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Towing. (New questions)
- Thread starter shady
- Start date
like I said tho . . . that's my rollback tow truck for work . we never can be sure what we are getting.
Ohh missed that.. gotta bring the kitchen sink then..
Ok... I got the jist of the towing. No longer will be at capacity. Got the right trailer and equipment.... But.
1. Does the sway control usually make so much noise, or is it too tight? That thing makes a LOUD grinding noise when I turn... And it isn't even as tight as it says to. I loosened it more to quiet it.
2. I set up the distribution hitch per instructions. And when the chains are up tight it does raise the tail of the truck up to where it was when the trailer wasn't on it.... But my wife's little azz walked up the trailer to the front and the trucks tail lowered 2 or 3 inches with only her 125#s on it.... That seems odd to me
3. I wired my trailer brake controller with the plug GM sent with the truck. And it stays lit up even when the trucks off..... Isn't that bad on the battery? Or will it be fine? They're just 2 small LEDs but I would think they should be off...
4. The trailer brakes need to be set to where I can stop the truck from about 15 mph with just them right? I've seen vids but you never know if THEY know what they were doing either lol.
In the next couple days I want to load my rumble bee on it and get used to towing weight. Then I'll possibly have more questions lol.
I just want to cover all bases before I drive 18hrs and try hauling a Crewcab
1. Does the sway control usually make so much noise, or is it too tight? That thing makes a LOUD grinding noise when I turn... And it isn't even as tight as it says to. I loosened it more to quiet it.
2. I set up the distribution hitch per instructions. And when the chains are up tight it does raise the tail of the truck up to where it was when the trailer wasn't on it.... But my wife's little azz walked up the trailer to the front and the trucks tail lowered 2 or 3 inches with only her 125#s on it.... That seems odd to me
3. I wired my trailer brake controller with the plug GM sent with the truck. And it stays lit up even when the trucks off..... Isn't that bad on the battery? Or will it be fine? They're just 2 small LEDs but I would think they should be off...
4. The trailer brakes need to be set to where I can stop the truck from about 15 mph with just them right? I've seen vids but you never know if THEY know what they were doing either lol.
In the next couple days I want to load my rumble bee on it and get used to towing weight. Then I'll possibly have more questions lol.
I just want to cover all bases before I drive 18hrs and try hauling a Crewcab
1. Yes. The new systems suck.
2. Need to set it up with the load on it.
3. It stays on. Will not run the battery down.
4. The brakes are always re-adjusted based on the load. I turn it way down when empty. Heavier load needs more power to the brakes.
2. Need to set it up with the load on it.
3. It stays on. Will not run the battery down.
4. The brakes are always re-adjusted based on the load. I turn it way down when empty. Heavier load needs more power to the brakes.
That sway control will just have to make noise I guess...
I'll have to try setting up the distribution hitch with the bee on it. Kind of wierd though since loads vary
And I figured the brake controller was fine... But I was sure since it was hooked up wrong at first..... The wiring is STUPID.. the black is 12v+ for one
. All 4 colors matched the colors on my trucks plug harness.... But 3 of the wires don't use a matching color
With the brakes I'm at 5 already, and 1 on the boost with an empty trailer.. and if I hold the trailer brake handle over and let it idle in gear it will creep forward still. But barely. I'll turn it up for sure when I put the truck on it... I was trying to mount the controller with Velcro but I can't find military grade anymore.. I don't want to screw it in because I'm taking it out when I sell this truck like next month.
I'll have to try setting up the distribution hitch with the bee on it. Kind of wierd though since loads vary
And I figured the brake controller was fine... But I was sure since it was hooked up wrong at first..... The wiring is STUPID.. the black is 12v+ for one
. All 4 colors matched the colors on my trucks plug harness.... But 3 of the wires don't use a matching colorWith the brakes I'm at 5 already, and 1 on the boost with an empty trailer.. and if I hold the trailer brake handle over and let it idle in gear it will creep forward still. But barely. I'll turn it up for sure when I put the truck on it... I was trying to mount the controller with Velcro but I can't find military grade anymore.. I don't want to screw it in because I'm taking it out when I sell this truck like next month.
