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Where you pulling? Is the 4300 pound trailer dry weight or max weight?
Dallas to Louisiana
Dry weight
This is very interesting, I just posted a new thread hoping to latch people exactly like yourself. I have the big horn version of the same truck. 8200-8400 Max towing cap depend of options and what time of day it is. Lol. I’m only giving you this advice from a technical view, and not a long time RV’er.
Be meticulous with your preventative maintenance. Use high grade fully synthetic oil. Check your air filters routinely. Tires are mega important. I’d get in the habit of pre and post trip full rig inspections, with emphasis on high wear items, like tires and lights, fluid leaks... etc.
Slow is fast. This stands for MPG and overall safety of cargo and passengers. 45-65 max speeds is where you’ll want to live.
I’m going to assume you already have some type of sway control and weight distribution device. If not, research and purchase. E2 fastway makes a great one stop shop set up.
Research weather patterns, as you are now pulling a parachute, if you suspect high winds and storm, seek a nice parking spot, climb into the trailer for a cheeseburger and some Hogan’s heroes reruns and wait it out.
I am in Colorado, but drive into Wyoming to salt lake and the winds are so bad at times, even class 8 trailers can blow over on the highway.
Have fun, but above all be safe. Know your truck/trailers capabilities and stay within the lines.
Hope this helps
Thanks, it helps a lot. Looks like I have everything but the sway hitch thingy. Hmm
God, NO!
I cannot recommend bump stops listed above.
Think about. the very picture shows , when loaded, the bump stop is ridiing on the axle, hence the frame is riding on the axle, hence every single thing felt by the axle is going to be transferred to the truck body and YOU.
No thank you, I prefer actual Springs, designed for teh added weight of cargo and trailers, with stronger shocks to help negate any jarring from the road, which may occur.
Jus watch an axl, on a truck in front of you, as you go down the road.
See all that movement, that is teh very pupose of springs and shocks, reduce the movement and prevent it form coming into the passnger cab. lets remove all of that by adding bump stops that ride on the axle.
Yes, bump stops will reduce squat, no its not the best way to do so.
Bump stops are more :
we dont want an overloaded truck frame riding on axle itself, messing things up, when idiot overloads his truck. So, we will add this hunk of hard rubber. The horrible ride will let the Idiot , inside, know he messed up and not to do it again.
Think about teh very name
BUMP STOP.
When the axle hits a bump hard enough to toss it up int the air, towrds the frame, this hnk of rubber stops it from hitting said frame.
When truck is overlaoded and squats down to the axle, this hard rubber stops the truck frame from actually riding metal on metal, against the axle.
The axle is not designed to handle the weight, matter of fact, the axle is proabably the weakest link in the payload ability of a 1500 series truck, pins inside of it.
So, lets take this weight, which si too much for truck and causes bump stops to ride on acle, increase the height of our bump stops so we practically guarantee the frame will ride on the axle and call it good because we reduce squat.
While I am on this late night rant, let;s discuss air bags. they essenitally the same thing. Prevent sag by reducing travel. but with the springs, so, much better than bump stops. still allow springs and shocks to function. I would prefer stiffer springs, then air bags, if needed.
Steel tends to fail less than inflated rubber but each his own.
Your argument is irrelevant. At the end of the day, EVERYTHING in the suspension system rests on the axle housing man. All of it. I’m not trying to increase his load or tell him to haul ass in any manner, but for what he’s after, and what he’s hauling, he isn’t altering the OEM ride when not towing. And when he is towing, he is only SUPPORTING the springs at their loaded stage. That and a WD kit, and some good old fashioned common sense driving - and he will have awesome family times and be safe doing it.
Yes, everything rest on the axle.
However, if the bump stops are resting on the axle, then all the weight of the frame is transfer to the axle , in a manner for which it is not designed.
Bump stops are designed to stop bumps from allowing the axle to travel to far upwards, violently striking the frame and causing damage to either one.
Bump stops not for stopping the frame from traveling to far down and hitting the axle. If there is too much load ,in the bed or on the frame, then the bump stop will prevent the frame from running fdirectly on the axle, metal to metal. However, as explained prior, if this occurs, then the suspension is effectively removed from the truck and no longer functioning , as designed.
May as weld metal directly from acxe to frame and enjoy the ride.
I am sorry if you cannot understand either the concept or the explanation but doubt there is anything further I can do to enlighten your Understanding.
I've been told, not everyone can split an Atom, poerform a HEart Transplant or understand why bump stops are a horrible Idea, when applied for overloaded weight handling.
First off, you’re wrong, they are not bump stops. It’s a hollow rubber spring. Bump stops are what is on there before you add the Timbren Suspension Enhancement. I’ve been around airbags in class 8 vehicles my whole life, and if you think air bags keep trucks from braking suspension components, well let me sell you 1,000 sets of airbags. What breaks axles at worst and creates harsh rides are poor use of a vehicle and not understanding a vehicle’s capacity.
I don’t care to know what you’ve done with your truck. What I’m speaking to is this mans vehicle, and his trailer by model number and weight. For what he is going to do with it, the two components I have an opinion about are both highly rated and completely useful. If you have the money for airbag suspension then add it.
What doesn’t make sense is modified suspension springs, hardened at that, that fool a driver that the vehicle has more capabilities than is actually there. You don’t like the Timbren? Don’t use them. Simple as that.
If you have the original tires on your trailer, you will notice they were probably made in china. In the RV community they are called "China bombs?
Keep an eye on them. I would highly recommend a Tire Pressure Monitoring System for your trailer.
And upgrade to Good Year Endurance or other name brand tires when reasonable $.
Good luck and enjoy