SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr
SILVER Star
Close to Taos Ski Valley
Up at 10,000 feet near Durango, CO
Up at 10,000 feet near Durango, CO
Where Has Your 80 Taken You?: 80 Series Camping/Overland/Adventure Thread (1 Viewer)
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SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr
SILVER Star
Drove up to "The Notch" at La Plata Canyon outside of Durango. Then set up camp down below it.
That's awesome.
Just got back from trip near Raton ,NM.
A few shots from Coyote Flats and the White Mountains last weekend. Most of the time well above 10,000 feet. Very cool area!
Finally got out with the trailer.
It wasn't as bad a pull as I was expecting, though I'm pretty disappointed that Coleman (fleetwood) would make a trailer so long and heavy with a single axle. the GVWR is literally the GAWR minus the tongue weight and there is only like 200-300 lbs between the dry weight and the GVWR, and even with a fairly level tow position (slightly nose up) and a sway control hitch, it got unruly at times. back to the tow, its a 3350 lb trailer and with my 33's and 4.56 gears it did great! I slowed down to 50 over the longest steepest passes only and was able to maintain 65-70 most all the time, even with a ridiculous headwind the entire way.
Towed from 4500-8500 feet from sandy to capitol reef. 9.8 mpg! a new record! (I got a more reasonable 13 coming home)
Tracked well, even when the trailer was not having a great time and braked perfectly with the trailers electric brakes. I think this would be a bare over the steeper passes in the state, but for the most part its totally liveable as far as speed, which is what I was hoping for in terms of power with the re-gear. The wife wants to plan a 10 day trip to the pacific northwest now with trailer in tow!
Also had some great fun on the cathedral valley loop.
What a neat place. We also found several long haul expeditions out there, like this group from france doing trans americas.
I was camping in Escalante with the scouts this last weekend
and we will be out in the unitahs in a few weeks.
It wasn't as bad a pull as I was expecting, though I'm pretty disappointed that Coleman (fleetwood) would make a trailer so long and heavy with a single axle. the GVWR is literally the GAWR minus the tongue weight and there is only like 200-300 lbs between the dry weight and the GVWR, and even with a fairly level tow position (slightly nose up) and a sway control hitch, it got unruly at times. back to the tow, its a 3350 lb trailer and with my 33's and 4.56 gears it did great! I slowed down to 50 over the longest steepest passes only and was able to maintain 65-70 most all the time, even with a ridiculous headwind the entire way.
Towed from 4500-8500 feet from sandy to capitol reef. 9.8 mpg! a new record! (I got a more reasonable 13 coming home)
Tracked well, even when the trailer was not having a great time and braked perfectly with the trailers electric brakes. I think this would be a bare over the steeper passes in the state, but for the most part its totally liveable as far as speed, which is what I was hoping for in terms of power with the re-gear. The wife wants to plan a 10 day trip to the pacific northwest now with trailer in tow!
Also had some great fun on the cathedral valley loop.
What a neat place. We also found several long haul expeditions out there, like this group from france doing trans americas.
I was camping in Escalante with the scouts this last weekend
and we will be out in the unitahs in a few weeks.
surfpig
The Anti-Tech
Dammit I love it up there...
NLXTACY
Wits' End
I need to go there. I'm embarrassed to say I've never been even though I've driven past hundreds of times.
ppc
M Go Blue
You haven't described the problem very clearly. If your problem is sway or porpoising that sounds like your weight is not balanced side to side, front to back. Recommended tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of total weight. Level position is also important more so if the expansion joints have are pronounced. Weak or improperly matched shocks and springs coupled with a heavily loaded truck can amplify other problems. Our trucks with a relatively short wheelbase and coil springs as compared to a full sized pickup with leaf springs is certainly a compromise when it comes to towing. When I towed my 5000 lbs boat with air bags, stock springs and Rancho shocks down the Riverside freeway in SC (concrete) it was so bumpy my middle row passengers could hardly talk all because the the expansion joints. The blacktop sections were no problem.
084runnerltd
SILVER Star
Black Hills
...via IH8MUD app
084runnerltd
SILVER Star
Overall, IMO, 80s can't tow much of anything once you are going up steep grades.
I have a 20" Skeeter and pulling it through the blacks hills....at times I was going 25mph, with the pedal on the ground, in a 55mph.
There were a few times I pulled over, put it in low and towed up the hill. My top speed in Low was about 30....but at least I didn't have to hold the pedal on the floor.
I don't know how some guys can say there aren't issues with towing behind the 80 series. IMO, they are either lying or only tow on flat surfaces....
...via IH8MUD app
NM Frontier
SILVER Star
Lots of good stuff here! Keep it up!
well...i didn't seem to have an issue with 3400 lbs at elevation (between 4500-8500 feet) . I think my trailer is inherently unstable (its long single axle with small wheels and tricky balance) but aside from the stability, the cruiser did better than I had hoped. Kept speed with ease on the flats, was confidence inspiring for stability (aside from the steering that needs a little work) and had enough power to climb for the most part...im not lying and im certainly not on level terrain.
I sure didn't, must have been an impostor.....
