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RE: Which would you pick?
No battery expert here but I do know that there are other brands out there that get mentioned here. Titans are supposed to be very good.
I would stay away from the dealer. Charging $100 to install two batteries is a bit steep in my opinion. You simply set the batteries into boxes that will accommodate the size. They have to be wired in series which simply means you will need to connect them with a sufficiently sized cable. Connect the negative of one to the positive of the other and you will be set. Connect the negative ground from the trailer to the negative of the first battery and the positive cable from the trailer to the positive of the other battery. That is it. To charge $100 for this is taking advantage of the customer.
I bet if you look at the brand name of the batteries they are selling you will find them elsewhere for far less. JMHO
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aftermath
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06/17/13 09:19pm |
Travel Trailers
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Hwy 83 south out of the Badlands
Planning on driving south out of the Badlands this September all the way to Amarillo, TX. I have never been on this stretch of highway and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for places to stay, sights to see and/or things to avoid.
Thanks
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aftermath
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05/28/13 08:51pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Unhitching an Equalizer 4-Point
The pins seem to be just to keep the bars from falling out. I can't imagine much stress on them.
If you are talking about the "L pins" then you need to rethink this. I picked up an Equalizer with the purchase of my current trailer and both of the L pins were bent because of improper installation. The clips that hold the L pins don't get much stress on them.
I had an Equalizer on my first trailer and one of the main reasons I got it over some other type is the ease of hooking up. I did not like working with the built in tension of the chains. Like someone earlier mentioned, just take a few more minutes (seconds?) and lift the tongue a little higher and the bars slip on and off without having to spring them into place. I have only used my pry tool a few times in all the years I have been using the hitch.
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aftermath
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05/17/13 08:13am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: WD size question
I think the key to your situation will be in weighing the trailer and measuring the actual tongue weight. There is such a thing as over hitching which can cause some real issues. If your tongue weight is 750 pounds then the 1200 pound bars are going to be too stiff.
If it is 900 or more, you probably will be fine. Get it weighed.
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aftermath
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04/22/13 08:12am |
Towing
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RE: Dump Station Etiquette
This is a tough one for me. Etiquette would say that you should be respectful of those around you, especially those behind you in line. When people are waiting I simply dump and go. I got behind someone one time that obviously did not use any chemicals in their tank and the stench nearly knocked me to my knees. On top of that, this person thought it was just fine to take 25 minutes of my time as he moved about at a snail's pace filling and dumping, filling and dumping, wiping and cleaning over and over again.
Some folks think that because they have paid their $5 or their dues then they basically own the station. A sign of the times I suppose.
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aftermath
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04/20/13 04:05pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: F150 Ecoboost for Dummies
No doubt the eco-boost (a V-6 with twin turbos) is a great motor; however, If I could get the traditional V-8 for much less money I might consider it. The V-8 would have less mechanical complexity, still have a lot of power and I'm just not that impressed with the MPG difference. My Chevy V-8 gets 10 towing, can beat 20 on the interstate and averages about 15.
Bingo. The eco-boost has been the greatest thing out there when it comes to a legit truck that gets good mileage. But when you look closer, the numbers don't apply when you are towing and mainly refer to the lighter set ups. No doubt, if you are looking for a daily driver this will be a very good option.
I personally like the options Ford offer to beef up payload with heavier suspensions and important parts. It is a great way to get a half ton that fits your needs. I think Jayco--noslide really brings up a very key issue. If you have a light trailer you might not need to beef up the options. If you do then your truck starts to look more like a 3/4 ton that will give some similar mileage numbers.
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aftermath
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04/19/13 11:10am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Towing an Arctic Fox
Bob,
Nice choice, the AF is a very nice trailer. My cousin has a slightly larger one and I continue to be impressed with the quality of the thing. Yes, they are heavy for their size but that is probably what makes them so sturdy.
OK, to answer your question, yes a half ton will be able to pull this. Of course you will want to get one that is equipped to do so. Those who want to steer you into a 3/4 ton do have a point and that is the whole thing about payload. I am driving an '08 Tundra with the 5.7 and trailer package. This thing has plenty of power and torque to pull my trailer. What it doesn't have is a lot of payload capacity. Once the trailer is on the ball I don't really have a lot of room to add stuff to the bed. This is fine for me since we travel light and it is only the wife and I.
This will be a problem with most half tons. The Ford does come with some options to enhance carrying capacity. If this is a huge issue you might want to look in that direction. I can't say enough good things about my Tundra. It works well for me, gets better mileage towing that the eco boost, about the same doing in town driving but a couple miles per gallon less when on the road empty. I am fortunate that I don't need to use the Tundra as a daily driver. If I did have to I would look at the eco boost.
