Re: [A/S] Brake Controllers AND rental tow vehicles

[Tuna <rctowns@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Re: Rental tow vehicles:
I am completely flabbergasted to hear that budget is renting brand new
tow-ready trucks - it would have changed everything i've been doing for the
past two months. The following reply was written before i re-read the
foregoing posts informing us that someone will actually rent a truck capable
of towing a customer's trailer:

speaking from immediate experience (over the past two months): i rented a
car hauler from u-haul one-way from detroit to reno... about $485.00 for
eight days, using my tow vehicle (the RV). Couldn't use my on-board brake
controller because ALL of everybody's (budget/ryder/u-haul) towable trailers
(above 1,500lbs, anyway) are fitted with 'surge brakes' and a '4-flat'
adaptor trailer light system.

I could not use my load-distribution bars - the surge brake mechanism
prevented mounting the hooks on the trailer's tongue. If you need to rent a
tow vehicle, you will need to rent a 12' or larger box truck (moving van).
The 'econoline' type vans might be capable, but are only available for
'in-town' rental, and anyway they will never have a hitch receiver
installed.

Believe me, i know this to be true - i've just this hour returned home from
the second of two 4,400 mile round-trips this summer -
reno-detroit-reno-detroit-reno. The RV (tow vehicle) had a catastrophic
engine-failure about 1400 miles into leg 3 (second reno-detroit leg)... with
the loss of the tow-vehicle in the middle of a towing-trip, i spent about
five consecutive 12-hour days finding out about options, calculating costs,
etc... ended up putting the second load into storage until i could return
with my own tow vehicle. In the nearly 9,000 miles i've logged since july
1st, i've seen dozens upon dozens of people hauling rental trailers behind
personal tow-vehicles, and rental trailers behind rental trucks... and never
once saw any non-rental trailers behind a rental truck... although it might
be possible. You would have to install your own brake controller into the
rental truck - undoubtedly on the qt... because they won't rent you the
truck if you tell them about it.

RE: 2002/2003 trucks and the Ultima2020... My new Dodge 1500 (i traded back
the 3500 diesel 1-ton dually before i even registered it) has the latest
'gee-whiz' option: remotely/hydraulically-adjustable pedals... when i told
the dealership to move the ultima2020 into the 1500, they told me it wasn't
possible.. interestingly, i saw a post here around that time (about a month
ago) where someone had called Mr.Jordan and was instructed on how to do this
installation...

RE: trailer braking in reverse - maybe the Prodigy is the only INERTIAL
brake controller that will operate in reverse, but i'm quite certain that
both the standard 'ramp' controllers and the Jordan Research will actuate
the trailer's electric brakes in reverse. the signal from the brake pedal >
controller > brakes doesn't care which way the vehicles are going.

Tuna

ps: the "harness" adaptor in new trucks/suvs is usually found in the spare
tire/jack compartment along with a 4-flat connector/adaptor.