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RE: Mount trailer tires yourself at home?
...I read a bunch about balancing trailer tire and came to the conclusion most are not...
Yes, most equipment trailers that travel mostly local, lower speed roads don't "need" to have tires balanced.
But... for my camper, which I tow on highways / interstates at the appropriate speed, I want them balanced. And it is usually very inexpensive, especially when included in a package price of buying new tires.
I have the tire shop add balancing beads when changing tires.
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GrandpaKip
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01/16/20 07:39am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Gas grill replacement
About the 1 pound tanks. About a year ago I bought an adapter to fill the little tank from a 20 pounder. Works great if you follow the directions. My gas supplier charges $5 to fill a 20# tank and I can fill about 12 of the 1# before the pressure has gone down too far, unless there’s good sunshine to heat the tank. Then I can get a couple more.
It would be great to fill a 20 pound tank for $5.
the cheapest I can find around here is $18 for a 20 pound tank.
One of the perks of Blossman Gas. I ran out on New Years Day. 45 minutes after I called, a truck was here, filled the tank and he relit my pilot lights. 75 free gallons because they let me run out (keep full service).
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GrandpaKip
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01/11/20 07:46am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Gas grill replacement
About the 1 pound tanks. About a year ago I bought an adapter to fill the little tank from a 20 pounder. Works great if you follow the directions. My gas supplier charges $5 to fill a 20# tank and I can fill about 12 of the 1# before the pressure has gone down too far, unless there’s good sunshine to heat the tank. Then I can get a couple more.
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GrandpaKip
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01/10/20 10:16am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Hey Y'all! Have a noob question!
Another thing.
The place is crawling with wild hogs,coyotes,deer,and even a few black bears and cougars.
The hogs make their wallows right on the edge of the water and poop and pee right on the water's edge.
A buried system has nothing on the hogs.
We had these type of systems all over one the lake areas in Florida. Nary a problem. The critters left more deposits than the humans, at least before a blue jillion people moved in.
I have the same type of thing at my house in the NC mountains, only on a larger scale. Big plastic tank connected to a drain field. Sure ain’t rocket science.
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GrandpaKip
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01/08/20 08:06am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 6 gal electric hot water heater upgrade
I put a Rheem 10 gal. water heater in a cargo trailer conversion. Pretty sure it was on a 20A breaker and it never flipped. Plenty of hot water for the 2 of us. But we came from a 30’ sailboat, so we were used to taking a “small” shower.
I turned it on right after setting up so no real worry with waiting.
However, a 120V water heater is not cheap.
I would look into the electric/propane unit first if I was to do it again.
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GrandpaKip
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01/08/20 07:51am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Yet another what can I tow question
But isn't GWR subjective based on how much a person loads down the trailer?
Not really. It’s the max the trailer should weigh and not weigh more.
Doesn't it represent the maximum the trailer can be loaded down to?
Yes.
Worst case scenario: You load the trailer to its max, then take 13% of that for an optimal tongue weight. Theoretically, that will be the highest tongue weight you will have, though you can go to 15%.
That tongue weight figure will come off your payload.
Say you are looking at a camper that maxes out at 7000#.
13% of 7000 is 910.
That would be the max optimal tongue weight.
Say your truck has a payload of 1800#.
1800 - 910= 890
That leaves you with 890 for passengers, their stuff, whatever else is in the bed, and the weight of the weight distribution hitch (most figure about 100#).
Using the GWR gives you a max figure for your truck’s payload. To me, this is the easiest method to get an idea of what campers you can pull safely with your truck.
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GrandpaKip
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01/06/20 08:08am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: What is going on with this roof?
Should I use grovel or Dicor non-sag around the windows and where the panels meet the roof?
I would use either Lexel or Geocel, but definitely not grovel.
Sorry I meant to say geocel but did not see that auto correct had changed it. Thank you for the help.
