Amazing, Awe Inspiring, Enlightening, Awesome, Unbelievable, Incredible, ---- a breath of fresh air.
So I made the repairs last night, and had some time, so I looked it over, and again, then measured again, then called my Pop over for a test ride.
Like I said before we have about 150 yards where we were able to drive it back and forth and took turns to watch as we drove in s patterns and such, while my mother and kids watched us like we were insane (it happens a lot).
Once we felt it was on, and correct, we departed on a claim confirming voyage! (Just to be sure: I was not drunk, I do not do drugs, I have no affiliation with HA or PP, I am not being paid for this, I may be slightly insane sometimes, but this is the facts.) I was hesitant and not quite believing all the hype, marketing, and cost, but because of the awesome deal I got on this one, I figured it was well worth the try.
Since we did not have a good level spot, and no lights (it was 7pm), we took it for a quick ride to a well lit flat place with no people; the local car dealership ? Lots of light and a flat area to check the level ness of the truck and trailer, and we rechecked the struts and measurements. Then we jumped on the freeway. Within 30 seconds of getting on the freeway we looked at each other in amazement. I know it sounds corny and unbelievable, but it was amazing. We continued down the road at 55, and I evaluated how it handled and how easy/loose the steering was, and looked for any odd feelings or attributes that may catch me off guard. While driving we ran the gauntlet of construction and highway, we have quite a bit of construction going on in our area so K-Rail, bumps, holes, and patched asphalt is bountiful. The first thing we noticed was as we went down the road we notice the lack of bucking, and feelings of the trailer pushing me. We would hit a hole and the truck and trailer would continue straight without any veering to either side. When we would transmission from one lane to the other, the hole rig felt almost rigid, but smooth. I felt that the steering was significantly less lose feeling, and felt that I had more control than ever. As the cars and trucks would pass me there was no sign of the trailer wiggling, no tail wagging the dog. I started to get comfortable and started to increase the speed and at every instance of a crappy road came, the rig would go through it like there was nothing there. (Don’ t tell the PoPo) I got up to 70 (not in the construction zone), which I have not been ever able to do with this trailer, and it still handled like I was driving a small SUV. It was handling and riding better than the truck does empty. :C I was in shock!
The real test was at 55 next to a K-Rail on a long curve up a hill while cars zipping past me as my tires tracked a trimmed line of old and new asphalt with pot holes next to the K-Rail. It was just cruising down the road straight as an arrow effortlessly.
We drove back into town and I had to then back the trailer through the Olympic backing-up course that would even challenge Tow Mater. This starts by traveling down the driveway into the road and subsequently jackknifing the trailer to back it up past their house, around a wood pile, a shed, narrowly missing a tree branch (all while backing UP the grade), then through my dad’s orchard (No straight lines) and then up to the spot that is shown in my previous post. The weird thing that I through me off was noise and bump (Is this the Hensley Bump?) when the linkages would shift from one side to the other as I backed up the steeper grade and turned around things. Mind you; my truck is in 4 Low so my tranny doesn’t overheat throughout this whole ordeal. I jumped out a couple times to check after the linkages would shift over, but after I was confident that no harm was happening, I did not let it bother me.
I do wonder what it takes to bend the struts like I’ve seen on the interweb. Anyone?
Overall it was a pleasant experience and I can’t wait to go camping. I have been smiling all day and calling my buddies with similar issues about my new findings. Like I have said before I have driven trucks and trailers of all sorts, and my truck has never had issues with other trailers like it has with this one, and I have tried many other things, even different tongue weights, and to no avail nothing worked until this. :R I know there are “naysayers” that have never tried this contraption before but throw their opinion out like they have, but until you have tried this with an open mind you have no right to attack it. :R I cannot wait to bring my wife for a ride, as it may have just saved all future camping trips.
As a follow up; I will add more weight to the trailer on the rack, as I did before, to see how it reacts. I also plan on weighing it so that I can accurately adjust the WD bars. I also plan on getting a Class Five hitch receiver, because I know that I’m at the limit of my stock dodge receiver hitch. ALSO; upgrading to a newer unit or to a Propride is still looming in my mind since we normally do travel a lot with the trailer. I will update this as things progress.
Overall: I’m SOLD! It is like driving no other trailer. It is really hard to accurately describe it.
I am so happy and relieved that the trailer handled so well. :B Thank You All.
Joe Zeppe!
