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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Jack Knife Couch
It was the first "update" to our 5th wheel. DW said: "Get rid of that uncomfortable couch!" We are not in need of any additional sleeping room so we replaced it with the center part of a sectional (no arms).
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garlic
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05/19/12 05:37pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: yellow plastic vent -- paint it?
X2 on all of the above. Why they can't make a white that stays white is beyond me (but not beyond a can of spray paint).
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garlic
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05/19/12 05:34pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: wheel lug torque
Whew! Found out (the hard way) that a "clicker" torque wrench is the way to go. Trying to exert 120 ft-lbs AND read a dial gauge on a wrench taxes one significantly. With the clicker, one can gradually approach the 120 ft-lbs in three steps. Life is good when you have the right tool. X2 on SoCalDesertRider. Also, re-torque a few hundred miles after remounting wheels.
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garlic
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04/15/12 05:20pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Wheel bearings
X2 on NorthernLimits. I have a double axle Montana 285 RL traveling about 8-9K a year. Each year I pull the wheels, re-grease the bearings and check the bearings, brakes & magnets. Dirty job worth the effort. Can't beat preventitive maintenance.
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garlic
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03/27/12 05:32pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Keystone 5th wheel
Bought a 2002 Montana 285RL off Craig's list 4 years ago. Half way our first trip cross the country I got the review: "Got a Montana, you got a good one." Very happy. At the same time, it was not really set up for LOTS of travel. Tires were not balanced and shackles needed replacement (wet bolts is the way to go). Check the brakes & magnets and replace if necessary. Just finished a 9K travel from the Northeast to Texas to Fl and back. Great rig.
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garlic
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03/27/12 05:22pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Slide Problem
My 2002 Montana slide hydraulic pump motor gets 99% of its juice from the batteries. Once, with batteries removed, the slides would just barely come in. Problem was, we were trying to operate the hydraulic pump motor with the CHARGING CIRCUIT. Not enough oomph there! Check your batteries or their connections as a first step.
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garlic
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03/03/12 06:26pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Jacking up trailer for a flat tire
I got a long ram jack from Northern Tool (their item # 144600 Blackhawk model BH 2045 $80). There are cheaper long jacks but this on is shorter (19 3/8) and will fit under the RV frame with a blown tire. I did have a bottle jack but got tired of having to find a lumber yard's worth of lumber to get it to the frame. There are plastic items you can drive one tire on, suspending the other in the air. Found them too bulky.
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garlic
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03/03/12 06:22pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Good Suspension Shop
One of my wet bolts would not accept grease. I loosened it and slowly rotated it until it accepted grease(it would not rotate when tight). Then I tightened it up again and rechecked that it took grease.
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garlic
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03/03/12 06:11pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: We need a forum Focus Group to Design the perfect RV
X2 on LAKNOX. I'm a snowbird that travels wide and fa. I feel my 2002 Montana was not built for long distance travel. Tires not balanced, bad shackle design (no wet bolts) and (ugh!) rear kitchen! After fixing those things (and securing everything in the kitchen), pretty good rig.
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garlic
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01/28/12 04:44pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Heat in the front bedroom?
X2 on Kb449. On our Montana, we found a heater pipe crushed (by the factory) under the stairway. Also, the furnace heats the undercarriage which we found out while heating the unit with ceramic heaters when the temps went into the 20's; the waterlines underneath froze. So, if it gets REALLY cold, be sure to use the furnace!
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garlic
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12/14/11 06:15pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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I-20 west through Shreveport, LA...take the I-220 bypass
Holy Toledo! I've seen rougher roads, but I don't know when. I-20 through Shreveport, LA is rough and like a roller-coaster with speed bumps. If you are going through, maybe going around would be better. Gonna have scrambled eggs for breakfast!
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garlic
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12/14/11 06:10pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: MA-TX: I-84 to I-275 to I-78 to I-81 OR I-84 to I-81?
Many thanks for sharing your experiences. Looks like I-84 to Scranton.
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garlic
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12/03/11 05:07pm |
Roads and Routes
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MA-TX: I-84 to I-275 to I-78 to I-81 OR I-84 to I-81?
