The unofficial pp users guide...

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by exthemius

Is anyone using a PP on older trailers -- where its more of a nice to have rather than a necessity? The wife and I are thinking of getting one for our 71 27', but aside from the safety benefits, here's our main talking points:

• Increased distance between TV and A/S (we currently can't open our tailgate while hitched up)
• Ease of hitching and unhitching (we fulltime, and put 15k miles on the trailer last year)
• White knuckle prevention (my wife doesn't like to drive in our current setup)

Of your three reasons, the third one is, in my opinion, the only valid one.

There are other much less expensive products available to lengthen the distance. Some also providing some improvement in ride. The AirSafe hitch comes to mind.

Actually, hitching a ProPride is not straight forward. There is some geometry involved. This is due to the fact that the angle of the front of the hitch changes in the opposite way as it is moved to face right or left of straight ahead. (that is the best way I can describe it, but if you saw one in person you would know what I mean). Therefore, you have to position the head left or right of the tip of the tongue in the direction opposite to the direction you will be backing in from. Once you get the hang of it, it is fairly straight forward. However if you are a little bit off, you have to start over. It will not ever be as simple as backing in a hitch and ball, because you have one more thing to get right (the angles).

I can not argue with you third point. I have pulled a variety of trailers with a variety of hitches. Nothing has been as stable and safe feeling as the ProPride. You have to decide what the monetary value of that is.

Ken

[exthemius]

Originally Posted by w7ts

Of your three reasons, the third one is, in my opinion, the only valid one.

There are other much less expensive products available to lengthen the distance. Some also providing some improvement in ride. The AirSafe hitch comes to mind.

Actually, hitching a ProPride is not straight forward. There is some geometry involved. This is due to the fact that the angle of the front of the hitch changes in the opposite way as it is moved to face right or left of straight ahead. (that is the best way I can describe it, but if you saw one in person you would know what I mean). Therefore, you have to position the head left or right of the tip of the tongue in the direction opposite to the direction you will be backing in from. Once you get the hang of it, it is fairly straight forward. However if you are a little bit off, you have to start over. It will not ever be as simple as backing in a hitch and ball, because you have one more thing to get right (the angles).

I can not argue with you third point. I have pulled a variety of trailers with a variety of hitches. Nothing has been as stable and safe feeling as the ProPride. You have to decide what the monetary value of that is.

Ken

I've started pm'ing with Sean on it, so I'm not a complete novice...and I've watched all of the videos in regards to the PP and Haha, so I understand what you're saying in regards to the process. I will say that my wife directs me when backing up and does a lot of the hitching process (because she a) can and b) "likes" to do it). But with our current setup, doing the bars and such is time consuming, and with us moving each and every week, it does become tedious after a while. So the idea of simply backing in, throwing the clamps on and such seems a bit "simpler" and "cleaner" than dealing with the round bars and friction device we currently have. As for the third one -- totally understand the value of that and that it's up to us to decide what the monetary value is.

Another thing that I didn't mention is that I'm looking to future-proof this purchase, meaning that it would be nice to purchase a nice setup that can be transferred to another A/S, especially if we DO decide to get a slightly newer, slightly heavier trailer in the future. I know that with the PP, I can basically just by new bars (if needed) and I'll be out $175 or so, which is also attractive. I'm definitely wanting to hear from people are using these hitches in a full-time or near full-time capacity, because I certainly don't want to spend that much money on something that will wear out and require a lot of re-purchasing of parts, or that is more work to hitch and unhitch, etc.

[Ag&Au]

It sounds like you have a good understanding of it.

Once you have done the backing into the hitch the rest is a piece of cake. My wife backs the truck up while I give directions. In addition we use these:

Qworks Corp - Magnetic Hitchin' Rods - Hitches & Hitch Bars - Camping World

They are especially helpful because I may be making some fine adjustments to the hitch head as she backs up.

After the hitch is in place and latched, the safety chain, break away switch cord, and umbilical cord are attached.

I know how many turns I need on each WD jack for a proper ride, and I do that next. I use the same tool that Airstream gave me to lower the stabilizing pads. (that also helps remind me to raise them in case I have forgotten).

Then I raise the tongue jack, remove the chocks, clean up the campsite and we are ready to go.

Ken

Originally Posted by exthemius

I've started pm'ing with Sean on it, so I'm not a complete novice...and I've watched all of the videos in regards to the PP and Haha, so I understand what you're saying in regards to the process. I will say that my wife directs me when backing up and does a lot of the hitching process (because she a) can and b) "likes" to do it). But with our current setup, doing the bars and such is time consuming, and with us moving each and every week, it does become tedious after a while. So the idea of simply backing in, throwing the clamps on and such seems a bit "simpler" and "cleaner" than dealing with the round bars and friction device we currently have. As for the third one -- totally understand the value of that and that it's up to us to decide what the monetary value is.

Another thing that I didn't mention is that I'm looking to future-proof this purchase, meaning that it would be nice to purchase a nice setup that can be transferred to another A/S, especially if we DO decide to get a slightly newer, slightly heavier trailer in the future. I know that with the PP, I can basically just by new bars (if needed) and I'll be out $175 or so, which is also attractive. I'm definitely wanting to hear from people are using these hitches in a full-time or near full-time capacity, because I certainly don't want to spend that much money on something that will wear out and require a lot of re-purchasing of parts, or that is more work to hitch and unhitch, etc.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by exthemius

.. I'm definitely wanting to hear from people are using these hitches in a full-time or near full-time capacity, because I certainly don't want to spend that much money on something that will wear out and require a lot of re-purchasing of parts, or that is more work to hitch and unhitch, etc.

We don't full time but we do travel a bunch, not stayin' in the same place for often (The Hitch-ich)...

