RE: Harley on a 5er
"It's what Toy Haulers were designed to do"...
Usually at a huge sacrifice to the creature comforts in the non-garage portion of the rig. Lots of folks have used the single wheel or the dual wheel swivel wheel trailer. We don't like ours to be in the open, subject to road grime, rain etc., and prying eyes...we prefer an enclosed, nondescript cargo trailer....but we use 2 trucks to facilitate our travel.
The general consensus is that the frame on a DRV is stout enough to handle a Harley loader.
"Hmmmmm New Horizons start at, yes start at $100K"...
Same with DRV's but there is nothing wrong with looking for used units.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Real towing experiencing with SRW
"To label those that disagree with your opinion as "hard heads"....
my connotation of hard head was certainly not someone who disagrees with me, it is someone who after a purchase of some good or service, coming to the conclusion they have made a mistake, but will never admit to the mistake regardless of how much evidence there is to the contrary...for fear that it will somehow diminish their worthiness/credibility. We've all seen 'em in life, those who know everything, refuse to believe there is another way of doing something, other than their own. Some of us have probably worn that label at sometime during our life....I know I have.
But back to the issue of SRW and real life experiences towing a heavy rig, and having once owned a DRW farm truck, I never once thought I needed or wished for a DRW when towing my 5th wheel. There are trade off's for sure, my SRW, while retired from pulling our home, still serves as a commute vehicle, still serves us off road and in places that a DRW would be out of place...like the desert, a forest road or in a downtown parking garage. Life is all about choices, we just gotta make 'em for the right reasons.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Your tow rig
"A few people have said they tow 30k on a regular basis"....
happens all the time....in a farm environment....pulling a trailer full of round bales....but that is slow, controlled and usually short distance. 30K on the hiway is a horse of a different color, they are blowin' smoke up your skirt if they tell you it's hiway use.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Real towing experiencing with SRW
"Thanks for your honest story!
I think too many people know they really should be towing with a Dually but make every excuse in the book to justify what they have"....
I hope that is not a slam against the rest of us who did not reply with a similar story....which are no doubt just as honest as the one referenced. Is it because the story fit your own preference for a DRW truck ? Did it help justify your personal decision ? I'm just curious as to why you seemed to weight this story more than the others ?
Understandably, there are people who should not be towing a particular rig with a particular truck, like new RV'ers who don't know any different, or as you allude to, hard headed RV'ers who won't accept the fact that they made a mistake. Not that I am looking for one, but I believe everyone who replied honestly about their real world experiences should be thanked for their input to the OP's question....
Threads like this will help new RV'ers make the right decision, and we know it won't do a thing for the hard headed population.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Storage bin locks
With barrel locks, you cannot remove the key, unless the lock is indeed locked. I found that I could lock the barrel lock while the door was open, remove the key and gently lower the door so it appears closed and locked. Before we hit the road, all cargo doors are closed and locked properly.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Real towing experiencing with SRW
"I'm simply asking for "REAL WORLD" experience from those that have "been there, done that!"....
In many miles of towing with a SRW 3500 Dodge, I never encountered a situation towing a 19K pound rig that caused me to wish I had a DRW truck. The only downside to the LDT was the lack of safe braking ability, thus the move to a big truck.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Easiest route from Aurora, CO to Grand Junction, CO
"Thank you for any suggestions you have"...if you don't already have one, my suggestion is to purchase the Mountain Directory West, which list all grades on major routes in the 11 western states. There is also an Eastern states version.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Adding a water filter can I use Pex Fittings on this hose
I have used this crimp ring on the flex hose you describe with great results, thus eliminating all leak prone hose clamps that I could reach.
Apollo Stainless-Steel PEX Pinch Clamp Crimp Fitting
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Full time RVing with a tech job
It can be done, but getting "home officed" by the current employer will probably be the easiest method...
I worked on the road as a Telecom Project Manager, using a DSL brought into the RV park by the local telco...vpn into the corporate network, and used a VoIP phone with my Indiana home office number, while sitting in Arizona. My boss was OK with it, as long as my ability to support my customers was not compromised.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Tucson, AZ to Bremerton, WA area: How quickly?
I've made that trip (from Yuma), and did it in 4 days, driving a reasonable time/distance each day, and allocating enough time to register in an RV park, get set up, cook dinner, etc. We arrived fresh, not exhausted from non-stop driving...Either I-5 or US 395/97 are good routes, but the scenery is better on 395/97. Our stops are always in Lone Pine, Likely and just south of Portland.
