The 23FB forum

[earthdog]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Question.. They are putting 15" tires on the 23s now. I imagine they are the Goodyear Endurance tires. Do you know if they are D or E rated? I'm in the process of going from 14s to 15s..

Have a copy of a spec sheet for a 2018 23FB on a dealer lot. Spec sheet says "Radial Black Wall Tires, LRC 15" w/Spare & Bracket". Guess that is load range C... Believe that lot trailer had Goodyear Marathon tires, but ours is supposed to have Goodyear Endurance tires - don't know about the load range.

[earthdog]

Originally Posted by RFP

Earthdog, While the 23FB and the 23D (now 23CB) are of the same genus, they are definitely different species. That said, there is useful cross-pollination by checking out both this fine thread and the "23D" thread (here: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...um-166374.html). Great ideas both places... wander over tho the "other place" from time to time... we'd love to see you there.

Rob - Great idea. I'll check it out and save the site as a favorite.

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by eastendmary

I love this thread. Sorry I am so late to the party. I have a 2010 FB that I adore...I had mostly used her on the East Coast with not too much boondocking. I'm out west now and have been frustrated by the low clearance. Knocked my black water pipe off...twice...ouch. Fixed it both times, easily, but still a pain in my neck.
So...can you lift the 23' with its double axles? Someone had told me it either wasn't advisable or really hard and expensive? Love this thread and I need to peruse the older posts more thoroughly, so I apologize if I am asking a question that was answered earlier.

If you are "out west" and near Portland OR, there is a place that will do the lift for less than $400. I believe it's the Dexter axle dealer. That's where I'm getting mine done. (In a couple of years.) In the meantime I am going from 14" tires to 15", partially to get some clearance, but mostly to get better tire selection.

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by earthdog

Have a copy of a spec sheet for a 2018 23FB on a dealer lot. Spec sheet says "Radial Black Wall Tires, LRC 15" w/Spare & Bracket". Guess that is load range C... Believe that lot trailer had Goodyear Marathon tires, but ours is supposed to have Goodyear Endurance tires - don't know about the load range.

Thanks. I'll go by the dealer in St Louis and see what's on the new 23FBs. I doubt the overall weight has changed on the 23FB from 2011 to 2018, enough to require a heavier tire. Trip planned for April. The Sendel wheels have been sitting in the garage for a while..

[earthdog]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Thanks. I'll go by the dealer in St Louis and see what's on the new 23FBs. I doubt the overall weight has changed on the 23FB from 2011 to 2018, enough to require a heavier tire. Trip planned for April. The Sendel wheels have been sitting in the garage for a while..

Just got off the phone with Airstream in Jackson Center. Our 2018 23FB that is scheduled to be built in March will have Goodyear Endurance 225 75 R15 tires, Load Range E, 2830# carrying capacity per tire.

The 2018 Flying Cloud 23FB brochure lists Hitch Weight (with LP & Batteries) 467#; Unit Base Weight (with LP & Batteries) 4806#; Max Trailer Capacity (GVWR) 6,000#; Net Carrying Capacity 1,194#.

Hope this helps you.

[Xplore]

Originally Posted by earthdog

Our 2018 23FB that is scheduled to be built in March will have Goodyear Endurance 225 75 R15 tires, Load Range E, 2830# carrying capacity per tire.

I have a 2018 23FB and that's the tire mine came with.

[earthdog]

Originally Posted by Xplore

I have a 2018 23FB and that's the tire mine came with.

May I ask what your tow vehicle is and what weight distribution hitch you use? If your TV is a pickup, are you able to lower the tailgate without it hitting the jack? Thanks!

[GettinAway]

Thanks earthdog. I need to get the Es on order. I'm pretty sure those weights were the same as the 2011, or close enough. I'm thinking about going with a tire pressure monitoring system, but haven't needed one for 30 years, and not sure if I want to spend the money or hassle with it now. I know why people get them, JT I watch my tire pressures and temps pretty closely, and have never had a problem.

[Xplore]

Originally Posted by earthdog

May I ask what your tow vehicle is and what weight distribution hitch you use? If your TV is a pickup, are you able to lower the tailgate without it hitting the jack? Thanks!

I tow it with my wife's Mercedes GLE 350. I have an F-150 3.5 on order and will use that once it comes in. No issues with the GLE we just need a truck bed for grills, bikes, etc.

Here is the hitch I am using and have been very happy with it.

