RE: why is my new montana crying on the inside?
Wow you must find the leak .You must dry the carpet and under the cabnetw and under the slide .First chance to air out the rig use fans open all windows vents , At night use bright lignt inside to see from out side any possible enter poinst ,On roof look a all seams calking ,look under plastic end strip if you have them look fror rusty screws as a clue make sure window and door seals are in good shape and calked with some type puty .look for riped cover if rubber roofed . Just take time and ask for help from other campers near you .water left in place between plastic and other material will stay for a long time and cause rot ,rust,mold ,bad smell .So get with it and do some investigating ,repair replace and or dry not cry. Skipper entry level over fiftsix years. P.S the underside of the window seals should not have any sealer under it to let water out. Skipper
RE: Slide Travel Locks?
Last June we purchased an 05 Terry Dakota. We have been enjoying it over the summer and have had no problems with it. The dealer we purchased it from did not mention anything about travel locks for the slide during our delivery inservice. Soon after we got the trailer home we discovered two aluminum poles stored under the couch. When we asked the dealer about them he said they were slide travel locks. He suggest we position (wedge) them above each corner of the slide and the interior wall of the trailer. There does not appear to be any defined spot where these poles are to be placed. This of course is done when the slide is in. Getting the poles positioned and secure is a pain as the poles seem to be a little too long and it is a very tight fit. The dealer also mentioned that most people don't use them and it would be OK to travel without them in place. Since I'm not sure about that statement we have installed them on each trip but they still seem to be harder to install then they should be. I'm wondering if I'm missing something so if anyone out there has some tips about how to position them or just confirm that we are doing it correctly I would appreciate it. Thanks.you can listen to the folks that do not use any type of slide stops ,bars ,poles ,or other types ,and never have a need for them . The only time you nead a fire extingusher is when there is a fire /.....So if nothing is easy or not avalible ,A rope under the slide from the outer end cross the under side of the outer wall to the frame will do you may have to weld a ring or hook on your rig but if you do place a note next to the switch to remind you to remove the rope or wire ,chain etc from the frame before using the switch. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years . P.S look in the Archives for stories of slides that moved going down the road.
RE: 1/2 Ton Pick up for towing?
Was told by a dealer that you can't or shouldn't tow any 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton pick up. Have a late model Chevrolet extended cab 1/2 ton......was I told right?If trailer is not more than 6500 lbs ready for the road Yes but don't get in a hurry going up hill . skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: GARMIN & DEAD BATTERY
Oops soory, yes I was talkin about the Rv battery, Charlie is checking the main rv. battery today, it is about time we have problems we have been lucky so far, The RV is a Newmar 1999, 24,000 miles we got it in 2003, the other people went to Fl. & back a few times. We have went to Door County Wi. 3 times, Ky, 1 time & here In Effingham Ill. 1 time...He just retired so we will be going more now. Thanks for all help.. Wow you should be given a award for longest battery service if the batterys that came with the rig are still in there ,you did not state any change of battery. No the small amp draw is not enought to draw down a twelve volt battery in one half hour. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years. Time for new set of batterys/99 to 09=TEN YEARS
RE: Building a Bed for the camper
I agree with Donn and it will wieght less than the metal frame and give you some storage room too. A carpet on top of the bed top under the mattress and a foam topper three or four inches thick can be added to make it a NEW BED. Hope this helps .suggest you look at beds on dealer lots then you will have a head start in planing for material and measurments . Skipper entry level over fiftysix years .
RE: sanitizing tanks
Ther should be a Merit badge for tank cleaning salutions. Like other member satated why would any one be conserned how the inside of the toilet smells ,cleaning the top bole and seat,cover should be daily ,dump when two thirds to full best ,As for the GEO methoed, waste of money,time ,and is not good for the dump station ,moreso if the blue stuff is used ,it contains formaldihide ,same if used to preserve dead people. why perserve waste ? To keep smell down use Enzymes like Ridx or other brands . Use in place of the blue stuff ,and a little in each drain going to the gray tank will keep thing flowing .Vents are a problem some times , Some vent pipes are to long and extend down to far into the tank below the water level this is a major cause of gas up through the bole when dump on boal is open . To clean the water tank use baking soda and flush with plenty of water. Hope this helps .use the archives to learn more. Skipper entry level over firtysix years
RE: Bearing Buddy Lube -How Much? How Often?
