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Forum
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RE: Fords "Unconventional" tow vehicle
I have owned this sized Airstream shown in the video (mine was a 30' Classsic Ltd model - the same lenght as the one on the video, but with a different interior layout) and I can assure you, contrary what some people may think - my Airstream wasn't safe to be towed by ANY tow vehicle.
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a_flyfisher
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03/17/12 09:44am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Newmar Fifth Wheels
I have a 2008 Newmar Kountry Aire and have not experienced any of the problems you others have mentioned, other than the ordinary bugs that all RV's have from time to time, and am saddened by Newmar's decisions to exit the 5th whell market, although I fully appreciate their reasoning.
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a_flyfisher
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03/13/12 07:03pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: yellowstone camping
I agree with Grizzly at West Yellowstone, as already mentioned.
We also like Yellowstone's Edge RV Park, on Hwy 89 S., 35 miles north of the YNP if you are coming or going from that direction. As the name suggests, it is right on the Yellowstone River, has a nice central campfire every night (weather permitting), delicious locally made ice cream, and the cleanest restrooms you'll ever see in a public RV park. It is an easy, scenic drive from there along the river to the north entrance, and many people stay there and drive into the park daily - it is more convenient to stay there especially if you're touring the north side of the park (and a bit less traffic than at West Yellowstone and driving in along the Madison river).
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a_flyfisher
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02/08/12 09:32am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Montanna LLC
I am a legal resident of PA but I have my 5th wheel, a boat, 2 other trailers, and a Polaris Ranger all licensed and insured in Montana. I keep all of these things in Montana year round, so I do not have the need for an LLC.
A nice thing about Montana is that they offer an inexpensive lifetime license for RV's and the recreational items like my ATV and other trailers that is good for as long as I own these items.
My insurance premium is higher in MT than it would be if I maintained these items in PA, but I couldn't insure them in PA since they do not reside there.
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a_flyfisher
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02/06/12 10:12am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Finest Fiver made?
Poor word choice on my part, "best" with regards to Airstreams would more accurately be stated as "iconic".
You might want to go back to using the word 'best' if any part of the definition of best includes longevity. Look at Airstream, it IS the trailer that others compare to, it has a reputation of being built for 80 continuous years; and of all built over 70 percent are still on the road. What other brand can match those stats? Then add in the fact that they do not have a rubber roof that gets old and tired, they do not have filon or gel sides that delaminate and they use torsion axles, a rarity among high end travel trailers for a much better ride. The rounded nose helps with towing fuel mileage and the rounded sides with sway issues over a standard box trailer. You were correct in using the word 'best'. You would also be correct in using the word 'most expensive' as well. Sometimes best and most expensive are the same.
Sorry to disagree, but I bought a new Airstream several years ago and it was the biggest piece of******I ever owned, and Airstream (Thor) management would not honor their written warranty policy to fix that mess. Don't tell me they are the "best" because I know better.
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a_flyfisher
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01/30/12 06:12pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 2011 F350 CETANE BUSTER
I use it in my 2011 F350 and used it in my 2008 F450 as well. I also buy it by the case and put it in at every fillup. I don't care if it helps or not, but nobody ever says it hurts to use it. Cheap insurance, if only for feeling better about using it.
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a_flyfisher
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01/23/12 03:20pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Questions about ordering new F350
I ordered a 2011 DRW 6.7L F350 King Ranch last spring, and after getting a price that was nearly as low from one dealer, I offered to split the 3% holdback with the second dealer, and the sales manager agreed to my offer. I gave them my x-plan PIN, and they sold the truck to me for 1 1/2% below dealer invoice (plus applicable incentives, of course). I suggest that you don't ask dealers for bids. Make them an offer and see if they accept it.
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a_flyfisher
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01/16/12 08:00pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2011 F450 Paint Chipping
I agree that the plastic (molded) running boards/side steps are a big help with keeping down the paint chips, and even the wider, tube- type ones are better than nothing.
The 3-M paint protective film is an excellent product (I have it on my Jeep Wrangler and the front end of my 5th wheel); however, unless you are more confident than me in applying it, I'd suggest finding a certified installer in your area to apply it for you. There are also some pre-cut pieces for select vehicles - I'm not sure about for new Ford trucks.
Lastly, you might want to consider Duraflap custom mudflaps. I had them on my 2008 F450, and recently put them on my 2011 F350 dually (front and rear). One of the best mudflaps on the market in my opinion.
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a_flyfisher
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01/11/12 11:52am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: F-450 Mileage??
I had an 08 F450 from 08 until I traded it last spring on a new F350. As I recall the 4.88 rear ends were only sold for a brief time when these 6.4L's were first introduced, but becase of the unusually poor MPG Ford stopped making them during the middle of the 08 model year. My truck was a (what?) 4.10 and got somewhat better MPG than the others with 4.88's who have already commented here, but still nothing to brag about.
On the open highway, not towing, I got 14-15mpg, and around 10mpg towing my Jeep on a car trailer (6,000#). However, the mpg dropped dramatically when I towed my 18,000# 5th wheel, to something in the 7mpg range.
Although my 2011 F350 DRW 6.7L gets much better mpg than the 08 F450 ever did, both my wife and I feel that the 08 was a bit more comfortable truck to sit in and drive (both trucks were King Ranch versions).
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a_flyfisher
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01/04/12 11:04am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: A step for truck shell top access
I've had similar issues as you, and over the years have carried lots of items on the roofs of my vehicles.
For accessing items that are on my roof rack(s), I carry a 3 step stepladder in the back of my truck or Jeep.
