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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Reports: Chrysler, GM discuss merger,
Well after the weekend of watching and doing a bit of reading, here is what I suspect may happen, which is probably the only benefictial course of action. GM take on Jeep, sell the truck brand to Nissan, they want real bad to have a heavy duty truck, then scrap the rest of the stuff. The Chrysler 300 is on it's last leg, the thug crowd is penniless without equity in their cardboard boxes, the mid size was delivered DOA, the Calibre is a joke. The Durango is the worst of a bad lot. Only marketebale merchandise is the Cummins contract, Nissan would love that, and Jeep, the only money maker Chrysler has. I can only hope that foreign buyers don't get it. GM would be foolish to trade off the mortages market for this sorry heap.
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Capt Skup
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10/12/08 04:00pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Reports: Chrysler, GM discuss merger,
Well I hope the Jeep Wrangler survives. Other than the Jeep, I really see nothing else of value to GM. I think they would be better off holding onto their share of GMAC, even with the mortgage market tanking, holding onto those house notes is a better bet than a car manufacturer with little prospect of resurgence.
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Capt Skup
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10/11/08 04:12pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Repacking/replaceing your WW bearings/races/seals
Don't know if the WW is any different than any other trailer but I have been cleaning and repacking axle bearings on my own trailers for years, rv, boat, utility. Not much difference between the three. I would say as long as you are mechanically inclinated, know how to safely lift and support the trailer's weight, know the proper type and size axle seal, you should be able to carry out the task with ease. Maybe not need to remind you but gasoline is not a safe cleaning fluid. I like to use kerosene, sometimes diesel. I break down the assembly, being careful not to get any grease on brake components. Submerge the bearings(inner and outer) in the cleaning solvent, let them soak for a spell. I rarely need to replace the bearings and races due to the fact I do the repack usually annually, especially if trailer racks up lot of miles. I clean and inspect the races, looking for burning, stress cracks, scratching. If they and the bearings look good, I repack and reinstall. I prefer the synthetic grease available from Mobil1. I clean the axle shaft, lightly greasing it to prevent the seal lip from being damaged. I clean the bearings, inspecting them closely, let them air dry(NEVER spin them dry with compressed air!). I now use a bearing repacker that I bought for a few dollars, it does a very good job and saves me time and grease. If I have to drive out the races, I use a socket that fits the exposed edges and gently tap them out, same way I do to reseat new ones. Might be a special tool, but I don't have one. I reassemble, while spinning the drum I tighten the nut, and using a torque wrench, tighten to specs. Almost forgot, I use a can of spray brake cleaner to wash down the brake components, ensuring I did not contaminate anything with grease. Also don't forget to use the locking device to prevent axle nut loosening.
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Capt Skup
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10/09/08 11:33am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Final Results Chrysler/48RE Drama
Treatment by the dealership, Waldorf Dodge, and the factory over warranty issues, is what drove me away from Dodge, not the truck. Do wonder how silicone got into the transmission. Mine just constantly lost it's shifting programming.
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Capt Skup
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10/09/08 07:58am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Anybody got an '09 Ram yet?
Local dealer, Prince Frederick Dodge, has four new '09 1500s on display. Silver, blue, and a very bright yellow. All crew cabs, all heavily loaded models, very nice looking trucks. If that ram head imprint was not on the air bag cover, you would think you were in a different brand truck. Plus $41,000 price a bit steep, escpecially parked next to a '08 model with it's price slashed in half.
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Capt Skup
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10/08/08 10:27am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: For a company that claimed solvency
We bought a new Sunline fifth wheel in 2003, family owned company sold to an "investment" group and now they are gone.
We bought a new Teton fifth wheel in 2006, family owned company sold to an "investment" group and now they are gone.
Hmmmmm.....
We are now doing our research and shopping for a new fifth wheel, which company shall we doom due to our purchase? Jayco, NuWa, Carriage are on our short list.
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Capt Skup
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10/06/08 06:59pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: F350 or F450
I have never seen a F-450 pickup or cab/chassis with the Dana 80 axle. Only the bigger Dana's, 110. Easy to tell on the new trucks, the F-250/350 come with a finned aluminum diff. cover. Dana 110/120 do not have a removable cover.
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Capt Skup
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10/06/08 05:30am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ouch!!!!
JIH, if you READ my post very carefully you will see that I stated that we exchanged information. Accident happened in 2001 and I still have the same cell phone number.
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 01:01pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Sept. sales tank, Chrysler is down, but has lots of company
Just came in from the car. Listening on the radio to the roll call vote in the House for the bailout, rescue plan, whatever you call taking $700 BILLION dollars and buying bad home loans. Insane maybe. So once that freshly printed money is handed over to the financial institutions that were forced into these very bad loans I figure the dealers will be flooded with business. Maybe now is the time for those that have good credit, a decent down payment and can afford the loan payments to take advantage of the low prices, very low if not zero percent financing offers.
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 11:41am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: FORD F550 S/DUTY 2001 7.3
I have pulled apart differentials and third members before for install of limited slips, lockers but I have never pulled a 3rd member as big as the one fitted to a Dana 110/120. That is a beast to get back into place. What I have learned so far, a 450 with 4.30s allows a person to drive 5mph faster than a 4.88 equipped truck, both getting the same fuel mileage. Not enough to cover the cost, even if I did the work myself. What I think would be the best option, a two speed rear axle. One for solo highway traveling, one for heavy towing or hill climbing.
