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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Alcan is 67 Today
The basic 1500 mile road was completed in 8 months. How come it takes us a year to now finish work on a revised intersection?
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Clattertruck
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11/21/09 06:56am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Modern replacement for 454 and turbo 400
If you have never done an engine swap I would forget the whole thing. Having done about 5, I can apprise you it will cost a lot more than you might plan on pluse a lot of grief.
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Clattertruck
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11/19/09 02:05pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Why the Payoad Disparity?
One of the largest factors is the rear axle rating which depends in large part on wheels and tires used. For example, my F450 rear axle is a Dana 110 that is a 14,000 lb rated axle, but Ford rates the axle at 11,000 lbs given the tire,wheel, spring pack size, etc. Another factor is opinion of warranty folks.
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Clattertruck
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11/18/09 06:59pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Beginner Fender Benders
To be blunt, please take driving lessions because you have no idea how to drive a large vehicle. I would not want to be near you on a bike, motorcycle, car, truck, or in a campground nearby.
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Clattertruck
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11/18/09 05:55am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Kodachrome Basin State Park, Utah
We found Kodachrome to be a nice quiet park rimmed by the many sandstones found in southern Utah. We don’t care for the masses of people found in Bryce.
Entrance road
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u164/Clattertruck/Kodachrome%20SP/DSC_0474c72.jpg
Camp sites are good
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u164/Clattertruck/Kodachrome%20SP/DSC_0435c72.jpg
Surrounded by colorful sandstone formations
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u164/Clattertruck/Kodachrome%20SP/DSC_0455c72.jpg
One wonders why a high wind does not topple this spire
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u164/Clattertruck/Kodachrome%20SP/DSC_0466c72.jpg
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Clattertruck
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11/17/09 07:58pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Would like to read about your trip to Alaska
We average 150 to 200 miles per day which gives time to stop for pictues and visit places of interest. From Denver we traveled 8500 miles in six weeks on our 2008 trip. We really needed another two or three weeks to see all the places we wanted to.
We look at it as a North Country trip rather than just an Alaska trip because there is much to see in B.C., Yukon Territory, and Alberta.
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Clattertruck
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11/17/09 05:28am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Air Bags for F450?
The rear spring pack may need some help so that under a heavy load it does not squat like a puppy.
I started out with a set of Super Springs on the rear, one spring over the top of the overload. With the camper loaded it sat just about right. We took a trip in the western mountains of Colorado that included a couple of rough Forest Service roads. I opened my window as we negotiated rocks and holes, and was startled by the noises coming from the Super Springs. When we got home I decided to change the set up. I took the truck to Denver Spring and they put two more leaves in the stack. The setup seems perfect now without the weird noises
The unloaded ride is not as bad as I thought it would be, but I seldom take the camper off the truck.
Because the F-450 will always have the camper mounted so I saw no point in air bags. They can sometimes be a problem involving leaks and broken bolts. I have used them on 4 trucks with varying success.
The cost of additional springs was $702. The cost of Super Springs (add-on), which I tried and did not like was $450. I returned them. I won’t bad-mouth them, but springs in the stack are better. I suggest a truck spring outfit to do the work. Ready to travel, mine now sets very slightly down the front, almost dead level. The truck weighs 14,400 lbs with camper loaded and lots of stuff. The drive axle weighs 8880 lbs., which is 5040 lbs. over unloaded weight.
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Clattertruck
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11/15/09 01:59pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Canadian Maritimes Intinerary - Comments?
Here is a link to my photo gallery:
http://clattertruck.smugmug.com/?preview=1
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Clattertruck
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11/15/09 09:43am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Canadian Maritimes Intinerary - Comments?
BTW I think when Clattertruck came to Newfoundland in 2005 I think that was their 'coming' route, if I remember correctly.
:)
That is correct. We had been on Madeline Island in Wisconsin and then traveled though Northern Michigan. We crossed at at the Soo and went though Eastern Canada. It was a great trip long remembered.
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Clattertruck
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11/15/09 09:42am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: F450 for the Price of an F350... Which would you get?
People who want a real F450 better buy one before the 2011 Ford pickups come out. Ford no longer has a real medium–duty F450 in the lineup. Ford has put a 450 badge on a light–duty F350. The change from a Dana 110 to a Dana 80 version drive axle is not acceptable. The change from 19.5 to 17 inch wheels further diminishes the truck. This means they have reduced the swept area of the brakes. The wide steer axle seems to be gone.
