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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: tandem axle channel supports
Thank you for the info. Here is the photo I wanted to show. The formed steel angle looks some what light for twisting and turning the travel trailer
https://i.imgur.com/otCnKJJl.jpg
Looks very similar to my camper with similar axles. No problems over 7 years.
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djsamuel
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01/26/21 01:09pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Standard definition tv
SD is working fine for me at home.
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djsamuel
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01/04/21 09:32am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Honest RV Dealers - Are there any?
We purchased our camper at RV World in Lakeland on Rt 98 near I-4. That was 7 years ago, but we were very happy with them at the time of sale and for a few service appointments. I wouldn't hesitate to give them another shot if I were looking.
Gerzeny's RV World - Lakeland
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djsamuel
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11/27/20 07:53pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 1/2 ton towing
My trailer is a 24' trailer with a GVWR of 5,000 pounds. I tow with a 2009 Ram 1500 and it tows great. That said, I don't know if I'd go much above a GVWR of 8,000 pounds; especially if I'm planning on towing in the mountains. A 2500 would be much better with a larger trailer and changing elevations.
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djsamuel
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11/24/20 07:55am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Very Frustrated
Sounds like a bad starter solenoid.
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djsamuel
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11/23/20 02:18pm |
Tech Issues
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End of Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines
News Article - Click here.
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djsamuel
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09/08/20 12:45pm |
Good Sam Club
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RE: Need tires on my Ram Tow Vehicle.
I have Cooper Discoverer tires on my Ram 1500 and they've been really good. Very happy with them.
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djsamuel
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08/25/20 01:10pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Dodge RAM payload
Make sure you verify that payload. Also, check the options since something is eating it up. Other models of the 1500 should have more payload. My 2009 Ram 1500 which is of similar coil spring suspension has a payload of 1725 pounds and has towed my camper all over the country with no problem. Great truck.
Use this for more Ram info:
Ram Towing Guide Click Here
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djsamuel
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08/16/20 01:41pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Walt Disney/Universal since Covid re-opening
We've probably been to WDW close to 100 times since 1971 (plus we lived in the Orlando area a number of years, which made it easier to go). Many times have we enjoyed the full Disney experience, and loved it every time.
I realize the changes that needed to be made, and I agree fully with every one of them -- however it sounds like the Disney experience just doesn't exist.
If it were me, I'd wait it out rather than be sorely disappointed.
Just my opinion.
Agree 100%. It is one thing when it takes less than half an hour to get in, but to spend the money and time to come from a distance is just not worth it right now (in my opinion). Hopefully things will return to normal by next year.
I do feel bad for the company and especially the workers; many of whom I know. It is a bad situation and they are doing their best; but it is tough.
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djsamuel
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07/23/20 09:12am |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Gatlinberg, TN and Ashville, NC
For Gatlinburg I have always enjoyed staying in the town of Townsend. Not a bad drive into Gatlinburg but way less crowded and much quieter. I'm not a KOA type person but the one in Townsend is excellent. There is also another campground next door to the KOA called Little Arrow. It is nice as well. Both are less than one mile from the entrance to the Smokey Mtn. National Park and much closer to Cades Cove than coming from Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg.
For Asheville, if you need to be in/near the city, campfire Lodgings is nice. As another said above, Momma Gertries seems to get a lot of traffic but I have never stayed there myself. Lake Powhatan Recreational Area is near Asheville and is pretty nice as well.
Love Townsend. The Little Arrow Campground is excellent. Stayed there in September. Big Meadows Family Campground is good as well.
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djsamuel
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07/23/20 09:10am |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Walt Disney/Universal since Covid re-opening
We live nearby and we've been over to Disney Springs and the hotels. My wife retired from Disney but we haven't had the chance to get into the parks but know people who have. From what we've seen, Disney has done a really good job at making it as safe as possible. To get into the parks, Disney Springs, or even ride the monorail, you have to get your temperature taken. There are also barriers in the monorail and you get a section to yourself. At restaurants, there are no menus, just a QR code you scan with your phone and the menu pops up. If you don't have a phone to do that, they have throw away paper menus. Tables are separated a lot, and the use of masks is strictly enforced. People were using drinking something as an excuse for walking around without a mask. They would get a Starbucks, and just walk around holding it. Disney changed the rules to require anybody eating or drinking to do so while stationary and stopped in a designated socially distanced location. They are increasing enforcement as well.
There are no character meet and greets and character meals are not the same or are not open. Those restaurants still offering character meals only have the characters walking through, not stopping for pictures.
Buffets are either closed or have converted to family style serving. Trails End at Fort Wilderness is still closed with no timeline for reopening at the moment.
Also, remember that to get into a park you have to make an advanced reservation just to get in. In addition, there is no park hopping allowed; only one park per day.
Personally, if I was coming a distance and about to drop a lot of money, I think I'd wait a year for all of this to hopefully return to normal.
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djsamuel
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07/22/20 08:45am |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Yet another tow/weight question...
Thanks so much for all the info.