,,,,,,,,Bearing buddy device is for boat trailers to keep water out of the hub . Easy lube is a diffrent set up by Dexter to lube the axle on trailers ,fifth wheel ,pull ,and other large trailers not used to be submerged in water fresh or salt. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years.
RE: Reese Hitch
I have a Reese 16k hitch, the rails are in the bed of the truck, I would like to upgrade to an 18k or 20k hitch, is it possible to use the same rails that are in the truck ?Yes and you save One hundred dollars .Just look at the bolt downs and nuts to make sure every thing is tight and not missing any thing.
RE: How Long Does It Take An Empty Fridge To Cool Down ??
I'm new at this whole camping & 12v/Propane refrigerator stuff..
It doesn't matter if I'm using propane or 120v to run the fridge it takes darn near 24hrs. to get the thing down down to temp.. empty.
Is this normal or is there a problem with our Dometic ?
How long does it take to cool your refrigerator down using either 12v or propane ??
Is there a difference in time between the two fuels ??
TIA,
Stvev B. & Family First time ever post on how long to cool down . Door open ,Door closed , Why do you wan't to know this to clean out the fridge if so use a hair drier like every one I know .I start at the freezer remove any ice or frost from ther then dry up any water clean out the freezer and fridge with viniger and soap water salution,rinse dry with towels ,If not using the rig store with doors open and secured from closing .If using rightaway turn it on close doors ,continue to march. Skipper entry level over fifty years
'If you wan't to use the fridge and freezer right a way fill it with frozen stuff in the freezer and cold stuff in the fridge the more stuff you have thats already cold and take the place of air inside the faster it gets cold ,most rigs work better on electric power but not to much better than gas ,but the cost of gas is not included in rental space at any camp ground I know of .Skipper.
RE: Landing Gear Locked
First read the instructions. Second look for a fuse on or near the converter, I would go to the nearest RV parts store and get a auto reset circut braker the same amprage as the fuze now installed just replace the braker in the wire brass side to the battery steel to the converter. Lube the rack make sure the voltage is up on the battery before using the landing gear ,did you check the rack and the gear on motor most are plastic of some type designed to strip and save the rack. Look at possible james . Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: Theft-prevention for a generator
You can make a safe guard of steel cage like with stout locking device or other type safeguard ,but it depends how do you prevent some one from thinking of getting something he or she could getaway with .One thing if you do not wan't to spoil your good looking new store bought genset Is to make it outstanding from other like gensets by spray painting contrasting colors on it or the frame wires etc ,most stealers of gensets wan't to use it now ,will you be wiling to check other gensets in your camping area to match the seareal number that you should have in your pocket . could you prove its yours some people scratch there name or number on a place you would not think or notice like under the bottem of the motor mount. If using a color paint sceam it should be notisible from fifty feet or more look then call the sheriff or other law officer to investighte with you and show how you match the number and yor secret marking befor looking at the number together with the lawman ,or the con man will say you got the number by sneaking up and recording it then called the law. Write it down both numbers and secret mark or number.locks only keep honest men honest .Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: Is this truck WORTHLESS??
.I would rather pull 5th wheel trailer but I am afraid that the limiting CCC will limit the trailers that I will be able to safely pull. The truck is great for what it is, but all the extras and it's size has eaten up all its capacity to haul.Ideas?
Buy a larger truck!
Happy camping!!! See ya'll down the road!!!:)I asume its a automatic . All 2500 are single rear wheel ,you don't state eng ,but ir should be ok ,For towing its best to include a exhaust brake ,you have the go but lack whooo. weather its a fiver or bumper pull It still will trade for a good price ,on the lot of a dealer ,Some one will be glad to take you truck if the price is right. New or used a exhaust brake is just about manditory (saves,brakes ,white knuckles ,draws,etc Your dime your time hope this helps Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: What did I hit?
