Pull your rig across scales

[TEasley]

I've been pulling travel trailers on and off since 1970 and never weighed a rig until this year. Should have done it sooner. We're pulling a 25' trailer now. The dealer set up the load equalizer hitch. I had to use a cheater pipe to pull the stirrups up to lock them, and the hitch popped and groaned every time I turned. An earlier trailer was very heavy and did the same thing, so I didn't worry about it. Ran across a CAT scale at a truck stop and was unhappy with the result. Distribution was Steering axle 4280#, Drive axle 3880# (that's backwards), Trailer axles 5500#. GVW was13,660#.

I raised the hitch head 3 holes to end up slightly down at the tongue before popping the bars up, ended up adding 2 more links in the load chains, stopped having to use a cheater to load the bars, stopped the popping and groaning, and it tracks better, particularly when an 18 wheeler overtakes me. That really surprised me. Ran across another CAT scale with following result. Steering axle 3960#, Drive axle 4200#, and Trailer axles 5240#. GVW was 13,400#. (I had cleaned out the holding tanks).



Bottom line, because the head was set too low, to level the rig I was having to load the equalizer bars too hard and they were transferring about 300 excess lbs to the front axle and close to that to the trailer axles. After crossing the scales the first time, I started over. The rig is much better balanced, and quieter, now.



Original reason for weighing was to see how close I was to the 7,660# GVWR of the trailer. I recommend crossing scales if for no other reason than that.



I like travel trailers for several reasons and have never pulled a 5er, but I think that crossing a scale would be good for them too.



Happy Easter, Tom

 

[MAshley]

Why do you even run or use bars?

Your gross weight is less then 14K lbs, do you even see an inprovment? with compared to with out?

Weigh again with out the bars I bet there is little change, and if thats the case you don't need them, personally.....

 

[Grizzly]

I would reconsider on the 5th wheel next time you purchase a trailer. You would be pleasingly surprised.

 

[y-knot]

Actually I agree with the original poster, I have owned both and prefer the travail trailer hands down to the fifth wheel trailer. You get more usable room for the length, there is much less wind resistance and the rig is lower allowing access to more places. I also like the fact that my truck bed is usable with the TT, and the prices are way less. Like I said I have both types of trailers and the travel trailer beats the fifth wheel for me. The equalizer bars are not just used for weight transfer, they also help with stability and control. I would not think of puling any TT over 7000lbs without the equalizer bar and a sway bar set-up, thats just me and my 30+ years of towing though.

Also, I think it is a very wise and worth while venture to experiment as this poster did with your towing set-up, after all how would you know what is better and what isn't. For an initial set-up I would start with the trailer level on level ground, with the equalizer bar set with average effort to set, then work it from there. As the trailers get larger, like my triple axle, the set-up get more important. To much out of level and the rear axle takes way to much load, which usually results in fish tailing and rear tire failures.

 

[AMink]

stopped having to use a cheater to load the bars

It is my understanding that the bars should not be so easy to hook up that you don't need a cheater bar. The easiest way to do it--hook the trailer to the truck, use the jack to raise trailer and truck, then close the latches, lower truck and trailer. It could be that your spring bars are too heavy for your tongue weight. They sell different "weights" to match your tongue weight.

 

[Grizzly]

Actually I agree with the original poster, I have owned both and prefer the travail trailer hands down to the fifth wheel trailer. You get more usable room for the length, there is much less wind resistance and the rig is lower allowing access to more places. I also like the fact that my truck bed is usable with the TT, and the prices are way less. Like I said I have both types of trailers and the travel trailer beats the fifth wheel for me. The equalizer bars are not just used for weight transfer, they also help with stability and control. I would not think of puling any TT over 7000lbs without the equalizer bar and a sway bar set-up, thats just me and my 30+ years of towing though.

Also, I think it is a very wise and worth while venture to experiment as this poster did with your towing set-up, after all how would you know what is better and what isn't. For an initial set-up I would start with the trailer level on level ground, with the equalizer bar set with average effort to set, then work it from there. As the trailers get larger, like my triple axle, the set-up get more important. To much out of level and the rear axle takes way to much load, which usually results in fish tailing and rear tire failures.

Well, I hate to differ with you, but I too have towed TT, 5er and Cab-Over-Campers since 1972. The 5th wheel is ten fold more stable and maneuverable. When you tow a TT you always know it's behind you. Towing a 5th Wheel, you have to look in rear view mirrors to see if it's still there. As far as storage, what you loose on your truck with a 5th Wheel, you gain in the basement storage. Besides, you don't loose all your storage with a 5th Wheel. You can still have a tool box behind the cab and other things around the receiver hitch. I'll take a 5th Wheel any day. :-{}

 

[TEasley]

Thanks for the posts. The equalizer bars are more for stability and tracking, because they sort of make a unit out of the truck and trailer by damping vertical and lateral movement.

I have a Leer fiberglass camper cover that stays on the truck and gives me a fairly secure, dry, clean place to carry and keep stuff that I don't want in the trailer, for example a good set of tools, including an air impact wrench, a compact 1 hp oil lubed air compressor that sits in front of the left wheel well, and a 5 gal diesel can for the 4 kw diesel generator on the front of the truck. It's also very handy for carrying the plunder that we sometimes pick up on trips.

We frequently overnight in WalMart parking lots, and it's always good to be self-contained.

AMink, you're correct, I still have to use the handle that came with the hitch to pull the bars up to lock them, but I was having to carry a 20" piece of aluminum pipe to use as a cheater over the supplied bar. I don't have to do that any more.

I've seen a lot of posts by Grizzly and Y-knot and I pay attention to both.

Y-knot and I like travel trailers and Grizzly likes 5'ers. They're both great to travel with and sleep in your own bed with your own sheets and have your own bathroom.

Thanks again to everyone. I wonder how many have already weighed their rigs, or will do so now? Tom