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Rock Auto now carries DrawTite
Just saw the Rock Auto Newsletter and they now carry Draw-Tite hitches, receivers, controllers, etc. Just passing this along, Rock Auto is always known for low prices so might be worth giving these guys a look if you are shopping for hitch equipment.
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BurbMan
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02/07/20 08:12am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Airing down tires on dually for beach
I've had these Staun Deflators for 20 years now and they work great. I have them preset at 15 psi which is fine for most beaches around here. These are nice because you can screw them on, enjoy a cold beverage, and they automatically stop letting air out when they reach the pre-set pressure.
If you have regular LT E rated tires you won't have any issues breaking the bead as long as you stay above 10psi. Anything less than 10psi puts you at risk for breaking the bead.
If you are new to the beach it's a good idea to go out with someone your first couple trips. Also be aware of the state and county requirements depending on which permit/beaches you plan on using.
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BurbMan
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01/08/20 01:50pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Getting Ready for First Tow with the EcoBoost!
Grit Dog, Yes I would absolutely consider a Ford with a big block gasser, although Seattle's a long way to go shopping. I still have some time before I fix up the truck camper.
I know exactly what you;re talking about with U-haul....The last time I rented one of these enclosed trailers I got it home and loaded it and noticed it was sitting funny...the RF tire had 0 psi. Couldn't tell until you added weight to the trailer. Had a nail in it so I plugged it, aired it, and hit the road. My last car trailer rental (their car trailers are great BTW) the cord for the lights was--no kidding-- 6 in long! I had to stop at Harbor Freight and get an extension. Now I keep it in the truck.
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BurbMan
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11/21/19 12:43pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Getting Ready for First Tow with the EcoBoost!
I was afraid Burbman had replaced his Burb with a Ecoboost pickup.
Never happen. My dream truck would be a 04-06 GMC crew cab (or ext cab) long bed 3500 SRW with 8.1L big block. I think they made 10 or maybe 20 of them in that config LOL...
I REALLY want a new Ram, but I would have to trade in the Scat Pack Challenger to afford it and I'm not sure I'm there yet...
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BurbMan
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11/21/19 07:02am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Getting Ready for First Tow with the EcoBoost!
Haha not yet! BUT the trailer is on the market now and the Burb will be soon...we have decided to end our TT and towing adventure. Last spring I acquired a FREE 2002 Lance truck camper that needs some restoration work. So we will be camping in a truck camper, which means I'll need a truck....the TT has gotten too big for how we want to travel as just the two of us.
If you know of anybody looking a for 3-row SUV with 8600 GVWR and 12000 tow rating to tow that BIG trailer, shoot me an email, I know many of you already have my email address.
Nothing is being advertised for sale here Marty....:B
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BurbMan
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11/19/19 07:42am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Getting Ready for First Tow with the EcoBoost!
Good point, they do have surge brakes...oh well. Bryan is that pic for real?!?!
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BurbMan
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11/18/19 08:25pm |
Tow Vehicles
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Getting Ready for First Tow with the EcoBoost!
Son in Law is changing jobs and we're helping the kids move out to Madison WI next week. We have a U-Haul trailer reserved, ready to begin emptying our basement!!
https://www.uhaul.com/reservations/images/Equipment/Trailers/Enclosed6x12Large.png width=540
I've towed these trailers a few times with the Suburban and it's like they are not even back there. Last year we leased DW a 2018 Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6, so we are making this the TV for our Wisconsin moving trip.
The tow rating with the Towing package is 5000 lbs max, 500 TW max. This trailer is probably going to be in the 3000 range when it's loaded up, so I don't think I'll need a WD hitch.
I know the EB is up to the task power wise at 365HP, but with the driver, 2 passengers, and tongue weight I'll bet this thing is at/close to GVWR...the GCWR rating is 10,400. I am anxious to see how the integrated sway control helps with the trailer. I always get the double axle trailer because those little single axle ones are squirrelly.
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BurbMan
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11/18/19 03:26pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Sequoia Can't Really Tow Anything (Family of 6). Am I Right?
