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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Got new hitch now poorer gas mileage
More likely IMHO, raising the trailer front caused underside air to be trapped and compressed. Of course, it didn't help any that the topside was higher!
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Pete D
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06/23/08 07:25pm |
Towing
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RE: AIL WAGGING
Essentially, yes. Go to a multi-platform commercial scale so the truck front axle, rear axle and trailer axle(s) are on different platforms.
If it's a busy scale then get off, drop the trailer and reweigh the truck. If it's not a busy scale, then just jack the tongue until the trailer's weight is off the ball. Then do the math.
If a single platform, then one axle at a time. Besides truck scales, places that sell stuf by the truckload, feed, gravel, etc. usually have scales and even your local landfill might have scales. Some states leave their roadside scales activated, so one can get a lot of measurements including side to side (sometimes a problem).
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Pete D
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06/23/08 07:18pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Trailer Tire Scam?
Here's an advisory from Goodyear about putting in an extra 10 psi if operating ST tires over 65 mph.
Here's more info on ST tires.
I have also read that ST tires have more carbon in them because carbon migrates to the surface in use to protect from UV and ozone and ST tires are expected to not get as much use as P or LT tires.
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Pete D
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06/23/08 07:11pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: best light weight travel trailer
T@Bs weigh more than that dry -- 1,520-1,585-1,1615 UVW *before* options -- Plus TW of less than 10% (If T@B is built to Euro proportions it may use the lighter tongue weights used there).
GVWR is 1,949 lbs so there's not much cargo capacity if one has heavy options and fluids.
http://www.tab-rv.com/specs/dimensions.php
Although I have seen them posed at shows behind a VW Beetle, I wouldn't pull it with anything less than about 2,500lbs tow capacity.
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Pete D
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06/23/08 06:58pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Problem with highway speed
Muffler shop can run an inlet-outlet pressure drop test to check the converter.
Or, if you have an air-injection pump in system, use that inlet to connect a standard fuel-pressurevacuum gauge. IIRC, any backpressure of 8 psi or more is bad, but you'll want to look it up for sure.
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Pete D
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06/23/08 12:45pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Trailer Brake Lights
It would be helpful if you posted the truck year.
Go to Dodge dealer parts counter and persuade them to print out the wiring diagram. Likely, if you have separate circuits for the lights, they are on their own relay and not putting much load on headlight switch.
BTW, I had to replace the headlight switch on my 82 D150 (no relay) at about 175K, 125K of that was towing, but I think having to run headlights 24/7 in Alaska was what did it in. IIRC, switch was less than $20.
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Pete D
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06/23/08 12:41pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Shackle Flip on a trailer??
The next best way to gain height is to look at tire sizes and a tall profile, then look at bigger tires/wheels.
BTW, be sure that your 'flipped' springs are limited to the travel they had before the flip -- Otherwise, they may overextend on sharp jolts and break...
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Pete D
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06/23/08 12:35pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Misquito repellent or remedy?
First, find a bear...
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Pete D
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06/23/08 12:27pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: What would you tow with a Toyota Tacoma 4x4???
There are a number of happy Taco owners on the various small fiberglass trailer forums pulling TTs and 5W trailers in the 13/16/17/19' sizes.
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Pete D
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06/23/08 12:22pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Shopping for a "small" travel trailer
Some of the molded fiberglass trailers have very aerodynamic towing profiles.
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Pete D
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06/23/08 12:18pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: AIL WAGGING
It sounds to me like you are right on the edge of not having enough tongue weight and small rearrangements are making a significant difference. Were it my rig, I'd take it (loaded for a trip) to the scales and get some actual readings, then make sure my tongue weight was at least 12%.
Also, you didn't mention if your various tanks were full, empty or what.
BTW, adjusting the friction anti-sway bar is merely band-aiding the underlying problem, not fixing it.
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Pete D
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06/23/08 12:12pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Homemade Rack Placed On The Back Of TT
I don't have any productive ideas, but please consider the effect of putting any significant weight on the rear of a travel trailer. That's a placement that may contribute to sway effect.
Consider moving something forward (spare tire/wheel) to compensate for it.
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Pete D
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06/23/08 12:07pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Increasing tow capacity
As suggested above, the best way to overcome the wheelbase issue is to use a hitch like Hensely or PullRite. The WB problem is the result of a series of levers, primarily:
Front axle to rear axle (aka WB) longer is better
rear axle to ball (aka overhang) shorter is better
ball to trailer axle center longer is better
trailer axle center to trailer rear shorter is better
The hitches above serve to reduce the overhang from feet to inches, giving the trailer sway less leverage on the front end of the TV.
However, they won't do anything to compensate for power or stopping.
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Pete D
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06/22/08 01:14pm |
Towing
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RE: Dexter EZ Lub Hubs
I don't know about how the factory packs the EZLube axles, because my replacement axle came bare, but other axles have just had the grease on the bearings. I presume that at the factory, the pre-lubed bearings are merely slipped into the hubs and tightened down.
I have read of several cases where an owner or dealer has opened an new axle and found no grease on the bearings -- I believe it is quite possible that a dealer would do a 'precautionary' greasing of new axles using a power grease gun, thereby blowing a seal or two.
One nice thing about the EZLube, AG Hub, etc., systems like this is that one can choose to ignore them and repack in the traditional manner.
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Pete D
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06/22/08 12:50pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Can I pull this safely?
If you want the real answer, go talk to a DOT (Highway Patrol) cop.
You'd better talk to more than one of them because they are very likely give different answers based on what they personally know and the way they do things...
OP seems to be way above the limits set by the manufacturer for operation, regardless of whether those limits are law or not, so he would be operating in a potentially reckless manner. I certainly would advise against it.
BTW, GVWR does have the force of law in at least one Canadian Province:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/cvse/references_publications/pdf/MV3231(082003)GVWR.pdf
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Pete D
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06/21/08 04:42pm |
Towing
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RE: New Tow Rig, Sloppy Hitch
There's another kind of anti-rattle device in the same link above which puts side pressure on the ball mount inside the receiver.
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Pete D
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06/21/08 04:34pm |
Towing
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RE: electric brakes
You may not NEED them, depending on state and tow vehicle, but they are always useful.
Six braked wheels on the ground are clearly better than four...
Some Ford OM's say "The brakes are designed to stop the GVWR, not the GCWR".
Some vehicles specify brakes in their towing limits.
I looked in the OM for a recent Land Rover and it said tow limit were about 2,000 lbs w/o brakes and 7,000 lb w/brakes.
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Pete D
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06/21/08 04:23pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Greasing bearings
Dexter says once a year, even with the EZLubes -- Some folks do every other year, some have gone a number of years -- Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice!
Whatever you choose, it's a good idea to get in the habit of checking hubs and tires for excess heat every time you stop so as to nip trouble in the bud -- Either by hand or by Infrared Thermometer -- If you get in the habit, you will know instantly when something is hotter than normal for the existing conditions.
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Pete D
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06/21/08 04:16pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Trailer Brakes
Well I have draw tite's version of the P3. I think its the intella stop extreme. I don't know if it has the same warranty though.
My Prodigy (EBay) came in a box marked U-Haul. P3 also has Limited Lifetime Warranty:
http://www.tekonsha.com/p3.html
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Pete D
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06/20/08 05:34pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: welding cracked manifolds
I'm amazed nobody suggested JB Weld :);):D
Cut it out, Chris, or we'll sic Will on you!
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Pete D
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06/20/08 05:29pm |
Tech Issues
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