RE: Fuzion 405 pulled by DMAX 2500 430hp SRW & Airlift 5000 bags
Everyone keeps talking about pin weight, wheels, tires and so on. I find the thing that causes white knuckle moments most for me are unplanned stops.
The weight ratings on these trucks take everything into account, even some unknown safety factor. Just because you can tow at highway speed doesn't mean you can make a fast enough stop not to end up in someone's back seat.
Your choice, but I would suggest you consider everything - including the additional weight of the pin and trailer in coming to a stop.
Yes you are correct that everything needs to be considered. As far as breaking goes, both the 2500HD and 3500 DRW has the same size brakes. I have pulled trailers with both and have not seen any difference in braking between the two. The trailer has brakes capable of stopping the truck and trailer both if needed. They only problem I see in terms of braking would be if you loose the trailer brakes. At that point I don't think either one would do very well at stopping quickly. Maybe the 550 class truck would do okay but that is only maybe 1% or less of the trucks pulling these trailers.
I thought that trailer brakes are designed to stop the amount the axle is rated for...? The reason I bring this up is that the 3000lbs or so of pin weight is up to the truck brakes to stop. The trailer isn't designed to get its own GVW to stop, only what is supported by the axles.
If you're counting on the trailer brakes stopping both the truck and trailer, you're in for a long braking distance.
RE: Fuzion 405 pulled by DMAX 2500 430hp SRW & Airlift 5000 bags
Everyone keeps talking about pin weight, wheels, tires and so on. I find the thing that causes white knuckle moments most for me are unplanned stops.
The weight ratings on these trucks take everything into account, even some unknown safety factor. Just because you can tow at highway speed doesn't mean you can make a fast enough stop not to end up in someone's back seat.
Your choice, but I would suggest you consider everything - including the additional weight of the pin and trailer in coming to a stop.
RE: California state parks possible closing
it looks like none of the OHV parks are on the list, guess us off roaders are doing our part in supplying funds. Guess the greenies will probably want to take our funds to keep their parks open, Stand By.
I noticed this also and started trying to see why. Looks like they are staying open mostly because of the green sticker fees. Part of those fees make up a grant that partially funds OHV parks. Once the Governator sees this, he may decide to take those fees like he raids accounts for cities, counties and special funds (gas tax, etc.). It has been done before and could happen again.
RE: California state parks possible closing
California never seems to think of laying off or cutting salaries of state workers, like a business would have to do. Just punish people for not paying all the taxes they want.
Not too hard to find out this isn't true. Currently they are being furloughed with a 9.2% cut in pay and are being threatened with an additional 5% cut. Also, there are 5,000 jobs that are supposed to be eliminated. It's in the news around here.
Seems like nearly everthing in CA is in trouble. Personally, I think the inefficiencies of the state are to blame for the park closure. Why not privatize them?
RE: Fresh Water Tank Failure
This happened to a buddy of mine also. He was filling the tank slowly and then asked his daughter to turn the water off. She cranked it all of the way on and before he could do anything, the tank had expanded and lifted the floor inside. So much, in fact, he couldn't open the bathroom door.
It does happen, however, I still fill mine unattended. I make sure the vent lines are unclogged on the top of the tanks and then fill, only turning about 1/8th of a rotation. It takes a little over 1.5 hours to fill 150 gallons, but at least the vent lines can handle that much pressure. This has worked on this trailer and the last. Just make sure all of that water you are putting in can get out at the same rate if it needs to. I also use a filler that will allow water out of the same hole I am using. It screws on the end of the hose and uses a polyethelene hose that is about 1/2" in diameter.
Polaris Ranger clearance in toyhauler
Wondering if anyone has a Ranger XP in a Weekend Warrior with the double bunks (bottom bunk is the twin/couch). I've heard stories of having to deflate tires to get certain UTV's in the THs but hoping this wouldn't be the case with the Ranger. I have 77" inches of clearance when the beds are all of the way up.
Also, if you load one in a FS2600 (or similar size), what else are you able to get in there. I have a KTM 450, TTR-90 and CRF50 to take also. The bed of the truck is available, but would like to leave it available for firewood, tools and other stuff.
Thanks for any information.
RE: Jawbone, Ca City dry camping w/ cell reception
Sounds strange but it also depends on your carrier. We have Verizon and can't get any reception (searching for service...can't here me now) in the Spangler area down in the valley area. We have friends with AT&T and their service is intermittent (they can text, though). Another family has Sprint and has no problem whatsoever.
RE: Thinking about a change to a TH for 3 kids, small "toys"
If you were willing to upgrade your tow vehicle you would have a lot more choices. If you can afford it, there are a lot of 3/4 ton vehicles available now. If you need passenger space, an Excursion can be set up to tow a pretty heavy load (13K for the diesel 2-wheel drive, I think).
I went from a 27' TT to a 26' TH. The GVW went from 7500lbs to 11000lbs. The dry weight also went up (4750 to 8000). Generally, Toy Haulers are made more heavy duty than TT so you will have to scale back the length and probably your expectations to get in your target weight. Even a "light" TH can be relatively heavy when comparing to a TT.
