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Forum
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RE: Brake controller question
Brake controllers are one area where you REALLY DO seem to "get what you pay for".
The cheap models are nothing more than a timer which ramps up braking power based on how long you hold the brake pedal, not how hard you hold it.
The good models, like BrakeSmart sense your pedal pressure and give a proportional amount of braking to your trailer.
The middle products, like Prodigy, sense second-hand how hard your braking by how fast you truck is slowing and attempt to match that to the trailer. Not the best, but much better than what you have.
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BlackSilver
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10/09/08 04:46pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Open Roads Radio Forum
I check in there about once a year, whether I need to or not, so it was about time.....
Just checked in fine without any problem.
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BlackSilver
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10/09/08 01:28pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Tire Size on '08 2500HD
Check with your dealer...... there's a 17" factory wheel available for that truck..... comes standard on the LTZ trim level. I think it comes with 265/R17/75's. My son-in-law has them on his 08 2500HD and they look decent, plus they preserve your factory GVWR/GAWR(RR) load ratings.
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BlackSilver
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10/08/08 08:46pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Propane detector
These detectors have several alarms.
This is a pretty basic fellow. Two alarms: Low voltage, and gas detected. Low voltage gives a yellow lamp and 30-second spaced beeps. Gas detected gives pulsating dit-dit-dit-dit-dit and a red lamp.
Mine is giving a gas detected alarm. There's no propane aboard.
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BlackSilver
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10/08/08 08:41pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Propane detector
We had ours go off one morning at 6 AM. We were asleep before that beeping sound started. Ever try turning one off at 6 AM when there is no switch? I vacuumed it out and then blew air through it and it's been fine since. Something obviously set it off but it wasn't propane?! I now have a switch so I don't have to rip out the wires!
Mine is on it's own private fuse, so was easy to silence it. Did you just vacuum it in place, or remove it and open it up?
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BlackSilver
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10/08/08 05:23pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Propane detector
It is common that low battery condition will do this. Second cause - unit has passed away and as we speak is resting in RV Parts heaven. The common failure mode is falsing, which you may have, but you need to charge the batts up real well first.
If you need to replace it, try BUYEPIC.com
Battery is fully charged (I leave it on a trickle charger), so I'm guessing it might have died. I'll try blowing it out like another poster suggested.
Thanks.
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BlackSilver
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10/08/08 05:21pm |
Tech Issues
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Propane detector
Our rig has a CCI-Controls model PreTell-22 propane detector (like photo, only white color).
http://www.ccicontrols.com/images/7770.jpg
Rig has been parked for several weeks with no propane aboard, and today I noticed "something beeping" when I walked by. Went in and found the propane alarm sounding off. Reset it several times, but it insists on sounding an alarm. (Don't know how long this has been going on, as the rig is parked in an area where we don't often walk.)
Do these things just "fail sitting there"? Anyone had a similar problem? Time to just bite the bullet and buy a new one?
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BlackSilver
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10/08/08 04:19pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Vornado Heaters
We've had a couple of them, a TVH500 and a VH2. Found them large/clunky for our 5th wheel, awkward to stow, and noisy.
Now they're at GoodWill.
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BlackSilver
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10/08/08 04:01pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Installed a BrakeSmart today (picture added)
Medina --- Hamel --- I'm nextdoor in Plymouth, another happy BrakeSmart owner (actually I traded my BrakeSmart off with my previous truck, as the new one has a similar controller "built in" from the factory.)
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BlackSilver
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10/08/08 09:04am |
Towing
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RE: break smart break controller
BrakeSmart is hands down the best aftermarket brake controller out there. Put one on my previous truck after I got sick of the cheap Prodigy jerking me around. Puts you in complete and absolute control of your towed trailer. My current truck has a built-in controller which is completely integrated to the trucks brake system, but I still miss the BrakeSmart. You can get them direct from http://www.brakesmart.biz/
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BlackSilver
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10/05/08 10:50pm |
Towing
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RE: Tailgate for fifth-wheel
Haven't seen any evidence that they do anything for mileage. Might save you from accidently wrecking your "regular" tailgate hooking or unhooking. I have a rolltop cover on my truck, so the open tailgate would be a disadvantage.
