| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Canyon De Chelly - Cottonwood or Spider Rock campgrounds?
Thank you. It is always good to hear from someone that has been to both. We were planning on Cottonwood. Just curious about experiences with Spider Rock.
|
GOrsted
|
04/27/13 07:54am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
Canyon De Chelly - Cottonwood or Spider Rock campgrounds?
We are planning a trip to Canyon De Chelly. The two choices for campgrounds appear to be Cottonwood or Spider Rock. I searched the forum and only found comments for Cottonwood, none for Spider Rock. Just wondering if anyone has experience with either/both of the campgrounds and your thoughts of a preference.
Thanks
|
GOrsted
|
04/27/13 07:32am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: Canyon De Chelly tour recommendations
We are planning one day to drive the North Rim and South Rim Drives and hike to the White House Ruin Overlook. A second day is for a trip into the canyon. Our vehicle is a Power Wagon so capability is not a concern.
None of the reviews mentioned the guide doing the driving. I'll have to check on that. Thanks for the heads up.
|
GOrsted
|
04/27/13 12:32am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
Canyon De Chelly tour recommendations
We are planning a trip to Canyon De Chelly and want a tour into the canyon which requires a guide. We are considering Leon Skyhorse Thomas' Canyon De Chelly Tours which has many favorable reviews. We are interested in a tour using our own vehicle with a guide.
I am asking for input from any who have had experience with tours in the canyon. Which tour guide companies have you had good or bad experiences and especially any experience with Leon Skyhorse Thomas' guide service. Also with a private tour we can tailor it to our wants and wondering which portions of the canyon you would recommend.
I'm looking forward to any insight you have to offer.
|
GOrsted
|
04/26/13 07:32pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: 5th wheel towing with a Power Wagon
Just spent the evening with a local knowledgable and surprisingly honest dealer. Basically the truck is ~58" bed height and the 5ers are 58-60"... So even dealer admitted its not enough clearance and doesn't like lifts/flips etc and basically said what I knew. :(
That would be closer than my set up. You would need a 3" lift just to get to where I was to start with. Part of the problem is that you are running 35s so your Power Wagon is about 1" higher than a stock Power Wagon, although I also switched to BFG KM2s, but went with LT285/75R17 load range E which are 34", so I am about 1/2" higher than stock, but still 1/2" lower than you are. Our fifth wheel was 62" originally and now is 65" with the lift.
|
GOrsted
|
04/11/13 08:28pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: 5th wheel towing with a Power Wagon
For first several years the fifth wheel was not lifted and I did hit my bed rails on several occasions. Fortunately only minor damage, because I was watching it closely, but finally decided to lift it before I did some real damage.
Here (before lift) the Power Wagon is starting down a slight off-camber grade. With the down grade, the back is lifting and as it is off camber to the left, the right rear corner is coming up - not good!
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-T3C5kxv/0/L/i-T3C5kxv-L.jpg width=640
|
GOrsted
|
04/11/13 08:14am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: 5th wheel towing with a Power Wagon
The BFG ATs shouldn't be an issue. They have 3-ply sidewalls and tend to be stiffer than the 2-ply sidewall highway tread tires many use. By the time you would get to their 6000+ rating per axle, you would be way beyond the Power Wagon's capabilities.
In a few weeks we will have had our fifth wheel for 7 years. The first 6 years were towing with the OEM BFG ATs. I never even ran them at their max pressure while towing. One time I bumped the pressure up and quickly noticed they were wearing faster in the center of the tread, so I dropped the pressure back down to where they should have been. Never had a problem with them.
|
GOrsted
|
04/11/13 08:03am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: 5th wheel towing with a Power Wagon
Atvanish,
Sorry I am late to the party. It sounds like you have already decided, but I will add my input as we both have 2006 Power Wagons, so the tow vehicles are the same.
