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RE: Big Rig (Tractor) towing question
We pull our trailer with a semi (HDT) with the original commercial hitch on the truck. No modification was necessary. The trailer's pin fits perfectly.
Your mural looks sweet!
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Tex Garcia
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11/18/08 08:15am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Battery Charging
Once you get back to the RV, and plug in the trailer to the tow vehcile, you should be able to get enough charge into the batteries to crank over the generator, and the factory charger should put out about 30 - 45 amps, and recharge the batteries in a few hours.
The charge line from the tow vehicle is probably #12 wire and will only accomidate 15 amps under ideal conditions, and might trip a fuse, so no amperage goes through that line.
You might be better off using jumper cables to jump start the trailer battery for a few minutes, to give it a quick charge and get the generator running.
The propane and carbon monoxide leak detectors will take about 35 amp hours per day out of the batteries, so my guess is they will be dead in about a week. You might want to consider a 120 watt solar panel, it can put back 35 AH a day, even more in the summer, and keep the batteries in great shape.
My Trojan T-105 golf cart batteries lasted 9+ years because in part of the solar system on my RV, using hydrocaps, so it would not run out of water, and running my generator if the batteries where less than 50% full, to bring them back up to 75%, and let the solar finish the charging.
If you have a pair of 12 volt batteries, you will have a thick sulfur deposit on all the plates, they will probably recover to about 75% of their original capacity, and will get back to normal over time. With golf cart batteries, they will come back to about 85% right away, but will still take several recharges to fill them completely and even so they might not reach 95% ever again. (daily solar charging will bring back the batteries in a month or two, breaking down all of the sulfur deposits on the lead plates over time).
SolarOnSale.com is where I bought a pair of 120 watt solar panels in 1999, when they repaired my Trace inverter.
My friend removes his batteries and sets them just inside the trailer door on a old piece of carpet, it seems some storage yards have a problem with people coming in and "Recycling" travel trailer batteries. Fifth wheels usually have locked storage compartment for their batteries.
Good Luck, Fred.
Well said,
The only thing I would add is that the trailers onboard batteries are also the used to power the brakes in the event your trailer disconnects from the truck. The breakaway switch needs 12v to activate the brakes. So towing with dead batteries is not a good idea.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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11/18/08 08:13am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Heads up- Get your Class A non-commercial
Anyone know what does the ticket cost?
If I am not mistaken it is a fix-it ticket if you get the license before your notice to appear date.
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Tex Garcia
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11/18/08 07:59am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Big Rig (Tractor) towing question
We pull our trailer with a semi (HDT) with the original commercial hitch on the truck. No modification was necessary. The trailer's pin fits perfectly.
Agreed,
You will need to install a electric brake controller and I would recommend a air pin box.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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11/18/08 07:48am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: batteries
Mixing batteries will certainly WORK and will provide additional power but it will NOT be as efficient as grouping batteries with the same capabilities. As you use power the weaker set will equalize with the stronger set thus wasting power. One way of doing it with better efficiency is to install an isolator that can run off of either set independently. They'll charge more efficiently that way also. Good luck / Skip
Agreed.
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Tex Garcia
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10/24/08 02:13pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Those poor Bluehairs
Tex:
Does that mean you also play some of that Mariachi music as well? If so, I got a great Margarita blender!:B
But of course, I have some Vicente Fernandez to go with the shots of Tequila too…..lol
That’s the beauty of MP3 players. I think mine holds 10,000 songs and my wife’s holds another 30,000 songs. My wife a Pacific Islander so just after some Pedro Infante we might be listening to some Tagalong music. Usually someone just plugs an I-pod into my adapter and just sets it to random play. It is great to be open-minded musically.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/29/08 10:22am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Those poor Bluehairs
It is funny how sound works. At home without the outside sub-woofer and speakers going I can make my garage door rattle at 35% volume. But in the in the middle of nowhere with all 10 speakers going at 80% you can’t hear it outside our camping area. I am thinking the packs of bikes and quads buzzing by followed by some twin-turbo charged V-8s with open exhaust tends to drown out my sound system. I have walked ¼ mile to the next campsite and ask if we are too loud for them. Not that I think we are too loud. It is just an excuse to make a new friend and share a cocktail or two. If I play my cards right I may even get a ride in the twin-turbo charged V-8 buggy! Who would have thought I would find people with the same interest as mine in the middle of the desert? Oh I get it. This is the toy hauler section. I forgot.
