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Upgraded brakes on 5th Wheel Huge difference! On our trip home as we were cruising into OKC during rush hour had a freaking sedan cut us off on I-240 crossing I-35, had to hit the brakes hard, we could feel the trailer pulling back on us instead of pushing.
Two weeks after I bought her in 09. 52k miles. We headed to The Grand Tetons and the up to Polson, MT. Clutch slave cylinder went out in MT but a dealer in Missoula had one so we detoured and got her back going. 6500 miles later we were back home.
Two weeks after I bought her in 09. 52k miles. We headed to The Grand Tetons and the up to Polson, MT. Clutch slave cylinder went out in MT but a dealer in Missoula had one so we detoured and got her back going. 6500 miles later we were back home.
Beautiful shot! We have been in/around there dozens of times and love that part of the country. The last time we were up there we went through Jackson WY on the southern side of the Tetons and Yellowstone and over to ID. Thanks for sharing the picture with us and bringing this thread back up to page 1.
Beautiful shot! We have been in/around there dozens of times and love that part of the country. The last time we were up there we went through Jackson WY on the southern side of the Tetons and Yellowstone and over to ID. Thanks for sharing the picture with us and bringing this thread back up to page 1.
Oh yes! I remember Jackson well. That’s where we had our engagement dinner after I proposed at Jenny Lake. I wish I could remember the road but leaving Moran Junction up through Yellowstone to Glacier Park, in Idaho, we traveled a 10% grade. Ever been up it? I love a good hill and outrun all the GM’s up a hill but man that was a doozy.
Oh yes! I remember Jackson well. That’s where we had our engagement dinner after I proposed at Jenny Lake. I wish I could remember the road but leaving Moran Junction up through Yellowstone to Glacier Park, in Idaho, we traveled a 10% grade. Ever been up it? I love a good hill and outrun all the GM’s up a hill but man that was a doozy.
Yes, we were on that grade going down into ID November of 2019. We were in our Subaru though so the descent was easier than if in the truck and towing heavy. Although, we were going down just after a blizzard the day before, that is why we stopped in Jackson for the night.
I posted a picture of the sign that said no trailers on the grade during certain months.
If you are ever out near the Sawtooth mountains or Challis ID, let me know as we know of some great spots to boondock.
Since this is the towing thread and this year promises to be a doozey here's a reminder for everyone to take their time, make sure your rig is set up properly and drive carefully. This just happened a few days ago, (2004 F-350)
Quote from an Airstream forum member: I found this on another forum and it has a first hand account and details from a member of the rescue team who happens to be a member of this Jayco forum. And according to this post, one chain was holding the truck and then another chain was attached to the semi truck.
In the interest of towing safely, copied from the Jayco Owners forum post:
"This accident happened today in Idaho. Excessive speed, sway, and load mis-management each played a part in this accident. Luckily my rescue team was fortunate enough to rescue both occupants and 2 dogs from this crash.
This F350 single rear wheel truck was equipped with a Reese WDH with a sway bar, but he also had a rack on the back with a large generator, spare tire, firewood, and other camping gear on a Curt receiver hitch cargo rack.
The skid marks told the story, with evidence of multiple sway action as he entered a curve on the interstate, which in Idaho has a speed limit of 80 mph. The trailer overtook the truck, causing it to Jack knife, the trailer contacted the right Jersey barrier, and pushed the truck over the left Jersey barrier and over the side of the bridge. The trailer ball was pulled out of the hitch and the truck was dangling dangerously by only one remaining safety chain until emergency crews arrived and secured it with 3 heavy chains to a semi truck who happened to be right behind the accident. The bridge crosses a deep, narrow gorge (approximately 150 feet deep), which had the single remaining chain failed, the truck would have plummeted to the bottom.
In December a similar accident happened in our region where a 1/2 ton truck slid on an icy curve and plummeted 280 feet, killing a father and son. In that incident the complete receiver hitch failed tearing free from the truck, the trailer was approximately 32-34 feet long, again probably over the truck’s recommend capacity.
Reality strikes when load limits are not followed! Please stop asking if my truck can pull my trailer. Please follow the recommendations and KNOW your truck and trailer are a good match, and slow down!"
Most people have seen this image already, but the interview is somewhat new. I have been on that road in ID before and it is a great drive, but not like that...
Thanks for the interview link, they are not at all what I expected. I expected it to be some young folks speeding to a getaway but he doesn't exactly strike me as a careless weekend camping warrior and the clip stated that they were full timing. No doubt the large generator and firewood hanging off the back bumper didn't help matters, I've seen 2 cases where it took less weight than that to start a sway, one of which ended in a rollover.
After nearly four years or rolling on the factory China bombs, I had some Goodyear Endurance ST tires installed.
I had a good conversation with @Sous about tire pressures. I always ran my China bombs at max sidewall pressure, 80psi. Sous suggested running at the appropriate pressure for the load. I have never weighed my trailer but we went through the exercise anyway. My trailer max gross weight is 8500 pounds, with four tires that gives us 2125 pounds per tire (disregarding tongue weight). My tires are ST225/75R15.
50psi tire inflation gives me a capacity of 2150 pounds per tire...more than enough. I’ve probably never towed at max gross so that’s still pretty conservative.
Running the tire pressure at closer to the recommended pressure should help the tires last longer and save some wear and tear on the camper. I’m going to tow at 50psi for my 1st trip of the season soon to see how it feels.
What do you all do? Max pressure, or adjust for loading?
Bigb56, I have been on that exact same stretch of road before and the crosswinds can be strong. When we get a strong sustained crosswind we usually just stop for the night. You are right, I figured it was someone that was hot rodding. Either way I am glad they were OK.
Eric, good to see you made it through the bombs without damage, many others had the opposite experience.
I run my 5th wheel tires at 65 - 70 PSI due to a calculated maximum trailer weight of 10,500 lbs. I usually say we tow 10K - 12K lbs because I have 75 gallons of fuel, firewood, 100 gallons of water and whatever else I have in the truck next to my butt.
The 65 - 70 pressure does well for us based on our 1st hand experience and how the trailer follows the truck.
I run max sidewall pressure for less heat. I almost never see full tread life from trailer tires. They either age out (seldom used trailers) or fail prematurely because all ST tires suck (sucked?? I haven’t bought any for some time now).
High pressure causes tires to wear more in center of tread, low pressure causes wear on the sides of the tread. I adjust pressure in vehicles according to this for maximum tread life.
I don’t think it’s wrong to run them at pressures appropriate for the weight.
Those Goodyears are decent USA made trailer rubber. Rockwood-Flagstaff factory in Millersburg, IN specs those on most of their new units. Other Forest River plants around here still mostly use Chinese stuff but blowouts are not common. Occasionally I'll find a unit with a machine screw stuck in one that has gone flat or partially flat but they'll put a new one on when I tell them. I would assume most blowouts are age related on RV's. Usually the pressures are around 55-60 cold.
i share the above, i match load to the psi on vehicles. Trailers I tend to run somewhat higher or max if its a heavy trailer just to keep heat down, especially as the tires age.
Seems like Ive spent more time chasing a previous owner's f-up in buying used vehciles. for instance, 99 dodge DRW I had someone had run 80 in rear tires for only 15k miles since new and they were almost bald in middle. I ran them at 30-35psi and got another 50k out of them.