As I was recently backing the trailer into my driveway, it suddenly stopped. So strongly that it popped my head back into the seat. My initial thought...what did I hit? I got out of the truck and quickly did a walk around and saw nothing (for 30'). Keep in mind that I have the trailer at almost a 90 degree angle when backing in. I tried to pull forward/backward and nothing. The trailer wheels are froze! I am now thinking of what a lovely addition I've made to the street in my neighborhood...a 34', 5-ton non-movable camper. :) Over the next five minutes I search everything and cannot find anything. Then I see it. As I jacked the trailer to back-in, the trailer's emergency brake cable/switch became unplugged next to the king pin. Apparently it got snagged on the hitch when I jacked the trailer. Just a quick "plug it back in" and I was back in business. I now watch it closely just to make sure. Glad to know the switch works and I'm very thankful I did not learn this lesson on the highway or other roadway.
Just curious, am I alone in this experience?Yes back about ten year while backing in a parking area and making a 90 deg turn to take a road to aligh with the sight for set up at a very low speed wam bang and stoped with a snap of the head .Jumped out looked every thing seemed O.K. but the rig would not budge .A croud formed of course and a man asked what is the little red light on the pin box for? Thats when I knew what was wrong .I have a hearing problem and can not hear the magnets to know if the brakes are working so i wired a red light 12volt to the brake a way box so each time the pin is pulled the light comes on ,it can be used to test the brakes connection and showes if the pin is pulled .I am ever gratefull to the man to this day . The light is easy to instal one side of wire to ground on the box one to the power line to the brakes. This could be for others like me that cannot hear very good. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: Smelly sink ???
DW says stainless sink drain smells, trailer is Bighorn 3370, 1 year old, we have no garbage disposal, we do not drain the grey water until we leave so the valve to the sewer is closed all the time, any ideas how to get rid of the smell. I don't smell anything and her smeller is overly sensitive. ThanksWow you said you never drain the gray tand until you leave ? and that you have a garbage disposal? I asume that you are hooked up only to water and elect only or if you are hooked up to the sewer syatem not using the system until you leave ? You gain nothing by not having the gray tank closed all the time if hooked up I can see not leaving the black tank open and dump as needed when 3/4 or more in tamk for best flush of tank.But the gray tank should be open to sew outlet except when dumping the black tank to prevent cross contamination of the gray tank . To prevent or remove any thing in the gray system use Enzime product like RidX about once a month. No need for the blue stuff in the black tank use Enzimes theer too .The blue stuff is formalderhide and just preserves the contant and has a cover sent added to it .Enmmzimes work to brake down the solids and do not cause gas or stink You supply the bacteria enzimes help to clean ut tamk Water in the trap at the sink will stop any gas from the pipes or thank from comming up in the bole of the sink but will not stop local in the uper pipe and strainer from giving off smell or in the garbage disposal coffee grounds work wonders in theese units along with Enzimes . Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: Bed Clearance
Straight on no problem on hiway ,but watch in and out of gas stations and other stops like for eating or shoping going in and out of campgrounds watch for contact when turning and climing at the same time ,up or down while turning dose the same thing .Think of how to raise the trailer of adjust the hitch to gain more clearance . Dexter axle sells kits for unde/over axle there on the web. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: Black Tank Ruptured - are these standard?
Folks,
I've got a large crack in my 5'ers dump tank (black). It doesn't look too hard to repair, but Camping World (CW) and some RV stores have been USELESS so far in locating one or ordering something. Are these tanks fairly standard or am I expecting too much?
The tank seems to have flanges on it. One flange side is held up by the frame, and the other by some box tubing steel that is just bolted to the frame on the other side. SO in other words, it doesn't really matter how long the tank is (25" or so in my case), the box steel could be removed and placed anywhere...
But where to find a good replacement blank tank? I am on the road in Hot Springs, Arkansas right now.
Thanks RVers...
CleanDieselLarge crack ;;;; how large . where is the crack ,will the tank have to be droped to repair it .Or can it be repaired in place after dumping and cleaning it out and venting it to remove any fumes chemical or you know what. You may be able to weld it your self with a plastic welding kit from Harbor freight tools for under 70.dollars U.S. plastic from the flange or a black garbage can or lid cut in strips for welding sticks can be used (test if best) to find the correct match .The just under (one cent) 70.dollar unit is self contained heater blower no compresser needed .With a little practice ,on scrap you should be ready to tackle the job if you want to save money .and or help others. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years.
