Pulling Wife's TH For 1st Time

[calibrator]

Wife purchased a '05 Keystone Hideout 29 FBH last Spring on her own. Have since been going through EVERY system. Especially paid attention to the Loft/Garage partition and decking area (2X2 construction for loft decking ???). We put 2 2X12s across and 2X6 on 12" centers fore to aft. This in conjunction with 5/8 decking surely gives this unit a "Back Bone" it never had.

Upgrading the tires and wheels to LT 235/85-16R Yokahamas from the OEM 15"s. New brakes and drums, etc... . Got plenty of truck to pull it, '99 Ram 3500 Cummins Dually 4X4, Edge Juice/Attitude/CTS, 4" straight pipe, 47RE with 33 ohm TC lockup switch, 4:10 rear, Airlift 5000 bags, Class V Reese receiver, B&W Tow & Stow hitch (10" drop).

We are down to the wire for attending a reunion in a somewhat mountainous area north of us. Will not have the new tires/wheels until Monday (leaving following Friday), so we have yet to actually do a trial towing for a baseline. Should be getting a Tongue Scale today that reads to 2K lbs. Empty weight of unit is likely 8K with our structural mods.

MY questions involve weight distribution and handling. Unit has 2 fresh water tanks, 1 over the front axle and the other in front of that, It also has a fueling station tank just behind the rear axle (cleaned and modified to fill with diesel for the Dodge, do not have a generator).

Should we fill both water tanks for weight at a lower center of gravity, or leave empty for lighter GVW?

If tongue weight is too great was thinking of filling the fuel tank behind the axles to transfer weight???

Percentage of weight on the tongue?

We will do a short trial pull after getting the new tires on, but nothing like the real deal grade-wise with Semi's passing.

Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated!
Joe & Ruth

[calibrator]

Also, is it better to have the trailer level, or slightly nose down?

[timetogo]

Level to slightly nose down is good. Too little tongue weight can cause sway. Measure from a known point the front and rear of your truck MT. Hook up the trailer and measure again. Fill the fuel tank and measure again. Same with water, toys, etc. Drain water as needed to balance the trailer and eliminate unwanted weight. Have fun.