RE: Is it legal to leave the drawbar/ball in when not towing?
If leaving a draw bar on is illegal when not towing, than wouldn't it make all of the other receiver mounted accessories other than hitches illegal such as hitch hauler baskets, bike racks, rascal and wheel chair haulers, etc. If it's legal to have these things on the back, I can't see why there'd be a law against a hitch being left mounted when not in use.
RE: Need a Detachable Step for Trailer
We picked up a nice single step stool at Wal-Mart that we use. Is has steel tubing legs instead of the plastic ones like most stools. I think we paid 12 - 15 dollars for it.
RE: Frontier RV Explorer...thumbs up/down?
Prices should be similar to Jayco JayFlight line. Non Slide units will be around 12 - 14,000 - Slide out models should be $15,000 and up.
RE: Frontier RV Explorer...thumbs up/down?
We've got an 05 T265. We're very pleased with it.
I do know they've made some changes with the 08 such as smaller tires and frame on the non-slide trailers as opposed to the slide out trailers. I think they're a great unit for the money and they've got some great features we're now spoiled to such as large tanks and tinted windows.
I think the GVWR for most of them should be a round 7700 lbs.
RE: How does a reg. car pull a trailer?Do you have any Pics?
Back to the original questions...
Didn't Lucy and Desi's trailer have a dolly wheel on the front similar to this?
https://www.shogunindustries.com/Graphics/tufftow/images/drawing.gif
https://www.shogunindustries.com/cgi-bin/ws400CS.cgi?cart_id=1080508113028943&page=tufftowsolution.htm
I was thinking in a scene or two you could see the smaller wheel holding up the front of the trailer.
RE: International's new Class 8 truck , the LoneStar
It is funny that you would bring up the East/West thing.I remember seeing a lot of Autocars in the midwest but once I relocated to Colorado I didn't see one. Are they still running around?
Volvo sold off autocar in 2001 and now all they manufacture are cab over garbage truck chassis.
www.autocartruck.com
RE: What do you use to carry spare Diesel in??
My Harleys a Diesel and I don't like the attention it gets at the gas station so I fill it up at the campground.....
I thought the whole point of owning a Harley was to get attention. I've never seen (and definately never heard) a Harley that I thought was in stealth mode.
RE: 2008 2500HD 3:73 or 4:10
I do not think that Chevy/GMC gives you a choice on SRW 2500 series trucks, it is 3.73 or 3.73. Take your pick. I think 3.73 axles combined with the diesel/auto is probably about perfect when considing the tow rating of the 2500HD.
This statement is true only for the diesel trucks. With the 6.0 gasser, you have a choice of 3.73 or 4.10.
RE: What happens if my truck is close on all towing weight?
I wonder why the insurance company will cancel the policy if an accident occurs due to being overweight but yet they don't automatically cancel policies for all of their clients who have accidents speeding, running stop signs, passing in a no passing zone, following too close, or a host of other factors that cause auto accidents. I know the other factors I list cause many more accidents than the guy going down the road at less than the speed limit because his truck doen't have enough power to pull the trailer 70 mph.
RE: tired, confused Tahoe owner
snip.....
Comparing a truck (or any other machine) to humans is a terrible analogy. When you max out on a dead lift, 250 is the most you can move. A Tahoe's tow rating is nowhere near it's max pull.
That is my whole point that you miss...
That 250 lb is the 'rating', not the maximum it 'can' carry.
Rating as in GVWR, GVWR, MTWR, etc, etc
Rating is NOT the point of failure, but the maximum
loading that the 'thing' can do for the warranty period, plus some
margin so that they don't fail the instant it reaches the warranty
limit (time and/or milage).....and.....perform to the specifications.
That means performance. Like rate of change (acceleration and deceleration),
handling that load on a curve, at altitude (both highest and lowest),
at max temp (both ambient and internal), etc, etc, etc...
This is why the analogy works so well with the people I've used it on.
