RE: I'm a retired salesman
Again, my point is telling newbies "don't trust the salesman" offers very little assistance to a new RV buyer.
Isn't it more beneficial to offer advice on how to find a good salesman rather than stereotyping all salesman as shysters?
Sidney, Sidney, Sidney......:R.:R.:R
Some buyers are *NOT* riding in their first rodeo..:C
Some are..:(
Some salespersons are completely trustworthy - some dealerships are also..:C
Some are *NOT* trustworthy - they will take every advantage of the "newbies" -or anyone else- to seal a deal..:(
Unfortunately - without posting every instance of being taken to the cleaners......(here) the best general advice to newbies is:
"DON'T Trust"! !.:R
Not too many buyers check Linkedin or the salesperson's "bona fides"
before walking on the lot - then into the Closing Room - whether it's an auto or an RV dealership.
As a former salesperson, certainly *you* know the dealer profit on new trucks is $5-10K.
So, of course, YOU paid *less than* Dealer Invoice (slightly above Dealer COST) for your new truck, right?
Maybe you should offer advice to the "newbies" how to do that..:@
IMO -since you didn't sell RV's or vehicles - you are very, very naive when it comes to sales practices related to same......
but glad to hear you are happy with your purchases!:B
BTW - However, pretty sure I'm "damn glad" I didn't ever need to buy any life science research equipment from *YOU*, as it sounds like you were a salesperson hoisted by your own petard!:(
(What's new?).:R
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RE: I'm a retired salesman
I really enjoy this forum and have found quite a bit of valuable information... and appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and experience.
But I have never seen so many disparaging comments stereotyping all salesmen as clueless liars and cheats.
It seems when a new poster is asking for help regarding their 1st RV purchase the first advice they receive is "don't trust the salesman", "they are all liars", "the only thing they're concerned about is their commission".
What a bunch of cynics this crowd is!!! I feel sorry for those who have such little faith in humanity.
Granted, there are less than honest people in all walks of life and occupations... you may be one of them, hence your suspicious, distrusting attitudes.
The dealer and salesman I purchased our 2011 RAM from was outstanding.
The RV dealer I'm working with to purchase our 5th wheel is also outstanding.
I didn't sell RV's, TVs, or anything associated with camping. I sold life science research equipment and I'm damn glad many of you were not my customers.
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You might find this shocking, but....
The negative opinions you see/read are usually well deserved!.:S
Whether they should be applied to you or not - "we" will never know.
More than willing to give you the benefit of the doubt (as well as the sales folks you like) - but unfortunately (especially with RV salespeople) finding a good, knowledgeable, *honest* salesperson is like finding a certain grain of sand on the beach!.:R
Be happy to back that statement up - with names of dealerships (and first-hand experiences) for cars/truck and RV dealerships that have earned their negative reputation - - including documented legal actions.
(CA is full of 'em - and certainly not an isolated location, nor anything "new"!)
A bit off topic, but reminds me of the ongoing investigation of business practices (being investigated by the FBI) of Flying J.
The VP explains how to deal with the customers, LOL!
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RE: Registration and Tag
Thank you all, for your replies.
You will (and did) get folks tell you "how it is" - or "what they do" in their respective state/s.
Unfortunately they are (or can be) *ALL* DIFFERENT !!
Even some of that is incorrect (for CA).:(
Sooooo - you need to talk to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles (or whatever title they go by) in *your* state - and get the correct info, and your options - direct from the "horse's mouth" - so to speak.
Hope they "go easy" on you!.:W
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RE: Has this happened to you?
My wife & I are fulltimers and have noticed something durin the past couple of years. Several trips ago, a truck diver emptied his pee bucket against the side of our rig while we were in a Welcome Center. We noticed it while we were exiting the builkding. My wife did'nt want me to confrom the driver for fear that he might try have road rage further down the road. Well fast forward to today and we have a another situation. We did not realize it until we got to the campground for the night. I went to get the sewer hose from the bed of the truck and it was gone. I always put plastic bags at each end of the hose securred by rubber bands to control odor and leakage...well the bags and bands were there but no hose or connectors. The only time that it could have happened was at luch at a rest area (with a trucker parked next to us). I know that some on the forum must be former truckers so please enlighen me. If I am not going up to speed I always pull to the right to let truckers pass as I understand that they are trying to make a living...so what gives?
Wow!
Same thing happened to your twin brother!!..:R..:R
Anti-trucker "crusade"? - Vindictive RVer?
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RE: Need a new tailgate
Well last week I dropped my fifth wheel on the tailgate. I consider myself luck to not have damaged the bed. Anyone recommendations pro or con on a brand.
