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RE: Gooseneck vs 5th Wheel hitch setup
I wonder if "Cushioned' Gooseneck adapters like the "Star Performance Adapter" may be better than standard limited motion fiver hitches?
One benefit is you should never have to worry about dropping the trailer on the pickup bed and hitching is gentler (raise and lower the trailer onto the ball).
The safety chains are a small hassle/tradeoff for me, though I can't imagine they would ever come into play as the trailer weight lowers the truck several inches and the hitch has a lock onto the ball. So on short local drives to service or home I don't usually hook the chains up.
Good Luck!
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11/19/09 08:56am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: POLL: 5er hitch or GN?
Star Performance Gooseneck Adaptor
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11/18/09 06:38am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: What are the best-- Best valued tire?
Many recommend the BFG Commercial T/A tires as the less expensive alternative to the Michelin XPS Ribs. Since I don't fulltime and put only about 2000 miles/year or less on the Fiver, I hope I can get by with a slightly lower rated tire. Cost about $150 at Costco and other tire dealers. I've put 3 on my trailer so far this year, still have a 2 year old "Heritage Trail Trac" (emergency replacement and now orphan) tire on one wheel (its mate suffered slight tread delamination recently and slow leaked - then that same wheel AL Rim developed a crack with the brand new BFG tire...! That was puzzle for a while!)
If we ever go fulltime, I will spend the $$$ on Michelin, even if the DW resists...
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11/15/09 08:57pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: MONTANA RV CLUB
Join the Montana Owners Club. Its FREE!
They have info in a forum about annual Quartzite gathering.
http://www.montanaowners.com/
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11/08/09 12:16pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Gooseneck hitch vs 5th wheel
I've used the Star Performance Gooseneck Adapter for 4000 miles now.
It has a slight offset.
The rotating ball in the bed and the Adapter are both rated for many more lbs than my 12.3Klbs Fiver weighs.
However, despite the Star Performance glider motion that is almost always effective, I do occasionally encounter very mild "chucking" on particularly nasty washboard/bumps that sneak up on me on the interstates (like I-10) before I can react/slow down (I've learned to go slower on old concrete!). The glider does not have an unlimited range of motion and must be lubed every 2000 miles.
At this point I conclude its as good or better than any standard, limited degree of motion Fiver Hitch. And having a free 8' bed without having to store a hitch somewhere has certainly been a benefit.
IMHO
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11/03/09 07:24pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Gooseneck hitch vs 5th wheel
Hmm,
Would the "real world" bottom line be reported failures/damage due to using a gooseneck?
Maybe because 80-90% of Fivers are pulled by standard Fifth Wheel Hitches, all the frame failures, collapses, flexing, etc. that are routinely reported by these users is simply a reflection of their predominance and poor luck or RV manufacturing.
Which may mean that Gooseneck Converters are no more risky (liklihood x consequence?)as no problems (that I can recall, though a camper once told me a fulltime friend who moved Weekly or MORE Often had a frame failure with a Gooseneck after a year - coincidence as perhaps "overuse" was the problem?)are reported using these(over the 3 years I've read Trailer Life and been on this and other Bulletin Boards).
There are more than a few Gooseneck Converter Manufacturers and they continue to sell them...
And some have built in "motion dampening" like the best pins or standard Fiver Hitches, but how many RVers are towing with high end hitches or pins?
So maybe a Gooseneck Converter with motion dampening is better than a standard multimotion Fiver Hitch?
Who knows...
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10/28/09 10:59am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Lippert frames...........
Shortly after Pilgrim/Open Road closed/shut down last year, I ran into an acquaintance on his second Open Road. The Factory replaced his first one for FREE due to extensive Fiberglass Wall delamination, so he was a motivated promoter of this brand. Sadly, upon seeing him again I learned he had just arrived at the Campground to find his front cap resting on the bedrails (Front Closet and Bedrm collapsed) around/onto the pin...I think his was new enough Lippert was going to send a welder to fix it as I recall...
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10/22/09 09:21pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Gooseneck hitch vs 5th wheel
A similarly titled thread with 3 pages of replies just "ended" yesterday having started 3 days ago (on about page 4 of this forum). Check it out:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23267893.cfm
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10/09/09 09:33am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: FIFTH WHEEL or Gooseneck hitch
I don't know why it would seem harder to use a Gooseneck adapter. Maybe the safety chain hookup is a hassle I would not want to do in the rain (and probably wouldn't as they strike me as very redundant with a locking adapter).
I've found that positioning the Gooseneck adapter over the ball in the truck bed is easy and quick enough as the Bedliner provides a good centerline for me to follow and either a helper advises or I just get out to determine the "exact" final adjustment distance for backing the truck to position the ball under the adapter, and within/up to an inch in any dimension is good enough for the adapter to slip onto the ball. So that part really is no different than hitching "normally". 90% of the time I'm close enough the RV doesn't even move (horizontally) or quiver when lowered onto the truck.
What takes more TIME is raising the RV to clear the ball and then lowering it onto the ball, but again, that is a very gentle process versus backing into a kingpin - and safer/surer IMHO.
If my truck bed had been clear, I would have spent a lot more on a high quality, maybe even a Trailersaver Airbag hitch, but since the retractable ball was in place, a less expensive high quality adapter suited me well. Or if the Trailer was towed more than 6-8 times/year.
I'm a lot more concerned about the tires that sometimes go months without rolling!
