What you tow with

[ROBERT CROSS]

You transfer weight by increasing the tension on the WD bars, remember as you tension the WD you are also increasing the weight on the trailer axles.(see above CAT tic's).
The question remains....how much is needed to return the steering axle to it's unloaded weight.
If you check my CAT tickets above, you will notice that I've gotten that weight within 100lbs.
Steering axle 3640lbs w/o trailer, 3740lbs hitched with bars set.
I have been able to get the 100lbs transferred but it makes no noticeable difference in towing performance, the above settings work very well. Adjustments made when not loaded that heavy.

Bob

[m.hony]

Yes, normally that is exactly what you do with an ordinary WD setup like my EazLift that I no longer use.
Maybe I should go back to using the EazLift?
I have the Equal-i-zer.
There is no adjustment.
Seems like all you could do is get different weight spring bars.

[ROBERT CROSS]

This hitch?


You can adjust tension,(WD), by adjusting the frame bracket the bars are clamped to.
It makes no sense having a WD hitch that you can't adjust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5TtNUxeFWc

At 6:17 in the vid.

Bob

[m.hony]

Hey!
Ya know what?
That's it!
If it ain't rainin' tomorrow I will try it.

[m.hony]

Will there be any ill consequences like raising the front of the trailer and lowering the back of the trailer causing it to bottom out in a dip?
Or I won't know until I try it?
Or the height of the trailer won't change much?

[m.hony]

Thank you!
Airforums is great for helping me understand how things work and how to change/adjust things to make it better.

[ROBERT CROSS]

My first attempt at adjusting WD.....I started out getting tow vehicle measurements.(as in the vid).

Took the measurements again hitched with no WD.

Then adjusted to maximum WD to get a baseline. Measured again.

Noted the difference to get an idea of how much adjustment would be necessary to get the front axle height,(weight), back to the un-hitched measurements.

Remember when done you want both the TV & Airstream as close to dead level as possible.

Bob

[m.hony]

In my mind I only need a little adjustment as all numbers are within the TV's posted GVW for front and rear axles, tongue weight, and payload. I just want it slightly better balanced. I may not ever feel the difference while driving, but I will have peace of mind knowing I have done the best I can.
Instead of being within 200# from the limit on back and 900# from the limit on front I would rather be 550# from the limit on both front and rear axles if possible. I may never get the weight transferred exactly equal from rear to front, but I believe I can get closer than I am now.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I think your concentrating too much on your tow vehicles maximum axle load numbers.
As long as you don't exceed those numbers it's more important to return the weight that is removed from the steering axle when the trailer is hitched.

My CAT tickets will illustrate....with no WD the rear axle is over it's 5500lb rating, and the front is way under it's 4180lb limit.
With WD set they are well within their ratings and most importantly.....the whole rig, TV & trailer is LEVEL.

Follow the measurement procedure in the video I posted. I used the same system when we first got the Classic. The WD setting was within 150lbs of what the CAT scales eventually produced.

Good Luck....have fun.

Bob

[m.hony]

So- most likely everything is fine and I can leave well enough alone. I have towed with this truck 5 years and with this trailer 1 year. The other trailer was about the same length and weight or slightly less.
Or try a very slight adjustment to get closer to the numbers I think I want- just to satisfy my curiosity...
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[dkottum]

No fancy hitch needed, owner has his own method of weight distribution, and every possible convenience including wood cook stove and a few hundred pounds of wood fuel in the car. Several generators, a/c's, refrigerators. Claims he has been in 49 states with it

[jornvango]

We're towing our '95 Sovereign 22 ft with a 2006 Jeep Commander with the 5.7l HEMI. Plenty of power. We're averaging around 11-12 mpg whilst towing.



Picture is taken at campground where we're staying this moment, on the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains in California.

[Zackybilly1]

Towing with a 2013 Suburban 2500 LT with towing package. (6.0L aluminum block, 6-speed, 3.73 gears). I get 15.5 mpg on relatively flat terrain empty and about 8.5 to 10 mpg towing a 28' International. My transmission temp runs around 185-195*F towing.

