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RE: Whould you buy a new vehicle....
I am watching very closely. I would not buy from a bankrupt company. I have received the poorest service from Chrysler, and my nearest dealer disappeared in the middle of the night. There is not enough demand, people don't have enough money, to support the auto industry as it is. The industry is going to have to re-structure and downsize, period, unless you believe the government should subsidize the industry to support the union workers? Layoffs are coming, bailout or not.
I personally will not buy from a company that takes tax payer bailout money, will look for Toyota to build a HD dually truck.
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Grodyman
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11/13/08 04:55pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Good price for a new Arctic Fox
Is that quote with generator? Somewhat reasonable. Hard to guage because we don't know what they're charging for labor to install torklifts. I assume just the front. Also additional labor for extra outlets.
I paid just under $25K for my AF990 with solar, generator, awnings, dual pane windows, dsi elec heater, bunk bed, all diamond plate, pretty much loaded, but no entertainment pkg.
You're looking at an additional $5K for a slightly larger camper, the entertainment pkg, tie downs, extra outlets, and the labor involved. I don't remember the price differential between a 990 and an 1140 to be that much, but could be wrong.
If that price is w/o generator, I definately think too high, but if it is included, then about right. Try getting a Lance for that price.
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Grodyman
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11/08/08 04:18pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Dropping like a stone
It's ok, Nancy Pelosi will save them. Hopefully they'll make a nice truck at an affordable price for a change, and actually stock the lot with something other than a $50-$60K diesel.
Automakers, dealers, etc. got too big and too greedy, just like everyone else, including all of those who raised their standard of living beyond their income through the home equity cash machine.
The nation is bankrupt. Americans are going to have to learn to save money again, despite the government's best efforts to get them to spend spend spend.
Oh, what do you think Arnold's plan to raise sales tax in Ca. 1.5%, and raise DMV fees, is going to do for new truck sales????
Personally, I am not spending a dime on anything but necessities. Those responsible for this mess should pay for it.
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Grodyman
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11/08/08 11:56am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New springs or supersprings
I have forgotten what Supersprings are. I think they are some kinda add-on spring device that grabs one end of the leaf pack and pulls it up??
Anyways, I would go with either re-arcing the stock leaf packs and adding a leaf or two to them, or replace them with heavy duty leaf packs.
I did the same thing Marty did with his truck. I went from the stock 5 leaf packs to heavy duty 7 leaf packs with much longer, thicker leafs and about 3000 lbs more spring capacity for the rear axle. Huge difference in how the truck handles the weight of the 3500 lb utility body I carry in the bed of the truck. :)
I wish I had pics of the stock F350 SRW springs to compare them to the new springs. The new springs so much heavier and bigger than the old ones it's not even funny. The leafs are longer and much thicker. The old ones looked like they belong on a 1/2-ton. The new ones have almost as much carrying capacity as stock F450 springs.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn7/desertrider33/0608081102.jpg?t=1215582643
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn7/desertrider33/0608081058.jpg?t=1215582663
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn7/desertrider33/0608081058a.jpg?t=1215582687
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn7/desertrider33/0608081059.jpg?t=1215582692
Here you see the factory stock helper spring above the main leaf packs. The frame stops rest on each end of the helper spring. That spring use to be almost laying on the main packs with the original spring packs. Now it just barely being compressed. The truck is about 6 inches higher in the back when fully loaded now with the new springs than with the old ones.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn7/desertrider33/0608081057.jpg?t=1215582704
This is how the truck sits with 3500 lbs in the bed, just above level in the rear. No air bags or other suspension aids, just heavy duty leaf packs.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn7/desertrider33/0306081114.jpg?t=1215582722
Awesome! Is that the work of National Spring? What was the cost of the new spring packs?? I could do new spring packs and avoid welding bumpstops and adding auxiliary springs.
Gman
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Grodyman
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07/09/08 12:43am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: GM selling Hummer, maybe more
Interesting...I'm sure GMC is in there with Chevy and Cadillac. Why would they sell or who would want to buy a division who's intials are General Motors Corporation? And seeing how the are all made on the same lines as Chevys.
