[Rhodes22-list] trailering

[Peter Thorn]

Chris,

Thank you so much!  Your's is exactly the type of left-brain information I'm
seeking.  Stan has been too busy to think about tongue weight and Michael
Orr at Triad, although genuinely interested in this issue, rarely has a R22
available to test.  I guess GB has perfected their axle placement design
through experience.  I'm told they recently moved the axle 6" aft to
increase TW.

480# seems just right to me - a little over 10%.  What type of WDH did you
use with surge brakes?

PT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <NAPOLI51950 at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 2:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] trailering


> As a matter of fact I picked up a 1983 Rhodes from Baltimore and after
> driving 3,000 miles in four days, arrived home here in Oregon a few hours
ago.  The
> trailer was a new Triad single axle model with surge breaks.  Tounge
weight
> was 480 pounds on a weight distributing hitch.  The tow vehicle was a
1996,
> F150, 6cyl, 4.9 L engine with manual transmission.  I had previously towed
by 1976
> R22 to Florida from Baltimore and back and it was a nightmare!  This time
it
> was a joy, the trailer never fistailed or swayed and handled incredably
fine.
> The new trailer plus the right tounge weight I think was the key.  To
measure
> the tounge weight (not having 2 bath scales avail) I used a 6' piece of
steel
> beam (a 6' 2X6 would work just as well), some cinderblocks and a short
piece
> of angle iron for thebalance point.  I measured out 2 feet and placed the
> balance point there with one end under the trailer tounge.  After blocking
the
> wheels I sat on the very end 4 feet out from the balance point.  Since for
every
> 1 pound of force I apply downward at my end, 2 pounds of upward force are
> applied at the tounge. I knew when the trailer did not raise up with my
190# that
> more weight was needed.  My assistant brought out some of my
brother-in-law's
> dumbells (not to be confursed with my brother-in-law).  When I had 50# in
my
> lap the tounge just lifted up.  Since my end had 240# 's the balance
weight of
> 480# was the tounge's weight.
>
> Chris Geankoplis
> SV I-haven't-figured'out-a-name-yet
> Oregon
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