| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: A few questions on Dualies
Adding to the "way it used to be" We carried the whole family in a TC on a SRW standard cab truck (meaning no back seat).
The bottom line in this argument however is that most drivers of DRW's have formerly owned a SRW while most drivers of SRW's have never owned a DRW (most - not all)
I'll admit that driving the dually to Home depot on Saturday to pick up a sheet of plywood seems a bit overkill and they do look kind of awkward but not any more so than a SRW looks with an oversized camper loaded in the bed. The only reason I own a DRW is because of the camper (the same camper I used to carry on a SRW) and the only reason I own a TC is because I already need a truck and don't want an entire other vehicle just to go camping with. That would be the ultimate in "overkill"
In all fairness I carried our Lance 990 on a '78 F250 for 14 years and felt fine about it. I always knew a dually would be better for that application and it is but there are things you can do to make the SRW work in such situations. Of course nowadays there are TC's being sold that are clearly out of the realm of any work arounds but in many situations it boils down to personal choice.
|
kcabpilot
|
11/18/09 01:07pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: To use air bags, add-a-leaf or nothing?
Ideally "nothing" if you can get away with it. Next up would be Stable Loads or the equivalent and lastly airbags or another leaf depending on how you use your rig. If the camper stays on most of the time I'd add a leaf but frankly can't understand why someone would have a TC left on the truck all the time - why not just get a class C. Otherwise I'd install airbags over a leaf so as not to affect the empty ride.
|
kcabpilot
|
11/13/09 01:01pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Covering camper-truck for winter, Now with a picture
Did that to my boat one year, thought it would be a good idea. It turned it into some sort of biosphere - come spring there was all sorts of stuff manifesting, even had little green leafy things growing right out of the carpet.
|
kcabpilot
|
11/13/09 12:48pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: what Garmin GPS
I bought a 200W a couple of years ago. Of course the first thing we did after that was plan a vacation to Canada so I had to get a map upgrade :S
It has a limited, and kind of quirky waypoint feature. I think it only let's you add one waypoint but not sure. I've found the easiest way to get the routing changed is to just start driving that way and force it to recalculate. It will protest for a while, trying to get you to do all sorts of u-turns and loop backs but eventually capitulates and let's you have it your way.
|
kcabpilot
|
10/26/09 11:13am |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Stable Loads?
If you do install airbags you will also need to install Stable Loads or something equivalent. Otherwise your overload springs will be useless. So I would install the Stable Loads first and see if they do the trick without airbags. If not then install the airbags afterward but it sounds to me that you stand a good chance of not needing them.
|
kcabpilot
|
10/26/09 11:01am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Outfitter trip report: Northwest Passage Final curtain
Great pics and story as always Waz
Crater Lake is definitely a special place and we're definitely going to pass by there again. You were lucky to hit it at the right time because soon the only way you'll get pictures like that will be on a snowmobile.
So my question is - what's up with the left arm thing. My right arm goes up all the way but the left only goes up about half way now.
I'd say it sucks getting old but you know what? So far it really doesn't (despite the arm thing)
|
kcabpilot
|
10/23/09 02:04am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Derate output of propane generator?
Another factor is that most of these LP fueled generators are simply modified gasoline fueled models. They aren't optimized or designed from the ground up to be LP fueled. The real problem with propane is that it is grossly over priced, not to mention it's a general PITA getting tanks filled.
|
kcabpilot
|
10/22/09 09:00pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Derate output of propane generator?
My Onan is 2800, LP version is 2500 so that comes out to 12%
The numbers given above "95,000 Btu's in a gallon of propane, and 115,000 in a gallon of gasoline" equate to a 17% difference but as noted you are using propane at a higher rate (gallons per hour)
|
kcabpilot
|
10/22/09 11:17am |
Tech Issues
|
|
Onan fuel pump
I've got an Onan KV2800 gas generator. On our last outing we were at Bermuda Dunes near Palm Springs and it was 118 degrees. We weren't camping, my brother and I were on a business trip to get an airplane in airworthy condition to fly it out of that cauldron! Anyway, the Onan was running all day Saturday with the A/C going full blast - plus providing power for an air compressor and tools. That night it was still about 100 degrees out so we had the inside of the camper like a reefer and had just snuggled up under blankets ready for a good night's sleep when the generator quit. We couldn't get it started again and had to suffer through the rest of the night in stifling heat. Even by morning it was still close to 90 deg.
Anyway, after getting home I did some troubleshooting and have narrowed it down to the fuel pump. With a full tank the generator will run fine for about two hours, which is how long it takes for the fuel level to go below the height the carburetor is at (it has an 8 gallon tank and is normally able to run for about 20 hours)
So, my question: Is there an option on replacement fuel pumps? Do I have to use an Onan pump (I've been getting the notion that they aren't very reliable and replacement requires removing the generator from the camper so if there's a better replacement out there I'd like to know about it)
If anyone has been down this road before and has advice or tips they'd be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
|
kcabpilot
|
10/19/09 09:12pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: 2009 Ford F350 cc drw & airlift airbags
I put them on my '97. What (3) "skimpy" bolts are you asking about? Mine are bolted to frame by 4 bolts each side. You can upgrade to grade 8 bolts if you like but I think the problems you're referring too were most likely caused by improper installation. Before drilling the mounting holes you want to inflate the bags to as close to the max dimension listed in the manual (I think it's 8 inches but don't quote me) Broken bolts are most likely cause by the air bags bottoming out before the axle bump stops hit.
http://vintage-air.net/misc/f350/airlift.jpg
Edit: Also note how the air tube comes out and is rubbing against the bottom seam of the bed? Well DON'T do that - after two years the seam wore a groove in the tube and the airbag went flat.
|
kcabpilot
|
10/15/09 01:03pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Fall in the Alaska Range
Beautiful!
