Hi Ed
Those settings sound good to me... I believe the issue of difficult steering can be solved with the rake kit - that's why I installed it as steering was quite fatiguing after riding for a while... I installed my own rake kit as well as new roller bearings that came with the kit from Traxxion... If you would like to install one, I would be happy to help you if you want to ride up to Eastern Tennessee to my place and very well equipped garage...
I have been riding my TP for close to 6 years now and there has been no sign of failure anywhere... I have modified the trailer hitch a bit for increased ground clearance while loading the bike (trike) into my truck on my Rampage lift) but other than that, it is pretty much stock other than another mod for quick disconnect on the fenders to facilitate loading into the truck...
When I change a rear tire, I use the layover method on the bike so this means I remove the TP kit and lay the bike over... I also have to remove the bolt on the TP lower left frame and loosen the u-bolts on the top left side behind the rear bike fender... Not a difficult job, but a bit time consuming...
I haul the trike in the back of my F-250SD pickup on a Rampage lift... At my age, (72) riding cross country in 100 degree heat is a thing of the past and my wife would never commit to doing that , so we ride in comfort in the truck and offload the bike when we get to the riding destination... I have ridden for over 45 years now in all kinds of weather and have nothing to prove, so now we ride in comfort... It is a necessity at this stage in our lives...
Sorry but I am not familiar enough with the Knoxville area for recommendations on hotels... I was going to go to Wing Ding but my pinstripping vendor cancelled so my wife cancelled our hotel reservations that we had...
Maybe we could take a ride up there together... We'll be back in town by than and you could stay at our place before we go... If that interests you let me know via PM and I'll give you my address, phone and so forth... I did accept you on the friend list too
Les