Let'sRoll
Lancaster, CA
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Joined: 10/31/2011
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I have only loaded my bike once into the 347THT at the dealership. It was not hooked up to any tow vehicle and we raised the front end alot, so the rear ramp had an easy slope. I was reading the manual for the 347THT and it says you should leave your tow vehicle hooked up when loading a vehicle into the garage. I was just wondering if people are leaving it unhitched and raising the front up when loading or unloading? I found the front end will really go up alot. The service person was surprised at how far up it would extend. We were thinking maybe it was built to go up higher to give the rear ramp a gentle slope. Is anybody else raising the front end up to make loading and unloading any easier?
Jim & Carol
2011 Keystone Mountaineer 347THT
2011 Silverado 2500 with 16,000 Reese Hitch
2010 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited
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RK Hauler
SW MI
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Joined: 02/28/2010
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We load ours when not hooked up often with no problems. I don't raise the front unless there's a down-slope behind the trailer. Have hung up the bottom of the bike a couple times where the ramp meets the trailer - not a fun time! Also I have turn-downs on my mufflers and if the ramp is too steep they will hit the ground at the bottom of the ramp when backing off.
I found out it's most important to make sure the ground is relatively flat behind the trailer to avoid problems. There's some adjustment possible with the beaver tail ramp, but not a lot that will do much good either at the top or bottom. Sometimes we have to drive the trailer and bike to a spot where loading and unloading will work better.
Greg & Roxane
2010 Mountaineer 347THT Toyhauler
2002 F250 7.3 SRW CC LB Tow and Camper Package
2002 Harley Road King
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D & M w/Tess & Jeri
KC MO
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Joined: 07/22/2005
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We've done it both ways on sight and moved to a comfortable loading area too. Takes some close inspection to have angles of the ramp correct. Think I will try raising the front like you did Jim. Just leave the chocks secured. Don't want to slide the landing gears.
Darrell & Mary
Tess & Jeri--Goldens
'10 F350 4X2 CC DW LB V10
'11 Montana Mountaineer 347THT
'07 H-D Heritage Classic
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navspecwarops
Roseville, CA - Gateway to the Sierras
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Just got back from our cross country adventure picking up the trailer in North Carolina. Dealers, what can one say? We had a pretty good experience but they still managed to not have the right capture plate for the Superglide despite my calls, emails, and providing them with the correct part number for the Fifth Airborne pinbox allowing us two additional days time and expense to discover the greater Greensboro, NC area. They did give us a generous gift card for their camp store to help offset their error.
Haven't tried loading the bike yet and still have a lot of manual reading to do over the next couple weeks. My wife still thinks it's a bit huge but really loves the room and spaciousness. Likes running the slides out with the remote. Go figure? You never know what going to float a person's boat.
It "seems" to me the hitch weight is causing truck to ride a bit on the high side for the front end. It doesn't effect the truck handling but it looks quite sloped in the center and we get folks flashing us at night even though our high beams are off. Does this seem like a job for truck bed airbags? I'm don't really want the tail end of the trailer hanging much lower and I seem to be at the lowest setting on the pinbox. The truck is a 2011 F250 4x4 with the 6.5 foot bed and the tongue weight is well within spec. Perhaps it's the 4x4 suspension? The Superglide worked marvelously and allowed all sorts of flexibility in getting around fuel stations and other tight spots. I have a Transfer Flow 50 gallon change out tank on order to add some distance between fill-ups as well. Soon, we'll be looking to get that Condor chock installed.
I remembered someone writing about the garage not being heated? Our unit seems to be plumbed for both heat and AC.
Here's a question. Where do you put the recliners when the bike is in the garage?
It's a happy day having it home after all this time!