This speaks to a point I've made in many conversations: Why on earth do US auto manufacturers insist on maintaining makes and models with nearly identical features?
Daimler Chrysler in recent years killed off Plymouth for that very reason. Why have the Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Chrysler Town & Country when they are the exact same vehicle with slightly different trim, bells, and whistles? It didn't make sense because the 3 brands competed against each other. The same was true of Oldsmobile vs Buick. That's one of the reasons Olds is gone, too much feature overlap.
While I don't like to see US jobs disappear, the manufactures need to take a long hard look at where they are beating themselves up and eliminate those conflicts. For example, why on earth does GM still make Chevy and GMC trucks :H Yes they vary slightly in appearance and features, but mechanically they are the exact same truck. The same holds true for Ford and Mercury SUV's and cars.
Buyers want choice, but they also want value. Make one vehicle, give it multiple options, and eliminate the fat.
KJ
The same is true for Toyota and Lexus, Nissan and Infiniti. Some people are "upper class" and would rather drive a Lincoln Navigator vs. a pedestrian Ford Expedition. Sad but true.
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Grodyman
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07/09/08 12:37am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 19.5 Ricksons on Dodge with positive offset...?
Too soon to tell for me too, but I have asked this question before also, and had positive responses. Keep in mind that for a little more money you could get Rickson steel wheels and eliminate the offset "problem" and also opt for 225 tires instead of 245 and larger. Some people are running 285 75R17 Toyo? tires on stock wheels for a tire upgrade also, I think something like 3950 lb. load rating per tire.
Gman
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Grodyman
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07/09/08 12:30am |
Truck Campers
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RE: 5,000 Miles
Grodyman
Great post. Being a good old boy here in Tennessee, where did you go while here?
Concerning Crackerbarrel, you are talking about Southern delicacy. They serve some
of the best lard, I mean gravy you have ever cut through.Now the one near me
serves up some good country ham, red eye gravy and biscuits.
Being a person who is retired, a 5000 mile trip would have taken me at least 3 months.
Just kidding about Cracker Barrel. Dale Hollow Lake, Cookeville, and Crossville. Walked through the Leisure Kraft pontoon boat "factory" in Crossville. Looked at some properties in Cookeville, drove by Tenn Tech. I love the landscape, lakes, and campgrounds. Definately a state I could live in.
Gman
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Grodyman
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07/09/08 12:27am |
Truck Campers
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RE: 5,000 Miles
Nice report, Grodyman. What kind of milage did you get with your CTD? And what kind of roads were you taking? In my cross-country experiences the interstates are, for the most part, pretty good. Were you on a lot of secondaries?
Trip was excellent, beautiful country. If I invest $700 or so in custom overloads from a good spring shop, my truck will be as capable as a dually for the most part. My truck, with airbags and hellwig overloads, was very stable, very comfortable. Spring pack is weakest link for my load, being only a stock 3/4 ton suspension. The stock overloads on a 3500 srw truck are inadequate, and I probably would have had to add springs to them as well, it's the welding of the bump stops to my frame, which my truck doesn't have, that is the problem.
I feel my truck is capable of the loads I carry and tow, parks in my garage, and is a daily commuter. Overall a great truck for my uses. Yes I could have gotten a dually and saved money in mods, but too late now. My next truck will be a dual. If I had it to do over I would buy a dual, but a 3/4 ton SRW truck can be safely modified. I saw a lot of very large truck campers on the road, all appeared to be on single wheel truck with stock tires.
When it comes time to replace my tires, I will put load range F tires in front, rather than the G's I have now, and upgrade to load range H tires in rear. Front tires wear very little, rear much more. This will be pretty much bullet proof. I really wanted to only put 19.5's on rear, but didn't want a truck with two different sets of wheels.
Overall I think I averaged 11.5 MPG hauling/towing about 10,000 lbs. Travelled mostly I40 east, and I70/80 west. Ok roads for the most part until you hit the cities.
Gman
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Grodyman
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07/08/08 05:11pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 5,000 Miles
Nice report, Grodyman. What kind of milage did you get with your CTD? And what kind of roads were you taking? In my cross-country experiences the interstates are, for the most part, pretty good. Were you on a lot of secondaries?
