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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: help identify brake control
Time based units are pure junk. They should be outlawed. Say you have it set at 10 seconds from brake engage to max set on the brake. A child runs out in front of you while driving thru town and you hit the brakes... No trailer brakes until seconds after the accident.
I had a child run out from between parked cars, thank God I had an inertia controller or I would have gotten stopped while the child was under the rig instead of in front of it.
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DSteiner51
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05/24/12 06:02pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 1995 Coachmen Catalina 285rk
I have a 1999 Catalina Lite 259 RK which I bought used in 2001. The first 9 years I spent a total of $300 on repairs. Caulking, refrig vent cover, brakes, etc. I the last 2 1/2 years I replaced the original tires, refrigerator, and water heater. The refrigerator ran non stop since I bought it, and the water heater froze and sprung a leak because of an unexpected cold snap while I was away before I got it winterized. I have also replaced the hard to get parts for 2800lb axles with more standard 3500lb axles that parts are much easier to locate and much cheaper.
The 285 RK possibly already has the 3500lb axles factory installed? The none standard axles can be faulted to Coachman the rest not.
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DSteiner51
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05/19/12 06:46pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Water in FW tank sitting for 3 weeks -- dump and sanitize?
Some of you make me laugh. I was raised in an old farm house. The only sorce of water was a cistern. The water was collected from the tin roof and was unfiltered. I am sure it was loaded with all kinds of vitimins.
Also, I think some of you germaphobics would die if you saw the inside of your water lines that your "pristine" city water flows through.
Isn't that the truth! Minerals too. Ever see what comes out of a city water system flush?
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DSteiner51
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05/15/12 09:02pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Water in FW tank sitting for 3 weeks -- dump and sanitize?
I wonder why everybody is so afraid of well water? my well water is cleaner than your city water.
Same here! I sanitized it when I bought it 11 years ago and again 2 years ago after putting city water in it and it started tasting bad. I normally am picky about water source but had to take city water on a three week trip. I drink it, use it year around so water is replaced every several months at most. I'll take my well water to city water any day.
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DSteiner51
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05/15/12 08:56pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Ohio Rally Spring Rally, May 11th to 13, 2012
What's wrong with this picture?
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/DSteiner51/6e401712.jpg width=600
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DSteiner51
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05/12/12 12:07pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: I hate to say it.
You all are feeding this TROLL because WHY!?!?!?!?!?!
Marty
Because his posts make as much sense as most others?
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DSteiner51
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05/11/12 03:45am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ohio Rally Spring Rally, May 11th to 13, 2012
Today when the one owner of the King Air discovered I wanted to go camping he decided to drive to Dayton on Sunday instead of taking me away from camping so... sorry folks, looks like you have to put up with me this weekend unless the other owner decides he wants to go somewhere. I'll bring a uniform along just to be safe.
Haven't a clue what to bring for food.:h:(
Being a self uneploy... ah employed contract pilot sometimes can be the pits when I want to play. This past week I've been out west in am and east in pm several times. I figure if I keep it up I'll eventually learn how to be two places at once!:B
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DSteiner51
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05/09/12 07:28pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: 1/2 tons and 5th wheels. Trailer Life magazine article.
Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone to bite anything. I just stated an opinion based on 50+ years experience towing both semi trailers, gooseneck, and drawbar. There are hundreds of thousands of trailers being safely pulled with drawbar hitches without WDH or sway bars and possibly millions of semi's and other 5th wheels/goosenecks without WDH or sway bars and they are stable. To have to rely on WDH or sway bars is an indication something may be wrong so bandaids are used instead of fixing the problem.
Except there's one important thing you're missing...
Location of axles on a TT vs a gooseneck, reg trailer, semi, etc. (you'd think someone with "years" experience would notice this). almost ALL TT have axles that are close to or in the center of the trailer (I hope you understand what this does to the stability of a trailer...).
THIS...is the reason we need sway control & WDH.
BUT what do I know I've only been towing (a TT) for 10 years.
If this was true then why WDH as the load would be nearly balanced on the trailer axle with little weight to be distributed? Again, 10-15% on drawbar (bumper pull) 15-25% on gooseneck/fifth wheel except for semi's approx 50/50 depending on axle spacing.
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DSteiner51
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05/09/12 06:53pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Manual transmissions...will they be gone in a few years ?
Today's modern driver doesn't have a clue how to use a turn signal. How do you expect them to know how to shift a manual transmission? My retired LEO friends have fits over then lack of turn signals.
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DSteiner51
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05/09/12 06:25pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: What I've learned on RV.net
Of course! It's my daily comics! :B
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DSteiner51
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05/09/12 05:30pm |
Tow Vehicles
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What I've learned on RV.net
Being a sort of rebel on these forums I'm learning to use these forums as a form of recreation, kind of like a comic strip. The ignorance never ceases to amaze and amuse so for a little fun I decided to list a few things I've learned here.:B
Things I've learned from RV.net:
1. Never use a 1/2 ton truck for anything more then getting groceries.
After years of using 1 ton trucks I've now used 1/2 ton for hauling hay, equipment etc for 15 years pulling gooseneck and drawbar trailers. Even took our 5th out west into the mountains and thru the passes above 8000ft. A very relaxing and enjoyable trip.
