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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Droping your 5th wheeler
I just bought one from Adventure RV in Tenn. Google Adventure RV. It was the cheapest online. I paid a little over $200 with shipping.
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fdonham
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11/20/09 11:17am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Stupidity Club
I always do a pull test before I start out. This, however, occurred when I was unhooking the trailer and decided to reposition it after I had unlatched the hitch. I am usually very careful, but we all have our moments. Thank the Lord I had lowered the front jacks enough to prevent damage to the tailgate and bed. The bed rails are going to cost $4500+ to repair($500 deductible). I am glad I have an excellent body shop that I trust.
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fdonham
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11/10/09 08:47am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Dropped it!
I dropped my new Raptor on my new F350 yesterday. I had put down the jacks and unlocked the hitch, then decided to reposition the 5er. There was only damage to the bed rail, because the lowered jacks kept it off the tailgate and bed. I guess I am lucky, but it is hard to feel any thing but stupid. I filed it with my insurance. That's what I pay the premiums for.
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fdonham
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11/09/09 11:59am |
Fifth-Wheels
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Stupidity Club
I have joined the Stupidity Club. I never thought I could be so careless, but I dropped my new Raptor toyhauler on my bed rails yesterday. It doesn't appear that there is any damage to the Raptor, but it did a number on the Ford. I wish I had an excuse, but it was just carelessness. I just ordered a Bed Saver. I'm sure I will do something careless again, but if it involved the hitch I will be covered.
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fdonham
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11/09/09 11:48am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Pulling Heavy Trailer with 3/4 Ton Trucks
I just switched from a 08 2500HD, which I loved, to a F350 dually. I went from a 9500# loaded Crossroads Cruiser to a 11150# empty Raptor. I do believe that a 2500HD is different from a 3500 srw only in that it has one less leaf spring in the rear and tires with a lower weight rating. The 2500 actually has a higher rear axle rating than the 3500. That said, I went to the dually because it makes me feel safer towing the heavier trailer. I also had a 6' bed on the 2500 and the new trailer has a regular not an extended pin. I guess people have to decide for themselves what they are comfortable towing. There are safety limits for every tow vehicle, even MDTs. I know enough about fifth wheel and truck specs to realize that there are many 3/4 tons out there that are dangerously overloaded. I don't think, however, that every 3/4 ton that is over its weight limits is necessarily unsafe. I am just a belt and suspender man, and not willing to take the chance.
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fdonham
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11/06/09 09:39am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Light Weight Fifth Wheels 1/2 ton towable
Manufacturers and dealers will tell you that you can tow anything they think you would like to buy. I have a Crossroads Cruiser 30Sk and I am over the GVRW on my 2008 Chevrolet 2500HD D/A. My pin weight is about 1950#. I can't see how most 1/2 ton pickups wouldn't be grossly overweight with almost any 5th wheel. One poster said he was towing a 32' 10" Crossroads Cruiser and thought it could be towed with a 1/2 ton. That sounds like he has a 30SK. I don't believe any 1/2 ton except the Ford F150HD could tow that 5th wheel safely. There are some lighter weight 5ers, but most are 27' or less and would still push a 1/2 to the max. It is the pin weight that is usually the limiting factor. You can't look at just the towing capacity and assume that is the only weight limit to consider. My 2500 has a 13000# towing capacity, but I would be over on my vehicle's GVRW by probably 1300# if I towed that much. I think the drivetrain of my 2500 could handle most any 5er, but the pin weight on many would be much too great.
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fdonham
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09/21/09 09:44am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: DW says no more chucking for her...
I added a Demco Glide Ride to my Crossroads Cruiser 30SK. It has virtually eliminated my chucking. I also have an Airbox fifth wheel hitch which helps, but the Glide Ride made the most difference.
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fdonham
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09/21/09 09:08am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Real world gas mileage?
I have an 08 Chevy 2500 D/A. I get 18-22 mpg unloaded depending on the terrain. Towing with 17000# combined weight I get 9-12 depending on terrain and wind. Wind makes the most difference in my opinion.
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fdonham
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09/11/09 08:59am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Hitch Weight
I have a 2008 Chevy 2500Hd with D/A. I am towing a 2009 Crossroads Cruiser 30SK. My truck weighs 9650# loaded with trailer attached. There is 7500# on the two trailer axles. I know I am over on the GVWR of the truck which I don't like, but I can't help. My GCVWR is only a little over 17000#, well below my truck's rating. I am below the axle weight rating and the rating for the E load range tires. I feel like I am towing in a safe manner. I can't afford to trade trucks and I don't think I need to. If I ever go to a bigger trailer, I would upgrade to a one ton dually. The towing and stopping powers are the same for both trucks in my opinion.
