Ok, ok…
So like I said I took some weight off the back and put some in the front… I made some other changes and there was an improvement.
I also ran by a friend’s house for some benchtop engineering and a tongue weight load cell.
So the breakdown:
Front Tire Pressure: 45 psi (last trip: 50psi)
Rear Tire Pressure: 50 psi
Air Bags: 15psi (last trip: 8psi)
WD Bars: 3 loose links (last trip: 2)
*emptied all holding tanks (last trip: full water tank)
*moved my wood box and fire pit from the rack to my truck: ~200 + pounds
*moved my BBQ from the rack to my truck: ~30lbs
*moved the spare tire from the rack to my truck: ~40lbs?
*moved heavy stuff from truck to around the front bed in the trailer: heavy logging chains, chain come-a-long, HD truck tire chains (Front & Rear), Trailer tire chains, bottle jacks, second WDH, multiple hitches, two tool boxes, ice chest, & misc heavy gear in a large container: ~400+ pounds
Once I got home from my friend’s house with the load cell I checked the tongue weight before we unloaded.
Top of Ball: 22.5” in current form
Top of Ball W/O Bars: 20.75”
Top of Ball W/O trailer and with 15psi: 23.5”
This is what everyone wants to know…
1200 Pounds initially, after 1 min of settling: 1300 Pounds. (I tested it at two heights (same results), and 1PSI = 1 pound of force)
The trailer handled better. But it was still not right. Anything passing larger than a truck still sent the trailer and truck fishtailing.
And how we left the campgrounds.
If I have to add 400+ pounds to the front of the trailer on the bedroom floor, or tractor weight like my wife said to the tongue, just to travel; then there is something inherently wrong with the design of the trailer.
On my list:
1) weigh truck and trailer
2) weigh tongue (in multiple scenarios)
3) try different truck tires
4) my wife says sell and get a 5er as I write... (I still don't know where she's getting all this money)
5) Check trailer ***caster*** (edit: camber)
6) Check truck caster and camber
Thanks,
Joe Zeppe
