RE: southern Kansas, Ok, & NM
When you get to Joplin I think 166 from Baxter Springs to Arkansas City then 11 miles north to Winfield then 160 on west is a lot faster & better road but 160 ia a more scenic route. If you do take 160 a must stop is the 160 cafe in in Burden. A nice place to camp is the fairgrounds on the west side of Winfield. If you come down I 44 A must stop it lamberts cafe in ozark mo. which is the home of Throwed Rolls. http://www.throwedrolls.com/ Not sure of it was the travel or food chanel that called it the best place to pig out in Americal. It is around 10 miles south of Springfield on 65 headed toward Branson.
RE: 2013 F350 Shopping: Options to consider?
I think you are going to love that F350 don't let the door hit you in the????? Go get it, think you will be very happy with it. My Ford had no wind noise, & I could set in her 10 hr. a day no problem, love the truck but it was a 6.0. I now dirve a 07 5.9 Dodge & you could only pry it out of my hands cold dead hands with a 6.7 Ford.
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retired now & no big money coming in, got money to live on but not to just go out & buy a new truck cuz I want it like before.
RE: 3/4 or 1 Ton Truck?
For a truck camper I go with the 3500 & DRW. If you do not want or like the DRW & want to go with SRW. I would go with 19.5 wheels as the 16's will be maxed out. Rickson wheels is the go to man when it come to 19.5 wheels & tires if you do not buy for them atleast talk to them. Also I would go with air bags.
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RE: Ford and GMC to produce new 9 and 10 speed transmissions
I liked my old 13 speed road ranger. Why more gears the bigger the load & taller the hill the more gears I would use. A diesel will pull harder but has a lot smaller power range then a gas engine. RPM on a diesel only goes up to around 3,000 where gas 6,000+.
Two speed rear end, I had one go into neutral & we stopped about 50' from the top of a very long hill, not fun the only thing that would hold it is my foot brake. After a while no one came by so very slow I backed back down that long very long hill. No one to chock a wheel but also no one behind me all the way down. Thank goodness for no traffic. Only good thing was that I had a bob truck with a 22' flat bed. Don't know what I would have done if I would have had a trailer. I am good at backing up, but not a mile or more. Never liked a two speed after that.
RE: F350 6.0 -- help!
All I have to say is. Why do I drive a 3500 Mega Cab 5.9 Dodge? Because I drove a F350 CC 6.0 Ford. The Dodge does not go in shop every time I pass a Dealership like the 6.0 did. Don't know why so folks think they are smarter, better, know more, or do they just don't do there home work & still go out & buy a 6.0 Ford. Look before you leap or in this case read before you buy! Folks have been talking about the problems with the 6.0 for 10 years now!
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Got around 130,000 at 90,000 had a wheel bearing go out, at 125,000 transmission was slipping in 2ed gear. Took it in & bands on 2ed was lose had flud changed at dealer per service guess they did not tighten the bands. Yes I have had 2 problem should have been only one.
RE: Advice on buying first fifth wheel trailer.
I have owned both Excel & NuWA's HitchHiker both are great full time rig's. That said. I don't think they are what you want as I do not think they make a rig with bunk beds. You said y'all got a 8 & 9 year old boy & girl. You said & I agree they need there own beds. You can look for a rig with bunk beds. What you may look for is a Toy Hauler. That way you can take there bikes your grill ect. & they can have there own bed.
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RE: Who drives a F-350 as their sole vehicle and likes it?
We started working on the road in 03, retired again 2010. Our daily driver was our work truck a FL80, M2 Freightliner a 3500 DRW 98 Dodge & 05 GMC DRW D/A & the boss paid for all the fuel we could burn. We started fulltiming in 04 our truck a 05 SRW CC SB F350 6.0 Ford, loved the Ford just not the 6.0 under the hood, so we now drive a 07 5.9 DRW MEGA CAB Dodge.
