My Trailer Diary
01-27-2013, 12:56 PM
#31
Drifting
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I received the "official" drawings from TPD on Friday. As many of you have mentioned, indeed, the trailer's wheels were too far forward on my CAD model (I created my own CAD model from photographs and eye-balling it). Then to compound things, I realized that my "car" was too far rearward in the trailer. I've spent a fair amount of time over the weekend double checking dimensions and tweaking my CAD model to get it accurate.
So… the bottom line is that yes, my tongue weight is far from ideal in the screen shots I posted. It's fixed now and should work out just fine when I load the car. My plan is to enlist the help of a friend to drive the truck, along side me in the Porsche, the 2 hours up to Sacramento to take delivery of the trailer. This way, we can load the car into the trailer and make positional adjustments, along with tweaking the weight distribution hitch. TPD has a tongue weight scale, so we can dial-in the ideal tongue weight.
So… the bottom line is that yes, my tongue weight is far from ideal in the screen shots I posted. It's fixed now and should work out just fine when I load the car. My plan is to enlist the help of a friend to drive the truck, along side me in the Porsche, the 2 hours up to Sacramento to take delivery of the trailer. This way, we can load the car into the trailer and make positional adjustments, along with tweaking the weight distribution hitch. TPD has a tongue weight scale, so we can dial-in the ideal tongue weight.
01-27-2013, 03:23 PM
#32
Nordschleife Master
Unless you dont go further than a few hours drive eventually you will end up with this:
Gooseneck
44'
7' tall
-Airline track in the floor for D rings anywhere.
-Etrack in the walls everywhere so you can place anything anywhere.
-No need to pre configure anything, just put stuff where you want it.
-Pre wire at leat for A/C and Generator and 11V outlets everywhere.
-Lots of turn signal lights so at least others' get a fair warning..
-Extruded alu floor.
-Extra alu posts in the wall and floor and upgrade to thicker alu skin inside and out.
-G rated stacker tires triple axle, some 2 axle trailers will do, in any case place axles as close together as you can.
-Pointy nose with bubble for speed / MPG
Truck; Dually.
-Extra diesel tank for minimum 1000 mile radius.
-TPS on truck (OEM now on 2013) and aftermarket on trailer.
-Air compressor under the truck for tires and leveling off truck with aftermarket airbags under rear axle. It can also feed a Wake the dead train horn for moving Priuses out of the left lane.
-Mine is oem, but a tune and all emission crap removal voids warranty but puts a nice black smoke screen down to annoy said Prius. You live in California, so I guess you have a Prius..
Driving:
Take cones and big parking lot and practice backing in with blind spots etc. never rush parking, get out of truck and go look also when there are 100 cars blowing horn at you. Use all asphalt, also into oncoming traffic. They will move. If they dont you can always stop, block as many cars as you can untill someone figures out they need to back up.
Now you can visit tracks anywhere in the country, share a trailer with someone to pay for diesel. See it pays for itself.
Skip the multi trailer process :-)
Gooseneck
44'
7' tall
-Airline track in the floor for D rings anywhere.
-Etrack in the walls everywhere so you can place anything anywhere.
-No need to pre configure anything, just put stuff where you want it.
-Pre wire at leat for A/C and Generator and 11V outlets everywhere.
-Lots of turn signal lights so at least others' get a fair warning..
-Extruded alu floor.
-Extra alu posts in the wall and floor and upgrade to thicker alu skin inside and out.
-G rated stacker tires triple axle, some 2 axle trailers will do, in any case place axles as close together as you can.
-Pointy nose with bubble for speed / MPG
Truck; Dually.
-Extra diesel tank for minimum 1000 mile radius.
-TPS on truck (OEM now on 2013) and aftermarket on trailer.
-Air compressor under the truck for tires and leveling off truck with aftermarket airbags under rear axle. It can also feed a Wake the dead train horn for moving Priuses out of the left lane.
-Mine is oem, but a tune and all emission crap removal voids warranty but puts a nice black smoke screen down to annoy said Prius. You live in California, so I guess you have a Prius..
Driving:
Take cones and big parking lot and practice backing in with blind spots etc. never rush parking, get out of truck and go look also when there are 100 cars blowing horn at you. Use all asphalt, also into oncoming traffic. They will move. If they dont you can always stop, block as many cars as you can untill someone figures out they need to back up.
Now you can visit tracks anywhere in the country, share a trailer with someone to pay for diesel. See it pays for itself.
