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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Sorry state of fuel in North America
Not for me...for all the other "the MAN is keeping the GOOD cars from us!" people (hint - if they really were trying to keep us in fuel hogs - we wouldn't have 3/4 and 1 ton trucks with diesel engines...the big block gas mills still out tow and out perform the diesels, just at a much higher rate of fuel consumption).Errr, have you actually towed a heavy trailer with a diesel lately?
You comment would be a good fit in the 1990's and maybe early 2000's but even the last year of the GM 8.1L won't hold a candle to the 2006 and later D'Maxes.
It's called TORQUE, and while the big blocks have it, the diesels have a lot more.
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kaydeejay
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05/22/12 09:04pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Newb question
Pulling it will not be an issue, but with a 700# empty tongue weight which could have another 500# to 600# added (with a generator and other stuff) you may be pushing your hitch capacity.
You WILL need a Weight Distributing hitch for that weight.
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kaydeejay
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05/21/12 09:09pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Bed liner and 5th wheel hitch
Get all the holes for the hitch rails cut BEFORE the lining is sprayed in.
That way all those raw cut edges get protected and won't rust as quickly.
(You may need to drill the holes 1/8" bigger for clearance)
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kaydeejay
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05/21/12 08:30pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Fifth Wheels
Not all hitches are that way, the B&W Companion gives you a flat bed when removed.So does the Superglide on their Super-rails.
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kaydeejay
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05/21/12 08:24pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Sorry state of fuel in North America
......Now you new truck guys also get to deal with the DEF additives in your fuel, as if paying for diesel wasn't expensive enough. If you do your homework you will find the minuscule cost/mile for DEF is repaid MANY times over with improved engine efficiency. The Manufacturers no longer have to compromise the engine tune to meet emissions, now they can let the engine work the way it should and the DEF/catalyst cleans the exhaust afterwards.
It is NOT a disadvantage.
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kaydeejay
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05/21/12 08:13pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Sorry state of fuel in North America
The Gov talks one thing about wanting to increase the mpg of cars but won't sell us the ones that already get 75 mpg that are made here but are not allowed to be sold here. Reason. The Road taxes tied to gas consumption.Pure BS! European testing standards are different from the US resulting in higher numbers, they are also quoted using a 4.54L (Imperial) gallon.
Show me ANY Manufacturer who would not jump at a vehicle that would sweep the market with those kinds of numbers!
I file this in the "100mpg carburetor" round file!
Why no small diesels you say? - talk to the EPA about their oxides of Nitrogen standards that make it VERY expensive/almost impossible to build a vehicle that complies without pricing it through the roof!
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kaydeejay
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05/21/12 10:02am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Biggest New 5er behind my '06 Dodge 2500?
Isn't the EPA involved in this 2500 v 3500 issue. The need to meet emission standards and fleet mpg requirments.The cutoff between "Light Duty" and "Heavy Duty" pickups is 8600#, so all 3/4 and 1-ton trucks are exempt from Light Duty Emissions standards and Fuel economy reporting.
The emissions cutoff is why you don't yet see a 1/2 ton diesel.
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kaydeejay
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05/21/12 06:52am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Can either of these be 1/2 ton towed...safely?
Go for a 2500 Suburban. You will be VERY glad you did.
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kaydeejay
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05/20/12 06:06pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: trouble posting
anyone besides meYes, but no more problems since I switched to the Trailer Life Portal from RV.NET
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kaydeejay
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05/19/12 08:17pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: accidentally plugged in 240v to 120v camper....Help!!!
240 volts will NOT fry your breakers or outlets, they are NOT voltage sensitive, so it's no surprise that they still work.
Any USER of your 110volts that was connected and got a shot of 240V is probably history.
Voltage converter and microwave are toast (almost) for sure.
A/C, electric side of water heater and fridge - maybe, depending on what was turned on at the time.
Your best bet is to take it to a dealer and call your insurance company.
They may well be interested in that 240V outlet that you managed to somehow plug into!
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kaydeejay
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05/19/12 04:57pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Ticks!
If you don't have tweezers, you might try this:
"Reported by a nurse:
"I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great because it works in those places where it's sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc."
"Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20); the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.
This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.."
"Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"
Folks, listen.....pull them out as soon as possible, gently, with tweezers. Snopes says false There are many old wives tales out there and even more here on the internet amongst ignorant well wishers. If in doubt, call your DR. or your Vet.:RYou're right, I should have checked it out, but it came from what I thought was a credible source.
I will edit the original to add an appropriate comment.
Thanks for pulling me up on this - I hate to pass on false info and I WILL get back to the organization that told me about it.
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kaydeejay
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05/18/12 09:28pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Tow Dolly and Chevrolet Tahoe?
I think a tow dolly possibly is NOT the way to go....so I'm thinking of a car trailer. Only place I can find to rent one, one way is Uhaul......and they're not sure if the Tahoe will fit. Penseke according to the website only rents a trailer to pull behind their trucks. Any idea where I can rent a car trailer for one way? Thanks
BrianGood luck finding one from U-Haul to carry your Tahoe. They wouldn't rent me one to carry a Buick Roadmaster back from Chicago a couple of years ago.
Said it was "too big"!
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kaydeejay
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05/18/12 08:23pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Ticks!
If you don't have tweezers, you might try this:
"Reported by a nurse:
"I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great because it works in those places where it's sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc."
"Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20); the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.
This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.."
"Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"
On edit - PLEASE IGNORE THE ABOVE!
Pkunk was good enough to point out it is erroneous!!
My apologies!
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kaydeejay
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05/18/12 08:21pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Do i need a 12v battery to tow my trailer to the campground?
That is why I said my camper, I have not looked into it as of why but my camper needs the battery in place for my brakes to work, I found this out this year when I went to pick it up out of storage and forgot my battery, I hooked my truck up and my controler told me no conection, put the battery in and worked fine. I knew that it was not the truck because I pull alot of other trailers and never have a problem. The only thing I can think is they run the ground to the battery so people do not pull there trailers with out the break away working also.You and Romore have a very strange wiring setup if that is the case.
Lighting and braking systems are grounded to the trailer frame which SHOULD be connected to the truck ground via the white wire in your 7-pin cable.
The battery ground SHOULD be a totally separate connection to the trailer frame, which provides the ground path for all interior lighting, fans, the fridge etc.
The battery Positive terminal will provide power to the brakes when the breakaway cable is pulled out of the switch.
At least that is how it's all SUPPOSED to work!
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kaydeejay
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05/18/12 08:12pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Converting electric brakes hookup to a 4 pin trailer hookup
ok you guys talked me into it. Just made an appointment for Monday at 10:00am to have a "blackbird" Brake Controller with 7 pin plug installed.
225+tax @ LeonardOK, good move. I looked up your camper and the dry weight is 2316#.
Add options (like A/C), propane, battery, spare tire, residual water in the water heater plus any water carried, then add kitchen stuff, clothes, bedding and tools etc and you will quite likely be over that 3000#.
You NEED the trailer battery to keep the fridge running while you drive and also to meet the LEGAL requirements for breakaway braking.
If the trailer had brakes from day#1 I would be VERY surprised if it does NOT have a breakaway switch already.
I also looked up the Blackbird Brake controller. It is a time-based unit! Don't waste your money, get a proportional inertia/pendulum/deceleration based controller such as a Tekonsha Prodigy for about $60 more. They apply as much brake as is needed WHEN you need it.
Time based units DO NOT apply full brake force right away in an emergency stop, but DO apply full braking after maybe 5 seconds of slowing down.
Maybe better than NO controller, but not much!
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kaydeejay
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05/18/12 06:19pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Converting electric brakes hookup to a 4 pin trailer hookup
State law says trailer brakes are required if exceeds:
Width 96', height 13.6', length 90', trailer length 35', or weight 4000lbs gvw.
So am I correct in assuming by state law that I am not required to have them?
Even looking at other states, the lowest I saw was over 3000lbs, so as far as weight I'm good to go.Depends on the State, some are as low as 1000#, several are 1500# (including CA, GA, ID, NC), a couple are 2000#, many are 3000# and a few are 4000#.
My source is here, so the info is only as good as is on their site.
But my question to you is, why fight it? Do you not want to be as safe as possible?
In 1993 I had a 3000# boat trailer that had no brakes, boy did I know it was back there when trying to stop in a hurry. Normal driving, slowing down for intersections etc. was not the issue.
Even though they were not required in MI at the time I bought electric brakes for the trailer and a brake controller for it. Made all the difference in the World to the panic stopping ability
You HAVE brakes, get a controller ($130 or so), hook it up and use it - please!
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kaydeejay
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05/18/12 09:12am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Pulling boat behind fifth wheel?
I have an Alpenlite 34RL fifth wheel that already has a hitch receiver on it, it looks like it was put on by trailer manufacturer, I was wondering if I can pull a small boat that weighs under 1000 lbs. including trailer.
ThanksCheck your State laws, especially overall length. I believe that is 65' in CA
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kaydeejay
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05/17/12 10:23pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Converting electric brakes hookup to a 4 pin trailer hookup
What is your definition of "standard"? Brakes or no brakes?
If the latter I have two questions:
1) How heavy is the pop-up?
2) What does your State require in terms of brakes?
If the answer to (1) is more than the answer to (2) or any other State you plan to drive through you might want to reconsider your position.
Yes, your truck brakes work just fine under normal circumstances, but a 2000# trailer will add 1/3 to the EMERGENCY stopping distance of a 6000# truck.
That's enough to put you into the back of a semi-trailer or the trunk of the car ahead of you, whereas that would be a lot less likely to happen if the trailer had brakes.
If your definition of "standard" is a conversion to hydraulic surge brakes, you will find a brake controller to be a LOT cheaper! (and easier to install)
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kaydeejay
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05/17/12 09:19pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Axle Confusion
For Those of you that want the "" Placard Info " here it is: GVWR:15,000Lbs, Frnt Axle:6,000Lbs, Rear Axle: 6,000Lbs, Tire Pressure:80Lbs, Now, is everyone Happy?, I know, I still need to check the axles themselves to be sure. RonSo your Manufacturer is figuring on a 3000# pin weight if you load to GVWR.
That is cutting it real close!!!
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kaydeejay
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05/17/12 08:24pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Do i need a 12v battery to tow my trailer to the campground?
My trailer brakes do not work if I do not have a battery hooked up also you will not have a break a way brake.Not correct! Trailer brakes work from the truck under normal circumstances, but need the trailer battery in the unlikely event of a break-away.
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kaydeejay
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05/17/12 08:22pm |
Travel Trailers
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