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fdonham
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09/03/09 08:33am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: MPG
I think wind resistance must matter more than weight. When I pulled to Colorado, I got nearly 12mpg without wind and about 9mpg with a strong head or crosswind. The weight didn't change just the wind. Just my uneducated observation. An engineer would know the physics of the 5th wheel. I dropped physics to keep from failing the course.
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fdonham
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09/01/09 12:35pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Gas vs Diesel
I have a Chevy 2500HD with the D/A. The only time I wish I had a gasser is when I fill up at the nasty diesel islands.
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fdonham
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09/01/09 12:23pm |
Tow Vehicles
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Emptying the waste tanks in 2003 Forest River fiver.
A friend has purchased a 2003 Forest River 33?. There are three pulls to open waste valves. One is in the compartment under the bedroom and two are in an opening in the side of the fiver toward the back from the pull in the front compartment. Can anyone tell me which pulls go to which tanks?
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fdonham
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08/15/09 08:43pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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Roof Repair
I have discovered a row of very small cuts on the edge of my Crossroads Cruiser roof. The cuts are on the edge where it rolls over to the side. They look like scuff marks with one or two being open. Is the a simple product I can brush or roll on to seal these very small cracks?
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fdonham
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07/23/09 10:49am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Whats Your Real Weights? Truck and Trailer. The Real Deal
I have a 2008 Chevy 2500HD, D/A. I am towing a 2009 Crossroads Cruiser 30SK.
Weights:
Truck with everything but trailer:
7400#, frt 4360#, rear 3040#
Truck with trailer loaded:
9320#, frt 4440#, rear 4880#
Trailer loaded:
Total weight 9440#, 7520# on axles, pin weight 1920#, 20% of trailer
I am over by 120# on truck GVW, under by 360# on frt, under by 1120# on rear. I am under by 5160# GCVWR.
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fdonham
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06/17/09 09:36am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Rim capable of handling E Rated Maxxis?
I have 15" aluminum wheels on my Crossroads Cruiser. The wheel says 2830# max on the back. I called the wheel company and they said if it is rated for 2830# it is rated for 80psi because that is the only pressure that will give you that max weight. I know that doesn't help if there are no marking on your wheel, but it shows that there are 15" wheel that are rated for 80psi.
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fdonham
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06/11/09 11:55am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: I'm planning on purchasing a 5er and need some help.
I have a 2008 Chevy 2500 D/A 4x4 crew cab with 6'6" bed. It weighs 7360# with driver, passenger, hitch, full fuel tank and two dogs. With my 2009 Crossroads Cruiser 30SK loaded for camping I have 4440# on front axle, 4880# on the rear axle and 7520# on the trailer axles. My GCVW is 16,840#. I am 120# over the GVWR and very much under all other rating. The Crossroads Cruiser 30SK has three slides and is nearly 33' long. Hope this helps.
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fdonham
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06/10/09 08:43pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: How to stop rocking
I also use Wayne's Stabilizers and they make my 5er very stable. I also use RotoChoks. Wayne's are much cheaper and easy to set up.
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fdonham
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06/10/09 06:50pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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Tow Haul Setting
I tow a Crossroads Cruiser 30SK with a 2008 Chevy 2500 D/A. Do I need to use tow/haul all the time when towing? What if I am in the flatlands with no hills?
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fdonham
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06/10/09 10:19am |
Towing
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RE: Maximum Tire Pressure
I talked to the wheel dealer and they verified what I and other thought. To get to 2830# load max requires 80 psi and so that is what the wheels will handle. Now I can install some Maxxis E loads on it. Thanks for all the helpful replies.
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fdonham
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06/01/09 09:13am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Which 5th Wheel Stabilizer?
I use Roto-Choks between the wheels which helps. I also use Wayne's Stabilizers which are only less than $80.00 for two. These two items the chocks and the stabilizers have made my 5er very stable with little movement. The other stabilizers mentioned seem to be very good, but also expensive. I decided to try the Wayne's first and are pleased with them. If you are interested just google Wayne's Stabilizers and you can order them from the company.
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fdonham
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05/31/09 09:06pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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