RE: Best Leveling for Tandem Axle?
Personally, I pump up one and then the other and get them visually close in height to each other, but if you are concerned about getting them equal, you can always do something like gaffer222 did.
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/14549/2661026120090325685S600x600Q85.jpg
RE: Best Leveling for Tandem Axle?
Ok, I'll ask this neophyte question. Let's say you use the airbags. How do you know how much air to put in them to level the trailer? Are there levels out there that tell you how many inches you need to raise the trailer?
I use the hand tire pump and pump it up until the trailer is level...I could care less how many inches it is. I just add enough air to get it lifted to level from my levels that are stuck on the corners of my camper.
Backing, chocking and leveling takes less than 10 minutes. Me walking back and forth around the camper is the most time consuming part of it. Back into site, verify that I am on the most level part of the site, identify the low side, place bags behind each wheel, back onto bags, chock wheels, pump up bags til trailer is level, disconnect from truck and lift or lower tounge for front to back level, drop stabs and done. It takes about 1 minute of constant pumping to fill the bags to thier limit, which I have never come close to. Most sites I frequent are fairly level, so the bags are rarely fully inflated.
RE: Best Leveling for Tandem Axle?
Find the link in this forum (around page 8-11) and find how to build Level-Aires. These are air bags that you can make. Each air bag (2) is placed under each wheel, then you inflate both bags at the same time. I just inflate until my wife, which is inside the camper with a flat bubble level inside the refrigerator says thats good, and your all set! I made/built these and they work great!! You can level your TT from side to side easily and exact. No more carrying wood planks or leveling blocks. These are cool!!
What happens if they were to leak air after your stabilizers are out and the slide is out as well? Could it not twist the frame? What if it happened at 3:00am ,,,,, that would stink !!!:E
Just askin ...;)
-- Tim --
What happens if one of your tires were to leak air after your stabilizers are out and the slide is out as well? Could it not twist the frame? What if it happened at 3:00am ,,,,, that would stink !!!:E
Just askin ...;)
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh246/mike_mn/LevelAir%20Style%20Leveling%20Air%20Bag%20Build%20Instructions/1AirBagOverview.jpg height=320
RE: Suburban / Expidition MPG
I am getting ready to upgrade my Trail Blazer EXT. Was looking at the Tahoe but no room behind the 3rd row seat. So now it's between a Suburban & Expedition. The Suburban is larger then I need and the Expedition is about the same size as the TB and the seats fold down. The big question is what kind mileage do you see with them ? The wife get's around 13 mpg running around ( they rate it 15 / 20 I get 13 / 18 ) with the V6 on the TB. ( I think the engine is under sized ) They rate the Sub. @ 15 / 19 and the Exp. @ 14 / 18 but I here the Exp. dose not achieve that at all. Buy the way I tow a 04 Starcraft ANT 235SRG 3700 dry. I get 10 MPG towing with the TB on fairly level conditions, but lacks any real power. Thanks in advance for your replies.
I have an 03 Denali Yukon XL(same basic body as suburban) with a 6.0L and unsure of the rear end(I am sure it is a bad towing ratio) towing a 23SS I get at best 9mpg(without a headwind) when I am working hard to get good mileage. When I am not trying it ends up between 7.5 and 8.5mpg depending on the wind. For day to day driving I get about 13mpg and on the freeway about 15.5mpg. The new ones are probably better, but I would be shocked to see a suburban of anykind reach 19mpg even with a 100lb woman driving it alone with no cargo.
RE: Camping nights per year
I guess I was on a different frame of reference when considering justification of the cost...not looking at it from a per/night cost, but a satisfaction level. Am I satisfied with the number of nights I have camped vs. how much I have paid for the camper? For me, yes the cost is justified. How many nights does it take you to feel like it isn't a boat anchor sitting in storage or your back yard that is depreciating everyday you have it?
Camping nights per year
Edit, After all the responses...I need to reask the quesiton...
I guess I was on a different frame of reference when considering justification of the cost...not looking at it from a per/night cost, but a satisfaction level. Am I satisfied with the number of nights I have camped vs. how much I have paid for the camper? For me, yes the cost is justified. How many nights does it take you to feel like it isn't a boat anchor sitting in storage or your back yard that is depreciating everyday you have it?
How many camping nights per year do you think justifies the price you paid for your trailer? I realize this is something each person needs to decide, I am just wondering what others think.
For me, we are at 18 nights so far this season and have 4-6 more nights planned before winter. I feel very good about how much we are using the trailer.
RE: roo 23 ss awning
Home Depot Outdoor carpeting - 15ftX8ft - $40 bucks or so. Not the cheap turf stuff that frays, the stuff that could be used in a basement almost looks like commercial carpet. Very thin, easy to sweep clean. Folds up nicely and fits in the outside storage compartment. A little stiff the first few times out, but after it gets wet a few times it softens up. Lay it out on the driveway at home and it drys out nicely.
RE: For those Who Like Cutting Holes in Their 23ss Roo's...
