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stevencindyj
Camper
| Joined: | Tue Dec 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Jacksonville, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 148 |
| Type of Camper: | 2006 Keystone Outback TT ... |
| Status: |
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Wed Mar 12th, 2008 05:11 pm |
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I towed our camper today with the new TV. The bigger engine is alot better (gas is going to kill us) and I had no problems getting up to speed. My questions are:
1- I am still getting alot of sway when 18 wheelers and larger trucks pass me. Should I expect some sway when being passed? This is at 55-60 mph and the "pucker factor"  was pretty high a couple of times. I have weight distrbution bars and a sway bar installed. I stopped twice to tighten the sway bar and it did run better.
2- Is running 55-60 mph okay on the interstate? I did get it up to 65 once and it ran alot better than the other truck, but I am not sure if I am comfortable with that yet.
I have towed other things in the past, but nothing this big. Do I just need to relax?
____________________
Steve,Cindy & the Goof Troop
2006 Outback 21RS
2006 Dodge Ram 1500
34 nights camped in 2008
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Serenity Road
Camper
| Joined: | Sat Aug 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | Jacksonville, FL |
| Posts: | 387 |
| Type of Camper: | 23' Rockwood TT |
| Status: |
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Posted: Wed Mar 12th, 2008 05:46 pm |
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Hey Steve,
Off subject, what did you get?
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stan hillard
Camper
| Joined: | Fri Dec 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 176 |
| Type of Camper: | 08 Tiffen Allegro 32 ft. open road |
| Status: |
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Wed Mar 12th, 2008 07:22 pm |
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Are you using load leveler and sway bar combination? It is properly set up for the tongue weight?
In my opinion the sway factor has verything to do with the trailer and nothing to do with the tow vehicle.
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stan hillard
Camper
| Joined: | Fri Dec 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 176 |
| Type of Camper: | 08 Tiffen Allegro 32 ft. open road |
| Status: |
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Posted: Wed Mar 12th, 2008 07:23 pm |
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| Is it a single or double sway bar?
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chrisnjimmy
Member
| Joined: | Fri Nov 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Jacksonville |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Type of Camper: | Rockwood 33' TT |
| Status: |
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Wed Mar 12th, 2008 08:15 pm |
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I can only add my 2 cents from what I know about my trailer. I tow a 8000lb 33' Rockwood with a Dodge Ram 1500. When I have the weight distribution hitch as tight as I can get it and my nose has no deflection up or down, there seems to be less sway. Sometimes I am off by a link or even 2 and I notice more sway. I think this may have something to do with my front tire having more weight applied when hitched up tight and it gives more grip and less likely to "drift".
As far as speed and gas mileage, I have an 8 cyl Hemi so I feel the pinch! I experimented with a lot of different speeds and tranny settings. On flatland (like in Florida) I get the best milage at normal tranny (OD engaged and tow turned off) and 62 miles per hour. Anything over 62 i can watch my average tumble downhill and if I go slower I do not gain enough to make up for getting run over by traffic. Plus this keeps me from ever having to slow down at on ramps or gun it to pass someone.
Happy camping,
Jimmy
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stevencindyj
Camper
| Joined: | Tue Dec 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Jacksonville, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 148 |
| Type of Camper: | 2006 Keystone Outback TT ... |
| Status: |
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Posted: Wed Mar 12th, 2008 09:53 pm |
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Delores,
I got a Dodge Ram 1500 with tow package. I love it....but hate the 13 mpg without the trailer.
Stan,
Load levelers? Is that the same thing as a weight distribution bars? Tongue weight? Learn me something on that. I do not have a clue. Also, I have a single sway bar.
Jimmy,
You said "When I have the weight distribution hitch as tight as I can get it and my nose has no deflection up or down, there seems to be less sway." The nose of the truck? I can live with 62 MPH, I just hope I don't get ran over.
I understand I will have to play with it to get it right, but we leave in two weeks for Blue Springs. Thanks for the help folks !!!
____________________
Steve,Cindy & the Goof Troop
2006 Outback 21RS
2006 Dodge Ram 1500
34 nights camped in 2008
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stan hillard
Camper
| Joined: | Fri Dec 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 176 |
| Type of Camper: | 08 Tiffen Allegro 32 ft. open road |
| Status: |
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Wed Mar 12th, 2008 10:02 pm |
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I have tried to send you a photo,via regular e-mail.
Let me know if i did that right.