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BlackSilver
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10/02/08 09:12am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: US Hwy 90 Del Rio to Marathon
I don't have any specific information, but a few years ago when I was planning to take that route from San Antonio to Big Bend, a couple of San Antonio locals warned me off it --- said take I-10 instead. Things may have changed since then.
We ended up staying a few days at "Lost Alaskan" park in Alpine (nice park) exploring Davis mountains area (visit the observatory for sure!) then at the RV park in Study Butte (forget the name --- behind a motel --- barely adequate) while at Big Bend.
Plan several days at Big Bend --- awesome park. Make sure to take the hike up the canyon ("Santa Helena"???) along the Rio Grande on the west end of the park. Beautiful hike.
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BlackSilver
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10/02/08 08:48am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Lights go out and Battery is very hot!!
Something odd going on here!
Most overhead lights are 12VDC and the A/C is 115VAC. Maybe a 12V breaker is opening, killing the control voltages to the A/C and dropping the overhead lights.
Are other 12VDC items going dark also, like the propane detector, vent fans, or other 12 lights?
14VDC at the battery isn't worrisome particularly --- probably because your power converter is charging.
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BlackSilver
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10/01/08 09:13pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: I'm confused on my 50amp, please help
The fourth contact on your 50amp cord is a metal "shell" segment on the outside of the plug.
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/woeimages/Electrical/Shorepower/MAR-11624.jpg
Having said that, you can buy a 30A-to-50A dogbone adapter which allows your large 50A cable to plug into a 30A socket. This will safely carry enough current for light usage like keeping the battery hot and the fridge cold.
http://img.nextag.com/image/Camco-DOGBONE-30AMP-MALE/1/000/005/263/632/526363246.jpg
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BlackSilver
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09/26/08 02:50pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 2500HD wheels
All the grocery-hauler girls convinced Detroit that trucks were supposed to be "pretty", so they bling the trucks up with lots of shiny parts. Toss em. It's a truck, not a fashion statement!
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BlackSilver
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09/26/08 10:21am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Is a fifth wheel easier to tow than a travel trailer?
I'm a farm boy, born and raised backing equipment around the farm yard. First thing my daddy taught me was "watch where the wheels are going, boy, watch the wheels!"
Works every time!
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BlackSilver
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09/25/08 07:04pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Is a fifth wheel easier to tow than a travel trailer?
My (state certified) hitch shop will not put a Reese hitch on top of a bedliner without the customer signing a waiver of liability. Claims that the bedliner material can "cold flow" under pressure over time and allow the hitch to start "working" and require constant checking of the torque of the mounting bolts.Hmm. That's interesting. So you don't have a bedliner then, I assume?
Yes, I do, but it was sprayed after the hitch rails were bolted in place.
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BlackSilver
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09/25/08 05:05pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Is a fifth wheel easier to tow than a travel trailer?
Regarding whether to spray the bedliner first, then add hitch rails or vice-versa, there is room for discussion.
My (state certified) hitch shop will not put a Reese hitch on top of a bedliner without the customer signing a waiver of liability. Claims that the bedliner material can "cold flow" under pressure over time and allow the hitch to start "working" and require constant checking of the torque of the mounting bolts.
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BlackSilver
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09/25/08 09:39am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Lance 845: Name this fitting
The easy solution is buy one of those cheap plastic screwin plugs it will never leak again. I had to do that on my Corsair and it was sure no big deal.
Looks like he's already got one of those cheap plastic screwin plugs in place..... just needs to tighten it down.
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BlackSilver
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09/24/08 04:02pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 2009 Ford 1/2 ton
This is probably one of those deals like a few years back when Chev needed us to think they had a 1/2 ton crew cab they re-labeled the 2500 CC as a 1500HD.
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BlackSilver
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09/24/08 11:38am |
Tow Vehicles
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