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Forum
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RE: How much do you really need?
You're right to think along those lines. GVWR is semi worthless but it is relative to how the trailer is built IMO.
I had a smaller 5th wheel prior to our current TT that had over 4,000 lbs for CCC. UVW was around 7300 lbs. No way could I ever load 4,000 lbs in it.
Under normal loading expect to add around 1,000 lbs. I know from my own experience that I carry about 1500+/- lbs of stuff, but some is add ons like extra batteries, bike rack, solar panels, etc.
When shopping or browsing for fun I always look at the CCC to see how my 1500 lbs would work. GVWR never factors in. CCC is the most important number for me.
Add your 1,000 lbs to the trailers stickered UVW and that's close to what you'll actually be towing.
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goducks10
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09/18/20 09:06am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: FORD F-150 AXLE RATIO CHOICE
https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2020-keystone-cougar-half-ton-travel-trailer-floorplan-26rbs-tr42323
1st off you'll need the Max Trailer Package (53C comes with a 36 gal gas tank) you'll need that cause your mpg's will drop to the 9 mpg range, 2nd dry brochure tongue weight is 880 lbs. Add all the stuff that goes in front of the axles and you'll be pushing 1000 lbs or more for tongue weight.
You'll need a high payload rating in the 1800-2000 lb range if you pack stuff in the truck and are taking passengers. The higher the payload rating the more stable the truck will be.
Your TT will more than likely be around 7600 lbs loaded and at 30' long it will be a load for you 1/2 ton truck.
I would opt for the 3.55 at a minimum and if I could I'd go 3.73.
Not to go weight police but IMO a 3/4 ton gas would be much easier.
won't get the empty mpg's but the tow experience will be much more relaxed.
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goducks10
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09/17/20 09:03am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 2016 RAM CTD Diff Oil Change Question RE Gasket
Can you not suck the oil out and not open the case ?
You sure can as this is the method most dealers use. Unless there's a drain plug.
But you won’t be able to have a look at the ring and pinion and clean the magnet. Not good IMHO.
x2
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goducks10
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09/16/20 11:01pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Thought on suspension equalizers
My TT came stock with the MorRyde 3000, shocks and 16" tires. It floats down the road. I've put shocks on 3 of my 4 trailers. My last trailer came stock with the Dexter EZ flex equalizer. I added shocks to it.
I wouldn't own an RV trailer without some for of a cushioned equalizer and shocks.
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goducks10
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09/12/20 08:10pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Beech Lane Levelers
I have the Beach Lanes. So far so good after 2 seasons. They will slip sometimes, but I'm guessing the Andersens will too. I use them with the Level Mate Pro and when combined it makes for a real easy unhitch.
As with the Andersens they really lock the tires in place.
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goducks10
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09/12/20 08:45am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Telling the truth
Political and religious posts, pictures, links, signatures etc. are not allowed in these forums and may be removed without notice or discussion.
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goducks10
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09/10/20 08:10am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: 12 volt Refrigerators
12V fridges have been around in the marine world for many years. Only now is the RV world jumping on board.
Here's an interesting test done using a 12V fridge.
JMO but I wouldn't touch a Norcold, Dometic, RecPro, etc brand 12V fridge if looking to replace a bad absorption fridge.
I would look to brands that have been around for a long time, like Novacool, Unique or the one in the test link.
https://www.rvtravel.com/rvelectricity-report-on-vitrifrigo-refrigerator/
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goducks10
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09/05/20 08:57am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: My 2019 Ford F 150 towing
I thought this was about a break controller, the op dosen't even have a TT yet. Lol.
Your sig date shows that you haven't been on here reading posts for very long. The normal for threads to go off track is around 4-6 posts in. Some never get back on track. LOL
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goducks10
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09/04/20 08:18am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 75 Speed Limit - How Fast
I would agree about a slow moving Car, BUT we have an 8' wide 13' tall Wall, if thay can't see that well ahead of time, they better get their eyes examined.
My best mileage is between 61 - 63, but my xmission won't go into 6th gear in tow/haul mode until above 63, so my cruise is set at 65. Have approx 100K towing at that speed and haven't caused an accident and I get where I'm going.
x2. Not long ago Oregon's speed limits were, Semi's 55, Cars 65. Most cars went 70+. Never any issues with rear ending a semi doing 55.
