Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchmensport
Swap out that F150 for an F350 dualy diesel and you can carry anything in your camper in that pass-through and under the bed!  OK, that isn't going to happen, I understand.
How about.... um ... traveling with empty tanks, fresh water and waste holding tanks. I've had 3 different travel trailers and now a fifth wheel, and when traveling with full tanks, YOU KNOW IT! As a general rule, we always travel with empty tanks, at the most, 10-15 gallons of fresh water in the tank for roadside bathroom stops. But, if you boomdock, well, that isn't practical either. You need to travel with full tanks. ... again the F350 will solve that problem too? Oppos, I did it again!
Just an assumption? You are using a weight distribution hitch? right? If not, that in itself will help distribute all the weight of the trailer more even, and then traveling with fluid in those tanks is not so noticeable. But even though I've towed with nothing but 3500 dualy's (chevy), (OK, I did it again), I still used weight distribution hitches (Equal-i-zer 4-point).
Now that I have a behemoth fifth wheel, I don't need a weight distribution hitch any more, but I still travel with empty tanks. As big and bulky as my rig is now, (hint, hint)... when my tanks are full, I can feel the difference towing.
There is much to be said about weights of both the trailer and the tow vehicle. 10% - 15% of the total trailer weight (completely loaded) should be on the tongue for a safe, no sway tow (of any trailer). Then the tow vehicle has to be able to safely handle that weight hanging from the back end and not cause an overload in the vehicle's total weight it can carry.
Meanwhile ... if you had an F350 dualy diesel .... well ....  |
Again, this post and as are the ones that follow it are to funny. Buy bigger. Pity I paid cash for the truck and trailer I guess.
The truck has no issues pulling it, handles with perfect manners and yes, a WDH, 1200 lb capacity bars. Tanks always full out bound because of boondocking, no resorts for us to sit around a fire and listen to neighbors next door and no issues pulling over passes.
Ive had diesels before, ive had one tons so I know what they do and I know what this one can or cannot do. I have also had 5th wheel and 4-5 gooseneck horse or flatbed trailers.
Weight obsessed? To an extent, but it only took 4 hours to do all of the weighing, for the tongue weights, dumb bells work wonderfully and I get the exercise. The original intent was so that I automatically know approximately what the tongue weight is in a situation and can adjust, easy peazy. Sure, I can buy a new truck, but why spend the money they ask even for used trucks? This trailer won’t wear out the truck and as stated, pulls fine in the mountains.
Yes, the paper said weight estimates, some construed it to mean I guessed. But even Sherline scales tell you if the weight is not in midrange will be off. Sherline says if not perfectly aligned will be off. Do I trust the numbers for TW? Close enough, within 5% I figure, which makes it an estimate in my world. Even hand weighing items on a bath scale can be an estimate. 15.6? Go with 16? Oops, drank a bottle of water but didn’t pee? Weight could be off a pound.
I do have on a computer a spreadsheet for calculating trailer design weights, axle and tongue. Takes a lot of measurements and still need certain weights to operate properly so much quicker to just weigh several scenarios. I got hold of that to build some trailers.
I believe in original post I stated I had not seen where anyone had done such and I felt it could help the people new to trailers to realize what the real world is like. They “assume” it’s a perfect world, I thought it would help them to understand reality. Those people are always getting bashed on this site for using empty tongue weight. This gives them a chance to see reality. Heck, with mine, advertised tongue weight from factory was listed 452 or so. I pulled it home, weighed tongue, propane and 2 cheap batteries it was over 600, nothing in the trailer Thats reality.
And yes, I have a thick skin, go play on jeep forum or pirate 4x4 if you want to see harsh forums.
Take care