Our 1st big trip with the HTT was down to Castaways in Ocean City, MD. We had a great trip all the way down and great trip back up home, the Equilizer hitch provided us with a smooth ride and almost didn't even feel like we had the HTT behind us. I stayed anywhere from 60 to 65 since the cruise control did not like pulling the HTT behind us, it just seemed to kick in the passing gear everytime, so I opted not to use it. I got 12 mpg going back and forth, which isn't that bad since I normally get 15 in city with a 03 Chevy Silverado with the 5.3 liter.
I must admit that I have mastered backing up the unit that I looked like a pro backing up the HTT in the very 1st try. I must admit I saw another HTT person who had a lot of problems backing in his unit and I am so glad that wasn't me. I was going to offer help, but after he yelled at his wife, I opted to just watch from a distance.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and answering my questions, it made the trip that much more better!
Dan, Tammy, Cory, Leah and Adam
2003 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab Truck
2006 19 HTT Keystone Zeppelin
Equal-i-zer Hitch
Prodigy Brake Control by Tekonsha
You did good by opting out. When someone starts yelling, it's the wrong time to interfere. It's always tricky to back up with a trailer or camper ( turn steering to the left so the camper goes right, and the opposite for the other side), but once you mastered it, it becomes easy.
Cruise control is a no no when pulling a camper. They also suggest not to use overdrive, and keep your speed limit at 55 mpg to save on gas. It might seem slow but it's only 10 miles less an hour when you compare to 65 mpg.
I hope you enjoy your next trips as much as your last one, and if ever you come to Maine and need informations, let me know.
Dre and Joey
2004 Travelstar 21SSO
Mercury Mountaineer
I have a 5.3 chevy ext cab 09 do you have tow/Haul feature on your steering wheel. recommend you use the tow/haul feature when towing.55-60 is good speed.now your a pro lol at backingmyself i have a 90 deg angle to get in my driveway where i live and the road is 12 ft wide.I have too do it w/ little fudge room sometime i can sometimes i have to try again.I havent much wiggle room. I envy you lol
jerry
23ss Roo 09
chevy 09 Silverado 5.3 V8 3.73
DW,4boys all grown, GC 5 boys 5 girls ages 8 down to 1
http://community.webshots.com/user/jerr7
Equalizer hitch
ultra fab 3500 Power Jack
drenjoey wrote: Cruise control is a no no when pulling a camper. They also suggest not to use overdrive, and keep your speed limit at 55 mpg to save on gas.
Why is cruise a "no-no"? I take my Jeep GC out of overdrive, but use the cruise and it works well. I set mine to 55mph and it worked great this last trip 95 miles one-way. Got better mileage than if I would have had my lead foot on the throttle.
Unless I was on a straight stretch of road for long periods of time cruise control would not be my SOP, especially in your end of town Larry. Those Western MD hills can be very challenging!
It took me some time to figure out that taking off the OD was the way to go even though the engine/transmission sounds like it is pushing sometimes.
I am also a believer of maximizing speed whenever possible, i.e. down hills or open roadway 'cause ya know eventually you will get jammed up and have to start all over again. During those moments I will take the OD off and allow the transmission to take a break.
Of course if I did not take everything I 'think' I might need in the ROO I could probably travel lighter, faster and save more gas!
I too have a 12' street with cars on both sides whenever I leave or return from camping. It is always a challenge. The 90 degree backing in moments can be a bit hairy especially when some fool is trying to get down the street and lacks patience.
I guess the cruise control issue can be debated.... but as Scott said:" if you are on a straight stretch of road for long periods of time".
If your truck or SUV is still under warranty, check the owner's manual if there are any directives when it comes to towing.
After reading and reading about it on the internet, it became obvious that the majority of posts didn't recommend it, and that's why I said no-no.
Unless I was on a straight stretch of road for long periods of time cruise control would not be my SOP, especially in your end of town Larry. Those Western MD hills can be very challenging!
It took me some time to figure out that taking off the OD was the way to go even though the engine/transmission sounds like it is pushing sometimes.
I am also a believer of maximizing speed whenever possible, i.e. down hills or open roadway 'cause ya know eventually you will get jammed up and have to start all over again. During those moments I will take the OD off and allow the transmission to take a break.
On the challenging "end of town" as you delicately put it, Scott, I do take the cruise off and try to maximize some speed going downhill. But once I get closer to your end of town, it works great. Going further out to the west of me, there are only a couple level spots, so I don't get to enjoy the relaxed felling of cruise. I read everything in the Owner's Manual about towing - don't recall anything about NOT using cruise. I guess it's like that "other" taboo subject - wind deflectors. Everyone has their druthers.
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