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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Weight police
So what would be the politically correct terminology? Gravity counselors? RV obesity avoidance administrators? How about lightness advocate?
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Vulcaneer
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11/22/08 10:07pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Another kind of robbery on the rise.
We could try what the anti gun lobbyists would do. However, If you outlaw battery operated sawzall's, only the criminals will have them.
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Vulcaneer
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11/22/08 09:56pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Travel Trailer or 5th Wheel
We had a different "boob test". That is...Can the 'boob' in the drivers seat get the hitch lined up, without the DW needing to guide him back? Not a problem with the 5'r. Made all the difference for her to select the 5th wheel.
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Vulcaneer
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11/22/08 09:28pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Remember when?
I am taking the "outrun the bear" strategy. It goes like this. If you are in a group that is being chased by a hungry bear, You don't need to be the fastest runner. Just as long as you can run faster than the slowest runner.
So I am just trying to not run out of money, before the markets come back. Lower gas and heating oil prices are helping to keep me in front of the slowest runners.
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Vulcaneer
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11/22/08 09:11pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Newbies to the RV World
Well let me see here. This is your first post and you have an oversized truck or an undersized trailer. What are the weight police going to do with you? How did you do that, without the benefit of this forum? You must have good common sense, or got good advice somewhere. I'm betting you have a lot of good info to share.
Thanks for joining. And welcome. Sounds like a beautiful rig you have there.
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Vulcaneer
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11/22/08 08:49pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: had a cold snap with water in lines now what?
If the lines are just starting to flow, it may take a bit longer for the pump to thaw. Be patient. Put a small heater on it for a while. If you see water dripping out of it one the floor, you probably have split it. If not, once it is thawed, it should pump. Turn off all the faucets. If it shuts off after building pressure in the line, it should be good to go...as long as it stays off. If it cycles on again, there could be a leak somewhere. Basement to toilet, outside shower or low point drains might be the first places to look.
Let us know how you make out?
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Vulcaneer
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11/22/08 08:36pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: $700.00 the hard way
Some hitch truck combinations are different than others. My SuperGlide mounting brackets in my truck is very easy. Only one 1/2" dia. hole needed to be drilled on each side of the "C" shaped frame rails. All the other mounting rail hole matched up perfectly with existing bolt holes. Just remove and replace the bolts. And use a hole saw to cut the pin holes thru the bed. My dealer took 3 hours for the install. At $105/hour. To me I would much rather pay $305, than do it myself. But if it was a $700 install, I would look to see how hard it was, before I made a quick decision. But if complex, then $700 might not be a bad deal.
I have seen other hitches on different trucks that are a lot more involved. Boxed frames add more work to the project. The same SuperGlide hitch and mounting rails in a different truck, could be a lot more of a job. Or a different hitch and mount rails in a similar truck could be lots tougher too.
The point is, just because one person may find it an easy job, does not mean the next guy will find it as easy. And it certainly helps having air tools.
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Vulcaneer
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11/22/08 08:06pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Short Box + 5th wheel
Short bed is not the issue. But the 1500 truck might be. Having a 2500 or 3500 gives you way more options for the 5'ers you can select.
A truck with 2000 pound carrying capacity gets overloaded pretty quickly with most 5'ers over 25 feet. Especially when you throw in some passengers, tools, and a 200 to 300# sliding hitch. And also load the trailer up with all the stuff, and fill the holding tanks and propane tanks.
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Vulcaneer
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11/21/08 07:40am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Big three auto makers in big trouble
I am betting the big 3 will get their money. And if they do, the 8 billion each gets will hopefully attract a lot more than that in stockholder funds. And yes, I am a GM stockholder. The fact that GM has restructured with union negotiations and while collar layoffs that is a good start. For them, any way. But what else are they planning to do.
And what about Ford and Chrysler? And what are they all doing to force real unilateral changes. All up and down the ladder and across the globe. There marketshare in the USA has shrunk. But they have a hugh opportunity to grow in the European and Asian markets. Is their product lineup right for these markets? The current Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Chevy lineup that we enjoy in the USA, may not be right for China, Japan, India, Malashia, Europe or South America.
As for product quality, I bought a new (08) Buick Lacrosse. This is a FANTASTIC car. So much better than the past Pontiac, and Buick LeSabre. Price out the door was $21,000. A great deal. If they build the rest of their cars like this Lacrosse, they have no problem comparing to the Foreign competition. Also have an 04 Volvo (Ford Product) that I bought new. Paid $40 grand, and it is not a bad car, but not a great car. For 40 grand it should be a better car. Some small nagging quality issues. But that was in 04. Hopefully a better car if built today. My 06 Ford truck is a great truck. There is no foreign competition for this truck. Just yet anyway. But with a list price in the high 40's or 50's, they have left an opening for foreign competition to get in under them. Can't rest on their laurels.
