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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Think TMS will let in our lowly C Class MHs?
Don't see anything in the add that would prohibit anyone from using it.
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skipnchar
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12/03/08 04:22pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: E-Z Lube axles?
Since your asking for opinions, I'll give you mine. Nothing WRONG with the EZ Lube but there are as many ways to get into trouble with them as there are ways to use them properly. They usually promote the user OVER LUBING their axles. Doing this can get grease inside the brake drum making trailer brakes ineffective. I CERTAINLY agree that brakes should be inspected about as often as axles lubed so there is really little to save with them.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:43pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Towing Issue!
What size spring bars did you get? One common error is purchasing spring bars based on the brochure tongue weight instead of the fully LOADED tongue weight (often double what the brochure says). Without seeing your set up it's hard to say right or wrong but I can tell you that my Rockwood is ROCK SOLID in the 40,000 towing miles it's traveled in EVERY kind of weather/wind condition. I can also tell you that if you can latch up by hand you're not even USING the DC system and are basically running with a straight hitch set up wit no anti sway.
Here's your goals. Truck and trailer close to the same height when towing. Should have the spring bars running parallel to the trailer frame when latched up. The detent in the bars should fit into the cams perfectly when towing in a straight line. Should be about 5 links under tension. It SHOULD be necessary for you to use the trailers tongue jack to raise the truck and hitched trailer at least 8" to a foot in order to comfortably latch up the bars USING THE LATCH UP BAR. If you can latch it without raising the tongue jack, even using the bar, they're not tight enough. Leaving the chain with 5 links under tension you can tilt the hitch head back more (toward the rear) in order to increase the amount of weight being transferred. You will know if you transfer TOO much weight because your rear tires will spin much too easily.
Hope this helps and let me know if you have other questions / Skip
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:36pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Padre Island in mid February
February weather is usually fairly warm with a few cool days. Winds are very common anywhere on either island. Daytime and night time temps usually run about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than a few miles inland. Winds will often spend a few days coming directly from the south then turn around and the next few days comming directly from the north. During windy weather expect salt spray to be pretty heavy.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:29pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: Has anyone been to Padre Island in February?
Which island are you interested in? On North Padre there is quite a bit of beach that is passable with only a 2X4 truck or automobile. There is also about 60 miles of beach that is closed to all except 4X4 vehicles.
On South Padre, which is much smaller the beach is looser and though there are places where a 4X2 can access the beach it's much better with a four wheel drive vehicle. Be aware that I'm talking about a FOUR wheel drive, not an ALL wheel drive. I see those things stuck all over the place and they keep a number of tow services in the black.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:23pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Roof Maintenance Required?
Hard to give a complete answer without knowing what KIND of roof your trailer has. EPDM or TPO roofs require nothing more than cleaning a few times a year for the roof material itself. With ANY kind of roof most leaks will be in the caulking around roof openings, roof edges etc. NOT the roof itself. Annual inspection is called for to check for cracked or missing caulking. Staying OFF of the roof is one of the best things you can do for your roof. Walking around up there can easily pull caulking loose from openings and open up seams to leaks. There is very little that needs doing on your roof that cannot be done from a ladder or from a sitting position.
If you have an EPDM (rubber) roof, be very cautious of any kind of "conditioner" or "sealer" as anything that contains petroleum distillates can void your roofs warranty. TPO or Vinyl roofs are much less particular what is put on them though nothing is required.
Watch the cover over the roof as many times the cover itself will chaff the roof edges and can cause more damage than it prevents.
Good luck / skip
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:19pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Bizzare flucuation in gas mileage
There are a LOT of different things that can cause that much variation. Wind speed or direction, temperature, humidity, traffic conditions and where you purchase your fuel. Accurate mileage can only be computed over a longer time frame.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 05:59pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Suburban Water Heater - Don't do what I did.
Just be glad you don't fire it up on LP or the damage may have been more extensive.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 05:55pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Are used TT's selling?
Like most other things these days, they will sell if the price is low enough. People are mostly looking for a GREAT DEAL so if you can't offer them one it may be a long time selling.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 05:51pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Recaulking the outside.
Sounds like the most LIKELY cause of the moisture is condensation.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 05:49pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: What gear?
If you have an automatic transmission why not just let the transmission make the decision. That's how I handle my Triton with all of it's 80,000 towing miles. It pulls the Rockeys that way so would likely make it over a bridge also.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 05:48pm |
Towing
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RE: Where do you invest your money?
