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RE: New (to us) Coachmen Chaparral
We really lucked out on this. Not only is it in fabulous condition, but the accessories that came with the unit were nearly more than I could get in the back of my truck, it was fully stocked, and every compartment was full of stuff...it came lock, stock, and barrel. The sellers simply wanted out from under the thing, and I hate to even admit the fabulous price I got it for. But in the end, they were happy and we were happy...it don`t get much better than that.:C
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msjdbman
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05/16/12 12:05pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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New (to us) Coachmen Chaparral
Well, last Sunday turned into a very nice mothers day for my wife. We bit our lips and bought a 2003 Coachman Chaparral 295 IKS. We had been looking for 2 years for something to upgrade to that we could agree on and that was within our budget. Patience turns out to have been our friend. Now the pain in the behind job begins, getting everything from the old one over to the new one so that we can sell.
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj22/msjdgman/IMG00069-20120515-1904.jpg
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msjdbman
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05/16/12 03:20am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Million Mile Chevy Duramax LBZ
I`ll be darned.....I know these folks. No wonder we haven`t seen them much the last few years...they`re never home.
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msjdbman
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05/12/12 05:12pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Duramax oil drain plug drama
Hey fellas....it took me all of 3 minutes to look up the recommended torque spec for the DMax oil pan drain plug, and it is indeed 62 lb ft. I had been reading this thread thinking, heck, the torque on old chevy small block rods was around 45-50 lb ft...and those were just 3/8 inch rod bolts.
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msjdbman
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05/07/12 03:25pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Real Experience Please
As it has been a stated above, being able to know if it`s had a tuner or other mods is the biggest question or fear. I love my 08 with the LMM engine. It is a real horse. As to leg room...I guess it`s all in the eyes of the beholder. I`m 6 ft 4 inches tall, 250 lbs, and this truck has the most leg room of any truck I`ve ever had. I`m pushing 89K now, and the only issues were a trans cooler line and a fan clutch. That`s it. And if you can change your own fuel filter, try a cost of $29 for the Racor OEM.
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msjdbman
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05/04/12 08:01pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tow Vehicle Preparation - Colorado Trip Planned
Thank you both for the advice. In Tennessee, the brakes kept getting too hot, I really needed your advice about using the transmission. Also, how difficult is it to change the rear differential fluid? Can I do this fairly easy myself, or take it to the dealer?
Some (not all) of the GM differentials have a drain plug right in the bottom of the pig. If yours has it...piece of cake.
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msjdbman
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05/03/12 04:08pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Took 8 years, but we, ok I, finally did it !
Backed into my site this weekend, check the level, needed one board, pulled forward, placed the board, backed up, then dropped the landing gear and chocked the wheels.
Went inside and it felt strange. I was completely set up before it hit me! I placed the board under the wrong wheels! The frig was working fine, so left it that way for the weekend. We didn’t get sea sick once!
On Saturday went to a nearby RV dealer and bought a set of paste on levels. Installed them when we got home!
I finally started carrying a small hand held level with me. This way I can manipulate the darned thing to remind myself which way I need to go to move the bubble the right way on the fixed levels!!
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msjdbman
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04/30/12 03:51pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: storing aux fuel tank
I have a 40 gallon tank that I put in and take out yearly. When I get ready to remove it in the fall, I fill it clear up and treat the fuel with a stabilizing product that has an algecide. Then when I empty the tank (at least all that will pump) the residual fuel is treated. Then in the summer when I re-install the tank, I replace the filter and recirculate the new fresh fuel several times prior to putting it into the truck.
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msjdbman
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04/22/12 05:37am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 5vr is too wide!
Yupper....just last year as I was backing my 5er into the shop to do my pre-trip chassis service work, I could see my tractor in the back of the shop...knew how close I could get...and oops...forgot about the 3 point hitch lift arms extending past the rear of the tractor. I got a real nice hole thru the vinyl cover of my spare tire.
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msjdbman
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04/20/12 04:49pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Convincing my father in law - Dangerous towing.