The point is the big three today, have a lot going for them. And they have the potential again to lead the world in this indutry. And there are some great executives that know what needs to be done. And the government needs to find a way to help make it happen. And happen real soon. The consumer and the stockholders are not patient. We'll just go elsewhere with our weakened dollar. So it is really only the US Government that can help them in the short term. Strengthening the dollar would help too, while they're at it. Is chapter 11 a better way? Can we find a way to loan them the money while employing Chapter 11 federally mandated bankrupcy restrictions? And the leadership in the big 3, and the boards of directors, needs a srategy for long term survival. I cannot imagine there are many americans that hope they go down and out.
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Vulcaneer
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11/21/08 07:13am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Big three auto makers in big trouble
Chuckster. Was I celebrating our congress? I don't think so. But I do applaud them asking for some accountibility for our money. The next question is what if those plans don't work? Who is going to pay us back? When do we get it back? And what is our recourse, if we don't get it? What are we going to do to the CEO that earns $21 million? If he fails, he walks away with 21 million. Some punishment now, isn't it. Maybe we can get his contract buyout from the insurance company? Can we take his bank accounts and his mansions and his boats? And those things from the rest of the top executive teams? And the union leaders?
I do agree congress is as inept as the CEO's they are talking to. They're talking about a 25 Billion dollar package. About 8 Billion each. Maybe you would prefer we just hand it over with no plan? Oh wait... that's not you. That's Paulsen. Forgive me.
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Vulcaneer
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11/20/08 08:57pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Big three auto makers in big trouble
You gotta love it. Congress sends tham back home and tells them come back with a plan. Wouldn't you think any self respecting business man would have gone there with a plan, if they were going to be asking for money?
I'll bet their division presidents and corporate VP's are going to be really busy this weekend. "You gotta give me your plans by Monday, guys. Plans from Global Operations, and Asia and Europe. Bring in manufacturing, product development, market research, sales and marketing, dealer relations, finance, and Human Resources. And bring the unions plans in too. I need the next week to have my secretary put it together for me to present to congress. And by the way, come up with something I can tell wall street too. Your job depends on it! I gotta get to an important meeting with a banker and some security analysts at the club tommorrow." Need to finish it up by lunch so I can start my weekend. This has been a really tough week. I need to relax, and put my thoughts together. Next week is going to be crunch time. Gotta talk to the board about my bonus."
on edit..."And by the way boys...No more using the corporate jets, for you. I am the only one that gets to use that. And those 20 free executive cars? We gotta knock that down to 5 every six months. But you can keep you private drivers, if you cut their pay by 50%. And don't show housekeepers, and gardiners on your expense accounts. You gotta come up with a more creative name for those expenses.
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Vulcaneer
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11/20/08 06:13pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 2003 Monana
I think that is way too much money. What did it sell for in 2003? If he keeps it 4 years, it will be 10 years old. And resale price will be in the toilet. certainly less than $10K. Lots of newer used inventory out there competing with this unit. I would think a buy price of $12 to 13K might be in order. And if he wants to spend 18K, I'll bet he can find plenty of 06 models and up in very good condition. JMHO.
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Vulcaneer
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11/20/08 05:37pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Great siphon
I carry gasoline on my pickup in 3 gallon jugs...U just simply place a hose in the jug and put the other end in UR truck gas tank and wrap UR hand around the top of the jug and then blow into the jug...No sucking required...And the gas simply starts flowing...There r ways U can make mistakes and get gas on U but with experience it really works good. With a big tank U won't know how much UR putting into UR truck so this works better than a big tank. I'm always needing fuel in my farm trucks so this helps there also.
A great idea. I imagine if you used a small DC compressor with a long hose (to keep the sparks away) it would force the fuel into the tank even faster.
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Vulcaneer
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11/20/08 07:47am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Big three auto makers in big trouble
Private jets, Executive salaries, Union wages, over capacity, supplier payments, foreign competition, retiree benefits, and lots of other problems mentioned.
But another issue that very few seem to mention. The cars today are of such quality that they last much longer. And with 60 month payments and easy no downpayment credit, people keep their cars longer. So they don't go upside down. And with massive depreciation, and high taxes on new cars, more people are buying used cars. And used cars are much more dependable and reliable than the old days. And when we buy used it makes even less jobs than buying a new foreign car.