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goducks10
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09/04/20 07:59am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Poor workmanship -- Entry Level VS Higher Price ????
Wouldn't matter if they were paid 50 bucks an hour, management would still have control over how fast and how much quality goes into building one unit.
That and all the junk that suppliers provide them with, there's no chance that quality will ever be better. I'm mean seriously, plastic sinks and plastic faucets? 1/2 a cabinet hanging on the wall? Sloppy welds on frames covered with paint runs?
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goducks10
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09/03/20 10:20pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 2021 Ram 3500 Order
Found a 2020 3500 4x4 Tradesman in Florida just over $60k msrp.
They gave me a number $58k out the door. Good or bad?
Thanks
Bad, really bad. Here's one with $5K off without even negotiating.
https://www.withnelldodge.net/new/Ram/2020-Ram-3500-Salem-OR-86d8926c0a0e0a176a8d7b38a40357a3.htm
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goducks10
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09/01/20 08:01am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tow/haul mode
Not using Tow Haul when appropriate is a great way to slowly but surely cook your transmission. If you are wise enough to have a Scan Gauge or other display of your transmission fluid temperatures you will quickly confirm the damage that is being done. Once in a while I forget to engage TH but the trans fluid display of my Scan Gauge quickly shows me the error of my ways. When I engage TH the trans temps quickly drop 12 - 15 degrees.
Most motorhome over about 27' have enough weight to warrant the use of TH 100 percent of the time. Any motorhome that is towing or loaded heavy also should always be in TH. If you are on a flat road with no headwind or a slight downhill grade turning TH off will work but why would you want to? :h
Sorry folks but the computer is smarter and more capable of getting maximum efficiency out of your coach than you are... get over it. :B On long and steep downhill grades just select a safe speed, engage both cruise control and TH and sit back and enjoy the ride. It will hold you at that speed and for most of the descent you will not burn a drop of fuel, now that is efficiency. Most of the time in so doing I never even have to touch my brakes much less hit them hard or worst case scenario ride them to the bottom but you see this behavior all of the time {those pesky brake lights give you folks away}. :S
:C
I have a readout on my dash that shows trans temps in digital. My trans hardly ever goes over 170. Normal is around 168. This is on my gas 6.4. My 12 CTD was the same way. Same trans in both. Biggest factor is ambient temps. It will run a little warmer on real hot days but the increase is the same at just a few degrees.
Maybe towing really heavy would change things. I'd be more inclined to use TH if I were towing north of 12,000 all the time.
Now my 08 F150 5.4 was a different story. The trans temps would really go up on long climbs. Seems the newer trans have much better cooling.
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goducks10
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08/31/20 09:28am |
Towing
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RE: BEWARE Keystone Hideout
"It is amazing that you really don’t hear anything about improving the quality of campers."
That's because most buyers are probably concerned more with the 'perfect' floorplan, weight capacities, furniture color, and so forth -- with little or no regard to overall quality.
As long as buyers keep buying inferior construction the manufacturers will continue to produce inferior construction. Why would they change?
Only place you hear about improved quality is from the manufacture.
I once saw a video where the owners of an RV company stated that around 30% of RV buyers are 1st time buyers. Thats a huge part of the market. Factor in that many 2nd time buyers may not do research as much as some on here and you have a blinged up sellers market.
I have a friend that owns an older Springdale and says every time he goes out something breaks. Couple years ago he was talking about a Thor product to replace his Springdale. He like what he saw at the RV show. He's not the kind of person that will sit at a PC and do research for months trying to decide which one is the best or worse. I'm guessing thats the way it is a lot. Add in BS sales people and it's no wonder they sell a lot of junk easy.
Call me a slow learner if you want but it took me 2 trailers to figure out that they're mostly slapped together. And I've owned and do own a couple trailers that get mentioned on here as better than most. After my 3rd I completely saw the writing on the wall.
Even the supposedly better built are really built just like the rest only with different materials. All prone to problems.
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goducks10
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08/31/20 09:14am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Tow/haul mode
I hate "tow/haul mode"... I don't run it all. Especially when towing or hauling...
I know I'll catch "heck" for saying this, but "tow/haul mode" just does not work for me..
I can't and won't explain it here, as it'll take a lot of typing and no one will still get it...
But, in a nut shell, don't RIDE THE BRAKES when going down hill and you can MANUALLY downshift your automatic trans if you want/need engine braking..
But, you don't need to rev to 6000 rpms to keep you at 30 mph just to keep you off the brakes...
Anyway, fire away... I have T/H and have used it and didn't like it.. I have not EVER faded my brakes. I do see even semi trucks ride their brakes down the grades and smell their burning brakes.. But, I try to stay behind them, because I don't want them behind me when they do eventually fade...
Good luck, Mitch
https://i.imgur.com/XG8H0uzm.jpg?1
x2. I only use it to accelerate from a dead stop and needing to get up to speed fast. After that it's off. The column shift button takes care of my downhill needs just fine.
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goducks10
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08/30/20 11:47pm |
Towing
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RE: calling all weight police
Your RAWR is around 2950 lbs empty. Your base weight of a Tradesman model would be around 7800 lbs. Round them up and 8,000 for the truck and 3000 lbs for the rear axle. 5660 lbs = 3,000 lbs would be 2660 lbs for pin.
My Ram 6.4 is 6900+ lbs. You need to add 1,000 lbs for your CTD to that.
https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/dam/fca-brands/na/ramtrucks/en_us/towing/2018%20Ram%202500.pdf
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goducks10
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08/28/20 04:42pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 75 Speed Limit - How Fast
I've been through ID and Utah where speeds were 80 mph for autos. Even when I had my 2500 diesel and light 9200 lb 5th wheel with 87 mph tires I still only went 65 mph. I just couldn't see running 75 mph and sucking diesel like a snow cone on a hot day.
Last year heading south from ID into Utah with my gasser and 9500 lb TT I still kept the speed under 65 mph. I never felt like a hindrance to anyone. It's not like traffic in L.A when out on the interstate in ID and UT. I did suck gas big time last year but it was really cheap. :)
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goducks10
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08/28/20 04:33pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: BEWARE Keystone Hideout
I have a 2014 Keystone Bullet Premier that I bought brand new and the only problems I have had with it to date with 18,000 miles and a total of about six months sleeping in it have been self inflicted.
People complain much more readily than they praise something, it's human nature.
That's true, but yet RV's depreciate like a rock in water so there must be some validity to the fact that they're poorly built.
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goducks10
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08/27/20 09:38am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Granddesign 31MB
The three amigos that started GD all came from Keystone.
Don Clark
Ron and Bill French.
IMO the startup of GD was one of the best PR startups I've seen.
They touted a customer/MFG relation where the customer came 1st. Problem was is that they should've reinvented the wheel instead they just made the same stuff as everyone else albeit with slick floor plans and cool bling.
It all worked great until they became a big player and couldn't keep up with customer demands concerning QC issues.
I remember reading on the forum where early on customers could get one on one response from GD reps for warranty issues in a real short time frame. It looked real cool and seemed like a great way to sell RV'. Problem is they started getting too big to keep up with owner complaints. Again instead of building a better RV they just reinvented the way they handle the same problems that have been plaguing the RV industry for years.
Thats when they sold out to Winnebago.
They entered the market, made a huge amount of money and then bailed when the time was right.
Nothing wrong with any of the above.
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goducks10
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08/26/20 04:29pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Camping with no reservations
With Covid affecting RV travel, it might be harder to just wing it in some places. We have in the past made reservations for the 1st leg of a trip where we have a destination. After that we wing it on the way home. Never had an issue finding places to stay. In fact last year we stayed at an RV park we would've never stayed at had we not been just meandering back home.
Oregon's CG's are almost all reservation inclusive. Makes it hard to just show up on any given day as most are no walk ins allowed. That and most all are full everyday so finding a spot large enough is also harder.
Hopefully when this Covid things over in Nov we can get back to normal.;)
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goducks10
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08/26/20 09:46am |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: BEWARE Keystone Hideout
Yep, all to common with RV's.
Another well known manufacturer had their fresh water tanks completely detaching from RV during travel.
We keep buying them.
This. No incentive for the RV manufacturers to change anything when we keep buying them as is.
Exactly. Just like people keep buying Fiats!
Not sure what you mean by that.
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goducks10
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08/26/20 09:33am |
Travel Trailers
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