Once they understand that the 'rating' isn't the gut busting maximum,
but the max where they can do it for a long period of time. Then they
understand that going over that 'rating' won't have the wheels instantly
fall off, just that they will sooner. They can make the association
with themselves and the in-animate object...aka...their vehicle. Just
like going over the rating limit won't instantly have them drop onto
their knees, just that they will sooner...
Well - if lifting 250 is no problem for you and not your max, I will no longer argue with you. You are apparently a much larger man than me.
RE: tired, confused Tahoe owner
Think about your physical ratings to lift and carry a bar bell, say your
limit rating is 250 lbs. Sure you can lift and carry that, but how
well and how long? Run without it and stop just short of the edge of
the curb. Then ditto that with the 250 lb load, then what? Sure some
will say the trailer has brakes, which do help, but 'you' still have
to handle that load. Would you do better with a smaller load? Bigger load?
Comparing a truck (or any other machine) to humans is a terrible analogy. When you max out on a dead lift, 250 is the most you can move. A Tahoe's tow rating is nowhere near it's max pull.
To the OP..."Recreational" towing is all about compromises. You're trying to find a vehicle that will take the kids to school, be easy to maneuver in traffic, get realively decent MPG, and tow a trailer.
A Suburban hauls kids well
A Corvette maneuvers well in traffic
A Corolla gets great mileage
A F-450 tows trailers great.
However, the Tahoe should be able to get the job done. It won't tow as well as the F-450, but it'll get better mileage and haul more people, ride better, and be more maneuverable at the multi-level parking garage.
RE: my new chevy 1/2 ton ( long post )
I don't understand the posts about upgrading the tires. If you put on 1-ton tires with their corresponding air pressure (you'd have to check on the maximum wheel air pressure, too), you'll be half way to having a 1-ton ride. That seems like the whole point of the post - needing a soft ride. P tires are more likely to provide that, no?
Paul
No one said he had to operate them at max PSI. Just because the tires are capable of 80 pounds doesn't mean they have to be inflated to 80.
For example, a 275/65R18 Range E tire has a capacity of 3415 lbs at 80 psi (way more capacity than a 1500 needs). However, if inflated to 45 pounds, the capacity is still 2310 lbs, which is well work fine for a empty half ton and he still has the ability to increase pressure as needed when towing or hauling max payloads.
RE: TV suggestions/requirements for 16600(max) GVWR....
If this trailer is for weekend trips with the kids, the F-350 will be more than sufficient. You're trailer won't be loaded to the full GVWR like the full timers on here do. The F-350 will handle 15,000 pounds with the 4.10 gears.
Get the diesel engine, 4.10 gears locking rear axle, 4x4, dual rear wheels, and a crew cab or super cab (not for the length but for the seats).
The F-350 will be much easier and cheaper to insure. Once you go to a F-450, insurance is much harder to find.
RE: TV suggestions/requirements for 16600(max) GVWR....
The longer the better recomendation is for travel trailers rather than fifth wheels. Fifth wheels don't have the sway issues of a regular trailer.
F-350 would get the job done with a diesel and if you're not going very far with the V-10.
Do you plan to tow in mountains or near sea level?
Do you plan to stay on the pavement or go to more primitive camping areas?
Do you feel comfortable with a manual transmission?
Do you have previous towing experience?
Answer these questions and then board members can answer your other questions
RE: my new chevy 1/2 ton ( long post )
I'd upgrade the tires. We bought my wife a new tahoe and the P rated tires lasted about 75 miles. We live on a gravel road and all it took was one rock to ruin a front tire. We now have 17" 10 plys on it. My brother in law bought a new z-71 like yours and put 10 ply 285/18s on it and it looks really good.
If towing, you'll want heavier tires even if you stay on the pavement.
Congrats on the truck - but watch the tires.
P.S. - The Tahoe had Goodyear Wranglers. Hopefully, you have something better.
