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03-26-2011, 07:40 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Down the Shore
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 156
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Adjusted the ball and hitch today
Getting ready for our first trip with the Silverado 2500 Duramax/Allison TV. Original hitch and ball height was set up by the AS dealer for our F-150 so after reading as many posts on the subject as I could, my son and I spent some time today adjusting the ball and hitch for the Chevy. I think I have it about as good as I can get it with the amount of experience I have. Am using the Reese WD and dual cam set up and the 800 lb trunnion bars. Without being able to get to scales yet, I think it is looking pretty good. I'm using 6 links on the chains as 5 jacked the rear up without too much difference to the front. I am thinking that is because of the big diesel sitiing up on the front axles of the truck. 6 links kept everything about the same with out too much stress on the bars.
Will try and post pictures in here; maybe some of you can give it an eyeball and let me know what you think. Trailer is a 23' Flying Cloud with lounge. Specs say max 6000# and a 750# tongue weight. For reference, there is about 7" inches clearance from the bottom of the hitch shank to the ground. Thanks for the help.
__________________
Rich
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03-26-2011, 07:43 PM
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#2
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moderator
Commercial Member
2016 27' International
Currently Looking...
Wilton
, California
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,711
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Sounds good... but you know we love pictures.
Hit the scales to be sure.
Vinnie
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03-26-2011, 07:43 PM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Down the Shore
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 156
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I don't think the pictures made it, will re-size and try again.
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Rich
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03-26-2011, 08:13 PM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Down the Shore
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 156
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OK, lets try for some pictures again.
__________________
Rich
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03-26-2011, 08:22 PM
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#5
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moderator
Commercial Member
2016 27' International
Currently Looking...
Wilton
, California
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,711
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The only problem I see is that the bars may make contact with driveways and such. You might consider the angle of the hitch and tip it a bit more. This will allow the bars to be a bit more horizontal when under load and a bit more ground clearance when out on the road. There are several threads here to better describe this. The overall setup looks level and a nice overall outfit.
Vinnie
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03-26-2011, 08:38 PM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Down the Shore
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 156
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I will re-check the distance from the ends of the spring bars to the ground before hooking up the trailer and perhaps tilt the ball head a notch (forward, toward the tailgate I assume you mean). Thanks, I appreciate the help.
__________________
Rich
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03-26-2011, 08:46 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky Dog
I will re-check the distance from the ends of the spring bars to the ground before hooking up the trailer and perhaps tilt the ball head a notch (forward, toward the tailgate I assume you mean). Thanks, I appreciate the help.
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A perfect setup with Reese bars and their sway control, is to have 5 links "under stress".
Your bars are too close to the ground.
Andy
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03-26-2011, 08:47 PM
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#8
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moderator
Commercial Member
2016 27' International
Currently Looking...
Wilton
, California
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,711
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Heres a picture of mine. Its a bit different because Im using an airsafe hitch and have round bars vs trunnian style. Even with my bars like this I still make contact once in a while.
Vinnie
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03-26-2011, 09:40 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,376
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Hi, Lucky Dog. Other than what has already been said, I have two things to add. If you are actually towing like this [or maybe just testing] I would install a lock or pin in the coupler latch. And when you are happy with your adjustments, I would cut off the excess on the bottom of your shank. I cut one hole off of mine.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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03-26-2011, 09:45 PM
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#10
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moderator
Commercial Member
2016 27' International
Currently Looking...
Wilton
, California
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,711
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Thats a good point Bob. When you slam down on that you know it! and too often the chains find their way under it and grind away on the street.
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03-27-2011, 06:34 AM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Down the Shore
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 156
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Thanks for the replies. Yes, I do usually have a lock in the coupler and thought about cutting the last inch or so off of the shank. It bottomed as I was putting the AS back up into the driveway when we were done for the day. I will remeasure, adjust and get back to 5 links on the set up as Andy suggested. Vinnie, I can see how your bars are more parallel to the ground. Thanks again for the help. I appreciate it.
__________________
Rich
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03-30-2011, 05:59 AM
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#12
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
A perfect setup with Reese bars and their sway control, is to have 5 links "under stress".
Your bars are too close to the ground.
Andy
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Andy, since I am usually on the slow bus when it comes to visualizing what people write, I assume you mean that the fifth link from the cam/saddle should be hooked, correct? TIA.
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03-30-2011, 06:27 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kry226
Andy, since I am usually on the slow bus when it comes to visualizing what people write, I assume you mean that the fifth link from the cam/saddle should be hooked, correct? TIA.
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Correct.
How many chain links are under stress is important.
How many links hang loose, means nothing, since sometimes there are more links to the complete chain on one side than the other side.
Therefore counting the number of links under stress is very important as well as directing a person attention to any twist that might be accidentially put in the chain, which decreases it's length, which would place a different load on the torsion bars from one side to the other.
Andy 10.3
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03-30-2011, 06:37 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1999 23' Safari
Perrysburg
, Ann Arbor
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 916
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One other comment: I'd re-route your breakaway switch cable ... it looks to me as if the breakaway chains are going to rub on / interfere with that cable. You don't want the cable to get tangled in the chains and then accidentally have the cable pulled. It also appears to be hooked right to the hitch receiver ... and if the hitch should fail completely and fall off, is there a chance that it would go sliding down the road with the trailer for a while, resulting in a non-activation of the trailer brakes? I don't know the answer, but I always attach mine (using a carabiner) to something other than the hitch receiver itself.
Perhaps others with more experience can comment on whether I'm just paranoid ... well, even if I am ...
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03-30-2011, 06:57 AM
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#15
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Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirsDream
Perhaps others with more experience can comment on whether I'm just paranoid ... well, even if I am ...
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you're right. That is considered a "best practice". I replaced one of my license plate bolts with a stainless-steel eye hook, and attach to that.
I'll also add that the break-away cable should be longer than the umbilical, so it is the last thing to disconnect from the tow vehicle.
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
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03-30-2011, 11:03 AM
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#16
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Correct.
How many chain links are under stress is important.
How many links hang loose, means nothing, since sometimes there are more links to the complete chain on one side than the other side.
Therefore counting the number of links under stress is very important as well as directing a person attention to any twist that might be accidentially put in the chain, which decreases it's length, which would place a different load on the torsion bars from one side to the other.
Andy 10.3
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Great. Thanks!
__________________
Kyle
2023 Ford F350 Lariat 7.3/4.30 FX4 CCLB
2010 Classic Limited 30
ProPride P3-1400
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