Happy B-day to Me!

[Sexy Evil ST]

I got my first trailer today!<br><br>It's an 18' PJ Trailer.<br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.explorerforum.com/data/3237/410701090005.JPG" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.explorerforum.com/data/3237/410701090008.JPG" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><br>Hey U-haul! You can take your trailers and shove them! <p></p><i></i>

[KF5ZXT]

Congrats! Happy ~26th! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[Michael]

That is a really nice trailer John. I have heard nothing but good things about the PJ's. Sure is a purdy red color<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

Yeah, I was pretty happy that they had one in red. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

On Monday or so, I need to go back down to the trailer place to get the weight distributing hitch and brake controller installed.<br>I found a 7 wire harness outlet to wire up the Limited tonight at Walmart. So I'll get that done this weekend and run the electric brake wire up to the dash. So I'll save them a little install time on Monday. Heck I might just tell them to give me the brake controller and I'll install it and save the labor. <p></p><i></i>

[Kris Guilbeaux]

hey John is the Limited going to be able to pull the ST on the Trailer ok... <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

Well Kris,<br><br>It's probably not gonna like the ride home. But, I've got a few upgrades in mind:<br><br>Tranny Temp gauge and Auxillary filter<br>Larger front slotted brake rotors<br>Performance Exhaust<br>E-cam and Roller rockers<br>4.10 gears<br>And some time in the future headers, if EE can get the old FMS designed headers made. <p></p><i></i>

[Michael]

The weight distributing hitch should make a huge difference, and the brake controler of course. If you haven't picked out a controller yet I highly reccomend the Tekonsha Prodigy. That is the one that I have and it is highly reccomended by the RV guys on the Powerstoke forums. <br><br>I say make your first upgrade to the truck the 4.10 gears and the tranny stuff. You may find that is all you need. <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

Ok, well. I'll be getting Gerald's 4.10 front diffy gears. He already sold and shipped the rears to that 2wd dude that was buggin him. So now, I need to get 4.10's for the 8.8 or if I get lucky score a whole axle assembly for less than buying gears and getting them installed.<br>I was at an El Paso junkyard and found a 4.10 rear out of an Eddie Bauer, but the guy said he wanted $500.00. I'm sure that's more than buying gears and getting them installed. Oh well.<br><br>You know the other thing that bugs me. All the Autozones, Pep Boys, and Checkers carry only mechanical gauges. Haven't they heard of electric ones???<br>I stopped by a high performance auto store in El Paso and found they had a lot of the electric ones. But, the two tranny ones they had were outlined in chrome. I hate chrome. I'm gonna see if I can still find them in non-chrome on Monday at a performance shop here in Las Cruces before biting the bullet.<br><br>Michael, I'll probably go with the Techonsha Voyager.<br><br>Oh yeah, I was poking my head underneath the dash today to see if I could find a harness for a brake controller. Didn't find one, but I did find an disconnected alarm. WTF?? I'll be checking that out more tonight or tomorrow. <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

What do ya'll think of this for trailer security?<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.trailerlock.com/">www.trailerlock.com/</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.trailerlock.com/images/trailer2aa.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><br>It locks to one of the lug nuts so that the thief can't take your wheel off and use your spare to steal your trailer. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub182.ezboard.com/bdemon4x4.showUserPublicProfile?gid=aquaman@demon4x4>Aquaman</A> at: 1/15/04 7:59 am<br></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

2nd question?<br><br>Registering the trailer in Texas...<br><br>Is it just the same procedure as registering a vehicle?<br>Do you have to do it every year?<br><br>Thanks,<br>John <p></p><i></i>

[dejello]

Hey John, if you want, I can check the local yards around here for an 8.8 with the 4.10s. I know for a while one yard had one off a '95 ex for like $400 I think <p></p><i></i>

[Michael]

John I'm not sure about the security thing. A friend of my moms here owns a storage place and lives on site. My trailer pretty much sits in her front yard so I don't worry about it at all. <br><br>Registration here is the same as a car, you will need to go to the county tax office and pay just like a car, I think they base it on the GVW of the trailer, mine is about $120 a year. <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

DeJello, don't worry about it, I've already lined up an axle swap with a guy in Dallas that has one with 4.10s. It'll cost me gas + $100 and my time to switch them in his driveway.<br><br>This afternoon, I went ahead and ordered that TrailerKeeper Wheel Lock so that I could have it by the weekend.<br><br>I drove the trailer down to the dealer with the Sport Trac loaded this morning so that I could get the weight distributing hitch kit installed. It was obvious when I got there that the receiver I had wasn't gonna cut it. Had to buy a new one that could handle more weight.<br><br>So, I have a drawtite hitch(originally from Michael) available for light to medium duties if someone needs one for free. DeJello, I don't know if you have one, but if you don't they work good to protect your bumper while offroading.<br><br>Michael, that sucks on registration. The guy at the dealer was telling me that New Mexico has a lifetime registration for like $100. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub182.ezboard.com/bdemon4x4.showUserPublicProfile?gid=aquaman@demon4x4>Aquaman</A> at: 1/15/04 7:02 pm<br></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

I had them add bulldog jacks on both sides at the end, so I don't launch the Limited again when driving the Sport Trac on or off the trailer. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[dejello]

haha! Yeah, I've got a hitch, and it's done it's share of bumper protection <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> thanks though <p></p><i></i>

[Michael]

It's good that you got the jacks installed, you can actually bend the frame of the trailer in some instances with out them. Now you can load w/o the ramps most of the time. <br><br>On a side note, I watched a guy here in Houston at a show go to unload his samurai w/o ramps or jacks on the trailer and because he forgot to latch the tounge on the trailer he launched it into the tailgate of his Superduty. So make sure you latch that tounge.<br><br>Kris may want that hitch John. <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

Got a question.<br><br>I noticed none of the tires/wheels on the trailer have weights for being balanced. Could the tires and wheels be that well balanced new and not need weights? Or do I need to take them down to Discount Tire Co. to get them balanced? <p></p><i></i>

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Yeah if you dont want that Hitch I need it for my Navajo I only tow med duty anyway. <br><br>Kris <p></p><i></i>

[Michael]

There are two schools of thought on balancing trailer tires. Some say yes others no. Mine aren't on my trailer, and we never balanced them unless the owner wanted it when I worked at Discount. It won't hurt anything for them to not be. Most bias ply trailer tires, like mine has, take huge amounts of weight to balance and even then the tires are not round. Leave em alone and keep your money in your pocket. <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

The wifey and I went down the street to look at a brand new apartment complex.<br><br>They have garages large enough to fit my car trailer. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>24'+ long!<br>So I reserved two! Side by side. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>One will house the trailer and my tv boxes and whatever else, and the other will have a work space at the end and be used to park the Limited. And every apartment gets one complimentary covered parking. The Sport Trac can live under the covered parking. <br>We'll be downsizing to a 1br apt., but upscaling to 2 garages & covered parking and still be saving $200+/mo in rent. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>We should be moving on the weekend of April 3rd. Any volunteers to help? I definitely need another set of strong arms to get our TV moved.<br><br>Plus I'll be getting rid of some of our desk furniture and entertainment center. <p></p><i></i>