2. Don't use cruise control while towing.
I've used cruise control while towing before they were commonly factory installed. In 4000 mile trip to the west and in the mountains I probably drove 150 miles max without it engaged. Even going down the mountains I would shift the tranny out of D into 2 or even 1, depending on the steepness of the road, set the cruise at a speed and let it do all the work with seldom a brake application.
3. Use Mobil 1 Synthetic motor oil.
Used it on one truck that I leased and changed every 5000 miles. Bought it when the lease was up and ran it until I had my first hyd valve lifter go bad in my life at 153,000 miles. Switched back to a commercial motor oil and again change oil between 10,000-15,000 miles and have over 100,000 miles on current truck hoping to get back to my normal 200,000+ miles I had come to expect.
4. Never use P rated tires for towing.
Always did on my 1/2tons until I learned it wasn't safe on RV.net. Used LT tires on one truck for a while. Rode like a box wagon. P rated tires always had and currently do work great.
5. Gas engines are no good for towing.
I've been using gas and diesel engines for towing since the late '50's and both do the job I need to get done quite well, thank you.
6. Never tow a 5th wheel with a gooseneck adapter.
Been pulling my 5th with one for 11 years. It puts any cross wind force on the fifth wheel down on the floor level of the truck bed instead of 16 inches above the floor keeping the forces down closer to tire level. Got it stuck once in a farmers field and he pulled me out with a JD 5020 farm tractor with duals weighing over 19,000lbs. Nearly got the tractor, truck, 5th combo stuck! Haven't broke the frame yet.
7. Weight distribution bars and anti sway bars are an essential part of towing equipment and not bandaids.
Funny, the only time I used the equipment was towing a TT with a '78 Ford Fairmont in the hills of Kentucky. Decided then and there if I needed to rely on bandaids I wouldn't pull it, period! I gave the bandaids away because my conscience wouldn't let me sell the junk. Never needed them on my '70 Ford Maverick on a trip to Florida and back because the 13ft trailer was sized right for the tow vehicle. When my Ranger was also going to require them to pull a landscape trailer I got rid of the trailer and made my gooseneck to eliminate the problem.
On our trip out west with two class A motor homes and another dually diesel 5th wheel combo We overheard one of the A drivers radio to the other, "talk about a white knuckle experience," and the response from the other A driver, "talk about an understatement," my wife looked at me and laughed. I had my left elbow up on the window sill with two fingers and a thumb on the steering wheel and my right arm on the center arm rest with my fingers slowly moving Google Maps on my new iPad following our progress across the plains and my legs relaxed while the cruise did the work. (Sorry, my iPad was new and I didn't know Google Maps would automatically track my progress if I did the right thing) I hadn't realized how windy it was until the little windsocks at the overpasses. (Check my daily blog on the Ohio Rally forum from June and July of 2010.)
There are other items I learned such as diesels have no engine braking, brake controllers, etc. but to keep this post shorter we won't go there this time.
Seems every time I follow "expert" advice from this board and others it costs me. Last internet advice I took from the "experts" cost me 10 days of hospital, 1 month of nursing home and 7 more months of rehab and over $100,000 and still more surgery and rehab ahead. I'll admit, I'd be lying if I said this one didn't make me angry.
If anyone expects me to follow their "expert" advice please forward your name, address, phone number, checking/savings acct numbers, and list of assets to my attorney. Thank you!!! :B
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DSteiner51
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05/09/12 05:17pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 1/2 tons and 5th wheels. Trailer Life magazine article.
When I designed and built both bumper pull and gooseneck trailers I used 10-15% on bumper pulls and 15-25% on gooseneck trailers. Depending on the application the customer required determined the axle placement.
For example here is a photo of a general purpose gooseneck I built for myself. When loaded with 8 1200lb bales exceeding 15% would have heavily overloaded the truck. The CG was a the front edge of the front trailer tire.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/DSteiner51/ee873fd9.jpg width=600
When hauling a 4200lb tractor I could move the CG forward farther to get 20%+ and not overload.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/DSteiner51/2c99cf5a.jpg width=600
When moving a 24ft X 32ft 2 car garage one best know where to put the CG by placing both the building on the trailer and the proper placement of the dollies to get the proper state permits. The state patrol escorts don't take too kindly to an overloaded unsafe situation. Sorry, I don't have a pict of it going down the road.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/DSteiner51/eda60d7b.jpg width=600
So no, I have no clue about axle placement of trailers. I'll let you teach me once you show me your qualifications on designing, building, and using trailers. Again, I stand by my first post on this thread.
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DSteiner51
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05/09/12 04:25pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 1/2 tons and 5th wheels. Trailer Life magazine article.
Anyone else notice how the 1500 Rams are pointing towards the sky, and the Ranger looks normal? My question is what kinda spring helpers does the Ranger have?
