My son and I have talked the ladies in our life (wife and daughter-in-law) into going to Co. on vacation next summer. Now I have to make sure the 5ver is in shape to handle the mountains. I’m not worried about the truck or myself but is they’re anything that those folks that run in the mountains on a regular basis do to your trailers, other than normal maintenance.

 

Make sure the wheel bearings have been packed within the last year and use that time to check the brake linings and magnets. Sure nicer doing it at home than on a steep downslope after a harrowing experience. :-[ :'(

 

Thanks for the advice but I already have that on the agenda. I don’t like bobsledding down hill with a trail of smoke.

 

Bigfoot,
Sounds like you have it under control.
My only admonitions are have:
New lower radiator hose
Spare fan belt
Spare tire for the trailer
The most common problem towing a trailer is woe with tires. Sitting out all day, they have a lot of tread but have micro cracks and weathering that can make them go south, especially in hot weather and lots of curved roads ( like the Southwest Rockies). We only had 5K miles on my bro's new 2 axle torsion bar car trailer towing my Jeep when up jump the devil, one tire blew. Yes we had max inflationg cold, not over loaded with only a 4000 lb. Jeep on the back. I took the wheel completely off and ran 10 lbs more air in the single side (now we're limping along on 3 wheels) and lasted another 30 miles when, yep, it blew. Before you say I should have just replaced the tire, we were way out there (Johnson Valley OHV area) and had no spare. What do we need a spare for? 5000 miles? Sucked.
I just can't tell you how many of my trailer towing Jeep buddies have had tire woes on the trailer. Something to think about.
regards, as always, jefe

 

Also check the emergency breakaway switch, make sure it is not sun cooked.

 

It sounds like you have been given good advice. I've gone from California to Maine and almost every state in between. Had a problem or two but that's life. Go and have a good time. Enjoy your trip and time with your family.
Maccandy

 

Prepare the same as you would any other long trip.

If you're already planning to do all the wheel bearing, brake inspection, lug nut torque, tire inspection, type stuff, then you're in better shape than most already.

I know you said you're not worried about the truck, but have you considered an exhaust brake? Really helps keep the truck and trailer brakes from heating up if you go over any passes here. Trust me, with no accelerator pressure at all, the truck will accelerate downhill in the mountains without one.

 

Thanks for all the replies; so far no one has said anything that I did not already have on the list. I did a lot of “over the road” driving in my younger years so I still think like a truck driver but thought maybe 7000 minds would be better than one.
I do have an exhaust brake on the truck and carry belts, antifreeze and such when traveling. Planing to replace all tires on the trailer before next summer so that should not be an issue.
I have pulled the Rockies in a truck before but not in a travel trailer so I thought that maybe I should do something different.

I am still trying to find a set of load range E ,15” tires to replace the D rated ones that are on the 5ver at this time. Any help would be appreciated.

 

One word...TIRES!

 

thats one of the reasons that I'm looking for 10 ply.

 

That's what I did...bought 4 new 10 ply's.

 

Do you have 15" or 16" tires. If 15 where and what brand did you buy.

 

[quote author=Buzz link=board=11;threadid=20571;start=0#msg193781 date=1065497716]
That's what I did...bought 4 new 10 ply's.
[/quote]
Hey, you should have bought 5 new 10 ply tires ;D

 

15"...Les Schwab...couldn't tell you the name brand without going out to look.

 

[quote author=Buzz link=board=11;threadid=20571;start=0#msg195218 date=1065755613]
15"...Les Schwab...couldn't tell you the name brand without going out to look.
[/quote]
Please do ,I have not been able to find any in my area