| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Converting to hub oilers
I've not converted to oil bath hubs but I'm interested in the idea.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/24/08 03:30pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Legal rig length
While it's legal to pull commercial doubles in almost every state it is NOT legal to pull RV doubles in about half of the continental United States.
In most of the east coast states it's illegal to tow doubles, this includes MA, NJ, NY, PA, MD, VA, and FL.
In about half of the rest it's legal to tow double. Towing double does not have reciprocity in any states unless the state tells you so in their DOT regs.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/24/08 02:35pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Questions about towing doubles
I wanted to pull double trailers from NY to FL for the winter and found that it was illegal in almost every state on our list.
Next I researched the swivel wheel trailer and also the Idaho tote and found that most states consider these trailers a double tow, in fact one of the web sites that has information about these trailers will tell you they are a double tow.
Unless you have an extension on your trailer frame that doesn't have any wheels under it, it is considered a double tow by most states.
Don't forget the salesman wants to sell you their product and will tell you what you want to hear. The last thing you want is to be 800 miles from home and be told (after you get the ticket) you'll have to unhook and move one at a time.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/24/08 02:15pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Hitchhiker Wheel Upgrade
Jack up your trailer and remove one of the wheels, then measure all the dimensions you need to know. This is the best way to avoid getting the wrong wheel for a replacement.
Don't forget to measure the wheel offset while you have it off. Also torque the wheel lug nuts when you replace the wheel after doing all the measuring and also re-torque after the first 50-100 miles.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/24/08 01:38pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: No Perfect Trailer Tires out there
--Snip-- Trailer tires (ST) don't carry passangers. If they did the tire industry would have fixed the problem many many years ago. Its really a shame that our RV manufactors and some lighter made non RV type of trailer still mount any brand ST tire on 5k-6k axles with small 15" wheels.
The fix is doing what some upper line of RV trailers and many brands of commercial grade of flatdeck trailers have done and that is go to a good brand of 16" LT tire that is recommended for heavy trailer use. Suspension mod work may be necessary for this upgrade but will eliminate ST type of tire problems.
Jim
JMO, but, I believe the trouble with ST tires lies with the original specifications of the tire.
I don't think the ST tire is DOT rated for passenger carry while the LT tire is.
Because the ST tire is not made to the same stringent specifications as the LT tire, we will have more problems with them. In other words the ST tire is a cheaper tire than the LT tire, it's too bad we can't get LT tires in all the same sizes as you can the ST tire.
Right now I'm running Goodyear G114 tires in 225/75R17.5 LRH that I upgraded from Goodyear G614 tires in 235/85R16 LRG on our 5th wheel. The 17.5" tires are actually 1/4" smaller in OD than the 16" tires are.
I think there are two reasons some people have tire problems.
One is that most of the ST tires are speed rated at 62 MPH and the other is that some people will not weigh their set ups and wind up overloading the tires.
Most people want to keep up with traffic when towing and will drive between 65 and 75 or even faster, and do so for hours at a time. Most ST tires are only speed rated for 62 MPH max. and could blow from excessive heat when driving at 65-75.
Others will load their trailers with all the "stuff" they want to take and because they don't weigh their set ups, wind up overloading the tires, this could also happen if you are using LT tires.
I also think you should switch from the ST tire to the LT tire IF you can find one in your size.
The LT tire is rated at 75 MPH and gives a greater safety margin when driving at higher speeds.
Most of the heavier trailers will come from the manufacturer with LT tires that are speed rated at 75 MPH.
I still keep the speed at 62 or below but the extra safety margin of the LT tire is nice to have.
Both my last two Newmars came from the factory with LT Goodyear tires and we have had no tire issues at all.
If you want to find out the who, what, when & where about your tires, go to this site and follow the directions, you can find out where your tires were made.
The last four numbers in the DOT code (only on one side of the tire) is the week and year the tires were made, (2207 would be the 22nd week of 2007) If you have a three digit code the tires were made before 2000.
This is JMO and only costs what you paid for it.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/23/08 09:13am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Those "New Tires" you bought
Not only should you know when the tires were made but you should also know where they were made. It is well known on this forum that tires made in China are not the best to be using. You should look for "Made in USA" or else find out where they were actually made.
