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Welcome, Guest. Please login or register. Did you miss your activation email? January 06, 2009, 03:14:18 AM |
5379 Posts in 885 Topics by 274 Members Latest Member: siskiyouline |
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Tow VehiclesI know everyone says to check your tire pressure, but how often do you really do this? I have my 10yr old son do it before every trip. It is nice for mileage but also helps to control sway if all tires are the same pressure. Also with higher temps on their way, proper pressure and checking for cracks or road damage could help your trip be more about pleasure rather than how to fix a problem.Lug nuts. When was the last time you checked them. It seems minor, but could be a problem if they come loose. I have never lost any, but last time I checked them there were a few loose ones. It should be done before every trip, I check mine monthly whether we are going or not, just incase there not checked at the time we hook up to go. Towing speed, speaking of mileage towing speed has a lot to do with this. Going slower is not always the best way to save fuel, sometimes it worse to travel at a slower speed for better mileage. For example I get best mileage with my diesel at 1900 rpm's, that puts me at about 65mph, if I slow down to 55 my rpm's drop and I get worse mileage. See what works for you. Keep your trailer level. This not only helps with tire wear, but also with sway and braking. When your trailer is level and you hit your brakes everything will work much better than a trailer that is pushing your truck bumper down and raising the front of the tow vehicle, which could lose control of steering and braking power. Tongue weight. Do you load your trailer the same every time? When loading your trailer, try to remember if you are placing items in a different spot than the last time you towed. Many small items can make a difference, the key is to keep tongue weight at about 10%. Backing. Don't forget to take off the sway control before backing into your spot. It makes it a lot easier to maneuver. I always watch the backer and make sure the kids (if you have them) are either in the truck or with mom. Happy travels. I have a mental list I go through every time I hook up. I try not to be interrupted and do a complete walk around before I leave. Trailer locked down to hitch, sway tight, all doors shut, trailer level, tires look good, inside all drawers shut and lock down, TV down and in safe place, water heater off, all plugs and hoses stored properly, kids set with drinks, TV in truck. I always build to highway speed slowly in case of a problem I may not have caught. If everything feels fine after a few miles I relax and enjoy conversation with my wife. |
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