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RE: New to fifth wheel towing
Sorry, but I completly disagree with the idea to cut the pin box. I'm pretty sure they're engineered to do their job with a little margin for excess but I would bet that "little" modification would not only void your warranty but your insurance carrier would have a field day if something should ever happen. I wouldn't even consider it.
I have about that much distance between the trailer and bed, maybe less, and have never had an issue with clearance on any approach angle or turn.
I can't imagine a little 2" lift causing clearance issues. Since the trucks fifth wheel hitch is not changed in relation to the truck bed I don't understand how this would be a factor. I've seen trucks with much more without a problem so I'm curious. Photos maybe?
John
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FalconLover
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11/03/11 06:10pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 5th Wheel Tire Selection
Stick to LT's, they are a much higher quality tire. BFG Commercial TA is a very popolar mid priced tire. Highest quality is the Bridgestone Duravis R250 or Michelin XPS RIB. Rib style tread patterns are the best for trailers. Many trailers like mine came OEM with LT tires.
If you want to buy another set in a two or three years, then listen to your buddy!!!
Chris
Or if you like pulling over frequently to replace a blowout and look at the latest damage to your trailer, listen to your buddy.
I switched to the BF Goodrich Commercial TA from the Special Trailer (ST) tire this last time around and am kicking myself for not doing it years ago when I replaced the OEM ST tires.
My Mountaineer came with LT's from the factory. The first set lasted about 5 years (1 blowout after about 4 years of service) and we've only had to replace them once (a couple of year ago). We replaced in kind with another set of LT's. We have roughly 40-50,000 miles on our trailer so it's not sitting around.
They are a different design tire, not necessarly better or worse than ST. It's all about side loading and rubber hardness allowing an ST to "slide" during hard cornering while the LT's tend to grip and roll over more, if that makes sense. They also have a chemical embedded in them to fight off the UV's and must be used to keep them in good shape and parking them on certain surfaces can pull the conditioner out of them making them crack sooner.
We had several blowouts when using ST's on our last trailer, the first after only a few months after purchase.
Be sure to check the manufacture dates on the sidewall of the tires. It's there but coded. You'll see a series of letters and numbers. The last four digits are the date. For example if the code was ABCD0709 last four numbers tell you that they were made on the 7th week of 2009.
John
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FalconLover
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10/14/11 05:45pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Champion 3500 w/remote start
I love it when I get get bashed for making sincere comments or statements here. It reminds me why I quit coming to this website for so many months. :h
I'm going by info supplied directly from the manufacture like Honda's own website for example. They say their EB4000 (which is nearly three times the cost) is 72db so one can assume that 68db would be quitier than that, right? What they don't tell you is where that db rating was taken.
Another issue is the db comparisons/explainations found on the internet. Very spread out as far as what they use as examples to sound levels. One said 60-70db was normal conversation and 80db was a phone dial tone! :?
I'm not expecting miracles, just a way to get the sound level down a bit. I'm looking at the SuperGen Tent and it my fit my needs but any "constructive" advice would be appreciated.
I had a nice sound cover built for my old Generac but it's too small for the Champion and can't decide whether to have another built, build my own or buy one like the SuperGen Tent.
John
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FalconLover
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06/29/11 09:36am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Champion 3500 w/remote start
What I guess I'm saying is that it's not nearly as quite as any Honda, Yamaha or Onan that I've ever heard, unless you're talking contractor types. Everything I read showed 68db as "normal" conversation, laughing, vacuum cleaner, etc. Even at 21' it seems much louder than that. With mine running you can't carry on a "normal" conversation with it running.
Since I don't own a decimeter I have no idea what it actually is, but I can say it's not the same 68db as any other generator I've heard unless they (Honda, Yamaha and the rest) rating theirs from inches, not feet.
Has anybody first hand experiance with the generator "tents" I've seen advertised?
John
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FalconLover
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06/28/11 07:40pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Champion 3500 w/remote start
Well, we ended up buying one from Cabelas when we were passing through Phoenix last week on vacation. It was $399 plus tax. Just got home a few days ago and went out today to prep and fire it up for the first time today. Love the remote start feature but was pretty disappointed at how loud it is. I had a few (here and others) compare them to a similar Honda, Yamaha and Onan but can say first hand they are not even close. Champam claims a 68db level at half load buy I am not buying that.
My old Generac 4000XL with added quad muffler is nearly the same sound output. I'm pretty sure that even with added muffler tweaking it won't help a lot. A large part of the noise comes from the engine itself, not just the exhaust.
