New Camper

[stacktester]

Congrats on the new rig. It's too bad they gave you that bs story. I guarantee had you said ok forget it they would've chased you to the parking lot. I hate dealers, I really do. I've seen so many deals where they add things to the price and they will never lose trust me. I paid 15.5k for my Tailgator in 04. Went to trade 2 years later and they wanted to give me 9k for it. Of course on the sales sheet they show giving me like 17k which was basically the 8k off the new trailer msrp what they were discounting the Hobbi Trailer I was buying. I will never trade again. It may save some sales tax but whoopy doo.

Enjoy your trip and post pics.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

You really need some sort of sway control on a trailer that size. Even though you will still get some shift when a large truck or bus passes you by, it will definitely be better than what you are experiencing now. With my Reese sway controller correctly adjusted, all I feel when passed by a large vehicle is a very slight shift. Busses are definitely the worst - they are pushing a lot of air.

 

[disney4dan]

The wife is very happy so thats all that counts.

Ain't that the truth

On a side note I was a nervous wreck driving 50 the miles home. A greyhound bus blew by me and I thought he had actually hit me by the way I felt it thru the camper. I didn't really have an issue with sway just feeling the side push I guess. I have the weight distrabution hitch but I decided not to get the sway bar from them and will add it myself in a day or two. Can anyone tell me if this helps what I am feeling ? I have driven and towed lots of stuff but this kinda bothered me. I'm hoping it's just jitters on having something new and so valuable behind me.

We are headed to St Andrews state park in Panama City Florida tomarrow for a week of Spring Break fun. I will update and post pictures later in the week.

Sway control will help, but I suspect more weight is needed on the front of the trailer too. Our Passport Ultralight only had about 10% on the front, I keep the fresh water full and have two larger batteries now and that helps, but I make sure to weigh it each time. Lots of storage behind the axle makes it easy to unbalance it. I also think the black and grey water tanks are further back from the axle so I empty them before driving off.

 

[DaveInTN]

Hey Flametamr - Congratulations on the new TT!!! Sounds like an awesome fit for your family. Now when you get down to St Andrews, scope out the nearest Walmart, and keep a pen and paper handy to make a list while you camp the first few days. There will always be things you realize you need when moving up to a larger RV, and that way you can accumulate a list and make one trip to the store to stock it up.

Have a great trip!

 

[stacktester]

Let me also suggest making sure your tank valves are closed before you leave. The 1st weekend out with the Cougar I realized the black and gray tanks had been left open on the walk thru and when I pulled the cap off...... well, you know.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Let me also suggest making sure your tank valves are closed before you leave. The 1st weekend out with the Cougar I realized the black and gray tanks had been left open on the walk thru and when I pulled the cap off...... well, you know.

Kinda like the one scene in the movie RV....... what ya need is one of them there bay o net couplins !

 

[jriae2000]

Spend the small amount of money for the sway control. Every dealer I went to told me with the size and wieght of my trailer I didnt need any sway control. My dad who has owned nearly every type tt and rv simply said " how much is your familly worth"? Better safe than sorry.. Oh by the way, congratulations on the new TT.

 

[LarryJ]

Okay we bought the Bullet today. They finally matched the price of another dealer in Georgia. They also came up on my trade value too. No where near what it is worth but trading I expected to not do well. They basically strongarmed me into trading it rather than keeping it to sell on my own. Saying the finacing was contingient on my trade otherwise they could not do it. Something about the finance company will not let a person have two rvs financed at the same time for fear of a default on the older one. I believe that was all BS to get my pup. But in the end I decided to do the deal. I wanted and need the Bullet for my now larger family. The wife is very happy so thats all that counts.

On a side note I was a nervous wreck driving 50 the miles home. A greyhound bus blew by me and I thought he had actually hit me by the way I felt it thru the camper. I didn't really have an issue with sway just feeling the side push I guess. I have the weight distrabution hitch but I decided not to get the sway bar from them and will add it myself in a day or two. Can anyone tell me if this helps what I am feeling ? I have driven and towed lots of stuff but this kinda bothered me. I'm hoping it's just jitters on having something new and so valuable behind me.

We are headed to St Andrews state park in Panama City Florida tomarrow for a week of Spring Break fun. I will update and post pictures later in the week.

