Woohoo! 2000 posts and every one of them a gem! That's a lot of good advice over the years.

I'm going to take the trailer over the CAT scales at a Flying J tomorrow or Saturday. I want to get accurate weights before I put any gear inside. Looking for each axle while hooked empty and then just the actual truck weight on the second measurement. Later I will find out the loaded-for-bear weights when we go on a good getaway. There is definitely the potential for going overweight so I'll just have to manage water & gas carefully. This thing has a 130 gallon water and 60 gallons of gas capacity underneath. Wow.

Don't respond too quickly... you want to enjoy that nice round 2000 number for a while!

On edit: Oh bummer, you're at 2001 now...

 

Epic

Is it just the way the picture is or did the trailer weigh down the truck enough to give it a bit of "nose high"

 

Yes, it pushed down the back end a bit. As a matter of fact, I got flashed by oncoming traffic for the first time since adjusting the beams back in July. So yes, this is why Ford builds these trucks with the front to back rake of 3 inches.

Next project? Airbags with on-board compressor of course! Then a seven-way TPMS system and rear camera for the trailer. There's always something...

 

I have considered the on board compresser/air bag addition to my truck. I look forward to the video.

 

And exactly how long did it take to get your house of its foundation and put it on wheels?

 

Congrats on the new trailer Epic!! We got our fiver last weekend and it is a bit of an adjustment over a bumper pull... but definitely worth it! Enjoy yourselves!!

 

I've been pondering on a set of these for my future 5er (Heartland Cyclone).

RV Tire Systems

 

It's HUGE!

Looks beautiful. My first tow opened my eyes to how much these things track around inside the vehicle turning radius. You have to be careful on those small and busy intersections. Today I found myself swinging as wide as I could and then had a couple of cars come around inside of the trailer. I had no option that to wait for them to clear or I would have cut right into them. So wait I did and went on my way. Amazing how many people just gawk at these big houses going down the road.

Looks cool but pricey. I would like to have one of those twelve tire models to be able to monitor every tire plus the spares. The OEM TPMS doesn't show individual tire pressures or temps and that's what I'm looking for. Just something to insert into the stem and let me know when something is amiss.

 

Don’t know if I’ll need it yet, but I saved the air bag kit out of my GMC. (sell the bags keeping the rest).

I’ll find the info and post it later when I get home. But – I upgraded to a wireless controller which is a really nice upgrade, especially towing toy haulers.

I varied my air pressure “on the fly” for ride comfort. I had varying loads and kept the bags adjusted to keep the truck at about 1” below unloaded height.

Pin weight varied depending on the load combination. Any or all of the following: water 25-112 gallons in front of the axles, and behind the axle from an empty garage and fuel tank to full fuel, 30 gallons, motorcycle and or golf cart (800 pounds each).

As for the TPMS – I have the one posted above. 4 sensors for the truck (need two more now) and 4 for the trailer. Did not bother with the spares. I have a compressor in the trailer so if the spare was needed and low I could rectify that. But I check the spares periodically anyway.

The real benefit of the TPMS is obvious, the side benefit is I no longer check the tires everyday with a pressure gauge now. I just run through the monitor screen. After hooking up.

I put my kit on in July. In August the monitor alerted me in time to a pressure loss to prevent a trailer tire blow out on the highway.

Most trailers come with “china bomb” tires so they need to be checked – often. Especially if you are going to load up the trailer. You have an advantage with 3 axles, my TH is 2 axles (8K each)


There is a great Heartland Forum, similar to this one……………….
And I have had a 2010 Cyclone since July 2009 if I can help with any Q’s.

 

Thanks Duane, PM sent.

 

Here is a video of a less than 1 month old TPMS alerting to a problem.

It took me a minute or 2 to figure what the heck was beeping.

YouTube - TPMS alert

At the time the tires were inflated to 80 PSI cold.

Note: This particular monitor, Truck System Technologies, was picked for features. There are 2 different units available. Mine with 5 year battery life sensors or a newer model, a newer model with a more compact display that has replaceable batteries (approximate yearly).

Whatever brand you get sensors usually run about $50

 

Air Lift wireless controller.
Here is the system I used for the GMC bags, this did not go with the truck ($$$)

I mounted the compressor behind the rear seat, out of the weather. Just have to listen to it once in awhile.
The controller had two presets. I kept one at 5 so I could dump all the air to get into my driveway.

Obviously the second is my travel pressure. 75 psi was an empty trailer garage. So once on the road I would adjust to keep the trailer level. Typically I would set the truck height about 1" lower then un-loaded height.