Bob and Jeanie Morrow
2011 Ford F250 4X4 King Ranch
16K Pullrite Superglide
2012 Mountaineer 347THT
2002 BMW K1200LTE
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Let'sRoll
Lancaster, CA
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Joined: 10/31/2011
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Well I wonder if the extra gas tank is causing the problem? Diesel weights 7.29 lbs per gallon, so 50 x 7.59=380 lbs plus your gas tank. Not sure how big yours is, so let's assume it is 35 gallons. That is another 262 lbs. So if you have 642 lbs of gas plus whatever else you have in your bed that can add up. When I hit the road with mine I am going to pull in to a scale and weigh the trailer hitched up and then unhitched to make sure my hitch weight in correct. I have a 2011 2500 Silverado and so far I have not pulled it with my Harley in the back, so I hope I will not have the same problem. I am getting a generator installed right now, so that should even out the weight somewhat, I hope! I will run it to the scales and see how the weight is and then do some re-arranging if I have to. I just noticed you have the 2012 version. Nice to see they have heat and air in the garage. I know our 2011 does not. Also, go back through this forum and the issue with the recliners have been discussed.
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RK Hauler
SW MI
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We have air in the garage, but the heat outlet right in front of the bike has a solid cover on it, so could add a vent there. We haven't needed to heat the garage though.
We stored one of our 4 dining chairs and one of the recliners in the stick home. Then we put the remaining recliner, with the foot stool on top, in the place of the missing dining chair on the couch side of the table. And one of the three remaining dining chairs is at the desk. It's nice only having 2 chairs at the table when we're set up.
If we didn't have 2 bicycles in the garage, we could store one of the recliners in the space to the front of the desk. But with just the 2 of us most of the time, we don't really need 4 chairs and two recliners.
As for the ride and level, the Firestone air bags and Air Lift wireless controller is the best thing we ever did for the ride and leveling the truck.
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chips47
pioneer
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Joined: 05/05/2009
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We have the 2011 THT, and it is pulled with a 2008 long bed Duramax 2500.
When our THT was bought, we had our dealer install a 5th Airborn pin box and B&W 5th wheel hitch.This total unit pulls great, you hardly know its behind you, except ocassional bridge crossing.I load a 2006 Road King Classic in the back and have used many tips from this site.
I have loaded the bike several times unhitched, just have the back stabilizers down, the front has never felt light.Maybe the 150lb. Spendide washer-Dryer combo is holding it down,( Ha Ha).The first time I loaded my bike the bottom of the motor scraped when you crested the tailgate, so I adjusted the legs on the tail to decrease the angle, problem solved.when backing out I put in 1st gear and ride the front brake, works good.We do not plan on boondocking so no need for generator, just extra weight.The plug in the back of the trailer you can plug into with a Honda portable or brand of your choice if you need one.Waiting for Daytona Bike Week.
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navspecwarops
Roseville, CA - Gateway to the Sierras
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I'll be checking into the Firestone airbag system this weekend. We have the factory generator in the front but I don't think that's a terrible significant weight.
The 2011 F250 uses DEF in a separate tank. The fuel tank has been reduced to 24 gallons. Both tanks are located amidship and even after swapping out the 24 for the 50 it doesn't seem to make too much difference. Really, we're just fine tuning at this point.
We were offered a 3000w generator "free" instead of getting the factory install. We turned it down as it was not the Honda and we wanted full integration and interior access without dinking around.(remote start) The Onan 5.5kv will run everything all at the same time too unlike the shoreline.
You know, we wondered about those washer-dryer combos. They seem small but could be damn convenient. Are they worth it?
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Let'sRoll
Lancaster, CA
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Well, we are getting the Splendide washer dryer combo. I have spoken to people who have that installed and they really like it. You can go to the Splendide web site and do a search in the forum and you will find lots of information about them. I also am getting the drip pan installed underneath the unit. It is listed as an optional item, so I thought that would be a good idea to have. This comes with a drain line.
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navspecwarops
Roseville, CA - Gateway to the Sierras
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Hey Let'sRoll,
It was Camping World RV in Bakersfield that offered us the free portable generator. Maybe you should go twist their arm unless you're after the onboard system as we were.
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