I'm going to scare you some here and maybe a lot, but I have to to be honest. That trailer is over 31'+ long and can probably weigh well in excess of 7000 and up when loaded. Not sure what year or engine your Expy has since some come with only a 119" WB with the later models with a longer WB. However, IMHO it's the length that can be an issue in the old tail wagging the dog. Your decision to not consider any sway at all initially is even more worrisome since even with a friction type system that has a bar you would need and every one recommends two. Sorry, but that shows to me a lot of inexperience in towing and that can really be dangerous.

IMHO that is just too much trailer for your Expy and I just hope you don't end up like what was reported HERE which from what I can tell from the other site it was reported on the trailer was similiar in length to what you have just bought and as best as I can tell they had one and not the two recommended sway bars installed when this happened.

I really hate and others will disagree with me as just being negative or an alarmist but I have to post this since I read this thread and I couldn't sleep if I did not say what I have and something were to happen, GOD forbid it would.

Please do some or I would say a lot more research on what you now have before taking it out on the road.

Larry

 

[ftwildernessguy]

it's the length that can be an issue in the old tail wagging the dog. Larry

Hey Larry - a while ago you criticized me as being unclear and of no help when I used THIS EXACT SAME PHRASE to tell somebody their tow vehicle was too small for their trailer. And I have never heard of anyone recommending two friction sway controls, let alone everyone.

 

[jriae2000]

I cant belive Im saying this but I have two friction bars on mine. I dont want to get Larry going or give him any fuel for the fire but I wanted to be on the safe side.I did pull with only one for a 200 mile highway trip the got the second before our trip to the Fort last Oct. I could feel the differance. Sorry Jim.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I cant belive Im saying this but I have two friction bars on mine. I dont want to get Larry going or give him any fuel for the fire but I wanted to be on the safe side.I did pull with only one for a 200 mile highway trip the got the second before our trip to the Fort last Oct. I could feel the differance. Sorry Jim.

Okay, so there's at least one guy out there who has suggested two sway controllers. But as lone as I hold out, everyone won't suggest it.

 

[I'mDownWithDisney]

I only used 1 on my old 24' TT, but a friend of mine used 2 on his 32' TT. He said that he could feel a difference. If I went back from 5'er to a large TT I would look real hard at a Hensley Arrow.

Congrats on the new camper...that is a nice looking model.

 

[disney4dan]

I went with the Equalizer that had 4 point sway control and it has worked well for us so far. But it is LOUD when you are making turns in a campground or off the highway. I went for the Equalizer so I would not have to take the sway control off to make a turn while backing up - have been in enough parking lots with it to know that sometimes you are just going to have to back out because the person in front of you with the Prius thinks it is easier for you to move than for them to get out of your way .

 

[LarryJ]

I only used 1 on my old 24' TT, but a friend of mine used 2 on his 32' TT. He said that he could feel a difference. If I went back from 5'er to a large TT I would look real hard at a Hensley Arrow.

Congrats on the new camper...that is a nice looking model.

At least he followed the standard recommendation like HERE that says to use two friction units for trailers over 26'. That has been more or less the standard accepted well known practice since I started using one back in 1982.

Unfortunately for the family that rolled their unit from what I can tell were only using one unit on the 30'+ trailer.

After using a friction one for over 25 years and probably close to 120K or so actual towing and having worn one out I went to the Equal-i-zer on my current 31' trailer and if I went much longer I would seriously consider a Pull-Rite 2/20K system.

Larry

 

[Flametamr]

Okay Guys we made it home safe. The trip to Panama City was a little stressfull. I ended up exiting the interstate after 80 miles and opted for the scenic route along the beach road. The sway was just too much to feel safe. When we stopped I noticed how far the truck was sagging and realized the tech had the the hitch bars too loose. I tightend them one link and that made a big difference.

We had a great time. Our site was no 22 on the lagoon loop. We were right on the water of Panama City Bay and walking distance to the beach on the Gulf. Here are some pics.

Before we headed home I went by a dealer there and had a sway bar installed for about half what my dealer at home wanted. That helped even more. We sailed home with no more real sway problems. I got more comfortable towing and learned to deal with the big rigs and busses.

