Re: [a/s] My First Tow: A Lesson in Fear

[Warren C Stankiewicz <nf1j@xxxxxxxx>]

First of all, no, it's not a load leveling hitch. It's the bare minimum.
I'm wondering if I can get the stabilizing bars individually.

I'd probably do fine with a much better hitch, but hesitate at dropping
major money on a hitch for a truck I intend to part with in the next two
years.

On further reflection, we had towed it from Ione to Pioneer with not much
more truck (a friend's) than what I have now--but did not get into the
oscillations. The only difference is that the other truck did not have a
shell on the back (whereas mine has a good-sized one). Maybe stream
aerodynamics played a part.

Having the trailer sway was one thing. Having the back of the truck sway,
well, was far more of a religious experience. 

I'm not certain at all what's going on with the brakes, and have to
investigate further. The brake lights on the trailer do light when I hit
them on the truck--but it wouldn't surprise me if something was amiss
with the cabling between the controller, and the cable/plug Camping World
(do these guys make it up as they go along or what?) put in. I should
have noticed a difference in the pull factor when the controller was
maxed, and I did not.

Well, Ione to Plymouth has only two major hills, and few curves I really
need to worry about; and I think we're going to keep it in the Valley for
a month or two (so we can make some local trips, say to Rancho Seco)
before putting it back up on the mountain. Anyone else camp next to a
nuclear power plant before?

We'll let everyone know what other exciting developments happen on the
trip--

Warren & Mary Ellen
nf1j@juno.com