RE: Help keep our riding areas open
Granted, I am not familiar with the area you live but it seems rather strange to me that you are willing to measure the off-road community by tourists in behind your house. Your data pool is very small for such a decision. If it is illegal to ride behind your house, as you seem to infer by stating that they can do so without getting caught, there are other, more equitable solutions. Such as, getting law enforcement involved. I think it is a poor solution to add legislation when, in this case, there are already laws against it.
Personal experience is very fickle. It is highly subjective to the interpretor. I would guess that others might object to the type of recreation based on their personal experience. You might not like being on the other end someday. Consider that when supporting removal of freedoms.
It doesn't take much to search the Internet for many reports like the one I provided. And there are plenty of them. (Use Google or Yahoo and try something like "atv environmental damage.") The weight of the evidence, in my opinion, stands against those who insist that anything goes on public lands.
:)
Lynn
And perhaps Bigfoot exists since I can find him (and her!) on Google and Yahoo also.
Who insisted that anything goes on public land? It sounds more like you want all things that YOU don't like to stop.
Perhaps we can Google statistics on deaths on the roadway due to excessive speed and then ban driving. There are plenty of people who do that. This analogy is exactly what you are proposing.
RE: Help keep our riding areas open
Yes, I took my action, too, by signing petitions to support the new wilderness area designations.
:)
Lynn
If you are willing to answer, what is your reasoning behind wanting to support land closures?
It comes from personal experience. Since the offroading tourists discovered that they could ride the forest behind our house without getting caught several years ago, the physical damage is plainly evident, and the large herd of elk that we used to share this meadow with has left. That's reason enough, in my book.
:)
Lynn
Granted, I am not familiar with the area you live but it seems rather strange to me that you are willing to measure the off-road community by tourists in behind your house. Your data pool is very small for such a decision. If it is illegal to ride behind your house, as you seem to infer by stating that they can do so without getting caught, there are other, more equitable solutions. Such as, getting law enforcement involved. I think it is a poor solution to add legislation when, in this case, there are already laws against it.
Personal experience is very fickle. It is highly subjective to the interpretor. I would guess that others might object to the type of recreation you enjoy based on their personal experience. You might not like being on the other end someday. Consider that when supporting removal of freedoms.
RE: Help keep our riding areas open
Yes, I took my action, too, by signing petitions to support the new wilderness area designations.
:)
Lynn
If you are willing to answer, what is your reasoning behind wanting to support land closures?
RE: Pulling through Yosemite
I appreciate all of the comments. We have driven through Yosemite before but never pulled the trailer. Last time through, I kept my "trailer" eye open for all of the tough spots and realized the difficulty I would probably have.
Thanks
Pulling through Yosemite
We live in the Central Valley in CA. We would like to pull the trailer (the one in the signature) through Yosemite to Mammoth in June. Has anyone pulled a 29' x 8.5' trailer through Yosemite.
Basically, we would take Hwy 41 North, 140 West, 120 East (Tioga Pass), to 395. I am concerned about widths on Tioga Pass and Yosemite Valley. Also, the grade from the eastern park entrance down to 395 is a concern.
I talked to the Rangers at the gate and they said I am allowed to pull the trailer through. Looking for experiences and tips.
The alternative is pulling to Bakersfield and crossing the Tehachapis. That would add about 4-5 hours to the trip.
Thanks
RE: Wear your Safety Gear!!!!!!!! Deaths at Jawbone
I am highly capable of keeping myself safe in and on pretty much any vehicle.
I wonder if you were able to ask the people that did NOT keep themselves safe if they actually thought, when they took off on their ride, that they were going to fall into harms way?
I bet they also thought they were capable of keeping themselves safe...
Not attacking anyone here, but I once read in a USA Today article regarding driving on streets that 90% of drivers think they drive better than average (if you don't get the humor, think about what average means) ... guess that kind of says it all about persons believing they are safer than they imagine.
My wife and I were out at Searles for Thanksgiving. We have 3 boys and are considering a Rhino. We were fortunate to be able to borrow a Rhino and an Artic Cat Prowler for testing. We put helmets on the kids and almost didn't ourselves. But the rollbar on the Prowler convinced us to put them on (rectangular with sharp corners). After, we also considered the errant dirtbiker or quad rider that may end up head on with us on some of those trails. A full face helmet might save your life from someone else's stupidity. I would also consider some sort of neck roll/pad to keep our necks from breaking from excessive motion in the case of a rollover. Might look stupid and uncool, but I will take the jeers knowing we are doing our best to be safe.
On our way out on Saturday, we saw 3 girls in a 2 seat Rhino. None were wearing helmets. The third girl was standing in the dump bed with one hand on the rollbar and the other using a 2-way radio. Wow...that was cool.
There is only so much one can do to ensure their own safety. To assume control in an off-road environment with other riders is a joke.