Not all fifth wheels are the same height and you must remember the back will drop some with the weight of the fifth wheel. When we first purchased our fifth wheel we had 6" of clearance with the bed rails. It was sufficient for established campgrounds and roadways, but not enough for where we wanted to go. We therefore lifted the fifth wheel 3" and couldn't be happier with it. I was initially concerned about stability issues, but have not experienced any.
There is also a big difference in fifth wheel weights and many are far beyond the Power Wagon's capabilities, but there are some worth considering. Our fifth wheel has a 1089# dry pin weight and loaded usually has a 1300-1400# pin weight. Its actual dry weight is 6800 and loaded we are around 8000-8500, well within the Power Wagon's 10,400 tow rating.
We have weighed several times and I am usually over my GVWR (not uncommon with 250/2500s with fifth wheels), but have always been under both GAWRs (front & rear), under my GCWR and under the weight ratings for my tires. As you are aware, we have the frame, axles and brakes to handle the weight, the weak area is the softer springs for better articulation. I have added Timbrens to keep it level. They are easily removed if I am going on any off road adventures.
The tires are D rated, but at 3195# are the same rating as many (not all) E rated tires. The difference being they carry the weight at 65 PSI rather than 80 PSI, so they will not be as stable, but can carry the same weight. My rear axle weight has never come close to the 6390# capacity of the tires. I have since replaced the original BFG ATs with load range E tires, but I was never unhappy with the D rated tires.
I am extremely happy with my set up and have no regrets. I greatly prefer towing our current fifth wheel with the Power Wagon than I did the 6000# pull behind HTT we started with.
It is not for everyone, but I am still extremely happy with my set up. The number of fifth wheels that will work is limited and it sounds like the one you were looking at would not work. Also since the economic collapse in 2008 and the loss of many RV manufacturer's, the selection may not be as large as when we were looking.
Good luck!
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-Ltpnkg4/0/L/i-Ltpnkg4-L.jpg width=640
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-7kFrcqq/0/L/i-7kFrcqq-L.jpg width=640
|
GOrsted
|
04/11/13 07:10am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: ANYONE TOWING 5TH WHEEL WITH RAMBOX
If you use a Reese Revolution pin box, the Rambox narrow bed should not be an issue.
|
GOrsted
|
04/08/13 10:38pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: What could you tow with this diesel V12?
For serious towing you need a 3424 horsepower Detroit V24:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6KWsIFqoso :E
|
GOrsted
|
12/13/12 06:24pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Question on Camco towing mirrors
If you are referring to the Tow-N-See mirrors, when I used them (8 years ago) the only difference was flat or convex. I used the flat for the driver's side and the convex for the passenger side. It worked well.
Tow-N-See (flat)
Tow-N-See (convex)
|
GOrsted
|
12/01/12 08:40am |
Towing
|
|
RE: Question on Camco towing mirrors
If you are referring to the Tow-N-See mirrors, I used them with our Durango when we were towing our first trailer. They were much better than the ones which strap on. Like you I found the ones which strap to the mirrors vibrated horribly and I eventually threw them away.
The best option is either McKesh or Ora Products. Both are more $$$, but are good products.
McKesh
Ora Products - Magnetic
Ora Products - Strap Mount
|
GOrsted
|
12/01/12 06:56am |
Towing
|
|
RE: Check your Throttle Body (my v10 story)
At around 55,000 miles I began to notice a decrease in the performance of the 5.7L Hemi in my Power Wagon and I wasn't getting the MPG I used to. I cleaned the the throttle body and it woke her back up and the MPG returned to normal.
Before:
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-XQKKXwG/0/L/i-XQKKXwG-L.jpg width=640
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-WNNpJqB/0/L/i-WNNpJqB-L.jpg width=640
After:
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-khRbWsT/0/L/i-khRbWsT-L.jpg width=640
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-6Pxw2J6/0/L/i-6Pxw2J6-L.jpg width=640
|
GOrsted
|
11/22/12 06:16am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Mirror question from a newbie!
Why not just swap out the non towing mirrors with the factory tow mirrors. :h would beat those cheap clamp/clip on mirrors.