1. The two we're looking at have dry weights of 4,883 and 5,120.
2. I'm sure most newbies say this, but, we don't anticipate having too much added weight to the calculations above. Family is less than 500 total. We're not planning on taking anything more than the usual cooler, food, clothes, dishes, etc... We may take our bicycles as well.
Looks as if the math is ok according to the info supplied in all your posts. I look forward to adding to this forum on the help-side in the future.
Based on my experience with the identical truck, it looks like you'll be fine if you stick with that weight range.
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djsamuel
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07/22/20 08:36am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Yet another tow/weight question...
First time poster. I anticipate become a full-fledged member of this site/community as I get started.
Like many, I am confused about my truck's towing capacity. I've read every word of this thread twice. I figure, the best thing might be to put on my own truck's specs and lean on the experts on here for help.
2009 Dodge Ram SLT Quad Cab 2WD 4.7 V8
Gear Ratio 3.55
GVWR 6,700
3,700 front; 3,900 rear
Payload 1,681 - I'm assuming this is my payload as it's on the sticker inside my door.
95% of our travel will be somewhat local and on flat roads; however, we do want to take the occasional cross-country trip. We'll never be in a hurry as we're teachers and anticipate these rare trips to be over a good length of time.
What would be a comfortable dry weight "max" for a travel trailer? Thanks in advance. Ty
I have the identical truck; same engine, gear ratio, model and quad cab as well (2WD). We tow a 24' trailer all over the country with that truck and it's been great; very stable, reliable, and not a white knuckle experience at all. However, if I was towing a much larger trailer, I would be looking at a bigger truck.
What size trailer do you plan to be towing? Figure 12% tongue weight and subtract that from the payload. That would be how much you can put in the truck (including people). Don't use the dry weight for your calculations. You want to use the GVWR so you can assume worst case.
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djsamuel
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07/20/20 02:22pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Devil's canyon UT
The maps provided by Recreation.gov are just wretched.
Yes. Even when working down the campsite list on the left of recreation.gov; which highlights the location on the map on the right, it gets screwed up starting at site 14. Some sites don't even show up.
That's because not all of the sites in this park are reservable. Some are first-come. Only the reservable ones show up.
Thanks! That makes sense but it sure wasn't clear. :)
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djsamuel
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06/19/20 06:32am |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Need a new hitch
If money is an issue the Andersen hitch would provide good sway and bounce control. It is a good WDH hitch for trailer sizes like yours. We've had ours on our 21BHS for 7 years and it's been excellent. Quiet, light and easy to set up.
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djsamuel
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06/19/20 06:04am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: gps which one is best,second best
I didn't necessarily use my GPS on my cell phone when I'm well aware of the route I will be taking.
My last trip through Knoxville, TN, I learned my lesson. I noticed that about 70% of the traffic exited the interstate, toward Maryville, just south of Knoxville. I didn't think much about it and kept going. The traffic came to a sudden halt and the trip through Knoxville took about 2-1/2 hours. There was a major accident during early rush hour and the traffic that had exited went through Maryville probably saved at least 1-1/2 hour. I now use the Google or Waze mapping, even when I know the route like the back of my hand.
This is an important point. The Garmin I use has traffic and it works very well. However, when I was using my old GPS I never thought about that!
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djsamuel
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06/18/20 01:29pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Devil's canyon UT
The maps provided by Recreation.gov are just wretched.
Yes. Even when working down the campsite list on the left of recreation.gov; which highlights the location on the map on the right, it gets screwed up starting at site 14. Some sites don't even show up.
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djsamuel
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06/18/20 01:20pm |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Trailer legs
Isn't this the same as placing a jack on the axle tube which is exactly what they say you're not supposed to do?
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djsamuel
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06/10/20 01:47pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Andersen hitch
That is what is called a progressive spring rate. The bars have a more linear spring rate, and a linear spring rate is better in this situation.
I also tend to end up at rough places, dirt roads that get worse near the camping spot, so I have to take the bars off before I get there. The bars are easy as I just use a lever to unload the spring, but the Anderson requires jacking up the tongue?
Exactly! Thanks, linear is the word I was trying to think of and for some reason I couldn't think of it (oh no). That is a good point regarding unloading the spring. I guess you could unload the hitch by turning the nut, but it is a LOT easier if you jack it up with the tongue jack first.
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djsamuel
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05/18/20 02:34pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Andersen hitch
The red urathane bumper is the spring, so it does have a spring, a red urathane spring.
For those that have one... How much angle difference between the truck and trailer can be had? The red bumper is short, so the spring travel will be small, and when it bottoms out that is it. With bar springs they will keep bending or the trailer frame will bend, but mostly the spring bar will bend as needed.
Or what happens if you go too far? Will the bolt-on mount just twist forward and no harm other than having to re-set it?
Never had an issue with that over the many places we've gone with the hitch. I would add though, that unlike springs which have a more consistent spring constant, the urethane "springs" resist compression more as they are compressed. So while they may compress easily at the beginning, they become more difficult to compress as the force is increased. I think this is what helps prevent the urethane from "bottoming out".
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djsamuel
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05/18/20 07:44am |
Travel Trailers
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