Hummingbird Is Finally Home!

[lssmith]

Looks familiar, just blew out a hub coming into San Diego Xmas Day and the other on the way back to Tucson on New Years. Outer bearing shot and brakes rubbing on the backing plate like your pic.

My TT has a #3500 GVWR, #2625 dry weight with a CCC of #875. I don't think these single axle Jaycos like being anywhere close to the limits as I was like you.

Sooo, now I have a #6000 pound axle with new everything including upgraded 15" wheels and E rated tires. Not going to screw up another family holiday like last year!! Good Luck!

[01tundra]

Originally Posted by lssmith

Looks familiar, just blew out a hub coming into San Diego Xmas Day and the other on the way back to Tucson on New Years. Outer bearing shot and brakes rubbing on the backing plate like your pic.

My TT has a #3500 GVWR, #2625 dry weight with a CCC of #875. I don't think these single axle Jaycos like being anywhere close to the limits as I was like you.

Sooo, now I have a #6000 pound axle with new everything including upgraded 15" wheels and E rated tires. Not going to screw up another family holiday like last year!! Good Luck!

Torsion axle or leaf spring?

[lssmith]

Oh sorry yep leaf but I think that the hubs are quite the same as far and inner outer bearings, races etc...

[Chris416]

What do you suggest checking other than tire pressure before an extra long trip? My wife and I are planning on taking our Hummingbird down to Disney World this year.

Thanks!

[01tundra]

Originally Posted by Chris416

What do you suggest checking other than tire pressure before an extra long trip? My wife and I are planning on taking our Hummingbird down to Disney World this year.

Thanks!

Other than the normal travel checklist stuff (safety chains, steps up, door locked, etc.) I can't think of anything.

[Kim Gass]

After being idle for a couple of months we are going to check all systems are operational
Like heat and electric and gas
The water has to wait till we tow to warmer weather.
Also a visual and underneath that all is where it belongs and nothing has moved in.

[illini trekker]

Looks like Hummingbird owners need to watch there weights closely. I have been and will more so carry must of the CC weight in the truck bed (water/can goods). Hope for the best of luck with Lipper. I had a brake issue and they fix it perfectly!

[01tundra]

Just got our Hummingbird back from the dealership with a brand new axle. I can say for sure that Jayco stands behind their products.

I decided to upgrade to from our original Tireminder TM55C TPMS to the new TM77. Got the new booster installed over the weekend.

Also installed an RVLocks door handle, we now have zero keys required for anything on the TT.

[Thighmaster]

What do you do for a charge controller for the panels, to protect the battery?


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[Thighmaster]

Originally Posted by 01tundra

Just got my Maxxis M8008 8-ply (D-rated) tires mounted and balanced. Bought one for the spare as well.

As I suspected, even though I stepped down in size from 235/75R15 to 225/75R15 I basically didn't lose any ground clearance since the new tires don't buldge like the factory P-rated tires did. I'm running them at their max pressure of 65 psig. Also had metal stems installed on all three wheels in case I ever decide to add TPMS.

I spoke with Jayco prior to installing the new tires to try to determine the pressure rating of the wheels. They looked it up and told me 110 psi. I haven't been able to confirm that myself and didn't find the pressure rating stamped in the wheel anywhere, but I did find the weight rating stamped on the back side that stated 2,830 lbs. this weight rating corresponds with what I've been able to find online for HWT HiSpec Dark Force 15x6, 6 lugs wheels so I currently have no reason to believe that the 110 psi rating is inaccurate.

I was able to find the same wheel in 16x6, 6-lug and they were rated at 3,200 lbs / 110 psi. Also found a 15x6, 5-lug rated at 2,150 lbs / 80 psi.

Keep in mind that our TT has the Baja option and 15" wheels. The same wheels in 14" that I've been able to find have had a rating of 1,900 lbs / 60 psi, which doesn't sound suitable for load range D tires at their max pressure rating of 65 psi.

15 x 6 Dark Force Black Aluminum Trailer Rim 6 on 5.50

16 x 6 Dark Force Aluminum Black Trailer Rim 6 on 5.50

15x6 Dark Force Aluminum Hi Spec Trailer Rim 5 Lug, 2150 Max Load, Free Shipping.

As always, appreciate the research you put into your mods... definitely speeds up my process to research stuff. As for tires - I decided to go with the Maxxis as well. Can’t wait to get rid of these bouncy things. Scary watching the trailer leaning sideways in turns, bouncing out of relatively shallow off-road potholes...