Looks like the weather will be with us next week (rain, no snow). I searched and the posts on this topic seem dated so I am asking again. It seems like the I-78 to I-81 has fewer hills (heck of an up-hill out of Wilks Barre to the ridge where all the pines are 6' tall and all their branches point in one direction) as well as being shorter. Comments appreciated as I haul my 30' fifth wheel with my thirsty 6L gas Chevy!
Thanks
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garlic
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12/03/11 03:10pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Roof Cleaning
I try to pick a day with a light drizzle. I use a soft brush on a long pole and apply soapy water liberally. I use Spic 'n Span + Murphy's oil soap. The drizzle keeps the soap from drying until the entire surface is covered. Then I rinse with lots of water scrubbing with the brush as I go. Once a year seems to be enough. I prefer to get on the roof with an extension ladder to the flimsy on on the back of the rig (I'm 200 lbs). I'm VERY careful up there with the soapy surface.
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garlic
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11/23/11 08:10pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Florida Recommendations?
We stay at a couple low-fee parks. E. G. Simmons Park (on Tampa Bay) and Edward Medard Park are in county parks in Hillsborough County (East of Tampa). Withlachoochee State Forest has two campgrounds in Citrus county. Beware, Tillis Hill does not allow pets in the campground area. All have a two week limit and the county parks don't take reservations (show up early in the morning and hope). Enjoy your trip!
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garlic
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11/19/11 05:25pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: 5Th wheel step supports
I added two cross braces behind the steps using pre-drilled holes, coat hanger wire and turnbuckles. Takes a lot of wiggle out of the steps. Cheap and easy.
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garlic
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11/05/11 06:55pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Leaf Spring Bracket sheared off- pictures
X2 on Charlie D. and Aruba5er Get the Dexters. When I replaced my shackels, some were not far from your photos. Neoprene sleeves were all but gone. Love the brass wet (grease-able) sleeves. The rig rides MUCH smoother with the new inter-spring connector. Not the most difficult job to do yourself.
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garlic
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10/21/11 06:54pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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Red Max Pro questions on maintenance
First, questions and then the saga of the work.
Now that we’ve put four coats of Red Max Pro, what is the maintenance? Just wash when necessary? Any touch-up needed? Re-application? How long does it last?
The saga: Armed with a packet of scrubby sponges, Barkeeper’s Friend, rinsing rags and more water than Texas has seen all summer, I attacked the RV with enough elbow grease to fill the back of the Chevy van that shows up on the This Old House Hour. When done, it looked great but duller than an old rug. A spate of intermittent rainy weather delayed the application process for a couple weeks. So, I first wiped the entire rig down with a wet chamois to get rid of new bug marks, bird goo and any old soap. On went the Red Max Pro. Thanks to all of you who shared your ideas and hints here. I used a white micro-fiber cloth and protective gloves as suggested putting on thin coats. We used a heavy duty freezer bag to hold the RMP and squeezed out the excess inside the bag. Worked great. RMP went on as all of you said it would. First coat: disappointing. Second coat: getting there. Third and fourth coats: WOW! It sure is purdy! Thanks again for all your help.
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garlic
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10/10/11 03:20pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Up front storage area for 5th Wheel
In our front, I store the water filter, hoses (fresh + an ext. and black flush) and a coil of TV cable coax. All these are suspended from Velcro straps held to the top by a couple short wood screws. Add an second battery, wheel covers, the porous mat (12 x 12') to keep grass, sand out of the rig and there is barely enough room for the cases of wine! Oh yes, there is a plastic box with large nails to anchor the porous mat and clips, anchors & straps to keep the awning from flopping. On the tray under the hydraulic slide pump is a speed wrench for the battery boxes, a folding mirror to check water levels, a plastic turkey baster for filling battery water and a hygrometer battery check. They all just sit there and have never bounced off the tray! Very handy. Need room for more wine!
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garlic
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10/10/11 03:13pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Mississippi River - West Memphis
X2 Great spot. Glad to hear they are back in business.
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garlic
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07/08/11 07:29pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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