Did Ford have Jaguar spec out the new F450? Or, maybe it was the freaks at the EPA
No thanks, I’ll be grateful for the 2008 F450 that I have, fuel mileage is not that big a deal.
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Clattertruck
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11/14/09 07:13pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: F450 for the Price of an F350... Which would you get?
The F450 pickup is a medium duty truck that has a regular 8ft.bed.
The frame is like the F350 in that it is not the straight rail used in the cab/chassis version. The GVWR is 14,500 lbs. The rear axle is a Dana110 11,000 lbs. Ford rates the rear at 9500 with springs and tires it has. The steer axle is a Dana Super 60 rated at 6000 to 7000 lbs depending on springs. It is about 6 inches wider than the F-350 standard axle, which allows for more wheel angle so it has a shorter turning radius. The wheels are 19.5 ten bolt with G rated tires. Mine has the snow plow package with HD front springs and a 200 amp alternator. On a CAT scale the truck empty weighed 9100 lbs.
The 6.4 L diesel, 350 HP @ 3000rpm and 650lbs. torque @ 2000 rpm. It is very quiet, very powerful and very hard on fuel. It is choked with emissions equipment. To force the flow the two stage turbo goes up to 40psi boost. My old 7.3 gave 13 mpg with camper, and this one over 16,000 miles has averaged 8.7 with various speeds up to 65 mph.
F-450 suspension
One has to think that Ford designed the truck for towing. It does not have the 8 leaf spring pack as the F450 commercial cab-chassis. It has a pack of three, a base and to long thick ones for a good ride when a trailer is unhooked. Heavy bed loads such as big truck campers may require some help for the spring pack. I took the truck to Denver Spring and they put two more leaves in the stack. The setup is perfect now. The unloaded ride is still good. My F-450 will always have the camper mounted so I saw no point in air bags. They can sometimes be a problem involving leaks and broken bolts. I have used them on 4 trucks with varying success.
The truck is wonderful to drive. It feels like a European high speed sedan. It has no side sway. The rig is heavy. With the camper mounted but empty it weighed 13,100 lbs. On our last trip I put it on a CAT scale and I was stunned by the number, 14,400 lbs. Wow, that’s a lot of gear, beer, water, generator, chairs etc. . My 2002 F350 came in at 12,000.
The bigger brakes are much better for the big loads.
2002 F350 gross lining area rear 34.72 Total swept area per axle rear 244.81
2002 F350 gross lining area front 49.60 Total swept area per axle front 264.48
2002 F350 rotor dia. Rear 12.83
2002 F350 rotor dia front 13.03
2008 F450 gross lining area rear 55.6 Total swept area per axle rear 361.9
2008 F450 gross lining area front 55.6 Total swept area per axle front 337.2
2008 F450 rotor dia. Rear 15.35
2008 F450 rotor dia. Front 14.53
Notice the rear bias on the F450 where the big weight is.
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Clattertruck
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11/13/09 07:08pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Canadian Maritimes Intinerary - Comments?
Include Alantic Canada and go to Newfoundland. I favored it over all the others (except we did not travel PEI).
Listen to Little Kopit, she is an expert on the area.
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Clattertruck
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11/13/09 06:55pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Best LDC/DVD in your opinion....
After trying a couple we settled on a 15 inch Toshiba. The worst one we had was a Coby, absolute junk.
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Clattertruck
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11/13/09 06:47pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Moki Dugway
We have done it probably 25 times since 1966. It is not a big deal either way unless it is very wet. We have been down once when it was raining at night, we were very slow and carefull.
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Clattertruck
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11/13/09 06:42pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Need New 19.5 Tires
I don't find anything wrong with the "G" rated Continentals that came on my F450. My truck and camper weigh together 14,4000 lbs. I hear that the Continentals are not good in the snow and ice, but last winter I traveled 250 miles on glare ice in Northern Texas without any big problem.
Colorado man btgraphix has more experience in bad weather than I do with 19.5 tires.
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Clattertruck
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11/09/09 04:10pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Keep the Lance 1181/Swap the truck
I have a 2008 Ford F450 with 26,000 trouble free miles on it.
