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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Aftermarket black water tank rinse
Yea, I did. Put it in myself. Probably took less than half a hour. Works just as you describe. And the good part is that you get to analyze the tank and just where it should be put to be most efficient. Factory jobs and many shop jobs just install the nozzle where it is easiest to get to, like my current rig.
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Voyager Mike
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11/11/08 05:04pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Turn one light on it's bright two and there deem?
When you are plugged into your house AND have a decent battery (you do, don't you?), you are using both, and there should be no way two or three lights dim the bulbs.
What will dim the bulbs is inadequate wiring, which is common. Check your voltage at the battery with three lights turned on, then pull a fourth bulb in the same circuit and check the voltage there. If there is a substantial difference, you can choose to live with it, or tear your RV apart and put in the right size wiring.
I live with it.
Should that not be the case, see the previous suggestions.
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Voyager Mike
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10/27/08 02:41pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: creeking floors
My case was different. Seems in the factory, someone laid a piece of PEX pipe in the wrong place. Not only was the floor squeaking, but while I was trying to do a cappucino on the kitchen island and my DW was walking about doing her kitchen things, the island was wobbling back and forth so much that it was disconcerting to say the least.
Had to drop the belly cover and cut out two feet of PEX and insert some fresh pipe to reroute it. Oh well, all was not lost. As long as I was at it, I insulated all the pipe in the fiver. Now we have a good flow of hot water at the bathroom (rear kitchen, rear hot water heater), because we now no longer have a squashed hot water pipe, as well as the water is not tepid when it gets back there.
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Voyager Mike
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10/20/08 01:53pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Rubber Roof Cleaning
The "special cleaner" is one half of the product. Then you buy the "special treatment". And your roof should shine.
As for the mold, yup. That is what it is. Roof should not go so long without cleaning. But the "treatment" will go a long way to cover it up and seal it off so it does not continue to grow. And the roof will be whiter.
After that, should you want it to really look like new, well, there are these several hundred dollar liquid rubber coatings you can apply, or for only $750 you can buy a new rubber roof. Plus installation.
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Voyager Mike
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09/20/08 11:17pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Its raining ceiling fixtures.
Some of the Montana fivers come with a fiber ceiling. Good insulation, not good for screwing into. Depending on the size of the base of the fixture, you should be able to cut a large enough hole to slip in a piece of wood backing and run the screws through the ceiling and into the wood. Takes a piece of cord holding the wood down while making the holes in the wood.
Others have commented on fishing the broken wire out.
My wire did not break, so did not have to deal with that. The problem was mostly caused, in my Montana, by those artsy lights that are heavier on one side than the other, causing quite a bit of side leverage.
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Voyager Mike
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09/20/08 11:08pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Rear stabilizers
Do the geometry, many jacks have greater leverage the further they are extended.
However, if you want to take the wobble out of a Montana (we have one), the low cost way is to contact Plug It Right and get a pair of their rear stabilizers. They do not look like they would work, as they mount cross-ways, but the things made our fiver almost rock solid in the rear.
And thanks to the Cougar (by Keystone) owner from Washington who, passing through our town, told me about them.
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Voyager Mike
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09/20/08 10:56pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Generator Quiet Hours/Exhaust Fumes
What happens if you NEED the electric to run O2 equipment during the night? Do you just not get to go to those places?
Then you can run your generator 24 hours a day. Or if you are a jerk, you can claim you have a O2 situation, and the FS personnel are not permitted to enter your vehicle to see if you are telling the truth.
At least that is the official policy in the forest near where we live.
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Voyager Mike
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09/07/08 02:20pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: Tire pressure confusion starting with Manufacturer
In response to the crowd who keep the tires at max inflation, no matter what, here is what Michelin says on their website in the RV section (and there is a fantastic video on handling a tire blowout) about that:
"Overinflation, on the other hand, will reduce the tire’s contact area with the road, which reduces traction, braking ability, and handling. A tire that’s overinflated for the weight it’s carrying is more prone to a harsh ride, uneven tire wear, and impact damage."
