trimster

Bit of a long day drive today from Gunnison, Colorado to the mountains above Taos, NM. Spent an hour is road construction, one-lane nightmare. Pulled the Monarch Pass (11000') in 10th without breaking a sweat. Nice! Having been in and out of northern New Mexico several times... that sign that says 'welcome to New Mexico'... should have '..and roads that suck start here' added to the sign. Getting ready to pull the trigger on the Mor/Ryde suspension stuff for the trailer. So this is our digs for the next week.... So far nothing is breaking, falling off, or otherwise not working on the truck. We have exercised the full range of the air ride seats. Nice to have them. Bob and Lisa

I buffed the trailer with McGuire's De-ox. Then medium grade McGuire's polish. Then cleaned the surface with 50/50 water & alchohol. Then 2 coats of turtlewax ceramic spray. Holding up extremely well.

So, for the rest of our trip we travel with tanks empty. DW pointed out that if we drink more wine, we will reduce the weight in the trailer. Can't argue with that. Maybe box wine is lighter. 😜 The plan is to build the bed on the truck and put the bike on that. We'll use the toyhauler garage space for other things/activities. I've got hobbies..... Off to the mountains east of Taos Monday...for a week. Great conversation here. Really appreciate it. This towing stuff is not un-complicated to say the least. Bob & Lisa

I do appreciate all the input. This has been a goodly bit of information. Here's what's on the trailer weight information sticker in the cabinet: GVWR...13340 UVW.... 10100 water weight (55gal or half full of fresh, other tanks empty).....457 LP gas weight (6.4 gal or only one of 2 tanks) 60 lbs CCC for this trailer.... 2723 lbs So, with the information we now have on how to calculate the current loading.... if you fill the fresh tank, load some food and belongings, have 2 batteries in the battery bank, you can't put much more than a dirt bike and a few cases of beer in the back. This is not a toyhauler. It looks like one, but not the real deal. I've blown tires. Mostly my bad. Either old or under rated. Now have much higher rated tires and they are doing great. I guess the weak link now will be the axles. I'm going to guess they are 7000 pound rated. I'll look and see if they have any markings or stamping on them. Could replace them. Or we could replace everything from the tires up....or build the bed on the truck and move the Goldwing to the truck. Maybe the third option is the best overall. Bob

Hmmm. Overloaded. Trailer is really empty. 850 lb Goldwing in the back. 80 gal (out of 100) of fresh, empty gray. Black 20 gal max. Average food stuffs and not as much clothing as we typically take. Somethings not adding up.

Weighed the truck today, then hooked up the trailer and did a re-weigh. Here's the stats: Without trailer- front axle: 10840 lbs drive axle: 8400 lbs Total truck weight: 19240 lbs (2x 125 gal tanks 85% full) With Trailer- Front axle: 10060 Drive axle: 12160 Trailer: 11800 (13600 lbs. rated max) Total(gross) weight: 34020 lbs Pin weight: 3760 (almost the max for the hitch) We got beat up today headed south on hwy 50 out of Grand Junction to Montrose. Serious whoop-tee-doos that launch you out of your seat. Full air ride extension. Awful. POS road. Pulling the pass into Gunnison, Col. was a piece of cake. 12th most of the time. Occasional manual down shift to 10th to keep the RPMs and speed, in a more comfortable range. Really liking this power. Bob & Lisa

The DW approves the full figured version. We laughed really hard. Like tears hard. Thanks. Needed that. Bob and Lisa

Leaving the house yesterday.... In Fruita, Co. today, for a bit over a week. Here's the hitch and its install. So far, good trip. I have a mud flap that is too close to the tire and gets sucked up and over the top of the tire. Going to fix that with some braces down the mudflap. I'll hit a box home store and get a couple of 24" angle pieces. Should do the trick. Truck is pulling fine. 12th gear most of the time, up grades that brought my International 4700 to its knees. But then 500 hp vs wimp-hp and a lot more torque. Bob & Lisa

Ironically, we're booked for a week in the rv park just down the street. Walking distance to the museum. Bob

On the list for day ride. We've done the million dollar highway and love it. Didn't spend time in the towns. Fixing that this trip. Thanks.

And here we go. Loading trailer today. Gave it quick pull with our new TV. Truck pretty much says "really?!" First stop out of salt lake, Fruita, co., then up into the mtns near Gunnison, co. Then south to Santa fe. That's all we have planned for now. 3 more weeks after that to figure out. Maybe Phoenix area? Trailer has the Goldwing in the back. So in search of non-straight roads of course. Should be a good shake down. We'll keep all posted. If there's places we should stop along the way. Feel free to suggest. We're just rambling. Bob & lisa

Both kids & adults.

Understand fully. But something is better than nothing. Limos and party busses have sideways seating with lap belts. Maybe the booze consumption by the passengers mitigates things ;0 But keeping someone from flying around inside the cab might be a good compromise. Just thinking out loud. Bob

They are now permanently closed. Bummer. Not sure why it closed.

Anyone add seat belts to the dinette table seating ? If so, can you share how you did it? Photos? Thanks. Bob

I think I tied into the wrong air lines. Fixing that tomorrow. Still no reason for the low voltage, yet.

Amen to that. Does suck. We're headed out around the 15th for a month. Down south of us here in Utah, then grand junction, CO. Then...??...maybe north.

Well, I guess I'm going to be one who has problems with the Hayes controller. I have power & ground direct to the batteries. The blue (controller) runs to the Jackalopee controller in. Red (brake light) is not connected. I'm getting .02 v on the blue wire when manually activating the Hayes. Not what it should be I'm guessing. Trailer attached.. Any thoughts would be appreciated. And what does this air control do? Can I tie into the black line ? Bob

Found the problem. One wild wire strand escaped the clamp and was touching the center connector providing 12v. Doh. Bob

Wife informed me I got the names backwards. Hmmmm. Bob

Truck is home. Here's photos of the frame work. Roughly 20" added. Has room for an 18x18 box behind the tires. Ready to install lights. Hitch installed. Did they use big enough angle iron? Geeze. Hole in Peterbult bumper is in a perfect spot for the receiver hitch. Let the wiring begin. Everything soldered, shrink wrapped and double covered. More photos to come.

So, wired according to the instructions. The backup lights are on with the running lights. I've tapped into the truck's backup circuit. With or without that connection, the reverse lights come on with the running lights. Thoughts?

Actually those were left over from a job where they were shortening a frame. Recycled so to speak.

NeverEasy.... messaged you.

Nice upgrade! Probably feels like a new pair of sneakers. Bob