I spent a week up there in 2005, never got even a glimpse of "The Mountain" until the last day. So I hopped on one of the air tours and got the sightseeing flight of my life.
Denali Air Tour 2005
After seeing your pictures I'm seriously considering putting in a bid to be a dog in Alaska during my "next life" (ha, ha)
|
kcabpilot
|
10/15/09 12:48pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: A camper window with a veiw.
I think this thread has earned a right to be a STICKY
|
kcabpilot
|
10/15/09 12:37pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Swapping jacks.
Depending on your situation you could do like I do - I bought a couple of 29 inch high sawhorses so when the camper is not on the truck it is securely stored at loading height (the sawhorses in conjunction with the jacks create a rock solid and stable platform) The result is that I never have to do more than a couple of cranks on the jacks. When the camper is loaded on the truck I retract and extend the jacks with a 12v cordless drill.
As I said, it depends on your situation and particularly where you store your camper. It's not a practical solution for everyone. Also, my camper never comes off the truck at campsites. If you are going to do that then I'd say electric jacks would almost be a "must have" feature.
|
kcabpilot
|
10/15/09 12:28pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: tiedowns
I agree that the bed and bumper mounting system is a little flimsy, but Ive never had a Torklift system, to pricey for a guy like me.
Thanks, BIG JOE
I keep hearing this. What exactly do you think the tiedowns are supposed to be capable of? They are to keep the camper from moving around in the bed, not keep it attached during a vehicular rollover. Also, look at the point where the eyes mount to the camper. A tiedown system the size of the Brooklyn Bridge is not goint to increase the strength of that point one iota. If you overdo the truck-side end of your tiedown system then when you hit a really good whoop-dee-do or whatever that may cause a failure it will be the eyebolt ripping out of the camper frame (probably with a big chunk of the camper attached) rather than a replaceable turnbuckle or chain.
|
kcabpilot
|
10/12/09 05:20pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: happijac versus torklift versus other?
Me too - HJ's front and rear with a 94 Lance 990 (4000 lbs) on two different trucks over 14 years. Never had any issue with them, they work fine.
|
kcabpilot
|
10/08/09 08:09pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Residential Recreation Vehicle Violation
How about you buy an old junk pickup truck, put the camper on it and store it on the street?
|
kcabpilot
|
10/03/09 08:20pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: happijac versus torklift versus other?
Happijacs work fine, Torklifts work fine. People need to understand just exactly what it is that the tie downs do. Take a look at the eyebolt that screws into your camper. A truck side tie down the size of the Brooklyn Bridge isn't going to increase the strength of that point one iota. These things aren't meant to hold the camper to the truck through an A-Team airborne vehicular barrel roll. In fact, what would you rather have happen - the turnbuckle or chain break or the camper eyebolt rip out with a three foot section of your sidewall?
I'll give Torklift the points for not having to drill any holes in your bed but at the same time I'll give Happijack the points for being a more elegant system for those of us who are not constantly worrying about the resale value of our trucks.
I've never bought a new truck so I can't represent those concerns. For me a truck is a truck and my advice to most owners of brand new pickups is to go down to the local quarry, have a front loader dump a yard of drain rock into the bed and get over it.
|
kcabpilot
|
09/26/09 11:47pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: High Cascades Caravan fuel mileage comparison
What is this, honesty? Nobody got 18, or 23? :)
I will say this - when we did the Cascade Lakes route from Crescent to Bend I got close to 17 but it's pretty level and we never got over 45 mph. When you drive a diesel really slow you can see some phenomenal figures.
Anyway. been busy lately and haven't been camping or on a road trip for a couple of months now - I'm Jones'n. I think there's time for one more before the season goes south...
|
kcabpilot
|
09/26/09 11:13pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Replaced the WFCO with PD
Maybe it's my installation - my battery is only about 2 ft away from the converter. I recall monitoring it when I first installed it because of what I had read and it was definitely going into boost mode.
Anyway, I'm not a WFCO agent and have nothing against PD just saying that, in my case, it's been working as advertised.
|
kcabpilot
|
09/22/09 10:58am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Replaced the WFCO with PD
I guess I'm just a lucky guy :)
BTW - the folks at bestconverter.com recommended the WFCO over the PD, it was 35A as opposed to 30A and didn't require purchasing a separate "wizard" but that was a couple of years ago, maybe things are different now. I've been happy with it.
|
kcabpilot
|
09/22/09 02:34am |
Truck Campers
|
