RE: Moving a small TT with this..
If you have a 4 wheel drive tow vehicle, add a receiver to the front of it. I can push just about any trailer anywhere I want to.
RE: Eaton 17,000# axle shaft
The head of the axle is designed to take a shock load to loosen the seal to the hub. When struck, the axle will rebound outwards. If it has wedges,you will need to hit it with at least a 8# sledge hammer repeatedly until it jars the wedges loose. Have done 1,000's of them when I was in the truck shops. When the sound changes when you hit it, it will ring, it is loose. I have special pliers that will split the wedges and remove them. You can use a small chisel and hammer, tap the chisel into the split at a 90* angle to the stud. This will expand them so you can slide them off. I have never used a drift, could not get anyone brave enough to hold it while I swing the hammer. If you are not accurate with the hammer, the studs will suffer. be prepared to repair or replace them. Also, cut an empty gallon oil jug in half, so it will fit under the hub to catch the oil that will pour out when it breaks loose.
RE: 5th Wheeler VS RV
With a motor home, 1/3 - 1/2 of the price is in the chassis, you will have to break camp to go anywhere if you don't tow a another vehicle with you, etc..
Travel trailer or fifth wheel, you already have your local transportation, as said above, more bang for your buck, more space, etc..
The best thing you could do; is rent one of each for a weekend and just try it out.
RE: Fresh Water Tank Won't Fill
A low spot in either the vent line or fill line can have water pooling in it and causing it not to vent. Check the lines and make sure they both slope downwards toward the tank and not collecting water. Sometimes just shortening them or adding a support or two is all that is needed.
RE: mushy ride
Towing a car behind your motor home adds no weight to the motor homes chassis. What you are feeling is the car pushing and pulling you around. Do you have brakes on the car or dolly that work with the coaches brakes?? If not, you might consider having them hooked up, it will help with slowing down and stopping, it won't push you around.
RE: Front to rear Porpoising
I would check the pin weight with the trailer fully loaded, garage full and all. My bet the pin is too light. Filling the fresh water tank may help, if it is forward of the axles.
RE: Gonna miss my HD2500 GMC I think
The only limiting factor on that truck; is the wheels. On the same truck with the smaller wheels and tires, the tow rating is higher.
RE: Flying Colors
I mounted a metal adjustable flag pole holder on my pin box to fly ole glory from. I am in the process of fabricating a LED light holder for lighting her at night.
RE: steering wheel-- Help!!
Different style of steering than what you may be used to. The majority of the auto industry uses "rack and pinion" steering. Trucks and large chassis vehicles use "reciprocating ball" steering. Two entirely different setups, and they drive totally different than each other.
RE: trans temp when towing
On a trip up the Big Horn in 2009, they were in a massive reconstruction of the highway, it was in gravel and very rough. I had an 08 Ram 3500 DRW pulling or fully loaded 40' fifth wheel crawling along at 3-8 MPH. The transmission never had a chance to lock up the convertor for 20+ miles. The tranny temp went well over 285*, pegged my added gauge with the sensor on the cooler line to the cooler. Stayed there way too long in my mind, engine fan locked in, warning light on, system is dinging, and still had about 7 miles to go. When we finally got back on pavement and was able to get up to road speed, everything cooled down very quickly, and seemed OK. Checked the fluid at the very next place I could pull over, still bright pink, and no smell to it at all. Called my dealer back in Mo., he said he doubted I hurt anything and the fluid seemed fine, just run it and bring it in when I got home. I was still under warranty, had 9,000 on it at the time, so I did as he suggested. Returned home a week later, made an appointment, had them check it over, all was in great shape. Never had an issue with the transmission and traded at 82,000 miles for the 2010.
Or, you could have got a manual transmission and not had to deal with any of this.
The 6 speed stick has it's advantages, but then you're stuck with the lower output Cummins. In 2013, MUCH lower.
Very True!!!!
What this demonstrates, is the heat rejection that the coolers have and the durability of the transmission. I do not know what the return temperature was, but it was cool enough to prevent failure! I think that is a testament of how far the Ram trucks have come! I am looking forward to purchasing my 2014 for sure!
RE: trans temp when towing
On a trip up the Big Horn in 2009, they were in a massive reconstruction of the highway, it was in gravel and very rough. I had an 08 Ram 3500 DRW pulling or fully loaded 40' fifth wheel crawling along at 3-8 MPH. The transmission never had a chance to lock up the convertor for 20+ miles. The tranny temp went well over 285*, pegged my added gauge with the sensor on the cooler line to the cooler. Stayed there way too long in my mind, engine fan locked in, warning light on, system is dinging, and still had about 7 miles to go. When we finally got back on pavement and was able to get up to road speed, everything cooled down very quickly, and seemed OK. Checked the fluid at the very next place I could pull over, still bright pink, and no smell to it at all. Called my dealer back in Mo., he said he doubted I hurt anything and the fluid seemed fine, just run it and bring it in when I got home. I was still under warranty, had 9,000 on it at the time, so I did as he suggested. Returned home a week later, made an appointment, had them check it over, all was in great shape. Never had an issue with the transmission and traded at 82,000 miles for the 2010.
RE: Cold Weather Warm up TImes for Powerstrokes
Start it, wait for oil pressure to come up, put it in gear and drive it. Idling does not produce much heat at all, waste fuel, does not burn fuel efficiently, cause oil to become diluted with fuel from cylinder wash, etc..
