Recent content by Tom Sutor

Weather here in PA is icy. Had to pull the TD out of garage to work on daughter's Prius. Hope the aluminum skin doesn't get funky and the winterizing treatment works.

We need something very much like this.

A ScanGauge is something to consider for towing. It plugs into the OBD plug and gets date from the onboard sensors. You can watch if the coolant or tranny temps are climbing so you can slow down or pull over. The ScanGauge II is the standard model. It costs 125 or so. The website will show what...

When I said that the electric brakes on my CI were a flawed design, I meant electric trailer brakes in general. No way was it a negative comment on Camp Inn trailers. Their product is the best teardrop camper on the market!

You bring up a good point, Ranger, about setting the bearing race. The proper tool makes it much easier. Same with the grease seal. Regarding Sweeney's comment, I had not worked on electric brakes before and did not realize how they worked. Now I think they are an inherently flawed design. The...

After 20-30k miles the brakes on my 550 CI were making a loud squeeling sound during braking. After taking the brakes apart it appeared the armature needed refaced and the magnet replaced. However, seems nobody in the Pittsburgh area does that type of machine work so I went with a new brake kit...

If you put on a foam or latex topper and there is no room for your big feet, cut the lower foot or so of the foam off. You feet will thank you.

I put a Fullriver battery in the back of the pickup in 2018 for running the DC fridge. No issues so far.

For good tasting drinking water I use a Brita pitcher with one of their deluxe (LONGLAST) filters that is advertised to removes most contaminates.

I like to take a sponge bath every evening when dispersed/dry camping and 8 gallons doesn't last much more than 2 days. I was tired of handling the aquatainers so installed a 25 gallon auxillary tank in the bed of the pickup. Have a 12 volt pump on it and run a hose back to the camper when its...

Forgot to mention I am trying out a new (to me) thread locker on the lug nuts. It is called Vibra-tight VC-3. Link to it below. You apply it to the threads and let it set for 30min before putting the nuts on. It is different than locktight. It is air-setting and stays plastic. Supposedly...

As a followup, the lug nuts tongued to 75 psi spun off easily once loosened up.

Yeah, good tip on replacing the breakaway switch key ASAP.

I don't have the hand e-brake option on my 550 but use this hack when moving the TD out of the garage with a manual dolly to hitch up. I have to make a left turn out of the garage then swing right and make a 180 turn to line up the TD to the TV. I have a sloping gravel driveway then the yard and...

Big Agnes Sand Wash Car Tarp on sale 30% off. May work for folks with a roof rack on their TD. Sand Wash Car Tarp | Big Agnes