Hookin' to a HaHa (or PP) becomes as fast a on-da-ball without much practice. We use a cordless drill, hitchin' sticks and a few tricks...have discovered that if we are slightly off and it doesnt completely insert, we raise the tongue jack and let stuff center...lower the jack and back-on-up.

wear out? full timing typically involves length's of time unhitched...no wear involved!

in the scheme of things, hitchin, unhitchin and wearing out are not the biggest deal of messin with these 'streams...

[Aviator]

We hitch and unhitch quite a bit. Our TV has a backup camera in the tailgate which makes the PP a one person job. Not counting unhooking the water/sewer/electric and stowing everything, the hitching process is less than 5 minutes. Back up, raise/lower the trailer to match the stinger, insert stinger, use cordless drill to raise hitch jacks to 6.5" (for my trailer weight), hook up chains and umbilical, and we are ready to roll.

I have absolutely zero complaints about the 3P and Sean's customer support is superior to any other company I have ever dealt with!!!

[exthemius]

Well, the wife and I have decided that we do want to get the pp -- anyone know any dealers or people with installation experience in the south? We're currently wintering in TX (but are still moving every week, so most southern/south-eastern states could be okay), but want to get it done before our east-coast tour in April, and would definitely like to have it done before then.

[loudruff]

You should call Sean Woodruff at ProPride directly. He can give you all of the information you need. He may know of an installer that can set you up if you cannot do it yourself. Larry installed ours. He says it was not a big job and it comes with directions that are pretty straightforward.
1-800-960-4797 is Sean's number. Tell him Larry and Lou said hello.

Isn't there an Airstream dealer in Weatherford, TX? Someone that has a PP from TX will probably be able to jump on here and let you know. In most cases it is customer installed.

[exthemius]

Originally Posted by loudruff

You should call Sean Woodruff at ProPride directly. He can give you all of the information you need. He may know of an installer that can set you up if you cannot do it yourself. Larry installed ours. He says it was not a big job and it comes with directions that are pretty straightforward.
1-800-960-4797 is Sean's number. Tell him Larry and Lou said hello.

Isn't there an Airstream dealer in Weatherford, TX? Someone that has a PP from TX will probably be able to jump on here and let you know. In most cases it is customer installed.

Thanks for the info....I PM'd Sean a few weeks back and he actually said that there weren't any PP dealers in TX -- which I thought was crazy with the number of a/s's there are here! I'm sure it is pretty straight forward, but because we full-time, actually getting it shipped somewhere and then having a nice, flat, level surface to play around with the installation for hours and hours could be somewhat problematic -- hence the dealer request!

[reinergirl]

He may not be a dealer for PP but Top (from here on the forums) isn't very far from your home town (3 hours?). He has a business restoring vintage campers and may be able to help you get this installed.

Top's Texas Vintage Campers, Recreational Vehicles, Harker Heights, TX 76548 - index

[exthemius]

Originally Posted by reinergirl

He may not be a dealer for PP but Top (from here on the forums) isn't very far from your home town (3 hours?). He has a business restoring vintage campers and may be able to help you get this installed.

Top's Texas Vintage Campers, Recreational Vehicles, Harker Heights, TX 76548 - index

True...anyone know if Lance has done one before (either a PP or a HaHa)? I suppose I'll pm him and see.

[pickerdd]

Originally Posted by exthemius

Well, the wife and I have decided that we do want to get the pp -- anyone know any dealers or people with installation experience in the south? We're currently wintering in TX (but are still moving every week, so most southern/south-eastern states could be okay), but want to get it done before our east-coast tour in April, and would definitely like to have it done before then.

Shawn,

If you're in my area (Marietta, GA) I'll be happy to assist with the PP 3P install.

[Roadtoaster]

UPS says they will deliver my hitch on Wednesday. Weather is looking good for a Saturday installation. I'll probably post pics if I have any work-arounds.

[Hansom-Man]

Don't think that there is a dealer in TX. Sean will know, but we purchased ours direct & had it shipped to our house here in Houston. Installed it with the help of a buddy over the course of a weekend in our storage unit (neither of us do any routine mechanical work). It's very doable with a relatively basic tool set. I did have to purchase a 1" socket wrench fitting & torque wrench.

I also helped a co-worker install his later and we finished it in 6-7 hrs.

Read this thread through once or twice and you should be OK when coupled with the directions. Sean is also very good at returning phone calls if he does not answer his phone on the first try. Never waited more than an hour for a response.

Good luck - your gonna love the hitch.

[cms4140]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

on the powdercoat chips/rust issue, so far that's something not covered here.

my approach would be to scrape off any looooose coating and rust,

then apply some spray paint, or dab on a rust inhibitor/then paint...

or get a tiny can of por 15 (great stuff) then cover that with black paint.

So, I finally got tired of all the rust! Took the advice noted above.
Rust-Oleum primer and semi-gloss black seemed to do okay. Perhaps there are some other folks who need spruce up their rusty PP.

-Chris

[PhilipKS]

Nice work!

[Sean Woodruff]

Is anyone hitched up and able to drop the tailgate for a measurement between the tailgate and tongue jack? A picture would be great too.


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[loudruff]

Hi Sean,
We are hitched up. The measurement between the tailgate down, and the jack stand is 10 3/4 in. 2011 Ford Super Duty 250 diesel w/ 1989 Excella 29 footer.
Photos next if I can figure it out!!

[loudruff]

Propride hooked up to our Excella. 10 3/4 in. from tailgate to jack.

[Sean Woodruff]

THANK YOU Larry and Lou!

Merry Christmas!



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[pattonsr]

Sean,

Did you ever release the service adapter for the ProPride? You said in October you were close to having it done.

Barry