Quote:
Originally Posted by tnchuck100
I give up. Sometimes it is virtually impossible specify what one is asking succinctly enough to get valid opinions.
The only risk evaluation I was requesting was the tongue height. Not other variables like weather, driving habits, speed etc.
Thanks anyway.
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But... all that stuff figures into it.
If the trailer is not level then it loads up one set of wheels. That is not a good thing. You towed for 160 miles with no problems, that is not a bad thing.
The Suburban is a good solid tow vehicle.
If you keep your speeds down then that would cause me to hedge toward the lower risk range. Lower speeds can minimize many of the problems. Higher speeds can increase the problems exponentially.
I just towed my 2001 23b with my Dodge Sprinter for the first time ever. I read all kinds of stuff about weight distributing hitches and what I should have.
Here is some of what I just posted on the Sprinter-source forum. My evaluation is not scientific. I am not the kind of driver who feels I need the best tires, best shocks, etc. for my truck. It is a truck, it drives like a truck. FWIW. vic
Selected text:
Anyway, the reason I'm answering my own thread is that based upon our 250 mile Memorial Day W/E round trip I would not hesitate to tow a Jayco 23b with a T1N 2500 Sprinter.
When we bought the trailer the dealership RV parts department told me we would need a Weight Distributing Hitch WDH and was happy to quote a 10,000# high capacity model which was about $800+ installed. When I offered that my Sprinter was only rated for 5000# tow capacity they moved down to a lesser model in the $600 price range. I told them that I would think about it. Their reply included something about safety and a WDH being a "must have".
I did some searching and decided that because the trailer had once had a friction type anti-sway bar ball mount attached I would just go with that and hold off on a WDH. I ordered a anti-sway bar figuring that the swivel ball mount would be an industry standard. WRONG. The holes almost aligned, but were just off enough to need significant modification.
Because other schedules got in the way I didn't get the anti-sway bar installed. So our first trip was without an expensive WDH or even an inexpensive anti-sway device. The wind on the delivery was maybe 15 mph. Our speed was generally around 60 mph with a little bit of 65 - 70 mph for shorter periods of time. I had no trouble with the 23b tracking behind me.
The return trip was a bit windier with gusts to a solid 25 mph, maybe more, being pretty common. The rig moved around a bit in the bigger gusts and when passing trucks disturbed the already windy air flow. Even in those situations I felt very much under control. There was a bit of buffeting around at times on the return trip, but nothing even approaching a white knuckle event. The rig tracked just fine.
I will install the anti-sway bar which I bought. Based upon this one trip, had I not already purchased it I probably would wait and see whether to spend the money.
I added some mirror extenders. Again, had I not already purchased them I probably wouldn't bother. My stock Sprinter mirror position gave me all the view which I needed for lane changing and backing up.
I ran the 185 80r 13 Goodyear Marathon tires at 50 psi which is max pressure. I always run any trailer tires at the max pressure indicated on the sidewall. Whenever we stopped I checked hub and tire temperatures by feel. All the tires and hubs felt like they were similar cool to warm temperature. Not one felt at all hot.
I dialed in the electric brake controller and was happy with the brake operation on the trip. The brakes had been NYS safety inspected. Even so, the day before leaving I took a turn around the block with the trailer in normal mode. I felt all the trailer wheels and all were cool. I did another turn around with the manual brake controller button held on. I could feel the drag. When I stopped to feel the temperatures of the trailer wheels each one felt a bit warm. Not very scientific, but it gave me an indication that the brakes were released on the first trip, and that all four wheels had at least some brake applied for the second time around. As an aside, I used #10 awg wire for the brake control wiring as Roger always suggests (as does Etrailer).
I didn't weigh the trailer and Sprinter. My guess is that the trailer was probably 4200# max because we don't have dishes, pots, pans, and other stuff accumulated as yet. The tongue weight was probably 350# with a 400# max. The rear end of the Sprinter did not squat at all. The dual axle trailer was level. The Sprinter had a medium cargo load inside, not a heavy load at all.
So at this time it seems that the T1N 2500 single rear wheel cargo Sprinter is up to towing a 2001 Jayco 23b trailer. After I get the simple friction anti-sway bar installed and have a few more trips under my belt I'll update here. I'm thinkin' that it's going to be fine and lots of fun. FWIW. vic