We got back from Disney yesterday, the Ex did great, no issues, the P0299 did not come back on.

We had a few problems with the new camper, for one I thought the TV was not working. We swapped it out with our bedroom unit before we left. I started messin with the RV's this morning and it seems to work fine. I have it set up in the family room so everybody can test it.

The TV/Surround sound cabling is not right, being an IT person I will correct it.

The inverter battery was wired wrong, I contacted the dealer, the tech is getting educated on how to hook up batteries in series. For now I have one battery hooked up, worked great all the way home.

I was getting a little sway, I think I need to adjust the mount down one inch, not enough tongue weight. I also wondered why I had brake push, duh, the brake controller was not set high enough,only took 1000 miles to notice it!

We had a few other small things but all in all a great trip.

 

how does lowering the hitch mount add tongue weight? it will change the geometry, but it is not going to raise tongue weight.

 

If you are high or low on the hitch it will remove or add tongue weight!

The Ideal geometry is level trailer to level hitch.

 

sorry it does not add or remove tongue weight

it will load or unload one particular axle on a tandem trailer which will make the trailer more or less stable, but it does not add tongue weight.

if the trailer is riding too high in the front then he has transferred the weight of the rig to the rear axle, at that point the pivot point is further back of the center of the trailer and the tongue would actually weigh more. the sway is in the fact that the suspension of the trailer is all being carried by one set of the trailer springs and they are overloaded. lower the front will put more lever on the front axle moving the pivot point forward and making the tongue lighter. its a simple lever imagine where the weight would shift to if you removed one of the axles.

you can change the geometry of your setup, but most likely you need to move weight forward. a modern "half ton towable" trailer has lousy axle position, they have tried to make the tongues too light and they do have sway.

this link is to a discussion with the experts at etrailer. the customer poses the same question to their experts, level the trailer, slight nose down if possible and add weight to the front of your load is the answer. the answer to tongue weight is not the nose height it is the distribution of the cargo. the secret is a level trailer that has enough tongue weight.
https://www.etrailer.com/question-35756.html

understand that your tandem springs are suppose to work together and equalize load so its not an absolute pivot point, but a quick google search will lead to page after page that says you have to move the weight forward to add tongue weight

 

Just got back from a weekend at the local camp ground with friends. Cooked crawfish last night.

 

Sounds like a great weekend ☺

 

I am getting ready to tow for the first time on Wednesday...how much should I exceed (Tire Printed) PSI for towing 6500#? I want to stiffen up the sidewalls right? Thanks all.

I know inside the gas door it says 55 on the back and 45 in the front.

(former suburban tower)

 

What is the tire ply rating?

 

On the sidewall of your tires is a MAXIMUM PSI printed. ...never ever exceed that pressure for any reason.

 

Transforce E10

 

I hear all the chatter about 60-80 PSI running when towing...?

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...re-towing.html

 

If your tires say they can take 80 psi try it.
But be sure they are rated to tske it.
I knew an idiot who ran 100 psi in tires rated for max 70 psi and he wondered why they blew out. God sometimes protects idiots and he didn't getin a bad wreck.
Just play around a little and find out what works for year if you don't exceed that maximum.

 

What load range are your tires?

For the weight of the truck they should be E rated IIRC! Max pressure should be 80 PSI. As already stated look at the tire sidewall.

According to Tire Rack 80 PSI is the max. Load up the trailer and see what the sidewall deflection looks like!

I run my EX at 70 PSI in the rears and 65 PSI in the fronts when towing!

I also run my air bags at 65 PSI.

 

Took our new trailer out for the maiden voyage Tues-Thurs. Had the campground to ourselves, it was nice! Trailer and EX performed very well, tows excellent. A couple loose screws to fix on the trailer, but otherwise everything works good. The air bags are sweet!

Went to the scale on the way home and got some expensive news. Tongue weight on this beast is 1500 lbs! Here I am with my wimpy 1000 lb receiver. I had planned to just replace the bolts to bring it up to the 1250 rating the newer Excursions have, but even that will be inadequate. My Equalizer from my old trailer is the 1200 lb model, and it's in over it's head as well. Still debating my options on hitches. $500 for a 1400 lb Equalizer, a bit more for a similar Reese rated to 1500 lbs. I'm also considering stepping right up to a Hensley or Pro Pride. One of each on CL locally. I am going to upgrade the receiver to a Tork Lift Super hitch rated to 2000 lbs. Not feeling comfortable with the idea of the stock unit breaking, it would make for a very bad day.

Here's the scale weights.

Truck only with me, wife, dog, and the usual crap I haul around in the back for camping.

3480 Front
3920 Rear

Without WD bars hooked up

2780 Front
6140 Rear
7160 trailer

With bars as I set them with tape measure

3140 Front
5620 Rear
7300 Trailer

And one last pass with the bars as tight as I dare.

3320 Front
5380 Rear
7380 Trailer

I feel like the last numbers are acceptable, but the bars are giving their all. Can't be healthy for them long term.

A couple pics. First, filling the water tank on the way in, and another at the campsite.