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RE: Lance front Atwood Jacks removal and reinstall
So, the purpose of the BB's is to take the place of the missing steel in the elongated holes? Interesting.
One of the first thing I did on my camper was remove the front jacks and re-attach them more securely. What your pictures don't show is that the fine threaded bolts holding your jack brackets go through the camper frame, and into an L-shaped steel backer plate on the other side. I decided to go with bolt and nuts instead. That short lag screw I felt was doing little or no good because it went through the jack bracket and camper frame, but not the inner backing plate. I replaced both of those on each side with bolts/nuts as well.
The inside of the front corners on my camper were accessible on both sides, as the back of the fridge compartment is on the curb side, and the water heater is on the street side. I did have to remove the water heater to get to the backing plate on that side.
One of the reasons I did all this was that I was seeing a very slight amount of deflection of the bottom of the camper wings, around the area where the front tiedowns were located. The curb side tiedown under the fridge was the worst. After I reinforced the front jack mounts, I moved the front tiedown attachment point to the bottom of the jack brackets by adding a clevis to the bottom of the bracket. All of the front tiedown force is now spread over a much larger area of the camper structure than before.
I have nothing against a well built wood frame truck camper, but I sure wish the manufacturers would use more reinforcing steel in the areas where the jacks are mounted. The front corners especially would really benefit from a triangular steel fixture integrated into the frame that would strengthen it and prevent flex.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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11/11/09 05:50am |
Truck Campers
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RE: lance squire 3100
You need about 100 inches of clearance between the jacks to fit a dually. You will need the swing-out brackets, more than likely.
If this is a new F350, you'll probably also need to raise the camper in the bed to clear the cab roof.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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11/06/09 06:27am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Ford F-350 diesel smell in cab
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/chillyrodent/Truck/P1060563.jpg
Dang! That's a pretty truck Annie. I don't usually "quote" other folks pictures, but yours deserves a second look. Love that paint job.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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11/05/09 07:46am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ford F-350 diesel smell in cab
Correct answer.
Same exact thing happened to me...smelled it when vent was opened. Look on top of the engine, down in the valley, and see if it is wet. If it is, you have the leak as described.
It's a couple hundred dollars, if you let the dealer fix it, or, less than 10 dollars and your time, if you fix it.
If only it were that simple. Of all the fuel leaks I've had to fix on mine, I've never had the drain cause any of them. I've had the filter canister off, torn apart, and put back together several times. I know it's a fairly common cause, and it could turn out to be the source of the OP's leak, but there are several others that are just as likely and some more so. Definitely can't make an If-Then statement out of finding fuel in the valley.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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11/05/09 07:35am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ford F-350 diesel smell in cab
Thanks, NRALIFR, that's very helpful. Yes, it's fuel I'm smelling. I haven't noticed any drips anywhere so I hope I haven't been losing much precious diesel. Off to the mechanic! Wish me luck. :0)
The '95 is a beautiful beast, I really like this truck. Are you happy with yours?
I hope it's a relatively painless experience for you. ;)
One of the strangest fuel leaks I had was from one of those pressure sensors that's screwed into the filter housing. I think it's the low fuel pressure sensor, the one on the backside of the housing that points directly at the firewall. The sensor wasn't leaking at the threads, where you would expect it. It had developed a leak internally, and the fuel was dripping out around the threaded stud the wire hooked to. The leaking fuel was dripping down the wire harness, and eventually melted the insulation on the wires. It also ruined a rubber hose that runs between the bottom of the filter canister and the fuel pump. So to fix that, I had to buy the sensor, a filter wire harness, and several rubber hoses. That one was a little difficult to locate, and wasn't a cheap fix.
And yes, I'm very happy with my truck. I've owned it for about 12 years now. It had about 30K miles on it when i bought it, and it has about 187K on it now. I've put a lot of time and $$$ into maintaining it and improving it. It's a better truck camper hauler today than the day it rolled of the line.
BTW-the 1994 to 1997 F250's and F350's are affectionately known as OBS (Old Body Style) trucks by those that appreciate their styling. So, best of luck with your OBS! :B
:):)
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NRALIFR
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11/03/09 02:31pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ford F-350 diesel smell in cab
I bet it's diesel FUEL she's smelling, which means there's a fuel leak. Annie, I've got the same year truck, and I've fixed several fuel leaks on mine over the years.
Could be the fuel filter housing (they are known to rot out on the bottom). There are also sensors and a drain valve on the filter housing that can leak. Any of the handful of rubber fuel lines on top of the engine can start leaking when they deteriorate from heat and age. The fuel pump (also on top of the engine) can start leaking as it ages. O-rings associated with the fuel pressure regulator can leak.
The most recent fuel leak I fixed on mine was one of the fuel return hoses from the injector fuel rail back to the fuel pressure regulator broke while we were driving on the highway. That was a BIG leak, and caused big smell in the cab. It also wet the entire underside of the truck and the tailgate with fuel in very short order. I feel sorry for the folks that were behind me at the time, they probably got a windshield full of diesel fuel.
You've probably got something leaking a little slower than that if you haven't noticed anything dripping, but even the smallest fuel leak on top of the engine is going to make a stink in the cab when the engine is hot. You need to get it to a competent mechanic that can locate and fix your problem. Sorry I can't help you with the cost estimate, but it really could be anything from just a few bucks to several hundred. Just depends on what's leaking.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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11/03/09 12:32pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: What is it?
