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1979 Starcraft Galaxy 8, almost all stock with the exception of adding a refrigerator instead of the "ice box" and adding a tiny water pump instead of the "hand pump" in the sink!
2000 Ford Excursion 6.8v10 equipped for Law Enforcement and S&R needs...
Handsome trailer! I would say it is too nose up, but sometimes pictures can lie depending on the pavement. Better to be a bit nose down than up for steadier towing. Should be NO SWAY at 70.
Ok I need some help here guys! I towed the TT about 60 miles from home on the highway and have some concerns with a few items. First is the Hitch setup. I dropped the ball down to the last hole on the arm. It still sits up higher then I want it to, but was told it should be ok by Fastway. I am not sold on that.
Here is how it sits now.
The next concern is the sway bars look like they are low.
Then I need to know how to anchor my ground mat to asphalt when we camp out at the restaurant parking lot!
The boys and I stopped off to see the wife/mom on the way back to the house after the weekend!
Wildman, photos can be tricky sometimes, the trailer looks more nose high in the first pic than in the third one, have you checked the actual level by measuring from the ground up to TT frame front/rear? (on level ground)
How did the combo handle and perform in this current setup?
Have you gotten accurate scale weights on the setup? Cat scale locator CAT Scale Locator | CAT Scale
With this current setup is your front ride height being returned to unloaded height? It should be.
How much pressure in the air bags this trip and photos?
Technically your chain hooks should be turned around to be hooked from below vs above.
You break away cable should always be attached to the truck frame and NOT the receiver hitch. My EX has an eye above the receiver on the bumper bracket that I clip onto to.
Save yourself some future troubles by readjusting your electrical cable and break away so that they aren't riding so low, they do need slack for turning clearance but as low as they are ground/debris contact is a possibility.
Wildman, photos can be tricky sometimes, the trailer looks more nose high in the first pic than in the third one, have you checked the actual level by measuring from the ground up to TT frame front/rear? (on level ground)
How did the combo handle and perform in this current setup?
Have you gotten accurate scale weights on the setup? Cat scale locator CAT Scale Locator | CAT Scale
With this current setup is your front ride height being returned to unloaded height? It should be.
How much pressure in the air bags this trip and photos?
Technically your chain hooks should be turned around to be hooked from below vs above.
You break away cable should always be attached to the truck frame and NOT the receiver hitch. My EX has an eye above the receiver on the bumper bracket that I clip onto to.
Save yourself some future troubles by readjusting your electrical cable and break away so that they aren't riding so low, they do need slack for turning clearance but as low as they are ground/debris contact is a possibility.
Nice looking combo!
Great info on the breakaway cable. Is there a built in spot on the Ex's hitch that can be used?
On my '05 EX there is an eye just to the right of the electrical plug housing that is part of the bumper frame. Can access it between the receiver and the bumper.
On my '05 EX there is an eye just to the right of the electrical plug housing that is part of the bumper frame. Can access it between the receiver and the bumper.
Wildman, photos can be tricky sometimes, the trailer looks more nose high in the first pic than in the third one, have you checked the actual level by measuring from the ground up to TT frame front/rear? (on level ground)
Yes and I was off about 3 1/2 inches. I called Fastway and the tech guy told me to measure the trailer and truck again on level ground and not hooked up. He said not to measure to the top of the ball but to the top of the receiver tube. Measurements the way I was told by the dealer that installed my hitch and what I have read on here the trailer was at 23 1/2 and the ball was at 26 IIRC. Measuring the way the tech told me the trailer was the same and ground to top of tube was 21 1/2. I called the tech back and he told me that what came with the hitch would work. So I dropped it as it is in the picture.
How did the combo handle and perform in this current setup?
It handled better on the return trip. It still had a bit of movement in it when the wind would blow. I glanced at the sway bars before we left the house Friday and didn't notice that a bar was on upside down,. Due to a back issue I can not put the bars on. My son installed the bars. I pointed it out and he did not make that mistake again!
I have not. I weighed the truck separate from the trailer and vice versa. Total weighted loaded with both on the scale is 15873. I do not know axle weights.
With this current setup is your front ride height being returned to unloaded height? It should be.
Are you talking about after putting air in the bags?
How much pressure in the air bags this trip and photos?
60 psi in the bags in that picture. I have been playing with that when I tow. Dealer tech said no more then 30 psi. I have towed with them as high as 70 psi. But the tongue was high.
Technically your chain hooks should be turned around to be hooked from below vs above.
Thanks didn't know that.
You break away cable should always be attached to the truck frame and NOT the receiver hitch. My EX has an eye above the receiver on the bumper bracket that I clip onto to.
Didn't know that either. Will look for that.
Save yourself some future troubles by readjusting your electrical cable and break away so that they aren't riding so low, they do need slack for turning clearance but as low as they are ground/debris contact is a possibility.
Knew that, but i don't want to tie up the cables to much. On my utility trailer I cut the cable down to the length I need.
I know you have a Hensley can you take some pics of your setup when you tow. I have the same setup, pretty much and would interested to see it. I use the hooks on top and would like to understand the difference?
I know you have a Hensley can you take some pics of your setup when you tow. I have the same setup, pretty much and would interested to see it. I use the hooks on top and would like to understand the difference?
Ted
I'll show you mine if you show me yours.
Actually the only picture I have now of my HA hitched up to my EX is with my old trailer and it doesn't show the chain hooks or the break away attachment point. I'll have to remember to snap a better pic next time out.
The issue with the chain hook direction comes from the greater chance of an unhooking from a bump if hooked from above due to wind and direction of travel, with bottom hooking the hook would be held against the eye better with less chance of an unhook event. With most hooks now having safety gates on them I would think this is pretty much a moot point. But I have read of a couple of instances where DOT officers have hassled commercial haulers about the direction of chain hooks. Apparently the hook direction is specified in the DOT regs, at least that is my understanding and what I was instructed back when I was a wee lad.
Best shot of the HA in action that I currently have.
Thanks Tom mine is currently in the shop getting all of the goodies. When I pick it up Friday I will take some pics.
I got it for 11k 131k miles pretty much stock 6.0 PSD. Getting installed X/C-XL ATS, Rancho 9000XL, RedHead Steering, Airbags, Hellwig, Adjustable track bar, New Rims, 285/75/16s.
Need to put in Pioneer head unit AVIC 7000 Nex and back up mirror and more goodies and when I see them here.
The one about returning to unloaded has to do with adjusting your sway control/load equalizer bars. On level ground the excursions wheel wells should measure the same with and without the travel trailer hooked up. Likewise the trailer should be measured while hooked up so the trailer is as level as posible. To me it looks like you're already as low as you can go with your hitch and I would get one with more adjustment to it. You need to go down one to two holes based on what I de in the pictures. I like that you went with the four way sway control. We barely notice the 32' TT behind us.
The one about returning to unloaded has to do with adjusting your sway control/load equalizer bars. On level ground the excursions wheel wells should measure the same with and without the travel trailer hooked up. Likewise the trailer should be measured while hooked up so the trailer is as level as posible. To me it looks like you're already as low as you can go with your hitch and I would get one with more adjustment to it. You need to go down one to two holes based on what I de in the pictures. I like that you went with the four way sway control. We barely notice the 32' TT behind us.
I will order up the extended drop arm this week. Before I put springs all the way around on the Ex the trailer was level. Are the sway bars suppose to be level with the trailer frame?
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