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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Leaving Camper on the Jacks

The issue is with the camper on the truck I don't have anywhere to put 4 cement blocks and 2 planks. I suppose I could wrap them in a blanket and put them in the camper but if I didn't need them it would be just as easy to leave them home.
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BurbMan
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03/07/21 07:22pm |
Truck Campers
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Leaving Camper on the Jacks

I've only had this camper for a year now, but whenever it's off the truck I have it sitting on planks and blocks. I only use the jacks to take it on/off the truck.
I may have to put the camper in a storage yard for 3 or 4 months while we get some stuff straightened up around the yard. Can I leave it on the jacks for that long or should I plan to bring the cement blocks and planks from home for it to sit on? With the jacks fully retracted, the bottom of the camper is about 1' off the ground.
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BurbMan
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03/07/21 07:06pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: What the heck? I thought motorhomes lost value fast!!

Everybody seemed to latch onto RVing as the best way to socially distance while on vacation, dealers can't keep units on their lots. Camping World is running an ongoing campaign on FB saying "Why store it when you can sell it? We will buy your RV!" 2020 was the best *ever* year for RV sales even though the industry lost a few months of production.
Consensus seems to be that by 2022 the RV market will flip to being a buyers' market as many of the folks that bought RVs in the covid period decide that they don't like RVing and look to unload their lightly-used units.
If you don't have to buy right now, wait another year and you'll get a much better deal.
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BurbMan
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03/07/21 09:15am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: parking on hill

No fridge, no slides, no problem..... For now. That OSB will degrade pretty fast though.
Agreed on this. Maybe it's the shadow in the pic, but it looks like the slope eases as you go back a little, so if the tongue was where the axles are, the TT wouldn't be on such an angle. If you have 4WD on the truck, use LO range to pull the trailer out, it's easier on both the transmission and the lawn...if you don't have 4WD that's gonna be interesting getting that TT outta there.
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BurbMan
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03/05/21 06:04am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: ram 2500 vs 3500

Here is the 2021 Ram Towing Chart that gives you the capacities of different models. In addition to diesel or gas, ratings vary based on trim level, box length and cab configuration. Figure out what your pin weight and cargo needs are, then buy the truck that will do the job.
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BurbMan
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03/03/21 06:15am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Locked Out!

Glad you got it figured out! In the future, you may try getting on roof of camper, reaching down to lock/unlock, until you get used to the new keyhole location. :B
Jerry
There may have been martinis involved, and I try to stay on the ground in those conditions.... :)
I think I'm just gonna leave it unlocked....
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BurbMan
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02/26/21 09:47am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Locked Out!

Well....problem fixed! For years, on every trailer we've ever had, the entry door had the hinges on the right and the lock on the left. In this config, the handle latch was the upper keyhole and the deadbolt was the lower keyhole. On this truck camper, the door is reversed, meaning that the hinges are on the left and the lock on the right. The means that the lock is installed with a reverse orientation, and you guessed it....the keyholes are reversed. I went out there in the dark and had the key in the wrong hole. Daylight fixed the issue!
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BurbMan
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02/25/21 02:46pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Locked Out!

It's not the deadbolt, it's the regular handle latch. The camper is sitting on block perfectly level, the door isn't jammed. I can push the door in against the give in the door seal so I know it moves freely in the frame, just that handle won't pull out to retract the latch. The deadsolt still works fine.
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BurbMan
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02/25/21 08:53am |
Tech Issues
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Locked Out!

We just put a brand new lock on the Lance, and went to get into it yesterday and couldn't. I only locked the handle, not the deadbolt, but when you turn the key the handle doesn't release. Also you can't remove the key in the unlocked position. Had this same lock on trailers for years and never had an issue. Anybody have any tricks before I drill the lock and replace it?
It's the standard paddle handle RV lock:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61IeBOlD5KL._AC_SL1333_.jpg width=540
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BurbMan
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02/25/21 07:58am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Harbor Freight - what happened to the 20% off coupons

With Sears headed toward extinction there aren't a lot of places to buy tools, especially automotive stuff. Their quality is headed upmarket with new brands like Icon and Bauer. I just bought a $69 Bauer trim router and it's almost identical to the $99 Makita at HD.
If you the math, the ad coupons are always about 20% off, and the general 20% off coupon excluded compressors, welders, Bauer, and a laundry list of other stuff to the point it was only good on a bag of zip ties.
Honestly I like where they are going...you can still buy the cheap junk I-only-need-it-one-time tools, but you can get some quality stuff too, so you pay for what you need.
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BurbMan
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02/25/21 07:54am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Cost of engine replacement or rebuild