Skip the multi trailer process :-)
I should have bought a longer one so I could split diesel when going on long trips
01-27-2013, 05:33 PM
#33
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Chromium,
I have a very similar TPD I would strongly recommend a triple axle over a double if you can swing it. I've towed a double and triple axle TPD and the triple TPD is superior in ride quality. Since its early in your build I bet the change order could be done. At least in California, triple axle TPDs hold their value extremely well. Best of luck.
-Jonathan
I have a very similar TPD I would strongly recommend a triple axle over a double if you can swing it. I've towed a double and triple axle TPD and the triple TPD is superior in ride quality. Since its early in your build I bet the change order could be done. At least in California, triple axle TPDs hold their value extremely well. Best of luck.
-Jonathan
01-27-2013, 10:21 PM
#34
Drifting
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Late this afternoon, I finally took possession of the new truck, a 2009 GMC Sierra 2500 HD diesel. Some of you locals may recognize the beast, as it was purchased from a fellow RL'er...
01-27-2013, 10:24 PM
#35
Drifting
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Chromium,
I have a very similar TPD I would strongly recommend a triple axle over a double if you can swing it. I've towed a double and triple axle TPD and the triple TPD is superior in ride quality. Since its early in your build I bet the change order could be done. At least in California, triple axle TPDs hold their value extremely well. Best of luck.
-Jonathan
I have a very similar TPD I would strongly recommend a triple axle over a double if you can swing it. I've towed a double and triple axle TPD and the triple TPD is superior in ride quality. Since its early in your build I bet the change order could be done. At least in California, triple axle TPDs hold their value extremely well. Best of luck.
-Jonathan
Appreciate the feedback. My wallet is already in shock (somewhere I hear a doctor with paddles in his hands yelling "CLEAR!"), so I am tapped-out as far as changes 'n additions. Fingers crossed. And if it doesn't go well... I'll be getting a new trailer. That's not _crazy_, right?!?!!?!!!
Best of luck!
01-28-2013, 01:16 AM
#39
Drifting
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2 weekends in a row I've taken CalTrain from SJ to SF. Each trip I sat on the opposite side of the car. Both trips I managed to see TPD trailers in parking lots. When you're this obsessed... all you can see is trailers! LOL
01-28-2013, 02:26 AM
#42
GT3 player par excellence
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trakcar is right. let see...
i had trailex open 18"
tpd 20'
tpd 24 triple
tpd 36' GN
will have tpd 44'
my tpd 53 is on order as well.
turck...
dually coming.
but can i have triples on trucks. say six tires for rear axle.
excess is wonderful.
hey.. that's MY truck. when did you drive it away.
you better clay polish wax that thing every weekend.
dirty rigs do not park next to mooty.
my trailers are also clay polished and waxed ;-)
i had trailex open 18"
tpd 20'
tpd 24 triple
tpd 36' GN
will have tpd 44'
my tpd 53 is on order as well.
turck...
dually coming.
but can i have triples on trucks. say six tires for rear axle.
excess is wonderful.
hey.. that's MY truck. when did you drive it away.
you better clay polish wax that thing every weekend.
dirty rigs do not park next to mooty.
my trailers are also clay polished and waxed ;-)
01-28-2013, 02:27 AM
#43
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lilis will be over to detail the dually upon arrival. i need more help. it appears you can handle a orbital well. i would think 50 man hours would do it for the first round.
01-28-2013, 02:31 AM
#44
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Also depends on your uses.
For me it's a big cargo box, I only really sit in it when it rains.
A/c would be nice in the summer I suppose. It has been easier to sit in others' A/C.
I have a winch, but never used it, I just drive the cars in and out.
Lighting is important, I went with something like 30 12vlights so as long as I leave the truck running it is super bright inside and enough light flows out to light up the rear gate...
For me it's a big cargo box, I only really sit in it when it rains.
A/c would be nice in the summer I suppose. It has been easier to sit in others' A/C.
I have a winch, but never used it, I just drive the cars in and out.
Lighting is important, I went with something like 30 12vlights so as long as I leave the truck running it is super bright inside and enough light flows out to light up the rear gate...
i hate AC.
when i really need it, i used 24chromiums trailer
i always had winch, the suck. i much rather buy new clutch every year and just drive the car into trailer. every time i tried to use winch, i end up speaking in four letter words. should car get disabled, that's what friends are for. push my damn car.
i have 24' long of LED on 12v
5 4' long fluorescent off generator
and a few google deathray flashlights.
lar, dont forget massage chair
100" screen
and a hot tub