I called Champion's Help Desk and was basically blown off saying they don't offer aftermarket parts to quite them down. That wasn't my question necessarly but that's how they handled my complaint. It may not end there. I'm thinking about calling Cabelas next to see what their reaction is.
With that said, is there some kind of aftermarket parts out there to quite this thing down to an exceptable level? I really like the remote feature and would love to keep it but if it's going to be this noisy I'm having second thoughts about it.
John
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FalconLover
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06/28/11 06:09pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Door locks
I agree, change the deadbolt. I'm not sure buy maybe a residential deadbolt lock is the same diameter so maybe you could use one of those.
I know for sure that all of the little storage locks around the rig are very common key patterns. Try yours on almost any RV (I suggest a friends so you don't get punched in the eye! :W) and you'll most likely find it's the same key. Not a great design, huh?
John
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FalconLover
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06/08/11 05:08pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: FW tailgate
Save your money and don't buy one at all. I've had our 5er since '03 and have never seen the need for one. We drop the gate when hitching and then close it for traveling. With our Jack Rabbit roll top we can pull it back to the hitch and lock everything up for security and basic weather protection and when not traveling we have total security with everything out of sight and covered.
Oh, and don't for a minute beleive that they save gas. It's been tested over and over (me included) and running with a louvered gate, gate down or no gate, there is no difference between that and the factory gate in the up position.
Just another opinion.....
John
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FalconLover
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06/08/11 05:01pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Champion 3500 w/remote start
I found them at a few places but I think I'm going with Cabela's: (www.cabelas.com) since they offer the best return policy in case there's a problem. It is CARB compliant and I confirmed that they will ship to CA. Right now they're actually have a $5 shipping promotion but since it's a heavy/bulky item there's an $18 extra fee. But it looks like there is no tax charged since they are not in CA so it's under $500 total.
I'm probably ordering this week!
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FalconLover
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06/08/11 08:19am |
Tech Issues
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Champion 3500 w/remote start
Anybody have one of the Champion 3500 generators with remote start? I know they're rated at 68 db which is slightly louder that some of the Honda & Yamahas out there but for occasional and light use I'm not interested in spending well over $3,000.
I'm also not interested in hearing all of the noise police telling me to camp 7 miles from them either. Believe me for as much use as this thing is going to get and where I'm going to be using it it won't matter if it isn't silent. I'm asking for comments from actual owners, not haters please.
Does the remote start work well, any problems, issues, short comings, etc. is what I'm looking for. My use will be for 10-30 minutes at a time and in remote places for the most part.
With that said I'm also wondering just how noisy they are compaired to the higher end units. I realize that's a matter of opinion but am looking for opinions from users. As a matter of reference I'm replacing my Generac 4000XL which in my opinion is really loud, even after muffler modifications and a sound cover.
John
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FalconLover
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06/07/11 06:46pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: South Florida to Southern Cali
Tombstone was a bust as far as I'm concerned. Not much to see actually. We did enjoy the old movie studio outside of Tucson but Tombstone wasn't much, not even the kids enjoyed it.
Where are planning on staying in SoCal?
John
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FalconLover
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06/07/11 03:09pm |
Family Camping
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RE: Towing In High Winds
skipnchar,
I'm certain there's more to the story than you know. I've had both travel trailers and 5th wheel and can tell you first hand that a 5th wheel is WAAAY more stable than a TT especially in high wind situations. We've put probably 40,000 miles on our 5er and have not had many situations yet where high wind was even noticable. Most times it's more like "Hey honey, look at the trees blowing it must be really windy". When pulling our TT it would push the truck around the lane and if you wern't ready for a gust maybe out of the lanes.
The two are night and day different as far as being stable goes. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the way the trailer attaches to the truck further towards the center and not hanging off the tailend where trailer movement drags the truck backend around. Higher profile yes, but less stable - not a chance.
John
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FalconLover
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06/07/11 02:47pm |
Towing
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RE: Norcold Refrigerator Door Trays Falling Off
We had the same problem with ours. I ended up installing short sheet metal screws attaching them to the doors. Keep them about 1/2" long and they'll only protrude into the plastic door liner a little ways, but it's enough to keep them in place and they won't fall off again.
Some of our's had actually broken off at the little "tabs" that hook into the doors so were useless until I did this. They've been this way for about a year and no problems anymore. :)
John
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FalconLover
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06/07/11 02:34pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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