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Old 05-21-2009, 07:42 PM   #1
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2009 Buttonwood "Towing Setup Talk"

Fellow Sunline’ers

Saturday afternoon after lunch a “Towing Setup Talk” will be presented to give an overview on what is behind all these numbers of towing, what a Weight Distribution (WD) hitch is all about, what is travel trailer (TT )weight and balance and what is sway control all about. It goes over the basics and the advanced problems of towing. This “Talk” is for anyone wanting to know more about what all this towing setup stuff means and to help you, help yourself.

It is intended for the first time tower to the veteran tower that can share their experiences with the group. Those that have current towing issues may be able to walk away with a few pointers on where to go looking to make your TT towing better. There are no dumb questions and no pressure to ask.

A few Club members have already inquired about hitch questions and we thought we would create a small presentation on common questions about hitches and towing setups.

This will be a show and tell type presentation in a very open format where you can see and ask any and all questions. The intent is to help fellow campers have a better understanding about towing setups. The presentation will show Reese brand hitches however in our camping group this weekend we also have Equal-I-izer, Hensley and other brands that their owners can help explain if needed. This is not a brand or style specific discussion and what will be presented applies to all brand hitches, trailer layouts and tow vehicles.

If you would like to come, you can post here, PM me or just show up on Saturday. If I have an idea in advance of who might be coming I can prepare a little better.

When is it: Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm. (Should wrap up by 2:00pm)

Where will it be: At campsite, Site # 113 next to the big group tent. Just look for the Sunline TT…..

Who may want to attend:
* Anyone towing a Travel Trailer (TT) that has never had an explanation on how all this hitch and towing stuff works and why it is important to understand.
* Anyone experiencing any level of travel trailer sway.
* Anyone needing some pointers on how to setup their WD hitch of most any brand.
* Anyone owning a Reese HP Dual Cam Sway control system and things to watch out for when setting it up.
* Anyone just looking to expand their knowledge.

What will be discussed: The topics of discussion will include:
* Why is Weight Distribution important and how to know if you have it.
* Why is proper TT balance important and how to obtain it.
* Weight Distributing hitches and a basic understanding of how they work and how to adjust.
* Sizing of hitch components and what are all these rating numbers about.
* Trailer sway, what to look for, what can affect it and some top level things on how to control it in your towing setup.
* How to weigh your TT and TV at a truck scale.
* The Reese HP Dual Cam sway control system and things to watch out for that can break the hitch if setup wrong.
* Where can you get help if you have a towing problem?

Hope to see you there.

John

PS. Anyone wanting one on one help with their setup we can work this in. There are many among us that can help. I myself will be arriving Thursday afternoon and leaving Monday morning and we can work something in. Let me know in advance if possible so I can investigate your setup before hand and come better prepared if we make an adjustment for you. Post here or PM me. Or if it comes to you after the “Towing Setup Talk” that’s OK too.

PS 2. Any one wanting an actual tongue weight check, let me know as I can offer this to our fellow Sunline camper friends some time over the weekend. I have a mobile scale that will travel to your campsite… Yes for fellow Sunliners we do make house calls.

PS3. Then weather can be sunny and hot. Bringing sun glasses, a hat and a water bottle is a good idea. Last year we had this at 11:00am and it was allready hot.
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Old 05-21-2009, 08:38 PM   #2
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John,
I didn't have our tongue weighed last year, but I think I'll take your offer this year. We made a few changes and moved some things around and don't really plan on making any more changes, so it would be nice to see what our final tongue weight is.

Mike
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Old 05-21-2009, 08:59 PM   #3
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Ok Mike your on the list. One tongue weight coming up. Have scale will travel. We can connect up on a time. I see you are coming in on Thursday too. So we will have lots of time to work it in.

Thanks

John
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Old 05-31-2009, 07:45 AM   #4
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Towing

John,
Yes, I, too, would like to have our hitch weighed again. We've made some changes so therefore a re-weighing is in order.
Thanks!
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Old 05-31-2009, 09:06 AM   #5
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Re: Towing

Quote:
Originally Posted by Both2Retired
John,
Yes, I, too, would like to have our hitch weighed again. We've made some changes so therefore a re-weighing is in order.
Thanks!
John

OK got ya covered. Your on the list. Let's hook up while at camp and set a time up that works for you.

