20-footers

[OTRA15]

"Why in the world . . . ?"



. . . to weed out the weak-minded? [Thank you Gus McCray . . . "Lonesome Dove"]

[CruizinDux]

Great LD quote Peter.

Jus another design decision by jc...like my lp valve under the wh. Wouldn't close due to the weight if the wh, assuming my fingers could reach it, which they couldn't.

FWIW, I tend to keep the cw turned off ( garden shutoff below the filter) when not on site or when on site but not needed for awhile.I

[OTRA15]

Thanks Bob. If I could watch only one movie for the rest of my life, it would be "Lonesome Dove" . . . doesn't hurt of course that it is in four episodes.

As Captain Call says at the end, answering the cub reporter's questions, after bringing Gus's body back to Lonesome Dove . . .

"Yeah . . . Hell of a vision . . . "

[cue the sad closing music from Basil Poledouris -- echoing the opening theme . . . . . . ]

[centennialman]

How often are you folks having your bearings re-packed?

[CruizinDux]

Steve, generally annually or 10-15k miles. We had ours packed when we departed Eug but haven't used it since the trip to MO. I'll probably hold off as plans are for more local trips. If we do go to ME this year, will likely go for a repack before that trip.

[OTRA15]

I had the brakes and bearings checked a year after purchase, and when the GYE tires were installed in early 2020, at a private Airstream mechanic while visiting relatives upstate, in order to have our own "cottage" at their place. Very low total miles still [<2k], because we usually take a ferry on/off Long Island, to avoid the NYC traffic. Still considering selling this year . . . . . . wish we had gone out more often . . . and traveled further!

[LNBright]

So, we camped at Mammoth Cave this week. We thought it was a reasonable distance for a first trip, shake things out, see how it works... drove over on Monday and set up camp, then drove back on Friday.

While enroute, we stopped at a Cat scale to see how things were looking.

Tuesday we went to the National Corvette Museum, on Wednesday we went on a self-guided cave tour at Mammoth, and watched it rain Thursday.

Good start to our Airstream adventures!

[LNBright]

Let’s try to turn that one right-side-up.

I like having the trailer tire monitoring system built in.

And Mammoth was impressive.

[CruizinDux]

Hey Leslie, looking good. Congrats on the maiden! I'll have to bookmark Mammoth. Good #'s on the axle.

Happy trails

[LNBright]

I want to recheck the weight again sometime:

We had a full tank of water, empty gray and black tanks, were loaded up for the week, I'd filled up the truck the evening before, hooked up, and so in the morning, all we had to do was stick the clothes, drygoods, and load the fridge, then hit the road.

I'd never done a CAT scale before, so I went in and chatted w/ the gal behind the counter first, who told me to enter from the other side, and that there was a call button: so, I circled around, stopped w/ each axle about in the middle of the plate, got out to locate the call button: she was watching, asked if I was ready, I said sure, but... in actuality, I should have gotten back IN the truck: I was actually standing beside my front wheel when it was measured. So, there should be a bit of weight off of the front and onto the rear, more than shown. Regardless, we were well within spec, I was pleased to 'know' that we'd not packed too much stuff, etc.

My WD is a BlueOx 750: I had it on 8 chain-links while driving to Mammoth: given that the front axle had more weight than the rear, the rear had capacity left, I decided to try it set at 7 links on the way back to see if I could tell any difference: it might be my imagination, might've just been me getting used to driving, but, it 'seemed' to be a little smoother set on 7 links instead of 8. Thus, the next trip we do, I want to check it again w/ the links on 7 and see what the official numbers are that way. Regardless, I at least won't sweat it, I know we're in a safe ballpark.

[CruizinDux]

I'm not the pro here, but i understand you need to make 2 passes on a scale. One with wd engaged and one without. The idea is to get back to norma week weight on the front, after the transfer fwd that the wd gets you.

In fact i only used my ag scale, 1 axle at a time, tt axle first left tire, then right tire and then and tw. I use a n equalizer wd hitch,so measure height of the front fender well before hitchup, then aftrr hitch, then after engaging wd. The idea is to get back to the start but not past that point. Overstear is bad, understear is safer, back to normal time is optimal.

Equalizer uses L brackets for bigger adjustment and washers for minor adjustments. Don't know BO but suspect links serve same function of L brackets.