They also offer detailed charts for each tire for proper pressure per loaded weight.
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Voyager Mike
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09/07/08 01:36pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Kenda Karrier ST Loadstar Tires...What's the latest
"There is not a ST tire anywhere that can safely carry the same load as a LT load range E tire. Most ST tires are speed limited to 65 mph and if you notice, their sidewalls flex much more than the LT tires, thus causing more heat buildup."
"ST tires are built cheaply and cost just as much as a good grade of LT tires."
Whoa! There is a very important reason ST tires have flexible sidewalls. Have you ever looked at the tires of a semi-trailer or a fifth wheel when backing around a corner into a parking or unloading spot? Good grief, the tires on adjacent axles will flex in opposite directions several inches. Lacking this give, the treads will skid, and also probably separate from the casing a few hundred miles later. LT tires are usually NOT designed for tandem axles.
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Voyager Mike
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09/06/08 05:19pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Weigh Stations
Going into Washington from Oregon one time, I got signaled over by a remote. When I pulled into the weigh station they seemed a bit sheepish about the whole thing, or was that just my imagination?
Don't know if the remote was controlled by the station or just some sort of automated thing that maybe caught the height of the trailer. Or perhaps they were bored.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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05/10/08 05:05pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Airbag compressor install...where to put gauge?
Whoa! You have a manual that came with that truck. Read it. It will tell you that the area below the steering wheel is designed to take the force of your legs in a crash, and NEVER install anything there.
Go over by your shift lever. If the 08 is like the 07 stick shift, there should be a sort of tray about two inches by about seven inches on the driver side of the stick. Pull the tray out and install your gauge and stitches there. You will probably have to make a custom cutout holder for the things. The hoses will route through the firewall and down under the "hump" cover.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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05/01/08 06:54pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Planning a modication to our slide outs
Did you crawl under your slides and check them for adjustment? Some have adjusting nuts which can "travel" over time. Perhaps yours is no longer going out all the way. But be careful. You also do not want to bulge the sides of your trailer. This may be a good place for a trained technician.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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04/26/08 07:28am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: dodge cummins 6.7 - how do you like yours?
Took it back to the dealer & they said to disregard the message. Called the Dodge hot line & they said to change the oil. First time was 2200 miles & now 4600 miles. Unless you heard something I haven't the dealer keeps saying change it. Dan
There is some sort of sensor that accumulates idle time and workload and so forth. Either you have something wrong with your computer, or you have the worst driving conditions I ever heard of. Even with the big fiver and driving one or more mountain passes just about every time we go out, I still don't get the change oil message until the 7500 mile distance is reached, as per the manual.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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04/25/08 09:42pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: dodge cummins 6.7 - how do you like yours?
My setup. Manual. Absolutely love it, but realize that with auto shift, I could probably get away from lights faster.
One thing no one has mentioned. With the 36' fiver on, I can torque the truck. Did that once beside a semi, and he followed me through the city and for many miles after to see if I would do it again. (I never do it on purpose.)
Exhaust brake is fabulous in the mountains. Most descents I never use the brakes even with the trailer on unless a very sharp corner.
Never had any warnings lights except Change Oil, which was just as expected.
And MPG runs nineteen to twenty empty, around fourteen pulling the fiver, unless a very long stretch where I have to stay in fifth for seventy miles such as last weekend. Fifty mph speed limit wastes fuel.
Have heard the stories about 6.7 troubles. Have experienced none. And boy is that thing fun on a mountain interstate pulling the fifth wheel and passing almost everything uphill. That engine was designed for a load. It LOVES a load. It just purrs with a load. Almost seems to wonder what happened when we take the trailer off.
And by the way, it is my wife's truck. Occasionally, she lets me drive it. Especially in city traffic.
