The camper thread! Pulling, using, equipment, maintenance!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Minnetonka, MN
No offense intended everyone but ever since I bought my Excursion and started down the path to FTE brotherhood I've become really curious what you do when you go camping with a travel trailer? I know it probably sounds like a dumb question but I honestly can't figure it out. I've been "tent" camping out in the wilderness my whole life and I get that part. It's about building a fire, enjoying nature, hiking to new places, the thrill of climbing into your sleeping bag on a chilly fall night after cooking your catch on an open fire...
Some of you have travel trailers that are bigger than my first house and what I don't get is what you do when you get to a campground? Plug into the "service" or run the generator while watching satellite TV...?
I'm not criticizing because I can't express to you how much I DESPERATELY WANT a 1960's ~25" AirStream that's been completely upgraded inside but looks 100% original on the outside with a freakin' awesome polish job!
I REALLY want one but I'm convinced it'll sit on the back of my drive and become a "play house" for my kids...
Any help you can provide to uncovering this mystery for me would be greatly appreciated!
P.S.
2 of my neighbors have class A motorhomes so I suspect it's a symptom of keeping up with the Jones' but I haven't had the nerve to ask them what they do when they "camp" in a portable house with wheels! The anonymity of the internet is much more appealing here...
Some of you have travel trailers that are bigger than my first house and what I don't get is what you do when you get to a campground? Plug into the "service" or run the generator while watching satellite TV...?
I'm not criticizing because I can't express to you how much I DESPERATELY WANT a 1960's ~25" AirStream that's been completely upgraded inside but looks 100% original on the outside with a freakin' awesome polish job!
I REALLY want one but I'm convinced it'll sit on the back of my drive and become a "play house" for my kids...
Any help you can provide to uncovering this mystery for me would be greatly appreciated!
P.S.
2 of my neighbors have class A motorhomes so I suspect it's a symptom of keeping up with the Jones' but I haven't had the nerve to ask them what they do when they "camp" in a portable house with wheels! The anonymity of the internet is much more appealing here...
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, IL
Thats the truth right there!
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa, OK
When I was 24, I put a tent on the back of my motorcycle and toured for 8000 miles from Oklahoma up to Banff, down through Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and then across U.S. 50 to get home. I would not trade that experience for anything.
But...to get the whole family out together, I found it necessary to get off the ground (popup camper). To get clean restrooms, we bought a bigger one with a cassette toilet. To be able to travel reasonable distances (Yellowstone, etc.) on a 2 week trip (and not worry about the bears), we went to a hard-sided trailer. We also live in a hot summer climate and the trailer allows us to extend our camping trips.
We have just as much fun touring the country with our big trailer as I did camping on the ground and seeing the world from a motorcycle.
I think the main thing is to get the family together and see the sights.
But...to get the whole family out together, I found it necessary to get off the ground (popup camper). To get clean restrooms, we bought a bigger one with a cassette toilet. To be able to travel reasonable distances (Yellowstone, etc.) on a 2 week trip (and not worry about the bears), we went to a hard-sided trailer. We also live in a hot summer climate and the trailer allows us to extend our camping trips.
We have just as much fun touring the country with our big trailer as I did camping on the ground and seeing the world from a motorcycle.
I think the main thing is to get the family together and see the sights.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte, NC
No offense intended everyone but ever since I bought my Excursion and started down the path to FTE brotherhood I've become really curious what you do when you go camping with a travel trailer? I know it probably sounds like a dumb question but I honestly can't figure it out. I've been "tent" camping out in the wilderness my whole life and I get that part. It's about building a fire, enjoying nature, hiking to new places, the thrill of climbing into your sleeping bag on a chilly fall night after cooking your catch on an open fire...
