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RE: My Chevrolet Express van Class B- camper
Years ago my wife and I bought a 1977 Dodge factory hippie van. I had brand new carpet in it from ceiling to floor. It had the dinette/bed in the back, the closet, sink, ice box and cabinets. We left the bed a bed. I was driving down a long lost highway and saw a crashed class B in a junk yard next to the highway. I had $175.00 in my pocket. With that I bought a big window and the roof AC off of the crashed van. I added the AC unit, a Coleman, and the big slide open window. I wired it for shore power and also added a microwave oven. We made some curtains for it and had a porta pottie. That was in the mid 1980s. Since that time we have owned a couple of travel trailers, a slide in cabover camper and a class A motorhome. They have all been fun but, that old van was the most fun we ever had RV-ing.
We would get off of work on Fridays, load up the pups, hit a grocery store on the way out of town, and go camping. The freedom to go at a moment's notice was amazing. Yes, it was cramped after a few days but, for long weekends there nothing better.
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falconbrother
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03/20/20 09:13am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Were older travel trailers built better?
I had a 1991 Prowler 15 footer back in the day. It was bloody heavy for a 15 footer. There were things about it that were better. It had a metal (probably tin) roof that would way outlast a rubber roof. It felt more solid. My 2017 is probably more refined but, not as solid feeling. Better made?? I'm not convinced.
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falconbrother
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02/06/20 09:28am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Will my truck tow safely in the Smokys?
I pull my #5800 dry weight 27(30) footer through the Smokies with a 1500 Suburban. I was nervous till I did it the first time. On that day it was hotter than blue blazes. But, the Suburban didn't complain any. Do not use Overdrive. Be gentle with the tow haul, this is not a race. When you hit a steep incline pull it down a gear to keep your RPMs up. I pull Black Mountain at about 32-3300 RPMs which is about 47 MPH. I don't have to get on the gas very hard to do that and I'm passing the semi-trucks. I avoid the two lanes unless I know exactly what I'm getting into. Or, have a educated idea that I'm not heading for a dead end or hairpin turns. Take it easy, let the other driver's worry about themselves and you'll be fine. Oh, for the downhills.. For example I start at the top of Black Mountain at about 35MPH and I have no issues going down the mountain. It's easier than when I had my class A motorhome.
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falconbrother
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02/05/20 01:59pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Help!!! Frame broke
ERnurse16, So sorry you are dealing with this. Are you saying the coupler broke off of the trailer? That's scary. I figured those things would be overbuilt. How hard can it be to beef it up ever so slightly? Geeze Louise..
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falconbrother
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02/05/20 01:33pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing with silverado
Boxers are great dogs. We like the flat nosed, short coated dogs at our house.
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falconbrother
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02/05/20 01:17pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing with silverado
I have been pulling 5800 lbs with a Suburban for three plus years. That truck's going to feel 6800 pounds. I don't know what your max weight rating is but, I'd recommend towing with empty tanks. I like the Chevrolets. When pulling a hill don't let the transmission decide what gear it wants. You decide. Let the RPMs stay in a comfortable RPM range. When pulling Black Mountain I pull it down and keep the RPMs over 3000 (about 3200) and that puts me around 47 MPH up the mountain with the AC on. I added Sumo Supersprings to the rear end and an additional transmission cooler. Don't tow in overdrive. Don't allow the transmission to hunt. I'm super anal about servicing. A 2500 would always do a better job but, I love my old 1500 Suburban and it gets the job done. We need the extra air conditioned space because we take our dogs with us. There's always better options if you have the cash.. But, for my 27 foot, 5800lb (dry) travel trailer the 1500 Chevy Suburban is adequate. If and when I trade I'll be looking for a big SUV, maybe GMC with the 6.0/6.2. The chassis handles the weight fine. It's super important to get that WD hitch set up right.
My max weight is 7200. I wouldn't want to commit to pulling a 6800 dry weight trailer around. That gives you very little, if any wiggle room on weight. Will it do it? Yep, I think it will. But, it's at the top end (or over). There are some people who store their big trailer near mine that I'm sure is at their weight limit. But, they pull it with a 1500 Suburban 5.3 all the time.
I tend to baby my transmission. I'm not in a hurry. I don't allow it to hunt for gears. I get a running start on hills where possible and let the speed slowly bleed down on the way up, etc.. The 5.3 isn't the problem. The GM 4.8/5.3/6.0 is a good design and don't mind RPMs. The powerband on the 5.3 requires RPMs and that's the way it was designed. The 4L60e transmission is a good transmission but, it needs to be serviced. I pulled the pan and replaced the fluid and filter a couple of years ago. I do a drain and fill on the Dextron 6 a couple of times a year. The fluid stays red and fresh all the time. I also service the differential every couple of years (it was rebuilt in 2017).
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falconbrother
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01/28/20 07:32pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Old propane tanks on new RVs
I have read where the RV industry thinks that the average TT is used 3 times a year for the first 2 years, and then never used again by the original owner.... Whe then eventually sells it.
Here we have an owner who went 2 years before attempting to refill his propane!
They may be on to something. And this would explain why many are built so cheaply, and the existance of ST tires.
A lot of people are always on hookups, and never camp in cold weather, so they use very little propane.
We camp in the winter, in fact we're back out for two weeks for Christmas. But, we use electric heat when possible, and take a lot of our showers in a bath house..just because.
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falconbrother
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12/15/19 06:48pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Old propane tanks on new RVs
I just found a mom-n-pop place and had them filled. I'll get the re-certified as suggested and not bother with hassles. It just crawled on me when I couldn't get what I considered to be new-ish tanks filled. Ethics are a thing of the long lost past.
