GaiaGoddess
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Re: Change of plans! Now I want a teardrop!
AirForceAngler wrote: Give it up, guys. You can't have a battle of wits with an unarmed person. :S I'm just telling people what I have learned and asking why this information & products are out there if they don't do the job, that's all.435Views0likes0CommentsRe: Change of plans! Now I want a teardrop!
beemerphile1 wrote: You think that is a tow package? what will control the trailer brakes? what will control the trailer lights? what will provide extra cooling to the engine? what will provide extra cooling to the transmission? what will provide extra heavy duty braking on the Escape? what will provide the heavier load capacity springs on the Escape? what about a heavy duty power steering pump? what about a larger output alternator? Those are just a few of the upgrades likely to be in a tow package and do not include small things like heavier grade bolts that might be included in a tow package. A trailer hitch receiver is NOT a tow package. You're not listening and have already made up your mind based on erroneous information and assumptions. I'm going camping. As you know I have no idea the answers to those questions (except I know my Escape already has a transmission cooler)...but what i'm wondering is why does this exist if it doesn't do the job then? I mean why have this at all if it's nowhere near what you need to tow? What purpose do these after market "towing packages" serve?371Views0likes0CommentsRe: Change of plans! Now I want a teardrop!
westend wrote: As was posted, the Ford "tow package", the one that raises your vehicle's tow ratings from 1500 lbs. to 3500 lbs., is more than a hitch, a wiring harness and a ball. It is available as a factory built option. The Etrailer package doesn't even include a brake controller, something you will absolutely need for operation while towing. I know the T@B's come with surge brakes, the guy in the video made it sound like it pretty much stops itself as long as it's wired to your vehicle. Does that sound right?358Views0likes0CommentsRe: Change of plans! Now I want a teardrop!
beemerphile1 wrote: You can buy it, but it is NOT A TOW PACKAGE, it is a trailer hitch receiver. Like I and others have told you, a "tow package" consists of many different components and it is proprietary to the manufacturer. They don't tell anyone exactly what they change. Even a dealer doesn't know what is in the tow package unless the parts person is willing to spend many, many hours with the manual comparing part numbers. Well this place says it includes the hitch reciever, the ball mount kit, and vehicle wiring harness with a trailer connector. So you're saying this site is lying too?360Views0likes0CommentsRe: Change of plans! Now I want a teardrop!
beemerphile1 wrote: The tow "package" only comes in the original build. Anything added later by the dealer or anyone else may be an improvement but does NOT CHANGE the tow rating. I'm not saying you cannot make improvements and then exceed the tow rating, just be aware that you ARE EXCEEDING the tow rating. It will result in increased wear, increased maintenance costs, and possibly early failure. You should stay as close as possible to your vehicle's tow rating. I exceed the tow rating of my Pontiac by 500# every time I tow. I know it and accept it. Your posts seem to indicate that you think it is possible to double your tow rating, you are wrong. So even though the tow package says it can tow 3500, it doesn't mean the tow vehicle can? How can they even measure that if the vehicle can't do it? I guess i'm confused, because that matches what the Ford Towing Guide said too. I thought that was the entire reason for adding a tow package to ANY vehicle.357Views0likes0CommentsRe: Change of plans! Now I want a teardrop!
westend wrote: Why are you eliminating 7 mos. out of the year? If you have a rig that is insulated well and have a furnace, you can use it at any time. Because campgrounds are only open from April-October. Just reading between the lines, here so take this with a big grain of salt: Why not look for something used that will get you on the road? There are a lot of smaller, conventional rigs for sale as people upsize to the bigger trailers. With a brand like T@B, you're paying a lot for glam marketing and not getting much more than a conventional trailer. (*Before I'm corrected about T@B, I'm not referring to the quality, only the brand pricing*) I'm not against buying a used trailer, some of the ones i've been interested in were used, but the bathrooms are a recent addition, they weren't in the older models. BTW, your conception of "tow package" and Beemer's are not the same. The "tow package" is a factory installed upgrade. What you seem to think it entails is adding a receiver hitch to the back of the vehicle. I just posted a link to a site that sells the "complete towing package", so check that out and tell me if that wouldn't work. I guess I don't understand how someone can't add the option of towing with a vehicle that advertises that it can tow things!358Views0likes0CommentsRe: Change of plans! Now I want a teardrop!
beemerphile1 wrote: Read again what I wrote. YOU cannot add a tow package on your own. The FACTORY can add the tow package at the time of manufacture. Are you saying I can't take it to a Ford dealer or a mechanic and have them add one? How does anyone else do this? My friend did it with his Ford Explorer. So you're saying if the factory doesn't put one on, nobody can, ever? I just find that hard to believe.358Views0likes0CommentsRe: Change of plans! Now I want a teardrop!
rjxj wrote: Ok so its 3500 lbs. Back to your question. You asked about a stripped little guy. Call them and ask how much they are. You mentioned that you dont want to go out and be ready not go across the campground in the rain. I agree 100 %. I want to do everything in my rig but if you get it stripped you will be using a porta potty and an outdoor shower tent. I check RvTrader daily and there are always basic stripped down models for as low as $4000. That's very tempting but the more i think about it, the more I want a bathroom. And the few that have bathrooms also have everything else (running water, stove, etc.) so most likely i'll go with the bathroom model (the T@B S) So how much money do you have for this project. Like Glen Haggy says, it all starts with the checkbook. Come on spit it out. At the moment I have $12,000, not enough to buy the one I want, but my options are to wait until I do have enough (a few more months) but by then it will be fall and I won't be able to go camping for 7 months anyway, OR I could put a big down payment on it and finance the rest, that way my payments would be cheap enough to where if I lost or quit my job, I should be able to continue the payments with any job I could find.357Views0likes0Comments
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