Thanks "cdlaine" - been preaching to the choir on that one (TG theft)
for a long time.
Lots of posters either have never heard of it - or don't believe it - - "not where I live". - How about where you travel?
TG theft is big business - and a vicious circle (not including the damaged ones needing replacement).
Depending on insurance deductible (if covered) - expect an out-of-pocket replacement cost of at least $500.
Plenty of options for "V" gate TGs from cheap to expensive.
(Google: "Tailgates")
Bonus benefit - lighter weight, and *if* you are removing your "V" gate and drop a corner, it's no big deal.
No need to lower the TG to hitch..:C
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RE: "A" drivers licence
California requires a Class A Commercial drivers license to tow a fifth wheel trailer over 10,000 gross. You can tow a fifth wheel with a gross of between 10,001 and15,000 with restriction 41. That restriction require passing a 20 question test. No medical is required and there is noted to upgrade your license. Go to you DMV office to take the test. No drive test is required. You can download the study booklet from the Internet.
"Mark K" didn't say where he is licensed - somehow this thread "took-off" on CA requirements..:?
Mark - If you are properly licensed (Driver's License) in your state (or province) for your trailer - you are legal in all of the USA..:C
Caveat = length limits (normally 65') apply. Check for state-by-state regs if you double tow.
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The info posted by "KCFDCapt" -above- for CA is *incorrect*!.:(
(or he has a "typo in his first sentence.)
Neither a Class A -nor- a Class A Non-Commercial Driver's License is required to tow a 5th wheel trailer over 10,000 gross.
A 5th wheel trailer less than 10K GVWR can be towed with a standard Class C license.
A 5th wheel trailer above 10K but not over 15K GVWR requires the addition of a "Restriction 41 Endorsement" to a Class C license to tow same. (20 question -easy- test, no medical or driving test required).
A 5th wheel trailer over 15K GVWR requires a NON-Commercial Class A Driver's License.
(Written, driving test & medical card required)
(Of course, a COMMERCIAL Class A Driver's License "CDL" is legal for all the above.)
Texas is another state which requires a NON-Commercial Class A license for 15K GVWR 5th wheels.
CA Recreational Trailer Endorsement - "Restriction 41"
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RE: Superglide killed my inner child! Slider or Sidewinder?
So, I am selling the replacement hitch and looking at options...
Given the trailer that I have (which is 102" wide) should I go with the Sidewinder or a standard sliding hitch?
Price is not the primary concearn.
I just don't want to be stuck on the side of the road with a miserable family again.
Thousands of happy SG owners.
Can only find two posters with problems - dating back to 2000.
You and the guy from 2009.
IMO - you have a case of grapes sour enough to start your own whinery!
The "inner child" is alive and well.:R
Sooooo - follow *your* own plan - as *you* indicated:
Sell the *new* SG. Advertise it in Craigs List, $50-100 off best price available from suppliers.
You should have plenty of buyers beating a path to your door.
Instead of your argumentative "anti-SG" posts - start a new thread to make the choice *you* ask about....
"Should I go with the Sidewinder or a standard sliding hitch?"
"I just don't want to be stuck on the side of the road with a miserable family again".
Get an Emergency Road Service provider!
Be sure the ERS will tow your trailer.
And - yeah it will cover "more than" hitch problems!
You also state..."Price is not the primary concearn"(sic).
So - shed the troll status - and get on with it.
BTW - time for the Mods to throw in the towel for you, as the thread you started has been duly "beat to death". (Run over by a dually, LOL!):W
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RE: Superglide killed my inner child! Slider or Sidewinder?
"stopthevoices77"
*STOPTHEPOSTS2013*
It's time you gave up posting drivel.
No matter how you look at it - YOU screwed up!.:S
Either you bought the wrong brand - or you're incompetent.
Stop sniveling & whining, get out and buy whatever brand of hitch that will make you feel better.....
After your next trip you can complain how that hitch failed you - or how wonderful it is/was!
Whoopee!.:R
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RE: eating lunch at the fuel pumps
We don't use the truck stops but use regular gas stations and usually get cheaper prices. On this trip home however, I did need gas in the Jeep and we stopped at a truck stop (not Flying J) on the car side. Filled with gas. Noticed that the tank of gas from there went away a whole lot faster than the gas purchased at regular gas stations -- got 100 miles less on that tank full. We will not ever use that truck stop again, seems as if their gas is inferior in some way.
Some stations have the pumps rigged to pump less fuel than is indicated on the pump readoutDon't think so. That is a major violation of state and federal law and would earn the store a huge fine and the owners possibly jail time. Just doesn't happen. And yes, some fuel is "inferior" to other fuel. Any blended fuel with ethanol has less energy content than pure gasoline and you will get lower mileage when using an ethanol blend.