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...ies/49586.html

[Fbastian]

Originally Posted by earthdog

May I ask what your tow vehicle is and what weight distribution hitch you use? If your TV is a pickup, are you able to lower the tailgate without it hitting the jack? Thanks!

For what its worth, I tow my 2017 23FB (TV = 2015 Nissan Titan) using an
Equal-i-zer weight distribution hitch (https://www.equalizerhitch.com/store/hitches/1-000-10-000-lb-equal-i-zer-sway-control-hitch-with-pre-installed-hitch-ball). As long as the TV and trailer are fairly well aligned in a straight line, the tailgate clears the jack with no problem.

PS/ As a newbie last year (first travel trailer) it did take a while to get used to this hitch. I found that when hitching/unhitching on an uneven surface where either TV or the trailer were pitched to one side relative to one another, it was very difficult to pry one of the sway bars on/off its bracket (likely why the hitch came with such a robust "snap-up lever"). I eventually found that when on an uneven surface if I roughly leveled the TV and trailer (by first backing one side of the TV rear wheels or trailer wheels onto a leveler) hitching/unhitching became immensely easier.

I'm now very comfortable with this hitch and I feel very much in control when towing.

Frank

[Troutboy]

Frank, where the bars tough to get out even when you raised the jack to the highest setting?

I have found by putting a 6inch block under the jack, I can extend the jack to it’s highest setting (while the ball/hitch is still attached) which has allowed me to get the bars off very easily regardless of level or angle of the TV.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by Fbastian

< snip >, it was very difficult to pry one of the sway bars on/off its bracket < snip >

Frank, Are you using the tongue jack to raise the rear of the tow vehicle along with the trailer (still hooked up) to take most of the weight off of the bars before releasing them?

I don't want to seem impertinent, but is wasn't clear to me from your narrative if you were using this common 'trick.'


EDIT: Oops, I just saw Troutboy's comment...

[PKI]

Just picked up the coach. Felt nice to have her back. Looks like we need to resync the camera. Hope that is not a regular deal. Battery held up well with the isolation switch.

It's time to take a new look at storage. All my punts need to be converted to coordinated plays that support the cook. Packaging may well be key. Have to find a place for the new waffle iron and hand mixer too.

Winter is not over, but it's time to start on Spring. Hope to meet you all down the road. Pat

[earthdog]

Originally Posted by Xplore

I tow it with my wife's Mercedes GLE 350. I have an F-150 3.5 on order and will use that once it comes in. No issues with the GLE we just need a truck bed for grills, bikes, etc.

Here is the hitch I am using and have been very happy with it.

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...ies/49586.html

Thanks, Xplore

[Fbastian]

Originally Posted by Troutboy

Frank, where the bars tough to get out even when you raised the jack to the highest setting?

I have found by putting a 6inch block under the jack, I can extend the jack to it’s highest setting (while the ball/hitch is still attached) which has allowed me to get the bars off very easily regardless of level or angle of the TV.

At first I did try raising the hitch as high as I could but I was concerned that since it has a 3000 pound rating, lifting the backend of the truck too much might break the Jack. Also I would eyeball the bars as I raised the jack and it seemed that the bars raised at the same rate. I guess I’ll try that again - if that works it would be simpler.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by Fbastian

At first I did try raising the hitch as high as I could but I was concerned that since it has a 3000 pound rating, < snip >

I had the same thought about the robustness of the tongue jack when lifting the truck and Airstream together, but considering the sheer difficulty of wrestling tension-stressed bars off won out that particular mental skirmish.

Being retired for nearly two decades, I certainly count my pennies differently than I once did, and I don't want to seem be too cavalier about money, but I decided that if the OEM tongue jack isn't up to this particular task, I'll replace it with one that is.

[SpinWhite]

We pick up our 23FB tomorrow and are curious what tire pressure you are using in your Goodyear Endurance on your 23FB?

[Bobbo]

80 psi

[PKI]

FYI - a new 23FB looking for info to improve a coach they very much like and want to keep. See link to thread they started. Pat

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f514...-177197-2.html

[Xplore]

Originally Posted by earthdog

May I ask what your tow vehicle is and what weight distribution hitch you use? If your TV is a pickup, are you able to lower the tailgate without it hitting the jack? Thanks!

Update:
I setup the hitch for my new F-150 today and the tailgate does not clear the jack on my 2018 23FB. I didn't think it would but wanted to report back. Very close, needs another inch or so.

3.5 F-150 + 23FB = A great combo. Love this setup.