Trip was excellent, beautiful country. If I invest $700 or so in custom overloads from a good spring shop, my truck will be as capable as a dually for the most part. My truck, with airbags and hellwig overloads, was very stable, very comfortable. Spring pack is weakest link for my load, being only a stock 3/4 ton suspension. The stock overloads on a 3500 srw truck are inadequate, and I probably would have had to add springs to them as well, it's the welding of the bump stops to my frame, which my truck doesn't have, that is the problem.
I feel my truck is capable of the loads I carry and tow, parks in my garage, and is a daily commuter. Overall a great truck for my uses. Yes I could have gotten a dually and saved money in mods, but too late now. My next truck will be a dual. If I had it to do over I would buy a dual, but a 3/4 ton SRW truck can be safely modified. I saw a lot of very large truck campers on the road, all appeared to be on single wheel truck with stock tires.
When it comes time to replace my tires, I will put load range F tires in front, rather than the G's I have now, and upgrade to load range H tires in rear. Front tires wear very little, rear much more. This will be pretty much bullet proof. I really wanted to only put 19.5's on rear, but didn't want a truck with two different sets of wheels.
Overall I think I averaged 11.5 MPG hauling/towing about 10,000 lbs. Travelled mostly I40 east, and I70/80 west. Ok roads for the most part until you hit the cities.
Gman
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Grodyman
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07/08/08 05:10pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 5,000 Miles
Grodyman,
I have a 2008 AF 990, and I was told to NOT run it on LP while driving. SAFETY issue? Also, I don't have a DC option. What BRAND Fridge do you have? Mine melted the ice when the outside temp went up to 103F last week and this was with AC. I am curious if this is common problem with RV fridges. I may need to find a better one.
Norcold, I believe. I ran on DC power while driving and the batteries couldn't keep up and lost a lot of stuff. It's ok for a day or so, but 3-4 days on the road and it doesn't keep up. Fridge is in slide, and I think I hear a fan when operating, but not sure about DC because I am usually driving.
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Grodyman
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07/08/08 10:03am |
Truck Campers
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RE: 5,000 Miles
Get the right truck for the weight and stock tires are fine. I am left wondering if your tires and other mods cost more than the difference in a one ton vs 3/4 ton truck?
I definately should have bought a dually. The mods cost much more than the difference between srw and dual wheel truck. I would really like to trade up, but really can't afford to right now.
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Grodyman
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07/08/08 09:59am |
Truck Campers
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5,000 Miles
Just returned from a 5,000 mi trip to Tennessee and back carrying AF990 and towing 21' boat. Truck took a beating on the rough, poorly maintained roads across this country, but held up well. The vibration over the rough roads caused the fire extinguisher to strip it's screws from the wall, and caused the medicine cabinet in the bathroom to fall apart. Medicine cabinet may have been damaged from the factory due to overtightening of a screw, but not sure.
I'm not sure how the suspension of the truck is still intact, especially with the 19.5 wheels/tires. Truck didn't lack for power or stability. I really can't imagine carrying the weight with stock tires. I did notice that the right rear tire heated up much more than the others due to the added weight of the slide, and the crown of the road causing the truck to slightly lean right and placing more weight on the right side. Over 5,000 miles, those tires are definately stressed more than the left side. Something to consider on long hauls, the lean right due to road crown factor.
Referigerator did not do well on the road, with DC or with LP. Does great sitting still on AC or on LP. Not sure of a solution for this.
I should have gotten the optional extra step. Rear of TC sits pretty high, even on my 2WD truck.
Not satisfied with Hellwig overloads, as the hardware continually worked loose, even double bolted. Needs to include lock washers or nuts, and not sure that would help. Have been very disapointed in bolt on products for suspension modifications, with the exception of Firestone airbags, which have performed as advertised. Front Timbrens work really well keeping front from bottoming out and preventing taller 19.5 tires from rubbing, a must have item for 2WD truck with these tires, and eliminate need to upgrade coil springs or add spring spacers.
TV antennae is a piece of junk, and bent up in the wind. I wish I had the factory leave that off, I never use it, and it is made so cheaply that it is a waste of material.
