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Forum
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RE: 5th Wheel Hitches
Although I might have missed it in one of the replies, I suggest that you stay away from a Universal mounting kit for the hitch. Regardless of the brand of hitch that you choose, buy the matching purpose made frame mounting bracket for the hitch.
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Hamops
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05/21/13 08:38am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Use of Cinder Blocks
I have set of JT StrongArms, so I just put a 8" length of 2X8 under landing gear pad. This allows my StrongArms to have more length so that they will better stabilize our 5vr, because of more equal triangulation.
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Hamops
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05/21/13 08:26am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Found the culprit for the tire wear
I agree with "Me Again", it's a little difficult visualizing what your problem is. A set of pictures would help a lot.
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Hamops
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05/21/13 08:13am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Help with relay wiring
I'm going to suggest that you leave the circuit exactly as it is. The circuit as designed, is protecting the reed switch. The reed switch is not intended to take any sizeable amount of current, so that's the reason for the second set of contacts. The reed switch only has to pick up the one relay coil and nothing else, which seals itself in and closes the other set of contacts that will do the work. By sealing the relay, the reed switch contacts are shorted out and not carrying any current. The relay contacts take all the current to keep the relay energized.
From this design, there is no method to reset this circuit. Once the reed switch closes the sets the relay, the relay is energized until the main power is removed.
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Hamops
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05/16/13 06:34am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Cruise control
There's no reason not to use "Cruise", but I noticed that you have a gasser and that might be a problem, because the Cruise generally forces a downshift on the slightest of grades. I had this problem with our '03 Silverado 5.3. I was able to alleviate that downshifting to some extent by locking out Overdrive. I always drove it in T/H to keep the transmission fluid temperatures lower.
We now have a diesel and I use Cruise all the time. I put the tranny into T/H and set the Cruise at about 65 and it'll run all day at the speed without downshifting unless I've hit a relatively steep or long grade.
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Hamops
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05/15/13 09:05am |
Towing
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RE: Water transfer pump
I like to run the water through a filter first so I use an external pump.
http://i39.tinypic.com/331no77.jpg
What a neat device. I like it and will look to making one for our 5vr. It keeps the pump and hoses out of the dirt.
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Hamops
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05/15/13 08:44am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Water transfer pump
I use a 12V Pony pump and two 5gal foldable water jugs. It worked well but it meant making several trips to the water source to refill the FW tank. I bought a 45gal water bladder from Camping World to take the place of the two water jugs. I haven't had need to use the water bladder yet but it'll get use this summer.
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Hamops
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05/15/13 08:39am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Confused
This thought did cross my mind earlier today. The last trip was a rough ride (expansion joints). I wouldn't imagine this would cause that kind of damage.
Having driven across Louisiana last month, I can definitely attest to roughness of the roads there. That is where the fridge on our 5vr, caught fire . We suspect that the constant pounding the road gave the trailer may have been a factor. It's very possible that your trailer was bouncing enough to throw it around slightly causing it to feel unmanageable.
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Hamops
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05/13/13 06:13am |
Towing
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RE: Confused
All the suggestions in this thread are valid but in a previous thread, you mentioned that your trailer tires on one side unusually worn. It's possible that you have 2 bent axles that have thrown out the trailer wheel alignment that is causing the trailer to not track true.
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Hamops
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05/12/13 09:40am |
Towing
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RE: Shaw Satellite Service
Thanks for the information, I was hoping to get the roof top Winguard dish. We generally winter in Arizona, are the 75cm dishes available for these roof mounts or necessary? I am concerned about the new satellite coming into use and limiting recepetion to the border area.
When we took our 5vr into a dealer for fire damage repair, they had a roof mounted Shaw 75 cm dish on display. It would make sense that the dish would be a 75 cm dish for the RV's.
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Hamops
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05/12/13 07:20am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Tires or Axles
From the way you describe the condition of your tires, it sounds like you have two bent axles. All it takes is one good hard bump to bend them. If they are Lippert axles then in all likelihood they are bent.
Tubular type axles have a slight bow in them that should be continuous across the whole length of the tube. As the weight is added to the axle tube, it will tend to straighten out to the point were the wheels a basically perpendicular to the road surface. As quick check, park your trailer on a level surface, go to the back of it and have a look at the wheels. The axle tube should be relatively straight and the wheels should look parallel. Also, look at the axles between the springs and the wheels. Each side should be the mirror image of the other. If there is any difference then it's likely that the axles are bent and replacement is the most likely option.
It would be in your best interests to go to a good shop that deals with trailer repairs. They can tell you what the condition of the axles.
As for the tires, replace them now! Any kind of damage on the tire like what you described is not good. When you do replace them, go one load range up for added safety.
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Hamops
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05/12/13 06:58am |
Towing
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RE: Ideas for a adding main battery shutoff
I mounted this 150 amp switchable overload in the battery compartment of our 5vr. The nice thing about this device is that if there is ever a short in the load of the battery, the overload will trip and save the battery. I bought it new at a surplus store for $10.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h221/hamops/Battery%20Mods/TRAILER-SWITCH.jpg
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Hamops
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05/12/13 05:58am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Shaw Satellite Service
We use a 60cm dish with our trailer and I talked to Shaw about obtaining a 75cm dish. They told me that for a 100 bucks and the serial number of our 5vr, they would send me a 75cm dish kit. I asked why they wanted my trailer serial number and their reply was that our trailer becomes a second residence that is attached to our home address and the serial number is the only way to document it. Once it's documented, we can use their service where ever we can receive their signal. You'll have no hassles with Shaw like you'll have with Bell ExpressVu.
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Hamops
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05/10/13 08:36am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Opinions wanted.
No problem on the frame,
I'm not so sure about that. When we were in Lubbock TX last month, a Ford F150, pulling about a 28 foot Cougar 5vr, passed me on the interstate. It was bouncing pretty badly and as it passed, I noticed that the frame was flexing enough that the top of the truck box was moving about an inch or more to and from the truck cab. The lady who was driving, was totally oblivious of the situation as she drove down the interstate at more than 70mph.
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Hamops
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05/10/13 07:43am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Follow up to blow out (there is a tire question at the end)
I replaced my tires after 6 years but when I did I went up 1 load range, from LR-D to LR-E. This allowed for more pressure in the tire (80PSI as opposed to 55PSI) With the LR-D's on our 5vr, they always ran hot, even with the maximum rated air pressure of 55PSI. Now that I have the LR-E's, I run them at 70PSI and they run very cool. I had 2 of the LR-D's blow on me and replaced them with same rated tire. After researching the problems with ST tires, going up the 1 load range was a no brainer and cost difference was negligible.
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Hamops
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05/10/13 07:21am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Tracking towing distance (tow haul turned on)
Since I use T/H all the time when pulling our 5vr, I use the "B" trip odometer to get the total length of our trip. This is not a totally accurate way of T/H mileage because of side trips, etc., but it will give you a rough measure of your T/H mileage.
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Hamops
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05/09/13 07:57am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2006 Chevy Duramax/Allison Question?
I have an '06 LBZ Dmax and it runs like a top. It has all the power that is needed and with the 6 speed Allison, it's ideal for towing our 5vr that has an average weight of 10500 lbs. (11660 Gross) When I'm towing our 5vr, I turn on the Tow/Haul, set the cruise at 64/65 mph and let the computers do the work. With this set up, I average about 12 mpg. I can't complain about that. By the way, the engine is bone stock.
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Hamops
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05/09/13 07:50am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Cruise Control?
I'm too lazy to work hard because I run with cruise all the time. I figure, since the computer won't over stress the engine and drivetrain, I'll let it do the work for me. We just came back from a 7000 mile trip and I used cruise about 90% of the time.
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Hamops
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05/05/13 08:08am |
Towing
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RE: Trailer Lights Harness Length Problem
Here's where I mounted my connector.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h221/hamops/Truck%20Bed%20Cable%20Relocation/P8220007.jpg
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Hamops
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05/05/13 07:25am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: "A" drivers licence
Red Ace is correct and as well your Class "G" license will is acceptable in any of the Provinces of Canada and States of the US. As long as you are legal in Ontario, you are legal elsewhere. Other rules like overall length and speed limits do apply in the jurisdiction that you are in.
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Hamops
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05/05/13 07:15am |
Fifth-Wheels
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