That appears to be a pretty common bow-fishing boat. I'm not into that sport personally, but have known some who are. They go after big carp, alligator gar, and catfish.
Look through the pages of this photo gallery and you'll see that quite a few of the boats have a similar fan setup.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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11/02/09 03:03pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: New Guy with questions about Fleetwood Caribou 8C
Unfortunately, Fleetwood stopped making TC's about eight years ago. Other than calling Fleetwood and asking them (good luck with that), I think if it were me I would be thinking about determining the COG myself. You have the camper in your possession already, with a strong saw-horse or a couple of jack stands and a 4x4 timber, you could locate the COG with very little trouble. Fill the water tank, throw in some simulated "gear" weight and see where the balance point ends up. Measure how far it is from the front edge of the camper, and compare that to the rear axle location on your truck.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/30/09 12:31pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: New Guy with questions about Fleetwood Caribou 8C
While it may fit your short bed truck, I'd be concerned about the center of gravity (COG) of the camper, and whether it was going to end up behind the rear axle or not. Do you know if this camper was designed for a short bed?
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/30/09 05:52am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Hot Water Heater Damage? - Interior Pics
If it's a Suburban WH, (which I think yours is) it has a porcelain lining. If it's an Atwood, the tank is aluminum. If your tank has expanded for whatever reason, then yes, the porcelain is probably cracked. I would think you would know it pretty quickly though, due to the fact that the tank is steel under the porcelain, and it will start rusting. I'd just keep an eye on it.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/29/09 06:18pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Truck Camper slides around
I've got 5th wheel hitch rails in my bed too.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/nralifr/TruckBed.jpg
So I did this to the bottom of my camper.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/nralifr/CamperBottom.jpg
The boards on the bottom not only allow clearance for the rails, two of them are positioned to land right in front of the two rails, and prevent the camper from sliding to the rear. The boards on the front of the camper and the truck bed keep the camper from sliding forward. The boards on the sides of the tub keep the camper centered between the wheel wells. Since I've done this, the camper no longer moves while we are on a trip.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/29/09 05:44pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Cold Batteries (below freezing)
My camper is plugged in to power all the time, and I leave the battery in my camper year round. It's a Trojan wet cell. When it's going to be more than just a few weeks till I use the camper again, I use the battery disconnect switch to remove it from the campers converter/charger (I still have the original MagnaTek) and connect a Battery Minder or Battery Tender maintainer to it.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/29/09 10:29am |
Truck Campers
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RE: I-40 closed due to rock slide at NC/TN border
Don't worry, I'm braced! I've got my arms around one of the biggest trees in my yard right now.
Maybe you should call them and recommend they use your more precise prediction: "It'll take as long as it takes". That pretty much covers it down to the second. :B
You could also suggest they throw in a "It is what it is" and a "Que sera sera" for good measure. :W
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/29/09 07:50am |
Truck Campers
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RE: avatar
what use is the forum card they are pushing?
"Print your personalized forum membership card. "
Well, that and about $3.50 will get you a latte at Starbucks.
If you're into latte's, that is. ;)
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/28/09 04:53am |
Forum Technical Support
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RE: Question on where to put a house battery in TC
Have you considered an AGM battery? Those don't necessarily need a vented space.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/27/09 02:44pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Hijacker hyd. jack repair
Hmmmm.....I've never been into the hydraulic TC jacks. What's the purpose of the blank? Does it hold something in place while you work on the pressure cartridge? Can the jack be disassembled and (most importantly) put back together without using the blank? If you can't replace the pressure cartridge without the aid of the blank, you'll have to fab something up. Know what it looks like?
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/27/09 02:31pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: I-40 closed due to rock slide at NC/TN border
I'll be interested to see how long it really takes to get the hiway open again. First estimates are almost always wrong, and intentionally inflated. As much for dramatic effect by the media as for not setting unrealistic expectations by the authorities. When the I-40 bridge over the Arkansas River near Webbers Falls, OK was knocked down by a barge on May 26, 2002, the initial repair estimates were six months. The bridge was rebuilt and traffic resumed two months later on July 29.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/26/09 05:02am |
Truck Campers
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RE: A camper window with a veiw.
It is not very clear, what kind of radio is sitting in front of the window?
Frank
That's a Linksys wireless 3G router. It allows multiple PC's to use a 3G aircard.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/26/09 03:58am |
Truck Campers
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RE: A camper window with a veiw.
This was the view out my camper window this evening. Even the cat was interested. She's perched on a little tray I made that hooks on the dinette window. It keeps her off the table.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/nralifr/Image022sml.jpg
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/25/09 06:35pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Photo Thread - Post a Photo of Your Truck Camper Here
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/nralifr/Image007sml.jpg
Maumelle Corps of Engineers Park. On the south bank of the Arkansas River in Little Rock, Arkansas.
This park is embarrassingly close to my house, but I still go there when I can't get a "real" camping trip to work out for us. The riverfront sites are some of the nicest you will find anywhere.
:):)
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NRALIFR
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10/25/09 06:05pm |
Truck Campers
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