RE: Slide out question/problem?
My dealer is more than willing to fix the problem, and at no charge, out of warranty. I have never had a problem with my dealer, I got real lucky finding them. They will take care of it, no problem. I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced this with their slide. Thanks for the input.
RE: Have you had any problems with Forest River?
I have had three Forest River trailers, and loved them all. Only small issues, most of which I was able to fix myself with a screwdriver. Unfortunately, both dealers (bought two from one dealer, one from a different dealer) sucked. I wish Forest River would be a little more careful when it chooses who will sell, and therefore represent their product. I would have bought another one in a minute had my current dealer, whom I absolutely love, carried them. But the Puma line they carry has not let us down either, and we love our Puma fiver.
I would highly recommend anything by Forest River (ours were two Flagstaff and one Rockwood). They are one of the best value for money manufacturers out there today. You get a lot more for the buck than with many other brands, and the customer support is also excellent. I had a problem with the awning spring, two years out of warranty, and they still covered the part, all I paid was the labor. Saved me a couple hundred bucks, and Forest River paid for the part, and they didn't have to as the awning was not their product! THAT, to me, is really standing behind a product.
RE: Best 5th wheel receiver
The question of 'which hitch' is like asking 'who makes the best truck'. The opinions will be wildly differing. However, personal preferences aside, I can tell you what TYPE of hitch to AVOID, and that is the 'split-jaw' type hitch, like the Reese 15K for example, that employs a two-piece jaw that closes around the back of the pin. Insane design to begin with, and has caused many mishaps (dropped trailers). Usually this is because of human error, but it's not hard to do as the only thing keeping the trailer connected is a stupid little metal flap (they call it a 'safety latch', ha ha) that is supposed to keep the handle from pulling out while driving away. There are many good hitches on the market, and Reese does make other designs that do not use the split-jaw. Also look at the Pullrite Super 5th or Super Glide, the RBW, Valley, and I am sure there are several other brands out there too. You want a hitch that either has a solid bar that positively closes behind the pin from one side to the other and will not open inadvertently, or one that has a 'clamp' or 'hook' that wraps around the back of the pin, also not allowing the trailer to come detached, even if not fully locked (of course, make sure it IS fully locked, but the redundant safety features of these types of hitches gives one great peace of mind). And don't skimp on cost. A good, safe hitch of the proper capacity you need will not come cheap. Don't be tempted (or scammed by a dealer) to opt for a less expensive hitch. The couple hundred extra dollars will be well spent when you are towing a $30-40,000 trailer down the road. With the right equipment, traveling will be a joy and not a disaster. Good luck and happy camping.
Slide out question/problem?
Hello. It's been a long time since I visited the forum. Being a truck driver doesn't leave me much time to go online. On our last trip I noticed something with the slide out that didn't seem right, and it was not like that prior to the left rear tire blowing out. When the slide comes in, the rear of it is right up against the trailer, you can't see the black seal, but on the front of the slide, you CAN see the seal, about a half inch of it. My dealer said the tire could not have caused the mis-adjustment of the slide, but what do you guys think? It does not appear to pose any problems, but I want the slide to be retracted evenly on both ends. I would imagine that over time, one end coming in further than the other might cause structural damage to the slide, the trailer wall, or both. Dealer said it could have 'jumped a tooth' and that this can be rectified, and I'll drop it off when I get a chance, when it warms up and it is no longer frozen to the driveway. I just wanted to get some opinions, advice and/or experiences regarding this issue. Was the tire blowout and this alignment problem a coincidence? I know it was not like that when we left for the trip (in October), because I always visually check the slide when I retract it to make sure it went in all the way and didn't catch any branches or debris. Thank you in advance for any replies. It might be a while before I can check back, but I look forward to reading what others have to say about this.
RE: There Goes Another Questionable Towing Setup
A durango can't pull a trailer with a GVW of 6000 pounds?
It is not the weight. It is the LENGTH. The Durango does not have a suitable wheelbase to SAFELY tow that length of trailer without a good W/D and sway control system, and many would say even then it is still too long for the short Durango. The Dodge has the power, but not the wheelbase.
RE: Fifth-Wheel came unhooked
I'll bet you dollars to donuts it was a Reese.
Did he forget to flip the latch on the release handle?
Yes that is what he said he forgot, I am not acquainted with that hitch
Bingo. It STILL amazes me how many people still choose to use the split-jaw Reese (or any brand split-jaw) fifth-wheel hitch! With all the other design types out there, are people just not aware that the split-jaw is a bad design, or do they refuse to believe it could happen to them? There are slide-across bars and wrap-around 'hooks' that will NOT allow the trailer to drop off the hitch, even if not fully locked. No flimsy little levers to flip over the handle etc. I have the Pullrite Super 5th and it uses a gear-driven wrap-around hook that completely encircles the pin (as previously mentioned).
I am sorry to hear of your friends misfortune. He can prevent this from happening again in the future by ridding himself of the Reese split-jaw hitch and replacing it with either a Reese hitch that has the bar or the 'hook', or any other brand, such as the RBW, Pullrite or Valley, to name the three most popular, with the bar or hook design.
RE: TRAILER LIFE Tundra & 5th wheel test....WOW!
How does the guy from Reese factory know how strong of frame??? is he an engineer??? Did he test the frame??? What is the truck rated for?
I would certainly think so. These guys don't just sit around and drink coffee and design hitches blindly without making sure their product is suitable for the intended application. They know more about the hitches application than the manufacturer of the vehicle does. They have to worry about liability and reputation. If Reese says don't put a fifth-wheel hitch in a Tundra, I would trust them before anyone else. Reese should know. They designed it after extensive research and development. Hope this helped clear things up for ya.
RE: TRAILER LIFE Tundra & 5th wheel test....WOW!
I canceled my subscription to Trailer Life (i.e. the fantasy world of RVing)about three years ago mainly for this reason. Their tests and evaluations are ridiculous, over the top, unrealistic, and just plain inaccurate! Another reason I canceled was because they seem to cater to the rich, and NOT the 'average' family who can't afford these massive rolling condos and the mega trucks needed to tow them. I used to like T/L, they had SOME good info between the covers, but after a while, the good stuff became harder to find, and they had more swill on the cover that I just got disgusted and canceled. Shame. They could be a useful magazine, but the chose to jump the fence of reality.