Hmmmmmm - Doesn't happen???.:S
Very astute observation, "bigdogger"!.:W
The FBI is investigating Flying J - and maybe jail time & fines *are* in the works!
With the FBI informant's report of the Flying J VP's orders, it would seem anything is possible..:W
The VP says . . . what?? ...:@..:@..:(
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RE: CA DMV changes title year ???
I will almost bet the chassis is an 08, and the rig was built and sold as an 09 by Monaco. California basis the year off the VIN number, and when the VIN number is input into the system, the system automatically deciphers the year and fills it in.
SOP for MH mfgrs - chassis is often a "year old" by the time the coach is completed.
Emissions rules may come into play - and, for the owner, may be good (lower registration fees)..... or bad (Hey! It's a *year-old* "new" coach!).
Something to consider (negotiate) when purchasing your "new" rig!.:W
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RE: Cigarette Stench
A friend of mine is in the "insurance restoration" business. He's the guy who cleans up after a house fire.
He treated some old books for a mutual friend after a fire. I was amazed, there wasn't so much as a hint of smoke smell left.
Either look up a restoration specialist in your area, or someone who sells ozonation equipment.
Post above yours.
Ozone sources listed - as well as previous - Google: "Ozonator"
No doubt "Restoration Specalists" - are good at what they do, but -
it's for a fee -AND-
they don't like to disclose their secrets to "do-it-yourselfers"..:W
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RE: Cigarette Stench
My MIL was a chain smoker. She lived her last few years with my BIL.
He did his best to "contain" the smoke odor to her room - but it's still there in the house.
All F/Fs know the olfactory nerve (sense of smell) is the first to "go" - so, like the "old days" when you went to a pub and it reeked of cigarette smoke - - after a while you didn't notice it anymore.
Smell your clothes the next day, and Yikes!!.:(
F/F's have some spray smoke deodorant, affectionately termed "Fu-fu juice" - used a lot of that for a lot of years.
However, it simply *covers* the odor - with a different odor, which is supposed to be more pleasant.
Works pretty good for small fires - stuff on the stove, etc. - but no help (nor intended) for long-term, residual smoke odor.
Recalled a thread from Escapees HDT forum on removing smoke from (used) HDT cabs.
Most (all, lots) of OTR drivers smoke - spending lots of time for lots of miles.
So "chased" a few of those suggestions also.
Ozone generating machines - and extensive cleaning came up a lot.
One poster even uses an ozone generator in his MH, as he and his DW both smoke.
He claims visitors are amazed there's no smoke odor (of course maybe they're just saying that,LOL!)
He uses a generator from Air Zone - Air-Zone Ozone Generators
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Another option is a group of products by "OdoBan" (maybe it's just more Fu-Fu juice) - OdoBan
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RE: Cigarette Stench
I bought a TT that was super nice except for Cig stink. I hired a guy with an ozinator to remove it. You can also rent them but they create ozone which can get rid of ANY smell.
He told me it's been used to remove the smell from a dwelling after a fire or even after a deceased person had decomposed in it. :/
Google: "Ozonator"
First (of many) sites has a section to click for each type of odor.
Would be worth a try - rental or purchase.
BTW - you ("dcmac214") would do lots of readers a service, if you came back and posted results.
Thanx & good luck.
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RE: Goodyear Tires
At some point maybe we will have a thread comparing tires.
Is that a pun??.:h
You gotta be kidding!!.:R
Introduce yourself to Mr. Search - pick any title from the generic "tires" to any tire brand etc.
Then introduce yourself to his brother, Archives - and do the same.
Maybe while you're doing that FE will introduce himself to *you*!.;)
You won't need your Kindle anymore, ROTFL.
BTW - this new member (at the time) did a masterful job of making an attempt at a good ST vs LT comparison...... but the topic (or the comparison) sure wasn't new.
U.S. Federal Testing Standards for ST and LT Tires
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A "heads-up" for the thread starter, "bad99ram":
Keep a *really* sharp eye on the GY Marathon "balloons" on your Jayco, even if you never exceed 55 mph!.:W
When I was updating the GY ST tires on my Jayco to XPS Ribs, had a nice (informative) chat with a Jayco factory rep.
Must admit I "chummed him up a bit" before we got to the following:
He admitted that Jayco used "low bid" tires meeting the minimum required spec for the trailers.
He also admitted it would be great if buyers could order upgraded tires from the factory.
(Aw c'mon....upgraded? - over GY Marathons? Naw!!!)
BTW - there *are* folks who love their GY Marathons and G614s, and report good results.
