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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Many New Lance TC for 2010
I have always felt that Lance concentrates on great floor plans and am glad to see that they are offering new models. The deals of the last year or two are likely going to end soon as RV manufacturers are starting to rehire laid off employees, demand is increasing, and production is beginning to rebound.
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jmtandem
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11/21/09 09:10am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Should I sell the Outfitter and get a Northern Lite???
I have looked at Northern Lites and really like them. But, since I don't own one I need to let those that do respond. They are however, on my short list for a new cabover camper. Like you I owned a pop up, in my case an Alaskan for about a decade, and cannot remember one time I took it to so remote a place I could not get a hardside there also. Good luck with your decision. I am sure you could sell the Outfitter in a heart beat as good used ones seem to be in demand.
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jmtandem
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11/19/09 09:23pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: How long is too long to tow?
Keith,
Again, you are correct. My observation was based on the fact that usually the larger/longer trailer and /or those with sildes are heavier. Therefore, a 30 foot trailer would likely be heavier than a 20 foot trailer but as you point out, that is not always the case and the engine of the truck doesn't care how long a trailer is, just how heavy. Good eye and thanks for calling that to my attention.
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jmtandem
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11/19/09 09:12pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: A few questions on Dualies
DJ,
Good you still have a sense of humor about your serious downsizing. I suspect you will soon again join the BTC (Big Truck Club) when the realization of your actions catch up with you. Look at it in terms of motorcycling - you have gone from a Harley Tourglide to a Honda Trail 90, simplifying your life, your transportation and your new found abilities to explore those trails you so much want to. Transportation 'Lite' is the moment. However, that will wear off and soon you will be back. We welcome you with extended arms back into the BTC when you are ready.
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jmtandem
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11/18/09 06:53pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: How long is too long to tow?
ej,
Nice sarcasism but seriously your are under in your tongue weight. If you are really at 8000 pounds trailer weight, the tongue should be 10-15 percent or 800 to about 1200 pounds. Good luck and happy towing.
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jmtandem
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11/18/09 06:45pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How long is too long to tow?
Keith,
Sounds to me from your response to the "80 percent rule" question, that those towing need to know thet weights they are towing. How many have weighed their trailer, weighed their tongue and then weighed the payload including themselves for the truck's load? I would suspect not that many. More interesting and a disservice to the RV community are the sales tactics of only talking in terms of dry weights. The only time that trailer is at 'dry weight' is taking it home the first time.
Having questioned the eighty percent rule and agree totally with you about not knowing exactly what somebody's trailer really weighs, I don't send a boy to do a man's job. I tow a Pacific Coachworks 299bhs Tango trailer with a turbo diesel one-ton truck. Needless to say, it works very well. It goes without saying I don't 'fall on my face' climbing hills. And I even have a tongue scale to be sure I am in the 13 percent ball park. While I find little comfort in the 80 percent rule, I think that a 30+ foot trailer warrants considerable thought about what will be used to tow it. I like plenty of reserve power, rated sea level power at alitiude in the mountains that comes with a turbo diesel, and 19+ mpg not towing so I drive my signature truck. Everywhere I tow, there are long grades up to eight percent for as many as seven or eight miles without a break, leaving Reno for Sacramento is a mostly steady 35 mile climb to Truckee, then another eight miles of steeper clmbing to Donner summit at 7300 feet. Diesels are incredibly popular around here as the hills are flattened by the engine. It is the long long hills that really shows whether the manufacturer has the tow ratings dialed in or if it is sales hype.
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jmtandem
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11/18/09 09:13am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How long is too long to tow?
Interesting thread. Can somebody please show me in an owners manual where the eighty percent rule is stated? My understanding is that if the manufacturer states that the truck can tow 10,000 pounds, it doesn't really mean only 8000 pounds. The manufacturer knows more about their vehicles ability to tow, stay reliable, and still have longevity then we do. As far as comments about smoking brakes downhill, the trailer needs to have its brakes adjusted in good working order and the truck's controller set correctly. That way, both stop smoothly and safely. If the trailer stops itself and the truck stops itself, then both stop just fine.
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jmtandem
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11/17/09 07:42pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: A few questions on Dualies
For the last year there have been excellent prices of domestic trucks including diesels. In 2005, I purchased my truck with the diesel, crew cab (Dodge's version), 4x4, dually, automatic, and longbed for about the same or less than a new gasser Tundra. Everything is relative, including paying more for the diesel. If you tow or haul a lot, it is probably worth it; if not, then maybe the gasser is better. Some folks here act like the gasser has almost no maintenance compared to the diesel. Not true. Last I looked the Ford V-10 gasser was about two thirds as powerful as the diesel in terms of torque, a significant difference. There is a reason industry and commerce choose diesels for engines that are asked to work- reliability, longevity and lower costs. And while the turbo diesels deliver rated power at up to 12,000 feet elevation, gassers lose about 3 percent power for each thousand feet elevation. If you have not tried the new exhaust brake on the Cummins, you are in for a real eye opener, that engine even helps extend brake life. Don't go without taking your checkbook, as one test drive and you will likely be getting it out when back at the dealership.
