RE: Dually vs. Single Rear Wheel
I have a 38ft 5er. we use it for 4 months each summer. This is loaded with everything including full tanks, my wife and I. I pull it with a 2500HD. These are scale weights. Steering axle 4320#, Drive axle 5820#, Trailer axles 10,740# These are certified Cat scale weights.
As you can see I'm 10,140# on Truck, that is appox 800# over the 9200# for this truck, A 3500HD SRW allows 9900# total truck, that would still be over legal weight. I'm OK on the CGVW of 22,000#, I only have 20,880# gross.
I haven't had any problem with stability as far as wind or semi's go. but I can tell it's not as stable as as I would like.
Bottom line, get a dully. You won't have any more power, but it will feel more stable and will be safer.
Low ash oil
My dealer says I have to use the new low ash oil in my 04 Chev Duramax/ Allison. Is this true? Does anyone know where to contact GM for a confermation on this. The differance in cost for an oil change and lube is appox $60.00 as it was, went up to $100.00 now. I think the dealer is trying to rip me off, but I want to be sure before I confront him. The dealer is "Power Chevrolet" at Superstition Springs Auto Mall in Mesa AZ.
Thanks
Oil for04 Chev D/M
Just took my 04 Chev D/M to the dealer for an oil change. It cost $99.00, it has been costing about $60.00. The dealer says that GM has started requiring a certain type of oil that has something special in it, can't remember exactly what he called it. Has anyone heard of this? It has supposedly just been in the last 4/6 months. I would like to hear from you guys on this
Thanks
RE: Interesting vehicle build news
I don't think the time will come for a long time where the import manufactures have have the same health and welfare cost for employees and retired employed that the domestic manufactures have.
The import mfg's mostly use 401K type retirement benifits, where the employee pays a major portion of thier retirement cost. They also pay about $10/12 less per hour.
In addition Japan allow the Mfg. to depreciate thier tooling out over a 3 year time schedule, where the U.S. requires a longer time to depreciate the domestic Mfg's tooling usually around a 10 year schedule.
It's obvious our government is not looking out for our own companys, pretty sad our government is always helping the foreign companys over our own.
If we had the same import cost for cars comming into this country as Japan has for our cars going into Japan an new Toyota Crolla would cost maybe $40,000 or so.
RE: Best way to brake down a hill?
I won't consider myself an expert. However I drove a semi years ago when we didn't have "Jake" brakes, some did, but we didn't. Over the years I drove about 3 million miles, coast to coast. That was back in the days when a 220 cummins was a big power plant.
I found out, being extra cautious was the best policy. Number 2 method is the only way. I would suggest, on any mountain grade, if you have any concerns, come almost to a stop at the top. Choose a low, (or lowest gear), start down, if that gear seams too low, you can always select the next higher gear to procede down the mountain.
Remember, it's your life thats important and the time it takes to go down the mountain is not important.
I remember a mountain in W.V., years ago. I think its was Blue Mtn, that had a sign at the top that said, ALL TRUCKS MUST STOP, the sign went on to say something like, IN THE LAST 5 YEARS 6 TRUCKERS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY RUN-A-WAY TRUCKS. Belive me when you read that you stop and check everything out before heading, carfully, on down the mtn.
Air bags, Where to buy?
I have a chev D/A 04. 2500, Where is the best place, price wise, to get and have installed, bags and compressor (in cab controls). I know there are Firestone bags, I don't think Firestone stores sell or install them. Any suggestions?
RE: Tire Question
Tire bashing? Good reason for it. seems like some one always trys to put the blame on the operator, too much weight , too much speed, not keeping the aired up, the tires are to old,and etc.
the question you have to ask is, why is it mostly on the trl?
The drive axle on my truck has more weight than any axle on the trl. the speed of the truck is the same as the trl, the same operator controls both the truck and trailer. most truck tires usually have more miles and age than the trl.
So yes the problem is the tires used on trailers. The manufactures of trl's just try to get away with the cheapest tire they can find to put on the trl.
RE: Supply and demmand my ...
Well, if you are setting beside a table full of food and you starve to death because you won't get off you ass to get it, that's your fault.
If there is a flower bed between you and the table that someone won't let you cross (such as the tree huggers), that's their fault. That is the complete problem we have now.
The ecologist have never been right yet, they are not right on this.
None of our politicians have enough guts to do what is right.
RE: Goodyear tires
Az jeff
That is also what Discount priced for me, GY with road hazard. I wounder if they will claim, sorry GY says no, if you have problems? I also wounder if Discount will do anything if there is any Trl. damage?
I've never had any dealings with Discount Tire.
Does anyone know, or had any experince with them?