Vombrown
Mountain Man
Home Depot sells a little sticky back deal that is used to hang pictures. Made by 3M...most have hooks on them but a couple are just flat with holes. You could stick it to the dash with the mounting screws in the back. Best thing is it has a little tab so you can remove it without leaving a mark. Pretty cool actually. Not a long term solution but I think it would work well for what you're doing.
I used the Velcro version of that from 3M that they hang pics with... Adhesive wouldn't even attempt to stick to the dash. Pushed it on, fell off, pushed it on, fell off. We're hanging pics with the same exact strips at home that are heavier than the brake controller. And they stick fine... But they wouldn't hold the brake controller to my dash for even half a second for some reason ... I might just screw it in real low on the ashtray door. The holes probably wouldn't even be seen when I sell it.
... I might just screw it in real low on the ashtray door. The holes probably wouldn't even be seen when I sell it.
Temporary mounting of a brake controller is a bad idea. When it falls off going down the road, I could slam on the trailer brakes.
And this would probably happen when you are in front of a group of hells angels bikers.
And this would probably happen when you are in front of a group of hells angels bikers.
Or a bus full of nuns... That's why I'm just gonna screw it on... If I could find the military grade Velcro I used to have it would be fine lol... I had a TV mounted to my dresser with a 2" wide X 12" long strip and it broke the plastic on the TV trying to get it back off when I upgraded. Walmart had it... But don't anymore. So I'll screw it I guess because I just want it in.
Unloaded I'd leave the weight distribution stuff off. We can mess with it here too
Is it ok to tow with it without the bars? If you do that your putting the weight of the trailer on the threads of a 5/8 set screw. I do have a draw bar with the right ball that isn't a WD hitch. I can just tow it out with that I guess
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Either way doesn't matter. But the set up may need to change when you load it. You want the bars level with the frame of the trailer. My guess is you will need to start with the ball pointed down a bit when unloaded.
Looks like the trailer weighs about 2400# . So with a 6200# truck on it I'll be under my tow rating a little ways. That makes me much happier lol. With me in it, full tank, some of my camping gear, and the weight distribution hitch in the bed it weighed out at 8220.
Last time I went to the dump with no trailer I left at 5860 with a half tank and my buddy n me in it.
Ill leave friday morning with my wife, about 50lb more camping stuff, and 2 trailer spares more than that 8220 number.
Last time I went to the dump with no trailer I left at 5860 with a half tank and my buddy n me in it.
Ill leave friday morning with my wife, about 50lb more camping stuff, and 2 trailer spares more than that 8220 number.
Rick, I've towed with my trailer empty quite a few times and the w/d bars on. I just don't pull them up as tight as with the trailer loaded...as Wade mentioned make adjustments when you get it loaded. I try to have the truck at regular ride height and the trailer level when I have it loaded and bars pulled up. That may take some adjustment of the tongue and/or the ball mount to get it there. I also have bags in the back to help w/ the real heavy stuff (like the Maiden) Bags are awesome! The sway control you shouldn't need empty but I would sure use it when you get a high profile load on it. Do you have a spare for the trailer?
2 spares 
It seems odd to me that youd have to adjust the WDH for nearly every load. It's kind of a pain in the azz. Having to loosen and tighten big azz bolts and the extremely hard to turn set screw
Or am I getting that wrong and you set it once with a heavy load and just adjust by chain for all other loads?
It seems odd to me that youd have to adjust the WDH for nearly every load. It's kind of a pain in the azz. Having to loosen and tighten big azz bolts and the extremely hard to turn set screw
Or am I getting that wrong and you set it once with a heavy load and just adjust by chain for all other loads?
Once I got the truck on the trailer I set it to tow level, haven't adjusted it since, whether pulling the Vette (3150) or the Maiden (6550), but that is where the airbags are nice, they can adjust about 8" of ride height at the bumper.
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