An 09 Chevy, cool!!!

John
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Old 05-31-2009, 12:23 PM   #6
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John - can you add us to the list also....we will be arriving Thursday night if that helps.
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Old 05-31-2009, 03:14 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poppy & Nana
John - can you add us to the list also....we will be arriving Thursday night if that helps.
Kathy,

Will add ya. Not a problem. We are coming in on Thursday as well. Will connect up and find a time to get er done.

The weighing part takes like 5 minutes. However the yakking part can vary. Going by last year the "visit" lasted anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes.... just too many things to catch up on.

See you soon.

John
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Old 06-01-2009, 01:53 PM   #8
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Hi John could you add me to your list to have the tounge weighted on my camper I will be arriving friday afternoon /evening thanks Dan
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Old 06-02-2009, 07:24 AM   #9
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Tongue Weight

Hi John,

Could you add us to the list for tongue weight on our T2499. We will be arriving on Thursday and leaving on Monday. We have towed the coach to the Florida Keys and back without any problems, but every time we would stop for fuel at a truck stop that had scales they were very busy. Thank you so much for all of your help in the past about the bent frame. Can't wait to meet you in person at the M&G.
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Old 06-02-2009, 10:09 PM   #10
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Dan and Larry

OK Great. You’re on the list for a tongue weigh. On the TT that is… That was a running joke last year. There goes John weighing more tongue….

Larry, yes I'm really interested in your A frame reconstruction and others as well. We have quite a sampling of different fixes.

And yes it too will be nice meeting all of you new folks to the M & G. Boy remembering names this year is going to be a killer.... It was amazing last year I recognized most by their truck and camper as we never see the camper folk inside.... When I drove in last year I saw Jason’s (Lode) F350 staring at me and I said, hey I know that truck, never ever seeing him before. And I too got the same response pulling in. The Red Ford and real long TT is sort of a give away.

Boy the days are getting closer….

John
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Old 06-05-2009, 03:44 PM   #11
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John,

Please add me to your list for the setup talk and a tongue weight check. We'll be arriving on Thursday also.
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Old 06-05-2009, 08:04 PM   #12
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Hi Mike

Have you added to the list. No problem.

Thanks
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Old 06-05-2009, 08:07 PM   #13
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For the tongue weight folks, here is the list so far. I have you in site order just so I can figure out where you are all located.

List update: 6-11-09

Site 55 - 2005 T2499 - Henryj (Henry & Karen) - Arrive Friday.

Site 56 - 2007 T2499 - ClarkDC (Wendy & Larry) – Arrive Thursday.

Site 57 - 2007 T2499 - Poppy & Nana (Kathy & Leo) – Arrive Thursday.

Site 61 - 2005 T264SR - Sunnyseagull (Debbie & Dan) – Arrive Friday.

Site 62 - 2006 T264SR - rebellious78 (Dave & Mary Ann) – Arrive Friday.

Site 86 – 2006 T264SR - 264SRinPA (Roz & Mike) – Arrive Thursday.

Site 99 – 2007 T2753 – Both2Retired (Jeanne & John) – Arrive Friday.

Site 104 – 2007 T264SR – Mike (Sue & Mike) – Arrive Thursday.

Just so you know how the tongue weighing works it goes like this.

We block your TT tires so the TT cannot roll. Many already have this done.

We crank up the stabilizer jacks only about 1” off the ground. I need this up to make sure they are not supporting any weight.

If you have a slide, just before we do the tongue weighing, you will need to retract it. Only need to have it in for about 5 minutes, but it shifts the balance of the TT if it is out.

I have an assortment of wood blocks, a bottle jack and a Sherline tongue scale I will bring with me. I create a wood stack at the ground level, I put the bottle jack on the wood then I put a small block of wood on top of the jack follow by the Sherline tongue scale that goes up in your ball coupler.

By using the TT tongue jack I gently let the weight off the tongue jack and let the scale support the tongue. Once the jack foot breaks free from the ground, we take a reading.

Sometimes do to being in a camp ground on dirt I have to take 2 or more reading to make sure there is not a bind in the scale being on a slight angle. Not a big deal.

Then you have it. That’s it. Put everything back to normal with the stabilizers etc.

Here it is in my yard just I can use a floor jack on the concrete.