The car industry needs an overhaul, from ground up. The auto makers have not proven they are up to the task of reorganizing. And look at our governments ability to manage our country. Balance of trade, trade deficates, weak dollar, mandated CAFE and environmental standards on cars, planes, trucks, etc. Our politicians are not any better. And they too enjoy their private jets. And they do not even produce a product.
The industry needs a shake out. And the government is last to organize a rescue. The rescue needs to come from within the auto industry. And the current group of auto executives need to make some tough decisions. Not sure they are capable. Retooling is one thing. But if we do loan them some money, there needs to be some demand for making them accountable. With strong demands for achieving the goals. And repurcussions for failure to perform.
A bankruptcy court is the better solution to force the needed changes to save the industry.
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Vulcaneer
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11/20/08 07:30am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: New Montana - zero problems
Well if you towed it home, brakes worked OK, moved the slideouts in and out, got it unhitched and levelled, and tried the furnace, microwave, stove, waterpump, water heater, toilet, shower, and some electrical outlets, and it has no roof leaks, you're at least half way there. Now drain the tanks, blow out the lines, by pass and drain the HWH and run some A/F in the lines. If all that works well, you're in pretty good shape. Congrats. Now just remember the manufacturing defects are only part of the equation. The other problems come from things we all do to accidentally screw them up.
Hopefully you have many years of trouble free enjoyment.
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Vulcaneer
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11/19/08 01:42pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Shake down cruises
Bruce, We usually take a weekend shakedown cruise as the first trip out after having the trailer stored and emptied for a long period. This year our shakedown cruise will be about 10,000 miles and take four months. And will begin Jan 8 (or so, depending on weather). From NH south to rt 10, then onto San Antonio, then to California PCH, points northwest and wandering our way back.
I can only imagine what to expect. Hoping for the best. Planning for the worst.
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Vulcaneer
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11/19/08 09:58am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 2001 Chevy Duramax/Allison Problem
Not doubting your mechanic as to his solution. But $1400 seems to be quite high. Maybe get a second opinion or price. Maybe all you need is the seal?
I used to have similar problem with a Ford Taurus. Only reverse was affected, if parked overnight. So when I parked it in the driveway, I backed it in. Never had that problem again.
Traded it in 40,000 miles later.
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Vulcaneer
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11/19/08 09:35am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Wood truss & flr joists v. aluminum - (Sundance or Cruiser)
Either could be slapped together. They both have good benefits.
And what would be the benefit of wood over aluminum? I am not trying to argue the point. But just curious. Other than cost, I cannot think of an advantage to wood frame or roof trusses. But there may be an advantage that I haven't thought of.
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Vulcaneer
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11/19/08 08:56am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Wood truss & flr joists v. aluminum - (Sundance or Cruiser)
No question for me. Aluminum is th way to go. Lighter, stronger, welded joints. And if wood frame or trusses are not really well dried before assembled, it may dry and loosen up. Especially when hauled and bounced over many roads. And any frame flex is likely to affect wood more than welded aluminum construction.
My stick house doesn't travel over the road. And the wood roof rafters are 2x12's. Builder didn't use wooden roof trusses.
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Vulcaneer
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11/19/08 07:42am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Pick-up bed size to pull a 5th wheel?
The short bed will work just fine. But there are trade off's with either long or short bed.
Short bed:
Pro's. Shorter wheel base for better manueverability. Applies to non-towing as well as towing. If you don't need a long bed for non towing use. Lighter curb weight, may offer a bit more cargo carrying capacity for heavy pin weight. And maybe slightly better fuel mileage, because it is a couple hundred pounds lighter.
Cons: Risk of damage in tight backing turns. Or option to buy a sliding hitch. Smaller fuel tank, less range. Rides a bit rougher.
Long bed
Pros
Better ride due to longer wheelbase. More room to carry stuff. No slider needed. Larger fuel tank for more range between fillup's.
Cons
More difficult to park in parking lots, due to wider turning radius. And when towing, somewhat less manueverable backing into narrow camp sites with narow access roads. Long wheel base truck is a bit heavier. And may offer slightly less cargo carrying capacity, and fuel mileage.
I know my Ford short bed, extended cab takes a little more effort to park in parking lots that are cramped, due to large turn radius. Another 15 inches of wheel base of the long bed would compound that issue. Also with my winding narrow driveway, it would be much more difficult to back my 5'er in to store in my yard. So with the trade off's of the short bed, I am glad I went in that direction. I do not need the long bed for my non-towing use. Neither long or short bed will fit into my garage. Too high to fit through the door.
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Vulcaneer
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11/19/08 06:48am |
Tow Vehicles
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