Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-03-2008, 11:15 AM   #21
_
 
. , .
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In View Post
...Any Airsteam ever built, should be towed with a weight distributing hitch...
i think she understands how flexed bars work to engage the cams.

the issue is GETTING the bars to flex adequately,

IF the tongue wt is lower than the LOWEST rated bars

are there 200 lb or 300 lb bars?

using w/d effectively IF the tongue mass is LESS than 400 lbs is the issue.

stef...

one option is figure out a way to INCREASE the tongue mass to the lowest rating of bar sets...

add a generator, larger lp tanks, more batteries, and so on, although tongue strength becomes an issue.

how about just put more STUFF up front inside?

i do like the idea of using a haha on little trailer, although it is a substantial mass and price.

the really nice thing is that ALL the bar ratings are interchangeable AND no bar flex/tension is required for sway control.

cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.

we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
2airishuman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2008, 11:17 AM   #22
Rivet Master
 
SteveH's Avatar
 
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense , Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
Quote:
It's absolutely amazing, how many RV sales people, don't know the first thing about safe hitching, since they have never towed. Their goal is to make you happy, "CAUSE THEY SAVED YOU A FEW DOLLARS".
I can honestly say there has NEVER been an instance where an RV sales person saved me "A FEW DOLLARS"!
SteveH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2008, 11:37 AM   #23
Moderator
 
Stefrobrts's Avatar

 
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground , Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,254
Images: 50
Blog Entries: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2airishuman View Post
the issue is GETTING the bars to flex adequately,

IF the tongue wt is lower than the LOWEST rated bars

are there 200 lb or 300 lb bars?

using w/d effectively IF the tongue mass is LESS than 400 lbs is the issue.
Exactly, because the smallest bars are 550s, and the tongue weight is about half that. I think it was a reese salesman who told me it wouldn't work for my trailer and to keep looking. I did tow with an EZLift hitch with bars that were way too heavy the first couple years we had the trailer, that's when we had the rivets popping out!



Quote:
Originally Posted by 2airishuman View Post
i do like the idea of using a haha on little trailer, although it is a substantial mass and price.
I like the idea of a haha too, if I felt like I needed it. With my huge van and tiny trailer, we're really happy with the ride right now, and we've never experienced any handling problems at all. It would be great extra safety measure though, especially for in the case of a blow out or something like that where you suddenly need more control than normal. Or when we are ready to get a tow vehicle smaller than the van. If a used one came along and I had the money, I'd probably go for it.
__________________
Stephanie




Stefrobrts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2008, 09:51 PM   #24
Rivet Master
Commercial Member
 
bredlo's Avatar
 
1954 22' Safari
Deerfield , Illinois
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,419
Images: 23
Send a message via AIM to bredlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by pmclemore View Post
Just occurred to me that I have a Reese Dual-Cam sitting around that I replaced with a Hensley. I'm coming through JC later in the month - any interest?

Pat
Pat - thanks so much for the offer! I appreciate it, but am happy to report that I picked up a nearly brand new Equal-i-Zer hitch tonight via Craigslist. Had to drive all the way to Peoria from Chicago to pick it up, mind you - but hey: $200 was too good to pass up!
__________________
Brad
bredlo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2008, 05:55 AM   #25
Rivet Master
 
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg , Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
When you get that "new" equalizer home measure or weight the bars by comparison to your current Reese bars. I own both style hitches and find the bars for my Equalizer to be much heavier for the same rating than the Reese. I think Equalizer hitches are quite a bit stiffer (less compliant) than the Reese bar of the same rating. If I am right and they are stiffer in your case they will only make your problem worse. Your initial problem was the rivets were popping on your older trailer. I think you more than likely have too stiff a suspension of the trailer than a problem with the hitch or TV. The stiffness of the suspension on the trailer has three times more effect on the ride than the torque at the ball. You may be way too high on your trailer tire pressure, or more likely your axles have become more stiff due to the rubber in them hardening due to age. You can test this by lifting the trailer and making sure the axles rotate to the 23 degree negative position they had originally. The other common failure is the rubber has taken a set and the lever arm on the axles are parallel to the ground or up when the trailer is just sitting on them. This leaves no motion available to take up the shock of a rough road. The only solution to either of these two problems is new axles.
dwightdi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2008, 07:14 AM   #26
Rivet Master
Commercial Member
 
bredlo's Avatar
 
1954 22' Safari
Deerfield , Illinois
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,419
Images: 23
Send a message via AIM to bredlo
Thanks Dwightdi - excellent suggestions all around, and I'll follow up on them. Before I bought the trailer in May, I made the seller (<i>a well-respected restorer who was selling this on consignment</i>) swear up and down the axle was not in need of replacement. Again when I picked it up, they promised it was in good working condition.

So I'll check into it further - but am still putting faith in the seller's good reputation and extensive experience that I wasn't being... uh, fibbed to.
__________________
Brad
bredlo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 06:11 PM   #27
Vintage Kin
 
Fort Worth , Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2airishuman View Post
i think she understands how flexed bars work to engage the cams.

the issue is GETTING the bars to flex adequately,

IF the tongue wt is lower than the LOWEST rated bars

are there 200 lb or 300 lb bars?

using w/d effectively IF the tongue mass is LESS than 400 lbs is the issue.

stef...

one option is figure out a way to INCREASE the tongue mass to the lowest rating of bar sets...

add a generator, larger lp tanks, more batteries, and so on, although tongue strength becomes an issue.

how about just put more STUFF up front inside?

i do like the idea of using a haha on little trailer, although it is a substantial mass and price.

the really nice thing is that ALL the bar ratings are interchangeable AND no bar flex/tension is required for sway control.

cheers
2air'
I remember more than a few old-timers (guys in their 70's during the 1960's [World War One vets]; owned Model T's and everything since) had a love for short, cut, sections of railroad track, from a foot long to longer that they'd use at the front of the trailer interior to add some tongue weight. Used wooden chocks to set them in place (toe nailed in floor). Moved them in and out as needed.

I'm not necessarily recommending this as a modification, but your "type of problem" is not new (insufficient tongue weight).

To my mind, the ideal trailer, loaded as I would like it, nevertheless is perfectly balanced front to rear AND side to side.

Worth looking into this question of weight, and balance, IMO.
slowmover is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Gulf Shores, Jellyfish, & Good Times.. fotochop On The Road... 5 08-05-2008 11:14 AM
Bad Times.... canny_banjo_man Off Topic Forum 58 02-21-2008 06:45 PM
2 times the charm! codybear Tires 17 06-21-2007 09:16 PM
1-26 L.A.times article str8strm Airstream "In the News" 3 01-26-2006 11:20 AM
Factory rivet vs. repair rivet yukionna Ribs, Skins & Rivets 32 09-08-2003 04:41 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.