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RE: towing capacity for chev pickup
I'm going to piggy back on this message as well if I can. I've got a 99 GMC Suburban 5.7L V8 1500. Basically, I want to upgrade the towing capacity on her to tow more weight if I can. I've been told that I can "add" leaf springs, "change" the curve of the leaf springs, upgrade the rear gear ratio.... Currently, I'm being told that my max rating is 6500. With 4 kids, I'm looking to get a TT with a Bunk house, which most of the BH TT's weight 7k plus. Any suggestions?
I don't think you can officially increase your factory rated towing capacity.
But, you can trade your Burb in on a V-10 Excursion!
sorry...couldn't help it!!!
You have to remember, brakes play are large part in that tow rating. It is more important to be able to safely go down the hill rather than up the hill.
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jesterdog
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10/11/08 07:36pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Looking to purchase first TT
Make sure you have enough tow vehicle before you buy it!!!
Then go for it!
I love my Coachmen! No major issues with it.
I wish you the best!
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jesterdog
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10/11/08 07:18pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Another kind of robbery on the rise.
I happened to my friend at work a couple of weeks ago. His insurance covered it. He had a $200 deductable I think. It was I think $800 to replace it.
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jesterdog
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10/11/08 10:46am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Bicycle Theft
Well, you got to look at the motivation behind the theft. A person does not steal your bike because he wants that bike for himself. He is stealing it because he can pawn it for $20 to $40 maybe. He needs cash to buy drugs. I think the removal of the front tire/seat and locking with lock and cable is the best method. No pawn shop is going to buy a bike missing the seat and/or the front wheel because it is, without a doubt, stolen property. Not to mention it ain't worth $10 in that condition. Likewise, the thief is not going to buy a new seat and/or a new wheel and tire just to pawn it because he would spend more on the seat/wheel that he is going to get from the pawn shop.
Do thieves know the difference between a $75 and a $3000 mountain bike? I don't know. Does it change the dynamic....not so sure that it does. The pawn shop owner definately knows the difference. He also knows a crackhead can't afford a bike like that. If he is unscrupulous, he may gamble on fencing known stolen mechandise.
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jesterdog
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10/11/08 10:37am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Crude Oil at $82
Where are all those naysayers from a month ago that said there was nothing wrong with our economy and that the oil speculators had no bearing on the price of crude. Funny how they disappeared into the woodwork.
Sure was a lot of bashing going on back then.
Needless to say, I wish everyone the best during these times. If you held onto cash, might even be some cherry picking out there right now. As far as RV's what a great time to buy. Fuel is coming down and RV prices are cheap.
Hopefully once we come out of this meltdown, we'll go back to basic values that helped make North America great. Our Grandfathers knew what was right and wrong. Somehow greed and excess took over.
Just wondering, I don't watch the daily financial dribble, what is that Cramer guy saying now-a-days. Does he still have all the answers to the economy??
Amen to that, and thanks!
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jesterdog
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10/10/08 12:33pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Massachusettes Inspection Stickers..
Here in Texas, I think it's just a $12 safety inspection for the diesel trucks. No emmissions. Gas vehicles have to do the $40 inspection that includes dyno testing.
Fodder for the cost of diesel vs gas!!!
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jesterdog
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10/10/08 11:49am |
Truck Campers
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RE: UPDATE Oil at $60 a barrel?
Keep Dreaming, but let me give you my prediction - You ain't never going to see $80.00 oil again - ever. Unless Congress changes their Energy Policy, or what I meant was lack of an Energy Policy. Or actually, maybe that is their policy, Do Nothing. In my business we call it the null alternative which is just a cute why of doing nothing. That is really what they are good at, a lot of huffing and puffing and end up doing nothing but going on vacations.
LOL! That was like the fourth post on this thread about a month ago. Oil is already in the 80's....!
The rest of his statement is true I think....:D
And oil officially is at $80 a barrel right now.
Amazing what has happened in a matter of weeks....
The Excursion can drink now!!!!!!
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jesterdog
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10/10/08 08:37am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Why aren't Canadians having a crisis?
as a dual American/Canadian citizen I also thought Canadians got FREE health care- thats just not really true..at tax prep time, your share comes out of the taxes you pay to the government..was I shocked..Dona
I hope that you are being sarcastic. I mean Santa Clause is dead.
bumpy
WHAT??????:(
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jesterdog
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10/09/08 05:54pm |
General RVing Issues
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Why aren't Canadians having a crisis?
Funny little article about Canada's economic state:
story here
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jesterdog
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10/09/08 12:58pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: DIY: make your own leveling blocks better, cheaper
The most important part: American Made!!!!!
no joke...I was at WallyWorld and saw some Chinese hot sauce on the shelf with Asian writing all over it...hardly any english print.
It was made in the USA....I almost died laughing.
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jesterdog
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10/09/08 08:53am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: SUV Hauling
Here's a helpful website for WD hitch setup:
link here
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jesterdog
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10/09/08 08:31am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: UPDATE Oil at $60 a barrel?
Keep Dreaming, but let me give you my prediction - You ain't never going to see $80.00 oil again - ever. Unless Congress changes their Energy Policy, or what I meant was lack of an Energy Policy. Or actually, maybe that is their policy, Do Nothing. In my business we call it the null alternative which is just a cute why of doing nothing. That is really what they are good at, a lot of huffing and puffing and end up doing nothing but going on vacations.
