Winter Beater Build 2.0- '66 Short/Fleet BBW

[theastronaut]

Finally got around to building a more substantial hitch than the one it came with. I used 1/4" wall 2.5" tube, 1/4" plate, and split a 2.5" tube diagonally for braces. It mounts using existing holes and is mostly hidden- nothing hangs below the bumper or bed sides.










It was a tight fit getting the receiver tube to clear the bed and the drop hitch to clear the bumper. Ended up being 1" higher than the trailer ball when the trailer is level, I can live with that.




Also installed a trailer brake controller. I wanted something as hidden as possible with proportional braking, Redarc's Tow Pro Liberty fit the bill with a remote mounted box and only a small control knob to mount on the dash. I had already wired it for a four pin trailer harness, so I bought a 4 to 7 adapter/socket and only had to run a wire for the brakes to the socket.









First trip with the hitch and controller fitted- 690 miles round trip to a Festiva show near Raleigh NC.






I stopped at a truck stop on the way home to weigh it.. it was a bit heavier than I was expecting, and explained why it was more sluggish than I thought it would be. It did really great flat towing the other Festiva, I didn't think the added 1300 pounds of the trailer would make as drastic of a difference as it did, but I've also added the camper shell since then and it's pretty hefty. This is about the limit of what the 250/3 speed can pull and reasonably keep up with traffic. The weight ticket was with me out of the truck and off the scales, about 1/8th tank of gas, and some parts and camping equipment in the bed. Add my 170 pounds and a full tank and it was just under 7500 pounds. The rear air bags and relocated shocks handled the added weight with no issues- zero sway or instability even at 80 mph, but its underpowered or at least undergeared when you hit steep hills- the wide ratios of the 3 speed means you can't downshift unless you drop to 45-50.

[Braunschweiger]

Great implementation and the team looks great, that's quite a bit of weight.
I'm from Germany and we're only allowed to drive at a maximum speed of 100 km/h/60mph with a trailer and special approval.
You're pretty fast on the road, have the strict speed rules in the federal state been relaxed?
Don't get me wrong, for us Europeans the USA stands for 55mph and there are police everywhere to monitor it.

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Great implementation and the team looks great, that's quite a bit of weight.
I'm from Germany and we're only allowed to drive at a maximum speed of 100 km/h/60mph with a trailer and special approval.
You're pretty fast on the road, have the strict speed rules in the federal state been relaxed?
Don't get me wrong, for us Europeans the USA stands for 55mph and there are police everywhere to monitor it.

The nationwide 55 mph limit hasn't been in effect since the mid 90s. Our usual interstate speed limit is 65-70 on interstates in my state, but its very loosely enforced around here; its common to drive 80-85 in the left lane in 65 mph zones. I only saw maybe 3-4 state troopers on the interstates on my last trip to NC and back. Out west the speed limit is 80 on some of the interstates. Anyone can tow a trailer, no special license or permission needed unless its over 26,000 pounds. I could only find speed restrictions for towing "house trailers" in SC, those are limited to 45 mph. I pretty much stayed in the outside or middle lane at 60-65 mph on my way home, but on the way to the show I met some friends in Asheville and they were running 70-75 most of the way to Raleigh, but the speed limits in North Carolina are higher than in South Carolina.

[Braunschweiger]

Thank you, it's very nice that you enlightened me, it gives you a better impression.
I always wish you a good trip.

[jhrusk]

Love the truck John. Glad to see you enjoying it. I saw you cruise by in PF while we were in a restaurant. Hope you are doing well