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jmtandem
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11/16/09 02:04pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: A few questions on Dualies
Matthew makes an excellent observation. If you are not towing a horse trailer, motorcycles, boat, etc. then maybe the travel trailer is a better choice. It costs less, has substantionally more inside room, and can be unhitched and hitched in a matter of a couple minutes. Then just drive the truck to where you want to go from camp. You also have your truck bed for stuff. If you plan to do a lot of off road camping, then a pop up camper has the edge over a large hard side. Good luck in what you choose.
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jmtandem
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11/16/09 08:53am |
Truck Campers
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RE: A few questions on Dualies
Padlin,
You won't need a dually for a travel trailer. Just be sure to get enough engine to tow the weight. For a truck camper, I would err on the side of overkill. The fenders without the camper on do not stick out as far as the mirrors on any non dually same brand truck. 300 miles and the dually will feel right at home in traffic, etc. The rule of thumb is to get the RV first, then the truck. I carried 4000 pounds with my last camper at 11 feet and it required a dually. SRW truck can be made to carry the weight with substantial options but I prefer the factory box stock dually. Even with a dually I still needed air bags and energy suspension bumpers to adequately handle the load. As to your comment about diesels or gassers, I would opt for the oil burner. And I agree with the previous poster about 4x4 vs 2x4.
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jmtandem
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11/15/09 08:31pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: All this talk about CA drivers licenses......
ol Bombero,
You are correct, I was not clear. I was refering to what (I think) were the OP's observations about the California licensing that he had been reading about. And, almost all discussion on licensing regarding fifth wheels involves triple axle 18,000 pound toy haulers that lately have been the object of discussion regarding the endorsement. Five years ago virtually nobody paid any attention to the size and weight of a fifth toyhauler, it was just another RV. Today you need the endorsement.
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jmtandem
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11/15/09 04:02pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: All this talk about CA drivers licenses......
1100Sabre,
Glad the concerns you had are moot. I have found California to be very RV friendly. As posted previously nobody will bother you and not even give you a second glance if you are not driving way out of the ordinary.
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jmtandem
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11/15/09 03:51pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 2009, 141 nights traveling in TC plus Table of Cont
sleepy,
Can't wait for the pics. I just did a fully loaded bicycle tour San Francisco south on the coast. The scenery is great.
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jmtandem
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11/15/09 09:25am |
Truck Campers
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RE: All this talk about CA drivers licenses......
1100Sabre,
For most towing a fifth, the issue in California is weight. Over 15,000 pounds GVWR for the fifth, an endorsement is needed. If you are legal in your state as you affirm you are, you likely will have no issues and I certainly would not stay away for that reason. Just remember that towing is subject to 55 mph and to stay in the far right lane where there are more than one lane each direction except to pass and you should be just fine. California is much better than some other states about posting the towing speed limit.
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jmtandem
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11/15/09 09:07am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Transporting a TC EEEEOOOOWWWW!!!!!
There is some comfort is actually seeing the product you just bought before taking it home. With a delivery guy, that is not possible until it is in your driveway.
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jmtandem
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11/14/09 09:49am |
Truck Campers
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RE: TC Registration -- Washington?
sf3291,
I would take the purchase invoice to DMV or whatever they call it in Washington and prove that you paid sales tax on it in Colorado as it is an Outfitter if bought new, or in California if you bought it there. Then, if that doesn't help, play the military card. If push comes to shove be sure to show them the depreciated value from NADA or where ever you can find it. In Nevada, $2000 sales tax would be the amount on about $25,000 value, more like a new value for Outfitter, certainly the camper has depreciated since new.
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jmtandem
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11/13/09 05:14pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Mounting P3 on top of dash?
On the 2005 Dodge, the panel left (door side) of the steering wheel is hinged, the connector is an easy reach for the pigtail, and the entire installation is less than 30 minutes. For that Tango, I need boost '2' and that should be about 'in the ballpark'. I have the same trailer, same truck, same controller.
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jmtandem
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11/13/09 10:11am |
Towing
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RE: Tango (Pacific Coachworks) Customer Service :)
Center Pin,
I concur. I have a Tango 2009 299bhs and had two questions I needed to ask Pacific Coachworks. One was where the hot water heater bypass valve was and the other how or where to jack to change a tire as the manual and dealer was silent on both issue. Both e-mails were personally answered in a day. Very good customer service indeed. Both were informational things the dealer should have covered when I picked up the trailer.
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jmtandem
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11/12/09 08:45pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Options advice for new TT
The Equalizer hitch works well. Also, add my nod to getting an electric tongue jack, perhaps the first option to get. It is that much better than the hand crank especially with the Equalizer hitch getting the spring bars into place.
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jmtandem
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11/11/09 08:38am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Outfitter Apex Filon Problem
Travelnutz,
Alaskan makes campers that have lasted easy 40 years, wood framed, aluminum skin. Kind of like the Airstream travel trailers that have been made since the mid 1930's and, of which, 65 percent or more are still on the road. We already have tried and true examples of products (besides Bigfoot/Northern Light) that have proven they can go the distance. My comments are not intended to take away anything from your analysis and I think it is good that you are trying to discuss better longevity; however, I am just offering examples that not all RV's and truck campers are 10 year throw away units due to condensation, rot, feet thru the floor problems, etc. Today, some are well made, some very well made. What does the customer want? something that lasts the distance or something that doesn't cost much. Who worries about condensation and how it will affect their camper in 30 years? Most consumers are more concerned about the monthly payments.
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jmtandem
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11/08/09 04:43pm |
Truck Campers
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