I really don’t think Derwud’s system is enough to violate any ones idea of a good time. I don’t know Derwud personally, and even though he has one of them “TOY HAULERS”, I am sure he can keep it under control. I have a system that boarders on the obnoxious. But, I have yet to be asked by a fellow camper or a ranger to turn it down. As far as taste in music goes, my usual camping group includes all walks of life. My group enjoys many types and languages of music. We draw the line on explicit lyrics because of the children in the group. Yes we toy hauler types have families too.
BTW, we will be imposing our music tastes on others off Esse Blvd somewhere near Washburn Blvd in Cal City Thanksgiving weekend. Stop by and ask me to turn it down and join us for a cold one. The Freightliner was involved in a close encounter of the worst kind last week. I hope to have her road worthy by then.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/29/08 08:23am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Anyone else run out of room in there toyhauler? Suggestions
Just a thought, I have a receiver hitch on the front of the Freightliner. I can carry 1 Jet Ski or 2 dirt bikes or a large quad. My only regret is not making it lift and lower hydraulically. I did get stopped once because the Jet Ski blocked the head light buckets. So we installed some lights like you see on a snowplow and wired a pigtail into the factory harness. The factory headlights simply unplug and the other lights plug right into that. I also use the hitch as a winch mount for the Pismo Beach trips.
If my truck were a dedicated RV I would consider mounting a pair of C-channels to the frame just behind the cab. Then I would remount the 5th wheel hitch all the way back on the frame to allow better clearance when I turn.
Hope this helps.
Tex
P.S. Odds are I am still going to add a hitch to the back of the TH.
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Tex Garcia
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09/25/08 08:48am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Concrete Driveways
Mine is 4" thick 3500 psi. concrete, with #8 rebar and 4” of compacted base. I park the Freightliner on it all the time without issue. BTW I did crack the sidewalk in front of my driveway. So I upgraded the concrete there too.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/24/08 08:38am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Funny (not) thing happened while we were at Pismo...
After reading this thread for a bit now, I would like to put in my $.02. I agree that the actions of the guys haulin’ assets across the beach was stupid. But what bothers me is how did they become drug dealers or rich punk kinds. My parents where and still are not rich. I did not get more than a good upbringing from them. But yet all my adult life I have been looked at funny. I am a Hispanic male who by my own actions eared six figures by the time I was 25. By the time I was 30 I had earned my first mill. Now at 40 I own two successful companies with assets exceeding $20 mil. I have over 30 people working for me. But yet even now it is still assumed by many that because I have $100k+ AMG in the garage that I am drug dealer or that I am a bad parent because when I die my kid gets it all? Like RRC/AMC said “I WORKED for it! How do we know the young punk tatted up kids don’t work off-shore or in construction? Prevailing wage is now up to $48 per hr. What if at worst the guys are guilty of being idiots for their driving and morons for being financially irresponsible?
Tex
Congrats Dude,
Care to advertise and post a website for your companies?
Some people need a hook and a job.
I have not tried to post any information on this site because I felt I might be viewed as less than classy. lol
Not to mention I never checked to see if it was against the forum rules. The first company develops commercial and industrial properties in the LA area. I buy older or under developed properties. Then my business partner for the most part runs the renovation. He owns a construction company and when work gets slow for them he moves people over to our buildings. We develop two to five buildings per year. The second company is an equipment rental company. We rent construction equipment all over So Cal. At present we are not looking to hire anyone. However, I am planning to open a branch on Riverside in late 09. I currently have a driver and a field mechanic that live in the area. But odds are I will be looking for more people then. The facility will be a tandem operation with a building supply company that I am an investor in. If all goes as planned (economy permitting) we should me looking for drivers, yardmen, mechanics, and stockers when we make the move to the I.E. This of course all depends on how the economy reacts to the recent events on Wall St.
If you are interested in the above-mentioned type of work send me a PM with you e-mail address and I will let you know as things develop if I have a need for more people. Odds are things will slow for us till the first quarter of 09.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/19/08 07:45am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Funny (not) thing happened while we were at Pismo...
If these guys where young or old things happen and I myself have done stupid things when I was younger down at Pismo .... OK maybe I still do;) Yes you can see some young guns with toys and say man how does that happen but every sport has those guys. Also maybe they where tards and going to fast and had a 2 5/16's trailer on a 2" ball:S and it popped off. We all do stupid things and every sport has people that make others look bad but we all go out there to have a good time and as long as guys are not having to much stupid fun to close to me.....well I'll pull up a chair and watch. It's funny seeing some of the stuff that happens down there whether it's a guy that works hard to buy it to the guys that have it handed to them.
So speaking of that...I can't wait for my next trip to Pismo :B
I have some great stories from the lake days when I was not so rrrr aaaa healthy? and could still wake board! lol
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Tex Garcia
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09/15/08 04:30pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Funny (not) thing happened while we were at Pismo...
