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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: mounting scissor jacks to frame
I skipped the self tapping screws and did the nut/bolt/lock washer routine, with a bit of lock-tite on the threads. Somehow, the thought of one of my jacks falling off on the highway is not pretty.
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dcairns
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10/15/09 07:45am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Battery Tender
Or if you can provide power to your trailer, and have a power converter that has the battery charging/maintenance features built in would save you the trouble of removing the battery. Charged batteries don’t freeze until some ridiculously low temperature.
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dcairns
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10/10/09 06:18pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Need new roof
If you have lots of spare time and somewhat handy, you can do it yourself.
Replacing the Rubber Roof on my Prowler (lots of pictures)
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dcairns
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10/06/09 08:27am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Best RV repair in Orange County, CA?
You might give Jerry Barreras a call at JB's RV. I had him replace a fridge on short notice just before a trip. He works out of an RV storage facility near La Palma and Imperial in Anaheim. He has been in the business for a long time, and is now a couple years into running his own shop. We paid a preimuim for the quick service, but he did good work.
5260 E La Palma, Anaheim 714-549-4300
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dcairns
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09/24/09 03:16pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: can you screw thru eternabond?
I have done that on my trailer.
Eternabond on the corner.
http://www.thecairns.com/photography/IMG_0985.jpg
Then buytl tape to cushin between the molding and then screw on the corner molding.
http://www.thecairns.com/photography/IMG_1053.jpg
Finished off with some Dicor on the screws heads and Geocel ProFlex sealant in the gaps where the Eternabond would not adhere to the wavy aluminum.
http://www.thecairns.com/photography/IMG_1062.jpg
Is it a better idea? I don't know. Time will tell.
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dcairns
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09/23/09 08:18pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Travel Trailer Height
As the others have mentioned, if the issue is just getting the trailer level behind a raised truck, the appropriate height hitch would be the way to go. If you are using a ball mounted on the bumper, then you may need to go with a frame mounted hitch, so you can use the various drop hitches out there.
But if you want the trailer higher for better ground clearance (avoid scraping when going through driveways, then the 'axle flip' is the way to go.
You will need to figure out what size to get, first.
http://dexteraxle.com/over_under_conversion_kits
This is what is looks like when installed.
http://www.thecairns.com/SS/CRW_2345.jpg
No welding is required with the Dexter kit, but a tack weld as insurance is not a bad idea.
http://www.thecairns.com/SS/CRW_2348.jpg
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dcairns
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09/23/09 03:22pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Eternabond as preventative measure
Hopefully nobody has used silcone sealer on the roof :O But Eternabond applies just fine over the Dicor Self Leveling sealant commonly used. As for prevention, it is great. Seal it up and no more leak worries.
http://www.thecairns.com/photography/IMG_1016.jpg
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dcairns
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09/21/09 02:06pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Eterna Bond Tape.
You may find the 4" wide suits the sealing of vents better. I have cut EternaBond by laying it out on a work table and cutting with a long ruler and razor blade. Scissors get gummed up pretty fast.
Acetone is a no-no. Lightly used Mineral spirits on a cloth/rag are good for cleaning. Give time for it to completely evaporate as it evaporates somewhat slowly.
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dcairns
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09/08/09 03:38pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Bathroom ceiling fan
I replaced the next to useless stock fan with a Fantastic fan and a Max Air cover. This way I can leave the vent open most of the time. I also routed some wire down to the sink, where there is a switch for turning on the light above the sink. I put in a double switch there, so while seated, I can reach over and turn on the fan to evacuate the "oders" when needed ;) .
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dcairns
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09/07/09 03:13pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: BEGINNI9NG THE HUNT -- HELP!!
5th wheel advantages:
-No brainer towing setup (no weight distribution and anti-sway setups to fiddle with).
-Better handling than a Travel Trailer.
-Shorter overall length (truck plus trailer).
5th wheel disadvantages:
-Hitches are more expensive.
-Loss of truck bed for carrying stuff. The hitch will even be in the way when you are not towing. Unless you get a even more expensive hitch that is easily removed.
-Bed is “upstairs” with limited headroom. This one is taste dependant as some folks prefer it that way.
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dcairns
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09/05/09 09:34pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Rotted wood due to leak, now what?
To my mind, the hardest part would be figuring out how to remove the wallboard to get access. Once inside, as you no doubt guess, basic carpentry will get you through.
