NEW TT PICKED UP TODAY

[dadof6]

DW and I traveled to MI yesterday and picked up our Passport 2920BH today. At 32' total length it was a white knuckle 7 hr trip back to IN today. I only hit one curb and had to move a rock to get it down the path to its spot at the storage lot. I had to adjust 3 times. Whew!!! Rooke I know. The best was we couldn't remember how to get the E2 off. 🙂 That took a while.

Q: While traveling back we kept bouncing a bit in our seat. Was I going to fast? I traveled between 55-65 on I-96 and I-69.

Q: While traveling over bridges and concrete vice asphalt I felt a bit of push and pulling between TV & TT. Any guesses on what caused this to happen?

As always, thanks for the input.

[Goldstalker]

Don't drive in "D" unless you want to buy a new new tranny soon. The heat will build up really fast.

[dadof6]

Well, the 2920BH is 32' tip to tip and my owner's manual recommended driving in 3rd gear with tow/haul engaged. I did notice the pushing/pulling decreased while driving in 3rd. I'm not opposed to driving in 'D' though.

It is a E2 rated at 1K lbs. I did have the electric brake installed.

No, the teck spent over an hour walking us around, in, and under the TT but we didn't drive it out of the lot. That would've been great. I was slightly disappointed after signing the paperwork as it seemed they couldn't get me out fast enough (elderly couple was waiting to have their FW hauled in). I didn't see them hook it up. They already had it hooked.

I did notice more on bridges...figured it was the difference in the solidity of the bridge vice Interstate driving. It decreased with slower speeds (60 in a 70, etc.)

[DutchmenSport]

I checked "dadof6's" posts and found this in an earlier post he made:

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Okay guys. I spoke with a guy at an RV park to get an idea of what I should be looking for and he advised 2 things:

1- Nothing bigger than a 27 w/my 2005 Chev Suburban 1500 4x4 the way it is now.
2- Modify the Suburban with shocks and air bags and I could get the 30 footer.

He explained himself but that was an hour ago. Do you guys have any input on this? Thanks again.

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If you are towing with a Suburban 1500.

Stats on your Passport
Shipping weight: 5385
Hitch: 625
Carrying Capacity: 1815

(From the http://www.keystonerv.com/passport/ web site.

Our first camper was a 5K Dutchmen Sport Lite. We towed with a 1500 Chevy Suburban (2003 model). The trailer was only 18 foot. I used a Reese Weight Distribution System with a friction sway bar. I remember the white knuckle driving. Eventually I got use to the squirrely ride. Then I blew up the transmission. Found out I should have never towed in "overdrive", but only in Drive. Also, the harsh automatic shifting aided in destroying the transmission. We had a new (used rebuilt) transmission installed in that Suburban, and 2 months later sold it! It never towed or had the same performance again.

We went to a 3500 Dually (Gas) and never looked back. The Suburban was just too small.

[Goldstalker]

Watch video on Youtube on how to set up your hitch correctly, or read the directions. Once dialed in it should not act that way. The dealer most likely just did a quick install and sent you on your way. Be careful with the curb the axles on these rigs are pretty weak and can easily be get out of alignment, watch the wear on that tire now.

[GordonThree]

Congrats on your new trailer 🙂

Like Bob says, post some more information about your towing setup.

I have noticed too towing my coach with both my station wagon, and my truck, that going over large expansion joins, like those on bridges sometimes causes that push and pull feeling.

Didn't the dealer spend any time driving with you? One of the service techs spent about an hour with me on my first ride, we covered surface roads and some expressway. He was able to identify what was causing the various feelings, and assured they were all normal. The white knuckles came later that day, as I had picked up on the end of Jan, and it had turned into a blizzard as I was driving North along Lake Mich... ahh good times 🙂

Even though I've towed nearly 10,000 miles now (nothing compared to the experts here), it's still not often enough that I don't feel a little nervous when I hitch up and drive away.

[Farm_Camp]

Welcome and congratulations! Agree with bob213. I'll add that even properly set up its gonna feel different. I remember posting almost this same message after my first tow. If your tow vehicle is up to the task and the hitch is set up correctly you should not have white knuckles after you get used to it. ( I curbed mine too on my first tow. Had to chuckle about that - we've all been there.)

Practice makes perfect. Get it in a empty parking lot and practice maneuvering. Make sure you have the hitch right. I'm betting you'll be ok. Slow and steady wins the race and all that.

[loulou57]

Congratulations on your new trailer. There are a lot of people who will give you some very valuable information.

[bob213]

Congratulations on your new TT! We may need some more info to make a guess at your problems. What are you towing with? What size E2 do you have? (weight for bars...1000lb....1200lb) Do you have a brake controller? Look at the "sticky" under towing about setting up a WD hitch and see if yours looks correct. Just because the dealer hooked it up doesn't mean it's right.

[bob213]

Double post...sorry