One last comment, many owners' manuals are also specifying "maximum frontal area" of the trailer, which in effect rules out hard sided RV trailers and limits towing to low-profile trailers like pop-ups and utility models. The reason being that the wind resistance of a high profile trailer adds as much load to the drivetrain as the weight of the trailer.
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BurbMan
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07/08/19 06:59am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Sequoia Can't Really Tow Anything (Family of 6). Am I Right?
Welcome Family of 6! Kudos to you for doing the math correctly! Most folks look at the 6500 lb tow rating, buy a trailer with a 6500 dry weight, and then stumble into this forum looking to improve their towing experience....I didn't even do the math when we bought our first TT, the dealer told us it would tow like a dream and we took him at his word....
You are 100% on what you can tow with a loaded vehicle. You might load the family in and head to a scale and get an actual weight...you can find drive-on scales at most recycling yards, moving companies, etc., and for $10 or so they'll let you drive on a give you a scale weight. Takes about 5 mins.
We were camping in the local state park last month and saw one of these "tent trailers". Unlike a pop-up, you don't get a sink, fridge, heater, etc, it's literally a tent that folds into a trailer. What you get for trading off the amenities is more tent with less weight. This seems like might be a good alternative to traditional tent camping.
https://cascadiatents.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/8-e1500418032804.png width=640
Cascadia Tents
Option B that was mentioned is get a bigger pop up, tow it with the Sequoia, and take a second vehicle for additional occupants and supplies.
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BurbMan
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07/05/19 07:10am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: GM Yukon XL Denali Transmission Temps
The trans temp idiot light or warning message is usually set at 275*. 250* is high, but as other said not the end of the world, just put a fluid change on the list at the end of every towing season. Be sure you are using the new Dex VI full synthetic.
The bigger cooler should help, next step would be an electric fan to flow more air over the cooler.
ALSO, if your trans is getting that hot you're cooking the rear axle too. I would change the fluid and consider a Mag-Hytec expanded capacity cover, and be sure you have full synthetic in the rear axle also (GM fluid is full syn).
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BurbMan
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07/02/19 02:23pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: What Fuel Do You Use in Your EcoBoost?
Comparing an Explorer to an F-150 is not apples to apples.
Absolutely true, but with the same engine in both there should be some correlation in results. I was more intrigued at how far the tech has advanced to where the PCM can tune the truck on the fly based on what gas you put in it. Also somewhat surprised that C&D testing showed as big of a difference as it did.
As you said, YMMV and certainly not recommending everyone run 93, just sharing what I found out.
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BurbMan
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07/02/19 12:05pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 3.5 Ecoboost Feels Like a V6
Try using 93 octane if you're not already.
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BurbMan
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07/02/19 08:50am |
Tow Vehicles
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What Fuel Do You Use in Your EcoBoost?
So last year we got a 2018 Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost, the same motor they put in the F-150's that a lot of guys tow with. (The Explorer is not on towing duty, we still have the Suburban for that.)
The owner's manual says to use whatever octane of fuel you want, but that the engine will perform better on hi-test. We've been putting only 93 in the tank and it runs great!
This month Car and Driver runs an article about "Are you wasting money on hi-test" and it looks at 4 examples of vehicles, one of which was the F-150 with the 3.5L EB. Apparently the PCM uses the knock sensors to "measure" the octane of the fuel...the PCM advances timing until it detects knock, then backs it down until no knock is detected.
The results of the C&D test were that the EB was the only engine tested to significantly benefit from the higher octane fuel, as measured by +20 hp, +1.5 psi boost, and -0.5 sec in the 1/4 mile. Fuel economy at highway speeds was also 0.5 mpg better, although it was noted that this in no way makes running 93 an economical option. It costs more to run 93 no matter how you slice it.
C&D also noted that the truck ran fine on 87, no knocking, hesitation, or other symptoms of poor performance, but it felt slower in daily driving.
I'm curious if you guys that run F-150's are using hi-test, and if not I would suggest you give it a try.