And one more dumb question, Leaf, the window didn't add enough weight to affect the slide out did out? I mean, the part where they tell you that it's a-ok to not have supports under your slide out (talking specifically my 23SS now) unless you are going to have the sofabed made out as a bed all the time and a couple of huge people on it or something. I don't know how close they cut the actual weight allowed without a support under a 23's SS, hence the question. Can't imagine the window weighs too much, but I have to be prepared for all the excuses my DH will give me for not doing this. Thanks!
So, is explaining that a bunch of anonymous posters on an internet forum told you it would not weigh too much be acceptable to him as a response to his excuse that it would weigh too much?
Just askin...
RE: one problem: aliens have taken over the concertone alarm?
Use the dealer. THat is what they are for. If you find poor service there, go over them, but until they prove to be bad, utilize them so you dont have to go hunting...
RE: one problem: aliens have taken over the concertone alarm?
Return it to the dealer. They can get a replacemetn from FR for free. The initial run of those stereos had an "error" in them. It needs to be replaced to fix it.
I have had mine replaced twice, cuz the dealer had one in stock that they thought already had the fix, but it didn't.
RE: Need suggestion on travel trailer make/model to buy
So are you guys saying that pretty much by default, TTs with the pop-out tent sleeping are designed so that it is a primary sleeping berth, with all the other floorspace then reserved for walking/dining/counters, etc.?
Yes, the pop out tent ends are strictly for sleeping.
I guess what I'm wondering is, does this exist - picture a standard TT without the pop-out sleeping. It would probably have a queen-ish size bunk somewhere, and perhaps two bunk beds somewhere else. The front face that looks at the back of the tow vehicle would be solid. But then picture a pop-out tent bunk on that face as the "bonus".
This doesn't exist in the current market place. Most trailers with a pop out end has this as a primary sleeping area.
Also, with the Acadia, you are not in the market for a hard sided travel trailer. Your tow rating is short when you consider that the vehicle is loaded down with people and gear and the Trailer is weighed down with gear.
RE: Supplementing water hook-up with water pump
When we were out in the Black Hills recently, I found that with the low water pressure, my water regulator acted more like a restricter. The first few days we supplemented with the pump, but then, I just removed the pressure regulator and the rest of the week we had decent pressure without the need to suppliment.
BTW, I highly recommend Fort Welikit(pronounced We Like It) just a mile north of Custer. The people who run the place bent over backwards to make our stay great. It has full hookups and is surrounded by trees. Sylvan Lake is a quick drive for plenty of hiking trails and such.
RE: Hook up by yourself devices?
It must be a depth perception thing. Some people must need more help than others in that regard. Kind of like playing the drums. some people can control each limb independently...others like me...not so much.
Personally, I try to avoid having a "helper". When I do, I just ignore them and do it myself. The only thing a helper can help me with is "STOP!!!!" The rest I will always do myself. Fortunatly my depth perception is pretty good. I rarely need to align side to side. Usually it goes something like this:
-Back up to about 3 ft from hitch head. Center camper with the center of the rear window. Get out and verify side to side alignment.
-Do minor adjustment for side to side alignment, if necessary and back up about 1 ft if necessary, then look again at side to side alignment.
-When I am within 3 ft of the hitch head, I leave the door open and hang my foot out the door. I put it in reverse scan the ground for a marker and back up til my foot lines up with the approx distance needed. I never am looking back at this point, just at the ground for reference of how far I have traveled. I get out and check where I am at. Usually takes 1 or 2 trys from 12 inches away lined up side to side and it is lined up perfectly.
Usually in and out of the truck 3-5 times total and I am lined up. I agree with practice if you are not into the gadget thing. However, I also agree that a video camera would be kind of cool to have for lining it up.
RE: My new Wheel Chocks thanks to my dad's handywork :-)
Looks great, that is just what I need for my binder chocks. Some delrin peices for the wedges. I have not liked the wood chunks, but haven't found a round "tuit" to do anything different.
RE: How not to pull a camper!!!!
I had a close call like this on our trip out to the Black Hills in June, but at least I noticed it was happening. Apparently, I had a momentary lapse of reason by not believing that the sign for a tunnel ahead was on the road I was on. I knew that there were tunnels on the Iron Mountain Rd and Needles Highway, but this was 87 north of Sylvan lake, I didn't know there was a rouge tunnel out there. Well, by the time I was staring it in the face, I was white as a ghost. 10ft 8in high and 10ft wide. I knew that with the awning, I needed to be careful on the width, but should be ok at shy of 9ft wide, but the height was another problem. I had no idea how high I was. Since I saw no way of getting around it, there was no going back. I quickly calculated that I can reach the awning strap standing on the ground. That means the roof is about 9ft off the ground. I hoped that the AC is not 20 inches high. I crept through the tunnel with no scratches...needless to say I went a different way on the way out of town...
RE: need to know more about solar blankets and Wheel Stop Chock
My Binder style wheel chocks. No tools to tighten and about $20 to make.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh246/mike_mn/Binder%20Style%20Chocks%20Build%20Instructions/7BinderAssembled.jpg height=320