Mike
And no, we do not run with the EB on except for very cold weather for the first few minutes. Warms the engine faster. Otherwise, it reduces MPG. Just use it for braking.
What is "torque the truck"??????????????????????????????
You will see it in town. A semi pulls up to a light at a busy intersection. Bunch of traffic builds up behind him and being a good guy, he wants to get going quickly for the benefit of all those other drivers who also want to get through the intersection on the next green light.
So he gives it a bit more pedal than he should have, and the tractor twists over on its side, due to the tremendous torque against the traction of the weight on his drivers. Scared the snot out of me the first time I drove 86,000 lbs. through a city. Thought I had twisted the frame.
In the Dodge, without the trailer on, if I goosed it in first, I would spin the tires. With the 36' fiver, the truck lays over on its side. Not good. Accomplishes nothing and is very hard on the frame.
If you have never noticed this, pay attention. Newer truckers do it often.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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04/25/08 09:36pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: dodge cummins 6.7 - how do you like yours?
Donn wrote:
He Mike, if you leave the EB off all the time you will be in the shop for a new turbo pretty quick, Check out all the threads about it and you will see the truth in this comment. OH and it does not use more fuel! That is the regen you are seeing that eats up fuel mileage!!
I do not know where you get your information. Mine came from the dealer, the manual, and from checking the mileage with the EB on and with it off. It drags on the exhaust all the time it is on, as well as doing unwelcome things sometimes when one lets up on the pedal. Just like automatics do unwelcome things from time to time.
I never heard of a EB protecting a turbo, cannot imagine how they could. And I have been driving diesels for a living for about thirty years. And every truck driver I know only uses the EB when slowing down. If the EB somehow affected the downstream turbo, it would obviously be affecting the exhaust flow all the time.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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04/25/08 09:26pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: dodge cummins 6.7 - how do you like yours?
I love the way it pulls my trailer, both the power & the exhaust brake. Fuel economy sucks (12 to 13MPG around town empty). Also the oil change interval sucks. I have 4600 miles on mine & have had to change the oil twice already. Dan
The oil change interval is 7500 miles. You have something wrong going on here.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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04/25/08 09:14pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Blew My Turbo Charger Going To Grand Canyon
To my knowledge the pyrometer setup is strictly aftermarket. And there are some more expensive models available which will leave the engine running after the key is turned off until that temperature comes down. And by the way, Dodge Cummings turbos run a lot hotter than other turbos, according to the shop which will install my pyrometer.
Because of that, my shop always drills out the spot for the pyrometer ahead of the turbo on a Dodge. Other makes often install behind the turbo, as any shavings from the threading cannot get into the delicate turbo.
For your information, the company I work for has a fleet of bigger trucks and we keep turbos in stock, as we lose them every so often. Usually with a bang and a huge cloud of brown smoke. When that happens, we kill the engine and wait for a replacement on site or a tow, as limping back with the turbo out will fill the innercooler with oil which is almost impossible to clean out. That oil will later evaporate into the engine and can cause overreving. If you think a turbo is expensive, try replacing the whole engine.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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04/23/08 04:51pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: dodge cummins 6.7 - how do you like yours?
My setup. Manual. Absolutely love it, but realize that with auto shift, I could probably get away from lights faster.
One thing no one has mentioned. With the 36' fiver on, I can torque the truck. Did that once beside a semi, and he followed me through the city and for many miles after to see if I would do it again. (I never do it on purpose.)
Exhaust brake is fabulous in the mountains. Most descents I never use the brakes even with the trailer on unless a very sharp corner.
Never had any warnings lights except Change Oil, which was just as expected.
And MPG runs nineteen to twenty empty, around fourteen pulling the fiver, unless a very long stretch where I have to stay in fifth for seventy miles such as last weekend. Fifty mph speed limit wastes fuel.
Have heard the stories about 6.7 troubles. Have experienced none. And boy is that thing fun on a mountain interstate pulling the fifth wheel and passing almost everything uphill. That engine was designed for a load. It LOVES a load. It just purrs with a load. Almost seems to wonder what happened when we take the trailer off.
