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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: I-77 WV

Went up through there last October with fifth wheel--4 axles. Paid nothing close to that commercial rate.
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lenr
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07/05/23 02:35pm |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Tires again.

I was a little underwhelmed by Endurance tires (new 2019) on our 13,500 fifth wheel. Had one tire on a rear axle with a tread separation just as wear was almost down to wear bars. Now trying Hankooks: 235/85-16 gives a few extra lbs capacity over typical 230/80-16; they are made in China, yet they are proably the most expensive. Good so far. They are rated for something North of 80 mph which is a minimum for me.
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lenr
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04/25/23 09:57am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Do we have a pickup glut already?

Per an employee at the Ft. Wane GM truck plant the shutdown is because a Michigan supplier is behind on parts. Don't know what bologna GM is trying to spin to the world.
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lenr
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02/24/23 09:26pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Do we have a pickup glut already?

No! Not 'till I see 2023 F-250 and larger sitting on Ford dealer lots. On January 2 Ford had over 250,000 2023 Super Duty orders and hadn't started building them yet. According to multiple dealers you have to show ID, put down a deposit, and take a retail confirming order from Ford to order a 2023. No glut in Ford land.
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lenr
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02/24/23 06:03pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Negative and ground wire questions

Do both. Technically there should be only 1 frame connection, but I've had no problem running a new negative battery to converter wire when the trailer already has 2 frame connections for negative return. I'm concerned about corrosion at frame which is often out in the weather.
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lenr
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02/24/23 05:42pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: New HD truck bed rails too tall for 5th wheel

My standard suggestions of a process to raise a fifth wheel trailer to level (assuming leaf springs—not torsion axles.)
I discourage the use of Correct Track due to my experience. I added bolt on Correct Track to raise the trailer 2”. In a panic stop a spring hanger ripped off ending up at a 45 degree angle. I attribute that to the extra leverage added by the Correct Track and weak welds from the factory.
1. Check that the springs are on the top of the axle tubes. If not have an axle shop install new tubes with spring perches on the top. They’re not that expensive.
2. On a flat paved area back the trailer up on to stacks of boards (same stack under each tire) until the trailer is parallel with the pavement surface. Check the truck bed clearance and trailer height clearance to see if adjustments are necessary. Measure the boards to see how much lift is needed.
3. Add a MORRyde SRE4000 rubberized equalizer. It will add 1.25” to the height at the axles, and you’ll be amazed how much it will smooth out the trailer ride. You need at least 3” of clearance above the tires before installation as the SRE4000 allows more axle movement. MORRyde also recommends their X-brace be used with the SRE4000.
4. See if taller tires could be used. Using 235/85-16 in place of 235/80-16 will raise about .5” but you need .5” more clearance above the tire. If moving from 15” then new wheels and more clearance is needed. I did this on a prior 27’ fifth wheel trailer ending up with about 1” clearance between the tires.
5. And the strongest solution: have a sub-frame welded on with new spring hangers. MORRyde welds on rectangular tubes to the bottom of the I-beams and no one complains about their work. However, a cross brace welded between the tubes would add strength.
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lenr
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02/21/23 02:29pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Request Structural Change.

My experience:
Leaving out interior furniture->maybe.
Changes to the basic box and runnig gear->no way.
OP needs to shop around for something without a slide. There are a few.
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lenr
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02/21/23 08:44am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Couch ripped out of wall

Impressed that someone actually found tubing to screw to, although aluminum doesn't "bite" well. Walls are actually held together with screws into wood inserted into the tubing. I've experienced a lot of things screwed into only 3/32" paneling. That doesn't last long on our awful roads.
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lenr
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02/13/23 10:05am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Couch ripped out of wall

Impressed that someone actually found tubing to screw to, although aluminum doesn't "bite" well. Walls are actually held together with screws into wood inserted into the tubing. I've experienced a lot of things screwed into only 3/32" paneling. That doesn't last long on our awful roads.
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lenr
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02/13/23 07:46am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: New Super Duty on order

My opinion—yours may vary:
With a ten speed transmission, a higher numeric ratio axle (ie. 4.30) is not needed. Just put the truck in Tow Haul mode and let it shift. The 3.73 axle will get “slightly” better mileage when not towing while the 4.30 will make little difference when towing (in mileage.) Yes, the 4.30 is rated for a heavier fifth wheel, but the 3.73 is rated for 17,600 or more depending on configuration. While the 4.30 will reduce down shifting from high gear, it won’t do much below high and reduced shifting is one of the goals of Tow Haul mode.
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lenr
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02/11/23 12:59pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New Super Duty on order

There was a hold up last year for leather seats (Lariat.)
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lenr
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02/11/23 12:58pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Leaf Spring Failure - Replace the Others?

Since OP has a broken spring, he also has an equalizer. If it’s doing its job the wheel weights on the same side will be very close if not the same. A bigger problem in trailers is one side weighing more than the other. The CAT scales that I have used have curbing that doesn’t allow side to side weighing, but I’ve had individual wheel weighing done at an RV rally. That showed that the wheels on the same side were equal or within 50 lbs. But, it also showed that the heavy side (often the appliance side) was 950 lbs. more than the light side. Worse yet, it showed the heavy side to be overloaded for the springs and hubs. We moved some stuff around and started carrying less fresh water (the fresh tank runs front to rear on the heavy side—great design!) and shifted the difference to 750 lbs. now a little below the suspension rating. I was able to verify the improvement by finding a grain elevator scale where I could weigh with one side on the scale with the other side off.
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lenr
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01/19/23 09:20am |
Tech Issues
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