You’re welcome. Just trying to throw some levity out there. I shoulda put a smiley or something on there. ;-)
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GrandpaKip
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01/06/20 07:45am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Yet another what can I tow question
This will be my first TT and I just don't want to have white knuckle rides. I'll have the whole family loaded in the truck and I just want to be safe. I doubt we'll travel much further than 4 hours away from our home location which is Columbia, South Carolina (smack dab in the middle of the state). We'll probably hit the mountains of NC or the beaches of SC mostly.
Looking at a few campers with a UVW of 5,500.
You really need to look at the Gross Weight Rating, not the unloaded. Lots of us here have found out that figure has no basis in reality.
For example, our trailer’s brochure weight was around 3500#, the sticker from the factory was 3820#, and 4150# when I ran it over the CAT scales on the way home. The Gross Weight Rating is 6000# and always will be.
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GrandpaKip
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01/05/20 10:17am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Hey Y'all! Have a noob question!
If it were me, I would fill the tank with water and dump it before leaving it for any length of time. The odor pods (or liquid) will not last for longer than a week or so and you also run the risk of the solids in the tank starting to adhere to each other and forming something you'll play heck trying to get out.
Appreciate the info.
That was kinda my thoughts,I'm worried about fouling the tank level sensors as well.
Guess I'll be pumping it out every trip and just add some lake water to the tank to get it up to a good level for draining.
We bought a macerator pump and a blue boy black water tank that can sit in the back of the truck and I can easily empty it into the sewer clean out in the garage when we get home.
It'll be a pain in the butt until we get our redneck septic system installed which I would have already done if it wasnt for the **** hip surgery.
We were looking for an easy out until that day comes.
I think that this is the best plan. A pain perhaps, but maybe a smaller one should anything go wrong with letting it sit.
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GrandpaKip
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01/05/20 10:01am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing a 2640lb 16ft TT with a Ford Ranger 4.0L?
Hi and welcome to the group.
I had a ‘99 Mazda B3000 4x4 Crewcab and towed a 2500# popup for a couple of years here in the mountains. I often wished it had the 4L. Up here, you will not see that 21mpg. Maybe on a run down I95 to Florida. Figure on 15 to 17 mpg in town.
You will definitely be slow coming up the Saluda Grade on I26 or up to Black Mountain on I40.
If you find a well maintained Ranger or B4000 with a factory tow package, it should be fine to pull that trailer.
It was 26 degrees this morning. You think you will be warm enough in there?
Enjoy your new toy.
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GrandpaKip
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01/05/20 09:52am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Adhesive for Aluminum roof to plywood?
There are thousands of screws in the metal roof of my house. Never had a leak.
There are lots of screws in the roof of my camper. No leaks.
Every boat I’ve owned has had screws or bolts in the decks and coach roof.
Properly installed and maintained, screws are not really a problem.
Unless y’all aren’t going to have anything go through the roof, I wouldn’t worry about it.
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GrandpaKip
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01/05/20 08:58am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Dark interiors
Some Winnebagos had white interiors as well as FunCruiser.
We have dark oak cabinets, light beige walls, light colored floor and a white ceiling. There are 4 windows in the main cabin. It really isn’t that dark inside, but if we had our druthers, the cabinets would be white.
We mostly spend our time outside, going inside after dark. So, for us, it really doesn’t matter a whole bunch. After 5 years, we still love the floor plan, and that’s the most important part for us.
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GrandpaKip
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01/05/20 08:35am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Spaceship RV
That’s fun.
Thanks for sharing.
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GrandpaKip
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01/04/20 08:59am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Yet another what can I tow question
You didn’t list the payload for your truck. It can be found on the yellow sticker on the door jamb. Cargo should not exceed xxxx pounds.
For now, you can ignore most of the other numbers as the payload rating will be your most limiting factor.
