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RE: trailer suspension
Pro-active means fixing problems that don’t yet exist.
Waste of $$ in this case, IMO.
Tow it, get the WDH dialed in first. THEN consider suspension changes.
Shock absorbers are add on only with trailers.
Trailer tires are not balanced since there is no need for comfort. But balancing them will make for a smoother ride and less vibrations being sent through the trailer.
Shocks would lessen side to side rocking and how hard the road impacts affect the trailer and it’s cargo.
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Boomerweps
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07/01/22 10:23am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: add an outlet to the outside kitchen
While an extra installed AC outlet is nice, did you consider just tossing an extra cable under the RV from the power pedestal 15-20 amp outlet? I do that for my outdoor cooking table, so no power draw on my 30 amp trailer system for heavy heat cooking requirements. 12AWG cable to a power strip.
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Boomerweps
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06/14/22 09:51am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: WDH
Forgot to mention,
my SIL towed a near 8000# toy hauler 28’ box, IIRC, with his Ram 2500 diesel, later with a 2500 gas. No WDH ever, no probs.
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Boomerweps
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05/26/22 09:01am |
Towing
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RE: WDH
Or the cliffs notes. 500lbs tw is NOWHERE near needing a wdh to save the hitch.
Not even on a newer half ton.
PPS, 5000lbs is the bumper ball limit.
Ford F-150 standard 2” hitch has the non WDH 500/5000 limit on a sticker and in the Owner’s Manual and Towing Guide. Yes, it’s also the bumper hole tow limit.
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Boomerweps
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05/25/22 11:48am |
Towing
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RE: Discoverer AT3 XLT
Batteries have a build date clearly marked on them, often a punched hole type, for warranty purposes. Look closely, then decide.
IMHO, if you have any questionable battery symptoms, change it. Otherwise, wait. Most batteries, in average temperature conditions, last 5 years but many go 7 years, IME.
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Boomerweps
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05/21/22 09:07am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Drill motor for stabilizers
Noise from drill or impact gun in a campground during setup or tear down. 1st world problems. Rarely in the dark. More noise from yippy dogs.
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Boomerweps
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05/15/22 08:24am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Drill motor for stabilizers
Cheap cordless drill from Harbor Freight, on sale. $20 +/- one battery, so I always charge it while loading out for camping. You don’t need the impact action.
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Boomerweps
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05/13/22 08:43pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Purchasing first TT, need a bit of sanity checking advice
To answer your final question:
Yes, you were stupid
UNTIL you realized you were a bit out of your depth, posted here, and ran the math for yourself.
So congrats on that ;)
In giving new by RVers purchasing advise, I always recommend using the Travel Trailer’s GVWR in decision making math. That way when you really load it up (or your wife does), you don’t get into overloading arguments (been there, done that). Also try hard to keep that around 80% of your tow vehicle’s rated towing capacity. That stops you from frequently towing at or over the various capacities of truck or trailer.
I won’t rehash the whole story but my first CAT Scale weights showed me overweight on my SUV (2008 Explorer) rear axle & my trailer axle by near 200# each. Not earth shattering but my SUV and trailer went on a weight reducing plan that included no fresh water in the tank, no firewood, not much extra stuff for visitors, and less most everything. Bought a stronger tow vehicle (TV)(F150) shortly after the beginning of our 2nd RV camping season. Bought the trailer to ~90% match the Explorer capacities and it worked but a weak TV.
Side note, in general: A good trailer brake controller (TBC) is a must. A good Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) is a must on a half ton truck towing a Travel Trailer at half or more it’s tow capacity.
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Boomerweps
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05/11/22 05:01pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 30A Surge Protector Recommendations
I put the hard wired Progressive Industries HWC-30 in my TT. I cheaped out and didn’t get the remote display. Mistake.
Only problem is it does it’s job well. No ground, inverted polarity on the mains, NO POWER passed. No workarounds. Had low voltage at one place, it kept shutting off power. I suggest having a bypassable plug so you can get power in those odd cases IF you determine the risk is worth it.
As IAMICHABOD stated, there IS a bypass. It is part of the remote pendant that you didn't get.
There were NO switches on the remote display whenever I bought my EMS. I’ll have to contact PI to see if the new remote is usable with my unit. IIRC, at the time I bought & 1st used my EMS, you could separately purchase the remote display later for near twice the additional cost buying it with the EMS.
