RE: Cleaning wheel bearings
A note on NOT allowing the bearings to spin when using compressed air to dry them - They spin really, really, nicely and can be a little hypnotic to watch, zipping around and around.
Problem is they were designed to zip around INSIDE that hub, not out in the free air with that flimsy cage to hold them down... When the cage fails, one now as a number of 25 caliber, blunt-nose bullets of armor-piercing material zip past one's very fragile eyes and skull -- This is not a good thing.
I had to laugh to myself when I read this. Years ago, I had a high school summer job working at a school bus garage. I was supposed to be doing paperwork but I loved to get my hands greasy in the mechanics area. I would volunteer to clean those huge bus axle wheel bearings. Would put them in the parts cleaner vat filled with 'varsol' (where can you find this stuff nowdays?). I then hit them with the compressed air. I would stand there for 5 minutes and watch those things spin at about 200mph. A miracle I never had my skull cracked open!
RE: Franklin NC area recommendations
Thanks for the replies. The input is appreciated. With the high cost of towing a camper, we are starting to look at a cabin for a week.
We originally thought Franklin would be the place to stay since we have friends from FL staying in the area that week. I've now been checking out cabins all the way from Murphy to Ashville. A friend referred me to a great website, www.vrbo.com (vacation rentals by owner). I've already been in touch with some cabin owners.
We've rafted the Nantahala about 3 times, thought the Ocoee would be a nice change. Did Unto These Hills last year, wasn't as impressive as I had remembered (of course, last time I was 6). Got on the Cherohala Skyway by accident last year, want to spend a whole day on it this year. Gonna try and make time for Biltmore. I'm sure I've got more on my wish list than I can get done in a week. Now that ya'll have mentioned gem mines and brewerys, I may have to extend it by another day or two!
Thanks,
Mark
Franklin NC area recommendations
We are thinking about making a camping trip to the Franklin NC area in July. Looking for recommendations for an RV park in that area.
There area several things we want to see and do on this trip (Biltmore estate, Cherohala Skyway, Okoee river rafting, Smokey Mtn park, etc). We usually stay in the Townsend TN area but are burned out on it.
Does anyone have personal experience / recommendations on RV parks in the Franklin area? I've checked out Rvparkreviews.com and there sounds like some good parks based on that.
Another alternative for us is to get a cabin in that area, take the Altima and save about $500 on fuel.
Thanks!
RE: Level Fridge on Electric
I learned this lesson the hard way. Freezer full of meat. Parked at a slope while powered on electricity. Came back a few days later. Well, you can imagine!
It has taken months to get that smell out.
RE: Know any millionaires?
Yep, my father in law. Old man is worth about 2.5 or so. No one really knows. Country as a chicken. Almost went bankrupt farming in the 70's. Made some good land investments after that.
He is 75 and has had 2 heart attacks. Smokes 2 packs a day. Doesn't spend a dime. We've been on his butt about coming off some of that money and having a good time in his old age. So, in the past year, he's bought a new F250, new tractors, built a farm house, new boat, new ATVs, new Kawasaki Mules, etc. Get the idea?
One of his grandson got married a month ago. Gave the newlyweds $20 as a wedding present. Old man is so tight, he will take it all to his grave!
RE: gear replacement
Andy,
I've got a 2004 F150, 4x4, 5.4ltr, optional factory towing pkg. Factory rear end gears were 3.55. I regeared mine about a year ago to 4.10 rear end. My TT has a dry weight of about 6500lbs. Huge improvement. It isn't like towing with a superduty but it is a very noticable improvement, especially when pulling in hills.
There has been a lot of good advice given on this thread. Personally, I would stay away from the Ford dealer for this project. Find a shop that specializes in drivelines, 4x4s, etc. Even if you have a 2wd (is it a 2wd or 4wd?), a driveline (not transmission) shop is the way to go. If it isn't done just right, you could experience some whining, shutter, etc. Driveline guys are who you want working on it. Being a 4wd, they had to do both front and rear on mine, cost right at $1300. If a 2wd, you should be able to get it done for $700-800.
Expect slightly less MPG with the lower gear. I've noticed about a 1MPG drop.
Also, ever notice all those F150s with rusted rear differential covers? Mine did that after the rear diff. got really hot and baked the paint off. I ordered this finned aluminum cover.. It has a temp. sensor port. I added a dual gauge pod and both a differential and transmission temperature gauge. That way I can keep an eye on the temps.