This is a fabulous outcome. Many of us had been following this in earnest hoping for the best. Hope that everyone has a great time on the upcoming trip.
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msjdbman
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04/15/12 05:09am |
Towing
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RE: The fuel gap is closing up.
Several years ago, there was a great hue and cry from the OTR owner/operators of big rigs about the high diesel costs. Things like "its gonna drive up the cost of food, furniture", "its gonna put us all outa business", "theres gonna be hundreds of trucks for sale since we can't afford the fuel", and so on.
Today, diesel is even higher and theres no (at least none publicized) out burst of protest from these same people.
Whats the difference?? Are they now relying on fuel surcharges to make money, and the shippers are accepting surcharges as just another business expense?
Primarily the answer is yes....fuel surcharges are being added in. Many of the firms that we do business with and even the company I work for add a variable fuel surcharge that varies with the cost of fuel in a given time period relative to when the base freight rates were developed.
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msjdbman
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04/07/12 05:28pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Getting more power
Thanks for sharing.....that was darned funny. I try to catch the Red Green show when I can...it`s a hoot!!
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msjdbman
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04/07/12 02:23pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 6.6 vs 6.0 why is more torque so much better
I will take your word on the tow ratings...really does not matter. But go pull a 13K load with each truck and the difference will become clear as day, especially dragging any kind of high profile trailer thru the air at 60 mph.
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msjdbman
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03/27/12 06:31pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New Chevrolet 3500
To the OP, I firmly believe you`ll love your new truck. I love my 08. I had originally used mine for work, but it was officially retired to simply my tow vehicle last October. It has just 88K on it, is in near perfect condition, and should last me for many moons to come.
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msjdbman
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03/26/12 03:48pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: What was your first car?
My first car was a 69 Chevelle SS 396 with Muncie 4 speed. I bought it when I was 15. I hadn`t even had drivers training yet. I had been driving on the farm for years, but the old man wouldn`t let me drive to town. I could hardly believe it when my old man agreed to let me buy the Chevelle. But, he got to drive it for 6 months until I got my license. I think the main reason he let me buy it was that 1 year prior to this, he swapped his 67 Impala SS 396 convertable for a 72 Caprice, and he missed it so much. He didn`t want us kids learning how to drive with that SS Impala. Like he was ever going to let me drive his Impala:B
If we had only had the foresight to know what those cars would have been worth today:S
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msjdbman
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03/24/12 11:37am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2004 Duramax
Yup. Sounds like the infamous pump rub issue.
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msjdbman
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03/11/12 12:37pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Oil changes - DIESEL ONLY
I do it myself. The oil I use is John Deere Plus 50 II 15W40. I buy my yearly supply during the spring lube and filter special for $38 for a 2.5 gal jug. The filters I use, Fleetguard, ran me about $8 each when I bought several at a time a few years ago. So for $46 and change, I`m happy.
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msjdbman
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03/11/12 06:50am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Can't decide which fuel tank to buy
I had originally wanted a Titan or some sort of factory replacement tank. But wow, those are expensive. I ended up with an in the bed 40 gal tank, complete with elect pump, filter, hose, and nozzle for $150 off from Craigs list. I lose 8 inches out of the front of the bed, but for the cost savings, I can live with that.
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msjdbman
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03/11/12 06:45am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Engine Hoist to remove hitch
I`ve got a cherry picker and could use that, but I use my loader tractor with pallet forks. I pop the hitch out of the rails with a bar, and then lift it out with the forks, set it on a small pallet I attached wheels to, and wheel it out of the way. My hitch is a Reese 16K Slider.
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msjdbman
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03/11/12 06:31am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: POLL: WOULD YOU BUY THE SAME TRUCK AGAIN
Yes. My 08 Silverado with the D Max is all I`ve ever wanted in a truck. The only thing that I would change is a larger fuel tank (26G) and telescoping steering wheel.
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msjdbman
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03/05/12 06:30pm |
Tow Vehicles
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