Roo 233s Delivered to Launch Pad

[PineForestCamper]

The Saturn V is assembled and has arrived at the launch pad for pre-launch testing! After three months sitting in Ohio our Roo 233s was delivered early Sunday morning in freezing temperatures and 20-30 mph winds. Brrr. Driver gave a very brief tutorial....very brief. He hooked up a blue ox WDH and I am not 100% sure of how correctly its setup. It doesn't look quite right to me. The TV leans a bit back and the Roo fwd or at least thats what I see. That could be early morning vision compounded with arctic breeze.

Does it look alright? Any help on that would be appreciated. I took it out for a brief ride and the front of the van was dancing around a bit so I added another link to the chain and the ride went much better after that. I'm still wondering if I should raise the ball up just a bit to help level the trailer.

I am excited to explore strange and familiar worlds with a tentative launch this weekend after some launch pad testing all week!

[Triguy]

Congrats and best of luck on your pre-launch testing

It looks as if the van is level, but the TT is dipping more than what I would expect. Both should be fairly level when fully connected. I don't have a Blue Ox but it seems to me that the hitch ball needs to be moved up a notch. You might have to move the chains a link up or down for more minute adjustments. Hitch adjustment is as much of an art as a science so give it a try.

[PineForestCamper]

Scott:

My art talent is pretty much stick people and staying within the lines!

Glad you see what I'm seeing. I am going to move both back into the assembly area this week and raise the ball one notch and see how it looks.

Who knew testing could be so much fun.

Brad

[mhartzel]

I have a SwayPro and that setup does not look right. The best way to set it up is to level the trailer and van, measure the height of the inside of the coupler cup, then adjust the hitch head assembly to be one hole higher.

My recommendation on the chain links is to start with 5 links above the bars.

Also measure the fender heights before and after hitching up. You will want to be close to the unloaded height as a starting point.

For the best setup, you should find a truck stop that has certified scales and weigh each axle. After hooking up the WDH, you should be close to the unloaded front axle weight. However, do not exceed the axle ratings that should be posted on the drivers door jamb.

[Wiscampsin]

Congrats WarMovies! Throttle up engines, let the countdown begin .

[PineForestCamper]

Hartzel I think you have posted verbatim from the manual. Good work. The setup will be fixed. At least he didnt hook the trailer up backwards.

Once the co-pilot says she's all in for this weekend the countdown clock will begin.

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by WarMovies

Who knew testing could be so much fun.

Brad

Funny that your say this, Brad. I actually do have fun with adjusting the WDH.

I bought a Sherline scale a few years ago and like to experiment with ball height, ball tilt, spring bar, cargo loading and so on.

My wife says I need to get a life

[PineForestCamper]

Scott.....get a life! Just sayin.

So I went out tonight...brrr...and tried loosening up the nuts on the WDH and wouldnt you know that I am undersized with the tools I have. Looks like I will be taking a trip over to the brother in laws.

What does the tilt on the WDH head do? Tilting it fwd or back? I read on another forum where a guy was having a really rough pull and the blue ox rep came out and adjusted that and it improved.

[Triguy]

It's cold here, too. 25 degrees F tonight. Just wrong for April.

With the tilt, if the hitch is transferring too little or too much weight you can adjust the head by tilting it back or forward. On the Equal-I-zer, for instance, adding washers will tilt the head back towards the TT, which adds tension to the spring bars resulting in the load from the tongue weight transferring from the rear axle of your truck to the front axle (and a little to the TT's axles).

[clancythecamper]

Sweet ~ you're gonna have a blast (pun intended)

[PineForestCamper]

Temperature is so wrong... Its colder there than it is here (27 here). I will take that blast Clancy if its a hot one. I went into the camper and my foam toppers are as hard as a rock.

One final thing about the hitch...What you are describing with the tilt sounds like what happens when you adjust more or less chain links with the blue ox but yet it seems like you can still tilt it fwd and back just like your equalizer. I had someone else tell me to call blue ox customer service. I will do that tomorrow.

[mhartzel]

Blue Ox's customer service is amazing.

[biken201]

Congrats! We love our 233S, and expect you will too!

[mom28]

Congratulations!!