Towing my 32 foot TT from Maine to Florida...need help

nstubbert wrote:
I was told by local trailer business that there isn't a load range D tire in a 205 so I have to go up to a 225 which requires getting new rims.

Maxxis does make a D load range ST205/75R15 2,150# at 65 psi

http://www.maxxis.com/Industrial/Trailer/M8008-ST-Radial.aspx

nstubbert wrote:
I currently have 205/75/15 load range C tires on there right now that appear to be in good condition. My guess is that they are the original tire. I have a 2008 Zinger ZT32QB camper that has a GVWR of 8010. On another forum people have been telling me that I need to upgrade my tires to a load range D tire which means getting all new rims as well and spending about $800 which I don't really want to spend.

They put C's on with a GVWR of 8,010#?? Heads up if you load this camper full it is not hard to have one tire over weight.

Caution on going all the way to 225/75T15's. That size tire is a lot bigger in OD then the 205. And there is also a rim width difference

205 is 27.1" OD mounts on a 5.5" rim
225 is 28.3" OD mounts on a 6" rim

You may have a wheel well issue. Top of tire to bottom inside of fender. Do not know you clearance now. Dexter recommends 3" min clearance, other brands have set up on 2 1/2" and that works but not a lot less. Also check how close the tire is to the frame as width could also be a problem.

And yes, I agree you should have more tire capacity than the stock configuration. If you want to stay on 205 C's suggest to go weigh the camper and get all 4 independent wheel weights. And then only load the camper so the heaviest wheel does not exceed 80% of the 205 C load range. (odds are high all 4 wheels are different weights) Which I am sure is hard to do on a camper as big as yours. 20% reserve capacity on tandem axle setup is now gaining traction to help on the higher heat/side loads due to the tandem setup. Even if you up size the tire load range, still good idea to weigh the camper wheel by wheel.

Hope this helps

John

nstubbert wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
For a long trip as I said over in FTE, if you don`t have a rear sway bar get one it will make towing much more relaxing! check your brakes and bearings on the trailer, along with the tires. on the X, replace all fluids if not done recently. change the plugs also, I did mine at 50k miles. If you don`t have a tuner, I would recommend one. I didn`t have one when we went to Disney and wish I did just for the towing tune which changes the shifting strategy and holds O/D a bit longer! I have one now and when towing it is a night and day difference!

Have a safe trip!

What is a rear sway bar and what is a tuner and where do I get one and how is it installed?

A rear sway bar keeps the rear of the X from leaning side-side. With as heavy as the X is it should've been standard. It makes towing much more pleasant.

The tuner can be ordered from 5star tuning and does an incredible job of changing the shift strategy of the trans. Again this Makes towing with the X much better!

Virtually any shop can install the sway bar. And the tuner can be done by you. Very similar to updating a computer.

BarneyS wrote:

nstubbert wrote:
Thanks for all of your assistance with this. Another question I have is about the travel trailer tires. I currently have 205/75/15 load range C tires on there right now that appear to be in good condition. My guess is that they are the original tire. I have a 2008 Zinger ZT32QB camper that has a GVWR of 8010. On another forum people have been telling me that I need to upgrade my tires to a load range D tire which means getting all new rims as well and spending about $800 which I don't really want to spend. Does anybody have any advice on this. I plan on breaking up my trip down to Florida over three days. The first day drive 400 miles, day 2 780 miles, and day 3 400 miles....

I agree about changing out the tires for LR D and for age, but don't quite understand the reason for changing out the rims also. Most TT rims that are rated for a LR-C tire are also going to be rated for a LR-D. Now if you were going to LR-E it might be different. I would get the new tires and check the rims while the tires are off. The rating is usually stamped inside. I always run my trailer tires at the max inflation pressure stamped on the sidewall. This allows them to run cooler, control sway a bit better, and carry their maximum weight. That would be my suggestion to you too as long as your wheels can withstand the pressure.

That day 2 driving is going to be a killer! There is no way I would try to drive 780 miles in a day. You are going to average 50mph for the day and that means 16 hours of driving! :E MY experience has told me that if you drive 62-65mph you will average 50mph including gas and rest stops. Most others will tell you the same thing. I suggest you add another day travel to your trip if possible.
Barney

You are right, I think that day 2 might be a little ambitious...I can always adjust and drive further on day 3 if I feel like it. I was told by local trailer business that there isn't a load range D tire in a 205 so I have to go up to a 225 which requires getting new rims.

nstubbert wrote:
Thanks for all of your assistance with this. Another question I have is about the travel trailer tires. I currently have 205/75/15 load range C tires on there right now that appear to be in good condition. My guess is that they are the original tire. I have a 2008 Zinger ZT32QB camper that has a GVWR of 8010. On another forum people have been telling me that I need to upgrade my tires to a load range D tire which means getting all new rims as well and spending about $800 which I don't really want to spend. Does anybody have any advice on this. I plan on breaking up my trip down to Florida over three days. The first day drive 400 miles, day 2 780 miles, and day 3 400 miles....

