Post
by TwinStick » Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:35 am
MOST stated hitch weights are on the laughable list. And they are empty, I mean bone empty, nothing, zero, nada- in or on the camper. No propane, batteries, camping gear, water, wood, supplies, food, nothing. Our 2005 Keystone Tail Gator had a 1150lb dry hitch weight, add camping gear, tools, propane, 2 big batteries, water @ 8.3 lbs per gallon x 100 gallons & the tank was in front of axles, all adds up quickly. I suspected ours was 2000-2500 lbs when loaded up. Even with the 1 ton helper springs I had to lower the weight onto the ball, lock it down, then use the jack again to jack up the truck and trailer, just to be able to get the weight distribution/anti sway bars in place. if I didn't do that, there was no way to get them in, truck was squatted too much, even with longer, curved leverage bar. I was walking the tightrope with my truck & that trailer. Glad it is gone.
Traded to 2019 ZR2, Red.
4Runner was a GREAT vehicle but could not even tow our 6x10 enclosed utility trailer comfortably, even when it was empty-ish.
It was time. Truck was still leaking BADLY every time it rained or snowed & melted. It was leaking at every single gasket (rear window, front window, all 4 doors). You could sit inside & watch it run down the inside of windshield, rear window & drip off the upper side door beams. It was molding on the inside & starting to stink. Needed new steering gearbox, shocks, new upgraded T-style steering, tires, brake lines, d/s manifold bolts that are barely recognizable due to rust-removed & replaced. Everyone around here would not even touch em once they looked at them.
So, say what you will. PW turned into a money pit. Was no longer a joy to drive. Hoping that this downsized 4x4 with lockers will fill the bill & have minimal problems, but..... As long as manufacturers keep making engineers design things that fail soon after warranty is up, we are going nowhere fast. Regardless of what you buy.