Search for "tires" on this forum and you will get many pages of reading.
If you want to find out the who, what, when & where about your tires, go to this site and follow the directions, you can find out where your tires were made.
The last four numbers in the DOT code is the week and year the tires were made, (2207 would be the 22nd week of 2007) If you have a three digit code the tires were made before 2000. The DOT code is only on one side of the tire.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/22/08 04:20pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Truth Justice (Charlie) - RIP
Our condolences Sara and family ---
Truth Justice (Charlie) kept us on the strait and narrow in life and we know he is on the strait up now - RIP
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/22/08 11:45am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Mission Tires = junk, & the benefit of checking tires
If you want to find out the who, what, when & where about your tires, go to this site and follow the directions.
The last four numbers in the DOT code is the week and year the tires were made, (2207 would be the 22nd week of 2007) If you have a three digit code the tires were made before 2000.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/22/08 06:27am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Where to buy slide motors??
About 12 years ago I had a problem with the reduction gears in my slide motor (striped off the teeth). I contacted the motor/gear box manufacturer and they sold me a new gear set that I was told couldn't be bought separately.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/21/08 11:00am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: "Multiple" fuel filters on Diesel engines.
Is that true for the 7.3 PSD's ?
Don't think so. My duramax has one.
Because I don't own either of your TVs I can't say for sure but the best way to tell if you have one or two filters is to follow the fuel line from the tank all the way to the injectors on the engine.
Another way would be to check the operators manual. Usually one filter is mounted on the engine and the other is mounted on the frame of the vehicle.
Most diesel engines will have a primary and secondary fuel filter on them somewhere.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/20/08 08:57am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Progressive Dynamics Intelli-Power 4500 Series
A lot of companies do that.. Though it does make it simpler.... I don't like "All in ones" cause.. Well.. it's a lot more work when "Stuff" happens.
And "Stuff" always happens.. Sooner or later
I don't like all in ones either - for the same reasons.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/19/08 07:59pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Good Year Marathon ST225/75R 15D comments please
I've said this many times before, the ST tire is not made to the same specifications as the LT tire is.
The ST tire is a cheaper tire than the LTs are, that's why most of the ST tires are speed rated lower than the LTs and also why they are not certified for passenger carrying use.
I've also said most of the larger (read heavier) trailers come from the manufacturer with LT tires on them.
For most of you that use a 15" tire and wheel combo, you can use the Goodyear Wrangler in the LT version if your size and capacity is available.
All my trailers have come with LT tires from the factory and we have had no problems at all with trailer tires.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/19/08 02:26pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: good year trailer tires.
I had a Denman installed on the painted rim and my Canadian Marathon put on the new aluminum rim. I'm taking the Denman back to Tire Kingdom today (I bought it in Tallahassee). I am concerned because it has 7 ounces of weights on it. The dealer did admit that that was a lot of weight but they sometimes see that on trailer tires. I did not ask him to lug center balance. I will question him on that.
Charlie, Another thing you might try when re-balancing the tire is to have the dealer turn the tire in relation to the rim 180 degrees. I have found that doing this will sometimes result in using less wheel weights.
Also make sure the tire is actually round, not egg shaped.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/19/08 08:07am |
Towing
|
|
RE: Pressure gauge 101
snip........ The increments are 1 PSI not 2.
There are 5 increments between 10 & 20 psi, also 5 increments between 80 & 90 psi.
Dividing 5 into 10 would be 2 PSI per increment.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/18/08 09:29pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: good year trailer tires.
I think there are two reasons some people have tire problems.
One is that most of the ST tires are speed rated at 62 MPH and the other is that some people will not weigh their set ups and wind up overloading the tires.
Most people want to keep up with traffic when towing and will drive between 65 and 70 or even faster to do so for hours at a time. Most ST tires are only speed rated for 62 MPH max. and could blow from excessive heat when driving at 65-75.
Others will load their trailers with all the "stuff" they want to take and because they don't weigh their set ups, wind up overloading the tires, this could also happen if you are using LT tires.
I also think you should switch from the ST tire to the LT tire IF you can find one in your size.