LOL! That was like the fourth post on this thread about a month ago. Oil is already in the 80's....!
The rest of his statement is true I think....:D
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jesterdog
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10/08/08 01:19pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 18V Drill and Scissor Jacks
I like the idea of using a socket with a step-down extension bar. I can permanently attach the socket to the bar with JB Weld and use an old spare socket which cost me $0.50 at a flea market. The question still remains, however, of how much torque to apply to the stabilizing jacks. Too much and you are lifting or bending the frame. Not enough and the trailer is less stable than it should be. So how do you know when it is just right? How many turns do you give it after the base plate has touched the ground?
Try a small wood block underneath the jack. The wood compresses a little and squishes into the asphalt/pebbles/concrete/you know what I mean. The TT seems a lot more stable this way.
After the jack foot hits the block, about another half turn for me. Check it periodically and retighten as necessary.
The blocks I use are two 2x4 blocks about 5" long glued together. One set under each jack.
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jesterdog
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10/08/08 12:24pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: SUV Hauling
Don't freak out man. Tow it first, then start making accessments. One thing that makes a big difference on sway is to air up your rear tires to the maximum pressure that is stamped on the sidewall.
I used to tow with a Yukon (and same TT in sig). I had pretty bad sway with wind and especially when Semi's passed me.
Then I found out that I was supposed to air the tires up. I went from saving up for a sway control device, to realizing that I didn't really need one. It made a big difference.
Don't worry about your weight, you're close enough.
FLAME SUIT ON!!! :E:B
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jesterdog
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10/08/08 09:01am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Fridge not cold.......
Yes the freezer gets cold first. The cold air is supposed to fall down into the fridge part. So, try sliding that vent thing to its halfway position.
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jesterdog
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10/03/08 04:19pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Smelly trailer
Do a search on the Geo Method. We decided to try it because our TT always smelled due to black tank. Especially after flushing it....WHOA!
I put some Gain (detergent), some Calgon water softener, and some bleach in a bucket. I filled it with water and flushed it down the toilet. I put another 4 gallons of water in for 6 gallons total.
Then, we drove from D/FW to Petit Jean SP in Arkansas. When we got there, I dumped my black tank and repeated the previous procedure. Before we left I dumped the black tank and performed the same procedure.
Drove back to D/FW and dumped the black tank (we used the restroom in the TT on the drive back)at RV Ranch and repeated the procedure.
Now when I go into the TT, it smells faintly like a campfire, not a "you know what".
So, the soap and water sloshing around cleaned the tank well. And, I guess the bleach did its job too.
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jesterdog
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10/02/08 06:20pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: High Test gas gets MUCH better MPG
FWIW = my 1966 GTO with a modern LS3 Motor - the 6.2L aluminum corvette motor which is a high compression and high performance motor rips down the road a LOT better with 92 octane than 87.
I drove the GTO on the Hot Rod power tour this year along with a 2006 Holiday Rambler with a 8.1L workhorse. We put almost 3000 miles on in 2 weeks, so I was calculating my fuel usage daily!
The motorhome didn't care all that much for MPG or power, it was a dog any way you look at it - I think most of the time the ECU was in catalyst protect mode, but the GTO was a different story.
I topped out at 25.3MPG and did a general average of 18-20MPG in the GTO. I have gotten as low at 11MPG, but that's driving it silly...
So for the GTO it's premium all the time. When I get a motorhome it's diesel!
I was just reading about the Power Tour in HotRod last night. Looks like y'all had a lot of fun!
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jesterdog
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09/29/08 08:21am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: If price was not a consideration ...
......then a Pilot and a helicopter......so i could drive with out distarction as the family was flown to our destination..
:)
Be nice......:B
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jesterdog
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09/27/08 12:02pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: High Test gas gets MUCH better MPG
While there are a few vehicles that will adjust their tune to match the fuel and therefore give better performance with premium than with regular, you can be sure that the Ford 6.8L V10 is NOT one of them.
No doubt in my mind that other factors were different that gave you the better MPG: weather (temperature, rain, barometric pressure, wind all have their effects on MPG), driving speed, tire pressure, driving style AND ethanol content.
My hunch is that because of the price of fuel today, you drove a bit more conservatively, maybe got lucky and bought fuel with less ethanol than you usually get, and probably had more favorable weather. A little here and there can add up to 15%.
I see your point and you are correct. It doesn't take much to affect mileage. But, I stand by my observation. I have gone back and forth and it is repeatable. See, V-10s are ping happy to begin with. Some are worse than others. A little boost in octane brings out more performace under load only.
I was surprised that the OP had the same experience I have. My advice to him has been to step down to 89 octane to see if he realizes the same mpg gain.
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jesterdog
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09/27/08 09:01am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: If price was not a consideration ...
Since money is no barrier, I'd start with a one-piece carbon-fiber shell on an integrated HD frame and I'd include a "kneeling" feature.
...snip...
The trailer would have high torque, low speed electric motors capable of driving the left and right rear wheels independently. This feature would allow you to maneuver the trailer at walking speeds for short distances without a tow vehicle via use of a wireless remote.
...snip...
Now THAT is innovation!
Just back it into the driveway and get it close.
Come back later and walk it right where you want it without having to ask for help!
I like it!
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jesterdog
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09/26/08 05:52pm |
Travel Trailers
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