Hook
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Big Tow ahead!!!!
****WARNING, THIS POST IS NOT ABOUT BAJA. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!******
It now appears that our long wait for taking possession of our new trailer is about to end...........finally.
RECAP: If you remember, we retired from our jobs in late May, sold the house in SJCapo, Ca., threw a good by party at our former
clubhouse..........and literally drove away from the party with the back end of the F350 loaded to the gunwales with our "necessary" possessions
(yeah, right!). Previously, we had taken trips to our storage space on the AZ-Sonora border in Nogales, as well as moving the Skipjack, Wrangler and
Lance camper into storage near our property in San Carlos, Sonora. We had put a deposit down on a new Jayco travel trailer, a big one. 320 RLDS that
is about 35 feet long and weighs 8k, dry. Estimated delivery time to our pickup point: 8-10 weeks. In the meantime, without a house or even our Lance,
we have been sponging off a series of relatives in Colorado. Maybe sponging is too harsh a term as we have managed to impart some of our culinary
skills on this decidedly "meat and potatoes" crowd out here. They now know of the existence of vegetables and non-blush wines...........
UPDATE: Approximately 14 weeks since we placed our deposit, it appears we will be picking our trailer in Des Moines, Iowa, testing it for a day or two
to make sure all systems are go. We will then return to Colorado, show off our trailer a bit, out fit it with the basics at a combo of Walmart and
Camping World, and then head off towards San Carlos.
We'll take a route past Lake Powell to spend five days there with friends who have a boat and then proceed to Nogales where we will figure out what we
will carry across the border as "tourists" (for now) instead of invoking our FM3 privileges right now. This will, of course, mean removing virtually
everything from the 15x20 Nogales storage (in likely 95 degree heat) and then heading south.
Retirement in Mexico is finally looking to be imminent!
One question for seasoned users of a brake controller: I installed a Tekonsha Prodigy controller this week. All the codes seem to be consistent with a
correct install, except you really cant test whether the blue wire hook-up (to trailer) is working without the trailer, which we dont have yet. Anyone
know of a reading I might get on a VOM if I depress the brakes and take a reading off the 7 pin connector at the back? I had to use a universal
adaptor for the brake controller interface with the wiring under the dash as my truck was not set up from the factory for towing.
[Edited on 7-31-2008 by Hook]
[Edited on 7-31-2008 by Hook]
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Bruce R Leech
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Wow Hook that sounds good. you guys have good luck and I hope all your dreams come true. keep us up to date on how you outfit your rig and on your
travels.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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bigeye
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Ditto what Bruce said. Maybe we will see you in San Carlos. I love the area.
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spike
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Sounds like a beautifull trailer. Have a safe trip! (I tow a little, but always have someone else do the complex repairs- I'm not very mechanical- so
can't help with the tech question) Anyway, have lots of fun.
Mike
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Diver
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I have a test box rigged up that I can plug into my 7-way female on the truck.
7-way male with pigtail run into a plywood box with lights for all functions.
This will show if the brake controller is working when you step on the brake if you wire a separate light to the controller switch and ground.
Or just find the right holes and use a single 12v light or probe light to check each function individually. There are more than one 7-way plug so make
sure they match. ; trailer to truck.
Sounds like you're off to a great adventure !
Best wishes !!!
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Hook
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Yeah, I've got a probe that will tell basic on/off. At the back end of the tow vehicle, I was able to use a straight plug-in to the OEM harness.
I was just wondering if there was a way to read voltage values back there as you adjust the power knob and determine if they are within an acceptable
range. Nothing that I see on the Tekonsha site.
Diver, what type of brake controller do you have?
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Cypress
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Hook, Congrats with all and good luck on your adventure. The less "stuff" you pack
along on your journey, the better-off you are. Travel light!
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Diver
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I have a Tekonsha on one truck and an Omnitrac on the other.
I've never tried to check specifics on the controler.
One dial seems to be the sensitivity or how fast the brakes react and the other seems to be the braking power adjustment. One has to be set to get the
other to work right so testing is more compicated than my thick skull will allow.
I've never had a problem with a controler but have had trailer brakes go bad and probably the most common problem is lack of a proper ground to all of
the trailer brakes.
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Diver
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We also do most of our towing with the F350 diesel and I find it to be the best truck for twoing on the market. The sheer weight and strength of the
frame makes towing comfy. When you turn off the OD you can brake hard 2 times and it will downshift - you almost don't need trailer brakes if you're a
little careful.
2 years ago, a car turning onto the highway south of El Rosario forced me to the edge of the road. I was doing about 45 mph and the right-side trailer
tires went off the pavement about a 6'-8' drop.
I thought I had just hit a pothole until I looked in the mirror and saw the trailer do a watoosi back onto the road. The truck never skipped a beat !
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rdrrm8e
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Good Luck PJ! Stay in touch.
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castaway$
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Put a volt meter (set to read DC) to the wire and have somone step on the brakes gradually, if working properly the output should gradually increase
as pressure is applied to the full 12 volts. However the current is what really counts this test shuold be adequate to tell you if it is going to
work.
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Hook
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rdrrm8e
Good Luck PJ! Stay in touch. |
Will do, Chuck. Was disappointed you guys were on the "S.S. Minnow's" first long range trip and couldn't make it.
I do see D.S. potential in San Carlos. You may end up fishing on the Skippy again!!!
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Hook
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| Quote: | Originally posted by castaway$
Put a volt meter (set to read DC) to the wire and have somone step on the brakes gradually, if working properly the output should gradually increase
as pressure is applied to the full 12 volts. However the current is what really counts this test shuold be adequate to tell you if it is going to
work. |
Thanks, Castaway. Makes perfect sense since you initially set a "reading" (wasnt sure if it was volts or an arbitrary number) of 6.0 on the controller
and that would be the midpoint between 0-12.0 volts.
I did go with slightly larger gauge wire than they were recommending so I hope current wont be an issue back there.
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bobw
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I believe (not KNOW) that the number you see on the Prodigy is the output voltage. I use this controller on my F250 Diesel and love it. Read the
manual (it's not that big) and set it up accordingly for the weight differential between the truck and the trailer. Take the rig out to an open area
and then adjust the output so that the trailer brakes grab just short of locking up.
Until you've used a POS controller and a good controller, you'll never understand the difference that quality can make. You've got a good one, so
enjoy pulling knowing that you're in good shape.
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Diver
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When traveling in Baja I find that I change the controller settings at times.
Especialy when crossing speed bumps or braking on gravel roads where the trailer tires will lock-up. I dial the trailer brakes down to zero in these
situations.
In order to re-set the controller, I have added a "knotch" into the dial that I can feel with my finger.
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Pompano
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Bon Voyage, Paul. I know you will be having lots of great adventures in your well-researched Mexico retirement. You deserve it...Buena suerte!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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bobw
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
When traveling in Baja I find that I change the controller settings at times.
Especialy when crossing speed bumps or braking on gravel roads where the trailer tires will lock-up. I dial the trailer brakes down to zero in these
situations.
In order to re-set the controller, I have added a "knotch" into the dial that I can feel with my finger. |
Oooo nice idea... maybe I'll bust out the wife's nail polish and "notch" settings for the different trailers I tow...
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Bob H
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
Bon Voyage, Paul. I know you will be having lots of great adventures in your well-researched Mexico retirement. You deserve it...Buena suerte!
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PJ... ditto that from Bob and Audrey H. You will have wonderful times ahead!
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