I agree about changing out the tires for LR D and for age, but don't quite understand the reason for changing out the rims also. Most TT rims that are rated for a LR-C tire are also going to be rated for a LR-D. Now if you were going to LR-E it might be different. I would get the new tires and check the rims while the tires are off. The rating is usually stamped inside. I always run my trailer tires at the max inflation pressure stamped on the sidewall. This allows them to run cooler, control sway a bit better, and carry their maximum weight. That would be my suggestion to you too as long as your wheels can withstand the pressure.

That day 2 driving is going to be a killer! There is no way I would try to drive 780 miles in a day. You are going to average 50mph for the day and that means 16 hours of driving! :E MY experience has told me that if you drive 62-65mph you will average 50mph including gas and rest stops. Most others will tell you the same thing. I suggest you add another day travel to your trip if possible.
Barney

Thanks for all of your assistance with this. Another question I have is about the travel trailer tires. I currently have 205/75/15 load range C tires on there right now that appear to be in good condition. My guess is that they are the original tire. I have a 2008 Zinger ZT32QB camper that has a GVWR of 8010. On another forum people have been telling me that I need to upgrade my tires to a load range D tire which means getting all new rims as well and spending about $800 which I don't really want to spend. Does anybody have any advice on this. I plan on breaking up my trip down to Florida over three days. The first day drive 400 miles, day 2 780 miles, and day 3 400 miles....

dodge guy wrote:
For a long trip as I said over in FTE, if you don`t have a rear sway bar get one it will make towing much more relaxing! check your brakes and bearings on the trailer, along with the tires. on the X, replace all fluids if not done recently. change the plugs also, I did mine at 50k miles. If you don`t have a tuner, I would recommend one. I didn`t have one when we went to Disney and wish I did just for the towing tune which changes the shifting strategy and holds O/D a bit longer! I have one now and when towing it is a night and day difference!

Have a safe trip!

What is a rear sway bar and what is a tuner and where do I get one and how is it installed?

One 2,000 mile trip is no different than four 500 mile trips.

Whatever you do for your shorter trips, just do for the longer trip!

I have a 2000 EX and its the same as yours. There is no need to add anything to the rear suspension. It trailers just fine as built. At your mileage it probably needs ball joints and a front steering stabilizer replacement. The stabilizer made by Monroe is the way o go. Two very important things to check...first is the rear differential cover as prior to 07 Ford had a problem with them rusting through. Mine did and I lost the rear end. Second is the rear brake line mounted to the differential housing. Look at the top of the gear housing...the line is snapped into a clip. When they did this it scored the coating and the lines rust through at that point. As for other items. As a long time old school mechanic I have never been a proponent of all this changing of fluids unless needed. Ford uses full synthetic in the diffs (different in fron and rear though)...should be good for many more miles. Unless the trans fluid is starting to burn it should be ok. Spark plugs will be good for many more miles. However the weak point is the coil on each plug. You can get replacements for as little as 10 bucks today online. I always have a spare and a 6mm nut driver in the glovebox just in case....and was glad I did twice. I run my Ex in stock form towing a 35' 10,000 lb trailer all day long at 65 to 70 mph with no sway or problems. Up north average 7.5 mpg and south of VA about 9mpg. South of VA also get to use overdrive a lot.

If it were me, I would wait until after the trip to change the plugs. My opinion is that if you mess with the COP's, they will start to go bad one at a time soon after, which would be during your trip. If it runs good now, 3000 highway miles should not change things much.

For a long trip as I said over in FTE, if you don`t have a rear sway bar get one it will make towing much more relaxing! check your brakes and bearings on the trailer, along with the tires. on the X, replace all fluids if not done recently. change the plugs also, I did mine at 50k miles. If you don`t have a tuner, I would recommend one. I didn`t have one when we went to Disney and wish I did just for the towing tune which changes the shifting strategy and holds O/D a bit longer! I have one now and when towing it is a night and day difference!

Have a safe trip!