Just out of curiosity, have those tanks ever been taken off the trailer? I'm wondering if you ever took them for refilling and left them for pickup. Or have you noticed that your neighbor's BBQ never seemed to run out of propane?
No, I keep it in storage. I know those are the bottles that came on it. I had the filled when I first bought it. Didn't know bottles expired and such at the time. I know how much was in them, and how much I had used. I'm certain they are the bottles that I bought. Heck, to look at them they look new.
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falconbrother
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12/15/19 06:43pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Locked radio on my 2001 Suburban
I have a 2000 Suburban and have never had this issue. I do know that on mine the stereo is linked to the On Star dohikky. So, it's not a simple plug and play to replace the stereo with an aftermarket. Nevertheless, we like the Suburban. It's my tow vehicle and daily driver.
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falconbrother
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12/15/19 06:34pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Roof: Not leaking, but 20 yrs old
Don't use the stuff from Lowes unless you really don't care about keeping that RV. That stuff will work but, it's inferior to what's on your roof and what you should use. At the very least use EPDM liquid rubber or some other compliant product. I had a raggedy old motorhome that I was constantly fighting leaks with. I used that stuff from Lowes and it worked..but.. I had to reapply at least every year to keep the RV dry inside. Until it's completely and utterly dry it will turn back into goo when rained on. EPDM rubber can get rained on immediately and still seal. It's a totally different animal. It will seal when still tacky. Look up RV roof coatings. Also, take your time. Clean that roof like you were going to eat on it before putting anything on it.
I fought the leaky RV roof battle and it's no fun. Yours isn't leaking. You should be very thankful for that. Do everything you can to keep it that way. This is a scenario where an ounce of prevention is very much worth a pound of cure.
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falconbrother
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12/10/19 12:47pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Old propane tanks on new RVs
I just found a mom-n-pop place and had them filled. I'll get the re-certified as suggested and not bother with hassles. It just crawled on me when I couldn't get what I considered to be new-ish tanks filled. Ethics are a thing of the long lost past.
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falconbrother
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12/10/19 12:36pm |
Travel Trailers
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Old propane tanks on new RVs
I bought a brand new 2017 Coleman 262BH in 2017. Went to get my propane tanks filled today and found out they expired in 2013, 4 years before I bought my 2017 model camper new off the lot. They would not fill them. The test date was 2003 (expires 2013). Feeling kinda cheated. They told me it would cost $120.00 to get new, filled bottles.
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falconbrother
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12/07/19 04:41pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Officially a veteran RV-er..
Got the Suburban back a little while ago. Not an outrageous bill for a new radiator. Heading home in the am. We've been at the Florence RV Park in SC. Dang it's hot here and no grocery store or restaurant for miles. In the future we will travel with extras, just in case. The camp store had cold sodas, Reese's in the freezer and Marie Calendar frozen dinners so, we did OK.
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falconbrother
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09/30/19 03:44pm |
Travel Trailers
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Officially a veteran RV-er..
We have been RV-ing in some fashion since 1988. Never have we broken down and been dead stranded. Today we lost the radiator on the Suburban on a hot SC501 bypass. I called Good Sam roadside and the tow truck driver was there in about 35 minutes. We're safe at a campground and the Suburban is at the shop.
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falconbrother
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09/29/19 02:59pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Pulling with 1/2 ton
My weight rating is #7200. I'm pulling 5800 dry weight. I wouldn't want to go any heavier. I don't tow with water in the tanks. The Suburban does fine. Heading to the beach day after tomorrow.
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falconbrother
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09/19/19 09:59am |
Travel Trailers
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5 liter SUVs and truck capability.
I'm currently towing 5800 Lbs dry with a 5.3 Chevrolet Suburban. I'm curious if anyone has towed with Ford 5.4 and Chevy 5.3 and has an opinion as to which is best, based on putting that power on the pavement. Which is better for towing or are they about the same?
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falconbrother
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07/18/19 09:05am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Chevy 1500HD vs. 2500
Well, I've had two Chevrolets a truck and the Suburban. Neither time was I looking to buy a Chevy and both have been very good vehicles. Both times I was looking at other brands and found a deal too good to pass on. I think I am becoming a fan of Chevy. My grandfather was a "Ford man". When I was a kid I would listen to him argue with other farmers about which truck was best. When he died in 1986 he still had a sweet 1969 F100. My dad, having left the farm for the university, sold that old truck. Being enamored with an old truck wasn't within his reality paradigm. Somehow I got all the redneck. I wish I had that old truck. It would be my daily driver. Nevertheless, I have come to believe that there ain't a dimes worth of difference between Chevy and Ford. Both have made awesome trucks and a few losers. Nevertheless, I see 1500HD's around and that plays into my wheelhouse, as they say. I wrench on my own cars and trucks unless it requires removing engine, transmission or differential. Not because I can't but, my neighbors would freak. And I wouldn't blame them.
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falconbrother
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07/09/19 06:00pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Chevy 1500HD vs. 2500
Actually I was referring to the mid 2000's models but 2020 works.
Why have a 2500 and a 1500HD?
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falconbrother
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07/09/19 11:57am |
Tow Vehicles
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Chevy 1500HD vs. 2500
Question: What was the difference between a Chevy Silverado 1500HD and a 2500? Both have heavy axles and the larger V8.
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falconbrother
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07/09/19 07:01am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Uncle Frank gave me a 2006 32 ft Thor Wanderer
Don't worry about books. Repack those wheel bearings, adjust those brakes and go camping.
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falconbrother
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07/08/19 05:58pm |
Travel Trailers
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