RE: Stopped by the Ram dealer
Just buy the 68RFE and be done with it. It's an excellent tranny and you will be happy. IMO
It aint just the tranny! That is the only way to get the high output engine.
RE: "A" drivers licence
As stated, these only apply IF YOU LIVE IN THAT STATE! You only need what your state of residence requires.
ie, Calif does not require me to have a non CDL license to pull my big 5th wheel in their state.
RE: 2500HD Towing
I plead guilty to having towed heavy! LOL! I pulled a 16,000# toyhauler with a 2500Ram. I was over gross wts, but within axle limits. I have years and years of truck driving. I went with that.
I bought a bigger trailer, and the rear axle wt went over. I added dually wheels to the pickup, and air bags.
With an empty pin wt of over 3000#, I do not think there is any way you will be within your rear axle wt rating when trailer is loaded, and you add the wt of people and stuff in the cab.
You should get a dually, or convert yours.
RE: How do I use air bags?
"Air bags are meant to support "in bed" payload, such as a 5th wheel hitch or a pickup truck load of gravel or something"....
all that payload weight you say the air bags "support" is directly transferred to the axle, wheels and tires, thus air bags really support nothing.
No additional capacity is gained by the use of air bags, and other than to be able to level the truck (improve ride) when heavily loaded, they serve no purpose.
Regards
Gemstone
Which is EXACTLY what the OEM springs do. I guess the springs "support" nothing too then.
If the axle is rated to carry more than the springs, and the tires are rated to carry more than the springs, wouldn't higher rated springs "support" more capacity? Just like OEM puts heavier springs on the same axle with bigger tires to get a higher load rating?
RE: Too old to continue traveling ? Grown children urging ..
Gemstone,
I have always believed that upon reaching 65-70, you need to go back, and retake a drivers test. Then, retake at several years intervals again. More often as you get older.
I also believe that there should be a test to pass to get a big rv. A few states do this. I have always wondered why it is OK for somebody who has only ever owned a car, and driven in a city, can go out, and buy a 50' long Class A, put a toad behind it, and take to the open road! Not safe at all.
But, when you say these things, you get attacked as being anti old people. BTW, I hit 60 next year.
RE: Toy Hauler Information Overload! HELP!
We are in NC as well. I'd say 75% of the usage will come from racing. I have drooled over the Jayco Seneca HD on a Freightliner Chasis but can't stomach the price tags on them. I have looked at a few racing trailers but the ones I have found on other websites that are tailored to racing people aren't outfitted to our needs and seem to be tailored to car racing.
We have a friend that I feel completely sorry for that has a Cyclone so I totally agree on "nuff said" :)
The reason we are cutting Voltage off the list is again.. another person track side talk filled us in on the problems they have had with their Voltage so we just decided that we should probably look at the the two I mentioned as we can't find anyone that owns one (again at the track) that has had issues.
Trying to get out of the crazy hotel bills we are paying because we could darn near paid for a nice hauler by now!!
Thanks!
We race quads in NC and SC. So we're in a similar situation as what you're getting into.
For starters, our Cyclone and dealing with Heartland has been a nightmare. Enough said about that.
I love the Raptor Velocity and the XLRs. Great choices but I think leaving out the Voltages is a possible mistake. I like them. Infernos are great and I believe they still come with a 2 year warranty. That's a rarity.
Now the BIG question. Will you be using this for almost entirely racing at the tracks? If so, I'd go a different route. Look into the Work & Play toy haulers or a dedicated race trailer. Their garages are usually much bigger and they seem to be built tougher for that type of camping.
But they aren't nearly as "nice" inside as the typical brands you've already mentioned. If you plan to use it a lot on just regular camping trips, you'll probably want to stay with the Raptors, etc..
Best of luck.:)
So, ONE person said they had problems with Voltage? You will find that with ANY trailer. Many of us have Voltage, and very little trouble.
You can find someone with bad things to say about ANYTHING! I am not saying they are the cats meow, but they are no worse than others you listed. I have seen others post about all the problems they are having with EACH of the others you listed.
RE: blown tire collision or comprehensive
A blowout is covered under you comp. coverage - as mine was.
+1
I have had several over the years on business vehicles.
ALL, repeat ALL, were comp coverage.
RE: Gone to diesel? Some questions for those that have.
4.5 much of which you see back in resale value over gas truck.
As long as you own a diesel truck, that money is "invested" in the truck. So unless you sell your last one before you buy the farm, that money is as good as gone and only means your heirs will get more cash.
