The camper thread! Pulling, using, equipment, maintenance!
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,051
Likes: 1,549
From: Media PA
I"m going to when I get back. I'ts hard to load the trailer with full travel gear just for weighing though. Maybe I"ll do it when I get back before we unload from the trip.
Yes, I lift the entire rig with the trailer jack to get the bars close enough to pop in. Truck settles about 2" after letting it off the jack.
Yes, I lift the entire rig with the trailer jack to get the bars close enough to pop in. Truck settles about 2" after letting it off the jack.
Tuned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 287
Likes: 8
Good tip, thanks!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 60
From: Central NH
Eric, this is also the first Goodyear Endurance failure I have heard of since they were introduced. I put a set on our trailer about the same time you did, and this has taken away some of my confidence in them.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 70
Likes: 5
From: Somerset, MA
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,051
Likes: 1,549
From: Media PA
Sweet! 
I just built a frame mounted rear hitch for the bikes to go on the back of our Jayco, bikes on either end and a big TT makes for a long combo!
Isn't it fun to load and unload those kayaks up there, we feel like a circus act when doing ours!
I just built a frame mounted rear hitch for the bikes to go on the back of our Jayco, bikes on either end and a big TT makes for a long combo!Isn't it fun to load and unload those kayaks up there, we feel like a circus act when doing ours!
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 70
Likes: 5
From: Somerset, MA
Do you have a thread for the frame mounted hitch build?
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Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,051
Likes: 1,549
From: Media PA
I'll try to remember (dangerous proposition there.....) to snap a few pics this weekend while we are camping in NJ, I'm out of work here in 5 hours and 2 minutes, not that I'm watching the clock.... I seriously overbuilt the hitch, pretty sure I could successfully tow the big TT from the rear now. I made provisions for the bike rack via the center 2" receiver tube and welded two more receiver tubes in to allow for a rear platform (without any wobble) that will hold a cargo box with 2 Honda gennies, fuel tank and some other odds and ends. I'm not too worried about getting light on the tongue as I'm starting at 1840lbs there. It's mounted in double shear to both the bottom flange and the vertical web of the I bean TT frame, it's not going anywhere. Eric saw it when we were in OH back in May.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 495
From: NC
If you use ratchet straps, twist them so they don't have a flat surface area.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Put a couple twists in the straps and it won't vibrate like a reed in the wind.
Look at the big rigs and flatbeds hauling large loads. You'll almost always see a twist in their strap, like this.
Stewart
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,051
Likes: 1,549
From: Media PA
I'll try to remember (dangerous proposition there.....) to snap a few pics this weekend while we are camping in NJ, I'm out of work here in 5 hours and 2 minutes, not that I'm watching the clock.... I seriously overbuilt the hitch, pretty sure I could successfully tow the big TT from the rear now. I made provisions for the bike rack via the center 2" receiver tube and welded two more receiver tubes in to allow for a rear platform (without any wobble) that will hold a cargo box with 2 Honda gennies, fuel tank and some other odds and ends. I'm not too worried about getting light on the tongue as I'm starting at 1840lbs there. It's mounted in double shear to both the bottom flange and the vertical web of the I bean TT frame, it's not going anywhere. Eric saw it when we were in OH back in May.
The goal was to have a very stout hitch system that could handle up to 4 bikes and that genny you box. The Jayco had a rear slide out cargo tray option that opted out of, but the fram mounted attachment plates were there. I used their 52" length to guide my build, along each side of the TT frame there are 52" channels mounted with twelve 3/8" bolts up through the channel and bottom I beam frame flange. These channels are welded to the bottom of the 2.5" square 1/4" wall cross tube. Welded to ends of the cross tube are 30" channels that are then bolted, with eight 3/8" bolts each side, to the side of the trailer frame. So with 40 bolts in double shear the hitch should stay where I mounted it!
Welds were all done with my 220 volt TIG machine. Here are few build pictures.
%5BURL=http://imgur.com/jliRIVa%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttps://i.imgur.com/jliRIVa.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D
%5BURL=http://imgur.com/6LlvO1K%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttps://i.imgur.com/6LlvO1K.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D
%5BURL=http://imgur.com/PgYkB9r%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttps://i.imgur.com/PgYkB9r.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D
%5BURL=http://imgur.com/HAvWaDX%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttps://i.imgur.com/HAvWaDX.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D
%5BURL=http://imgur.com/1LkQTRT%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttps://i.imgur.com/1LkQTRT.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D
%5BURL=http://imgur.com/TIpaecf%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttps://i.imgur.com/TIpaecf.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D
And the two racks designed to carry 14 of the wood blocks.
Dinner is ready, so I'll be back later to show a few finished pictures.
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Get to try out a new campsite soon! Out of my near 40 years of camping it will be the third new campsite I am trying out. I don't move around a lot. 
But we have decided we would try one new place each year, typically with the "One pagers" but even on our own if we can't make their meet.
I'm excited! No boat this time but we are taking the yaks. The site is on lake Michigan. Point Beach is the place.
But we have decided we would try one new place each year, typically with the "One pagers" but even on our own if we can't make their meet.I'm excited! No boat this time but we are taking the yaks. The site is on lake Michigan. Point Beach is the place.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 179
From: Phenix City, AL
Fillin’ up on some hi-test diesel today. Towed the trailer 800 miles over the last two days. Averaged 10.4 mpg over that distance. Towed at 65 when I could. EGT hit 1100 once and transmission temp hit 181 once.