Towin_Toys
Explorer
Joined 22 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: Dry Tongue weight vs. weight distributing hitch
Slipp wrote: I agree with all of you and I appreciate you guys giving input. We traveled from NOLA to Central Louisiana today. I pulled over at the Laplace Travel Center and removed the geny hitch and readjusted the blueox. Instantly had a better towing experience. The rubber band effect is gone. The front to back push/pull is mostly gone. Seesaw greatly reduced. I haven't totally covered the US yet, but I think these roads are some of the worst in the country. It was a bit windy on our drive and I was experiencing rear end sway along with some seesaw due to bad roads. 3.5 visible chain links and 40lbs in the Firestone air bags. Tongue is 21" from bottom of frame and rear of trailer about 23", rear of truck is approx 1 inch higher than front. Measurements sound okay? We are pulling out on Wednesday for a 3 or 4 day trek to Oceanside, CA. I have intentions to replace all 4 of the stock rancho shocks with Bilstein monotubes and ideally the hellwig rear sway as well, before we leave. I'd be happy to report back during our trip to CA. Thank you all. When you say 3.5 chain links visible.....from where? Is that from the top of the spring bar to the bottom of the lift bracket? If so, I think you could easily tighten it up by an additional link. If you are still using the supplied lift bracket wrench, you should get a 2’ X 1/2” drive breaker bar, an extension, and a socket. Much better than the supplied wrench.937Views0likes0CommentsRe: Dry Tongue weight vs. weight distributing hitch
Slipp wrote: To towin toys... Loaded, with toys, what is your tongue weight? Or estimate? W/o a toy it's 2200-2300 lbs, when weighed level. Wondering how much weight it takes in the back to achieve good results. I haven’t weighed just the tongue, but it’s a lot. The toys in the back certainly affect the tongue weight, but with the axles as far back as they are in the 24AS it’s not nearly as much as you might think. We have actually unintentionally added to the tongue weight with heavier 6V batteries, a much thicker and heavier mattress, I insulated and finished the walls and ceilings in the two forward compartments, and I dynamatted the walls in the generator compartment. Fully loaded we are right at the max GVWR of the coach.941Views0likes0CommentsRe: Dry Tongue weight vs. weight distributing hitch
Slipp wrote: I've tried varied combinations. 6-7 links of chain visible, from the end. 15 lbs of air to get the rear above the upper overloads. I've aired up to 60, but found that 30psi is about right. Any thoughts on more or less tension? Well, I’m towing the same trailer with a 2017 Silverado 2500 with none of the issues you describe. I have towed it with nothing in the garage area, and with a 500 pound motorcycle, and with a 2000 pound UTV. With a full tank of fresh water, I put 60#’s in the air bags. No water, 50#’s. The tension bars for the Blue Ox are tensioned two links tighter than the recommended starting point. My receiver is an aftermarket Curt commercial duty rated at 2700#’s tongue weight. I also have Bilstein mono tube gas shocks and Helwig sway bars front and rear. It tows and handles extremely well and drives great. It is extremely stable. We have been on 21 trips with it in the last year and a half. Most were on the steep and curvy highways going into the mountains but one trip was to the Oregon Coast. My guess is that your current set up just isn’t dialed in correctly yet. If my 2500 can do it, your 3500 should do it better. Spring bar tension, air pressure in the bags, ball height, and shocks are all things I would look at. And if you are using the factory hitch receiver that in itself would be suspect. I’ll be glad to help if I can.938Views0likes0CommentsRe: Dry Tongue weight vs. weight distributing hitch
Bobbo wrote: Slipp wrote: The bottom line is this trailer is ment to haul toys, and we do not haul a toy. You hit the nail on the head with this sentence. That trailer is intended to have a significant weight in the back to counter all of that tongue weight. Unless you get the tongue weight down to 12% to 15% of the trailer weight, nothing else will work. How much air pressure are you keeping in the air bags while towing? Also, how many full links of chain visible at the end of the Blue Ox tow bars when hooked up and tensioned?937Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trailer crash on mountain road.
Cummins12V98 wrote: Down hill towing a TT can be a dangerous combo, I know from personal experience! People that are considering a RV do your self a favor and start out with a 5er!!! I've been towing up and down steep grades with curves for many many years with no issues whatsoever. And all were/are bumper pull TT's. If set up right they tow just fine and are safe.540Views0likes0CommentsRe: WD Hitch Recommendation?
The Blue OX 2,000 lb Hitch is not much more $$ than their 1,500 lb model and is simpler to set up than the Equil-i-zer. I had the EQ until we recently sold our TT and bought a toy hauler with a dry tongue weight of 1,610 #'s. I like the Blue OX better. It's much quieter, stays cleaner, has built in sway control, and works as good or better than the EQ 4 point sway hitch did.314Views0likes0CommentsRe: Stupid stupid idiot towing a TT
3oaks wrote: ken56 wrote: I loaned my 1/2 ton pick up to a friend who said he wanted to go pick up some sand for his kids sand box. I had no idea that he would almost fill the whole bed with sand. The bumper was almost dragging the ground when I went over to his place to help unload it. I was busy that morning and could not go with him but when I saw that I told him he might be replacing the shocks and springs on my truck. I was a bit POed to say the least. Been there, done that, to my own truck when I was younger. Two ton of pulverized limestone in a half ton pickup box. Only had to haul it less than 12 miles on a back country road. I can do it. Well maybe not. Fortunately only took out the rear shocks, and not the springs. Never abused a truck like that again! I have a personal rule that I never break. I do not loan anything with an engine, a pump, or that fires a projectile.538Views0likes0Comments
Groups
Fifth Wheel Group
Interested in fifth wheels? You've come to the right spot.Feb 17, 202519,006 Posts Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Feb 06, 202544,025 Posts
