Wishin
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Re: 2022 Bronco Raptor Debut
FishOnOne wrote: Here's the new Bronco Raptor. Not sure how Ford plans to produce this Raptor version when their current production volume can't meet current demand. They did increase the towing capacity by ~1k lbs. Link1 Link2 I'm sure they will produce fewer base models so they can make the Raptor version if they can't increase production enough. Looks like a pretty sweet Bronco.300Views0likes0CommentsRe: Rivian towing efficiency
I think one of the big issues towing (or any long distance driving with an EV) is that the fastest charging takes place up to about 80% of the battery capacity. If you want to wait around to bring it from 80% to 100% of charge you might be at the charge station a really long time. So when they were typically charging up to 80% and stopping around 16% state of charge, you don't get much range. I watched the TFL truck video and it was pretty good. They did a lot of digging to get as much info. as possible.627Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tow capabilities
My trailer is less than 6k dry but is close to 8k loaded. One reason I have decided to stay with my 2003 Suburban is that the 2007+ versions can only handle 1000 max tongue weight. My trailer tongue is in the 1200-1300 lb range anytime I have weighed it. Mine is a 2500 model and it tows nicely. Very stable. I would be willing to give it a try with a 1500 model, but I would likely go over GVWR and rear axle ratings. It makes sense to target a lighter trailer. Maybe a loaded weight of 6500 which should keep your tongue weight under 1,000 lbs.575Views0likes0CommentsRe: Endurance Tires
I changed from 205/75R15 LRC to Endurance 225/75R15 LRE. I only run at 65 psi as that is plenty of extra load capacity for me. I figure my trailer is about 8,000 lbs loaded. I find 30% extra tire capacity is nice to have for multiple reasons. 1. You never know if you are loaded evenly side to side. One side might have more weight on it than the other and be closer to the load limit of the tire than if you assume all are seeing an equal load. 2. Excess load rating gives you more buffer for a tire like the Endurance that is higher speed rated, but not for its full load. ST225/75R15 117/112N E is the rating for the Endurance. Notice it is 117 load rated (2,833 lbs) but only the 112 (2,469 lbs) is rated for N speed (87 mph). I assume the full 117 load rating is only good for 65 mph. It is true you need the room for the larger tire. Mine was rubbing on the bottom of my trailer with the original 205/75R15 tires. I swapped out my 3500 lb axles and springs for 5200 lb axles and springs and that brought it up some due to less sag in the springs. I also replaced my triangular equalizer between my spring packs with a much taller one which gave me some lift. I no longer see any rubbing, even with the new larger tires. In my case I had to upgrade my rims from 5 bolt to 6 bolt. I think the original rims might not have accommodated the 225 size tires due to being too narrow. You do need to check that also. If you want to go to the potential work of upgrading size, that is up to you and how much you travel. We often take trips of 3-6,000 miles and usually travel 70 mph. I upgraded my trailer at the beginning of the 2018 season and now after almost 4 seasons of use I have still very happy with the changes. If I only traveled locally, I'd have been fine sticking with the smaller size.846Views0likes0CommentsRe: Towing with a 2022 Ford F250 7.3L
The 7.3 motor looks like a great motor, especially with the 10-speed. I have a 2003 Suburban with the 8.1L and 4-speed. I've plotted the power available at highway speeds with each gear and this looks like it has similar power available in the lower RPM's while cruising to my 8.1L and much more power available than my 8.1L if you want to drop a few gears for climbing hills. As for navigation, I have found that Google Maps works the best of anything I've tried and I like it when I have Android Auto available to show it on the cars screen. If you plan to go somewhere with spotty cell service, just download the maps to your phone for those areas ahead of time. Then it works flawlessly with no cell service. For this summer I made sure to download maps for all of Michigan (spent a lot of time in the upper peninsula with poor cell service) and also Indiana and Ohio as we were in areas I did not know if I would always have service. Even if you have service, it pulls up gas stations and other destinations much more quickly and reliably if you download the area. Works great!974Views0likes0CommentsRe: Suggestions for a Weight Distribution Hitch
dodge guy wrote: Go with the Reese Dual Cam. Once setup it is very easy to put the bars on and pull up on the cams. And it’s great at sway control. I wouldn’t tow with anything else. The only thing better are the HA, PP. This is what I've been using since 2008 on 2 different trailers. I will admit that it is more difficult to set-up initially, but once set-up I don't mess with it and it works great all season and from year to year. I've towed 30-40k miles with it and have no issues. My 2nd choice would be the Equal-i-zer 4 pt hitch. It seems much simpler and most people seem very happy with it as well. The rare person that has used both seem to prefer the Reese Dual Cam, but not by much. I have researched the Equal-i-zer and the pads seem to help people with the noise, which is one of the main complaints. A negative would be that each head is sized for the bars so a new trailer might call for a complete replacement if you need to go up or down in size for a heavier or lighter tongue weight. I've heard the Equal-i-zer is good for hooking up at any angle and I have found the same to be true with the Reese Dual Cam. When I park it at my house, my trailer is level on a side hill (tires on concrete pads of the same elevation) and my Suburban is aimed down the hill and at a tight angle so I can hardly get between the bumper and trailer frame. I have no issues hooking or unhooking. These are the only 2 hitches that I would consider, other than ProPride or Hensley.818Views0likes0CommentsRe: Why do I keep blowing out tires on my truck?