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[01tundra]

Originally Posted by Thighmaster

What do you do for a charge controller for the panels, to protect the battery?


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The Renogy panel that we bought came with the Adventurer charge controller attached.

https://www.renogy.com/renogy-100-wa...olar-suitcase/

[Thighmaster]

Where is the controller? Outside with the panels?


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[01tundra]

Originally Posted by Thighmaster

Where is the controller? Outside with the panels?


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When folded for travel it is inside between the panels, once opened it hangs from the top edge underneath the panel.

[Thighmaster]

Originally Posted by 01tundra

When folded for travel it is inside between the panels, once opened it hangs from the top edge underneath the panel.

I wonder if it’s possible to plug the panels into the A-frame solar socket, then run a line to the interior cabin where one mounts the controller, then back to the battery. This would keep the controller out of the weather plus make it easy to monitor. Thoughts?


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[01tundra]

Originally Posted by Thighmaster

I wonder if it’s possible to plug the panels into the A-frame solar socket, then run a line to the interior cabin where one mounts the controller, then back to the battery. This would keep the controller out of the weather plus make it easy to monitor. Thoughts?


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Certainly possible. Although if it’s raining I would store my panels under the TT until the sun came back out, so I’m not too worried about weather.

Having the wire length between the controller and batteries minimized is a good thing though.

[Thighmaster]

Appreciate the thoughts. Testing the new panels this March in southern Utah.


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[Thighmaster]

Originally Posted by 01tundra

Just got my Maxxis M8008 8-ply (D-rated) tires mounted and balanced. Bought one for the spare as well.

As I suspected, even though I stepped down in size from 235/75R15 to 225/75R15 I basically didn't lose any ground clearance since the new tires don't buldge like the factory P-rated tires did. I'm running them at their max pressure of 65 psig. Also had metal stems installed on all three wheels in case I ever decide to add TPMS.

I spoke with Jayco prior to installing the new tires to try to determine the pressure rating of the wheels. They looked it up and told me 110 psi. I haven't been able to confirm that myself and didn't find the pressure rating stamped in the wheel anywhere, but I did find the weight rating stamped on the back side that stated 2,830 lbs. this weight rating corresponds with what I've been able to find online for HWT HiSpec Dark Force 15x6, 6 lugs wheels so I currently have no reason to believe that the 110 psi rating is inaccurate.

I was able to find the same wheel in 16x6, 6-lug and they were rated at 3,200 lbs / 110 psi. Also found a 15x6, 5-lug rated at 2,150 lbs / 80 psi.

Keep in mind that our TT has the Baja option and 15" wheels. The same wheels in 14" that I've been able to find have had a rating of 1,900 lbs / 60 psi, which doesn't sound suitable for load range D tires at their max pressure rating of 65 psi.

15 x 6 Dark Force Black Aluminum Trailer Rim 6 on 5.50

16 x 6 Dark Force Aluminum Black Trailer Rim 6 on 5.50

15x6 Dark Force Aluminum Hi Spec Trailer Rim 5 Lug, 2150 Max Load, Free Shipping.

Drove the new Maxxis M8008s home today, up the snow, ice and muddy washboard, and on the highway... way less bounce on the rough stuff and track great on the highway. Thanks again for this tip.


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[01tundra]

After reading on this forum about people having road debris flying up and breaking their fresh water tank drain valve I decided to be proactive and replace the cheap plastic factory valve with a full-port angle ball valve and new aluminum bulkhead fitting.

The entire project took about 5 minutes, literally plug and play. The new bulkhead has the exact same mounting flange and screw holes and the back has a barbed fitting for the factory hose and clamp.

After finishing up I brought the factory valve up to my shop to save for later, after laying it on my work bench I realized that it had already been broken without our knowledge.......good mod.

The guy that makes the bulkheads is really great to work with and the part he makes is very high quality. It has 1/8" NPT threads for a valve. The valve I found is a 1/4 turn valve and it operates very smooth.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RV-FRESH-WA...53.m2749.l2649

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[01tundra]

Did a few recent mods.

First one was replace the factory mattress and topper with a new mattress. Haven't slept on it yet but it feels very comfortable.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also just finished installing a power meter to help monitor the battery condition while boondocking. Purchased a PVC 4" junction box from Lowe's to house the shunt in.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[01tundra]

Made a quick cheat sheet that I'm going to have laminated. It converts our battery amp-hrs to watt-hrs and is based on % watt-hrs used, this way with a quick glance we can tell where we stand on remaining battery power while boondocking.