Most of the time we just park in the back of the lot as we can use the exercise or back in to you parking stall so we don't have to try to get those around rear fenders. You jus got to watch your mirrors when driving but no big deal driving a F350 as it has great mirrors.
Our 07 3500 Dodge is our only ride, I got a Range Hand Bumper as there are a lot of deer out there. I was luckly, I was driving the boss's truck when I hit my last deer.
So my advice do not worry about driving a F350, from what I here the 6.7 is good power plant, just don't get the 6.0 or 6.4. Do get a HD deer catcher like a Ranch Hand Front Bumper or one from someone like South Texas Outfitters.
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RE: Finding a well-built rig
I do not care for the big boys where you are just a #. For the two best rigs out there New horizons, & Excel. Now they are heavy so if you get very long you will need a 450/4500, 550/5500. That said they are the only rigs out there with a frame so strong that you can hang a big bike HD/Wing off the back, Excle up to 33'. Oh yes they both build there frames, a box frames. New Horizons is a step above the rest. The wood work is like no other rig out there, & they will build it like you want it.
If you do not have to hang your bike off the back I would look at HitchHiker & Arctic Fox. Now with HH I would look at
http://www.kansasrvcenter.com/rvs/nuwa/fifth-wheels.aspx.
The HH frame is better than most & made by Young Welding about a mile south of there plant. I have been in all three of the above plants. If it was up to me I would own a 33' Excel but wife fell in love with a 2010 HH 363. I have owned 2 HH & one Excel. We have been on the road full time for 10 years. Back when my folks were full time on the road they had a HH & Excel.
Archic Fox is cheaper & lighter than the other three, & I do not know a lot about them, as they are made in the NW. But they are a lot like a subaru you hardly ever here any thing bad about them.
I am hearing some good things about redwood but have not checked them out. Carraige made some good rigs, & there is DRV . I would take a nice used high end rig over a cheap new rig.
RE: Exhaust brake delimma
When we got our 07 5.9 had the dealer put the "Dodge approved" Jake brake on it. It works great if I am not pulling, but my Jake does not slow me down much when pulling, & pulling going down a hill it will almost hold me, almost. Had a dealer look at it & they said it is working great, would hate to see if not working great. Also the Jake has a vacuum pump my first one lasted 90K. #2 lasted a little over 5 mo. warranty is 6 mo. so that saved me around $300. Just looked, price had gone up around $120 in little over a year. If it sound like I am not happy with my Jake brake you are right.
With Pacbrake even if it does not work any better than my Jake you at least have an air compressor if you put a chuck on it. Wish I would have gone with Pacbrake. I thought very hard of pulling my jake out & replacing with pacbrake when I went to Dodge dealer & they wanted $800 for the pump & $300 more for labor. Went to Cummins & got it for $269, a shop in Quartzsite put it in for $50 so I keep it, I replace #2 pump as I was home.
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RE: Only around 130K on 48RE
When I had the the dealer change oil they would tell when to change the fluid I assume that they would adjust bands if needed. I called the dealer & they said that was there policy was to adjust the bands if needed. So I assume that they did adjust the bands, but you know the definition of A$$-U-ME. Like I said I took it to a shop here & it is running fine now but when I get home I will be getting a beefed up transmission & looks like it will cost me around a around $4,000.
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Only around 130K on 48RE
I pull a 15K 37' fifth wheel, but thought I would get more than 130.000 miles on my 48RE transmission 07 5.9 Dodge. In Austin, TX 2ed gear started slipping, so would run it up to a little over over 3000 rpm & hope it would go into third. Anyway made it to Alvin, TX took it to a shop & the bands were lose, tighten up the bands. It will now pull in 2ed gear. Does not quite feel like it did. At least I can now get home ok.
Now every 35-40,000 mile I had the dealer change the fluid guess I should have said, tighten the bands also. Chance transmission back home, who I think is one of the best shops around. I will talk to them about building up a beefed up transmission. As long as the one in my truck is good I would leave it alone. But if I am going to have to replace it stock is not going back in.