Just adding my $.02.
Mark
RE: Henderson Beach Booked
My brother from north Louisiana stays there every year in late May. I had never heard of it until last week. He tells me they have to book a full year in advance!
The prices are amazing, something like $20-22/night on or near the beach!
RE: Near Jacksom MS ??
Teacher's Pet - LeFleur's Bluff is a nice little campground/park right in the city, just east of I-55 at the Lakeland Dr exit. You are very close to downtown Jackson and the State Capital complex. A person probably wouldn't have security concerns but there is are high crime areas just a short distance away.
Although I'm not a native Mississippian, I've very proud of our state. It is just that the city of Jackson itself suffers from some tremendous crime issues.
The 'Lakeland and I55' traffic cam actually shows you Lakeland Drive, just 1/2 mile from the entrance to the park. Traffic cam
RE: Near Jacksom MS ??
Speedy,
Depending on the direction you are coming in from (either I-20 or I-55), I would recommend one of the MS State Parks.
If coming up I-55, check out either Percy Quin State Park (McComb, MS, 1 1/2 hours south of Jackson) or Lake Lincoln State Park (Brookhaven, MS, about 45 min. south of Jackson). If coming I-20 from Alabama, would check out Roosevelt State Park (Morton, MS, only 30 minutes east of Jackson). You can even make online reservations here... http://home.mdwfp.com/
All of the above have very nice campgrounds and cabins to boot. Motels in each town as well. Percy Quin has become a favorite of ours. You may not want to leave!
Mark
RE: Fuel Prices: What I can do
If every vehicle in America suddenly started getting 50mph tomorrow, the big oil companies would still find a way to be posting record profits next year!
Last week, the discount grocery store pumps in my area jumped from $3.12/gal. in the early morning to $3.34/gal. by late afternoon. The odd thing was, the BP and Texaco across the street hadn't yet fully increased their prices...they were still at about $3.26/gal. However, there was a line at the grocery store pumps and virtually no cars at the Texaco and BP! Go figure. They could have easily saved a couple of bucks by driving across the street.
I guess I'm just getting synical.
RE: F 150, 3:55, 5.4 pulling 6300lb
Gotta add my $.02
I've got a 2004 F150, 4x4, 3.55 rear end gears (factory tow package with 3.55 gears - go figure). TT is a 27' Fleetwood, weighs about 6,800lbs empty. First out of state trip was from MS to north GA. I thought I was going to smoke the tranny once I got into the mountains (hills) of north GA. Almost had it floored going up about a 7-8% grade for several miles, 2nd gear. Running about 40mph almost floorboarded. Knuckles were white!
Long story short.....I added a MagHytec finned aluminum differential cover, rear differential and transmission temperature guages. The rear differential temp. would average about 170-180 degrees in the flats pulling the trailer (about 140-150 while not towing). Pushed 210-220 in the hills.
About a year ago, re-geared to 4.10 gears (had to do front and rear being a 4x4). HUGE difference in towing ability. Still, not a F250 by any means but I don't do enough towing to justify buying a Superduty. Made a trip to the Smokies last summer, wouldn't hesitate to do it again with this setup.
Again, just my $.02
RE: Weighing your rig - how do you do it?
It should be under 20 minutes for everything. . . but I know myself too well. . . the trucks will start lining up behind me to go next. . . then I'll start to panic and try to hurry. . . then the sweat will start to bead off of my forehead. . . then what could've been a quick disconnect/reconnect will go horribly wrong - I'll back up crooked and miss the ball or drive forward with the tongue jack down all while imagining the truckers laughing it up or thinking, "Geez - I'm going to be late getting back on the road because this joker with a pickup truck and a TT thinks he belongs on the big kid playground."
They'll probably form a little amphitheater type semi-circle to watch. . . one of them record the entire ordeal with his video phone and post it on YouTube. . . then somebody on Rv.net will start a new thread with the title, "Ridiculous RVer give us a bad name at the truck stop." At this point, I'll refuse to identify myself and respond to the post with snide comments until somebody looks at my profile and recognizes the pictures of the rig. . . at which point I'll lose my "Full Member" status and the mods will relegate me to only posting in the "Beginning RV" section.
I've seen it a million times.
:)
Ha, Ha, Ha
Fickman - I hope we camp by each other someday. My kind of strange humor!
:B