We have quite a bit invested in an 'Olay Oil well" with a wildcatting operation in Texas. No big return yet but we're trying to get a refinery up and running before the gusher comes in.
Most of the rest of our investments are in a sequin mine near Memphis. Once these two speculations are fully developed I'll be on easy street :)
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 05:45pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Dodge 1500
According to the Dodge WEB SITE, the new 1500 does NOT have a 9100 lb; GVWR it has a 9100 lb. trailer towing capacity. BIG DIFFERENCE. 1800 lb. payload is nowhere near enough to tow a 8100 lb. 5th wheel with up to 2,000 lb. PIN weight. Payload would be significantly eroded before you even hitch up by the weight of the hitch, passengers and cargo in the truck so you're probably looking at something like 1300 lb. left for the PIN weight.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 05:39pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New 5th wheel
An 8100 lb 5th wheel can easily have 2,000 lb. PIN weight when fully loaded (That's up to 25% of GVWR). Sounds to me as though you don't have enough payload especially when you consider that the hitch, cargo and passengers will all reduce that number before you ever connect to the trailer. It has nothing to do with the truck being a 1500 only it's specifications.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 05:35pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Battery Help
I think you're working on the wrong end. Simply estimating the charge time is a very poor way to monitor battery condition (almost as bad as those idiot lights installed in most trailers). Get some means of reading the ACTUAL voltage of your batteries and learn to use it CORRECTLY to determine how much you need to charge. This can be something as cheap and simple as a hydrometer or as easy to use as a good digital voltage meter like this one http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2011207/c-10101/Nty-1/p-2011207/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10101/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=battery+tester
Good luck / Skip
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:40am |
Tech Issues
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RE: How to deal with foot problems.
My wifes bone spurs were GREATLY relieved by wearing inserts in her shoes (prescribed by her podiatrist). She was once limited to about a block before the pain made walking impossible and she now does over 7 miles a day.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:33am |
RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues
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RE: Charging Deep Cycle Batteries over the Winter
Unless your batteries have something wrong with them (like an internal short) once they are removed form any possible load, there should be no reason for them to go flat over the winter. When my trailer is winterized I've never removed the batteries but I do disconnect the negative leads and never had a battery problem from the practice.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:31am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Opinions on front window option
My questions are:
- If you have used TT with and without front windows above the bed, did the window make it feel like a larger room or less crowded than the TT without the window? Maybe a tiny bit more open but since we never spend much time in the bedroom other than when sleeping (and we always have the curtains closed then anyway,) it really doesn't make that much difference. I find that MOST of the time we don't even bother OPENING the cover on the front window unless we're staying for quite a while.
- Would the manufacturer honor the full warranty including any problems with the new window if I pay our local authorized dealer to add the front window? Very unlikely for them to be willing to warranty ANYONE elses work. Would you?
- Any idea how much it might cost to add a front window? We talking $200, $400, $600, or some crazy amount? My best GUESS would be over a grand to do the job correctly.
- Would you be willing to take the risk of adding a front window if it was a factory-supplied part and it was installed by an authorized dealer? Do a search for window leaks and I'm betting you find a ton of them. These are when windows are installed at the time of construction with the trailer actually DESIGNED to have one. There CAN be more than just gluing in a window and some issues could actually involve structural stability. I'd exercise caution.
Thanks in advance for any opinions and advice.
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:22am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: confused about WD hitches.
Being LEGAL really isn't the issue it's being SAFE. Without the WD hitch it's likely you are limited to something like 600 lb. tongue weight and 6,000 lb. trailer. These numbers are pretty standard for most class IV receivers. To get the maximum and also to allow for adequate anti sway system you need the WD hitch. Look at Reese Duel Cam or for slightly less money the Equal-i-zer system.
Good luck/ Skip
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skipnchar
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12/01/08 07:14am |
Towing
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RE: HELP!! New Rockwood 8317ss leaks! First trip out!
Those trailers like yours and mine have a tendency to leak around the pass through compartment doors unless they're locked AND latched. I used to leave mine merely latched and often found water had leaked into the storage compartment. If you weren't quite level it could easily have come under the wall into the bedroom.
Just something to consider and good luck / Skip
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skipnchar
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11/30/08 09:44pm |
Travel Trailers
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