I appreciate all the advise and assure you it was heard. If I have anymore problems I will be installing a second sway bar. As far the camper being too much for the truck. I'm sure someone will disagree but I am within the mfg recommended tow limits even loaded. It is a little strain on the smaller engine but since we will be only go short trips every so often I will be okay. Hopefully I can get something bigger before our trip to the Fort in September.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

As long as you are within your limits, I don't see a problem. There are people out there who don't think you should tow a popup with anything less than a diesel dually. I pulled my Kiwi for a couple years with a Sport Trac and had no safety issues. It did put a strain on the tranny, and no doubt my F150 pulled it a lot easier, but I never felt I was endangering my family or anybody else and was always well within the limits of the TV.

Properly adjusted sway control does make a big difference in towing, though. If you ever forget to tighten it up, it won't take long before you notice. Same with the weight distributing bars - adjusted properly, they make a big difference. I know a lot of people say you should adjust them so the nose of the trailer is down, but I don't agree and have always adjusted so the TV and TT make a straight line from the side.

Trailer looks great. Are those two lights in the front by the diamond plate? Mine only has one light and it sure would be nice to have one on the other side to hook up at night. Beautiful spot to camp, too.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

glad you got it sorted out. I really dont trust the techs to set up a trailer, my last one we arrived early for the delivery inspection and I had to show the kid how the wiring wasnt going to work the way he had it, ended up moving the breaker to avoid the clamp for the WD bar. The boss came out and asked me if I wanted a job?, I told him he couldnt afford me .....

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

As long as you are within your limits, I don't see a problem. There are people out there who don't think you should tow a popup with anything less than a diesel dually. I pulled my Kiwi for a couple years with a Sport Trac and had no safety issues. It did put a strain on the tranny, and no doubt my F150 pulled it a lot easier, but I never felt I was endangering my family or anybody else and was always well within the limits of the TV.

Properly adjusted sway control does make a big difference in towing, though. If you ever forget to tighten it up, it won't take long before you notice. Same with the weight distributing bars - adjusted properly, they make a big difference. I know a lot of people say you should adjust them so the nose of the trailer is down, but I don't agree and have always adjusted so the TV and TT make a straight line from the side.

Trailer looks great. Are those two lights in the front by the diamond plate? Mine only has one light and it sure would be nice to have one on the other side to hook up at night. Beautiful spot to camp, too.

Jim, you are right about adjusting to make both vehicles level, if the trailer is nose down it puts more weight on the lead axle, nose up and the weight is on the rear. With most mfg cutting it close on tire ratings it very important to have the trailer well balanced.

 

[thegooftroopfla]

my dealer did the same with my tt. he told me where to hook up the weight distribution bars. my old truck was right at the limit for towing if it was even in sepcs. I actually read my owners manual on my old f150 and it had a section on how to adjust weight distribution bars. the factory set up the camper with it empty so when you loaded it the setting was off. also when you put coolers in your truck it also affects the bars. a thing i did everytime i left was pull the tt and tv into my driveway that was flat. i think your truck rear is only supposed to drop 2 inches when you hook the weight up so i knew my bumber was a set height. then i would would hook the wieght distribution up and let the tongue jack down if my bumper dropped more than that i would put it down another link and remeasure. took about 5 minutes but made a considerable difference. after a couple times i had different color zip ties on the different links one was for when the trailer was empty of water, black and grey tank, one was for when i had two coolers, i always used to carry two coolers one for adult beverages and one for kid drinks, in my truck bed and the other was for when the trailer was loaded with water, grey and black tanks. it seemed to work pretty good. also the dealer set my truck and trailer up with one sway bar and it always worked great when adjusted properly, however after i had the trailer they actually told me i should have two. sorry that was just there recomendation. however he said that was what the factory said his personal opinion was one is better than none. when you do get a bigger truck it makes a huge difference though. just got one and it is like night and day towing
congrats on the new trailer, love keystone i am on my second keystone

 

[kc5grw]

Congrats on the new trailer.

I only used 1 on my old 24' TT, but a friend of mine used 2 on his 32' TT. He said that he could feel a difference. If I went back from 5'er to a large TT I would look real hard at a Hensley Arrow.

Congrats on the new camper...that is a nice looking model.

I'm with you....if I ever went to a TT from my 5er I'd definitely be looking at the Hensley, ProPride or Pullrite.