I was gonna say $8-10k having all the work done, probably $4-5k if you DIY. Change oil and filter every 3k and you will never have to worry about this.
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BurbMan
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02/18/21 07:25pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: RV width

Standard is 8' or 8.5'. Some of the ultra light TTs come 7' wide.
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BurbMan
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02/15/21 06:44pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing with F150 Poweboost

We had a 2018 Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EB and towed a double axle U Haul trailer to Wisconsin year before last. It towed like a dream and held 70-75 easy on the interstate. But with the 18-gallon gas tank, gat stops were every 2 hours, you could almost set your watch by it.
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BurbMan
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02/13/21 01:47pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Need Help Deciding which feature for trailer

A lot depends on how you plan to use the trailer. The outside fridge is nice if you are plugged into shore power, but useless if you are not. The main fridge runs off of propane when you are boondocking, the bar fridge in the outside kitchen is 120v only.
The outside door to the lav is in theory a good idea to keep the little ones from tracking through the trailer, but I wouldn't want to have a door there if I was camping in cooler temps, those doors are not insulated that well. If it was a big trailer with 1.5 baths, I could see an outdoor entry to the half bath.
The hardest part of buying the first trailer is visualizing how you will use it, i.e., the type of camping you will do. Buy what you think you will like, and go from there.
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BurbMan
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02/10/21 07:21am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Wiring a charge line to battery on utility trailer

I would change the connection to a 7-pin standard RV plug. As was stated use a fuse on thge (+) line by the battery. Personally I would go with #10 wire and 30a fuse. Also consider a relay of some sort so that the charge line to the trailer only has voltage when the engine is running, otherwise you have the potential to drain the truck battery with winch usage while the truck is parked.
Going to a 7-pin now also makes it easier to add brakes in the future if you ever get a heavier trailer.
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BurbMan
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02/08/21 06:22am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Where to put that pesky TV

Nice work!
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BurbMan
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02/06/21 08:16pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Cellular blinds: Should I switch or not ? PLEASE CHIME IN!!

We have had both blinds and day/night pleated shades. Have also had cellular in the S&B.
Day/night shades are by far the best for light control. You can have daylight or total blackout for sleeping. The bad news if you boondock and like the windows open, they also block all airflow and breezes as well.
Miniblinds are barely adequate for light control, but allow decent airflow even when closed, so if you like a light breeze when sleeping, this is the best choice.
Cellular shades are best at insulating if you in a hot or cold climate. Because you only have one color per shade, you either pick a day color or night color. If insulation value is what you need, I would probably go dark in the bedroom and light in the living room.
Bottom line, there is no "best choice". Think about where you camp, and how you you feel about light control and air movement.
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BurbMan
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02/06/21 08:36am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Do you regret getting rid of your RV cornices?

Valence, cornice, lambequin, I believe Deuce is talking about these things that go around the windows:
https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-kwuh809851/images/stencil/608x608/products/831/5096/VAL1L-CUSTOM-3-4-Swatch__07957.1544450958.jpg?c=2 width=440
These are invariably upholstered with the ugliest fabric available. In a previous trailer, I removed them and replaced them with ones I made from oak and stained. If you have miniblinds, they are function in the sense that they keep the blinds from bouncing around when in transit.
If you have pleated shades, they don't do much to keep the shades in place (since the shades are tethered) but visually they do hide the top bar, and as was noted, offer some light protection on the sides.
I removed them in our latest truck camper project and never looking back!
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BurbMan
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02/06/21 08:27am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: How I repaired my damaged section of my fiberglass wall

Your repair looks great Finn! Good to know that filon can be seamed like that and look decent!
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BurbMan
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02/06/21 08:21am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Roadside Breakdown

"Both times when I lost the transmission on the Suburban..."
Twice on the same vehicle? That's terrible.
First time was in a small town in KY, I lost reverse backing the TT into a campsite. GS sent a guy that used his flat bed to finish backing the TT into the site. No transmission shop in town, so only option was Jasper rebuilt from local garage.
Put about about 10k on the Jasper and the 3rd gear sprag grenaded towing the TT in NJ. Jasper replaced under warranty but still cost $900..some of that was for parts that were "not covered". Plus the friendly garage pointed out that the Jasper warranty pays $65/hr labor and his rate was $110/hr, so that made up a large portion of the bill....
Point being that nobody expects a trans with a fresh rebuild to snit the bed, so all the preventive maintenance in the world is no guarantee of anything. Yes it stacks the deck in your favor, but stuff happens.
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BurbMan
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02/05/21 02:57pm |
Truck Campers
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