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who has pulled large enclosed trailers?

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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:55 PM
  #1  
fruth04's Avatar
fruth04
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who has pulled large enclosed trailers?

Im going to wefest (aka the great american outdoor music festival)

im pulling a 24ft enclosed trailer about 150miles there and 150+/- back with my
5.4 Supercab w/ 3.55's it shouldnt be loaded too heavy, just a weeks worth of camping supplies and like 10 cases of beer , im not sure if it has electric or surge brakes, i think surge ( i hope) because im not wired for electric ones...

my question is, what should i expect, OD off... on the floor? i know its going to be a screamer all the way there, likely with its tongue hanging out.... but im curious what you guys have had for luck, im planning for the worst and who knows maybe it will follow like a dream...
 
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 11:17 PM
  #2  
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screwy
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From: Over Yonder, MN
OD off, though I’d be surprised if it switched into OD on anything but down hills. It’ll want to stay around 3000+ Rpms. You had better hope it has surge brakes, I can remember a few occasions where I had to stand on the brakes hard in combination with the surge brakes just to come to a stop on steep hills, sometimes just to stay stopped, though admittedly that was one heck of a hill. That’s part of the reason I sold it, even with high quality brakes and rotors it just didn’t cut it. It should be fairly stable, though windy days suck, crosswinds really suck with a light load. I wouldn’t expect you’d need to floor it under normal circumstances.

This was with my experience with the 01, keep in mind I usually had close to 6000lbs in tow.
 
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 10:46 AM
  #3  
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A 24' trailer probably has electric brakes and you would be well advised to spend a few bucks to wire your truck for them. As Screwy says, surge brakes, while better than nothing, are inconsistant at best and unreliable at worst particularly in windy conditions.
 
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 01:24 PM
  #4  
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galaxie641
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You do not need to stay out of OD UNLESS the transmission is searching for gears. When it keeps shifting in and out every few seconds shift it into 3rd. There is no reason to keep the engine running around 3K rpm's for the whole trip when it is not needed.

I am not a fan of surge brakes either but I guess they are better than nothing, but putting an Ebrake controller in would be very easy.
 
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 04:26 PM
  #5  
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vanman250
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I don't think you'll have any problems. I would use OD unless it starts hunting. I have towed close to max and always use OD, as far as surge brakes I don't see a problem with them they work fine. If the trailer has electric brakes I would at least put a cheap controller in, you'll be able to stop under normal circumstances maybe a little long then normal but stopping won't be horrible, but if you have to stop in an emergency you might to stop in time, if your in an accident and they find you didn't have proper brakes they probably will hang you no matter what.

vanman250
 
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 10:58 PM
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fruth04
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i pulled it home today to load it up.... i dont see it being a problem in any aspect, i could kick it down and it pulled right to 65 like i was empty and there was minimal bouncing and stopping didnt seem bad however it was empty.... i will look into a brake controller but its 110miles of freeway and 40 of back roads, no city driving.....
 
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