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fla-gypsy
Camper
| Joined: | Fri Dec 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | North Jax, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 850 |
| Type of Camper: | Keystone Hornet Travel Trailer |
| Status: |
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Posted: Wed Mar 12th, 2008 10:17 pm |
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Steve just a few things I have learned from experience. First I am assuming you are using a WD hitch with a friction controled sway bar. That should be enough in your case. The ride height of the TT is important. It should be as level as possible but never high in the front. Most friction sway controllers have an adjusting nut that increases/decreases the amount of friction applied. The "handle" on the controller is only to engage/disengage the device. Be certain you are not high in the front, adjust the WD bars to put sufficient tension on the truck and play with the friction control some and you will get it comfortable. The sensation you describe is created by the wave of air created by passing vehicles and is effected by how big the passing vehicle is and how fast it is traveling. You can minimize some of that through driving technique as well. The more distance between your rig and the passing rig, the less push/pull you will feel. As larger fast moving vehicles approach move over in your lane as far as posssible and it may help. Many of us use a different system with an integrated sway/wd set up. Mine is the Reese HP Dual Cam system. Pic below. It is an excellent and superior system to friction control.
Attachment: 100_0455.jpg (Downloaded 73 times)
____________________
Al & Annice-air conditioned gypsy's
Running the road of life together
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chrisnjimmy
Member
| Joined: | Fri Nov 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Jacksonville |
| Posts: | 19 |
| Type of Camper: | Rockwood 33' TT |
| Status: |
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Wed Mar 12th, 2008 10:33 pm |
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Yep, I was talking about the nose of my truck. I have a shank in my hitch like the one shown in fla-gypsys photo. This is adjustable so it allows the truck to be level and the nose of the trailer to be pitched down a hair. I can tell what kind of ride it is going to be when I jump behind the wheel and look across the bow.
There is a lot less stress at 62 than 72 I can tell you that!!
Jimmy
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stan hillard
Camper
| Joined: | Fri Dec 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 176 |
| Type of Camper: | 08 Tiffen Allegro 32 ft. open road |
| Status: |
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Posted: Wed Mar 12th, 2008 10:44 pm |
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You are in good hands.
stan
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Margaritas and Marshmallows
Camper
| Joined: | Sat Jan 26th, 2008 |
| Location: | Jacksonville, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 47 |
| Type of Camper: | Salem Sport Toyhauler 29' |
| Status: |
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Thu Mar 13th, 2008 05:33 am |
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Also, remember to look at your trailer... is it level while you are towing? Too much weight on the front axle causes the rear wheels to float.
Tom
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fireranger33
Camper
| Joined: | Tue Nov 20th, 2007 |
| Location: | Jacksonville, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 176 |
| Type of Camper: | 1969 GMC Bus Conversion ... |
| Status: |
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Posted: Thu Mar 13th, 2008 01:27 pm |
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My friend...Towing is a simple weight-to-weight and length-to-length issue.
That 1500 truck you just bought just does not weight enough to keep that trailer straight. Also? the longer the truck doing the towing the better it will be.
As far as the wind issue? If you get a "heavier" towing vehicle it will minimize the "feel" when another vehicle passes you by, but you will never completely get rid of it.
Spending additional money on towing "aids" will help you level your load but it will not help you with the wind issue. At about $345-500 dollars, a large, over-the-cab spoiler may give you a 35-45% better ride but the cost may outweigh the benefit.
You think you have problems dealing with the air mass your vehicles are creating and the passing and all? Wait until you get a class "A" motorhome.
Ask any class "A" owner on this club and they will tell you all the horror stories you can hear about dealing with the wind and other vehicles.
It took Heather and I to move-up to a 26,000 lb bus to completely get rid of that annoying wind "feel" going down the road.
You should have gone for the used diesel BIG TRUCK! 
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Serenity Road
Camper
| Joined: | Sat Aug 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | Jacksonville, FL |
| Posts: | 387 |
| Type of Camper: | 23' Rockwood TT |
| Status: |
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Fri Mar 14th, 2008 02:55 am |
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Steve,
That's a nice truck. I'm sure once you work out the kinks in your WD system, you are going to enjoy the ride. As far as gas prices, you'll forget all about that once you and Cindy are cruising along to your next destination.
Delores
Last edited on Fri Mar 14th, 2008 02:56 am by Serenity Road
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Chuckc
Camper
| Joined: | Sat Jan 26th, 2008 |
| Location: | Jacksonville |
| Posts: | 77 |
| Type of Camper: | Flagstaff 829BHS TT |
| Status: |
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Posted: Fri Mar 14th, 2008 03:47 am |
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| You may be able to add a Dual Cam sway control to your hitch if you have the right bars. I bought mine for $150 online and installed it myself.
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j-d
Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 6 |
| Type of Camper: | 24-ft Class C |
| Status: |
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Fri Mar 14th, 2008 04:45 pm |
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| 62 MPH works well with our old Class C also. Mileage is no worse than the 55/57 we started out with and it provides a few less tailgaters. What are wheelbase and tow rating of the 1500 and what's length and GVWR of the trailer? Towing is about weight and wheelbase and balance. You need adequate hitch weight even when you use a WD hitch. In other words, you don't want to ride level with a tail heavy trailer. Remember, the tow rating of the truck assumes it's fundamentally empty and not loaded with even factory accessories. Weighing the rig, axle by axle, will tell you if you're on the right track.
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