Mirrors? and Levelling & Overdrive

[lpworden]

New popup. Do I just carry wood blocks for levelling? Suggestions?
Are trailer mirrors required? Going to many states. I have a tiny Rockwood Forest River popup pulled by a Toyota Highlander 6 cylinder.
Was also told by mechanic to take car out of overdrive whenever towing.
Thanks

[flyfisherman]

I do the wood block leveling ... it's good enough for the girls I go with.
But you can get about as fancy as your willing to spend the money for.

Your saying a "tiny" Rockwood, by that I assuming you have a 8' box popup?
I have an 8' box Starcraft and my previous tow vehicle was the smaller Sonoma pick-up and I did use a mirror extension that strapped over the driver's side mirror so I could get a peak around the pup. I've since replaced the Sonoma with a full size GMC (and it being wider) I have no problem seeing around the little Starcraft.

With both the Sonoma (V-6) and the present GMC (4.8 V-8), I tow the Starcraft in O/D on the flat country side. As I get into the high rolling hills and for sure the mountains, I drop down into 3rd. A feature that the present truck has that the previous one did not have, is it has a  "tow/haul" mode that when engaged causes the tranny not to downshift so readily. But I'll still drop into third on the steep hills and mountains and just leave it there.



Fly

[lpworden]

Thanks for the hints.

I'll get wood blocks. Are the mirrors required by law?

Lori

[coach]

A piece of two of wood for me, and some old siding 9" squares for the stabilizers, picnic table, stove, etc.
I've given up on using a level unless I'm with some smart A kids that need learning 'bout similar triangles and such! Then I keep the nose slightly down for better sink draining.
I've used a single strap on mirror but prefer to be able to see over the PU and since I have no A/C, I usually can!
Some vehicle makers suggest non overdrive towing always, I stay in overdrive if I can maintain 65. 3rd if the hills are big.

get ya a bucket to collect the grey water, unless you 'make' a bunch and need that big blue wheeled thingy.

[coach]

Thanks for the hints.
Are the mirrors required by law?

I bet it is different in each state.

Somewhere I read to mark off 200' (iirc) behind the PU, if you see the mirrors from way back there you're OK!

[bonscott]

Wood blocks - They are just fine for leveling.  Get a few 1x4s or something.  Make sure you get a couple chocks though.
You can "move up" to the Lynx levelers or all the way to the Bal Leveler if you feel you'd like to someday.  But wood is fine.

Mirrors - I'm not aware of any state that requires mirrors but you may want to check.  Frankly you can get a nice pair for $25 and it's a good investment for safety.
What you will find that is state law is whether you need electric brakes or not on your PUP.  Each state has different weight limits.  Personally if it's over 1000 lbs I'd want brakes just for safety unless you have a monster truck towing.

[Rauch0812]

For leveling the camper we purchcased a BAL Light Trailer Leveler and absolutely love it!  No more backing up over boards and readjusting.  Simply put the trailer in the spot, slide this around the lower wheel and turn it until the camper is perfectly level.  This has become my 12-year old son's job when the trailer is backed in.  He levels it side to side with the BAL leveler and then front to back with the tongue jack.  Leveling couldn't be easier, well worth the money!

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/bal-light-trailer-tire-leveler.aspx?a=74223

Happy camping!
Desera

[sacrawf]

Congratulations on the new Rockwood.  I bought a 1610 new and had all of these questions myself back then.

I recommend Linx leveling blocks.  They clean up easier and don't hold mud and water like wood.  Inexpensive, and available almost everywhere including Wal-Mart.  Like you, I pull a small Rockwood, and first started towing with a 6 cyl. Hyundai Santa Fe. As I was concerned about cutting weight everywhere I could, plastic Linx levelers are lighter than an assortment of wood blocks or a BAL leveler. (My Santa Fe's hitch weight capacity was 280 pounds, I recall, and I had to tow with an empty water tank and not overpack to keep the weight down.)

I do recommend brakes on the trailer if you don't have them.  My dealer had my trailer in stock, but it didn't have brakes. They ordered a new axle with the brakes and swapped out the axle. Towing with a small SUV like the Highlander/Escape/Santa Fe/Pilot/Vue without brakes on the trailer puts a lot more stress on the tow vehicle and with some reduces the rated towing capacity.

I don't know about the legality of the mirrors, but try out towing with the trailer and see what your comfort level is. Rockwoods are wide, and the smaller SUV's aren't.  But, I could just see over the top of the camper for higher profile vehicles, and I never could find mirrors that I felt wouldn't scratch up the Santa Fe mirrors. (Now with a larger tow vehicle, I can see much better).  It will also depend where you are towing.  If you are passing through urban areas with multiple lanes of interstate, the towing mirrors will make you much more confident changing lanes. If you are primarily towing on local state and county two-lanes roads, it may not be as important.

Read your vehicle's manual regarding towing.  I used the overdrive on my Santa Fe except for hilly roads where the transmission began shifting up and down routinely.  With my Sport Trac, I use overdrive all the time except for the steepest and hilliest of mountains.  Read forums on your vehicle for advise as well, and consider aftermarket transmission cooler and transmission temperature guage if you are planning any extended distance towing.

[austinado16]

For leveling the camper we purchcased a BAL Light Trailer Leveler and absolutely love it!  No more backing up over boards and readjusting.  Simply put the trailer in the spot, slide this around the lower wheel and turn it until the camper is perfectly level.  This has become my 12-year old son's job when the trailer is backed in.  He levels it side to side with the BAL leveler and then front to back with the tongue jack.  Leveling couldn't be easier, well worth the money!

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/bal-light-trailer-tire-leveler.aspx?a=74223

Happy camping!
Desera

I agree 110%.  For $50 something the BAL is the only way to go...so easy to use, even a 12 year old can do it:rolleyes: