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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Help a Newbie, question about gas vs. diesel
Farmerkev,
A normal person never pays off per say the cost if ones vehicle! So buy what you want, use what you want, call it a day. If you want a diesel, get one! Both fuels, both sets of motors have plus and minuses. Beyond that, it's not worth arguing over.
Marty
Sorry Marty but I think I must be completely missing the point of your post? My assumption is that almost everyone either pays cash for their vehicle or pays off their loan over a 3 or 4 year period. You say there is pluses and minuses to both gas and diesel but don't mention what any of those pluses or minuses are. I think the whole point of this thread is that the op is wanting to know what those pluses and minuses are. For instance the big plus of the diesel is the high torque output which makes towing a more pleasant experience. For only a 10 k trailer that plus mifht not not be enough to offset the big minus of diesel .... higher intial cost.
I think the argument is that the cost savings of a diesel over it's life are probably not going to cover the added upfront cost of the diesel. I know for me it wouldn't, but if someone tows a lot it could.
I don't want a diesel because I don't tow nearly enough and my normal commute is ~3km, so as a daily driver it would suck (had an 01 Duramax). I'd never pay off the added buying costs.
Get what you want. I'm looking at the new 6.6L and 7.3L gas motors and the numbers they put up are enough for my needs.
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gmckenzie
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08/16/19 08:47am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Is tongue weight calculated in CGVWR?
8,700.
If you're worried about 400 lbs, maybe consider a second vehicle to move people out of the tow vehicle?
Thanks. Just this morning I had the idea that if I strapped the wife to the rear bumper of the trailer for the longer trips I would lessen the tongue weight a bit.
Be careful doing this. It might lead to too light of tongue weight and will induce sway, whipping your wife from side to side until she falls off. Just be aware that if the sway suddenly gets better, you may have to go back for her.
I'm reminded of the idea to see who loves you more, your wife or your dog. Toss them both in the trunk, got for a 10 mile drive, stop and open the trunk. The one happy to see you loves you more.
An no, my wife doesn't read these forums. Why do you ask?
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gmckenzie
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08/16/19 08:38am |
Towing
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RE: Cabin filte
I had an 01 GMC 2500HD.
Bought it off my father.
He owned it 8 yrs or so and I'd had it a couple of years. Did the same thing. Changed the cabin filter in the car and started looking into adding one to the truck.
Turns out the 01's came with one. I didn't know and my father didn't know. After 11 or so yrs that thing was black. Changed it and all of the sudden my fan blew way more air :)
They dropped it in 02 or 03.
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gmckenzie
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08/14/19 09:36am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Bunkhouses similar to 272BHS with light hitch weight
The post above is right, FORGET DRY WEIGHT, it is a useless number unless you want to estimate.
Also Forget looking at any trailer until you do the most important thing. Weigh your tow vehicle! Load it up with the family, and any cargo you assume you will carry in it, and take it to a CAT scale.
When you do this (and it is excellent advice) either have your WDH hitch with you or take 100 lbs off the payload number you calc out.
100 lbs for the hitch relates to 770 less lb of trailer weight your can pull.
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gmckenzie
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08/14/19 09:12am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Real towing advise please
Payload is more important than tow weight.
Tongue weight+WD+stuff in bed+passengers+stuff in cab=?
Subtract that from payload sticker on your truck to see where you are at.
If you don’t know the actual, real world tongue weight, then take 13-15% of the trailer’s gross as the tongue weight.
A properly set up rig shouldn’t have any sway issues and certainly should not be scary.
^^This
What is your payload on your truck? And don't try to guess what your trailer weight will be by starting with dry weight.
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gmckenzie
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08/14/19 08:55am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: New to RVing.....please help
Thank you so much for the help. Any other advice for a first timer?
Surge Protector!! Do not RV without one. Without one, you could destroy electrical components and appliances. You always hook up the surge protector to the shoreline electrical box at the RV park. Do not hook your electrical cord to your trailer until your surge protector indicates that your RV electrical shore box has no electrical problems. It is a dangerous assumption to assume all RV park managers maintain all the RV park systems on a regular basis.
Or spend more money (and it is a bit of a difference) and get a built in surge protector, like a Progressive Industries one. Only downside is the cost. No question of it being plugged in and protecting your unit, and it does a better job.
There is an even pricier unit that maintains voltage in the unit if there is a drop in the pole. I couldn't justify the price increase.
Also, with the item in the first picture (pressure regulator) be sure to attach it to the water supply and then run your hose from it to the trailer. Otherwise high park pressure can split the hose itself. Oh, and when it starts to fail (water pressure drops to much) think about an adjustable one with a gauge on it.
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gmckenzie
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08/12/19 08:56am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: another solar option
no use for the inverter. its on for 150 bucks (Canadian dollars so like 4.50 for you yanks). It has very limited reviews (people often only review when there is a problem) combined with Costco's willingness to take anything back and the more plentiful positive reviews elsewhere lead me to believe this may be worth the gamble.
see same panel at Canadian tire for much more money with no controller. lots of good reviews. clicky
Hell of a price difference between Crappy Tire and Costco. Probably goes on sale at Crappy Tire at 70% off at times though :)
I have this unit. I think from Costco (but maybe not). It works well for keeping my 6V batteries topped up for an extended long weekend (4 days) with no power. I don't really go longer than that anymore in the Provincial sites. I do have all LED and don't run the furnace, but am not trying to run a TV either.
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gmckenzie
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08/09/19 11:59am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Have I been doing it wrong all these years?
I have been towing our 30ft fiver for years with a Silverado 2500 Duramax. Have been using the tow mode and get right around 12MPG. Today we headed out. I zeroed out the trip computer before leaving. Stopped at a rest area about 100 miles out, all freeway traveling at about 60 as usual. It’s then I noticed I had forgot to put it in tow mode. Checked MPG reading and was surprised to see 15 MPG. Tran temp and engine temp were normal so just left it off the rest of trip, another 140 miles. Checked again at end and got 14.4 MPG. So my question.. On fairly flat highways should I leave towing mode off and only turn it on when I hit the hills?
Had an 01 Sierra with the Duramax. I found it held the lower gear on flat roads so I'd turn off the T/H until it shifted and then turn it back on. Once in 5th, it would stay there with T/H on. But I liked T/H for getting up to speed and hills.
I doubt it would be a 3 mpg difference though.
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gmckenzie
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08/08/19 09:18am |
Towing
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RE: Bunkhouses similar to 272BHS with light hitch weight
Pardon me if I come across as frustrated with this post, but if we can’t depend on ANY numbers from the vehicle or the RV manufacturer to be correct, then how has anyone ever purchased a vehicle and RV and known they were within their limits until after the fact?
Maybe we’ll just rent whatever model we’re thinking of buying and take it to the scale. Even then, that particular trailer isn’t going to weigh the same as the specific one we’ll be buying.
You are doing the right thing by asking here :)
Yes, it is frustrating knowing that the numbers are all over the map. Best rule of thumb is to use the trailer GVW and 13% of that for tongue weight.
In my case, the brochure lists my tongue weight as 630 lbs. My trailer GVW is 8,200 lbs (6,762 dry). My actual weight (based on taking it across a close scale and spending a half hour weighing every which way) is **** close to 8200 loaded and 1040 tongue (12.7%), or 65% more that the listed hitch weight.
In fact, the only way to get a reliable is to scale it (as you suggested). Outside of that it's a bit of a crapshoot unfortunately.
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gmckenzie
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08/02/19 11:47am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: My set up and TT length
Nice payload for a 1/2 ton. When I went looking for a 1/2 ton I couldn't find any of the Fords with the max payload package.
I got a GMC with their max trailering and payload is 2015. My trailer is 34"4' from hitch to bumper. 8200lbs CVW
I don't have any real issues with sway with my setup, but am using a 4 pt hitch. I've towed from central BC, through to Banff, Jasper area and also down the Oregon Coast. Never felt unsafe, just had some proposing issues between Jasper and Banff that I blame more on the bad frost heaves.
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gmckenzie
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08/02/19 11:31am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Trailer Feels Heavier After Hauling for Period of Time
What is laughable about his weight estimates? He knows what he loads in the trailer more than the weight police on this forum. He accounted for his water weight. 200 lbs additional can be realistic for everything else such as kitchen utensils, bedding, food, clothing, and misc gear, unless you have OCD or some other mental disorder, or are a hoarder.
Not everyone needs or hauls a ton and a half of additional stuff like some of you folks. Now if he's stacking cubes of brick or pallets of 8" block inside to build a pizza oven at the campground, then all bets are off.
Problem is, the dry weight is a very meaninglessness number to start at. There is no standard as to what is included in the number. So you likely need to add the weight of the batteries, propane tanks and hitch before even worrying about clothes etc. That can be 2-300 lbs depending on your setup and most of that adds to the tongue weight just based on how far forward they are.
Better weight to base off of is the GVW, as you should be under that so you have room.
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gmckenzie
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08/02/19 11:22am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Electric Lawnmowers
I have bought some of the Ryobi 40-volt lawn tools which include a lawn mower, weed trimmer, leaf blower and 14 inch chainsaw. The mower has a 5 amp battery, and the chainsaw, weed trimmer and leaf blower have smaller 40v batteries that are less than 2 amp. All of the batteries will fit any of the tools. However the smaller amp batteries will not get much cutting out of the mower. I can trim for a very long time with the 5 amp battery in the weed trimmer.
I bought the mower to use for trimming to supplement a riding mower that I bought. I needed a new gas mower to cut 2 lawns with. Because I have severe arthritis in my knees, bone on bone with bone spurs and arthritis in my back I bought the riding mower. Since I was pleased with the other Ryobi tools I bought the 40v mower. I would say for the most part it worked well for my use cutting where the riding mower couldn't go and would probably be okay for a condo or townhouse because of the battery limitations. It should work fine mowing around a campsite and it also has a folding handle.
The weed trimmer is the Ryobi expand-it model and can use any of the gas powered trimmer attachments. I even installed a Pivot Trim cutting head to replace the small bump feed head. The Pivot Trim came with different left and right threaded bolts to attach to different trimmers. I needed a left hand thread that was shorter then the ones provided. I bought a spare red bump head knob and cut it apart to get the bolt out which was left-handed thread. It was a perfect fit. The Ryobi with my Pivot Trim mod works great. I wouldn't have any problem carrying the mower and trimmer with me camping if I thought that I would need them.
I've got all this but would never think of taking the camping. They are for home.
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gmckenzie
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07/04/19 04:39pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Why 4.1 axle?
For starters, if you're planning on buying new, they only offer the 3.73 on the Duramax equipped trucks, and the 4.10 is the only option for the trucks with the 6.0. I'm not sure when this started, but I know it's true of the 2500HD for years '17, '18 and '19. Otherwise, if you're looking at used, read on...
GM had the 3.73 in the Duramax from day one (2001). It was never offered with a different ratio in the 3/4 or 1 ton.
Loved mine until the second time the injectors gave me trouble.
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gmckenzie
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06/20/19 11:26am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Engine torque
As far as the V10 goes. You got a dud. The V10 is a great engine. You can pound on those things 24/7 and they won't blow up. Like I said, you got a dud.The history on this engine was that the F250 was leased by one of the major oil companies in Alberta - Sunoco IIRC. It was run out of Calgary up to the oil fields in the north. The odometer didn't show a lot of miles but I *think* it had a lot of hours on it because they keep them idling in the winter all the time instead of using block heaters. Records showed it was serviced regularly but maybe the oilfield workers were driving the sn*t out of the truck as well. That's all we know on the history.
We did get a good price when we bought it so can't complain to a point.
I avoid Oil patch trucks like the plague. Even had used truck salesmen warn me off buying them. Yeah, not a lot of miles but not a lot of care or concern from the drivers either.
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gmckenzie
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06/07/19 02:20pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Rear-Living TTs: Likes, dislikes, features, models...
Interest thread.
I've got a rear kitchen right now but have been kicking tires on a rear living. Found a model I like (not in person, just on the web) in a Cougar 33 SAB. Has a big closet across the front (we can't hang a **** coat in our trailer) as well as 2 7cu ft fridges (yeah, more beer). Big rear living space with big windows. But I'd need a bigger truck and an endorsement on my license to pull it :)
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gmckenzie
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06/07/19 10:49am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 6 volt battery question
When hooking up 6V batteries, make sure you understand they connect differently than 12v.
With 2 12V, you connect + to + and - to -. Then + and - to the trailer.
With 2 6v, you connect - from one battery to + on the other battery. Then you hook the + and - from the trailer to the unused posts.
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gmckenzie
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06/07/19 10:28am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Hope to Cache Creek
So how is the road (12) from Lytton through to Hat Creek Ranch?
If it's the one I'm thinking of, I wouldn't tow my trailer that way. #1 will be way better. But it's been years since I went that way.
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gmckenzie
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05/29/19 01:59pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Hope to Cache Creek
As long as there are no rock slides or other issues on the #1, I'd take it. But that road can have issues.
The Coq is where the early seasons of Highway through Hell were all
about (but that's winter)
I used to live in Merritt and I've driven the Coke (all 3 sections) dozens of times, summer and winter, that show is so over dramatized it's not funny.
They cherry pick the bad days, no question.
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gmckenzie
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05/28/19 07:59am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: realistic power usage
Hi all. This weekend is the first trip with our new to us camper. Last was used primarily as a tent on wheels when we had no hydro.
To clarify for those who do not speak "Canadian", "hydro" means AC power ! The vast majority of the population of Canada get their power from Niagara Falls, hence "hydro". Most of the folks in Western Canada still use the term, but they are NOT getting their power from Niagara Falls !
I'd like to clarify a bit. Canada is a big country. The term hydro meaning electricity started in Ontario when the Hydro Electric Commission of Ontario first started providing electricity to the province . Most was from hydro-electric plants with the ones at Niagara being the largest.
Today 60% of the electricity for Ontario is from Nuclear generating stations. We have no coal or oil fired plants left. Niagara still matters but it is not the major generator by any means.
The rest of the country uses varying means. Quebec - water powered. The prairies still on oil and coal. And so on.
BC gets the bulk of it's power from Hydro, but not Niagra Falls :)
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gmckenzie
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05/23/19 04:06pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Hope to Cache Creek
As long as there are no rock slides or other issues on the #1, I'd take it. But that road can have issues.
The Coq is where the early seasons of Highway through Hell were all about (but that's winter)
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gmckenzie
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05/23/19 03:20pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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