I'll look for my instruction as they have a fill in the chart for the math and would apply to all i believe. Likely BO has a similar process. Btw looking at the picture, both rigs have good attitude, so you're likely very close.

[CruizinDux]

page 16, figure 16. Cat scale gives similar info but in lbs and you need two passes plus time to unhitch, hitch and engage.

[Putemback]

Looking at purchasing an inverter generator for my 2019 Flying Cloud 20 footer. What are fellow 20 footers using and have found to be reliable, and adequate to run AC in the summer. Dual fuel or gas only preferred? I have a Bak Flip on the bed of the TV so height of the generator is a consideration.

[OTRA15]

Nothing special about our 20-footers IMO. Generally you are looking for 30 amps of output to run everything whole-hog.

The Generators etc. sub-forum has lots of threads and info:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f448/

We have a 1000-watt Yamaha fired on propane, which is just big enough to keep the batteries charged, and run the fridge on electric, if the batteries are already charged. [KISS]

[LNBright]

I bought an A-iPower 2000 at Sam’s Club, because it came natively as a dual-fuel gas/propane generator, no conversion needed. Half the price of a Honda: I suspect the guts might be a Yamaha, but not ready to swear such. We didn’t need to run the A/C, nor the microwave (wife came up with a stovetop-only menu), so my suitcase solar kept our batteries topped off, didn’t even pull out our generator this time.

Once I need to use it, I’ll provide feedback....

[LNBright]

Washmobob,

Yeah, I knew ideally, I should’ve actually dropped the trailer and gotten truck alone, trailer alone, trailer and truck w/o WD, and truck and trailer w/ WD at a couple of different settings. The missus wouldn’t have had the much patience: such thorough investigations will have to occur sometime when we’re not on the way somewhere.

I kinda am pondering on one of those Curt Better Weigh devices, too....

[CruizinDux]

Leslie, look locally for an ag scale, generally county. I had one in Eugene a half mike from storage and there was never anyone there. It was a single pad but wuth no one behind you, who cares. Co here doesn't have any, but they referred me to a local ag co-op...single pad, no waiting and free. Moving companies too.

I hear you on the curt devices. There have been some threads here that were interesting. Still using a flip phone so not an option for me. However please post feedback if you do go there.

However after the first few trips and being able to play with loading, i got to know what needs to go where. infact after the weigh in after the new gye's were installed and just before we left for Nashville (from OR) i haven't been back to the scales including before the key west and Acadia trips.

Key for me was 1) determining/confirming lbs per tire so i know my axle weight is good but also to determine psi. ...and 2) knowing my TW which was a critical # with the highlander and needed to keep it around 525 - 550 max...not so much with the new GC and it's much higher hitch rating.

Btw our axle weights were pretty close and I too run around 72-73. The gye's hold air like a bandit and I've found i don't need to check every day like with the gym's

[OTRA15]

Leslie . . . not sure if you have posted your tow vehicle specs, but it looks pretty beefy, and may be fine towing one of our small 20-footers, without using any weight distribution IMO.

Heresy to suggest?

[LNBright]

Peter,

It’s a good truck. It is a 1500 Sierra, an AT4. Towing capacity is 9800lbs, tongue weight 980lbs, payload 1547lbs. It probably would be okay w/o it. But, according to the manual, if the trailer weight is over 3500lbs, it directs you to use a WD setup.

I’ll admit: I think it was fine w/ 8 links, I think it was fine w/ 7 links... I think I have ‘enough’ TV that there’s no question it can handle a 20FC w/o batting an eye. Since I have the WD, might as well use it, might help if a semi speeds by... just a belt and suspenders approach perhaps.

As long as I have it level, I’m happy.

One thing of note: I did have a 3” lift kit put on my 20FC, but my AT4 has a factory 2” lift, so, I suspect that’s part of how easy it was to dial it in right from the get-go w/o fussing about with trying different stingers to get more drop, etc. It all just fell right into place.

[OTRA15]

Thanks Leslie that makes good sense. I raised the issue of "total rig capacity without WD" because a beefy tow vehicle can change the equation, often without folks considering the "No WD" option IMO.

I like to use the WD especially on non-Interstate roads which undulate up and down in harmony with the rig's combined natural frequencies . . . leading to off-kilter "hobby-horsing" at times IMO.

Thanks also for the tunes you have posted on the music threads.

Travel safe . . . and . . .