After reading this thread for a bit now, I would like to put in my $.02. I agree that the actions of the guys haulin’ assets across the beach was stupid. But what bothers me is how did they become drug dealers or rich punk kinds. My parents where and still are not rich. I did not get more than a good upbringing from them. But yet all my adult life I have been looked at funny. I am a Hispanic male who by my own actions eared six figures by the time I was 25. By the time I was 30 I had earned my first mill. Now at 40 I own two successful companies with assets exceeding $20 mil. I have over 30 people working for me. But yet even now it is still assumed by many that because I have $100k+ AMG in the garage that I am drug dealer or that I am a bad parent because when I die my kid gets it all? Like RRC/AMC said “I WORKED for it! How do we know the young punk tatted up kids don’t work off-shore or in construction? Prevailing wage is now up to $48 per hr. What if at worst the guys are guilty of being idiots for their driving and morons for being financially irresponsible?
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/15/08 09:15am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: '93 F250 Diesel, 100k Miles?
The old mechanical non-turbo 7.3’s where great motors. A bit low on power. But with no turbo making heat, they can last a solid 300,000 to 400,000 miles. The fact that it is a manual means you will not be needing to rebuild fords horrible automatic tranny of the day. However, you should drive it on the highway. With only a 4 speed and most likely 4.10 gearing odds are you will be spinning the motor pretty fast. If I remember right, ATS had a turbo kit for that motor. You won’t get 350hp and 650 ft lb tq. More like 200 hp and 410 ft lb tq, But even at that you would still get great fuel mileage and a solid low buck TV.
Mike
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Tex Garcia
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09/08/08 06:27pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New truck
Congrats on the new TV!
Like others have stated, try to get a good 500 miles on her first. The nice thing is with that tranny working its magic you won’t think of it as such a torturous road any more. In fact, you are going to come back and brag to us what a night and day difference your new TV makes on this trip! :C
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/05/08 11:14pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Fuel Station/Gen Tank fill problems
What SAR Tracker said. In my case the hose coming from the tank slopes down as it gets closer to the neck. This makes the fuel back up and the fuel station pump will shut off. I have found two ways around this.
1. Before a trip I bring home one of my service trucks that is equipped with a fuel transfer pump. I attach a hose to the end of the nozzle. So when I pump the fuel is sent all the way down passed the point where the fuel backs up. But of course the transfer pump is slower than a gas station pump so it still takes a while.
2. Back the driver’s side of the trailer over a leveling block. This will raise the driver’s side of the trailer and help the fuel move down the like faster.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/05/08 10:57pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: ladder on side going down road?
Max DOT width is 8' 6". Max height is 13' 6". Max length varies by state.
S@ndman knows a vehicle code that allowed for awnings and ladders to exceed 102”. I don’t remember it now.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/05/08 09:19pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Fridge takes FOREVER to cool down
I never had that problem. But if you say it is an issue when on propane, I would make sure the exchanger is not full of debris. It looks like a radiator and it should be located under a plastic shroud on the roof just over the area of the refer. If you bought the unit used it is possible that last owner never did any roof maintenance. When I resealed my roof this summer I found leaves and other junk clogging the screen. Also, I like to light the stove to purge any air out of the propane line before I light the fridge.
Hope this helps,
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/05/08 08:53pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 8.1L Suburban/Yukon XL - Floor is Hot!
I am thinking you are looking at a clogged cat. I had a last gen Camaro SS. The passenger side foot well is where the cat was located. It clogged once. Boy did it make the floor hot!
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/05/08 08:40pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: California City Riders Fee
Hey FillmoreDesertRiders,
Fellow Fillmore resident here. I make at least 8 trips a year to Cal-City. I think the fees are cheap. In fact I if you add up all the fees, I would leave more money in the donation box than what the fees are now. Although I don’t use the water or dump anymore, I agree we should all do our part to keep riding spots open. We hang out at the end of Esse Rd. If you see us out there stop in and say hello.
Tex
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Tex Garcia
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09/04/08 06:36pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: hitch on back of toyhauler
I thought there were many critereas that had to be met before you attach a second trailer? Like here in CA, you have to pull it with something larger then a F550, 5500 or larger and had to have some special rating on your license as well. Also, couldnt be longer then 70'???
In Cali the maximum length for a combination is 65’ and there is no limit to how long each trailer is provided you do not exceed 65’. Exception: a set of doubles can be 75’ long provided neither of the trailers exceed 27 ½’ (it might be 28 1/2’). You do need a CDL with doubles & triples endorsement. Oh and you could do it with a half ton if you wanted to and your trailers are light enough.
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Tex Garcia
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08/27/08 08:50pm |
Toy Haulers
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