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RE: Front Of Fifth Wheel Very High While Driving
@wfreeth - all I had to do to my Dodge 4x4 was move the dually axle lift plates, see my post above and other places on here on how to do it. Goes a long way towards the fix. Lift kits are extreme IMO; increases the "top heavy" feeling.
Just how far off from level can you tow a 5th wheel? I've got to find a way to level mine. The truck is a Dodge 2500 4X4 and the Pullrite hitch can't be lowered.
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CleanDiesel
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05/01/12 09:13pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Front Of Fifth Wheel Very High While Driving
Care to elaborate why not? No plates?? Plates are on all jacked up 4x4 Rams. Don't see 4x4 in your sig....
It may be doable on your 2007 dually but not on the 2009 3/4T that I have.
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CleanDiesel
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04/30/12 02:09am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Hitting the 5th wheel hard hooking up.
I agree, and this is how I've hitched dozens of times, about 1/4 inch high. However, after reading this thread, I'll try the 1/4 inch low method just for giggles.
HOWEVER, something I have ALWAYS done (thanks to this forum, again, you guys are great), I always visually check the pin from behind after hitching using a flashlight. I confirm capture and jaw placement, and confirm full jaw closure (the safety pin goes straight in nicely) before ever removing the roto-chocks.
Lifting the trailer off the ground with the hitch plate can also place a severe horizontal strain on the landing gear. The hitch plate should be at roughly the same height as the pin plate. A quarter inch high isn't going to cause you to high hitch. :)
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CleanDiesel
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04/28/12 04:15am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Front Of Fifth Wheel Very High While Driving
On Dodge Rams, there are lift plates on the rear axle U bolts that you can move. Its sounds scary, but its very doable.
With the truck in Park and chocked, remove the u-bolt nuts and u-bolts. Move the lift plates from the bottom of the axle to the top (resulting in a lower axle). Make sure to place the lift plate back on the top of the stack as you need it to take up the non-threaded space on the u-bolt. Torque nuts back down (I used 140 ft/lbs as my u-bolt diameter is enormous and can handle it).
This easy driveway mod lowered the back of my 4x4 dually by 1.5 inches measured at the tailgate. My 5er now clears the rails much better.
Oh yeah - I forgot to mention, do one side at a time! :W
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CleanDiesel
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04/28/12 03:06am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 6 pt hyd auto leveling system and Roto-chocks
X3 - use the Roto-choks. I've parked on some insane "knoll" campsites (Craters of the Moon NP in Idaho) and Roto-Choks saved our life.
Risk getting them wedged a bit...that's what hammers are for :W
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CleanDiesel
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04/28/12 02:21am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Newby to 5th wheel
CANCEL THE ORDER! I ordered an S-10 once (not for camping) and immediately after I did did I EVER get the******thrown at me. It was going to be 3-4 weeks before the order arrived, and even though I felt like an arse for doing so, I went back, apologized, and cancelled the order.
You are probably a man of your word and cancelling an order feels like you've cheated them somehow. Nothing could be further from the truth. Happens ALL the time and you have NOT bought the truck until you actually take delivery.
These folks on here are >right< and you will NOT regret the 3/4 ton. I agree the diesel is overkill for your itty bitty camper. (lol - sorry, had to do that! :W)
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CleanDiesel
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04/28/12 01:57am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Tire Inflation
I'm going to disagree here due to my experience. I ran max pressure on my Ram's dualies (80 psi), which caused SEVERE center tread wear. I killed those tires (OEM mind you, so...) in 30k miles.
I SHOULD have taken the truck's sticker information (52% front, 48% rear) times the truck weight (8,200) to learn the 3,936 lb. rear weight, added that to the 5er's pin weight (2,350) to learn the total of 6,286 on the rear axle, and then divided that by 4 tires (1,572 lbs.) to learn what each tire was carrying.
If I had taken that 1,572 lb. load rating to the spec sheet for my tires, then I would have learned that my duallies should have been running 60psi and not 80. And I likely would not be in the process of now replacing 4 dually tires. :M
Running at max sidewall tire pressure should not cause center thread wear....over inflating the tires above max psi might do it, but not airing up to suggested max sidewall air pressure.
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CleanDiesel
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04/28/12 01:36am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Thank you Komfort ( Dutchmen )
I was looking at new Dutchmen Komfort 5ers JUST TODAY, and I am discouraged to hear about the poor quality. I was also looking at the Infinity (Dutchmen as well).
Is Dutchmen "just another" low quality manufacturer?
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CleanDiesel
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04/28/12 01:22am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Duro Tire Failure
A big >X2< on the Michelin XPS Rib. Thanks to this forum I dropped the $$ for 5 of them in 2008 and some shiny wheels before we went cross country (twice!). NEVER REGRETTED IT, tires are great still, almost no tread loss in 15k miles. Keep them at 75 lbs/psi. Keep your chinabombs and steel wheels for winter storage use though. Keeps the sun off your investment in the downtime.