Motorhome would be easier to travel with young kids, eliminating many, many, restroom breaks. Class C is in the very back of my mind and creeping up, but for now, too much $$ invested.
There are too many service stations that make you go inside to get a receipt. Flying J's are dumps and poorly maintained. It's nice to drive for 13 hours and then stop in California for a mussel inspection on the back of your boat at near midnight. I have never eaten at a Cracker Barrel, and vow never to, despite a sign every 20 feet. Too many people go to Vegas for 4th of July, jamming up the roads back into Socal. Missouri has great thunderstorms. Laramie, Wyoming sucks. Cleanest appearing towns, Albuquerque, NM, and Lincoln, Neb. St. Louis is huge. Kentucky prettiest state. Rudest drivers: California, Nebraska. Anyone know the state religion of Texas?
I won't be repeating this trip due to high fuel costs, but had too much invested to cancel. Overall, it was worth it, I think you really need a month to enjoy a cross country road trip.
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Grodyman
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07/08/08 12:36am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Ford offers "A" plan pricing to everyone...
So, getting away from discussing the front looks of the trucks and getting back to the thread topic, what exactly is A plan pricing and what does it translate to on MSRP? My Ford F350 DRW 4x4 specs out at about 37.5K MSRP.
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Grodyman
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06/07/08 09:19am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Vehicle Prices
The bottom line is now is not the time to be buying a new truck, or selling a used one. You can make a switch, but you are going to have to buy used to break even. I would just keep the truck for now and let this mess blow over.
Dealers have gotten greedy on sticker prices on trucks, but they were just riding the housing bubble also, when people were buying all sorts of things at inflated prices because money was cheap. They will have to adapt, and order trucks with much lower MSRP's, because people just don't have the credit to buy these days, and credit is hard to come by. The inflated gas/diesel prices only compound the issue, but the Fed is selling us out to save the big greedy financial corporations. This will pass.
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Grodyman
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06/05/08 10:29pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Gas at $4 a gallon, it was bound to happen
The government wants to stick it to consumers by lowering interest rates to make big banks money to bail them out, thus causing the dollar to fall, and commodities (oil, gold, food, etc.) to bubble. We are paying the price for the financial sector bailout, make no mistake.
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Grodyman
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06/05/08 10:16pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Vehicle Prices
You are trading one "gas guzzler" for another, so the saleman's line is bs. I would sell it myself and take the hit if you feel it is not suited to your family in the long run. Or you can ride out the oil "bubble" and hope for better times. People are shifting to more fuel efficient cars, no doubt, but someone always needs a truck, should have no prob. selling it, for a little less than you otherwise would.
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Grodyman
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06/04/08 06:13pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Need Tire Advice
I just replaced my boat trailer tires (st215 75D14) Carlisle, with Kumho Radial 857 (195 75R14)and increased the load capacity from 1870 ea. to 2095 ea. and tires have a 106MPH speed rating. Tirerack.com.
Gman
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Grodyman
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06/03/08 06:33pm |
Towing
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RE: Camper's Loaded, the True test of the airbags
I have carried my fully loaded AF990 on my stock 3/4 ton suspension with only airbags. 85-90 psi both sides. No sway. I love them.
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Grodyman
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05/19/08 11:49am |
Truck Campers
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Trailering Long Distances
Hey,
We're headed from Socal to Tennessee to visit family, and plan to hit the lake while we are out. Will have the truck camper, and figure trip will be about 4500-5000 miles round trip.
I figure it will cost me about $650 in additional gas to haul my 21' boat. The other option is to rent a boat while there (about 5 days), and not have to lug the boat the rest of the 2 week trip.
What are your thoughts, trailer boat across country, and benefit from additional storage (not much storage in tc for long trip), convenience, etc? Or rent, and roll light the majority of the trip?
Gman
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Grodyman
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05/18/08 09:44am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Kirk Kerkorian buying Ford
So maybe we are coming out of the media caused recession.
Yea, has nothing to do with the housing crash, credit crisis, record oil/gas prices, and ramping up inflation. Just keep a spending buddy.
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Grodyman
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04/28/08 05:56pm |
Tow Vehicles
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