Since bought the 2014 Silverado 2500HD LTZ. (6.6L Duramax, Allison 6-speed, 3.73 gears. I'm getting 19-20 mpg @ 70 mph empty and 14-15.5 mpg towing. Transmission temp runs around 140*F towing.



Both trailers have ProPride hitches with Rock Tamer guards and I can mix & match tow vehicles for the 28' International Sig or Classic 30 (31').



Comparing the two tow vehicles, the Suburban is a fuel-hog, a slug and the receiver box is too high (25.5" from ground to top of box). The Suburban 2500 has a stiffer ride when empty compared to a 1/2-ton but it doesn't inspire confidence when loaded. Not horrible but not great either.

The Duramax/Allison upgrade was several grand but worth every penny to me. With the torque that the diesel makes, the transmission stays rather calm. The Suburban's 6-speed is a busy little fellow on rolling hills.

I'll tow with the Suburban when a third row seat is needed but for any long-distance hauls, I can't see using anything but the Silverado.

I have owned many Suburbans over the years (1/2-tons...towing an older 31' LY....>5000 lbs. w/ >500 lb. tongue weight) but this 3/4-ton has been a slight disappointment to me as it pertains to towing the heavier/newer Airstreams. In the old days, I always thought the Airstream/Suburban combination was "top shelf" (I like the International Travelalls, too) but I've had to re-adjust my view lately. The Silverado is a hoss...it drives good loaded or not, doesn't punish you at the pump and I can haul generators with ease.

Z

[Pahaska]

Transmission temp runs around 140*F towing

.
I'm on my 3rd truck with the Duramax/Allison combination. The transmission temperature gauge has never moved off the point where it is internally regulated in any of the three trucks. Even climbing the pass into Jackson Hole, the temperature never moved.

I can often run for hours and never get out of 6th gear with the Classic 28 in tow.

First trip with the new truck, I got 15 mpg at about 62 going and 14 at 65+ cpming home.

[m.hony]

The Duramax/Allison is an excellent rig. We just bought a 2005 with 70,000 miles for $21,000. I think this is #6 in the fleet. (1) 2005, (2) 2006's, (2) 2007's, (1) 2010.

[Andrew T]

Here is an interesting one for this thread. This is a 23FB with the hitch weight reduced to 400 Pounds. I only drove it about 15 miles but the handling was amazing and the acceleration better than most solo cars.

During the time it took us to figure out how to hitch this neatly the owners decided they would rather have a 27 Eddie Bauer which had too much hitch weight for the vette. The vet has extremely soft springs with massive computerized shock control. It was fun while it lasted however.

Andrew T

[andreasduess]

Insane

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Here is an interesting one for this thread.
Andrew T

OMG...... I'm luving it!!!!!

[SovrnScout]

Duramax LML/Allison towing a 1985 34' sovereign. If you want the ultimate out of the box towing machine it can't be beat! 20+mpg at 70mph empty, ~15 towing 8000lb trailer and a motorcycle in the bed at 65-70mph through hills. I was skeptical about the independent front suspension but I'm a big believer in the stability now, and the ride unloaded is still impressive. I've driven all 3 big brands (helping friends do a little diesel hot rod work) and the dmax is the only setup that doesn't make my wife carsick due to "that big bus feeling"... Whatever that means...

[JamuJoe]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Here is an interesting one for this thread. This is a 23FB with the hitch weight reduced to 400 Pounds. I only drove it about 15 miles but the handling was amazing and the acceleration better than most solo cars.

During the time it took us to figure out how to hitch this neatly the owners decided they would rather have a 27 Eddie Bauer which had too much hitch weight for the vette. The vet has extremely soft springs with massive computerized shock control. It was fun while it lasted however.

Andrew T

Andy,
That's quite a reduction in hitch weight compared to the 785 lbs tongue weight (unhitched) of my FC23FB. Was this achieved completely through the WDH or did you relocate any weight, such as the batteries?