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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: How bad is it really? TC on a Ram 2500 w/coils.

No no no no no... You of all people should know that if you put any sort of load in a pickup with coil springs that it is instantly going to flop over on its top, catch fire, and explode, wiping out a square mile of the nearest civilization even if you're 1000 miles from nowhere.
I knew that would happen if you tried to tow more than a little red wagon with a 1/2ton. Didn't know coil spring 3/4 tons also would explode and kill everyone for miles.
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Mike134
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09/02/23 05:15pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Around Chicago west to east?

I know this has been asked before but I couldn’t find it. We are heading to Shipsawana from La Crosse Wi. I really don’t want to go through Chicago area. I’m looking at I-90 down to Peru Il then try and find a way over to 31 north in Indiana. Does anyone have a good route over ? We have a 36 foot fifth wheel and I’m very okay with not driving interstates. Thanks
Through Chicago is a no go and 294 is under construction with shifted and narrowed lanes.
53 changing to 355 to 80 isn't bad depending on time of day and day of the week. 80 is always a mess around the bottom of the lake and I think there is construction on 80 also.
Good luck
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Mike134
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07/25/23 03:52pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Need advice if safe for my pickup to pull a heavy 5th wheel

My 2002 E-350 did not have a payload sticker. Not sure when Ford started putting them on.
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Mike134
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07/24/23 02:28pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Hate being followed around

When I walk into the store and look around at how expansive the showroom is I think to myself "wow the markup must be huge to afford this"
Just food for thought.
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Mike134
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07/21/23 06:37am |
Camping World RV Sales
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RE: Generator won't start camper air conditioner

I'll try disconnecting battery. I see no circuit labeled battery charger in the breaker panel, guess it is powered through the main breaker.
If you do that than all the 12V loads will need to be powered from the generator via the 120/12V inverter.
If you could disconnect the inverter, then any 12V loads would be supplied by the battery.
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Mike134
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06/26/23 11:15am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Generator won't start camper air conditioner

AC units (any motor) will need to draw 6X running current for just an instant at startup. When plugged in at home or a campsite that is no problem getting that from the utility.
Problem comes in trying to do it from a generator.
Solution is the Mico air soft start. Don't waste $15 on a "hard start capacitor" those only help when connected to the utility power.
https://www.micro-air.com/products_groups_easystart_soft_starters_microair.cfm
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Mike134
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06/26/23 09:12am |
Tech Issues
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RE: slight shock

he was plugged into a 15 amp outlet from his garage..ai told him to check his electric cord reel... have heard of those grounds failing
Likely has 2 problems.
First is a missing ground connection, as you stated might be on the house side of the wiring so needs to check the entire "pathway".
Second is the source of the voltage he felt on the lug nuts. If he has a 120 and/or 240 electric water heater I'd check that place first.
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Mike134
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06/25/23 06:37am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Ground

If you have an open ground, your GFCI outlets are not going to trip on a ground fault.As you explain later a ground fault cannot happen because there is no ground reference They require an electrical path to the power source neutral-ground bond to trip. And if you should have a hot wire shorted to ground or RV frame it will not trip the circuit breaker. It will create a hot frame though. None of which are good conditions. .
My mistake understanding you at this first post.
What you should have perhaps said as you explained in further posts no need for a GFI because there is no reference to ground. No different than the bird sitting on the transmission wire.
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Mike134
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06/23/23 11:57am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Ground

Be happy to explain why your wrong about GFIs needing a "ground reference" to work and trip.
They operate to save your life from an electric shock by constantly comparing the current flowing in the hot and neutral wires. If there is more than a 5-milliamp difference between the 2 wires it trip. They don't need any type of "refence to ground" they just monitor amperage in the hot and neutral wire to be sure they are within .005amps of each other.
I'm not your typical armchair expert (retired master electrician) What is your training in the electrical field if I may ask?
Note the last sentence in the first paragraph of "how do they work"
.
https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/099_0.pdf
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Mike134
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06/22/23 06:08pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Ground