Goodyear tires
I stopped at a goodyear tire store to get prices on tires for my 5er.(LT235-85-16E) The store manager told me there was no "road hazard warrantee" available, when used on a trailer. Any one ever hear of this?
RE: When is gas gonna kill your camping?
Fuel is expensive, sure, but, the casino's are still full, sports events are still packed as much as always, concerts are still full (and very expensive), movie theators are still just as full, drive thru resturants, banks, dry cleaners, and etc, are still being used, so it seems the people still have money to spend on the unimportant things.
When people don't buy cigeretts, boose, bottled water, than we can assume there is a shortage of money.
What is the cost of fuel compared to other things, over the years?
People seem to have enough money for what they want. Is the fuel too expensive? How much money could be saved if they got rid of thier cell phones,(some people have more than one) cable TV, and etc?
RE: Tire Question
I have an 05 Cedar Creek 36rlts. I didn't know CC's came with G rated tires. However I used the E rated tires for two summers, about 18,000 mi. no problems. I am going to put new tires on this year.
The tires on it were, Merit-All Country, 235-85-16E. Can't tell where they were made. I'll know where the new tires were made before I buy them.
We live in Mesa AZ. so they are subject to a lot of heat. We travel to Wisc, & Ind. each year for abut 3/4 months
RE: Toyota May Buy Back Your Truck For 150% The Value!
I don't understand this mentality that Toyota's quality is so great, I've had Toyotas, Nissans, VWs, and almost every domestic brand. over my 50+ years of owning vehicles. Haven't had any bad luck with any, and the domestic brands were just as good, and in some ways better than the imports. Example: I had an new Buick and Honda at the same time, I was traveling in sales work, so each year I switched with my wife to control the mileage, at just over 100,000 miles on each, I had spent the same amount on repairs for both cars, since I was using these cars for business I maintained complete records. Also the Buick had a whole lot more automatic features on it.
This attitude that foreign cars are better, is just that, an attitude. The import dealers have just as many mechanics working to repair vehicles as the domestics.
The one thing I have found out is, the domestic cars are more likely to be fixed when needed than the imports. I could give many examples.
As for the imports I would rank VW and Mercedes, as the most troublesome.
RE: Diesel trucks and the mountains
I have a 36rlts Cedar Creek, and I pull with an 04 DuraMax/ Allison, been across from Tucson east to Tex. many times. If I'm running 65 or so I climb Texas Canyon at 50 to 65. If I have on cruise it will shift to 4th or even 3rd to hold 65, if I let it. Usually I kick it off cruise an hold it around 50, that passes most 18 wheelers going up Texas Canyon. I live in Tucson. The real grade around here is going east out of LasCruses NM, not on I10 but the highway that goes to White Sands, I think it might be US 70/82
RE: More Ethanol Fuel for the Fire
I think all this tech, info is great, but , if we want to save on fuel and pollution, here is a solution.
Stop all drive thru's, banks, cleaners,fast food, carwashes, and etc. In addition we could stop all sporting events, close malls and restaurants.
I know this is ridiculous, so lets be sensible.
We need to drill in ANWAR and anyplace else their might be oil, build more refineries, and become self sufficient, quit blaming the Pres. who would like to do just that. At the same time pursue all these other alternatives.
If you want to blame someone, blame the ecologist, who have never been right on any major thing they have tried to stop yet.
If you think getting a Pres. with any other party in power, is going to change things for the better, you are wrong. Unless you think paying more taxes is better, that is all that will change. I'm sure your children will thank you.
RE: Getting sat tv for 3 mo's
I failed to mention I had DirectTV. That is also the dish and reciever that I have. Thanks for the info on Dish network, but do yiu know if Direct has the same program?
RE: First trip of the season, another blown Marathon tire!
Rolling Rock
What's the changes you ran over something with the trl? I'd say about the same as chance that you ran over something with the TV. Why didn't the TV tires blow? They hardly ever do.That tells me the mfg's are putting the cheapest tire on trls they can get away with. When was the last time you had a blowout on your TV or car? I'm sure we all run over things all the time, with no problems.
Some one has too change the mentality of the trl mfgs. I sure don't know how it can ever be done. It took the government to get involved to assure at least some qualty in the product used on cars.
Getting sat tv for 3 mo's
I use to have sat tv in my home, and used it in the RV during our summer travels.
Moved to new home and have cable now. My questions is, can a person get sat tv for thier RV for just 3/4 mo's in the summer while traveling?
Has anyone tryed to do that?
RE: Japanese Vs American trucks
Tallyo
you are mostly right, except the foreign manufactures don't have the same retirement problems that GM, Ford and Chry. have. The foreign mfg employees pay into 401k type plans. The employees are basically paying most of their own retirement, I do think the foreign mfg kick in 10/20 % just while they are working.