I bought my PI EMS HW30C in 2008 with the remote pendant. It has the switch. Your PI must be really old, because mine is 14 years old. Here is a photograph of my pendant (note the lower left corner of the pendant):
https://i.imgur.com/bhbcnRv.jpg
My PI HWC30 is about 4 years old.
If you have the remote display, you do not have a local, on unit display. I have the display on the main unit. My display plugs into where the remote display plug would. I did find a remote bypass switch accessory compatible with my unit for $24, due in tomorrow. No remote display is available with my original unit. Might be able to McGuyver one but not worth the cost & effort to me. I keep a cheap plug in volt meter in my kitchen outlet for quick monitoring, reads about a volt low compared to the EMS.
Yes, I regret not ponying up the extra for the remote display ;(
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Boomerweps
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05/11/22 04:32pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 30A Surge Protector Recommendations
I put the hard wired Progressive Industries HWC-30 in my TT. I cheaped out and didn’t get the remote display. Mistake.
Only problem is it does it’s job well. No ground, inverted polarity on the mains, NO POWER passed. No workarounds. Had low voltage at one place, it kept shutting off power. I suggest having a bypassable plug so you can get power in those odd cases IF you determine the risk is worth it.
As IAMICHABOD stated, there IS a bypass. It is part of the remote pendant that you didn't get.
There were NO switches on the remote display whenever I bought my EMS. I’ll have to contact PI to see if the new remote is usable with my unit. IIRC, at the time I bought & 1st used my EMS, you could separately purchase the remote display later for near twice the additional cost buying it with the EMS.
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Boomerweps
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05/10/22 10:25am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 30A Surge Protector Recommendations
I put the hard wired Progressive Industries HWC-30 in my TT. I cheaped out and didn’t get the remote display. Mistake.
Only problem is it does it’s job well. No ground, inverted polarity on the mains, NO POWER passed. No workarounds. Had low voltage at one place, it kept shutting off power. I suggest having a bypassable plug so you can get power in those odd cases IF you determine the risk is worth it.
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Boomerweps
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05/09/22 01:53pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Modify top bunk
I removed the upper bunk in my Wolf Pup BHS16. It was a PITA getting the screws out. Had to remove the luan top to access them and remove and reroute the wires to my thermostat. It was just a 2x2 frame with several cross braces. You’d have to rebuild that frame to make it a shelf. I installed a wood clothes rod up near the ceiling from the back wall to the cabinet above my dinette.
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Boomerweps
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05/04/22 06:42pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: best brake controller 09 f150
Last one I bought, Prodigy 3, came with a bare wire ended to plug cable. I bought the Ford to Prodigy adapter on EBay for $10-12.
Did you search the truck? My 1998 Expedition & 2008 Explorer with tow packages both came with a Ford plug to bare wires cable for a trailer brake controller. Then you just have to mate the wires.
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Boomerweps
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05/02/22 12:24pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New Ranger for towing
The Ranger is a very nice smaller truck. Much easier to park and operate in tighter spaces in town.
Have you seen them side by side? This isn't a 1980's ranger where it was drastically smaller.
The F150 (same cab/bed) is only 2" wider and just over a foot longer.
New trucks for a side by side comparison? Not at any local to me Ford dealer currently. Last time time I had services done on my truck the showroom was EMPTY!
Yes, they do look a lot bigger but I hadn’t seen the measurements.
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Boomerweps
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04/29/22 12:13pm |
Towing
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RE: New Ranger for towing
The Ranger is a very nice smaller truck. Much easier to park and operate in tighter spaces in town.
Tow rated at 7000# WITH NO WDH, according to Ford.
Ranger pricing isn’t that far off from an F150.
Adding the fifth wheel comments can be from a lack of research but, to me, is almost trolling ??
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Boomerweps
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04/28/22 11:20am |
Towing
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RE: Trying to figure out what trailers I can tow
So, do the majority of persons replying here, who are either arguing semantics or instructing how to theoretically determine what is permissible by the trucks ratings….do you guys actually know the answer or do you just like hearing yourself talk?
“An excellent missive…”. WTH kind of reply is that?
If you don’t have a relatively educated ACTUAL response for the OP, then it means you’re as clueless as him. So why not refrain and hope to gain something g from the thread rather than polluting it with arguments about how much the avg human weighs or mis interpreting the unit weight of gasoline?
Good grief…
STAND BACK!
I’ve got a large vocabulary and I’m not afraid to use it! ;)
It’s called a discussion. OP isn’t paying for answers and they get their money’s worth.