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RE: Dodges are junk!
I am going to sale my 07 3500 DRW Mega Cab 5.9 4X2 Auto Dodge. When I turn 80 in about 14 years, but then I could give it to one of my grandkids. Put around 130K in last 5 1/2 years so it should have a little over 500,000 on it by then. We full time & pull a 37' HH, so do I like my truck, YEP
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why do I drive a 07 5.9 Dodge-I had a 05 6.0 Ford & work truck 05 GMC D/A
RE: Used Diesel Truck
With GM only go with 06 & up as I could not see much out of the side mirrors in my 05 work truck. They had very small side mirrors I could not see much behind me nor could not see much to back up. In 06 they put nice big mirrors on there trucks also they went with a 6 speed auto.
Dodge go with the 5.9 which they stopped in 07. I would not get a early 6.7 which came out in late 07. I would not buy the first two years as it take a while to get the bugs worked out.
Ford do not get the 6.0 or 6.4 they are just bad news just look around how many do you see on the road? The old 7.3 was great but built older than the years you are looking at. If you are smart & do not want to spend your spare time in the shop + get a lot less mpg = it will cost you a lot time & $ to drive a Ford in those years. Just look up 6.0 Ford on the form. The 6.7 Ford has been out a few years, I like what I see & if I was to buy a new truck it would look at it real hard, just no Ford the years you are looking at.
Why do I drive a 5.9 Dodge? I had a 6.0 Ford, that I thought was going to be my last truck.
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RE: buying a Ford 6.0???
Why do I drive a 07 5.9 3500 Dodge? Because my last truck was a 05 6.0 350 Ford! Did I like my Ford yes, I did. Just could not keep it out of the shop! It was in the shop a # of times & 3 times it was in the shop 5 days or longer. Last year in AZ I did not see any 6.0 Ford. This year we are in TX & have had four 6.0 Fords in RV parks we have been in. All 4 have said they have not had any problems, glad it is them & not me. Could the 6.0 you get not have any problems - yes - and you could also win the lottery. Why is buying a 6.0 Ford is like buying a rattle snake - they both are going to bite you.
I have a little over 120,000 miles on my 07 5.9 Dodge. Problems #1 Dodge replaced my oil pan, had over 90K when when I went over to see mom & oil on her drive way. #2 front right wheel bearing went out, can't repack them anymore & it cost a little over $600 to have it replaced on the road. # 3 Now the vacuum pump on my jake brake went out. But it did not come on the truck, Jake is the exhaust brake that Dodge approves. But like I said I added the jake brake after I got the truck.
WHY? After reading what people have said here, why would you look at a 6.0 Ford? You like problems in your life? If you want to give your money away I will take it. If you want a Ford get a 7.3 the good Ford! Or a 03&1/2-07 5.9 Dodge, even GM's D/A is better than the 6.0 Ford.
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RE: Best 5th wheel hitch for a 2012 Ram 3500
Your dealer is going to push what they sale but you can go wrong with either as you can get flush mounts with both. Also both are made in very small towns Demco in Boyden, Iowa around 700 people, B & W in Humboldt, Kansas under 2,000 people, have worked in both towns, at Demco & in Humboldt a cement plant, we did hearing test. If you think some day you would like to pull a Gooseneck trailer I would go with B & W. With B & W when the Companion the 5TH WHEEL HITCH is removed all you have left is a hole for the gooseneck ball & two U bolts for safty chains for gooseneck which are no higher than the ribs in in the bed of your truck.
http://www.turnoverball.com/products/rvhitch/companion-5th-wheel-hitch
Here is the Demco
http://hijacker.com/21k-ums-under-bed-mount/
I have a Megacab with short bed, & 10 years ago the Hijacker was not out, & B & W does not build a slider, so I have a Super Glide when I remove my hitch all I have is four holes in my bed.
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RE: Changing your own pin box?