Someone once bought me one of those ladders that affixed on top of my truck's tires, and it was worthless as far as I was concerned. (difficult to hold onto, and could not reach items strapped onto truck roof except directly over the rear tires.)
I ordinarily just jump up onto the tailgate to get into the back of my truck, but sometimes may use the stepladder if I'm too lazy to do so.
Here's a link to a guy who's looking to sell or trade his Dodge truck on the Escapees forum, and his pictures show what looks ike a very nice Westin folding ladder that he apparenly uses to get onto his truck bed:
http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=94193
John
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a_flyfisher
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12/28/11 02:56pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: tow truck
I have a 2008 Newmar Kountry Aire that has a gross weight rating of 20,000#, a dry weight of just under 17,000#, and a pin weight of about 3,500#. Initially, I had a 2008 Ford F450 to tow it with, but bought a new 2011 Ford F350 6.7L DRW truck this past spring.
Before our first trip, we loaded everything in the trailer that we were taking on our trip (including my wife, and full tank of gas in the truck) and headed to the CAT scales. We do not carry full water tanks.
I don't have the exact weights at my fingertips, but the trailer came in under 19,000# gross as I recall, and the truck weight, including
individual axle weights, were safely within Ford's published weight limits for this truck.
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a_flyfisher
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12/05/11 01:39am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Factory Pickup
Newmar has (or at least had one the last time I knew) a factory pickup program, but there is an extra charge for it. It was around $1,000 - $1,500 the last time I heard. I understand they spend as much time as needed going over everything with you, and you can get any required fixes made before leaving the factory.
When we bought our Newmar Kountry Aire in 2008, I had heard about the factory pickup program, but I opted to take delivery at the dealer instead. If I had to do it over, I would take delivery at the factory in a heartbeat. I would want to stay in the area in my RV for at least 1-2 weeks though to make sure everthing is working OK though before I left for home.
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a_flyfisher
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12/03/11 04:12am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Diesel Fuel Additive
I buy the Ford cetane boost by the case and use it on every fillup to keep the egr valve and turbo clean and working. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVq_-5xhlP0
JR
That's exactly what I'm doing with my 2011 F350 6.7L King Ranch and what I did with my 2008 F450 before that.
I don't know, or care, if it helps or not, but I have never heard anyone say it will hurt my truck's engine to put it in. So, with a $60,000 truck, and a $100.00 fillup, I'm not too concerned about spending another $0.50 for the Ford cetane additive.
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a_flyfisher
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11/14/11 03:04am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Insurance for RV stored in one state but live in another?
I have a home in PA, but keep my 5th wheel in MT. I have State Farm insurance and they require us to get our 5th wheel insurance through a MT agent, while we get our homeowners, car and truck insurance through a PA agent.
We pay a slighter higher rate in MT than we would for the same coverage in PA, but otherwise we haven't had any problems.
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a_flyfisher
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11/14/11 02:40am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: transporting a outboard
I bought a new 4 stroke 6hp Mercury outboard motor 2 years ago and have transported it to and from Montana and Pennsylvania a couple times now. I just lay mine down with the handle facing down, which is how Mercury says to do it (other than keeping it upright).
I was a bit concerned about the motor bumping up and down laying on its side for over 2000 miles, so I got some 4" wide memory foam to lay it on. I'm not towing my 5th wheel to and from Montana, but I'm towing my Jeep on a car trailer behind my truck. So, I've carried my motor both in the truck bed and in the back of the Jeep.
If I was towing my 5th wheel I think I'd consider either laying the motor on it's side in my truck bed or on the floor inside my 5th wheel. I know that some 5th wheel manufacturers claim their frames are designed to handle heavy loads on carried on the rear of their RV's (Excel, for example) while others say not to do it (like my Newmar Kounty Aire, for example).
In any case, I am always concerned whenever I see or hear of RVers hanging something relatively heavy on the back of their RV because I've seen and heard of serious accidents and frame damage caused by doing this.
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a_flyfisher
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11/14/11 02:32am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Anyone pay personal property taxes on their 5th wheel?
With no sales tax on the purchase, no personal property tax, no annual inspection requirements, and a lifetime license fee for RV's (mine was less than $100 on my 2008 5th wheel as I recall), it is no wonder that so many RV's are titled in MT.
I have a lifetime MT license on my boat trailer (same as with my ATV and ATV trailer), but if memory serves me correctly, I was not required to obtain a license for my drift boat until I decided to occasionally use a motor on it. Then I had to buy a license for it as a motorized boat, and the fee for that license (with a $1500 6hp motor) was about twice the cost of the license for my $100,000+ 5th wheel - go figure!
Here in Montana, a portion of our registration cost is a tax of some kind. That portion is also deductible on State and Federal Income Taxes.
However, to lighten the burden a little, ALL trailers, regardless of size, purpose, or value, are permanently registered. No renewal, ever, as long as you own it. When you sell it, the buyer has to re-register it. Permanently.
Also, ALL motorcycles (including street-legal ATVs), and ALL boats have permanent registration.
Also, once your vehicle reaches 10 years old or older, it can be permanently registered.
So, my 1994 Dodge 3500 never needs the registration renewed. Neither does the 1995 Tioga Class C.
That's nice.
It makes up for the fact that the renewal for the '05 Grand Cherokee will be $193.03, $97 of which is "County Option" tax, and $4 is state park fee (we get in to Montana state parks FREE!!).
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a_flyfisher
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11/11/11 09:15am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Fivers to avoid?
I'd say to avoid Airstreams at any cost. But since they don't make 5th wheels anymore, fortunately, I'd say do yourself a favor and avoid anything made by Thor. Unless you're just looking for problems.
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a_flyfisher
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10/28/11 02:30pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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