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 10:04am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Toyota offering 0%APR financing on 11 models
Hang on Lindy. Yesterday I heard Joe B. not only wants to lower the interest on those ARMS to a fixed 5%(I could not even get that with a FICA of over 750), he wants to have their principle lowered. Wonder who is going to get tapped to pay for that? :M
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 08:23am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: shocks
I have had great service out of Bilstiens and the 9000 series Ranchos.
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 08:18am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: FORD F550 S/DUTY 2001 7.3
Something I have been meaning to do, measure the height of my truck's 19.5 tires. Are they really much taller than those fitted to 250/350's? If you are not planning on towing heavy, than going to 4.10s would be a good idea for fuel economy. RPMs should still be high enough to keep the engine spinning happily without lugging. You say you have found gears all the way down to 3.73 for the Dana 120 axle? I looked into a regear for my truck, double cost since 4x4. It would take me years to recoup cost of mod in fuel savings. I could not find 4.10 or 3.73 for the Dana 110 axle, only 4.30 and above.
BTW, you lucky son of a gun. 5 month vacation!! To Alaska!!! Shoot, I would love to go fishing with Todd and Sarah.
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 08:16am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ouch!!!!
I felt the same way. "Bumped" a little Neon in the rear on the on-ramp for the cross town expressway. Luckily the young woman was not hurt, the car did not even have a scratch on it. Boy I was relieved until.... I turned around and took a look at the big chrome bumper on my 1500 Laramie. Not scratched but kinda of tilted down in the back. We exchanged info, I never heard from her again. Took the truck to the body shop, estimate was $1300!!!!!!!. Holy cow. Same for two other estimates. Not much behind all that chrome.
Caughed up the dough, got it repaired. Life goes on. I would have probably blown the money on boating or camping anyway:(
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 08:07am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: F350 or F450
That indeed is a bummer with the 450. No more rides out on the beach at OBX or Cape Cod. The 19.5s sidewalls are way too stiff for beach travel. I have seen a 450 with Super Singles. Tread must have been over 12" wide, truck looked great. Wonder what the weight rating are on those, and they still looked like 19.5s not 22.5s. I am still waiting for Chrysler to give us a Wrangler with the 3.0 TDI., or even a 4.7.
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 07:57am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: F350 or F450
I have towed a trailer with a pin weight a hair over 5,000lbs and the truck handled it just fine. The 2008 F-450 "pickup" has a rear axle rated at 9500lbs, the Dana 110. That same axle in the F-450 cab/chassis is rated at 14,500lbs with the same tires/rims/brakes. Difference between the two trucks is the leaf spring packs. The pickup version are longer and I think have 4 leafs, compromise for softer ride. Stock cab/chassis springs are quite stiff and truck ride can be painful when unloaded. Price difference for me when purchasing my truck between a F-350 Lariat Tow boss and the F-450 Lariat was about $2,000. The 450 was well worth the difference. The 4.88 axle ratio is no longer offered in new production 450 pickups, though there is probably still job 1 and 2 still to be found on dealers lots. I have crossed the scales at 32,500lbs GCWR and the truck handled the load just fine, returning 8+mpg on the flats.
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 07:52am |
Tow Vehicles
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Toyota offering 0%APR financing on 11 models
Up to 60 months, includes the Tundra and Tacoma. For those needing a new vehicle, market is ripe for good deals. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/a7f04d9f0bd735f3dc255f99faeb3e2e.htm
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 06:44am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2008 Ford F350; 973 Miles And 102 Gallons Later
Not bad at all. I have found my truck's mileage computer just about spot on also. Now that I have close to 16k miles on the truck, the latest flash(and the venturi kit installed), my towing mileage on the flats using cruise and holding to 55mph has netted me a solid 10.5 and sometimes 10.9mpg. While the 6.4 does not seem to do as well as the previous 6.0 and 7.3 PSDs driving unladened, when towing big trailers, the mileage is pretty close to those engines. My towing mileage is almost the same as my '04 6.0PSD, though driving slower due to the differential gearing.
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Capt Skup
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10/03/08 05:27am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Check out these Dyno numbers - 08 Diesels
Imagine any of these engines sans DPF, EGR, cat. converters. Even strangled with the smog gear, they all have a hell of a lot of towing ability. For poops and giggles, after letting the engine and tranny come up to operating temps, I turned off the TCS(traction control), stood on the brake pedal, brought the RPMs up until the back tires just started to break loose and took my foot off of the brake. Actually spun all four rear tires, the acceleration rush felt almost like a cat shot. Not a clue how quick, but I bumped into the speed limiter(about 80mph)in a very short distance. For those pining for the old days, no thanks, we got it too good today. Power, reliability, comfort, structural strength, all wrapped up in a purty pick-em-up.
The 6.4 does need to be spun up to produce the power, most V-8s do, and it keeps building without a sudden let off. Waiting to see the 6.7 Scorpians #'s, hear they may reach well over 700 pounds and better fuel mileage.
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Capt Skup
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10/02/08 11:06am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: truck tires on a camper?
In the very near future I will be replacing the tires on my 2003 Sunline fifth wheel which is close to 12k loaded up. It now has 235/85R-16 load range E tires on two 7k axles. I will be installing BFGoodrich commercial load range E truck tires of the same size as the current ones. As long as the truck tires you are contemplating are of the same or greater carrying capacity(load range E or better), the fact that they are truck tires should not be an issue. I think quality name brand (Goodyear, BFGoodrich, Michelin, General, Continental, etc..) are a much better choice than the tires that the rv manufacturers install when the trailers are assembled. Tires I am buying cost under $100.00 a piece and are found at BJ's wholesale club.
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Capt Skup
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10/02/08 06:15am |
Fifth-Wheels
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