Like any other web forum, OP gets to sort through the chaff (like this post) & gets to have the final decision.
Bad day, Grit dog?
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Boomerweps
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04/18/22 10:25am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Vehicle "rise" while towing.
I want to thank those who discussed the oversteer/understeer aspects.
It now makes more sense to me that the F150s with tow packages come with a heavier, solid front anti-roll bar vice the standard same diameter hollow bar and the effects that has. And that there is no factory rear bar.
It has also helped me make up my mind on NOT getting the Hellwig rear bar. While that would improve daily empty driving, I now think that it would not help towing at best and possibly be an actual oversteer concern while towing. Throw in the recent increased cost of the bar & its now a no go for me.
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Boomerweps
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04/18/22 10:11am |
Towing
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RE: Trying to figure out what trailers I can tow
Anyone that is confused by the differing opinions and wants to know what the real definition of curb weight, payload, etc. is, can go to the clicky I posted earlier and get the “facts”.
Clicky
An excellent missive.
Note that much of what is listed is also clearly described in the manufacturer’s Towing Guide.
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Boomerweps
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04/16/22 08:05am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Trying to figure out what trailers I can tow
You start out so well and then, in the words of the J. Gail’s Band, “must have got lost, somewhere down the line”.
First, all liquids, including a full gas tank, are part of the factory curb weight and not part of the Load Capacity.
Second, for clarity, the 150# driver (& now 150# single passenger in 2020+ for Ford) is only allowed for in the tow rating ONLY. SAE tow test standards also allow for a 100# Weight Distributing Hitch but that is not always referenced by truck makers.
Easiest no cost weigh (pun intended) to get the factory built curb weight is subtract the factory Load Capacity from the GVWR, looking at two door frame stickers.
No, I think you went right off the rails so to speak.
You live in PA, right?
You do realize PA does include the unladen weight of your vehicle right on the registration card, right?
OK, so I will take my newest truck for example..
GVWR listed on the door is 10,000
Unladen weight listed on PA registration card is 5,742
Yellow loading sticker states 3,800 lbs
10,000 - 5,742 = 4,258 (cargo)
But, wait.. there is a discrepancy between what your manual calculation is..
calculated cargo 4,258 - yellow sticker 3,800 = 458 difference..
Truck has 35 gallon fuel tank and at roughly 8 lbs per gallon that is 280 lbs..
458 - 280 lbs = 178 lbs..
The 178 lbs is pretty darn close to the 150 lbs specified as the DRIVER.. and the 28 lbs discrepancy is most likely due to rounding the fuel weight..
For the record, the truck I used IS a 2020 F250..
So, my math says that the yellow sticker does account for the full fuel tank and driver and using the CURB weight of the vehicle does not take into account full tank of fuel or driver..
This makes sense since the factory does not ship ANY vehicle with a full tank of fuel, they ship it with just enough fuel to load and unload and get it to the dealers lot. Dealer is responsible for filling the tank the first time when you buy it.
Pretty clear.
Not so clear.
Forgot PA lists an Unladen Weight on the registration. Don’t know how they determine that. Guesses don’t count.
Yes, vehicles are not shipped with a full tank. But it is easily calculated by them to figure out for the curb weight.
Yellow sticker states “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed:” That means driver is part of the load capacity. My truck 2019 F150 Owner’s Manual goes into detail on the yellow sticker in the Towing section and gives examples that include the driver.
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Boomerweps
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04/15/22 02:06pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Trying to figure out what trailers I can tow
I spent the last 12 years out of my 32 years working at GM at the Flint Assembly plant and I never did see where those trucks were weighed and stickered. I was on skilled trades and was everywhere in that plant. No idea how they figured out the weight of those trucks with their different options as they rolled off the line. Maybe I just didn't pay attention.....
I always assumed the guys who said there was a scale were just making it up.
Unlike RVs, the automotive industry, they know the weight of each piece and part down to the gnats ass. They probably just add up the weights based on selected options. They might do an occasional sample vehicle to confirm but I doubt they have a scale at the exit to the plant with a guy typing up the yellow stickers as each truck gets weighed.
Ford had a list for adding and subtracting the weight of those various options. I downloaded it from some Ford site courtesy of someone on the F150 Forum. Sorry, no link. But it appears their weight listings are calculated, vice actual weighing each vehicle.
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Boomerweps
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04/15/22 01:32pm |
Travel Trailers
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