Going Weebly

15/4/2014

Here's a bit of a departure - I'm going to try blogging through Weebly this year, and that should allow better use of the hosting website that I've slaved over. I'll keep the Blogspot pages open for now, just in case this doesn't work out and for some reference, but hopefully this will be the blog's new "forever home" (pass the sick bucket).

Towed Haul is going to be woken up from hibernation on the 29th of April, which is just as well because the weather's still horrible at the moment!

5 Comments

Grant link

24/4/2014 09:47:28

I love your blog! My wife and I just bought a 1966 Sovereign Airstream that we will be renovating. Now we need a tow vehicle! I've read a lot of information coming from Can - am RV. I'm thinking about a 2012 Grand Caravan with Eaz- lift weight distribution, prodigy 2 brake controller. Any suggestions around tire size or brand of sway control bars? What about Class III hitch brand? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Steve

24/4/2014 12:40:57

Hi Grant,

Thanks for your comments; I see you have terminal Aluminitus, too.

The tires I'm running are what was supplied with the Sienna from new. They are Michelin P235/60R17 and have served well over the past three years. When it comes time to renew, I'll ask Can-Am about choices. The subject of tires is very thorny and people have their own ideas, but Andy T at Can-Am knows what he's talking about and I'll go with his advice.

The sway bars are just standard units; one came with the EAZ-LIFT hitch and is branded as a "PRO Model", the other is a Drawtite; the issue is not about brands but how good the friction material is. When we started out, they made a hideous noise, whcih was worse when the bars was wet. Can-Am offered to change them for a different model but we stuck with them and they're fine now.

That hitch receiver we're using is a HIDDEN-HITCH, the best on the market at the time for the Sienna - it was Can-Am's choice of course. What they've done is beefed it up a bit with the addition of some steelwork. This adds rigidity to the receiver and also resists some of the torque that the weight distribution system applies to it, this ensuring that the fullest amount of weight is transferred to the front axle. Can-Am with strengthen most hitches they fit as the SAE standard for torque resistance in aftermarket hitches isn't sufficient for the loads that need to be applied.

I see that you're in Colorado, which is obviously some way from Ontario where Can-Am is situated. I'd recommend that you call Andy Thompson at Can-Am for advice as he's the expert and will be able to advise far more accurately than I. That said, I do have a friend in Colorado who had her hitch fitted to her VW Jetta by Can-Am, and towed her Bambi back across the continent in January!

Anyway, good luck with your project; maybe we'll meet out on the road one day.

Steve

Grant link

25/4/2014 05:56:58

Thanks Steve! Yes, I have a serious case of aluminitus. Thanks for the info. I'll reach out to Andy. Did they do anything to your rear struts or shocks?

Steve

26/4/2014 03:28:36

Hi Grant,

No, they did nothing to the suspension; it was, and still is, standard. Andy T is big on maintaining good shocks, though, and I can well see that he might recommend changing them (and improving them) after a few years of use. Of course, shocks are relatively cheap and easy to fit so it's an easy fix when required.

Grant link

8/7/2014 15:37:04

Hi Steve. I'm making progress. We purchased a used Honda Odyssey and I installed the aftermarket Hidden Hitch tow bar. I am getting ready to have a welder reinforce the hitch. Does the reinforcement attach to the axle itself or does it go back up to the frame? I can't tell from your pictures how or where it attaches back there. Send me an email and I will send you a picture of what my car looks like down there.

Going Weebly

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The Old BlogCan be found HERE

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The Old Blog
Can be found HERE