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03-05-2016, 08:32 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Thatcher, UT
Posts: 34
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Just Bought First Trailer
Picked up the trailer and towed it home last Monday. Looking forward to using it several times this year.
I never towed anything this substantial and the 50 mile ride home from the dealer was kind of scary.
I have a GMC K1500 with 4WD and a 5.7 Vortex engine. I was wondering what I can do to the truck to make towing more enjoyable.
The Trailer is a Trail Bay with a 5333 UVW and a GVWR of 7681. I don't completely know what all that means.
Any advice would certainly be appreciated.
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03-05-2016, 09:00 PM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,559
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Glad to have you here with us. Congrats on your new trailer. I know that with a bit of practice you're going to have a great time with it. My advice is that backing up is always the hardest thing to do. My suggestion is to find a large parking lot that's empty, or where you'll have a lot of room. Take the trailer there and practice backing it up. It's always good to use a spotter behind you when doing so. You'll catch on quickly.
Best of luck and Happy Trails!!!
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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03-05-2016, 09:08 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 46
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You don't mention your hitch. Do you have some type of equalizing/anti sway hitch? If not you must have one. I have the Andersen and love it. Others will weigh in on why theirs is best. But if you don't have one then you will need to study up and get one.
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03-06-2016, 04:35 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 2,723
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__________________
Tricia & Dennis Lockhart
2010 Ventana 4333
Spartan MM w/Cummins 360 ISC
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03-06-2016, 07:35 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NH
Posts: 5,099
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__________________
Bruce & Nancy
FMCA F280542
2004 Bounder 35E
US Navy Vet.
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03-06-2016, 08:22 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 596
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Congrats and welcome.
You'll need to bring everything to your nearest truck scale and weight the truck only (full fuel, both axles) and then weight again each axle with the trailers hooked up. You can also weight just the trailer tongue.
What weight distribution hitch are you using? Did the dealer adjust it? It takes about an hour to do so.
My trailer had a claimed dry hitch weight of 500lbs (gvwr 7000lbs). Once fitted with batteries, propane and gear in the trailer it weighted 850lbs. That put me over the rear axle weight limit on a 1/2 ton crew cab 4x4 and made driving very unpleasant as the back of the truck was always wandering. I traded in for a 3/4 ton. LT tires would help if you are close to limits but not over.
The towing weight ratings put out by manufacturers are really designed for low profile low tongue weight trailers like flatbeds and boat trailers, not high profile high tongue weight travel trailers.
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03-06-2016, 11:02 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Thatcher, UT
Posts: 34
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I'm using a Husky Centerline TS hitch. The dealer put in on and adjusted it for level towing, then showed us how to hook it up and remove it.
You're correct that I need to weigh everything. I'll do that sometime this month.
I'm also looking at things like Hellwig helper springs and a Timbren suspension kit. They seem fairly simple to use and install. Another thing needed, larger mirrors. I have considered some CIPA slip on types.
Our first trip will be mid May. I need to have everything in place by then.
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03-06-2016, 01:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,794
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Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us! 
Congrats on the new rig! Keep her between the ditches!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!  
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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03-06-2016, 04:45 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Appalachian Campers Coastal Campers Carolina Campers
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,828
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Welcome to IRV2 and congratulations on the new TT. Enjoy and safe travels.
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Brenda and Frank, FTers, Zebulon, NC
Raisin our mixed hound and BooBoo our cat.
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 
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03-06-2016, 08:33 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Summer - WA, Winter - AZ
Posts: 170
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Welcome to the IRV2 forum. Enjoy your new travel trailer.
__________________
Rocky, Anniey, and Joy (Our Toy Poodle)
2006 Bounder Diesel 38L
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