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

[Warren C Stankiewicz <nf1j@xxxxxxxx>]

Well, let me interject a few corrections and clarifications here.

> 1. Understand how your hitch and brakes function, and make sure that
> they're working properly. He was under the misunderstanding that the
> brakes should be working because the lights came on when he pressed 
> the  pedal. And he had apparently not actually checked to see if the 
> brakes  were working.

Actually, I assumed the brakes worked because they had the previous two
times, without complaint. My error was in assuming that when the bozos (I
have other unprintable words for them) at Camping World wired the plug on
this truck, and checked the brake controller, that everything worked, and
would work normally.

There was no easy way to know this might not be the case until we were on
the road. In fact, I just found out last night that the reverse light
indicators on the trailer don't work, either, and they didn't install a
charging line. I'm not a happy camper.

> Yet, I've read innumerable stories right  here of folks who hitched up
and set off on their first trip with  (seemingly) not much more than a
kick of the tires and an adjustment of the  radio.

Well, we did a bit more than this. What is still puzzling is that the
last tow, which was up to our mountain property, did not have the
severity or frequency of the sway problem we experienced--yet, it was not
that much more of a truck. It *was* a longer bed, however (my K-10 has a
short bed)--so this could explain some of the physics involved.

In addition, I still wonder if having the camper shell on my truck
effected the aerodynamics--the last truck to tow the trailer did not.

So yes, we were careful, if somewhat inexperienced; the roads we were on,
although not high speed or busy, were not conducive to trying to abort
the trip and go back. Like the pig, we were committed.

It was also wrong to draw the inference, as I did, that since we had no
problems bringing it up, it'd be relatively easy to bring it back down. 
In neither case did we have any sort of weight-distributing hitch--we
used the same one in both cases.

The first time on the road, it was towed by people with a Chevy 3500
diesel, and a Reese, and of course they didn't have any problems. I have
never had any intention of taking the trailer anywhere but locally until
such time as I either upgrade the truck, or have some additional work
done (like flushing the tranny, getting a cooler installed, and having
the front 4WD transverse box checked).

So what now? 

I've got the trip from Ione to Plymouth and back this weekend. Fairly
easy road, not much traffic, I'm not going to go above 35, shouldn't be a
problem if we're careful (and we will be).

From there, I've obviously got to get the truck and the trailer into a
competent RV service facility, and have them check out the controller,
the plug, and the brakes, at the minimum. From there, clearly a new hitch
is in order--anyone know the details of the rumored Hensley payment plan?
Couldn't find anything on the web site.

Take care, and stay tuned,

Warren & Mary Ellen
nf1j@juno.com