The LT tire is rated at 75 MPH and gives a greater safety margin when driving at higher speeds.
Most of the heavier trailers will come from the manufacturer with LT tires that are speed rated at 75 MPH.
I still keep the speed at 62 or below but the extra safety margin of the LT tire is nice to have.
Both my last two Newmars came from the factory with LT Goodyear tires and we have had no tire issues at all.
If you go to this site and follow the directions you can find out where your tires were made.
The last four numbers in the DOT code is the week and year the tires were made, (2207 would be the 22nd week of 2007) If you have a three digit code the tires were made before 2000.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/18/08 08:19pm |
Towing
|
|
RE: Pressure gauge 101
If it's 95, EXACTLY where is 90?
90 is always half way between 80 and 100.
My wife even got 95 from the picture.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/18/08 04:25pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Pressure gauge 101
95 psi. The small darker line is at the 10,20.30 etc. the small lines in between are @ 2 lb increments. the long line under the number is between the 4 lb and 6 lb marks, hence 5 lbs. 95 psi!
Exactly, what he said, it's 95 psi. I've been using these gauges for almost 60 years. Boy, I guess we can argue over almost anything!
Some of you guys are a lot like my grandchildren, you probably can't read a clock unless it's a digital one.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/18/08 12:06pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: buying new 5'er TV question
"Who you gonna believe...."?
Both. The engineers will build in tolerances to the specs they publish...ala' 500#'s over GVWR but well under GCWR will probably be ok....to the contrary I will discount the "pull anything on my lot" statements I'm getting from RV dealers...in fact now If an RV salesperson cautions me on weight I might actually trust him...still hasn't happened yet.
On the warranty coverage issues. In my occupation a good argument could be made if the 5'er your towing is less than the printed capacity in the manual they you should get coverage. Further, how hard would it have been for the manual to reference the "sticker" that you guys know about...shame on GMC. In august my truck will come off dealer warranty so this is an academic point.
I could be wrong, have been before, BUT before you do anything you should weigh your TV with full tanks and hitch on board. I think you will find the TV is heavier than you think.
Subtract the weight of your TV from the 9200 stated on your door tag and what's left will be your allowable hitch weight (don't forget to add in the passengers).
If I remember correctly you said in your OP your TV weighed a lot less than a D/A equipped truck would. You may have taken the weight of a TV with a gasser, but, with the diesel it will weigh a lot more.
The main trouble I see with some people pulling heavy trailers using a ¾ ton TV is that they don't take the time to get them weighed first and don't have a clue if they are over the rear axle or rear tire ratings. The most important rating to stay under is the tire ratings and I'd try to be at least 15-20 percent under those.
I also think it is important to switch from ST trailer tires to LT trailer tires if you can get them in your size. Most ST tires are only speed rated to 62 MPH while most LT tires are speed rated to 75 MPH. I usually drive at 62 MPH while towing so the extra speed rating is good to have as a safety factor. The ST tire is also not made to the same specifications as the LT tire is because the LT is for passenger use while the ST is not.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/18/08 11:09am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: trailer tires
Do not know if there made in China but I went to Goodyear G614 RST they are a unisteel tire that have a steel side walls and G rated.
I think your tires were made in Kansas, my Goodyear G614 tires were.
If you go to this site and follow the directions you can find out where your tires were made.
The last four numbers in the DOT code is the week and year the tires were made, (2207 would be the 22nd week of 2007) If you have a three digit code the tires were made before 2000.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/16/08 11:43pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Maxxair and Rain Sensing Fan-Tastic Fan
It depends on which MaxxAir model you use if it impedes air flow or not. If you use the small boxy covers, they will impede the air flow. If you use the model 800 that looks like it exhausts downward behind the vent it can't impede air flow because all that's in it are 2 or 3 blades to direct air flow and a 1/4" mesh screen to keep out the critters. The exhaust exit hole is at least 12" in diameter and all it has over it is the screen.
I use the MaxxAir model 800 for my covers and get the one without a fan motor in it. I've had two on both my last two trailers and there's been no problem with restricted flow at all.
|
Kodiak5er
|
07/14/08 07:49pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