The frame is like the F350 in that it is not the straight rail used in the cab/chassis version. The GVWR is 14,500 lbs. The rear axle is a Dana110 rated at 11,000 lbs. Ford rates the F450 rear at 9500 with springs and tires it has. The steer axle is a Dana Super 60 rated at 6000 to 7000 lbs depending on springs. It is about 6 inches wider than the F-350 standard axle, which allows for more wheel angle so it has a shorter turning radius. The wheels are 19.5” ten bolt with G rated tires. Mine has the snow plow package with HD front springs and a 200 amp alternator. On a CAT scale the truck empty weighed 9100 lbs. With a large Truck Camper and lots of stuff it, 3 people, and 65 gallons of fuel it weighed 14,400lbs. The fuel tank is a 60 gallon Transfer Flow replacement tank
The F450 has bigger brakes that are much better for the big loads. The brakes are a wonder to use in a hard stop
It is the best camper carrier I have owned since 1966.
That being said, if you are looking to the 2011 models, I would consider the Ram 4500 because Ford is going to ruin the F450 pickup by de-rating the 450 pickup.
People who want a real F450 better buy one before the 2011 Ford pickups come out. Ford will no longer have a real medium–duty F450 in the lineup. Ford has put a 450 badge on a light–duty F350. The change from a Dana 110 to a Dana 80 version drive axle is not acceptable. The change from 19.5 to 17 inch wheels further diminishes the truck. This means they have reduced the swept area of the brakes. The wide steer axle seems to be gone.
Did Ford have Jaguar spec out the new F450? Or, maybe it was the freaks at the EPA
No thanks, I’ll be grateful for the 2008 F450 that I have, fuel mileage is not that big a deal.
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Clattertruck
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11/07/09 07:40am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Guns in Alaska. (Please be nice)
Firearms users visiting Canada
U.S. citizens who intend to travel to Canada and wish to have a firearm in their RV need to know the Canadian law relating to firearms. The following is a brief description of the law and a list of the web sites that the traveler must read.
You may take a firearm into Canada subject to what type of firearm is allowed. Guns must be “non-restricted (most common rifles and shotguns): These may generally be imported for purposes such as hunting, protection from wild animals in remote wilderness areas where firearms are allowed”.
Handguns are not allowed unless there is a lot of special paper work.
You declare your firearms in writing, in triplicate, using the “Non-Resident Firearm Declaration” form CAFC 909. The forms are to be presented to the boarder agent and signed when you are told. The form is to be filled out ahead of time but not signed. You will be charged a fee.
Visiters with criminal records and DUI records will not be allowed firearms.
Here are the links to the sites you must visit:
Firearms users visiting Canada
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/visitin_e.asp
List of restricted firearms:
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/r&p_e.asp
Download site for the Declaration form.
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/form-formulaire/indiv_forms/909_e.asp
The form can be filled out on the site and then printed (3 copies).
The whole process is not as complicated as it may appear.
A further note, people who are caught smuggling firearms are dealt with severely.
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Clattertruck
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11/07/09 07:19am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Winter Batter Charging
In my opinion,the batteries (truck vs camper)should be charged separately. The charge requirements are different between starting and deep cycle.
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Clattertruck
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11/03/09 03:14pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Would like to read about your trip to Alaska
Here is a link to our Alaska/BC trips in 2002 and 2008.
http://clattertruck.smugmug.com/?preview=1
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Clattertruck
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11/02/09 07:00pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: 2011 Ford SuperDuty Video
That is a slick video, but Ford does not tell you how they have taken the guts out of the F450 pickup.
People who want a real F450 better buy one before the 2011 Ford pickups come out. Ford no longer has a real medium–duty F450 in the lineup. Ford has put a 450 badge on a light–duty F350. The change from a Dana 110 to a Dana 80 version drive axle is not acceptable. The change from 19.5 to 17 inch wheels further diminishes the truck. This means they have reduced the swept area of the brakes. The wide steer axle seems to be gone.
Did Ford have Jaguar spec out the new F450? Or, maybe it was the freaks at the EPA
No thanks, I’ll be grateful for the 2008 F450 that I have, fuel mileage is not that big a deal.
PS. How about the butt ugly rear fenders. They look like they came from a 1946 White tractor.
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Clattertruck
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10/31/09 03:40pm |
Truck Campers
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