Because you know I can’t do a project without things going sideways.
I decided to dry fit my wheels on the hubs before hanging the hubs on the trailer and……
…..erupted in a cloud of profanity so robust that Old Man Parker* would have been impressed.
Continue reading “Adding brakes to the utility trailer- hardware (days 2&3)”With the Excursion, the barn doors opened above the trailer crank handle. I’ve been worried about getting into the bed of the Ridgeline with the trailer hitched.
Continue reading “A game of inches”It turns out my trailer has been non-compliant with NJ law for the entire time I’ve owned it. Trailers over 3,000 GVWR must have brakes & a breakaway system. My 3,500 pound trailer had neither when I bought it. So, let’s get to work.
Continue reading “Adding brakes to the trailer – hardware (day 1)”Good day, and welcome to day 2.
First step – get the junction box hung so I can complete my day 1 tasks.
Last fall I installed the Tow-Pro into the Ridgeline, now I have to make it so the Tow-Pro can control the trailer brakes.
First off, the brake-less trailer has a four pin plug (Ground, Marker, Left & Right Turns), while a trailer equipped with brakes has a seven pin plug (added Brakes, Reverse lights and Power).
Continue reading “Adding brakes to the utility trailer – electrical (Day 1)”Adding brakes to the utility trailer this spring. I’m going to post little bits as I go, instead of one big post.
I’m moving from a four-wire cable to a seven wire cable to support the brakes & break away safety system. I’m also adding a seven pole junction box.
Continue reading “New trailer wire”I bought this controller years ago but never got around to installing it in the Excursion. Given how much lighter the Ridgeline is, I’m more concerned about being pushed about by the trailer.
I opted for the Liberty (highway) model over the Elite (off-road & highway) for the two obvious reasons – price and the fact that I don’t take a trailer off road. That being said install for the two should be identical.
Continue reading “Trailer Brake Controller”When towing with the Excursion, I never really thought about the “extra load” on the engine, because I never towed anything heavy enough for the 7.3 to notice.
But if I’m going to tow with the Ridgeline, I’m going to have to monitor the engine a bit more closely.
Continue reading “More Input!”Yet another way that 23 years of technology have made trucks easier to manage. Yesterday morning, I had to move the trailer around the yard.
Normally, I ask my wife or son to direct me as I back up to the coupler.
The downward view on the backup camera makes hitching up a one man operation.
A sad day indeed, but one that I’ve known was coming for a long time. Today, I said goodbye to Fessick.
When the running board broke under my weight. Removing the running boards made it painfully obvious that the rocker panels were totally rusted out.
When the Neutral Safety Switch started getting wonky. To start the car, I need to switch between Park & Neutral until the switch completes the starter circuit.
When the parking pawls stopped engaging reliably. If I’m parking on a grade I have to go in and out of Park until the transmission manages to hold the car in place. Now the parking pawls seem to have failed completely, I’m parked against a pair of wheel chocks.
When the front hubs started whining. Actually, I’m not sure if it’s the hubs or the brakes, but there’s a definite whine from the front end.
Realistically, I could have fixed any of these issues, but when you stack them all together, it just doesn’t make sense.
The Excursion really doesn’t fit into my lifestyle. I live between NYC and Philly, this truck isn’t a good city vehicle.
I don’t do any heavy towing. I don’t cart around seven passengers.
In the six years I’ve owned this truck, only once have I used a feature of this truck that is unique to it. When I built the tiny shed, Fessick lived in the backyard with all my tools and materials.
And now the search begins… {note – the search actually began several months ago.}
Modern Anachronist 