Adding weight to tongue

[Glenn Baglo]

From Canadian Propane Assoc. web site:
Safety

Propane’s Characteristics

• An odorant called Ethyl Mercaptan is added to propane so that leaks are easily detected.
• Propane has the lowest flammability range of all alternative fuels (2.4% – 9.5%) – so there must be a very specific combination of propane and oxygen for it to burn.
• Propane’s auto ignition temperature is approximately 493° – 549°C (920° – 1020°F), gasoline’s auto ignition temperature is around 257 °C (495°F) – therefore, gasoline will burn or explode at a much lower temperature than propane.

[Lyndaleen]

I'll let you know when and where I plan the trial run. I actually bought it from Atascadero and had brought it home in pouring rain over those mountains with NO trouble. I barely felt a bit of tug going up hill, and I was pulling with a 4-cylinder.
Mine is light blue.

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by Lyndaleen

I'll let you know when and where I plan the trial run. I actually bought it from Atascadero and had brought it home in pouring rain over those mountains with NO trouble. I barely felt a bit of tug going up hill, and I was pulling with a 4-cylinder.
Mine is light blue.

I found my Compact Jr at a Lake Havasu Vintage Rally in Feb; I was down there with y 13' Scamp and went to 3 rallies in 2 weeks, counting the Quartsite Gathering. But it was originally sold by a dealer in Atascadero ! Owned by the same man until I bought it from his niece. Mine is all original, just getting a few upgrades ( BTW, we have had new snow above Sonora; the passes and some roads into Yosemite are closed again ! ) Happy Trails ! David in Fresno and Sonora

[Probegt1232]

I carry a flashlight that is also a rechargeable stun gun.

[iOpine]

I'm currently between campers, but have towed dozens of trailers of different types for 40+ years.

The only time I've had far more excitement than desired was descending a mountain pass after mounting 2 bicycles to the rear bumper of our camper. The 18-wheeler behind us locked up his brakes as we slalomed over all three lanes, and my wife's panicked prayer accelerated from her typical slow Texas drawl to auctioneer speed.

As soon as we stopped and I stopped shaking I jerked the bikes off the back and bungeed them to the tongue. That was 30 years ago. I've never had a stability issue before or since from having too much weight on the tongue.

[Kai in Seattle]

iOpine: a hairy experience and a good lesson...I think we used to load our Aloha trailer butt-heavy, which was likely why it handled so badly. (Pre-internet and living far from a library)...before we got Peanut, I read on FGRV to load tongue-heavy and we've always done so, thank goodness. Your experience sounds just awful!

"K"

[sheilasabo]

Buy a can of hornet and wasp spray. The kind that shoots a long way. If anyone bothers you spray them in the face. If hornets or wasps bother you use it on them too.....

[Lyndaleen]

My daughter bought me stun gun, spray, and flashlight with a pointed end for hitting.

[Lyndaleen]

This is good to know. My generator is about 90 lbs. on tongue, countered by 50 lb AC and a propane canister in back.

[Lyndaleen]

How do I reply so that my reply is obvious or connected to the original post?

[BushWacker]

I have lived in California for 30 years and have a CCW permit. It's not hard at all if you live in the right County. The Sherriff's of each county decide how they are going to distribute CCW's. If you live in Liberal County it's just about impossible. Check with your county Sherriff and explain your situation and if it's a County that allows CCW's they will let you know right away.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by iOpine

... I've never had a stability issue before or since from having too much weight on the tongue.

More tongue weight is better than less, but you can go overboard. For one, the tongue transition tends to be a weak point on the lightweight frames of some molded trailers. too much tongue weight could accelerate stress damage to the frame. For another, you can overload the rear of your tow vehicle, which can also affect your ability to control the rig in other ways as you remove weight from the front steering axle.

10-15% is the recommended range with 12-13% being a good target for a small molded trailer.

Glad you were able to recover from your close call! Almost all of the serious sway incidents I have read about involved descending a mountain grade.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Lyndaleen

How do I reply so that my reply is obvious or connected to the original post?

You click on the Quote box, bottom right of the message.

[Doctor Harold]

Originally Posted by Vicki Hale

...but since you are in CA you will find it nearly impossible to get a gun permit.... .

I live in Shasta County, 170 miles north of Sacramento, and have a CCW. It was very easy to get since our Sheriff is very 2A friendly (thank you Tom Bosenko!)

California requires the weapons you plan to use be listed on your permit. (Michigan does not, and my brother can carry any pistol he legally owns without regard.) Many people are under the impression that California only allows you to list three guns on your permit, but that isn't true. I have six pistols listed on my permit. You do have to apply to your Sheriff and provide a reasonable reason for wanting the additional three pistols added.

Having said that, if you do carry a pistol be certain to learn its operation well, and practice with it often at the range until its use is second nature. Take lessons!!! Yes, range time and lessons cost money, but what is your life worth?

When my aged mother told me she had a gun (which I'm pretty sure she never shot even once) I asked her if she was prepared to shoot someone who came into her house uninvited. She said yes, and I asked her where. She said she would shoot them in the legs. I told her that she might as well hand them the gun and let them beat her with it.

As for knives, I would rather face a person with a gun than someone with a knife who knows how to use it. If you do have a gun and face a person with a knife, never let that person get closer than 25 feet. You will probably die. If you bring a knife to a fight and aren't well skilled in its use, you will probably have it taken away from you by the aggressor and used on you.

In a life or death situation, it's always better if the aggressor does the dying, and even though most aggressors will flee a the sight of a gun, it you are not prepared to end an aggressor's life, you should not consider carrying a gun.

Just my 2 cents.

Harold

[Lyndaleen]

Originally Posted by BushWacker

I have lived in California for 30 years and have a CCW permit. It's not hard at all if you live in the right County. The Sherriff's of each county decide how they are going to distribute CCW's. If you live in Liberal County it's just about impossible. Check with your county Sherriff and explain your situation and if it's a County that allows CCW's they will let you know right away.

This is good to know - I'm in Tulare County which has always been a kinda cowboy territory and a lot of farmers are allowed CCW. I knew Sheriff Wiley, so I'll see about the current Sheriff.

[Lyndaleen]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

You click on the Quote box, bottom right of the message.

THANK YOU!!!! It helps my posts sound "not so" stupid.

[Lyndaleen]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

More tongue weight is better than less, but you can go overboard. For one, the tongue transition tends to be a weak point on the lightweight frames of some molded trailers. too much tongue weight could accelerate stress damage to the frame. For another, you can overload the rear of your tow vehicle, which can also affect your ability to control the rig in other ways as you remove weight from the front steering axle.

10-15% is the recommended range with 12-13% being a good target for a small molded trailer.

These are good numbers to shoot for. Thanks.

[Lyndaleen]

Originally Posted by Doctor Harold

I live in Shasta County, 170 miles north of Sacramento, and have a CCW. It was very easy to get since our Sheriff is very 2A friendly (thank you Tom Bosenko!)

California requires the weapons you plan to use be listed on your permit. (Michigan does not, and my brother can carry any pistol he legally owns without regard.) Many people are under the impression that California only allows you to list three guns on your permit, but that isn't true. I have six pistols listed on my permit. You do have to apply to your Sheriff and provide a reasonable reason for wanting the additional three pistols added.

Having said that, if you do carry a pistol be certain to learn its operation well, and practice with it often at the range until its use is second nature. Take lessons!!! Yes, range time and lessons cost money, but what is your life worth?

When my aged mother told me she had a gun (which I'm pretty sure she never shot even once) I asked her if she was prepared to shoot someone who came into her house uninvited. She said yes, and I asked her where. She said she would shoot them in the legs. I told her that she might as well hand them the gun and let them beat her with it.

As for knives, I would rather face a person with a gun than someone with a knife who knows how to use it. If you do have a gun and face a person with a knife, never let that person get closer than 25 feet. You will probably die. If you bring a knife to a fight and aren't well skilled in its use, you will probably have it taken away from you by the aggressor and used on you.

In a life or death situation, it's always better if the aggressor does the dying, and even though most aggressors will flee a the sight of a gun, it you are not prepared to end an aggressor's life, you should not consider carrying a gun.

Just my 2 cents.

Harold

Awesome advice. I think I'll discuss this further with a law officer. Thanks.

[harold f]

We had a 74 hunter from 2010 to 2018 and really enjoyed it. The toung weight on it was always really light, but I never weighed it. I removed the propane tank and holder for it and mounted an aluminum truck tool box on the tounge. We used a small propane cooker with the small disposable canisters or an electric skillet to do most of the cooking on our 2017 8,000 mi trip in it.
It is best to have the tounge a little heavy than too light to prevent fishtailing, where the trailer starts going from side to side uncontrollably.
I added some things before our trip that really made it more comfortable. Here is things I adde.
1 breaker box with 30 amp power cord and 4 breakers
2. Removed icebox and installed small 110v refrigerator
3 microwave on top of counter
4 ac unit mounted under bunk on left side
5 small 110v led lights with plug in cords
6 small round "puck" led stick on lights
Most campers are good people, but you still need some type of protection. Gun laws have chdanged last few we years and you can have a wepon in your camper even in national parks, but check thelaws to make sure wherever you are going.
HAVE FUN!!!