Rear spring visual ID?
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
My plans are simple. Towing the camper on family vacations, and to dog shows. I would like to build her to handle whatever towing job is thrown her way. Wife is looking to upgrade the camper, but no concrete decision has been made. I’m of the mentality that it’s better to have it and not need it..than to need it and not have it. So my thoughts were to build it to handle 15k or more, and that should cover anything “tag along” or non 5th wheel.
im not concerned with lifting. We have a Jeep for throwing money away in that department. 😂
im not concerned with lifting. We have a Jeep for throwing money away in that department. 😂
FTE Remembers
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
odds are high someting is going to fail leaving you stranded.
towing in general is hard on equipment, grossly exceeding design parameters rarely works out for long, that is the reality of it. i used to occasionally tow 14k with mine but it was taxing even though i built it to handle it, ended up buying a new dually truck for the task and after 100k of that realized even that was not good. now we use a semi truck. better to be at the low end of a vehicles rating then at the high end or in my case 40% over it.
that said, it can be done but just because doesnt mean you should.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2019
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From: North Carolina
Again, doubt I would ever pull 15k. I pulled that number out of the air. Essentially, I just want it built to handle whatever could be thrown at it. If I have a 7k TH, with 3k of “stuff” in it, I want to be able to pull that over mountain passes, without the Truck sending me death threats.
FTE Remembers
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
fair enough,
the procomp 22210/22415 setup i outlined with air bags would be the setup I would suggest. the other things i just mentioned are all still items you will want to address.
the procomp 22210/22415 setup i outlined with air bags would be the setup I would suggest. the other things i just mentioned are all still items you will want to address.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 112
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From: North Carolina
6.0 trans cooler is on my list, as well as 4.30 gears. Could you elaborate a bit on the billet converter and how it would help? This is the first I’ve seen it mentioned.
also, what does “stealing gear” consist of?
Also, as a side note, what would you consider a “first to address” issue? My plan has been to see how it drives and rides, then see how it does towing our current 7k camper, and go from there.
also, what does “stealing gear” consist of?
Also, as a side note, what would you consider a “first to address” issue? My plan has been to see how it drives and rides, then see how it does towing our current 7k camper, and go from there.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,064
Likes: 1,574
From: Media PA
6.0 trans cooler is on my list, as well as 4.30 gears. Could you elaborate a bit on the billet converter and how it would help? This is the first I’ve seen it mentioned.
also, what does “stealing gear” consist of?
Also, as a side note, what would you consider a “first to address” issue? My plan has been to see how it drives and rides, then see how it does towing our current 7k camper, and go from there.
also, what does “stealing gear” consist of?
Also, as a side note, what would you consider a “first to address” issue? My plan has been to see how it drives and rides, then see how it does towing our current 7k camper, and go from there.
What size tires are are you planning to eventually run? If you ever think that larger than stock tire's are in the future and you are looking to drag a big heavy TH over mountains then you should look at even deeper gears than the 4.30s. Maybe even with stock 31.6" tires a deeper 4.56 would serve you better towing heavy over the big mountains, my EX with an effective 4.39 (4.88 gears and 35" tires) drops a gear on the steeper Eastern mountain grades at highway speed towing 12K.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2019
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From: North Carolina
What size tires are are you planning to eventually run? If you ever think that larger than stock tire's are in the future and you are looking to drag a big heavy TH over mountains then you should look at even deeper gears than the 4.30s. Maybe even with stock 31.6" tires a deeper 4.56 would serve you better towing heavy over the big mountains, my EX with an effective 4.39 (4.88 gears and 35" tires) drops a gear on the steeper Eastern mountain grades at highway speed towing 12K.
Now, when changing the gears I’m only changing the internals, or are we talking a whole new carrier?
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
Carriers will be fine, unless you want to change over to a different type of limited slip than the factory unit. New ring and pinion is basically what you would be installing. For a dedicated tow rig that will be dragging a heavy trailer over the big Western mountains I would look at 4.56 gears with stock sized tires.
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Joined: Apr 2019
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From: North Carolina
Dropping off the X next week for new engine and 4.56 gear change(See also: upgrade?) should have it back after a few days.
I do appreciate all the advice and info. Once I get her back and put a few miles on it, I’ll post up how it “feels” both towing and not and if it’s not too much to ask, I would like to be educated a bit so I understand what does what, and can make better decisions going forward with upgrades.
I do appreciate all the advice and info. Once I get her back and put a few miles on it, I’ll post up how it “feels” both towing and not and if it’s not too much to ask, I would like to be educated a bit so I understand what does what, and can make better decisions going forward with upgrades.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,064
Likes: 1,574
From: Media PA
Dropping off the X next week for new engine and 4.56 gear change(See also: upgrade?) should have it back after a few days.
I do appreciate all the advice and info. Once I get her back and put a few miles on it, I’ll post up how it “feels” both towing and not and if it’s not too much to ask, I would like to be educated a bit so I understand what does what, and can make better decisions going forward with upgrades.
I do appreciate all the advice and info. Once I get her back and put a few miles on it, I’ll post up how it “feels” both towing and not and if it’s not too much to ask, I would like to be educated a bit so I understand what does what, and can make better decisions going forward with upgrades.
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