Also, we can go places where there are no hotels. Non-RVers are limited to wherever a Marriott is located.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Palmer, AK
It's about undistracted family time. No television, no internet, no telephones. I've got 5 kids, two of which are now grown and out of the house but they still camp with us occasionally. Not all of my team is up for roughing it in the woods on the ground. We're not limited to staying in a park with hook-ups and "dry camp" about half the time. We talk, play cards/board games, fish, ride bicycles and have a fire outside until bed time. It's actually nice at my age to sleep on a mattress and not have mosquitos buzzing your head all night. I still do the tent thing during hunting season and about a week is all I can handle until my back is twisted like a pretzel.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte, NC
Equal-i-zer® Hitch - Product Info - Compatibility
I do not work for the company, but am a distributor and use 15 of the hitches on our rental campers.
I do not work for the company, but am a distributor and use 15 of the hitches on our rental campers.
The Propride is out of my price range ($2,500, yikes). The Equal-i-zer ain't cheap either, but a 1200/12000# set up looks to be around $500 at RV Wholesalers.
Are there other brands I should consider (Reese, Draw-tite, etc.)? 4-point anti-sway, dual cam?
Perhaps direct me to anther thread or forum where I can do more research.
I'm also looking into the v/b spring swap and RAS. I have the stock front and rear sway bars. My first trip with the camper, I was running a little nose-high, so I've got some work to do. Thanks!!!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, IL
Another hitch question, please: I haven't read every page/post in this awesome thread, but I gather the Propride 3P is a fan favorite as well as the Equal-i-zer. I pull a Keystone 31' BH that weighs ~8,000# dry. I currently use an old school WDH with friction based anti-sway (I think it's a Reese brand, no less than 25-years old).
The Propride is out of my price range ($2,500, yikes). The Equal-i-zer ain't cheap either, but a 1200/12000# set up looks to be around $500 at RV Wholesalers.
Are there other brands I should consider (Reese, Draw-tite, etc.)? 4-point anti-sway, dual cam?
Perhaps direct me to anther thread or forum where I can do more research.
I'm also looking into the v/b spring swap and RAS. I have the stock front and rear sway bars. My first trip with the camper, I was running a little nose-high, so I've got some work to do. Thanks!!!
The Propride is out of my price range ($2,500, yikes). The Equal-i-zer ain't cheap either, but a 1200/12000# set up looks to be around $500 at RV Wholesalers.
Are there other brands I should consider (Reese, Draw-tite, etc.)? 4-point anti-sway, dual cam?
Perhaps direct me to anther thread or forum where I can do more research.
I'm also looking into the v/b spring swap and RAS. I have the stock front and rear sway bars. My first trip with the camper, I was running a little nose-high, so I've got some work to do. Thanks!!!
I was in a similar situation when I bought my X in December. My X came with the V/B code swap.
I suggest upgrading the X suspension before upgrading hitches. Personally, I think the money is better spent that way.
Since my first tow I have.
1. rebalanced all 4 tires
2. got an alignment
3. replaced all the steering tie rods (removed steering play)
4. added Rancho RS9000 shocks
5. upgraded to a F350 rear swaybar (tracks straighter at hw speeds)
6. made adjustments to my WD hitch
All this cost me around $1000 with great results. I dont feel that I need an upgraded hitch anymore as it is very stable now and even though my toyhauler is pretty light for a diesel X at 8K full with 920lb tongue weight, I'm sure it would be stable with quite a bit more weight and still using my "affordable" WD hitch setup.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
From: sw mich
You're going to have to do your homework on this one. Lots of information out there, you'll just have to decide how much you want to spend on the situation and what it is worth to you. On this forum, I'd recommend several posts by Joe, aka X-Hemi-guy and others. Get to the scales and do the math, its not as bad as it sounds. Also check out the towing section in RV.net.
The Ex is a great TV but 8k lbs dry you are at the top of her rated capacity, so everything needs to be right to make it safe. One quirky thing about the EX is The GVWR is 8900 lbs, but dry weight of a 4x4 diesel is 7700 lbs. This only leaves 1200 lbs for passengers and Tongue Weight. You will be over the GVWR if you have the proper amount of tongue weight, and passengers. Brakes, bushings, springs, etc. have to be right
The skinny on hitches: Level 1 - Weight Distribution. Level 2 - Weight Distribution + Friction Bar. Level 3 - Weight Distribution + Sway Control i.e. Dual Cam. Level 4 - Hensley Arrow, Propride, etc. For the most part, you get what you pay for here.
