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RE: do you tow with dodge 1500.
Sounds like you have the 3:55 gears as I do. You can check this on a decal located in your glovebox (if you don't already know) but what you list as towing capacity is the same as mine. I had transmission "hunting" issues with mine on hills and heavy headwinds. I considered a gear change but tried a superchips programmer first. The shift modifications worked well and it tows with no issues now. It towed fine before but after trying superchips I dropped considering the gear change. The programmer also adds a slight power increase but if not for the shifting changes I would not recommend it. Note: the towing program requires 91 octane gas but it provides a 1-2MPG increase (at least on mine) so fuel actually costs less per mile. The performance program, when not towing, is the same MPG on mine (could be the heavy foot). See the details in my signature.
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AutoEngMike
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10/06/08 09:54am |
Towing
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RE: please answer like i am a two year old
While engine performance is minimal and most state adding a chip to a gasser does nothing they are mostly wrong. I added a programmer to my Dodge and the engine performance did increase, not enough to justify the cost but that is not all that is adjusted. If you are dissatisfied with how it shifts while towing then a programmer is the way to go unless you want to pay a lot more for gear changes. The extra cost for premium fuel is offset by the mileage increase when towing. I went from 7-8MPG to 9-10MPG on my 'gasp' Hemi. I was considering trading in my truck for a 2500 (same engine) but tried a Superchips programmer first. That was over a year ago, still have the truck and it's still going strong with 128,000 miles on it. Depending on your make of vehicle it may or may not be a good investment but please ignore the statements that it does absolutely nothing for a gasser. You should get a few opinions from others that have the same vehicle as you do.
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AutoEngMike
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09/23/08 11:37am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Greasing the Equilizer and Ball
I have used the Reese "ball-lube" on my equal-i-zer. I don't think it's much different than white grease. Works fine.
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AutoEngMike
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08/20/08 10:47am |
Towing
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RE: How many miles on your sparkplugs?
Every 30000 as recommended by Dodge, all 16 of them. At 128000 and still running strong after 4 changes.
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AutoEngMike
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08/20/08 10:43am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New Dometic Recall Initiated March 11, 2008
Quote: "And another quick one:
My refer is not on the list (right model number, wrong serial number), but if they are all essentially the same, why hasn't mine been recalled?"
Sage
Good question. I would hope that it is because you are lucky enough to have a refrigerator that does not actually have the flaw. However, my now negative and suspicious attitude towards Dometic tells me that it may be for reasons more in the interest of Dometic. I wouldn't be surprised if you (like many others) will be added to the recall after your WARRANTY has expired.
As you may know, many including myself, were never notified of the problem/flaw by Dometic. By luck, we happened upon news of the recall by other means, of course as mentioned above, for many, their (my) warranty had expired.
Stay tuned,
RobertI was not part of the previous recall for the same thing. They just recently came out with this new recall. It may be as you state, they are waiting for the warranties to expire. I hope a competitor is reading and taking stock. If mine goes it will be replaced by a different make.
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AutoEngMike
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07/25/08 12:04pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Battery questions for dry camping for 4 days.
Sams club sells 6V golf cart batteries for much less than the Trojan price. Maybe 5 less amp-hours. I picked up a couple earlier this year. http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/33100/2144888380081221988S600x600Q85.jpg
$66 each, 220AH when hooked up as above. This has to be the lowest priced option for you. Mounting them will have different costs as well. I went with a much higher priced single box, some have used two smaller boxes side by side. Either way will work.
Charging takes time, using your tow vehicle is not a useful option. "The 12v side of life" will explain much better than us, someone linked to it above.
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AutoEngMike
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07/24/08 01:45pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: my first time with a 15a hookup
When the air conditioner's compressor starts it will draw much higher current than 15amps. If I were to run my air on a 15amp service I would want to be there every time it starts up. If it struggles to start you could be damaging and decreasing the life of your air conditioner.
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AutoEngMike
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07/23/08 11:04am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Roo 232 vs Roo 23SS
With a few kids why don't you consider the ROO 233 with 3 bunks?