Multiple Jayco owner "Fordsooperdooty" is a (happy) example.
Others think it's *great* GY pays to repair damage done to their trailers by tire failures.
IMO - with normal checks and/or TPMS there shouldn't be tire failures!
"Down time" is a bummer - anytime!
Some simply *love* those STs. Heck, FE admitted to using no less than 22 on his trailer (He travels a lot, I guess. LOL).
For some, the cylinder keeps falling on an empty chamber,
for others the *bang* they hear is no big deal - (just) a tire failure..:W
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RE: Superglide killed my inner child! Slider or Sidewinder?
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Too bad the pics are no longer available.
However, the lack of any other SG "mishaps" posted on any of the many RVing forums, trailer owner's clubs, or via Google - is surprising!
Either there aren't any -
or no one else wants to complain about their misfortune - which I find *very* hard to believe..:h
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RE: eating lunch at the fuel pumps
We pulled into a Flying J a couple of weeks ago while on a trip to Nc from Fl. there were 2 lanes for rv's. I was in line and noticed that the motor home in the left lane was just sitting there. No hose connected and no one around. The right lane 2 rv's filled up and moved ahead. A lady came from inside the store and got into the rv....I thought for sure it would move now. Wrong answer. Another rv in the right lane finished fueling and moved away from the pump. I pulled up to the pump and had a problem with my control # so I went inside and the cashier rectified the problem by calling customer service.....I then went back out side and finished filling my tank. As I was replacing my fuel cap a guy came out of the motor home. I wanted to get nasty with this guy from Ohio but took the high road and let it go. He started to yap about his trip back to Ohio and how good his lunch was. My wife thanked me for not confronting him about how rude he was to tie up the pump with people waiting in line to fuel up. BTW I waited over 20 minutes to get to the pump.....
Should I have let this self centered jerk have a piece of my mind??
Hey Bob.....
Have you met Sandie & Joel "DocJ" on Escapees?
Thread: "Why Truckers Don't Like RVers"
Of course, maybe the guy was a retired trucker, OTR Trucker, owned a trucking business, (or?) being vindictive for being "taken to the cleaners" by Flying J . . . .
From The Truckers Report - Can't print the Flying J VP's comments!
Wonder if Flying J has the same attitude towards you - as a "customer"?.:h..:W
Lastly - maybe the guy in the MH was part of the FBI task force or an informant, LOL!.:B
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RE: Goodyear Tires
We had the same reliability issues with ST tires when the national speed limit was 55 mph and all ST tires were made in the USA.
There wasn't a state in the Union where the drivers complied with that speed limit. You need to come up with a different theory.
PURE BS!
You sure didn't drive in CA!.:S
AND - sure were a lot of Utah Troopers just writing "Welcome to Utah" *greetings* to motorists during that era!.:S..:R
You ("CKNSLS" lists location as "Northern Utah") probably had a bunch of BYU stickers on your windshield..:B
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RE: Superglide killed my inner child! Slider or Sidewinder?
A few(?) years ago - another owner of a SG hitch had a 45 degree problem -as I recall on exiting a gas station?.
He had tried to back up which somehow created the failure.
There was an extensive discussion (LOTS of posts) -AND- he took LOTS
of pictures!
You might try a search of the archives (over a year old) for that thread - or someone else here may undertake that chore -OR- recall the thread title..:@
BTW - another satisfied SG owner.....but also a believer in "Murphy"..:W
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ON EDIT:
Found my own reference to that thread from 2009.
Unfortunately, the pictures have all been deleted as they (probably) were all part of a link to the posters Picasa (or other) account.
However, there is *extensive* discussion from posters who viewed the pics.
It should be noted - this was a SG from *before* the coated way tubes,
which required lubrication with either white lithium grease or Slip Plate.
SuperGlide Hitch Failure - Thread from 2009
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And more.....Edit/edit:
Apparently "OCDUNE" is no longer active on RV Net.
Didn't try DMax forum (link at beginning of his thread).
The thread still contains 9 pages of some good "FYI" info & discussion of/by those who viewed the pics..:C
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The OP and the above linked thread are the *ONLY* "failures"
I could find - between Google *AND* going back as far as "Pullrite
SuperGlide" (year 2000) in the archives!.:h
Yes - I went "generic" just to be sure (15 pages worth).
Not uncommon for folks to post their problems -as the OP did- as opposed to post the good stuff (success stories).
Not knocking it - just human nature.
A great example would be try a search on any forum (or Google) for
Goodyear Marathon tires. Yikes!.:R
Certainly, SuperGlide owners would *like* to see any further examples of failures.
Soooo - let's see 'em!
Inquiring minds want to know.:@
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