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10/07/09 10:14am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: FIFTH WHEEL or Gooseneck hitch
Yes, I forget to mention hooking up the safety chains does require climbing in and out of the truck bed (as does hooking up the emergency brake cable). So far, I don't mind that exercise. For short distances and slow speeds I don't hook up the safety chains as the hitch locks onto to the ball and how likely is the RV/Hitch to "jump" off the ball when the weight of the RV lowers the truck bed at least 3"...
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10/06/09 03:18pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: comfortable outside chairs
Try the Coleman "Deck Chair", it sits up straight and has a side table.
Got mine on Sale at Sports Authority.
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10/06/09 10:56am |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Sitting, how long is too long ro be roadworthy.
Wow, this reminds me of helping someone "evacuate" a post-Katrina donated old, single slideout Fifth Wheel trailer that had been sitting for several years from Slidell LA for last year's Hurricane scare.
The Tires were very old, low on air and badly cracked, but they did hold air and survived an approximately 100 mile tow up north...
Based on all the tire failure stories, I can hardly belief it, but its true.
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10/06/09 10:39am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: FIFTH WHEEL or Gooseneck hitch
Well, Trailer Life reviewed Gooseneck adapters made by their many advertiser manufacturers several months ago.
Because my used truck had a robustly mounted retractable ball on it I chose the Star Performance Gooseneck Adapter hitch which has a glider motion to reduce stress.
http://www.sphitch.com
I've towed my 13K Lbs Fiver for over 3000 miles without problems other than screwing the adapter to my kingpin with the provided supplemental bolts as my severe storage lot backing issues sometimes rotated the adapter on the kingpin.
One major benefit is the gentle up/down hitching and unhitching. It takes a little longer to raise the RV over the ball in the bed, but then you lower it gently onto the ball and don't have to worry about dropping the Fiver on your truck bed as frequently happens with Fiver hitches. Similarly with unhitching.
Presumably, chocking trailer wheels is not necessary as no horizontal forces are exerted on the Trailer or the jacks (I don't chock in the storage lot, but do in RV parks).
Also, Frame failures are often reported with normal Fiver hitches and given the many Gooseneck adapter manufacturers and few reported problems, the presumed "greater" forces exerted on the trailer frame do not generally exceed the strength of most Trailer frames. Or wouldn't they no longer make adapters due to bad publicity/complaints, etc???
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10/06/09 10:31am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: HOW MUCH TO REPLACE ROOF
Two months ago it cost around $5K to replace my 36' EPDM roof at the local RV repair place (my paperwork is in the RV...). Did include one new slide topper, new vent covers and they applied a thin layer of luan plywood after removing the old roof so the new roof is a lot firmer. Insurance paid for most of it.
Now I just have to be more careful around trees as this one should last a while...
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09/27/09 12:18pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Forest River Fifth Wheels
I don't have one because as I researched RV Manufacturers and complaints on this board and others a few years ago, Forest River became a NOT desirable manufacturer for me due to the many complaints
This thread from a few days ago is a recent example:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23213456.cfm
- I'm sorry the link feature would not work, so cut and paste into your browser if interested.
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09/21/09 05:42pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: update on wrecked fifth wheel and need opinions
Lots of good advice!
And a great reminder why I took Forest River OFF my list of possible RV manufacturers when shopping several years ago - way too many problems posted and here's another one!
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09/21/09 10:47am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 30 amp in winter
My practical experience operating my 50AMP Fiver on only 30 AMPS along the Gulf Coast of LA over the winter (only a few FREEZING mornings that froze the water hose):
RV Water Heater on Electric. Furnace on Propane. Occasional use of Electric Fireplace with heater. Used small desktop size Electric heater in bedroom at night (no appliance interference).
Wore earplugs so whenever the RV Furnace ran it would not wake me up (only 5 feet away from bed!). Went through most of a single 30lb bottle of propane every two weeks. I kept the Furnace Thermostat low around 68 and would raise the temp when I got up, or as needed.
Obviously it did not get too cold too often, but colder weather should just use more Propane.
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09/19/09 07:31pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Hub temperature?
I tested 135-145' F using Craftsman Infrared Thermometer after 2 hours towing around 55 MPH and immediately after parking and brake applications. Interestingly, the front two hubs were a little hotter - more brake application/effort? This was the first real pull after dealer lube/repack and brake check.
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09/08/09 03:50pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Tree branch attacks side of roof need advice on roof repair
Similar but possibly more extensive damage happened to me as the aluminum radius corner was smashed up a little too. I'm pretty sure 4"x25' roll of Eternabond would have fixed it but cutting away rubber roof and cleaning/laying up the Eternabond WELL would have been challenging.
RV Repair shop convinced me to claim on my insurance. They repaired by replacing ENTIRE Rubber Roof just as described in the latest Trailer Life magazine, but ADDED a thin luan plywood to the roof in lieu of the bondo/sanding they did in TL (which makes the roof much sturdier now). So now my 5 year old trailer has a shiny new rubber roof, some new Vent Covers, and since actual final repair cost was slightly less than insurance payment, I was only out $500 vice my $1000 deductible. Total real cost was about $5500.
Something to consider.
So far no other repercussions like raising rates or dropping me...
Good luck!
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09/07/09 08:10pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 50 amp electric
On my 05 Montana, the 50 AMPs are primarily for the second AC which I don't have. So I could run the microwave, a small electric space heater or the AC, the water heater on electric, TV, Fridge, etc all just fine on 30AMPS for almost a year on a job. Maybe an onboard W/D would also merit the full 50 AMPs.
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09/02/09 08:50am |
Fifth-Wheels
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