Just another 6 x 12 cargo conversion

[Mischief]

Thx NevadaLover
ultraclyde, it tows basically like it isn't there
I generally pull it 60/65 but Levi (my nephew) was running 75. I've been on some forest roads where I was pulling it in low range. I'm guessing it weighs maybe 3000# and the hitch is prolly 10% of that. It isn't really top heavy, most of the weight is pretty low and wheels are pretty wide. I like the tandem, soft spring set up too. I think it rides better than the truck
In Kansas City, check out the 2 story building in front of the truck

In New Hampshire

I don't know about other times but right now the weather here kinda sux, at least by Albuquerque standards. High humidity and swarming mosquitos. How do the RTT and teardrop trailers deal with that? Outside kitchens?

 

[Mischief]

Some pix from southwestern CO and southeastern UT

 

[Mischief]

 

[Mischief]

 

[Mischief]

 

[ITTOG]

Thx NevadaLover
ultraclyde, it tows basically like it isn't there
I generally pull it 60/65 but Levi (my nephew) was running 75. I've been on some forest roads where I was pulling it in low range. I'm guessing it weighs maybe 3000# and the hitch is prolly 10% of that. It isn't really top heavy, most of the weight is pretty low and wheels are pretty wide. I like the tandem, soft spring set up too. I think it rides better than the truck
In Kansas City, check out the 2 story building in front of the truck

What kind of fuel mileage do you get with the trailer running 75? What is normal?

I have a 6x12 vnose and at 70 I get about 11.1 and at 80 I get 7. Normal for the truck without towing is abouyt 22. I have a 2018 F150 with the 3.5L ecoboost. I was shocked at how much the fuel mileage dropped? Power is no problem though.

 

[Mischief]

This last trip we averaged around 12 but I drive generally between 60 and 70. "Unloaded" I get around 16/17 but I have a mounted toolbox. The Tacoma has a v6 3.4. I also lock the OD out and down shift if the revs get below 2500 so my engine is working mainly in the 3000-4500 rpmrange

 

[ITTOG]

That seems crazy. My numbers were with it empty. Just the trailer, no beds, cabinets, etc. I am operating around 1,500 to 2,250 rpms given I have a 10 speed transmission. I should be getting better mileage. Not sure what is going on.

 

[Mischief]

I've found better mileage with higher rpm's. At least high enough that the engine is in it's power range and not lugging at all. I don't think the interior weighs enough to be significant, except maybe on uphills. Even that balances out on downhills. I think it's mostly wind drag, which increases exponentially with speed. Try limiting your speed and see if it makes a difference. I've thought about some sort of wind foil on the rear to alleviate the vacuum but I haven't figured exactly how with the ramp door. In addition, I keep the tire air pressure up around the maximum listed on the sidewall. On the the truck I run 65 on the rear and 40 on the front. The trailer tires are 40/45psi

 

[ITTOG]

What size tires do you have on your trailer?

I have 250/75/15. This is about 27" in diameter. With my current leaf spring set up on my tandem axle I can only fit about 29" tires due to the leaf springs being 25.5" in length eye to eye. I would like to get at least 32" tires under mine but the largest double eye leaf springs I am finding is 27". That won't get me to 32" tires. Should I change the leaf springs to eye/hook style?

 

[Mischief]

That doesn't sound right. I have 265/75 16's which are basically 32's and I have the same standard trailer spring as you, 25.5" eye to eye

https://www.southwestwheel.com/c-1248-3500-lbs-straight-dexter-trailer-axles.aspx

Scroll down about 1/3 page to the spring diagram. There is an equalizer in there. You might have an issue with width, tho. Be sure to check your wheel backspacing and allow for clearance. I think my axles are 87" face to face but I think stock for a 6' trailer is 85" I wanted to use the stock tacoma wheels which have a 6" backspace and I wanted 1.5" of clearance to the frame, without spacers. With 10.5" wide tires and 1.5" clearance I'm right at 8' wide

If you're going to use a tandem leaf spring setup, don't forget that you'll need something to prevent the shackle from dropping upside down when the other shackle is all the way up. It's a real pita to correct if it drops

 

[ITTOG]

That doesn't sound right. I have 265/75 16's which are basically 32's and I have the same standard trailer spring as you, 25.5" eye to eye

https://www.southwestwheel.com/c-1248-3500-lbs-straight-dexter-trailer-axles.aspx

Scroll down about 1/3 page to the spring diagram. There is an equalizer in there. You might have an issue with width, tho. Be sure to check your wheel backspacing and allow for clearance. I think my axles are 87" face to face but I think stock for a 6' trailer is 85" I wanted to use the stock tacoma wheels which have a 6" backspace and I wanted 1.5" of clearance to the frame, without spacers. With 10.5" wide tires and 1.5" clearance I'm right at 8' wide

If you're going to use a tandem leaf spring setup, don't forget that you'll need something to prevent the shackle from dropping upside down when the other shackle is all the way up. It's a real pita to correct if it drops

Something isn't adding up here. Below is a picture where I added the width of the centerline of the holes in the equalizer, which is about 8". I also added the outline of tires. My tires have an OD (outside diameter) of 27". The space between the tires is 6". So if I added tires that have an OD of 32" it would add 5" to each tire. This means there would only be a 1" space between my two tires which seems too close. Do you know how wide your equalizer is? How far apart are your tires? Doing the math based on the picture indicating the axles are 33.5" apart, your tires would be 1.5" apart.

 

[john61ct]

An inch is fine

 

[ottsville]

An inch is fine

Until a rock comes over the top and wedges in there.

 

[Mischief]

Until a rock comes over the top and wedges in there.

Do you really think that is an issue?

I'm thinking anything of any size would just get spit out. My trailer tires are truck takeoff's anyway so they're in the last 25% of tread life and don't have enough tread to pick up stones. That was my thinking with using the same wheel/tires as the truck. When I buy new tires for the truck I'll just rotate the used ones to the trailer, discard the 4 poorest spare tires, and use those wheels for the new truck tires

I did a little update to the brake controller mount. My radio didn't work anyway and I use my phone and a bluetooth speaker for entertainment so I used the space in the dash for a volt meter and usb charger plugs that don't shut off with the ignition