To properly review a product it needs to be put to extensive use over a period of time. Perhaps a couple of years. Twenty-five or forty-five years would be better such as my camping chairs or some of my older backpacking gear. Based on a limited test, I recommend it.
Continue reading How to Change a Trailer Tire without a Jack!
Almost three years ago I wrote a 3-part series titled, How Much Trailer Can You Tow?
You can read them here:
Part 3 contains the information on Weight Distribution Hitches (WDH)
I have received many inquiries from trailer owners about Weight Distribution Hitches and there is a lot of confusion out there in trailer land. I have always advocated weighing your tow vehicle and trailer periodically to ensure everything is within specifications, and herein lays the confusion. People try to interpret the scale readings and assume a WDH will subtract weight from the tow vehicle’s rear axle and add it to the front axle; that is: the front axle of the tow vehicle will weigh more with the trailer hitched. We do not want this to happen. After completing my yearly maintenance on Monday, I loaded everything up, to include full water tanks and temporarily filled the refrigerator and headed over to the local CAT scale. I’ll use those measurements to hopefully explain how to weigh your set up, what weights you should be looking at, and how to interpret them.
It is common for backpacking bloggers to publish their favorite gear for the year. I have done this every year since 2012, and there has only been one change to my favorite gear in four years as documented in my favorite backpacking gear for 2015. This is different than most backpackers, who seem to have new favorite gear each year, which leads me to believe that their focus is gear-centric and not walking-centric. This begs the question, why do so many backpackers constantly buy new gear? Is it consumerism or do they not focus on skills instead of magic equipment to keep them safe in the backcountry? I’ll let you, the reader, sort out that conundrum.
I have never posted a list of my favorite camping gear. I have been camping for over 50 years and for the past 25 years it has included a camper. The previous 25 years I camped with a tent. In 2003 I refined my camping equipment and little has changed since then, other than we have bought two larger campers over the past 10 years.
So instead of presenting my favorite camping gear for 2015, I will share my favorite 3 of all time.
I have been using Olympian catalytic heaters (now owned by Camco) for more than 20 years. Given that I have used these heaters for hundreds and hundreds of nights, I think I am qualified to do a long term review.
The more I use this, the more I like it! Hitching up the trailer takes seconds, not minutes. But a while back I ran into a small problem.
When I unpacked the hitch, the upper dust caps were dented. The dents didn’t affect the functionality of the hitch, and was really just a cosmetic issue. However, they caps really should have fitted a little more snug.
Eventually one fell off, lost in the wind while traveling.
For us, a trailer awning is a critical piece of camping equipment. The awning extends your living space, or as it should, it limits the need to spend time inside the camper. When we are at camped, we spend most of our campsite time outside talking, cooking, working on a suntan (me), or just napping. If it is raining, you can sit under the awning staying dry and enjoying the percipitation, although the camping goal should be to spend most of the time hiking, biking, boating, or even fishing.
Are Americans getting too soft?Are we too lazy to use a hand crank to level our trailers?
No. We are timesavers. The time it takes to level and stabilize a trailer, and reverse the procedure is better spent hiking when camping.
Like most trailers, ours came with a hand crank tongue jack. Based on past experience, I didn’t bother using it even once. Before we even purchased our Milan, I had bought an electric tongue jack – The Ultra-Fab Products, Odyssey 4000.
We had the same jack on our Niagara tent trailer, so I knew it was a great product. Once we got our newly purchased trailer home, I switched the jacks before I even unhitched the trailer.
If you own something, somewhere out there, a person is willing and able to steal it from you. They just need the opportunity. And they want your propane tanks. Most of these thieves do not have a specific need for your propane tanks or the gas they contain. It is something they can sell. And how do I know they want your tanks?
We now have over 4,000 miles on the ProPride Trailer Hitch. Operation has been flawless, and with continuing practice I can hook-up, or disconnect in a matter of seconds. Considering that most of our camping trips are about 100 miles round trip, that is a lot of hitching and unhitching. The trick is to try and keep the tow vehicle lined up with the trailer, so the hitch isn’t at an angle when parking the camper.
About every 500 miles I lube the unit via the two grease fittings.
The modifications I had to make (documented in our 1,000 mile update) have worked well.