Link to a set for $249.80....yes that is a SET
...because the OP has a Dakota, not a Ram.
The McKesh mirrors are very good. If you want to start with something a little less $$$, you might consider the Tow-N-See mirrors. They come in flat and convex.
Tow-N-See flat
Tow-N-See convex
Years ago when we were towing our first trailer with our Durango we had the same problem. Several here on the forum suggested the Tow-N-See mirrors as an economical option. I was skeptical, but they actually worked very well with little to no vibration. I used the flat on the driver's side and the convex on the passenger side. Just a suggestion....and Welcome to the forum!
|
GOrsted
|
11/14/12 07:46pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Gas Mileage
You guys are being a little harsh with Gunspeak! Whatever the problem is, last month he was getting 15 MPG and this month he is getting 14, so he is moving in the direction of reality. If this rate of recovery continues we may expect a complete cure by March.
August - 15 MPG
September - 14 MPG
October - 13 MPG
November - 12 MPG
December - 11 MPG
January - 10 MPG
February - 9MPG
March - 8 MPG
This public service announcement was brought to you by a 5.7L Hemi owner/operator.
|
GOrsted
|
09/18/12 06:06am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Thoughts for Noob Thinking About a Fiver
ReneeG,
Beautiful spot!
|
GOrsted
|
09/17/12 06:07am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Thoughts for Noob Thinking About a Fiver
...And you haven't crunched your bed sides yet?
I have a couple minor marks from our early trips with the 5'er:
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-T3C5kxv/0/L/i-T3C5kxv-L.jpg width=640
But I have since had the fifth wheel lifted 3" and all is now good:
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-7DXGLDP/0/L/i-7DXGLDP-L.jpg width=640
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-KBLRRQ6/0/L/i-KBLRRQ6-L.jpg width=640
And this is what its all about:
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/978291919_zSv4t-L.jpg width=640
|
GOrsted
|
09/16/12 03:36pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Thoughts for Noob Thinking About a Fiver
Not sure what exact features you want/need or any manufacturer preference, but there are fifth wheels such as a Rockwood 8286WS or a Flagstaff 8528TBWS which are bunkhouse models with an outside kitchen which are being advertised for the $35,000 range.
Rockwood 8286WS
I went from a travel trailer to a bunkhouse fifth wheel and prefer the fifth wheel for its stability, storage and ground clearance. I was always dragging the hitch with the TT. The fifth is taller, but I have found it easier to trim tree branches than to level the trail. Of course not everyone takes their trailers the places I do. :)
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-Ltpnkg4/0/L/i-Ltpnkg4-L.jpg width=640
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-CXSPWg6/0/L/i-CXSPWg6-L.jpg width=640
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-vWMbFP6/0/L/i-vWMbFP6-L.jpg width=640
|
GOrsted
|
09/16/12 10:01am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Gassers... Please Post your Experience
That's a great picture!
Thank you.
|
GOrsted
|
09/10/12 10:09pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Gassers... Please Post your Experience
1) Your truck, motor, rear axle ratio, and year
Dodge Power Wagon, 5.7L Hemi, 4.56, 2006
2) Your trailer (fiver or TT), trailer weight,
30' fifth wheel, 6800 empty 8000 to 8500 loaded
3) MPG empty
With previous BFG AT KOs:
11 MPG city
13 MPG highway @ 75 to 80 MPH
15 MPG highway if I stay below 65 MPH
With current BFG KM2s:
9 MPG city
12.9 MPG best ever highway
4) MPG towing
With previous BFG AT KOs 8.5 MPG
With current BFG KM2s 6 MPG
5) Your overall satisfaction with a gasser (good or bad)
Very happy. Obviously I got better MPG with the BFG AT KOs, but the KM2s are far superior off road. Not sure what I will go with next round.
http://glenn5995.smugmug.com/photos/i-CXSPWg6/0/L/i-CXSPWg6-L.jpg width=640
|
GOrsted
|
09/10/12 07:03pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