Get an idea of how much weight you will have in the truck. Passengers, their stuff, and whatever you think will be in the bed. Doesn’t have to be exact, a ball park will suffice. Subtract that from the listed cargo max. What’s left is available payload for the tongue weight of a trailer.
Also for now, ignore any trailer dry weight. Take the Gross Weight Rating and multiply by .13 (13%) to get an idea of the max tongue weight. Use that number to compare to what you found as your available payload,
This process should give you a good starting point in a search for a suitable camper.
I have 1200# of available payload, after subtracting passengers, etc.
My trailer has a max cargo of 6000#, so a max tongue weight of 780#.
I’m well under my payload max on the truck, so all is good.
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GrandpaKip
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01/04/20 08:38am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: What is going on with this roof?
Should I use grovel or Dicor non-sag around the windows and where the panels meet the roof?
I would use either Lexel or Geocel, but definitely not grovel.
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GrandpaKip
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01/02/20 06:53am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How to treat a Subfloor?
If you are going to put everything on top of the fame, then I would do as Grit dog suggested, though with some solid framing between the foam edges.
You could also wrap the bottom layer in Darco, a waterproof fabric, before installation.
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GrandpaKip
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01/01/20 09:22am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Help with towing math and trailer /vehicle specs
I think your truck will safely pull that trailer. The question is will you like the performance of it? only you can answer that.
The 5.3 is not a powerhouse of a engine and the 3.42 gear is not the greatest towing ratio.
You will be slow in the hills and the transmission will be shifting alot,make sure you have a transmission cooler.
Since you already have the truck hook it up and see if you can live with the performance of it,if not it is new truck time.
My personal opinion is I think you would be alot happier with a 6.0 liter and at least a 3.73 gear.
Just wondering, are you speaking from experience?
I live in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I’ve pulled all over the area and have never felt the 5.3L was struggling. Just the opposite, as a matter of fact. Put it in tow haul and the tranny takes care of itself and the temps stay normal. Very easy to hit interstate speeds without flooring it or maintain speed going uphill.
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GrandpaKip
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01/01/20 08:49am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How to treat a Subfloor?
Most contemporary trailers use the plastic corrugated sheets as the bottom layer that is closest to the road. No sealing, no rot and lower cost. Most people call it an underbelly cover. I have bought some at Home Depot in the past.
I suggest you go take a peek under a trailer at an RV dealer.
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GrandpaKip
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12/31/19 08:27am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Help with towing math and trailer /vehicle specs
I have a 2018 GMC sierra 6 sp 3.43 rear 5.3 engine 2 wh drive. I cannot find the GCWR on this truck but I am contemplating a trailer with following specs -
GVWR 5692, Cargo cap 1580, UVW 4112, Hitch 412. The truck factory curb wt is 5300 lbs. I will have one passenger and one driver both around 200 lbs. ea and about 200 lbs in the bed. Will this truck handle this trailer?? Thanks and appreciate your assistance.
You do not need GCWR in reality, what you need is the CARGO weight available.. The trailer tongue weight becomes "cargo" of your tow vehicle.
That information is now on a mandatory YELLOW sticker which typically is placed on the drivers side door or door frame.
Looks like this..
http://i.imgur.com/lyphUddl.jpg
Yellow sticker weight has already taken in account the driver and full tank of fuel.
You would subtract your passenger(s) and any other weight added to the cab or bed to get the max tongue weight you can have.
Rather than have internet keyboard jockeys guess your vehicles specs, it is bets to find your cargo weight and figure it out yourself.
This is the way to go, not the GCWR.
My Chevy is basically the same as your Sierra, but with 4WD. It has 1780# payload and pulls our 5000# trailer just fine. Stuff added to the truck, including us, is around 500-600#.
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GrandpaKip
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12/31/19 08:17am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How to treat a Subfloor?
Hi,
So is there a waterproof plywood?
Yep, if you fiberglass it.
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GrandpaKip
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12/30/19 07:45am |
Travel Trailers
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