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aftermath
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04/16/13 02:30pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: EcoBoost Gas Mileage
Finally some realistic numbers from actual eco boost drivers. So, what it looks like to me is Ford has done a great job "boosting" the performance of a V6 engine. There is no doubt that the F 150 ecoboost can out perform any other V6 out there. It looks like it gets better mileage than my Tundra with the 5.7 but not a great deal better. I am getting 18-19 when on the highway unloaded (which isn't often), 14-15 driving around town and 10-12 when towing.
The biggest advantage of the ecoboost is that it produces power and torque at low RPMs. On the steepest of hills the tundra pulls my trailer easily in 4th gear at about 2800 RPMs so it isn't "screaming" going up the grades.
I still don't see where all the hub bub over this truck comes from. I guess boosting a small engine to produce a couple of miles per gallon better mileage might be worth it in the long run. The argument escapes me. Ford makes a very nice truck and so I am not lost on the number of folks that love their F150s. I think I would too but not for many of the same reasons mentioned in this post.
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aftermath
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04/10/13 09:57pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Warm enough?
Wow, lots of ideas here and some I even agree with.
First of all I camped out of a PU for 17 years and then went to a Hybrid. The Hybrid is head and shoulders above the PU and it is warmer. Pop Up Gizmos do work and especially in colder weather. The issue with a hybrid is the same issue with all RVs and that is EVERYONE has different expectations and needs. I live in a dry climate so drying out was never an issue. I also have camped in 20 degree weather and have kept warm enough. I do not expect my experiences while camping to match those at home. I am OK with warm days and cooler nights. If you want to always stay toasty warm, get a TT, or better yet, stay home.
We moved into a TT but only because retirement brought the reality of doing more traveling in the trailer. The hybrid got to be a bit cumbersome for moving day after day on long trips.
So, everyone has their own ideas and we should respect them. I do find it difficult to listen to people trash my particular choice simply because they don't agree that it would be right for them. Personally I couldn't imagine camping in a pick up camper but I know many love them so I say, good for you. To each his own.
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aftermath
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04/05/13 06:05pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Tire question?!
My pick would be Yokohama geolander ats. I have a set on our tb, and our sub has E-rated bridgestone . Tb is backup tow vehicle while the sub is our dedicated tow vehicle.
X2
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aftermath
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03/17/13 09:40pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tundra pulling my Jayco 26bh
I have an older Tundra but agree with the OP. It is a towing beast.
I experienced a little sway just one time while towing. I really believe that it was caused by the original P tires that came with the truck. For what it is worth, I think the BF Goodrich tires are really poor. I replaced them with some Yokohama LTs and everything is better. I also use an Equalizer hitch and it works really well. No friction bar for me.
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aftermath
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03/17/13 09:37pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Will a Tundra pull a Jayco 26B
I would just like to second what most have already said. You will have no trouble towing your trailer with the 5.7 Tundra. You will have to pay attention to your payload though. This is the weak spot with the Tundra and almost all other half tons.
I am running very close to your estimated weights. We travel light with very little added to the bed. On the few occasions where we took a bunch of firewood, extra water, bikes and the generator I thought we were over capacity. The truck did not hesitate in any way and the drive was an easy one. One of these days I need to actually weight my setup when I am loaded past where I think I should be. The truck did not struggle though.
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aftermath
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02/28/13 08:11am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Choice of Truck
I agree with earlier post, any half ton truck will pull your trailer.
There are lots of questions you should ask first. How much money do you want to spend? Will this be a daily driver? Do you have any plans to upgrade to a TT? Are you "upgrading" or just replacing your F 150?
If buying new you will have lots of options. Pay attention to the local dealers and go with one that will treat you right in the long run. Are you into toots and whistles? Some trucks today come with loads of "nice" things in them.
All that said, I have a Tundra. When I purchased it I knew I was going to get a larger trailer and I really like the 5.7 with all the power and torque.
If I was going to stay with my PU I would look at other options that would give better mileage. Mine is 5 years old now so I am sure there are many other choices out there. No problems in 5 years, I like my Toyota.
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aftermath
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02/26/13 08:34am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Blow 6.7 ford and tranny brand new
As an "outsider" when it comes to diesels I have no dog in this fight. My take on threads like this one is that it only makes sense to hear of troubled vehicles from the big three because there are so many out there. I have heard many speak of problems with their Fords. Well, I should expect this compared to the lowly Toyota since there are so many more Fords on the road. People seldom post when everything is going well.
I think all trucks are better today and while improvements continue, problems will still hang around. Sometimes it comes down to the luck of the draw. Good luck in your search for the fix.
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aftermath
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02/26/13 08:24am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Nub question
Place both batteries side by side on the tongue. Hook them together in parallel and you are good to go.
We did the same a few years back, went from a PU after 17 years and got a Starcraft Travelstar 21SSO. We had a great time in it.
Your battery will survive over the weekend easily unless you turn on the furnace and/or a lot of lights. The fridge runs off of propane with very little drain on the battery, the same as the hot water tank. The pump will draw things down but you usually don't have it running very long.