Partially true. However, if you TRADE the diesel on another, you will recoup most of that additional cost, so then the NEXT diesel does not cost near as much. It is a one time investment.
If you trade 6 times, you only pay the big price increase ONCE, NOT every time. Around here, especially if you have high mileage, diesel will return 75-80% of initial cost.
RE: paying before trailer is here
you bought the trailer, and paid for it. You signed a loan to make payments. Make the payments. Not the banks fault the trailer is not there.
Just like if a month after you get the trailer, someone runs into the back of the trailer, and it is in the shop 3 months getting fixed. Do you expect the bank to forgive paying the monthly payments? I think not.
You should have paid a deposit for the ordered trailer, and completed the loan when the trailer got there. You did it the other way, paying up front. Your choice, your payments.
RE: Gone to diesel? Some questions for those that have.
Put a 18,000# trailer behind that gas engine, and see how you do! LOL
Diesel will get in the 8-10 mpg range, gas will get 5-6 mpg. And pull its guts out doing it, while the diesel loafs along.
Don't even think about hitting a big hill with the gasser at 28,000# gross! LOL.
Might have to have the wife get out, walk along behind, warning the cars about a slow trailer ahead!
RE: 2013 Dodge 3500 30k tow rating
Isn't it interesting how comments change?
First, it was the "You have to stay under the numbers posted on your door frame. That is gospel. "
Now, it is " Even though the door frame sticker says it is ok, it still is too small, and the figures are inflated, and you better not tow that much. You STILL need a bigger truck" ! LOL
RE: Gas/service station with ample in and out space????
If you use diesel anyone can go to the truck fill-up area. We do it all the time.
Agreed. I think the gassers are the ones having the problems.
They face the gas pumps to the store, more cars fit that way. However, it makes it near impossible for a larger rig to have enough room to pull ahead, and clear the pump while turning.
RE: Max tire pressure vs Load on tires
If there was not a reason to lower the pressure for weight, the mfg's would have no need to publish wt. charts, would they?
RE: HDT Tow Vehicle question. Commercial or not?
If you single your truck and don't use it for commercial then none of the commercial regulations apply. However, if you leave it a tandem you will have to do the IFTA, and apportioned license if you go out of your home state with the truck even if non commercial.
Where did you come up with that?
IFTA faq
That entire FAQ section is for "Motor Carriers", which if you remain private i.e. NOT FOR HIRE, you would not be subject to. Based on your logic, a Class A with a tag axle would need an IFTA sticker. That's simply not the case.
EXACTLY! You first must be commercial, THEN those rules apply. If using to pull RV, NONE of those rules apply. No CDL required for ANY RV either, regardless of weight or configuration of vehicles.
RE: Morryde pin box
MorRyde good, TrailAir Better! LOL
Love my TrailAire! But, the MorRyde is good. Cheaper too, but does less. It stops the forward/backward, but not much for the vertical like the TrailAire does too.
RE: Advice on Sizing truck Requested
I believe it would be OK with the 350 SRW, IF, and only IF, you get the max. rear axle capacity available. It will be close though. But, it will be OK. If there is ANY chance of more stuff, or going to a bigger trailer, then the dually would be a must.
RE: HDT Tow Vehicle question. Commercial or not?
I do not believe leaving it tandem would make any difference at all. You either use it commercially, thus you need all the commercial stuff, or you don't.
I own an over the road trucking company.
RE: Too old to continue traveling ? Grown children urging ..
"when i get too old to climb into my big diesel dually,,,,i'll install a ramp!!!"
Not pickin' on you specifically, just pickin' on the selfish concept.... it's not very comforting to the rest of us who share the road.
When we hit the road on '06, I set my own time limit...at age 70-72, we would throw out the anchor in our most favored place.
Regards
Gemstone
Why is it selfish? Why is it unsafe? I know a number of people using wheelchairs while driving. Disabled does not mean your life is over.
My comment had nothing to do with physical disabilities, they would be the same for any age group....but had everything to do with the aging process.
Why is it unsafe ?....read here, look at the graphs closely: Elderly Drivers
Obviously, not all elderly (me included) will "age" at the same rate, however it will happen and when it does, we all need to self assess and make the necessary adjustments.
Regards
Gemstone
I agree with some needing to quit. You did not reference that though. You just made a blanket statement saying "ust pickin' on the selfish concept.... it's not very comforting to the rest of us who share the road."
If you are capable of driving and handling everything, go for it! Why sit at home, just waiting for the Grim Reaper?
