Archive - Aluminium Camper Forum

Apparently not.......

We have a 2014 14DBS that might be looking for a new home.  Don't know exactly where you are, but we are 509 miles from Amarillo, according to Google Maps.
Are we within the distance you are wanting to travel?[attachment id="1658" thumbnail="1"]

I use the  Primus®IQ and find it it perfectly satisfactory.
However, many folks think that if you buy the most expensive it's gotta be better......

[quote source="/post/5177/thread" timestamp="1416402817" author="@fasteddieb"]My local trailer guy said he used a Kenosha Voyager, which I think is their most basic model, and said it would be find for our usage and it seems to be.

No digital display, just two knobs and a slider and some indicator lights.

Seems to work, though I think mine needs some fine tuning - the trailer feels like its neither pushing nor pulling, but the slider barely applies the trailer brakes. Will probably play with it before our next long trip.[/quote]Sorry fasteddie  - It's Tekonsha - as in Tekonsha, Michigan  not Kenosha......

But, your trailer guy is right.  Nothing wrong with the Voyager. In our past life, we were a Tekonsha brake control wholesale distributor.  At that time, the Voyager was the current and best model they produced.  Needless to say we had one.  It saw use in several trucks over the years and many miles of towing without a problem.
 We let it go with a truck because the one we traded for had a factory control.  Traded that truck for our present Tacoma, and of course needed a brake control.  Choose the Tekonsha Primus IQ model. The operation is similar to the Voyager, but has a digital readout, proportional braking, and is self-leveling. If we still had a Voyager, I would use it, but since I had to buy one I choose the Primus IQ for the additional features and still simple set-up and use and less cost than the P3.

Thanks charliem for straightening out the link I posted.  They're hard if not impossible to find with a Google search.

For Toyota Tacoma owners:

If you need towing mirrors, you can't beat ProEFX mirrors.  They replace the factory mirrors and look like and flip up like the mirrors on late model Dodge RAM 2500/3500 trucks.

About a 30 minute installation and so far I have no complaints with them.  In fact, I can almost read the license plate on the back of my Camplite...........

Tacomaworld.com forum has some excellent comments on them and there may be a group buy available in Spring.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/group-buys/327741-proefx-towing-mirror-gb-2-a-12.html   Follow the thread to near the end if you are interested.

I previously used the Milenco mirrors someone mentioned above and found they worked quite well except for having to install and remove them.

I don't think CAT scales weigh side to side.  They weigh Steer axle, Drive axle and Trailer Axle.
However, with our small trailers (at least our 14DBS), you will only get weights on the Steer and Drive Axle portions of the scale.
Just drive on the scale and stop near the front. Weigh tow vehicle and trailer (cost should be about $10.00) then go off the scale and drop the trailer.
Within a certain amount of time ( hours) you can get a reweigh for about $2.00.  So, take the tow vehicle back and get the weight.
Subtract the two and you'll have the weight of the trailer.
Then, let everyone know what the trailer actually weighs vs. the factory weight.
Then, when you're loaded for camping do the Cat scale procedure again and be surprised at how much weight you have added.

Pinstriper,

I guess we were "in flight".  Filled the truck with gas and went directly to the scale.  The campground we were staying at was less than a mile away.  Went there, dropped the trailer, and went directly back to the scale.  Weight should be as accurate as possible.  The only other thing to do would be to empty the trailer completely and do the scale procedure again.  Not going to happen.
How about the next new 14DBS customer pulling the scales on his way home from the dealer?  
I think our weight difference is pretty well accounted for, so enough of that........
Will still be interested to know what other Livin Lite owners have found in their weight determinations.
Maybe someone could start a thread on that subject.

pinstriper,

Don't know what you mean by weighing "in flight".  Truck and trailer were weighed with all axles on the CAT scale.  Dropped trailer and weighed just the truck. Difference has got to be just the trailer.
I think we can come quite close to accounting for the difference which I calculate as 415#. 3350 + 355 - 4120 = 415#
Water difference = +/- 160# -  Floor = 55# -  Tool Box = 20# -  Chairs = 20#- - Sewer Hose Carrier = 40# -  Lots of Food = 20# -  Misc = ? Total = 315# +/- .  100# difference.
Your "backed into" tongue weight could be off slightly...maybe, huh?  Sure, I would like to be pulling a lot less, wouldn't we all... but then we wouldn't have a 14' Camplite.

pinstriper,
How are you calculating "tongue weight" ?  
We carry a full tank of fresh water, full water heater, 2 full 20# L/P cylinders, clothes, refer full of food, modutile.com floor tile (approx. 60# with nice diamond plate pattern), small tool box, 2 - PICO folding chairs and table, small solar panel, and the sewer hose carrier made of Sch. 40 PVC pipe (accommodates elbow) plus of course miscellaneous stuff like a couple of DVD's, etc.
What do you carry in your 14DBS?

In response to rln055:
Got a '14 Taco (5040# fully loaded).  Got a 14DBS (4120# fully loaded).  Gotta tell ya, you'll know it when you come to a hill.  Don't want to even think about mountains.........and  we live in "Colorful Colorado".  Can't imagine pulling anything heavier with a Taco.
With an Equal-i-zer hitch, we have no sway, no bounce and weight distribution.  Quite satisfied with it.
I think the P3 is overkill.  Our Tekonsha Primus IQ control works fine and it's easier to look at your mirrors than the brake control to check on your trailer.........
The Primus control too shows if the trailer is 'Electrically" connected, if that's what you mean.
Toyota hides the wiring harness very well, but it's there and with the Tekonsha wiring adapter makes connecting a Tekonsha brake control a snap.

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