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RE: Dumping at Home
Do any of you guys have a set up at home that allows you to dump at home. I am having a 4 inch clean out placed on the outside of our house and I am wondering if I can just dump at home once it is installed. I have City sewer and no septic tank.
Thanks in Advance
Randy
Don't advertise it, be sure to limit the number of friends know about it and might want to use it, be real nice to your neighbors, and you'll never have a problem.
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GeoMiklas
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07/28/11 06:11pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Dry Weight vrs Gross Weight
When looking at a trailer which number does one need to look at more closely. Is the gross weight as stated on sticker the "real weight" of the trailer as it sits on lot? The dry weight is the weight of the model of the trailer without options such as AC, Awning etc.?
This GVW, GVWR, GVCWR and all other numbers for towing is so bewildering. I am trying to see what expandable I can tow with a 02 Trailblazer with specs on door sticker saying GVWR 5750, Payload 1018, GAWR FRT 2950, and GAWR RR 3200.
Owners Manual says 4WD axle ratio is a 3.73 with Max Trailer Weight of 5700#, GCWR of 10500#.
I know TV + TVcargo + Trailer + Trailercargo SHOULD = <10500#.
If I weigh my TV as if going camping and minus that from the 10500 it would give me what I can tow with a loaded trailer, correct?
With my TV I may be out of the expanable camper catogory and may need to stay in the popup. If I might be able to tow a expanable I want to get the most but yet stay in the towing capablities of my TV and still have a margin for safety.
Lets start with the GCWR 10500#. You need to determine the weight of your TV when you are towing. There are two methods.
Method 1: Load up your whole family in the TV, load all cargo as you would for a trip, fill your gasoline tank. Weigh the TV. GCWR - (loaded weight of TV) =
Method 2: GCWR - (GVWR of TV) =
I prefer method 2, although, it is likely the most conservative.
George
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GeoMiklas
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07/24/11 11:59am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Cikira brand !? Dose anyone know anything about them !?
I believe they started producing trailers in 2006. I looked at Cikira that year, and asked the same question.
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GeoMiklas
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07/22/11 01:53pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: My new bike hauling solution .... because of you guys
Yea rivots did not work for the Titanic either. LOL For those who put there bikes inside the RV how do you keep them from moving around and braking up things inside the RV?
Covered with a blanket, buffered with sleeping bags and pillows.
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GeoMiklas
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07/22/11 10:02am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: My new bike hauling solution .... because of you guys
I like your solution. I wish the roof of my van wasn't so high...
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GeoMiklas
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07/22/11 05:21am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Hybrid Shopping - Advise
IMO, you're kidding yourself that you can even tow a hybrid with that vehicle. You should have AT LEAST a tow rating of 5000 lbs to even attempt it. Speaking from experience, BTW. Sorry, but I think you're limited to a smallish popup.
I agree. You are limited due to the tow vehicle.
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GeoMiklas
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07/21/11 04:26am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: My first Mods & Accessories --- Pictures
Nice. Keep us posted.
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GeoMiklas
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07/14/11 08:29pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing Rockwood Roo with a Ford Flex
I'm currently pulling a 2007 Fleetwood Bayside CP. Per the brochure
The dry weight is stated as 2630lbs. We had AC added two 20lb propaine
Tanks and general camping gear in the camper. Flex pulls it like a dream.
Our previous TV was a Chrsler town n' country. I believe the towing capacity
Of the van was 3,500 and it pulled it just fine for 3 years before we got the Flex.
I'm not looking into the Roo's anymore after multiple people have put there
Quality into question. A few of the HTT we are looking at have a dry weight
Not much more than our pup.
I know that is true. But, the frontal area is certainly more--maybe double or even triple the square feet.
You'll notice the towing difference because of the low profile of the Flex, the trailer will stand up about double the height.
Compared to my van, the trailer stands up only about 2 more feet.
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GeoMiklas
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07/14/11 06:39am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Caulk - Dicor or something else?
I wouldn't use anything but Dicor on the roof.
http://www.dicor.com/
Lap Sealant.
The third part of the Dicor system is the Lap Sealant, a secondary seal, which creates a seal along the roof's edges, around air vents, vent pipes and screw heads. Compatible with EPDM and TPO sheeting, it offers excellent adhesion to aluminum, mortar, wood, vinyl, galvanized metal, fiberglass and concrete. It improves the ability to continuously seal and remain flexible. Color matched, the lap sealant is UV stabilized to prevent deterioration and discoloration and will not stain or discolor any material to which it is applied. Lap Sealant is available in a HAPS free formula that meets all the demanding Industry requirements while providing a cleaner and safer work environment.
http://www.dicor.com/resources/Products/Large/lapsealant.jpg
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GeoMiklas
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07/13/11 07:57am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Can I walk on that roof?
Ok if you really are freaking out about going on the roof, just make sure your DW is operating this when you use.
Clicky
I can't get the URL to work.
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GeoMiklas
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07/12/11 07:42pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Can I walk on that roof?
You guys convinced me, I got a bike carrier setup for above the truck bed.
I carry 2 bikes inside the van, one bike inside the camper, and one bike on the trailer bumper (bike and rack weigh approx 53#).
I have a Thule rack for the roof of the van. In the event that the family takes an extended trip in the future, I think 3 bikes will go on the roof of the van, via a step ladder. Or else, I then invest in a front receiver for the van and put them in front to catch the bugs :E
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GeoMiklas
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07/12/11 07:03pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing Rockwood Roo with a Ford Flex
You don't need any math. Ford has done the subtraction and provided the answer in their published maximum towing capacity. My GCVWR is 15,000 pounds and the empty weight is within a six pack of 6000 pounds. I can do a bunch of math or just look at the manual and there it is: max towing capacity is 9,000 pounds. -- Chuck
What is the GVWR of your '07 Expedition? I went to this site http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Spec_engines.aspx?year=2007&make=Ford&model=Expedition&trimid=102951 ...and found it to list your maximum GVWR at 7300#.
I went to this site http://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/2007/2007_ford_expedition.html ...and found it to list your maximum trailer towing at 9100. I think that is a fallacy, and I'll show you why that is, as I attempt to make a believer out of you.
Taking the GCWR (that you offered above) of 15,000#, subtract 7300#, and you get 7700# maximum SAFE towing.
Do you now see how your 9100# is a fallacy? Come on. If you look at Ford's Quick Specs where they state the curb weight at 5578, then 9100# would work. But come on, who doesn't carry jumper cables, tool box, 2 kids, 4 bikes, 2 or 3 kids, 2 or 3 Nintendo DS, laptop computer, a spouse, a couple cups of coffee and lunch for the road. Don't fall into the trap that 9100# tow capacity is real. It is not. ...because you do not operate your tow vehicle at "tested curb weight", and neither do I.
It is marketing, advertising. Ford's job is to sell trucks. No where in the Ford-Truck site above do they offer a GVWR or GCWR on the 2007 Expedition. This raises the question if Ford has a motive for not disclosing these very important specifications.
But at any rate, I'm glad that you can safely tow 7700# (not 9100#).
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GeoMiklas
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07/12/11 06:10pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Can I walk on that roof?
I asked Forest River when I purchased and they stated for my specific TT it would not be a problem. I go up twice a year to clean and inspect, there is absolutely no flex in the roof or any of the vent, air conditioning areas. 210lbs. All roofs are not the same....
Good point, there may be variation in the manufacturers. If in doubt call the OEM.
The problem is that in 90% of the cases customer service is 100% clueless and reads an answer from a screen which mostly does not answer your question.
Jayco seems to be no different. I asked them about bolting / welding a hitch receiver to the frame for a bike rack, and the prompt reply is a copy-and-paste of the 100 lbs capacity of the rear bumper statement from the manual. I had specifically mentioned that I am NOT talking about the rear bumper, it can even still be read at the bottom of their reply where they copied my message to them. Why even ask if they don't read the question?
Now how useless is that? :(
Taco6spd: I got on the phone with Palomino, then with Dexter Chassis. I told them that I want to weld or bolt on a receiver hitch for carrying four bikes, total weight of hitch/rack/bikes would be approximately 300#. Representatives of both Palomino and Dexter told me that the frame is not strong enough to support a hitch so mounted to the frame in any fashion, and claimed that 300# on the back of the frame will crack the trailer's walls. That tells me that my trailer, along with many more, are equal to having uni body construction.
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GeoMiklas
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07/12/11 01:23pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing Rockwood Roo with a Ford Flex
The Ford Towing Guide has all the information you need. No need for complicated math and knowing GCVWV, etc. as maximum towing capacity is already figured out for you. Do the math if you want to confirm it, but it's already in the Ford tables.
Chuck, I disagree. As you yourself stated earlier in this thread, the Ford Towing Rating is based upon a 150# driver in the driver seat and NOTHING or NOBODY else in the tow vehicle.
Yes, the Flex can tow 4500 pounds (if properly equipped with the factory HD tow package). But it can only tow 4500 pounds with a 150 pound driver aboard and nothing else. That's why it's a maximum towing capacity.
Want to bring your 120 pound swimsuit model wife, two 40 pound kids, and that good olde 50 pound Golden Retriever? Your towing capacity just dropped by 250 pounds to 4250. Camping gear? Firewood? Etc.? Keep subtracting.
The reason I want that extra 1000 pounds is so I can bring all those plus other stuff and not have to weigh everything.
This is not like loading a light aircraft , but ya gotta at least try to keep it close.
This is precisely why every operator who pulls trailers of any kind MUST know the tow vehicle's GCWR and GVWR and be able to do the math. The math, by the way, is really simple. All a person has to do is push the minus sign on the calculator in between the two numbers, then push the equal sign for the maximum safe tow weight. I think anyone can do it.
Ford doesn't have a maximum frontal area restriction but notes performance and fuel economy is severely reduced once a limit is achieved. 60 ft^2 ain't much, yet it's the limit/consideration even for an F50 Super Duty!-- Chuck
Chuck, I'm going to disagree with you again. "Ford" published in the owner's manual for my E-350 a "Maximum Trailer Frontal Area" which is 60 sq.ft. So "Ford" does in fact have a maximum frontal area restriction.
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GeoMiklas
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07/12/11 01:16pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing Rockwood Roo with a Ford Flex
Here's a link from Ford which basically says the Ford Flex is not recommended to tow a full height trailer. A full height trailer has at least a 60 square foot frontal area. The Flex tops out at 35 square feet according to Ford.
http://www.slideshare.net/CapitalFord/2010-fordflextowingguidespecificationscapabilities
good job!
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GeoMiklas
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07/11/11 07:59pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing Rockwood Roo with a Ford Flex
21ss:
Chuck and I (along with most others that tow happily with minivans) disagree - the vehicle is rated to tow 4500, so it can tow 4500. Watch the total weight though: passengers and "stuff" in the TV itself along with the hitch so that you don't exceed the combined weight rating, max tongue weight, the Flex's GVWR, or rear axle weight rating. Also, don't plan on going fast in the mountains. For that matter, since the tires on most TTs are rated for 65, don't plan on going fast on the flats either. 60 is a good speed that leaves a little margin on the tires.
Although you later mention the GCWR, I believe that the GCWR must be the qualifier on the tow rating. I.E.: The vehicle is rated to tow a MAXIMUM of 4500#, as long as the GCWR is not exceeded.
1/2 ton conversion vans are the worst tow vehicles on the market because the weight of the conversion is so high, it reduces the payload to a point where you are naturally pushing towards the van's GVWR. The safest calculation is GCWR - GVWR = Comfortable and legal tow capability.
I applied that to my former E-150 conversion van, and got 10,000# - 7000# = 3000# comfortable and legal tow capability (despite the fact that Ford stated the vehicle had a 5000# trailer towing capacity). The 4900# trailer I had then was too heavy for the vehicle, and probably caused me to overload the GAWR too.
Applied to my current E-350 Chateau, 18,000# - 8800# = 9200# (yet Ford tells me not to exceed 6500# trailer) So IF I max out the GVWR on my HTT (5750#), I'm still under the tow rating, AND under the GCWR, AND most likely under the GAWR (5300#).
Apply GCWR-GVWR=tow capability to the Flex, and it looks like this: 9357# - 5970# = 3387# comfortable and legal towing capability. So all in all, the Flex will comfortably pull a medium size pop up with GVWR around 3000#. In other words, the flex should not be pulling any HTT with a GVWR over 3387#.
You might not like how I dispose of TP, but you'll not find me in an accident with an under-rated tow vehicle either.
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GeoMiklas
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07/11/11 04:46pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Can I walk on that roof?
I'm also surprised at the don't do it comments. I really think our roofs are a lot less fragile than what I'm hearing here.
At least I would hope so. I'm sure at some point I've had a half ton of snow up there (close to two feet)
I know that's evenly distributed, unlike a person standing, but still.
Bumps on the road while towing and all would make these fall apart if they weren't strong enough to take some abuse.
Ray
The typical roof-mounted A/C weighs right at 100# standing weight. Compound that 100# with vertical force and inertia when the trailer bounces on rough roads. These roofs must be pretty supportive.
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GeoMiklas
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07/11/11 01:52pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing Rockwood Roo with a Ford Flex
"Dry weight" is pure fantasy and is only used to sell you a trailer too heavy to tow. It's a fictional weight that the trailer might weigh with no accessories, not even the mandatory accessories. Add 350 to "dry" weight to approximate on-the-dealer's-lot weight.
As I noted the very latest campers have the actual empty (not "dry") weight on an external sticker. Look at that or get the dealer to send you a photo.
I'd not tow a Roo 21SS with any thing less than a full frame pickup or SUV and not with less that 5500 pound tow rating. I'd not be happy with that little capacity, but it will work.
If the "dry weight" of the Roo 19 is 3389 figure it really weighs at least 3700 pounds just sitting there and will probably weigh over 4500 pounds in any sort of camping trim. Still too heavy for me and a cross-over or minivan.
-- Chuck
Agreed!
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GeoMiklas
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07/11/11 12:11pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing Rockwood Roo with a Ford Flex
So per the brochure the Base/Dry weight is 3,389. The recommended
GVWR for the 19 Roo is 4,662. Ford Flex with a 4,500 towing capacity
And a GVWR of 5,970 shouldn't I be fine.
One would think you would be fine. If you move forward with the 19 Roo, then please weigh it at the beginning of a trip with all of your kids and toys and your toys too. Be sure to have your gas tank and LP gas full. Be armed with knowledge my friend.
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GeoMiklas
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07/11/11 10:56am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing Rockwood Roo with a Ford Flex
So I was a little off on the 19 roo's weight. So it says 3,170 dry.
Does that mean just with no water in the tanks or before any options added to it
Like propane tanks, awning, air conditioning.
Is that weight on the trailer? No water, no LP, no battery.
If that weight is on a brochure, then assume that it is no accessories at all.
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GeoMiklas
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07/11/11 10:19am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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