| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
Ergonomic chair
I'm setting up our new rig to have an office. In the past I've worked 8 hr days for weeks in a row from our dinette and had ergonomic issues. The bench is too low which has caused some knee problems for me and there is really no way to create an ergonomic setup for my mouse/keyboard.
The new rig has the raw space I need for an office and I think that I've seen a good 4' folding/adjustable stury plastic table we can use. That brings me to a chair. Ideally I'd like something that folds away, is light but can be adjusted to fit me (height, elbow support, back). Cushy padding is not so key but I'd like something (I could upholster a good chair that didn't have this). I have not begun to search yet... but I was hoping that some clever person here has already found the ultimate solution? I don't want to spend more months working from a bench or small folding chair... but I don't want to cave in and buy a regular office chair and make the office space so inflexible. Maybe I want to much but it's free to ask.
|
davelinde
|
07/22/08 04:26pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Another ladder cut and stowed - Raptor 3612ds
I used a piece of 3/4 copper pipe. Fits inside just fine.
Doug
Hmmm... I usually over-engineer, I know - but isn't copper a bit soft to hold pins on each side? I'd think it would pull out over time.
|
davelinde
|
07/22/08 04:00pm |
Toy Haulers
|
|
RE: Why a 5'er??
also ceiling height, many TT floorplans are comparable to FW but the FW has a higher ceiling and feels more spacious inside.
|
davelinde
|
07/22/08 02:35pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Loft ladder
Will look into that... My 9y/o daughter has no issues but they kill me to climb in bare feet. My wife also wants a grab bar at the top and maybe some kind of protection from rolling out?
Ideas? I love our ladder that stows into the wall and my daughter loves the loft area... but it really seems about 80% thought out for usability.
|
davelinde
|
07/21/08 08:19pm |
Toy Haulers
|
|
RE: Another ladder cut and stowed - Raptor 3612ds
SWEET MOD! Exactly what I was looking for. I SWEAR the ladder in the model I saw was already in half... but as delivered I got a full length ladder that took up the WHOLE garage on the diagonal!
What kind of 1/2 pipe was that? Galvanized gas pipe? I'll be doing that mod next week. I had some aluminum rod I was going to use but it was just a little too small.
|
davelinde
|
07/21/08 08:12pm |
Toy Haulers
|
|
RE: costly mistake. 5 wheelers please read.
Sorry, I'm still confused. We have a Reese 16K. When we back into the hitch jaws, the handle theoretically snaps into the closed position. We always make sure this has happened... If one does this religiously, why should a test pull be necessary?? Thanks
I also have a Reese 16K and watch the handle open and close, then lock it. I still visually inspect and pull test. In theory I've read the pin can "high hitch" and maybe mimic the open/close/lock of a proper hitch up. I like to think I'd see that too - hence the visual inspect. However, I've never seen it... so I pull test too. The risk is too great for me to deviate and what is the harm?
As I learned in my different "oops" the big thing is getting a routine that is rock solid and NEVER deviating from it. I will fix my tailgait eventually.... but for now I see it every day and am sick from being stooopid. A cheap lesson learned. I never want to drop a FW on my rails... but I'm not quite convinced I need the expense AND WEIGHT of a BS to prevent that.
|
davelinde
|
07/21/08 06:56pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Storing 50A detachable cord
I roll mine in a 5 gallon plastic bucket. Works for me
Second BINGO! I've got a bunch of these in storage now (and I threw away a bunch too). Nice and compact and should handle the weight well...
We also only have one AC unit and don't always use it so that's an option too.
THANKS!!! More ideas welcome.
|
davelinde
|
07/21/08 06:49pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Storing 50A detachable cord
I store mine in a round plastic laundry basket.
BINGO! this is worth a try.
I can handle the weight if I can get a good grip on it. Round is better than square for this I think. I also like all the cords in one place.
...and yes, I had anticipated the troubles in the cold and was not looking forward to that. If I'm not running AC I wonder if I can put a 50A twist/lock onto a 30A cord for the cold...
|
davelinde
|
07/21/08 01:43pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: costly mistake. 5 wheelers please read.