I like the 21SS and 23SS the best becuase of the full depth superslides and layouts, but it is super nice to have 3 bunks for the kids, their friends and visitor's.
We had a Jayco 232 but they stopped production of them, the quality was just ok but the factory CS was above average. The layout was really nice since they had more counter space built in then most competitor's.I agree, with a couple kids as they get older they may want their own beds. The 233 seems very spacious but it could have a downside with campsite space. I usually camp in state parks and if I had a couple kids I would have ended up with a 233. The 23SS is great for us though.
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AutoEngMike
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07/21/08 08:53am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Best programmer (chip) for a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7L Hemi
I was going to do the gear change but tried the programmer first. My problem was the transmission shifting a lot (hunting) when climbing hills. The Superchips programmer took care of the problem in my case. As others have stated you will only get a little HP gain but I think the programmer shines when it comes to shifting. I run the towing program and 91 octane as recommended. The MPG gain is 0.5 to 1MPG better in this mode so it makes up for a little extra cost with the higher octane. If your 2500 has a standard transmission I would not bother with the programmer.
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AutoEngMike
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07/07/08 11:13am |
Towing
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RE: Increase shower pressure Roo23SS
We replaced the standard shower head with the Oxygenics Body Spa RV Showerhead and are very happy with the upgrade. I've been using the CG showers myself, but my wife says it's actually better than at home! We've always kept showers in the trailer to "military" style w/o sewer and water hookups, but this past weekend she let it run. After many trips back n forth with the blue tote and filling the fresh tank I'm looking to put the old head back on (kiddin)!Does it include a shut off valve? I typically only use the shower when we have a full hook up site but the shut off helps given the small size of the shower.
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AutoEngMike
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07/01/08 01:23pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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Increase shower pressure Roo23SS
Does anyone here know how to increase the shower's water pressure? I tried to find if there was a flow restriction on the shower head but could not seem to find it.
Has anyone tried an aftermarket shower head?
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AutoEngMike
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06/30/08 10:40am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: 1000 or 2000 watt generator
I don't think the microwave in our camper will run on a 1000 watt genset, I know the little GE countertop I have will not, one of the reasons I kept my otherwise very nice Honda EU1000iA2 just one camping season. Kept the batteries charged. Would run my coffee maker in the morning.
Wouldn't run my refrigerator at home during summer power outages either so this became a very expensive camping item. The EU2000i will handle the camper for the most part, but was of minimal help with the house during power outages so it was still "just another of Chuck's expensive camper toys."
The EU3000is, which I now have is a PITA to take camping but will run the main parts of my house during power outages to include 3 or 4 days of no power in a row during winter storms.
A little more than $100 got me an interface/isolation box for my main breaker box at home. Runs the kitchen, family room, computers, TV, etc.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/IMG_0674.JPG width=640
-- ChuckChuck,
Where did you get your isolation box for the home?
Thanks, Mike
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AutoEngMike
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06/27/08 09:59am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Dodge Hemi exhaust
I had an issue with towing where the truck would not use the proper gear for the situation. Mine has 3:55 gears towing the trailer in my signature below. The truck tows fine on the flats but when climbing hills it downshifts goes up a few mph then upshifts and continues back and forth (hunting). I'm not sure if that's your problem. A programmer will add a little more torque and hp to a gas engine but not enough to justify the cost. Where the cost was justified, in my case, is in shifting performance. The truck now stays in the right gear for the job and the hunting was eliminated. The downside (and upside) of a programmer is they require higher octane gas usage with a slight increase in mileage. I use a Superchips programmer with towing mode and would never go back. The extra cost is worth it in my case but it may not be for others.
I also added a Borla dual exhaust but the real gains were felt when using the programmer.
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AutoEngMike
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06/24/08 02:04pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: lightning
Electricity follows the "path of least resistance". If your trailer is not plugged in and all metal objects (jacks, etc.) are not touching the ground that path could be you touching the door handle. This is how some get struck by lightning when grabbing a door handle of a car. Even if there is something "grounded" if it is not a good ground you could still be the path of least resistance. Given the hybrid is off the ground and most times plugged in to shore power there is the most likely path of the current. I would not be concerned with being in the bunk ends but would make sure I was not using the heated cushions and that they were not plugged in.