Grit dog wrote: pitch wrote: Most tires these days are directional. Front to rear is the only rotation. Considering we're on a RV forum and the topic is about trucks and RVs, I cannot think of a single truck/RV tire that is directional.... I'm sure one of the rvnetters will come up with an example and claim I'm wrong, because likely one exists, but I'd like to see "most" of the directional truck tires you're talking about. Even car tires are less than 50%? I'd say directional. There are even plenty of performance tires that aren't directional. Have 2 performance cars now both with low pro Z rated tires. Neither are directional. BTW, "directional" tires are really of no practical advantage except in ultra high performance applications. Agreed, directional tires make up a pretty small % of the market unless you're shopping for winter tires. All my winter tires for all 4 of my vehicles are directional (including my Suburban).321Views0likes0CommentsRe: Why do I keep blowing out tires on my truck?
3 things come to mind after reading all the above. 1. Heat from the exhaust. Is something wrong with your exhaust or engine that is causing your exhaust to put more heat into that tire than it normally would? I'm guessing the exhaust travels past that tire like it does on most trucks. 2. Over loaded, not likely based on your truck and trailer, but perhaps it might be a good idea to be sure. 3. Sitting in the sun. I think you said that tire sees more sun than the other ones? Perhaps keep it covered. It is pretty hot where you live in Phoenix. I'm from Michigan where tires don't usually see much heat damage, but I worked with a guy that lived there for a couple of years and he said tires just don't last much longer than 3 years down there from his experience and from the tire guy he went to. What kind of tire life do most people in south Arizona get in years?269Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cleaning out black tank for winter
If you can take a drive before dumping, that does help. As for residue, I always fill my fresh water tank up with soft water from my house whenever possible. When I can't, I put Calgon water softener powder down the toilet. I also add some high efficiency clothes washing machine soap (apparently it has less suds than non-high efficiency?) down the toilet after dumping each time and add several gallons of water. Then when I'm driving home or to the next campground, the soft water and soap is sloshing around cleaning it out. My trailer has now seen 7 seasons of use and when I drained it out for the end of the season, I only saw black plastic below the toilet. No residue. I also try to flush it out a little better the last time of the season. This time I dumped 2 5 gallon containers of clean water down the toilet after doing my normal drain. Sometimes I have my wife in there flushing the toilet and I shut the black valve for a minute, the let it flush out, shut it again to build up, then open it up again. Do that a few times until it runs clean.539Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grease gun/ grease recommendations
I think another factor in using the grease zerk (EZ Lube) feature is the temperature of the grease and bearings. If you are doing this on a cold spring day in cold weather to get ready to go on the first trip of the year, the grease is much thicker and harder to work thru the bearings and possibly more likely to push out the axle seal and get into your brakes. Might be better to do it in the middle of the summer on a 90 degree day. Also, make sure the trailer wheel is off the ground and rotating while you do it. Me, I just do it manually by hand every 2 years or 10k miles. I have had one failure, not sure what caused it but the axle was likely over loaded as well. That is why my 8k lb trailer now has 5200 lb axles instead of 3500 lb axles. The bearings on the bigger axles are HUGE compared to the original bearings. I also monitor my bearings with an infrared heat gun to make sure they are staying cool. No issue the last few years with the bigger axles. Before I just check by hand so it is hard to say. It was also super hot the few days before I had my issue and I was in Arizona near the NM line when I saw smoke from the trailer. Fire extinguisher came in handy! There are a lot of variables to consider to keep your bearings and brakes happy. Good luck.645Views0likes0Comments
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