Max Trailer Weight
#16
The chart says about the same as what I stated earlier.
But...you dont need the extra equipment to be able to tow
the full 12.5k trailer weight, it just makes the trip safer.
Class III & IV hitches are 2" reciever.
Class V hitches are 2.5" receiver.
Even paperwork sometimes gives wrong information.
Hell, I am wrong on occasion (according to my wife).
But...you dont need the extra equipment to be able to tow
the full 12.5k trailer weight, it just makes the trip safer.
Class III & IV hitches are 2" reciever.
Class V hitches are 2.5" receiver.
Even paperwork sometimes gives wrong information.
Hell, I am wrong on occasion (according to my wife).
#19
#21
Good thoughts. I am in the process of buying a new 5th wheel. Gross is 14K. When I was talking to them at the RV place they were clueless about GVWR/GAWR King pin wt..those kinds of things, other than what the brochure said.
Factory TBC- Here is how I adjust mine. flat straight road then try to stop truck and trailer using the slide on the TBC only. Adjust the gain to that the trailer will stop truck and trailer without locking up the brakes.
Then road test and adjust gain as necessary...you gotta start somewhere so that is how I do it.
#22
#23
I towed a 29ft travel trailer behind a GM safari van without a wd hitch for about 100 miles and I was scared sh.tless the whole time. dumba.s.. With my family in the van too.. can't believe the trailer dealer let me out of the lot.
Sam
#24
nah. but you might die in the case of some emergency action because there is too much weight on the hitch, which might reduce the front tire friction coefficient, thus reducing the ability to steer. and this weight on the hitch effect is worse at the one time you want it most, stopping..
I towed a 29ft travel trailer behind a GM safari van without a wd hitch for about 100 miles and I was scared sh.tless the whole time. dumba.s.. With my family in the van too.. can't believe the trailer dealer let me out of the lot.
Sam
I towed a 29ft travel trailer behind a GM safari van without a wd hitch for about 100 miles and I was scared sh.tless the whole time. dumba.s.. With my family in the van too.. can't believe the trailer dealer let me out of the lot.
Sam
#25
nah. but you might die in the case of some emergency action because there is too much weight on the hitch, reducing the front tire contact patch friction coefficient, thus reducing the ability to steer. and this weight on the hitch effect is worse at the one time you want it most, stopping..
I towed a 29ft travel trailer behind a GM safari van without a wd hitch for about 100 miles and I was scared sh.tless the whole time. dumba.s.. With my family in the van too.. can't believe the trailer dealer let me out of the lot.
Sam
I towed a 29ft travel trailer behind a GM safari van without a wd hitch for about 100 miles and I was scared sh.tless the whole time. dumba.s.. With my family in the van too.. can't believe the trailer dealer let me out of the lot.
Sam
Still, I have kicked around the idea of a WD hitch with sway control. I do get a little sway when those damn tour buses blast by me at 80+ MPH. Nothing unsafe, but if I neglect to see them coming in the mirror I feel them about the time they pull even with the rear corner of the trailer. It's a rude wake up call.
#26
but I suspect there is a tricky space, where altho you MAY appear qualified, in the case of an accident, some lawyer will crawl up your a.. looking for anything to hang the responsibility on YOU.. and your insurance company will be right there hoping to find ways THEY don't have to pay either.. (we've already seen the lengths the vehicle manufactures will go to deflect responsibility to the driver/owner). so, be careful..
Sam
#27
yes, there are individual cases where knowledgeable drivers can effectively manage outside the quidelines.. these are 'general' guidelines for the masses who are not that skilled.
but I suspect there is a tricky space, where altho you MAY appear qualified, in the case of an accident, some lawyer will crawl up your a.. looking for anything to hang the responsibility on YOU.. and your insurance company will be right there hoping to find ways THEY don't have to pay either.. (we've already seen the lengths the vehicle manufactures will go to deflect responsibility to the driver/owner). so, be careful..
Sam
but I suspect there is a tricky space, where altho you MAY appear qualified, in the case of an accident, some lawyer will crawl up your a.. looking for anything to hang the responsibility on YOU.. and your insurance company will be right there hoping to find ways THEY don't have to pay either.. (we've already seen the lengths the vehicle manufactures will go to deflect responsibility to the driver/owner). so, be careful..
Sam
#28
I have done emergency maneuvers with the trailer loaded. No problems there (other than needing a change of underwear ) but I am very careful on how I load the trailer and balance everything, to the point of being **** about it.
