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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Propane Tank Issue
    Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 7:58pm
Originally posted by Dirt Sifter


I respect your ObieWan position here, but the OP already said he would not be packing water, would be loading light.  Has towed the trailer some distance and is content with the performance.


Not being a big Star Wars fan, I have no idea what an "Obi-Wan position" might be, so I will take at face value that it is not meant as an insult of some kind. 

This is not a performance issue, its a safety issue. When you start considering moving weight to the rear of a trailer to get the tongue weight down and that results in a tongue weight at or below 10%, then warning bells should be starting to ring. 

My suggestion was that pedwards weigh the trailer fully loaded with whatever he plans to actually carry, and to also consider the weight that will be in the tow vehicle. If he is satisfied that that is within the specs of his TV and he's comfortable with that then that's fine. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
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Dirt Sifter View Drop Down
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Posts: 170 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 7:37pm
Originally posted by offgrid

The dry weight is meaningless. If you haven't weighed it loaded (batteries, water, options, gear, food, tools, clothing, etc etc) then do that before you do anything else. I think you will be surprised, I was. 

I respect your ObieWan position here, but the OP already said he would not be packing water, would be loading light.  Has towed the trailer some distance and is content with the performance.
Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE
'07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages
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pedwards2932 View Drop Down
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Posts: 338 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 7:28pm
I absolutely intend to make sure all is okay.  When it was weighed it was 3071 and I don't intend to carry water.  I tried to leave my TV out of the discussion as I was only interested in changing the propane tanks.   The TV has plenty of HP to pull as I have done it, issue for me is a class 2 hitch.  
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 7:19pm
The dry weight is meaningless. If you haven't weighed it loaded (batteries, water, options, gear, food, tools, clothing, etc etc) then do that before you do anything else. I think you will be surprised, I was. 
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pedwards2932 View Drop Down
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Posts: 338 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 7:15pm
I had it weighed and the factory weighed it before delivery.  I intend to make sure I am within specs loaded. The specs listed are:

Dry Weight

2,773 lbs.

Payload Capacity

989 lbs.

Hitch Weight

281 lbs.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 6:59pm
When you say the measured weight of the 189 is 3071, how was it measured and under what loading conditions? The listed unloaded weight or the 189 is 3075. Its hard to imagine that an actual real world trailer loaded for travel with water, batteries etc would only weigh 3071.

You do not want to be at 300 lbs tongue weight on even a 3071 lb trailer, and its worst if it weighs more. Anything near or under 10% tongue weight is susceptible to sway. It it was me I'd rather be at 400 lbs and overweight on the tongue than risk creating a sway situation. 

The highest tow rating I see for the Escape is 3500 lbs. That is just plain too low for that trailer. Tow ratings assume there are no passengers or cargo in the tow vehicle, which is of course not the case. Instead of trying to get the tongue weight down on your trailer and risking sway, get a tow vehicle with adequate capacity to tow the trailer and a reasonable amount of gear both in the trailer and TV. You do not have that with the rig you have right now. 
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Posts: 338 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 5:35pm
I will look at it tomorrow to see if the old mount is under the the new one.  Thanks.
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Posts: 338 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 5:34pm
I thought about putting one tank secured in the rear of the trailer while towing and then installing when I got to campgound.  This would remove 54 lbs from front and add 54 to rear which would get me to 300.  Just not sure how safe it is to carry the tank in the trailer.  I have a spare tire bracket in the rear of trailer not sure if I could make some set up to carry spare tank there.
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Posts: 170 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2020 at 5:27pm
Most RPods did come with a single tank. Sounds like you are knowledgeable enough to have looked, but is it possible the double mount is bolted over the single tank holder. The single base on both of mine sat below the top level of the A frame between the arms so I'm thinking the double would have to sit above it, across the top of the frame. Seems to me I thought about adding a second tank at one point, but didn't want to lose the turning capability and could put the second tank in the bed of the pickup if needed. Safe travels! :-)
Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE
'07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages
1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff
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