Timbrens. In my opinion the Timbrens made for the Ranger are too heavy.(1000lb) Debating whether I wanted to again try air shocks or airbags I decided to try Timbrens but the overload was minimal so I took a Saw Zall and cut two sides away on each Timbren to drastically reduce the load carrying capacity and get the same effect as airbags/shocks at low air pressure. The rubber is approx as thick as standard card stock paper on each side. Perfect! No help when empty but maybe a 200lb? help when loaded. No maintenance and yet slight increase in lift to keep the truck where I wanted it. Too many feed or fertilizer bags still make it squat to let me know when it gets heavy as we have no truck scales on the farm and loading ahead of the axle or behind makes a big difference as to the ability to carry a load.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/DSteiner51/e0671415.jpg width=600
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DSteiner51
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05/08/12 05:25pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 1/2 tons and 5th wheels. Trailer Life magazine article.
Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone to bite anything. I just stated an opinion based on 50+ years experience towing both semi trailers, gooseneck, and drawbar. There are hundreds of thousands of trailers being safely pulled with drawbar hitches without WDH or sway bars and possibly millions of semi's and other 5th wheels/goosenecks without WDH or sway bars and they are stable. To have to rely on WDH or sway bars is an indication something may be wrong so bandaids are used instead of fixing the problem.
Except there's one important thing you're missing...
Location of axles on a TT vs a gooseneck, reg trailer, semi, etc. (you'd think someone with "years" experience would notice this). almost ALL TT have axles that are close to or in the center of the trailer (I hope you understand what this does to the stability of a trailer...).
THIS...is the reason we need sway control & WDH.
BUT what do I know I've only been towing (a TT) for 10 years.
You obviously have never seen a 5th wheel or goose neck trailer. If you have, notice where the wheels are? A TT should be carrying approx 10-15% of it's weight on the tongue a spread of 5% while a 5th/gooseneck should carry 15-25% on it's pin, a spread of double the TT. Know why? On my model 5th the axle placement is almost identical to the TT model.
Semi trailers are different. Sure one could put tandems axles on a 1/2 ton or any other pickup and move the trailer axles back.... at YOUR expense. Pickups pulling 5th wheels/goosenecks are more stable thus need no bandaids.
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DSteiner51
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05/08/12 04:02pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 1/2 tons and 5th wheels. Trailer Life magazine article.
I personally would rather tow a 5th wheel that inherently is stable that slightly overloads a 1/2 ton then a travel trailer that needs bandaids such as WDH and/or anti sway at 80% of rated Gross Weights. I think relying on bandaids is dumb, dumb, dumb.
OK, I`ll bite. what do you meen "bandaid"? I think that putting a hitch in the bed of a truck to tow a trailer is a bandaid and is dumb, dumb, dumb!
A top heavy load like a fifth wheel would actually be less stable!
Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone to bite anything. I just stated an opinion based on 50+ years experience towing both semi trailers, gooseneck, and drawbar. There are hundreds of thousands of trailers being safely pulled with drawbar hitches without WDH or sway bars and possibly millions of semi's and other 5th wheels/goosenecks without WDH or sway bars and they are stable. To have to rely on WDH or sway bars is an indication something may be wrong so bandaids are used instead of fixing the problem.
A top heavy load like a fifth wheel would actually be less stable!
To make a dumb statement like this is an indication that one has no idea.
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DSteiner51
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05/08/12 09:56am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 1/2 tons and 5th wheels. Trailer Life magazine article.
I personally would rather tow a 5th wheel that inherently is stable that slightly overloads a 1/2 ton then a travel trailer that needs bandaids such as WDH and/or anti sway at 80% of rated Gross Weights. I think relying on bandaids is dumb, dumb, dumb.
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DSteiner51
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05/06/12 07:39pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 1/2 tons and 5th wheels. Trailer Life magazine article.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/DSteiner51/Camping/Annettacamper.jpg width=600
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DSteiner51
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05/04/12 09:18am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: How about an EcoBoost sticky?
And to be "FAIR" take the turbos off of the Ecoboost.
???
The turbos are just as much an integral part of the ecoboost as the back two cylinders of a V8 or the turbos of the current diesels so that comment makes no sense at all.
To be "FAIR take the back two cylinders off the V8s.
Sounds like real intelligence. ???
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DSteiner51
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04/28/12 03:13pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Front Of Fifth Wheel Very High While Driving
Double post
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DSteiner51
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04/28/12 02:56pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Front Of Fifth Wheel Very High While Driving
In setting up my truck and fiver, the dealer only left me 5 3/4" of rail clearance. When I commented on it, they said the fiver was already an inch high in front and they couldn't do anything else. I studied it after I got home, raised the hitch an inch, then will raise the pin box an inch to lower the front of the fiver. I wonder why they couldn't figure that out.
I must be missing something here??? Raise the hitch an inch then raise the pin box an inch still equals 5 3/4" of rail clearance.
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DSteiner51
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04/28/12 02:55pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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