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Well, my fears of towing the "Beast" trailer were unfounded, but I drove with more confidence thinking of what you all said.
I actually weighed the combo on a CAT scale before I got on I-80 to Reno on the first leg of our trip. It weighed in at 21,450# without "us" in it...
That was a big jump from 16,000# combo with my old Jayco. . ( By the way, the 2001 Jayco is for sale cheap... ... )
Oh, while at the scales, I'm thinking to myself, "any CHP unit that see's this combo would stop me. ".
I'm getting more nervous as the #'s are in..... I'm thinking, gotta get off the scale before a COP see's me... The digital readout was in plain view right inside the cashiers booth.
As luck would have it, a CHP pulls into the gas station as the clerk is looking at the weight.
I thought, OH SH*T, get off the scales before he's see's this!!! Before the gal could say, "oh it weighs-----, I'm hitting the door,jump in the cab, motor started and clutch popped to get off the scale before Mr. Chip see's it! I damn near popped a wheelie trying to get off the scale... He missed it... .
Anyhow, got on I-80 and she seemed to be cruising right along... I figured the weight would drop me down into at least 3rd when I got into the summit.
Nope... ... It was like pulling the Jayco( 11,500#) behind me. . To my surprise, it pulled the heavy trailer like it was the lite one... 4th gear, 45-50 all throught the summit, unless I got bogged down behind some slower person. . Engine temp was ok too.
I have to say, I'm totally surprised and happy at how well it pulled the trailer as a stock motor.
I know a lot of you guys are not surprised, as you pull this kind of weight all the time, but i figured I'd need modifications to get it to pull it with ease.
Even coming back,downhill throught the summit, exhuast brake on, only hit the brakes 2-3 times. .
So much for buying a new truck!!!
I actually weighed the combo on a CAT scale before I got on I-80 to Reno on the first leg of our trip. It weighed in at 21,450# without "us" in it...
That was a big jump from 16,000# combo with my old Jayco. . ( By the way, the 2001 Jayco is for sale cheap... ... )
Oh, while at the scales, I'm thinking to myself, "any CHP unit that see's this combo would stop me. ".
I'm getting more nervous as the #'s are in..... I'm thinking, gotta get off the scale before a COP see's me... The digital readout was in plain view right inside the cashiers booth.
As luck would have it, a CHP pulls into the gas station as the clerk is looking at the weight.
I thought, OH SH*T, get off the scales before he's see's this!!! Before the gal could say, "oh it weighs-----, I'm hitting the door,jump in the cab, motor started and clutch popped to get off the scale before Mr. Chip see's it! I damn near popped a wheelie trying to get off the scale... He missed it... .
Anyhow, got on I-80 and she seemed to be cruising right along... I figured the weight would drop me down into at least 3rd when I got into the summit.
Nope... ... It was like pulling the Jayco( 11,500#) behind me. . To my surprise, it pulled the heavy trailer like it was the lite one... 4th gear, 45-50 all throught the summit, unless I got bogged down behind some slower person. . Engine temp was ok too.
I have to say, I'm totally surprised and happy at how well it pulled the trailer as a stock motor.
I know a lot of you guys are not surprised, as you pull this kind of weight all the time, but i figured I'd need modifications to get it to pull it with ease.
Even coming back,downhill throught the summit, exhuast brake on, only hit the brakes 2-3 times. .
So much for buying a new truck!!!