I also depend on the visual inspection and pull test for this.
Unfortunately the second time I unhitched my new FW I got pre-occupied trying to figure out how to properly chock my triple axle and then just drove off... without lowering my tailgate. I thought I'd dropped the FW - but I just pulled a pin shaped notch in my tailgate :(
|
davelinde
|
07/21/08 12:31pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
Storing 50A detachable cord
One of our upgrades in the new rig is 50A. WOW that 50A cord is heavier than the 30A cord I had!! Our 30A cord just pushed into a box but this 50A monster is detachable and must be stowed somewhere. It is heavy, bulky and awkward.
How do you all store these? I'm thinking some kind of tote maybe 2-3' square and 6-8" high? Something to coil the cord in so I can pick it up more easily and slide it into storage without it coming uncoiled and hanging up on stuff?
Anyone make a product? Other ideas for this?
|
davelinde
|
07/21/08 12:24pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: closet weight police
I have a hard time believing that a DRW regular cab is heavier than a DRW MegaCab....
Me too, especially comparing a DRW QC LB to DRW MC (SB by definition). So did they pull something out of the the MC to make it gross less than the QC?
A big appeal of getting a new Dodge is the MC... but on paper it tows more... but not... odd.
|
davelinde
|
07/20/08 05:55pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Installation of 2nd Air Conditioner in Montana 3400RL
My unit was pre-wired and braced from the factory so I bought the a/c unit. .. Total time was about 1/2 hour job.
Our new unit is pre-wired/braced too. In our first few nights I'd say that that bedroom cooling is lame, but the garage cooling is even lamer. We are using the garage in the TH for bedroom/office btw.
So... I'm thinking that a second unit is in our future. However, we may opt for garage install instead of bedroom.
Half hour????? I can imagine taking more than half an hour to find where the bracing is and confirm there's a wire there? Then... before I'd cut a hole in the roof I'd need to be darn sure. I'm handy... but timid.
When we picked up our unit I saw the guys a few bays down installing something in the side of a unit. They just whipped out a sawzall and were cutting a hole like nothing. I remember thinking how easy it was to do that if you were sure of what you were cutting. I'd spend the better part of a day being sure I was not cutting plumbing, electric or gas...
dunno - on a sticks/bricks house I'm fearless! I can re-shingle,re-fraame, spackle/paint and patch any goof I make... but for my house on wheels??? I'm still a wimp.
|
davelinde
|
07/18/08 08:14pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Trans temp towing heavy with a Dodge 48RE
You should probably check an Amway site, but I believe they claim their fluid will stand quite a bit higher temperatures than regular ATF+4. There must be some reason it costs 3 times as much, right?
I'm guessing you mean AMSOil not Amway?
I run their gear lube in my diff's but never switched to their ATF. When I bought my truck there was no one making a valid ATF+4 substitute and I had a warranty. Initially Mopar ATF+4 was $16/gallon then all of a sudden it jumped to $28/gallon I think I've got one more trans drain worth in storage... If AMSOil is $90/gallon they can keep it!
I remember they claimed it would run cooler all by itself -- seemed a little snake oil to me but I've listened to the pitch a few times and tuned it out when it shifted to the "and you will save even more if you become a distributor" mode.
Back to OP... If I keep this tranny I'll consider new fluids for it too.
|
davelinde
|
07/18/08 08:04pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: closet weight police
Not to push this into brand wars... but I love my Cummins so that's where I'm looking for now.
Are they making "4500" Mega? Or just the smaller cabs?
What does a 4500 chassis/cab run and how much to put some kind of flatbed/hitch back there? I'm open to options here (but I'm not quite ready to jump all the way to MDT yet -- yes yes yes I know how economical a used Volvo tandem axle conversion is compared to a new pickup but please)
I'm still stumped on Dodge math
10,500 GVWR 24,000 CGVWR sitting on 5200+9350 F/RAWR? (oh yes and the 16,500# tow?) I guess I'll ask over at DTR.. but if the Mega has all the stuff (including the big brakes) how did it lose so much in the math against the 8' QC (which is LONGER)...
|
davelinde
|
07/18/08 07:35pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: closet weight police
So I'm shopping now... has anyone put a 3500 Megacab Dually on a scale empty yet? I'm going to guess it's around 8500# more?