The second battery is a good idea, the sooner the better. If you do add one it is also wise to get two new ones. If one is new and the other one much older it will draw down the good one which makes them both rather weak.
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aftermath
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02/25/13 08:49pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing question,going from pop up to a TT
You have a nice set up and you won't have any trouble especially with your hitch and the anti sway. I think this is very important.
I went from a PU to an HTT and had plenty of truck but went with an Equalizer and I am glad that I did. Pulling the white box made a big difference in what I was used to. I got caught in some very strong winds on a couple of occasions and the anti sway was very welcome.
You are going to notice a big drop in mileage. It isn't the additional weight you will be pulling it is the frontal area of the new TT. We had a PU for 17 years and loved every minute. We live in a dry climate though so getting caught in the rain wasn't something that happened often and when it did, it was easy to set up at home and dry things out. If I lived in Florida I don't know if I would want to manage all the tenting.
You will like the new trailer but remember, you are also giving up something with the loss of the PU. I think it will still be a plus after you add everything up.
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aftermath
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02/25/13 08:40pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: AIRSTREAM TT
I have an Airstream and am very happy with it. This thread is starting to take on the brand hating you often see in the tow vehicle forum.
The Airstream is a very well made trailer but so are many others. It is different in so many ways and not all of these provide advantages. I have a 25 footer and it has plenty of storage inside the trailer but very little, almost none actually, on the exterior. It is comfortable for us but not lavish as many other box trailers are. I personally am not interested in having a fire place, a kitchen island or a huge television in my trailer.
All trailers need care and yes, an Airstream will leak if not maintained. I will submit that while this happens, it doesn't happen as much as the regular box trailer out there. I am a member of the Airstream forum and yes, there is much talk about water damaged trailers but when you look, these are trailers still in use after 40 or 50 years. How many 70's vintage AFs are still running around?
Airstreams are no better than most others when it comes to most of what is inside. The plumbing is home quality but the appliances are the same as other brands. But, when it comes to towing, the Airstream can't be beat. I used to pull a 21ft hybrid and now I have a 25 foot Airstream. I get the same mileage and it tows much better. The design of this thing is amazing and if you are actually someone who pulls your trailer a great deal, the Airstream will be an advantage.
I went in to buy a personal computer once and saw three similarly competent units. Unit A was a cheap PC, unit B was a much better PC and unit C was an Apple that was much more expensive than either of the other two. I asked the salesman why such a huge difference and he said, "If you buy A we will see you back in about a year with some kind of trouble. If you buy B we will see you back within two years. If you buy C, we won't see you again." There is a certain amount of value built into the top of the line trailers out there. While it is not always true, you usually do get what you pay for.
By the way, I am also an AF fan. They make a great unit. Oh, and as far as cost goes, I purchased my 2006 in 2009 and saved about 40% off of new price. Today, I can sell it for what I paid. I think in another 10 I should also be able to get a very fair price.
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aftermath
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02/24/13 09:21am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Acura MDX
My 2013 RDX specifically says not to tow it with 4 wheels down. Front wheels up is OK. You probably should just give Acura a call to find out for sure. Call a local Honda dealer if you can't find Acura.
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aftermath
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02/24/13 08:42am |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Same tune, different dance - Toyota Tacoma Question
... Also think about panic stops and weather the small truck will be able to stop that trailer quickly enough, in an emergency.
The Tacoma should work provided the engine is strong enough and it has the tow package. You will be limited by what you can carry in the bed. Figure in the weight on the tounge, the people in the truck and whatever else you want to pack along. Look at the capacity and see where you are. Don't compare this to the two rating. Two different animals.
As mentioned in the above quote, if you have to slam on in an emergency the brakes on the truck will stop the truck and the brakes on the trailer will stop the trailer. A good weight distributing hitch with built in sway will help keep everything in line as you come to a stop. If the truck had to "stop that trailer" then you would need a very large (and heavy) truck to pull most trailers.
Good luck. I have a Tundra with the 5.7 and it tows like a dream. It is not a daily driver for me though so I have an entirely different situation. Toyotas make fine trucks. They are dependable and long running but they are not heavy 3/4 ton trucks. They are very good for what they are designed to do. Good luck.
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aftermath
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02/13/13 04:32pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Consumer Reports thinks EcoBoost doesn't deliver
My sister bought a Ecoboost F-150 and still are smiling! The torque while towing in the mountains is worth it. They are getting great mileage too, much better than the 1500 they traded in. The major reason for trading it in was the engine overheated towing in the hills around Phoenix.
Fred.
OK, I love this one. The Ecoboost is the answer, the best engine design ever and yet.......I am starting to read about engine shudder and overheating. Could it be problems as we are now seeing these with more miles on them?
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aftermath
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02/07/13 08:55pm |
Tow Vehicles
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