Arizona Tow Pigging Daily Driver

DaveC said:
In AZ, anything towed over 3,000 lbs has to have brakes. Not only will a trailer + you TJ weight as much or more than the truck, it'll be way over the 3k requirement. If you were to be in an accident while towing, even not your fault, good chance your insurance would deny coverage if the setup weren't up to legal requirements.

I'd definitely look for a trailer with electric brakes rather than inertial and install a controller in the truck so you can set up the trailer brakes to modulate to your preference and driving conditions.
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Thanks! I know so little about towing. Just getting into all this stuff. I think what I was seeing is a lot of trailers have brakes, it just doesn’t say it in the description on marketplace so I was assuming they didn’t have them, but looks like they most likely do.
 
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starkey480 said:
Thanks! I know so little about towing. Just getting into all this stuff. I think what I was seeing is a lot of trailers have brakes, it just doesn’t say it in the description on marketplace so I was assuming they didn’t have them, but looks like they most likely do.
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And another vote in support of a WD system. Years ago, I towed the camper we had at the time with my tow rig that was basically the same weight. All within GVWR and all other specs, but just barely. I didn't have a WD setup yet, and it was not pleasant, and really sketchy coming down any significant grade.

I'd towed plenty but nothing that heavy or close in weight to the tow rig. Went out and got an Equalizer setup the next week. Huge difference. 👍
 
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New tires are night and day. Everything is better. Steering, acceleration, braking, bumps. It’s all fantastic and feels like a new truck now.
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starkey480 said:
Not doing a good job of documenting the before very well but I’ve been cleaning up the dash and it’s looking good
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Added a phone mount over the old dump switch
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Essentially I’ve touched up a bunch of the mocah colored trim. I repainted the dash pad and some of the dash. That long horizontal black trim was painted turquoise with latex paint by the PO. So I sprayed it black and tried to add some texture with some far out sprays. Turned out okay. Definitely not buying one off eBay for $75.
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I also added two screws to the passenger side of it for mounting since the tabs are broken. They don’t look awful.

Today I got a new radio in there that actually has a mounting sleeve and bezel. The old one was just flopping around in there. All in all I’m pleased with how much cleaner it is becoming in there.

The ash tray was missing slider brackets so it was flopping around. Got some brackets on eBay for like $20. She’s solid now. Lots of little satisfying fixes
 
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After a solid day of whipping the truck around town I am just so happy with how it drives. I put a lot of hard work into it so far and it feels good to really feel the results pay off. It feels like it should off the lot with the exception of just a little slop in the steering gear. But it’s a 30 year old truck so that’s just the way it goes.
 
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DaveC said:
I'd definitely look for a trailer with electric brakes rather than inertial and install a controller in the truck so you can set up the trailer brakes to modulate to your preference and driving conditions.
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Yep - even the best surge brakes are worse than electric brakes.

The only part on that I might be a bit spoiled on is I've never towed with the specific combo of an aftermarket brake controller and a trailer with electric brakes. My WJ had an aftermarket controller from the original owner, but I only ever towed unbraked or surge braked trailers with it. My Canyon has a factory integrated trailer brake controller and it works great, with none of the lurching I get whenever I tow a rented UHaul trailer with surge brakes.

Even if the aftermarket controller doesn't behave as well as a factory setup, I'd still want electric brakes just for removing the entire hydraulic system from the trailer itself.
 
I’ve got a funny electrical gremlin. When I press the brake pedal, the dome light comes on very dimly
 
Rickyd said:
Is there a third brake light behind it with a partition that is letting light past it?
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Sure is. I just haven’t cracked it open yet. I bet there’s an exposed wire back there or something
 
IOwnCalculus said:
Yep - even the best surge brakes are worse than electric brakes.

The only part on that I might be a bit spoiled on is I've never towed with the specific combo of an aftermarket brake controller and a trailer with electric brakes. My WJ had an aftermarket controller from the original owner, but I only ever towed unbraked or surge braked trailers with it. My Canyon has a factory integrated trailer brake controller and it works great, with none of the lurching I get whenever I tow a rented UHaul trailer with surge brakes.

Even if the aftermarket controller doesn't behave as well as a factory setup, I'd still want electric brakes just for removing the entire hydraulic system from the trailer itself.
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The electric over hydraulic systems are very good. Getting popular on boat trailers but they are pricey.

In a trailer that won’t be submerged, all electric is the way to go.
 
starkey480 said:
Scored an actual OEM chrome grill off marketplace for $20View attachment 533523
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Is anyone here experienced at painting? I want to repaint the inner parts of this grill black. I would need to tape off the chrome obviously. I’ve heard you should never primer up to a taped edge. If I used primer would I just feather up to the taped edge? Or should I just skip the primer?
 
starkey480 said:
Is anyone here experienced at painting? I want to repaint the inner parts of this grill black. I would need to tape off the chrome obviously. I’ve heard you should never primer up to a taped edge. If I used primer would I just feather up to the taped edge? Or should I just skip the primer?
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Ah just saw a video where they used an adhesion promoter instead
 
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