This is depressing. Any preventive measures that can be taken.
Tom
Tom
There are those, noted above, who would suggest staying home and not using your trailer as the best maintenance. However if you have over 115,000 miles of travel to points like Alaska, all of Canada, and most of our back roads you got to except some ware.
The pictures below are from inside the trailer between the battery boxes. The upper edge of the floor channel on the right has seperated from the channel and the revits on the left side have all come out. The whole front assembly has moved forward about 5/8 of an in. in the area. I plan to install a strong Al. angles to the base of the studs and Al. angle to replace the original upright piece of the floor channel and fasten the outer skin to it.
Both pictures have been loaded in a large format so click on them for detail
howie, you seem to be writing a new book on front end separation. i may have the same problem with my '93. i've been noticing flex and gapping between frame and shell during the hitching -unhitching process and have chose to plant my head firmly in the sand on this problem.
thanks for sharing your experience as i will have to go down this same road this winter.
"Beautiful example of what happens when the tow vehicle is super heavy duty, enough to tow the Queen Mary, and using hitch bars with excessive ratings.
This damage will happen every time, just give the coach some travel time in miles."
This is depressing. Any preventive measures that can be taken.
Tom
The overload springs should be removed from the tow vehicle, and, select a hitch bar rating that is absolutely minimal, like 550 to 600 pounds.
Also, make sure the axles are good, and the running gear is properly balanced.
I ask this because We are making plans to buy a new tow vehicle in the not too far distant future. I was thinking of a 3/4 ton to pull a 25' Safari. And...We haul a bunch of stuff in the bed with a heavy canopy and tool boxes also?
I haul things and need the 3/4 ton. If I go camping or a long trip I like to take things with me so I am self supportive. I would be overloaded with a half ton and a bed full of generator and tools....and camping stuff with a Gorrila slide and Bed cover that weight almost 500# without anything in them. Thats why I was asking about the 3/4 ton. I go prepared for anything....I am the one who usually is ask to help out when others are in trouble. I have always been that way and always will be. I take tools and a 250lb genny....But its quiet..lol...HONDA Eu6500i....its almost as quiet as the 2000i...but I need the load capacity. A half ton won't do it. Thank Andy..you answer my question. I talk too much...lol
As it stands right now, based on the research I've done, the only 1/2 ton truck which stands half a chance of towing a 34'r is the Ford F-150, because it has a fully boxed frame. That said, even with a 10,000lb tow rating, I still wouldn't use a 1/2 ton to tow that much weight.
My 2005 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton CTD was rated to tow 13,000lbs. My 2001 Dodge Ram 1 ton CTD is rated to 14,300lbs. You only want to tow about 80% of the vehicle's maximum tow rating.
Towing a 34'r with a 1/2 ton is just plain dangerous and can get someone seriously injured/killed. When towing, make sure your vehicle is properly equipped, ie: proper brake controller, proper sized tow vehicle brakes (most manufacturers have tow packages), jake brake for insurance, if you're towing a decent sized trailer.
As it stands right now, based on the research I've done, the only 1/2 ton truck which stands half a chance of towing a 34'r is the Ford F-150, because it has a fully boxed frame. That said, even with a 10,000lb tow rating, I still wouldn't use a 1/2 ton to tow that much weight.
My 2005 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton CTD was rated to tow 13,000lbs. My 2001 Dodge Ram 1 ton CTD is rated to 14,300lbs. You only want to tow about 80% of the vehicle's maximum tow rating.
Towing a 34'r with a 1/2 ton is just plain dangerous and can get someone seriously injured/killed. When towing, make sure your vehicle is properly equipped, ie: proper brake controller, proper sized tow vehicle brakes (most manufacturers have tow packages), jake brake for insurance, if you're towing a decent sized trailer.
Hope that helps with your decision.
Frederic
I agree completely with Bigger is better when towing for safety sake. I am a fleet manager and understand pickup truck capabilities. I was just worried about this separation thing with the AS. I would tow with a ONE TON dually if it would not tear up the AS. I carry stuff....So I need more truck. MORE brakes....is a biggie too. The 80% rule is a good thing to go buy with regards to safety.
I agree completely with Bigger is better when towing for safety sake. I am a fleet manager and understand pickup truck capabilities. I was just worried about this separation thing with the AS. I would tow with a ONE TON dually if it would not tear up the AS. I carry stuff....So I need more truck. MORE brakes....is a biggie too. The 80% rule is a good thing to go buy with regards to safety.
Duallies are a no-no for towing Airstreams, unless it is one of the 5th wheel models. With twice as many tires in the back to run over bumps in the road, and a very stiff suspension, they will eat your trailer's lunch in short order. BTW, my 3/4 ton pickup has 2000 pound payload. I'm not sure when 3/4 ton stopped equalling 1500 pounds. Even with that, towing capacity is still 8500 pounds.
__________________
Terry Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
AIR#2611
Duallies are a no-no for towing Airstreams, unless it is one of the 5th wheel models. With twice as many tires in the back to run over bumps in the road, and a very stiff suspension, they will eat your trailer's lunch in short order....
Good! That'll give me an excuse to redo the trailer the right way, when the time comes, LOL!!!!!!
Duallies are a no-no for towing Airstreams, unless it is one of the 5th wheel models. With twice as many tires in the back to run over bumps in the road, and a very stiff suspension, they will eat your trailer's lunch in short order. BTW, my 3/4 ton pickup has 2000 pound payload. I'm not sure when 3/4 ton stopped equalling 1500 pounds. Even with that, towing capacity is still 8500 pounds.
Actually most 3/4 tons have a load capacity of 3,000#'s give or take a couple hundred depending on the trucks configuration. One ton single wheels have around 4,100 give or take...and one ton duallys have between 4,800 and 5700 # carrying capacities. Just for the records. Most half tons are reated from 1400 to 3,000# if configured proper. The 3,000 half ton is only Ford tho....the rest are less.
Quick Links
Click here
Linear Mode