If you have an open ground, your GFCI outlets are not going to trip on a ground fault. They require an electrical path to the power source neutral-ground bond to trip. And if you should have a hot wire shorted to ground or RV frame it will not trip the circuit breaker. It will create a hot frame though. None of which are good conditions. .
This is incorrect. GFI outlets work just fine without a ground wire present.
In fact, the NEC allows you to replace old 2 wire outlets in old homes not having ground wires with 3 wire outlets provided you use a GFI outlet.
https://www.ecmweb.com/content/article/20896746/replacing-2wire-ungrounded-receptacles
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Mike134
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06/22/23 03:44pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Quick question on tow ratings

Taking the idea that GVW is a performance and manufacturer's rating only.
Does that mean GVWR doesn't matter and can be ignored?
I don't think so. All the ratings have some significance and should be factored into your decisions.
I never get a good answer on this one.
How can I load my rear axle to it's RAWR of 9,750# and not add a single pound to it's front axle weight of 5,250# and be within the 14k GVWR???
I got booted off IRV.NET over disagreeing with SmokyWren a monitor on this subject.
No one wants to tackle this one??????
If I understand correctly you can't load to the full rear axle rating without exceeding your GVWR.
Much in the same way you can't tow a 15k bumper pull RV without exceeding the hitch rating.
Sure you may be within one rating but exceed others. I'm not sure what's so complicated about that!
Not true. Last time I loaded my rear axle 200lbs more than it's 3800lb rating. That lifted more weight off the front axle so the trucks rating was never exceeded.
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Mike134
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06/12/23 09:51am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Goodyear Endurance is 5 years too old?

I'll give you my advice from my bar stool (is forum advice really any different?)
So, since you'll take advice from a gin mill patron, do you live in Arizona or similar where the tires are baked in the sun? Northern climates where you store and use your trailer? Makes a difference.
Cheers!!
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Mike134
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05/18/23 07:35pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Tire pressures

I swapped from C to D tires on my trailer and ran them at the full 65 PSI, old ones were recommended for 50 PSI.
That caused just the center of the tire to wear out but hey at least I didn't have to worry about them aging out LOL. Now I run them around 50-53 psi per the GY inflation tables and CAT scale results, which gives me uniform tire wear across the tread.
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Mike134
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05/06/23 03:36pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Underground 250ft run

So asking an electrical question like the OP did on an RV forum.......
You'll get the same "expertise" if you ask the guys along the bar at your favorite saloon.
Safe travels
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Mike134
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03/31/23 07:36pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: How to repair front trim/stripped holes on trailer?

There is likely wood framing behind. If that has not been damaged the screw holes can be plugged with wood slivers and glue and the screws reset.
/\ /\ /\ /\ this Toothpicks and glue in the stripped holes
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Mike134
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03/29/23 07:05am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Vancouver, Seward, Anchorage and Fairbanks

Spent 12 days in Alaska and the interior was a disappointment. If I'd been blindfolded and dropped there could not have told you if I was in Michigan or Alaska. Now the coastal areas...........breathless
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Mike134
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03/23/23 02:05pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Tire Rotation

I do a 5 tire rotation this way I get use out of the spare rather than letting it age out on the bumper. I've never had tires age out yet, but I put 8-10K per year on the trailer.
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Mike134
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03/20/23 07:17pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Ford F-250 Brake Controller Install

I also lurk on a Ford website. DO NOT buy the cheap knockoff controller on ebay. There have been 10-12 posts on the Ford forum and all have trouble with the cheap **** working properly. When they bought a real OEM controller all the communication issues went away.
If your PC savvy there is a free program called Forscan that allows you to program in the new controller.
Just an FYI using the OEM controller allows your ABS unit to coordinate braking with the trailer in panic stops.
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Mike134
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03/17/23 06:23am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Some worry about payload……

In all honestly once I stopped listening to the chickens with their heads cut off running around forums (towing police) and their nauseating ideas of the correct truck and payload to pull a little red wagon my towing experiences became much more enjoyable.
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Mike134
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03/13/23 07:29pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Issues Posting to the Forums?

testing 1-2-3 seems ok
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Mike134
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12/20/22 06:00am |
Forum Posting Help and Support
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