The Ex is a great TV but 8k lbs dry you are at the top of her rated capacity, so everything needs to be right to make it safe. One quirky thing about the EX is The GVWR is 8900 lbs, but dry weight of a 4x4 diesel is 7700 lbs. This only leaves 1200 lbs for passengers and Tongue Weight. You will be over the GVWR if you have the proper amount of tongue weight, and passengers. Brakes, bushings, springs, etc. have to be right
The skinny on hitches: Level 1 - Weight Distribution. Level 2 - Weight Distribution + Friction Bar. Level 3 - Weight Distribution + Sway Control i.e. Dual Cam. Level 4 - Hensley Arrow, Propride, etc. For the most part, you get what you pay for here.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
My trailer weighs about 8500lb loaded. I have gone down south with two different hitches. The first one was a draw tight weight distribution hitch with a friction sway control. It had the 1200lb bars on it. I pulled it all the way down to Goarga and back through the mountains on 77 with no problem. I used that hitch for two years. I took my truck over the scales with the truck and trailer loaded and I was not even close to being over on my front and rear axles. Gross combined was 16,000lbs. Last year my friend upgraded to a fifth wheel and he gave me his equalizer set up. I was worried at first because it only had 1000lb weight bars. But after setting it up per the instructions everything was good. The first trip with the new hitch was down to Florida on I75 all the way from Michigan. That hitch is ten times better than the draw tight set up is. I would recommend that hitch to any one. I have pulled a few times this year when it has been realy windy and I have never come close to being scared with this set up.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Palmer, AK
Another hitch question, please: I haven't read every page/post in this awesome thread, but I gather the Propride 3P is a fan favorite as well as the Equal-i-zer. I pull a Keystone 31' BH that weighs ~8,000# dry. I currently use an old school WDH with friction based anti-sway (I think it's a Reese brand, no less than 25-years old).
The Propride is out of my price range ($2,500, yikes). The Equal-i-zer ain't cheap either, but a 1200/12000# set up looks to be around $500 at RV Wholesalers.
Are there other brands I should consider (Reese, Draw-tite, etc.)? 4-point anti-sway, dual cam?
Perhaps direct me to anther thread or forum where I can do more research.
I'm also looking into the v/b spring swap and RAS. I have the stock front and rear sway bars. My first trip with the camper, I was running a little nose-high, so I've got some work to do. Thanks!!!
The Propride is out of my price range ($2,500, yikes). The Equal-i-zer ain't cheap either, but a 1200/12000# set up looks to be around $500 at RV Wholesalers.
Are there other brands I should consider (Reese, Draw-tite, etc.)? 4-point anti-sway, dual cam?
Perhaps direct me to anther thread or forum where I can do more research.
I'm also looking into the v/b spring swap and RAS. I have the stock front and rear sway bars. My first trip with the camper, I was running a little nose-high, so I've got some work to do. Thanks!!!
I've ran the "Equal-I-zer" (spelling) and found it to be noisy when the bars are dragging in slow, tighter turns. I've now got Firestone airbages with a standard WDH and friction anti-sway. This set up works GREAT. I pull a triple axle Weekend Warrior (loaded weight around 10K).
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
I have a WW too (RKD 3000)! 
...but I'm at like 22k lbs combined weight loaded. 
Its been from GA to OK, KS, MO, NJ, PA, ?? - prolly over 20k miles - in the last year!!! 
...but I'm at like 22k lbs combined weight loaded. Its been from GA to OK, KS, MO, NJ, PA, ?? - prolly over 20k miles - in the last year!!!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Palmer, AK
Mine's a WLFSC2800. The WL stands for "wide lite" but there's nothing light about it. I'll see if we have any camping pics with the Ex hooked up to it that I can post. If not, it's summer time in Alaska....I'll be sure to take some.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Palmer, AK
