Spyder Trailer and some feedback

[Ramjet]

Howdy folks,

I have new last fall 2013 RT limited and decided to purchase the Trailer this weekend to go with our rig. I was just wondering if any of that own them and have some miles can give some pointers and on towing this trailer and overall impressions and maybe amy tips you can give me. the wiring and hitch will be installed in Feb on the machine the same time they will do the recalls and wrap the pimples under the plastic.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[oldguyinTX]

Trailer

I have a 2013 RT LTD SE5 with the RT 622 trailer. Last September my wife & I towed the trailer from CT to Rehoboth Beach Delaware, about 600 miles round trip. The trailer was pretty well loaded as we were staying for 1 week. The trailer tracked very smoothly - no weaving, etc. I generally had the cruise control set @ 75mph and had no towing problems. I have made one mod to the trailer. The spring clip which holds the tongue stand (an option, does not come with the trailer) in the upright position came out and the stand was dragging on the highway. Didn't notice it until we stopped for gas. I wrapped a bungee cord around it and all was OK. BY the way always carry a few bungee cords - never know when you might need them. When I got home, I bought a 1/2" hitch pin from my local dealer for $2.98 I reamed out the holes on the tongue & stand with a 1/2" drill bit. Threw out the spring clip, installed the hitch pin and all is well. Took all of 10 minutes. Best $2.98 I ever spent. I also carry a padlock to lock the hitch on the trailer when the trailer is not in use to prevent theft.

Hope this helps, and enjoy the ride!

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I've towed my trailer somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 miles and it is one of the best mods I bought. The only time you will have a clue that it is behind you is when backing and with a little practice you'll get the hang of that too.

The best trick that I learned was from a spyderlover who I observed pulling into parking places with his trailer while I was always looking for the spot to pull through. He said it is much easier to back out of a parking place than it is to back into one and he was absolutely correct on that. I use the mirrors as opposed to looking over a shoulder and you will want to make lots of very little steering corrections never big ones or you will jackknife for sure.

I have been without the use of my trailer since August while I am waiting for my new Spyder to come in and I have really missed it. I grocery shop with it regularly.

 

[NancysToy]

The RT-622 tows like a dream! It can even make the Spyder handle better in bad weather or the twisties, in my opinion. About the only tricky thing is making sure you get the tongue weight right. The minimum is 15 pounds, and the max is 40...but in general you should never tow with less than 10%-15% of the total trailer weight on the tongue with any trailer. More than that usually does even better...up to a point. I'd shoot for nearer the 40 all the time for the Spyder trailer...JMHO. Use a bathroom scale until you get the hang of loading it. On a related note, it is easy to overload that very large cavern of a trailer. The cargo capacity is 250 pounds...try to watch it closely. Remember that a loaded cooler can weigh 75-80 pounds. Load stuff like that in the middle, over the axle for best results. It will affect the toungue weight less there.

A big, empty parking lot is a good place to practice trailer parking. Lay out some cones, similar to what you do for parking lot practice with the Spyder, and practice your trailer parking and turning. Better to run over a cone than a curb. Remember that the trailer will cut in on the corners by quite a bit, cutting a track well inside where the Spyder front wheels went. Some figure-8's in a parking lot will show you just how much. Get used to it before you get in tight quarters. Look back often and go slowly when turning tightly (like in a gas station) or parking. BTW, the reason it is easier to back out of a parking place than into it is that the driveway is larger than the parking place in most cases...and you don't care if you are lined up straight.

 

[Pennyrick]

Howdy folks,

I have new last fall 2013 RT limited and decided to purchase the Trailer this weekend to go with our rig. I was just wondering if any of that own them and have some miles can give some pointers and on towing this trailer and overall impressions and maybe amy tips you can give me. the wiring and hitch will be installed in Feb on the machine the same time they will do the recalls and wrap the pimples under the plastic.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Some really good responses here to your post.

We have two 622's and have traveled with them attached on nearly every overnight trip over the past four years. Make sure stuff can't move around in the trailers. I put a cargo net across the center to keep stuff from moving fore and aft. Gas cans, tools, oil and other stuff that can roll around we store in milk cartons that I velcroed on the bottom to hold them in place. Once the plastic cartons, coolers, luggage and cleaning supplies (extra cleaning rags are excellent to help secure stuff), are all in place it is a pretty solid looking compartment.

 

[Ramjet]

Great information here folks thank you very much.

 

[oldguyinTX]

Trailer Tongue Weight

Howdy folks,

I have new last fall 2013 RT limited and decided to purchase the Trailer this weekend to go with our rig. I was just wondering if any of that own them and have some miles can give some pointers and on towing this trailer and overall impressions and maybe amy tips you can give me. the wiring and hitch will be installed in Feb on the machine the same time they will do the recalls and wrap the pimples under the plastic.

Thanks in advance for any input.

You can buy a digital suitcase weight scale from Bed Bath & Beyond for about $12 bucks. Works great when you strap it to the trailer hitch to measure tongue weight. You can reduce tongue weight by redistributing cargo in the trailer. Tongue weight should be 40lbs. You can achieve this by redistributing the weight in the trailer front to back; that is in front of or behind the trailer axle.

 

[Harvey]

Parking with trailer

When I park with the trailer, I turn on my 4 way flashers. I don 't want someone thinking it is an empty parking space and crush my trailer into the Spyder. I am not sure, but I think the flashers operate about 90 minutes or until the battery senses a low voltage then shuts the flashers off leaving enough to start the Spyder. I have a 2013 RT Ltd. w/622 trailer.