Dodge 3500 SRW Crew 8' 4x4 3.73vs4.10
I dont believe that the 4.10 is available with the SRW. It is a dually only option.
You can get 3.42, 3.73, or 4.10 with the 3500 SRW with the auto trans., with a manual trans. you cannot get the 4.10 in a SRW 3500
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dragr1
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03/08/13 07:32am |
Tow Vehicles
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