Brochure says CGVWR 24,000 towing capacity 16,500# hard to make that add up with the door sticker 10,500# GVWR... I thought the carrying issues were with SRW, why in the heck sell a dually that can't carry much more than a SRW?
|
davelinde
|
07/18/08 07:15am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Trans temp towing heavy with a Dodge 48RE
Trying to run heavy, or more to the point in your case, with a high fiver that has lots of wind resistance with an automatic transmission w/o an auxiliary transmission cooler is a recipe for a failed tranny.
If it were me, I'd buy the biggest auxiliary cooler I could find and install it where it will get maximum air flow. The other thing I'd do is have the transmission serviced. Change the fluid and replace it with a high quality, full synthetic transmission fluid. You might find when you're having it serviced that the existing filter has a little debris on it and is restricting flow.
A deeper pan (increased fluid capacity, perhaps with cooling fins) is also very helpful in keeping temps at a minimum.
I have the pan already. The fluid was changed out 10,000 miles ago. ATF+4 is a synthetic and I don't know any approved alternative on the Dodge tranny. If I decide to keep the tranny I can drop the pan and do the filter pretty easily.
I have no idea where I'd but another cooler though. The truck already has a stack of 4 in front... AC condensor, intercooler, radiator and trans cooler. I've heard of guys putting another cooler under the trans, but I just don't like the idea of a cooler exposed under the truck like that.
|
davelinde
|
07/17/08 08:10pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Trans temp towing heavy with a Dodge 48RE
Hmm...I wonder if your trans (more accurately: TC), due to 4+ years of hard use, is simply wearing out. How many miles do you have?
It might truly be time to step up to an extreme-duty trans from one of the diesel trans builders.
PS--You still have your old trailer (04 Jayco Eagle) in your sig. :)
I was wondering if that could be the situation. 72,000 on the clock with about 22,000 of that towing. I'm getting quotes form the rebuilders now. I also ordered another temp gauge/probe that I'll mount on the hot line to double check the temps.
I don't have a good picture of the new rig yet... but I will update the sig - thanx I forgot.
|
davelinde
|
07/17/08 07:59pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Trans temp towing heavy with a Dodge 48RE
The biggest unknown and biggest variable in all the above stories is - "where is your temperature probe?"
Mine is in the outlet line from the pan to the cooler, which should be the hottest temp and most sensitive to temperature changes, I believe.
I thought that the hot line was from tranny to cooler and the cool line was from cooler to pan. My probe is the stock sender - I tap the ECM with my X-monitor and read the same temp the computer is reading.
BTW I have shot my pan surface temp with an IR thermo and it is 30 degrees cooler than my gauge reads. I am considering getting a second gauge and reading temps on the hot line just to have more info.
|
davelinde
|
07/17/08 10:06am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: If your hydrolic slide out fails...
found this (haven't tried it yet) but it looks OK slide manual
PDI kid got that one wrong...
|
davelinde
|
07/16/08 08:05pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: closet weight police
OK... I am starting to shop for a dually and looking at the 2008. Unless I misread something the dually GVWR is 10,500# assuming that the extra two wheels weigh something... I'm not convinced the dually is spec'd stock to carry much more than the SRW? Logically 4 tires is better than 2 but as noted why aren't two better tires better than 4 less capable?
hmmm, just looked at a new 3500 DRW Dodge/Cummins new regeared G56 and the GVWR was 12500 with 9350 RAWR. Don't know which new 3500/F350 DRW your going to look at but GM had dropped thir RAWR to 8250 which isn't setting to well with commercial haulers using these trucks. Check out what Ford GAWR are as in the past they have had some big RAWR numbers which is always popular with legal commercial haulers.
Jim
I had pulled up the Megacab since it would be easier to sell a new truck to DW if she got cab space too. I think I'll go get a brochure since the on-line stuff is giving me a headache... tows this, grosses this, then configure and price and the capacities drop.
|
davelinde
|
07/16/08 07:38pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