Rubber tires are insulators so there are no grounding properties. If they were wet the ground would come from the moisture but still a weak path compared to a shore power ground connection (given the campground had it wired properly). People in wrecks involving electrical wires have become electrocuted when exiting their car. The best way to explain this is if you have a good pair of shoes with lots of rubber between you and the ground you could grab a hot wire and not get shocked (given you are not touching anything else).
Did you know that a lightning strike actually travels up from the ground?
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AutoEngMike
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06/06/08 10:36am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Second trip camper flooded!!! Roo 23SS and mystery drain.
...Another strange thing I noticed is a hose that is about 3 inches long that is sticking out from the bottom of the HTT it is between the wheels and the gray and black dump valves. Water was dripping from this after the flood. Looks to be some kind of drain. Anyone else have this or know what it is for??I haven't looked in my 23ss but I think that drain is for the two sides of the slideout. I think it catches any moisture wiped off when pulling in the slide. If you look under the couch you might see the one on the front. I'll look this evening to see if I'm right.
Mike
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AutoEngMike
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05/30/08 12:09pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Bad thing happened.
Most likely the smoke may have been wire insulation melting. In that case the breakers may have protected your equipment and everything might work but you still have a potential fire issue when your wires shift and then short where the insulation melted. All wiring, appliances, etc. should be checked. It appears your 12VDC equipment is OK and the only thing you should be concerned with is the converter and other 110VAC equipment/wiring as far as testing goes.
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AutoEngMike
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05/29/08 08:12am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Kayak Stolen Memorial Day Weekend
While camping this weekend another camper made a comment about me locking my $2500 mountain bike to my trailer. I let the comment go because I could not find a way to explain the cost of the bike without sounding pompous. While any determined loser can find a way I'd rather make it hard for him and maybe a little easier to catch him in the act. I keep my kayak locked to the trailer as well and use a set of wheels to get it to the water. Sorry about your loss.
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AutoEngMike
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05/28/08 08:16am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: TV tire pressure: do I believe the tires or door sticker?
I assume that the harm in running at 50 psi when not towing is that there will be too much wear in the center of the tire? I also know that running with too much pressure will be less comfortable. And I would guess that in wet conditions, too much air will reduce the footprint, which is not a good thing.I have noticed less traction on wet surfaces when aired up to 50psi and unloaded. I still say 35psi unloaded (door sticker), 50psi loaded. Never had any issues with my BFG ATs over many miles. Sad thing is when you ask a question here you will get many uninformed opinions mixed in with the good advise. I drive my truck hard, corner hard, average interstate speed at 70-75MPH over 126,000 miles. Never had a blowout, just pay attention and do proper maintenance. Maybe it's because my tread wears out before the tires have a chance to dry rot. :B
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AutoEngMike
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05/21/08 05:14pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: TV tire pressure: do I believe the tires or door sticker?
I just put BFGoodrich All Terrain tires on my 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The tires say they can be inflated to 65 PSI when fully loaded, but the door sticker on the SUV says 35 psi. And my local car mechanic (who is very knowledgeable) says to inflate the tires to 50 psi with a full load while towing.
Which one of these numbers should I believe? Thanks in advance for your advice.I have the same tires and the door sticker on my Dodge states 35psi front and rear. I run them there normally but pump them up to 50psi when towing and loading the vehicle. While camping I leave them at that pressure but the ride is a little rough when unloaded.
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AutoEngMike
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05/21/08 05:04pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: What do you do with that goofy little shelf?
Mike does this look like the right lights?
Low lighting insideI'm pretty sure you got it, either way those should work. I couldn't find my old paperwork from JCWhitney to give you guys the model number. I did order the lengths to place two in the front where the wiring was placed behind the center pillar and the lights were placed outward from there. In other words two for the front and one for the back. The back shelf is only on half of the trailer in the 23ss. If you can't make it out from the pictures I bought the clear ones they give a nice glow and just enough light to see at night.
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AutoEngMike
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05/21/08 05:50am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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