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BurbMan
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07/02/19 07:45am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: I asked for trouble and I got it.
I replaced the brake and fuel lines on my Suburban about 6 years ago. You can get a pre-bent stainless kit from Classic Tube, that's what I used and it worked out great. Ask your mechanic is he will install these lines.
The fuel system is complicated, there are 3 lines, flow, return and evap, with a charcoal cannister mounted to the frame above the fuel tank. If you're paying labor to drop the fuel tank then it's smart money to replace the fuel pump. Any GM fuel pump with more than 100k on the clock is on borrowed time.
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BurbMan
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07/02/19 07:00am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Need new tires
I converted my 15" STs to 16" LTs a while back, and that involved putting a 2" lift onto the suspension. I bought a set of LT rims and E rated tires from a guy who said that even though the rims were stamped "65 psi max" he ran them at 80 psi no problem.
The clearcoat is peeling off these rims and they look awful, so this time around I bought new wheels and the PSI rating says "Limited to valve stem". The weight rating is more than enough to handle an E tire, and the valve stem for the TPMS I use is rated at 100 psi.
Here is the same rim in a 15" that says the same for PSI rating. If you don't want to go to LTs, then I would upgrade the rims and get the best E-rated ST tire you can find.
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BurbMan
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07/02/19 06:53am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: *UPDATE* ST tires any better nowadays?
No, the Vee Rubber Taigas are the new tires. The failed tire(s) were Commodore Commercials, purchased from Ken Towery's in Louisville ( we lived there 2011-2015). The Commodores were made in China.
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BurbMan
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07/01/19 02:50pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: *UPDATE* ST tires any better nowadays?
UPDATE:
Thought I would come back here and close the loop on this. The new Goodyear ST tires are VERY pricey, so I opted for another low-budget set of LT225/75-16E from the local Mavis Tire. The Brand is Taiga, made by Vee Rubber, made in Thailand. Even still it was $600 out the door, about $200 cheaper than a set of the Goodyear Endurance STs.
Taking the old tires off was a real eye opener...I got new rims, so I had the tire shop mount the new tires on the new rims, and put them on the trailer at home. I also replaced the Trail Air equalizers and greased the suspension.
This is what the suspect tire looked like on the trailer:
https://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/Burbman/20190603_194904_zps1rfczfbb.jpg width=640
Once I got it off and put it next to the rear one you get a different view:
https://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/Burbman/20190630_131818_zpsyzfvftl2.jpg width=640
Hard to believe these two tires are the same size. The other front tire was starting to do the same which was why I replaced the equalizers, they were worn out and shifting too much of the load to the front axle and overloading the front tires.
I also saw this from my TPMS, where the front tires were running 10* hotter than the rear ones. Now back in business and ready for the next trip!
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BurbMan
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07/01/19 11:31am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Tire Experts Weigh in: Run these or replace them?
How are the brakes? If the Burb is sitting more, I will guess that the brakes will be the next issue, followed by the air conditioning. I had a 01 that sat for towing and family duty, and had similar issue with tires, and brakes, and air conditioning.
LOL had a frozen front caliper last year and had to replace both. I just put a can of R-134a into the a/c system every season and charge using my HF gauge set...
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BurbMan
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06/05/19 10:45am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: *UPDATE* ST tires any better nowadays?
Providers by Taskmaster.......Discount Tires and Simple Tire will get them for you or their web adds say they can.
Neither of them have stores on LI
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BurbMan
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06/05/19 10:41am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Tire Experts Weigh in: Run these or replace them?
Hi Ben, I remember the pics of your Michelins and thought the cracks were finer and more superficial. I don't seem to have as many as I remember yours had but they are deeper. Never knew you had that air loss incident running an errand, I guess that's better than having it blow out at speed.
I looked at the lower priced tires and even they are $140+ each, so only save like $200 for the set. I love the Bridgestones because I know they have great grip in any weather and I can count on my truck to take me anywhere.
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BurbMan
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06/04/19 08:09pm |
Tow Vehicles
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