With your large trailer and probably 7000 pound axles it is highly recommended to change to 17.5 inch tires. With tire ratings in excess of 4000 per tire it all but guarantees and end to tire worries.
X2 on the 17.5 inch wheels if 7000 lb axles. For 6K axles, some put the Michelin XPS Rib or Bridgestone R250 on -- although technically you shouldn't because the load rating listed on the sidewall is less than that of the OE ST tires. Note I said technically. Many people have done it and we can't find reports of any failures for having done so.
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CleanDiesel
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04/28/12 01:11am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: How many miles a day ?
Yeah, I agree with cabanaman, I think its really poor sportsmanship to sit in ones campsite and laugh. I agree with not sticking your nose in someone else's business, but laughing is beyond the pale, and helping on the third attempt ought to be mandatory.
We ARE a nice community, right peeps? :-)
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CleanDiesel
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04/28/12 12:58am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Suggestions requested re: end of life for my 5th wheel
Hey Gang,
To answer the main question being asked, "What is wrong with it?", here's the answer.
The biggest issue is that water got into the living room windows and caused wood rot. So it would take some real "teardown" to get to the wood and replace it. Given that everything these days is "vacuum bonded", I am guessing that would significantly screw up the exterior fiberglass layer. And of course, even though the roof doesn't leak, a new rubber roof is needed on a camper from 1995.
If that #1 issue could get fixed, then actually you're just down to a couple appliances. The frig only works half the time, and the water heater is pretty much done (won't light anymore). But the A/C works great, stove is fine, water pump....you get the idea.
The frame and mechanics are very sound. The wood in the camper, not so much.
REALLY good suggestions from the community as always. My that picture of a nice Class A going up in flames is a sad sight. Hope no one was hurt.
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CleanDiesel
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04/27/12 10:25pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Your Rig
If you don't like the look, PAINT IT! Its actually a lot easier than it sounds. Windows are easy in/out with new putty. Paint is $70 gallon, but you can be done in 3 gallons! Would look nice matched to your truck. I painted my fiver's skirts to match the Ram and it was a very nice change.
Been a while since I posted here. We used to have a pile of a bumper pull. Just sold that yesterday. Bought a new to me fiver. Its a '91 Prowler, 25ft. Not gorgeous and fancy like so many of you have, but this thing is in amazing condition. Its been VERY well taken care of. I got an absolute steal on it, especially considering the condition it is in. My TV, just like the trailer, is nothing fancy, but it runs great. Its a '90 1 ton, with a 454 and a three speed with granny. We do a lot of dry camping in the mountains of Idaho. The new rig is going to he perfect for my wife and myself.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/Weazletoe/2012-03-21_16-54-11_696.jpg width=640
Nice, I started out with a 1989 18.5 prowler lynx in 2005 then bought a 1999 Coachman catalina 22 foot in 2009, then bought a 2004 245RK wilderness lite in 2010.
Started out towing with a 1977 F250 400 CI and now have a used 1996 GMC K2500 extended cab with a 454 Vortec, so we don't all have new rigs, and yours looks just fine to me.
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CleanDiesel
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04/25/12 02:23am |
Fifth-Wheels
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Suggestions requested re: end of life for my 5th wheel
Hey gang, long time no post. Looks like someone cleaned house in here - all my old posts are gone. Its been a couple of years since I last posted.
I wanted to ask for some suggestions or experiences you've had with your old fiver. My 1995 36' Damon Escaper is likely now "end of life" (see my profile - if they didn't delete that too!).
What I mean is, if I added up the cost of all the things that need fixed, it likely isn't worth fixing.
How can we get the most value from what's left? I've got 11,000 lbs. of really solid frame (southern fiver, still looks great underneath after all these years). I've spoke with two guys at an RV show and they had problems even finding a 17 yr. old camper in their "blue book", so the value doesn't seem to lie in a traditional trade-in.
Is there a company that buys end of life fivers for something better than scrap value? Scrap is .065 cents/lb in my area, that would get me a whopping $715 and it seems like a crime to sell for that.
Or maybe its just sentiment that keeps me from doing the scrap route. We had a GREAT time in it. Ohio to west coast twice on two 6 week trips each, Olympic Peninsula Washington, desert Utah.....
Thoughts? Thanks as always. RV.net was SUCH a help to me as I did the remodel work in 2007-2008 to get ready for the trips.
David
P.S. - The "CleanDiesel" is still going strong. LOVE THE CUMMINS RAM!
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CleanDiesel
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04/25/12 01:59am |
Fifth-Wheels
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