DangerMouse
New member
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- Location
- San Antonio, TX
Hello all,
New to the forum and new to trailer ownership. Found my way over here from Expedition Portal. Currently wading through past 101 threads but thought I would start a new one as well.
I recently purchased an M101A2 to be used for camping. It will be towed by a 2015 4 door Wrangler which I believe can tow up to 3500. I've read plenty of accounts stating that it "doesn't feel like the trailer is back there," but I could definitely tell. Perhaps I'm used to towing my super light weight Harbor Freight trailer, or I'm not used to a pintel set up, but she was definitely back there. Tracking fine but felt heavy. The surge brakes were not working, and I'm not sure why at the moment. Seller said that they had been disabled but after reading the TM it didn't appear that they were, at least purposely.
Another reason for that "not so light" feeling may be the tongue weight and height of the trailer compared to the Jeep. Perhaps if the trailer was level things would feel better.
So anyway, while the dry weight is supposedly 1300, and there is no way I would ever load this thing up anywhere close to 3500, I'm pondering swapping out the axle and adding electronic brakes. The axle will be switched regardless. I want to be able to use the same wheels/tires as the tow vehicle, which are a 5 on 5 pattern. Electronic brakes overkill you think?
Would taking off the old wheels, brakes, surge brake stuff on the tongue, axle, and replacing them with a 3500 axle with Jeep rims and tires lighten the load? Or would it be a wash?
Is there a market for the stuff I take off? I don't know what is wrong with the brake system. It could be something as simple as no hydraulic fluid. But I'm not sure how beneficial taking the time to trouble shoot it would be if it isn't worth selling it to anybody.
Anyway I thank you for any replies and advice. And thank you ahead of time for my impending divorce due to expensive new hobby. As of now she want's to help me with this project....but who knows how long that can last![Exclamation :!: :!:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif)
New to the forum and new to trailer ownership. Found my way over here from Expedition Portal. Currently wading through past 101 threads but thought I would start a new one as well.
I recently purchased an M101A2 to be used for camping. It will be towed by a 2015 4 door Wrangler which I believe can tow up to 3500. I've read plenty of accounts stating that it "doesn't feel like the trailer is back there," but I could definitely tell. Perhaps I'm used to towing my super light weight Harbor Freight trailer, or I'm not used to a pintel set up, but she was definitely back there. Tracking fine but felt heavy. The surge brakes were not working, and I'm not sure why at the moment. Seller said that they had been disabled but after reading the TM it didn't appear that they were, at least purposely.
Another reason for that "not so light" feeling may be the tongue weight and height of the trailer compared to the Jeep. Perhaps if the trailer was level things would feel better.
So anyway, while the dry weight is supposedly 1300, and there is no way I would ever load this thing up anywhere close to 3500, I'm pondering swapping out the axle and adding electronic brakes. The axle will be switched regardless. I want to be able to use the same wheels/tires as the tow vehicle, which are a 5 on 5 pattern. Electronic brakes overkill you think?
Would taking off the old wheels, brakes, surge brake stuff on the tongue, axle, and replacing them with a 3500 axle with Jeep rims and tires lighten the load? Or would it be a wash?
Is there a market for the stuff I take off? I don't know what is wrong with the brake system. It could be something as simple as no hydraulic fluid. But I'm not sure how beneficial taking the time to trouble shoot it would be if it isn't worth selling it to anybody.
Anyway I thank you for any replies and advice. And thank you ahead of time for my impending divorce due to expensive new hobby. As of now she want's to help me with this project....but who knows how long that can last
![Exclamation :!: :!:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif)