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RE: cougar axles
Yes some axles do have an upward bow in the middle. Yes the pictures you displayed would lead me to believe you have under inflated tires causing the sides to carry all the weight. It does not take long to do this. Check the sidewall of your tire for recommended inflation and stay within 5lb of that. Tires need constant tire pressure check. They will lose pressure when sitting for long periods of time.
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Likes to tow
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05/14/13 03:49am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Power Chip in tow vehicle
Sorry for the tough luv.
More power on a diesel = more fuel. There is no magic chip. Save your money, slow down 5 MPH and save some fuel...
I hand calculate mileage very often and under different conditions. I agree with this post!!! There is significant improvement in MPG with a reduction in speed. My 05 does much better at 60 MPH verses 75 MPH. If I could only get the nerve to drive 50 MPH it would be even much better, of course under certain traffic condidtions this will cause you to become very unpopular.
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Likes to tow
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05/13/13 04:57am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Dearborn MI: Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
However you get there, it's worth the trip to see this museum!!!
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Likes to tow
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05/12/13 04:44am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Wheel bearings
I've done it for many years on campers and boat trailers, never lost a bearing! The most important part is keeping the seals replaced.
I've owned boats over 50 years and used whatever grease I had available. Never an issue!!
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Likes to tow
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05/12/13 04:33am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Smoked Bearing -- Spindle Damage - Axle Replacement??
Welding a spindle properly onto the axle requires removal and placing it in a jig to get proper alignment. It can be done by guessing the alignment on the side of the road but this will only get you on home. The first thing you will notice is the tires wear out very very quickly!! Depending on how out of alignment it may be, you could scuff a tire beyond use in only a few hundred miles.
A few years ago Lippert had axles that were sent out of the factory with improper alignment and several folks had major issues with tire wear. I have experienced this and also lost a bearing on a large boat trailer that required spindle replacement. There are a few alignment shops that can handle welding on a new spindle properly but be very cautious about who you get. It's a very critical part of tire wear and few people can do it properly. Axles are not that expensive nor are they hard to replace. I would just replace the entire axle. There are several places on the Internet where you can buy axles at a reasonable price.
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Likes to tow
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04/29/13 05:53am |
Towing
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RE: Maybe found my diesel.
A truck that clean would probably be well maintained and driven right. Go for it. At that price you could pay for some repairs and still have a really nice truck at a really good price. The cost of new diesel pickups is driving a lot of us away from the RV lifestyle.
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Likes to tow
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04/24/13 06:55pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: how does a 5th wheel track compared to TT
So, it sounds like when you're backing a 5er up and you start turning it, you need to start straightening back out sooner than you would with a TT?
Exactly, start sooner beccause it will still be turning the 5th wheel
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Likes to tow
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04/17/13 05:21pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: how does a 5th wheel track compared to TT
When I started pulling my first 5th wheel this is what I noticed different from a bumper pull trailer. Going forward it will track quicker or sharper so you must get used to it or you will curb it or run it off the pavement. It's not extreme however so just be aware it is a little quicker to track.
When backing up it responds much slower to steering wheel movements. You must learn to compensate for this. I had pulled trailers of all types for years and when I brought my first 5th wheel home I had great difficulty getting it back in the driveway. Once I caught on to how it responded slower I was ok with it.
There is no comparison when moving along at highway speeds. The 5th wheel is significantly more stable with no fishtailing when an 18 wheeler passes you.
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Likes to tow
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04/15/13 07:37pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: BRP and Skyline Drive
Sorry..Blue Ridge Parkway
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Likes to tow
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03/28/13 04:02pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: BRP and Skyline Drive
If you are pulling a 5th wheel be aware some tunnels are not as tall on the sides as they are in the middle. Also like another post mentioned, many of the access roads leading to and from the parkway would be a nightmare for a 5th wheel. Once you are on the parkway generally speaking there is only one place I can think of you should use caution. Mile marker 75 you will be at the highest point on the BRP in Virginia, 15 miles later you are at the lowest point at the James River near mile marker 60!! You will see a 3000 ft elevation change in 15 miles. Brakes and transmissions take a beating here if you are not familar with mountain driving. The speedlimit on the parkway is about 35 so plan on driving slow. Also a few of the pull outs for sceinic overlooks are dead end and if you are pulling a trailer it's easy to get into trouble turning around. However most overlooks are pull through and are no problem for any vehicle.
This is a beautiful drive and you should not be intimidated by it. However good planing and knowledge is essential.
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Likes to tow
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03/28/13 05:04am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Tekonsha P3 Question
One more thing to consider,
Many trailers, especially the heavier ones, will not skid the trailers tires on dry pavement no matter what the gain or brake adjustment. The magnets are just not strong enough to lock up the wheel on a heavy trailer. You should feel a very strong pull though on full application of the brakes.
Many trailers also do not have heavy enough wire to carry the necessary current to the magnets on full braking. There have been several members who have re-wired their trailer brakes using heavier wires and also running separate wires to each set of brakes instead of daisy chaining them like the factory does. This often gives dramatic improvement in trailer braking.
Barney
I agree with this post. My 31' 5th wheel is too heavy to skid or lock up the brakes with full activation of the lever. I ran a larger guage wire from my controller to the bumper of my truck and felt no difference. My dealer said heavy trailers will not lock up the brakes at highway speeds for a safety reason. It makes sense that if you activated a full brake current and all four wheels locked up on the trailer it might make you lose control.
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Likes to tow
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03/27/13 05:47pm |
Towing
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RE: BRP and Skyline Drive
The Cherohala Skyway is a beautiful drive but so very similar to what you will be experiencing on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I would follow the parkway all the way to Charlottesville and get off to take in some wonderful attractions in Virginia. Drop off your 5th wheel at a campground and tour Thomas Jefferson's home near Charlottesville. Then pick up Route 29 toward Lynchburg and head south to Natural Bridge & Appomattox Court house. Virginia is a wonderful state for camping and historical sites. All the parks are well maintained.
Some of our favorite campgrounds are Meadows of Dan on the BRP & Hungry Mother State Park near Marion. Take your time in Virginia, there are many places to see!!
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Likes to tow
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03/27/13 03:57pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Hot water heater only keeps water warm
I had a problem with my hot water tank last year. The water coming into the kitchen sink was pretty warm but not really hot as we had noticed the previous seasons. All of the water faucets seemed to produce hot water that was not nearly hot enough. I tore into this when we got back and replaced thermostat and electric heating element even though we had the same problem with gas or electric operation.
Then when reading this formum someone made all the obvious suggestions about bypass valves,check valves and etc. However one person suggested I check the outside shower hand held nozzle. If the two control valves (hot & cold) are turned on but your hand held wand is turned off then you will get this problem!!! Water is not coming out because it is turned off at the wand but you are getting a "mix" effect and back feed of cold water into your hot water system. Sounds absolutely crazy dosen't it?? I thought I would just check it out. Wouldn't cost anything and is stupidly simple to do. This simple thing could not be my problem!! Oh well...........that was it!!! I fired up the hot water tank and after the burner kicked off I had lots of scalding hot water at each tap. I was getting a feed back from the outside shower. I probably caused this when I was winterizing and went outside to see the pink stuff coming out of the hand held nozzle. I turned it off there instead of the two valves before closing the access door.
I would speculate many dealers make a ton of money on this little mistake each year!!!
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Likes to tow
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03/24/13 05:45pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Dodges are junk!
It's easy to see why these older Dodge trucks with a Cummins are bringing so much on the market. After looking at the window sticker on new ones it is beyond "sticker shock" and I simply am not interested in trading anymore. My 05 with 64K miles is worth a fortune!!!
Funny... I bought a 05 Dodge Cummins with a stick shift last year really cheap. As a matter of fact it was cheaper than a older Super Duty 7.3 CC that looked really tired.
The stick shift may have decreased it's value, some people like them some don't. The only reason I don't have one is my wife cannot handle a clutch! 2wd vs 4wd is another factor in truck value. In my state it's hard to find a truck that is not 4wd.
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Likes to tow
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03/18/13 04:54am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New truck? Don't need a new one
100,000 miles is nothing if driven right and maintained. My next door neighbor has a 1/2 ton Chevy gasser standard cab short bed that I believe is a 03 model. Up until he bought another one exactly like it last year, it was his daily drivr and work truck. He pulled a large tandem utility trailer with large rolls of hay and sometimes his big John Deere tractor from here to his farm 90 miles away and back many many times in the past 7 years. Sometimes I would see him on the Interstate with the tail so low I wondered how he could steer. He worked the devil out of that truck. It was so good that when he replaced it he bought the exact color and everything. Now it is an occasional loaner to family or neighbors or used to haul dirt and rock. The odometer reads 240,000 miles and it still runs good, no smoke or anything.
Modern lubricants and good maintenance seems to work. The price of new trucks is profane, keep it and enjoy no payments!!!
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Likes to tow
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03/17/13 06:25am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Is Atlanta really that bad?
The main issue with Atlanta as is most American roads is the speed people are driving. They know the exit they want to get off on and you have no idea. When all traffic is moving 75 to 85 mph it's hard to make decisions about lane changes and so forth. About 14 years ago we tried 285 around the city in late afternoon. The speedlimit signs said 55 and me being an out of towner I tried to maintain 60 or below. Traffic was tailgating us and acting rude. I kept increasing speed to stay up with but not pass everyone and I was running 75/80 mph. Good luck!!!!
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Likes to tow
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03/15/13 06:06pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Dodges are junk!
It's easy to see why these older Dodge trucks with a Cummins are bringing so much on the market. After looking at the window sticker on new ones it is beyond "sticker shock" and I simply am not interested in trading anymore. My 05 with 64K miles is worth a fortune!!!
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Likes to tow
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03/15/13 06:17am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ridiculous price of Fifth Wheels
Cost of living or inflation figures are not published like they used to be but in the past two years I have noticed an explosion of price increases on everything in our economy!! Somethings going on here, we are all so tied up with worrying about the price of gas that we have failed to notice everything else going up at a profane rate. I think the recreation industry needs to take a look at their pricing.
A neighbor of mine bought a new Starcraft aluminum boat for fishing with a 115 outboard and nice trailer, it cost him almost $40,000!!! We bought nearly the same boat(slightly smaller) in 1972 with a 65hp outboard and trailer for $2250. I still fish out of that old boat but with a newer motor. Truck campers are another of my hot spots. I bought my first crank down Skamper in 1980 for $2000 new and today they cost $14000.
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Likes to tow
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03/10/13 08:53pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Which Ford Diesal Motor Should I stay away from.
There is considerable difference in the Dodge trucks of today compared to this
23 year old relic sitting abandoned in an open field. The ride, fit, finish and drivability of my 05 Cummins is as good or better than any of the previous Fords I owned
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Likes to tow
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03/07/13 05:11am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Which Ford Diesal Motor Should I stay away from.
If you want a Ford AND Power AND Reliability get an 2008-2010 6.8L 3v V10. Then, junk the V-10, and drop in a B-series 5.9L Cummins.
Fixed it for you.
touché.... LoL :p
I guess that's what I get for sticking my nose in a Diesel thread.
Saw an ad in a magazine the other day somewhere for a kit to install a 5.9 or a 6.7 Cummins in a Ford. This alone says volumes about Ford diesels!!!
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Likes to tow
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03/01/13 10:59am |
Tow Vehicles
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