US 395
US 97
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Need help from you Ram guys...
So, why not keep the trucks you have, and buy a big truck...one more than capable of pulling and stopping the 19K pound toyhauler...for less than 1/2 the money you'd spend on a new 3500 ? Selling yours, you'd probably take a bath, buying new you'll take a beating from the dealer, then deal with the immediate depreciation, then deal with the DEF issue. At $20-$25K for a used big truck you could just let it sit when you are not using it. Just food for thought.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Weather -How to know if tornados are predicted?
Best tool I've seen to plan a trip, or to know when to avoid Oklahoma. As you can see, Oklahoma is still the bullseye on the map.
NOAA Weather Predictor
You can modify the data for severe weather, tornado, wind, hail, etc... it will show a US map and by pressing the "start" tab at the upper left of the map, will scroll through the calendar, showing where severe weather is probable on given dates based on historical data. You can speed up or slow down the scrolling process via the tabs just above the map.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Interesting - New Excel with Door in the Slide
"My concern would be that they don't recommend stepping on slide-out floors when they are in"....
first time I have heard that comment in 7 years of fulltiming...sounds rather odd, when there is plenty of weight on slide floors in the retracted position.
Any idea where that suggestion originated ?
Regards
Gemstone
RE: 2006 Ram 5.9 Transfer plumbing etc???
I added a 50 gallon tank ($100 on craigslist) to my '05 Dodge Diesel, the tank came with an internal fuel pump, with a 1 gal/minute flow. As mentioned prior, mine was plumbed into the filler tube of the main tank, however the tube was a non metallic material, could not weld, so I cut some rubber hose out of the filler tube, inserted a piece of thinwall pipe, with threaded ports welded on to accept the feed and the overflow from the new tank. I hook up a motorcycle battery thru a switch when I make pit stops, throw the switch and transfer fuel. After awhile and back on the road (with switch off), I began to notice the fuel gauge increasing...after my first concerns about screwing up the computer, and further experimenting, I concluded that somehow a syphon/suction effect had been established....so even with the fuel pump switched off, I continued to draw fuel from the Aux tank while going down the road. Once the dashboard fuel gauge begins to drop, I know my aux tank is empty, and I have 38 gallons of fuel left with which to find the cheapest fuel stop. Works for me.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Where to find RV water line fittings
"DH sent me to HD to get the crimpers and then he ARGUED with me"....Bad position to be in...can't win. He shoulda asked you nicely to go to Lowes for these:
Apollo Crimper and these fittings.
My whole house has been done with these products as well as repairs on my rig.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: Whats in your camping tool bucket?
Whats in your camping tool bucket? "what we carry for tools".... kinda depends on 3 things....whether you are fulltime and whether you work when on the road, and do you have a hobby ...
mine is:
80 lb, 3 drawer mechanics tool box
canvas bag for plumbing tools
canvas bag for electrical tools/telephone tools
canvas bag for construction tools/2' level/4' level
canvas bag for drill bits/hole saws
Spare PEX, fittings and crimp tool for modifications/repair
lotsa various tape/glue
sawzall/Jig saw/circular saw
1/2" elec hammer drill, 3'8 elec drill/1/2" battery drill
150' of extension cord/100' of 3/8 rope
tow chain/tow straps
pruning saws, loppers, and nippers
belt sander/2 pad sanders/36" belt/disk sander
C clamps/bar clamps
air compressor/spray gun/wood finishing supplies
all sorts of RV cleaning/truck cleaning supplies/WD-40/Eternabond
Spare tire for big truck
drawer full of nuts/bolts/screws/wire nuts, etc.
caulking gun and caulk
addt'l 50 amp power cord/additional hose
Jewelers bench/tools
usually 3-6 gallons of motor oil+windshield washer fluid+antifreeze
Roadside emergency placards/fire extinguisher
Full size BBQ...it's a cooking tool
7' step ladder
25a battery charger
I'm sure I have forgotten something, and this list does not include the extra freezer, 2 Harleys, 2 kayaks, fishing rods/tackle or the stash of wood that I carry for my hobby....or her quilting sewing machine and fabric.
If we were just weekend camping I'd just carry the bare minimum and fix everything at home....but this is our home.
Regards
Gemstone
RE: what clutch to put in my dodge?
You can't go wrong with South Bend Clutch...better than original, better price than at the 'stealer".
Regards
Gemstone