Still, I have kicked around the idea of a WD hitch with sway control. I do get a little sway when those damn tour buses blast by me at 80+ MPH. Nothing unsafe, but if I neglect to see them coming in the mirror I feel them about the time they pull even with the rear corner of the trailer. It's a rude wake up call.
Still, I have kicked around the idea of a WD hitch with sway control. I do get a little sway when those damn tour buses blast by me at 80+ MPH. Nothing unsafe, but if I neglect to see them coming in the mirror I feel them about the time they pull even with the rear corner of the trailer. It's a rude wake up call.
been there... I had a trailer breakaway cause of too much tongue weight, pushed me across 4 lanes of hiway into the curb, snapping a trailer axle.. so when we decided to tow the travel trailer 5000 miles, I bought a suburban AND I over compensated.. with TWO friction anti sway devices.. best piece of mind ever. you need the wd hitch head for the sway device connection point. I use the anti sway device even when the trailer is empty and I don't have the wd hooked up. (needless to say, I'm scared sh.tless of sway) last summer we did 3000 miles behind the suburban (7000lbs at 7000lbs max, wd hitch and dual anti-sway) and I was uncomfortable the whole way, with 3 drivers.. to the point my daughter won't drive/tow with me again.. the reason I bought the SD was to get me more control when I tow the car hauler long distances..(and I want to GN 2 cars sometime in the future), the SD is SO much more stable.
anyhow.. a 10,000lb wd hitch is $200 (got mine from ebay (like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/EAZ-L...item2558b3d82f) last year for enclosed car hauler, came with right side antisway).. and the anti sway are like $30. (left side version at HF is $29).. (this one for the same price uses the trunion bars, and has built in dual friction, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Reese...item27af34c0c1)
off topic a little, but important (IMHO)
last summer took my show car (see avatar and garage) to a car show 50 miles away, and then back home.. 1 mile to go there was this strange sound, turning the corner, up a short 100ft hill.. stopped to check it out.. that weird sounding.. someone had pulled the hitch pin retainer, and the pin had come out. The WD hitch head draw bar was ONE INCH from coming out of the hitch socket. Held in ONLY by the safety chain.. I couldn't get the hitch weight off the wd spring arm so decide (luckily I had incorrectly connected the safety chain OUTSIDE the wd bars) to limp home at 5mph. On the last turn BAM.. the safety chain ripped off the trailer and the
drawbar was at a 45 degree angle in the hitch socket. luckily it got me enough room to get the foot down, the hitch undone (boom fell on the ground), back in and LOCKED in, and the trailer reconnected..
ALWAYS lock the hitch pin..
Sam
#29
stalwart...
Thank you for that informative link!
I just dont have the time to look up this stuff to post.
***
Thats what I thought was being referred to.
To all of you that insist on telling me that a WD kit will allow you to pull
more trailer weight...........go back to school......at least read that link.
Be more informed.
AGAIN AS I SAID EARLIER in my replies:
a WD kit will help you get there safer, but has nothing to do with your
trailer or truck weight capabilities. No increased weight ability. Your
vehicle will pull what it is rated at and thats it, with or w/o the WD kit.
Thank you for that informative link!
I just dont have the time to look up this stuff to post.
***
Thats what I thought was being referred to.
To all of you that insist on telling me that a WD kit will allow you to pull
more trailer weight...........go back to school......at least read that link.
Be more informed.
AGAIN AS I SAID EARLIER in my replies:
a WD kit will help you get there safer, but has nothing to do with your
trailer or truck weight capabilities. No increased weight ability. Your
vehicle will pull what it is rated at and thats it, with or w/o the WD kit.
#30
stalwart...
Thank you for that informative link!
I just dont have the time to look up this stuff to post.
***
Thats what I thought was being referred to.
To all of you that insist on telling me that a WD kit will allow you to pull
more trailer weight...........go back to school......at least read that link.
Be more informed.
AGAIN AS I SAID EARLIER in my replies:
a WD kit will help you get there safer, but has nothing to do with your
trailer or truck weight capabilities. No increased weight ability. Your
vehicle will pull what it is rated at and thats it, with or w/o the WD kit.
Thank you for that informative link!
I just dont have the time to look up this stuff to post.
***
Thats what I thought was being referred to.
To all of you that insist on telling me that a WD kit will allow you to pull
more trailer weight...........go back to school......at least read that link.
Be more informed.
AGAIN AS I SAID EARLIER in my replies:
a WD kit will help you get there safer, but has nothing to do with your
trailer or truck weight capabilities. No increased weight ability. Your
vehicle will pull what it is rated at and thats it, with or w/o the WD kit.
Sam