RE: What is the best roof for any type of RV?
aluminum but the factory bean counters will not make them avalible as they cost to much and last too long and can be fixed if needed with only simple tools or supplys . Any other roof product is cheaper and easy to work with but not as good as a metal roof .A long time ago it was a selling point of thers no noise in the rain storms .Easy cleaning , ten year warranty ,allaround better yea. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years . P.S I have one of those out of date metal roofs and it still dose not leak .
RE: king pin lock for 5th wheel
Anybody have a good king pin lock they would recomend? I'm tired of theives eyeing my camper and tired of taking the tires off. It is pretty ovious they are out to get it. The same truck for 2 years has come in the neighborhood and sits at the corner waiting. We live on a dead end steet, off the main road. My insurance agent said many get stolen in our town. I know of 2 that has. when in doupt call the Sheriff to check them out .Crime prevention is ther job . As to a good pin lock a pipe cut off at about four inches that will fit around the pin thickness dose not matter drill two holes the thickness of the lock shank and just a little clearance the holes should be wider spaced than the closed shank ,cut with a saw like a abracive wheel on a hand circular saw or a angle grinder from one hole to the other weld or have welded a vertical steel pin ,refer bar ,tool handle ,or other steel centered on the hole ,the lock is then placed through the opening withe the cut pipe in place so the slot lines up just past the flange at the bottem of the pin .Lock in place big slot big lock up to you .I have one on my fiver over ten years now (too old to steal)the rig but plenty of stuff inside that is whats hard to replace . A lock will not keep a crook out but will keep honest men honest ,sometimes. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: Brake problems
On a recent trip I noticed I was loosing my trailer brakes intermittently when braking. My Prodigy controller would flash SH followed by oL. I had this happen once or twice last year also. When I inspected the wiring under the camper, I noticed that one of the sets of white wiring coming from the hub was missing a rubber grommet where it enters the hub.
I also noticed that the blue wire at the pin-box junction wire had a slit in it (I could pull back the insulation with my finger and see copper wiring.
I am thinking of replacing all of the brake wiring (including running new wire outside of the axles) and replacing the one magnet that is missing the rubber grommet. (I'll also replace the springs and shoes while I am at it and repack the bearing and replace the grease seal - even though I just repacked all 4 wheels last month ;)
Any other ideas of what might cause this problem? It is hard to troubleshoot because it only occurs while braking and while the camper is in motion.
My Wildcat is an 2005 29BHBP and has been up and down the East coast numerous times (getting ready to take it out west....Wow plenty to think of to do first if you inspected the bearings and races and did a good lube that should be fine ,Second the wire that split can be repaired with a sealer like Goop or tape and goop on top of the tape as to a gromet pulling the wire out just enough to add a new gromet to get the new gromet on the wire without cuting the wire ,slit the gromet top to bottem on a spriral place and use crazy glue or other glue push back in to the hole push wire back inside set to go test with a multi-meter for continuity and later for current flow to brakes ,check all points of contact clean all connections plugs wire etc. Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
RE: Updated with more picturesHow to clean up to recaulk
So, we only use the fifth wheel once a year, some years we don't get away at all, always have a tarp on it, anyway looked like a small spot inside the cupboard on the ceiling, so go up and see the old caulk is letting go, turns out some of the stuff can be pulled right up and off, and yet the rest in the picture seems to be stuck pretty good, maybe I should clean it right off and use the tape stuff, what would be best to disolve this mess and get it clean for the eternabond stuff, it is a 1989 aluminium roof.
Thanks.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/partsman/Fifth%20wheels/100_0404.jpg?t=1243830786 I think you should use a hair dryer and a scraper to remove the old sealer most used hot seal . You need to open and remove any dry rot if fround on inspection .A stain on the overhand in a closet could be the place water has collected and is working on any wood present a small hole to blow air and dry out the area to include any insulation most used fiber glass It will never dry unless it gets plenty of air the inside hole easy to patch and its in side a cabnet to boot. Out side bend back the metal care to keep it from ripping enough to inspect detect and correct any problems repair replace bend back in place use pop rivets to hold together then use sealer or erthen bond or fiber glass reisen and matt or clouth to seal water tight .A metal roof should last a life time just needs care and maintnance once and a while .Skipper entry level over fiftysix years