And by the way, it is my wife's truck. Occasionally, she lets me drive it. Especially in city traffic.
Mike
And no, we do not run with the EB on except for very cold weather for the first few minutes. Warms the engine faster. Otherwise, it reduces MPG. Just use it for braking.
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Voyager Mike
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04/23/08 04:18pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: ?? to Dodge ram 3500 owners
If you want to trade in, get a newer Dodge. My 07 one ton rides great. (Factory specs call for lower pressure in the rears when unladen). Of course, I have singles, so I am hitting half as many bumps in the road. By the way, my wife picked out the truck. I did not drive it till after we bought it.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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04/20/08 07:36pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Actual federal weight law rules, some questions and answers
ok we've heard from a state dot officer on IL requirements,
I'm not and never was a "state dot officer". DOT is a completely different agency than the state police. DOT does not enforce weight laws, they do not do motor carrier inspections, nor do they have LE authority.
Truckers use DOT interchangeably with state police. 2 different agencies.
your rated weight which is your data plate lists as your ratings, what your axles are rated for, what your tires/wheels are rated for...and dot loves to look at all of this
your "tagged" weight which is what you have declared your ratings to be for tagging.
Don't confuse registered weight with axle and gross weights. 2 competely separate things and one is not related to the other. The only thing in common between the 2 is the word "weight" but neither law is related to the other. It's confusing for those not familar with the law. When they hear/read the word "weight" they don't understand the difference between registered weight limits and axle/gross weight limits. The OP was inquirying about axle/gross limits.
I've explained registered weights ad nauseum in the past too. Registered weight limits are really nothing more than a tax. In fact if you look at your state statute for registration fees it's likely that particular statute is titled something like "registration tax fees". You pay a certain amount of tax, ie registration fee, to haul a certain amount of weight. For example, if you want to haul 8000 lbs in your pickup then you pay the tax (registration fee) for 8000 lbs. But if you then haul 11,000 lbs in your pickup you would be subject to fine for overweight on registration, ie, didn't pay enough tax to haul 11,000. We use to do force registration in IL where if someone as described in the example was stopped then we could force the driver to purchase higher registration plates right there before he was allowed to move further. The increased registration cost was in addition to the fine. Now we just write the citation and if there's a record of additional such violations, particularly if company owned, then inspections can be done on the company and force increased registration.
I wish you'd add to your comments the fact that equipment on our rigs that actually carry a DOT rating, like the tires and wheels, should not be loaded beyond those limits which actually are enforceable.
I didn't want to get into discussing motor carrier safety laws since they don't apply to the RVer. Commercial drivers should have received the MCS training. For a Troop to be certified to do MCS inspections is a 3 week class and involves a couple of very detailed tests. Weight laws aren't covered in that 3 weeks of MCS training as weight laws is a completely separate course that all Troops get in the academy. As a driver you know how extensive the MCS stuff gets. From front bumper to rear bumper and literally everything in between, including the driver and any passengers. When I was doing the full inspections it usually took about 45 minutes to do a complete inspection and that was if there wasn't any problems. I have done inspections where it took the entire shift to do the inspection on just 1 rig. If I were the drivers in those rigs I wouldn't have ever left the yard. Most of the time the drivers of those rigs were happy to help as they knew there were problems and had reported them but they were told to drive anyway or the company would get another driver. Find those kinds of things and the company gets a visit.
I am a commercial truck driver. And I have been pulled over for a weight check. Several times. And it was never by a Highway Patrolman. Always by a DOT inspector. They do not drive patrol cars. They drive pickups in this state, with some funky lights on top. And I would not dare mess with one of them. Laws may be pretty uniform from state to state, but apparently the method of enforcement varies.
Mike
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Voyager Mike
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04/20/08 06:28pm |
Tow Vehicles
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