It was no big deal with two people. Do not think I would want to do it by my self as I think it would be hard. Go to O'Reilly's to get that big 270 lb. tq. wrench will not cost anything, oh yes did use a line up punch, also I think that tq. wrench was 3/4". You will need a breakover to break the nuts lose. Now the nuts are over a inch, I see your are in TX so if your are home you may have that big socket & wrench. But if snow bird you most likely don't. Back home we have great pawn shops with lots of tools, the only cheap thing I have found in pawn shops. It will be a pice of cake with two people just get it lined up first
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RE: GARMIN GPS, not happy any more
I think the first two were 1300, I know the last one was a 1350 & I got them a Sam's club. Of the last three the first one only lasted around 60 days. Then it was kind of like the last two knew when the warranty was over. And they said we will go about south 30 later.
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RE: best auto slide hitch?
Have had a Super Glide for 10 years 2 trucks. Have only had one problem, do not know how it happen but would not latch. Just out side of Lincoln, NE in the middle of a rain storm, in heavly rain in the dark I took it apart & had to spread a bar that the handle slides down between. Would not have worked on it in the rain at night but it was right after thanksgiving had heavly snow behind the rain. We were working on the road doing hearing test & had to get to our next job was at Dimco, in Boyden, IA. I made it to Dimco the next day but only about half the folks working there showed up, had ice & a lot of snow. You know Boyden is only about 5 hr. north west of you, call them up & go look them over. The RV is just a side line, as farm equipment is there big thing. If you go up there you got to stop at pizza ranch, it has the best fried chicken, & it started out at Hull just a few miles west of Boyden.
Now I still use white lithium grease on my rails. After a few years on the road I got the Rugged Premium Tri-Fold tonneau cover.
http://www.realtruck.com/rugged-premium-tri-fold-tonneau-cover/
It keep the rails a lot cleaner. When I remove my hitch I remove the tonneau cover & no trace. Once it fell over & broke a couple pices & Rugged sent them to me no charge.
So had my Super Glide ten years & like it. Have worked at Dimco & have there king pin on our 5er & it works great. If Dimco puts there name on it it will be good. So do not think you can go wrong with which one you chose. Just make sure you get a tonneau cover as it just keep it cleaner & when not pulling folks can't see in your bed.
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GARMIN GPS, not happy any more
Two of my last 3 Garmin have only lasted 13/14 mo. There warranty is 12 mo. Now one lasted only around 60 days so, so in the last 2 1/2 years I have had 3 new Garmin GPS's. The first Garmin I had lasted for years in fact the cord is what went out, the next one some where in the 3/5 year range. I think Garmin's quality has gone down hill big time. I have never had anything but a Garmin, but with quality of my last three? I think will be looking else where for a new GPS.
A couple of years ago I would only gotten a Garman but I am not going to get a new one every year. What GPS do y'all use?
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RE: ? G614 Tires
Looks like the G614 today are better than the ones on my 04 HH hope so. I lost 3 of my G614's 2 blow up & the third threw it's tread. & the last one blew at around 40,000 miles & there was not a lot of tread left. Forty K for a tire that just rows is not good.
First tire blew three hr. from no where lost half a day, the tire guy took it as I did not think about GY replaceing it #2 Lost it tread, never went flat. I took to Wings of Minphis they told me the GY man was comming by. Then told me GY would not do any thing, I think Wings of Memphis looked me in the eye & lied to me!!! #3 I sent to GY & they took care of a little over $1,800 to my rig + the cost of the tire. Yes they are made in Topeka & the first three # for the zip in Topeka is 666 & that is where I think my G614 came from!
I replaced my G614's with Hankook F19. The Hankook F19 is a 750X16 14 ply tire, if I remember right it is 105 psi. The Hankook were great tires & at 40,000 miles they still looked like they were new.
Our new HH a 2010 rig has 17.5 as I did not want G614's on it. NO I do not have any GY tires on any thing I own, give me 10/15 more year then perhaps.
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