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dcairns
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09/05/09 09:26pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Generator Safety
Actually it is the CO (carbon monoxide) that is the problem, not the CO2 (carbon dioxide). Increase in CO2 causes you to breath more heavily. Carbon monoxide, on the other hand is absorbed by your blood, blocking the absorption of oxygen. Unfortunately, there is little warning of CO poisoning, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating. It does not produce any obvious automatic physical response like heavier breathing to warn you. You just get lethargic and go to sleep forever.
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dcairns
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09/03/09 03:27pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Never saw one before
I guess that is one way to solve the problem of backing the trailer in. Just turn the car around and drive forward while pushing the trailer back into the camping spot :D
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dcairns
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09/02/09 07:25am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: New "retro" Scottys...Have I been Under A Rock?
The Pup is sure cute
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dcairns
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09/01/09 04:11pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Need advise with towing
I agree, I have a Silverado 1500 (similar in class to the F150 and the Titan) and tow a similar weight trailer. With the weight distribution hitch and integral anti-sway setup, it tows nicely even in high winds or with passing semis. Sure you can feel it, but nothing that would feel scary.
Before I purchased our trailer, I rented one for a trip, and between my ignorance and the ignorance of the party renting the trailer, things were not setup well and we endured a rather unpleasant sway if we got above 60mph or were going downhill. I was constantly reaching for the trailer brake to keep things from getting out of hand. In retrospect, this could have been eliminated with proper balance of the trailer and knowledge of how to work the Equalizer hitch. Now, with our own trailer and taking the time to read the manual and set things up right, it is quite pleasant to tow and one need only worry about the usual things like keeping safe following distances and such. Never a wag like the rented trailer.
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dcairns
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09/01/09 12:19pm |
Towing
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RE: Roof question
This kind of answers a question I posted on another thread. What is this black layer you speak of under the white rubber liner? I found a rip in my rubber roof and wondering what is just underneath that...is it right to the plywood or something sandwiched in between for any extra protection? What is the black layer?
The EPDM "rubber" roof material is made of two layers of material, fused together. The white layer naturally oxidizes with age and can, when washing the roof, often be seen making the run off water look milky. So by the time you are getting down to the black layer, the roof has aged significantly. It took 12 years for my trailer to get to this stage. Since I got it used, I don’t know if the previous owner had used any “protectants” that may have damaged it. They are supposed to last a bit longer.
If you are down to the black, it would be good to inspect the roof carefully for any rips or holes. On my roof, there were areas where the roof material seemed to be shrinking causing small tears. Also areas where a staple in the underlying wood had worked up had rubbed their way through the rubber roofing material. These can be patched with EternaBond, but it is a sign that the end is near for your roof.
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dcairns
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08/31/09 08:23pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Tear in rubber roof
Well, the plywood is slathered in glue to hold the rubber on. That is mildy water proof.
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dcairns
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08/31/09 07:52am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Newbie In Need, Help Please For Buying / Recommendations
Under 10K you could buy a low end new trailer. Most are built with rather poor quality, but manage to stay together long enough to get through the warranty period. If you are handy, you could consider a used trailer. But there you need to be cautious of getting “somebody else’s problem”. Expensive items on a trailer are the fridge, Air Conditioner and roof (unless you are crazy like me and think roof replacement is a DIY job ;) )
I seem to recall that Fleetwood is exiting the trailer market. This could be good/bad news for you. New trailers from Fleetwood may be going cheap. Fleetwood will still be around for it’s RV business, so you may still have some support and a place to complain to for warranty issues. I have a 1996 Fleetwood and have to say that the build quality I have observed is pretty poor. Just good enough to get them out the door.
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dcairns
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08/30/09 05:20pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: best way to keep camper covered while fixing roof
When I did my re-roof, I just put a tarp on top while it was bare. Just incase the dew came at night. But I am in Southern California, I see you are in South Carolina, where thunderstorms and rain are not uncommon in the summer. Plus you say you are down to the rafters, and a tarp would let water pool and eventual burst the tarp. So as the others suggested, an temporary A-frame with tarp would seem to be the ticket.
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dcairns
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08/30/09 05:12pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Roof question
The actual roof material should not peel off, it does normally oxidize and the white chalky material washes off. After a long time the white layer will be gone, leaving just the underlying black layer. This is the time to start thinking about replacing the roof. But, as mentioned, if it is peeling, then it probably had something applied on top of the roof that is not sticking well. Which makes me wonder why it was re-coated.
If you are handy and have the spare time and energy, it can be a DIY job
Replacing the Rubber Roof on my Prowler (lots of pictures)
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dcairns
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08/30/09 05:03pm |
Travel Trailers
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