And the scale reading. This was mine as I was moving things around in the camper. When I add my bike on the front of the camper it goes up again another 100#


The folks arriving on Thursday, we can work you in on Friday if that works for you. Those coming in on Friday, can work you in on Saturday when it works for you. And I’m flexible too. We are not leaving until Monday morning so I myself have no problem moving a time slot.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon

John
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Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
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Old 06-06-2009, 06:57 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB

Site 57 - 2007 T2499 - Poppy & Nana (Kathy & Leo) – Arrive Thursday

The folks arriving on Thursday, we can work you in on Friday if that works for you.
John

Should we leave all the "stuff" in the TT so we getan accurate tongue weight??? ie tables, chairs, rugs, etc???
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Old 06-06-2009, 07:51 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poppy & Nana
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB

Site 57 - 2007 T2499 - Poppy & Nana (Kathy & Leo) – Arrive Thursday

The folks arriving on Thursday, we can work you in on Friday if that works for you.
John

Should we leave all the "stuff" in the TT so we getan accurate tongue weight??? ie tables, chairs, rugs, etc???
I had forgot that part. The Coach should be loaded the way you tow down the road. If you put stuff in the back or front of the camper (like we all do) ideally should be in the same general area. It does not have to be put back exactly but heavy things make a difference. Like a BBQ grill, or a pile of firewood etc. The T2499 with it's big cargo hole up front can add a lot of weight to the tongue from stuff as it is so close to the tongue area. Just as is putting something at the rear wall of the camper subtacts from tongue weight.

If you have any normal camper stuff that is loaded in the camper between the 2 axles, that does not matter so much. Weight over the axles or between is almost neutral to the tongue weight in the way I can meansure it. So no need to move stuff back in that is over the axles.

Since we are at camp already and you may have some of the stuff most likley out and setup. If there is something heavy, 20 to 30# and higher then we can just temporaly place in the the general area of the camper it would ride in as you tow.

I can look at it and say, yes that will affect the tongue weight, or No it is so light I can't find it. Do not be worry above real light stuff out of the camper unless you have a lot of it. I can't find the weight of a coffe pot but can a 35# table or BBQ grill.

We can sort this out at camp no problem.

John
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Old 06-06-2009, 08:00 AM   #16
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Kathy

Did you get a new truck?

2007 T-2499
2008 Ford F-250 4x4 Crew Cab Diesel w/tow haul

or
2003 Ford F-250 4x4 Regular Cab


Cool!

I thought you had a F150 along with the 03 F250

Which one you bringing?
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Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
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Old 06-08-2009, 06:12 AM   #17
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Yes we did - after all the "stimulus $$" we received we used it for a down payment! And we just got another $250 in our SS checks last month - so we are on a roll!

Really - the F150 just didn't "make it" and Leo did not like using the work truck - after all it is just that a plain Jane work truck.....so last year on our way back from Vacation in the 1000 Island, we stopped at a Ford Dealer (Nortz & Vickler, Lowville) and found the diesel that he soooo wanted!

Called the kids and told them "Dad & I just spent more of your inheritance" and bought it.....boy what a difference!

We have had it since September 2008 and I think we just hit 3000 miles and had the oil changed! Now one of my NEW DUTIES is mapping out trips with diesel stops on the way!!!
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Old 06-10-2009, 04:42 PM   #18
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Added HenryJ to the list.

H'mm we must have a run on T2499's and they all seem to want to camp in the same spot .

Look

Site 55 - 2005 T2499 - Henryj (Henry & Karen) - Arrive Friday.

Site 56 - 2007 T2499 - ClarkDC (Wendy & Larry) – Arrive Thursday.

Site 57 - 2007 T2499 - Poppy & Nana (Kathy & Leo) – Arrive Thursday.
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Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
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Old 06-10-2009, 04:44 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poppy & Nana

Called the kids and told them "Dad & I just spent more of your inheritance" and bought it.....boy what a difference!

We have had it since September 2008 and I think we just hit 3000 miles and had the oil changed! Now one of my NEW DUTIES is mapping out trips with diesel stops on the way!!!
Very nice Nana. Well it will be a good test heading to Buttonwood. Safe travels.
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Old 06-10-2009, 11:57 PM   #20
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John,

Is it to late to get on the list to have our weight checked? We will be coming into the campground Friday afternoon. We will be on site 62.
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