| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: 2007 dodge 3500 6.7 diesel
Depending on trailer size and weight, I can maintain 65MPH with the cruise control on and climb almost any grade in Oregon at that speed. Remember that the torque for this motor comes on full at 1500 RPM, so as long as you keep it at or above that number it will just keep going and going and going.
|
donn0128
|
12/02/08 01:06pm |
Towing
|
|
RE: Manual Transmission for Towing
The only large (3/4-1 ton) truck left on the market with a stick is Dodge. So to answer your question. lots of people tow with and prefer a stick. However with the new 6 speed auto and factory EB I really see no need for one unless you really enjoy rowing through the gears. Besides that the Dodge factory clutch package has proven to be less than reliable and most are being changed by 20K miles.
|
donn0128
|
12/02/08 12:37pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: comparisons???
Simply put it sounds like a good idea up front. However the problem is that everybody has their ideas of what they are looking for and when they see a fault in their eyes that trailer brand is no good. Truth is every RV has faults. It is what every individual makes of these faults that is important.
|
donn0128
|
12/02/08 12:08pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Question for GM and Chevy Truck People
I think you will find that if there were only brand of GM full sized trucks offered, that GM would not loose sales. That is as long as they changed the styling to please most folks. I think many buy the GM brand because they can't stand the looks of the Chevrolet front end.
|
donn0128
|
12/02/08 10:39am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Just got a call - they damaged our new truck in transit!
You will find that the chevrolet rides better and is quieter. Also, the Allison transmission is wonderful and is used in many large motorhomes.
Just because the name Allison is on the transmission does not mean it is the same transmission as used in the GM 2500/3500 series trucks. Please don't fool yourself on this issue.
|
donn0128
|
12/02/08 10:29am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Tom Tom 125 good/bad??
If you intend it for routing while towing, then you might want to shop for one having a setting for trucks/busses. These units cost a bit more but will show you the way around low overpasses. If that is of no interest to you, then get one of the cheapest ones out there. Garmin seems to be a good unit. My DD has a TomTom and likes it, we have a Garmin Nuvi250W and like it.
|
donn0128
|
12/01/08 01:14pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Just got a call - they damaged our new truck in transit!
As you can see many people are brand loyal. Really means nothing to you since you are buying this truck. Personally I would suggest you go out and drive all of them next Saturday and see which one you like the best. What I have and like at the moment is really pretty useless information.
|
donn0128
|
12/01/08 01:11pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: '03 Expy Electrical Question.
Two suggestions. One is fuses, the second involves a trip to the dealer. Body control module is bad.
|
donn0128
|
11/30/08 05:11pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Well I’m in the market for a new truck
Instead of getting the 1/2 ton, step up to a 2500HD and get the 6.0L with a beefier transmission. Not that much different in price, but the overall package is so much beefier it will be worth every penny.
|
donn0128
|
11/30/08 08:52am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Cell Phone for Canadians in the USA
AT&T and Verizon both offer Canadian calling plans, Problem is that you must activate it before entering Canada. Good part is that you can turn it on/off anytime during the month. Really down side, AT&T does have an agreement with Rogers, but not the other one in Canada, so depending on where you travel it can be OK to useless. No matter what plan you pick the per minute charges are quite high. No matter what, you need to do your home work and only get a plan if your cell provider has coverage in the area you are planning to visit.
|
donn0128
|
11/28/08 11:51am |
Technology Corner
|
|
Workcamping and the economy
Like the title says, is the economy going to kill workcaming ? Or is workcamping going to become such a crowded market that ordinary people are going to have a rough time getting summer jobs next year?
|
donn0128
|
11/28/08 11:44am |
Workamping Forum
|
|
RE: Mystery Plug..2007.5 Dodge RAM 3500
Fog lights, or some other option you do not have
|
donn0128
|
11/26/08 08:38am |
Tow Vehicles
|
 |
RE: Confused on what to get to pull our fifth wheel - HELP!
To answer the question of whether we have weighed our trucks and fivers, in my case, the answer is a resounding YES. I am 100#s under the gross pin weight allowed(payload) and I do not carry anything but about 20#s of wood in the box. AND the truck can pull more than what the fiver weighed packed and ready for the trip. I weigh in (free once you have weighed in for the year) so weigh in a few times a year and have never been overweight.
I think duallies are fine if they are not your daily ride but if they are they are butt big and hard to park and handle through narrow areas.
100 pounds under what pin weight allowed?
Please for our edification post the trucks actual as scaled ready to travel weight with trailer attached and the trailers as scaled weight hitched to the truck.
Sorry for the edit,
i was just looking on the Sunnybrook web site and the closest model I can find is the 34 BWKS. This unit has an advertised "dry" pin weight of nearly 2600 pounds and a GVWR of 15,000 pounds. So again, please post some real numbers?
|
donn0128
|
11/22/08 02:49pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Confused on what to get to pull our fifth wheel - HELP!
(snip)
What engineering degree do you have that makes you more qualified than the engineers that put the sticker on the door of that truck stating to the federal government that the truck is certified to handle the load as stated?
instead of preaching and talking down to the ladies, can you tell the ladies which weights they legally are over ??
I didn't think so.
It doesn't take a engineer to understand what the door tag numbers, in the state their registered in, mean and used for weight enforcement. Any common truck driver/operator that tows with a LDT commercially/legally, will know.
I would suggest you find out from your own state what your own door tag numbers mean and how they are used or even which are used to determine legal payload or even the pulled load. All it takes is a phone call and then you can preach/badger/talk down to illegal haulers with some knowledge, legally speaking.
.......Jim
Jim,
It is obvious that you did not read my post. I did not ask about legalities, I asked what makes them believe that they have more engineering knowledge than the people who design and certify these vehicles to the Federal Government? It was a simple question. No matter what you license your vehicle for in your state and I do realize that you routinely tow in excess of the manufacturers recommendations does not make it safe for others to follow your actions. People on this forum make a lot of assumptions behind the annonomity of the internet and preach that it is perfectly safe to do many things that people in their right minds should not consider. Why is that? Just because you believe that you are safe towing the loads you do with the trucks you use, does not automatically mean anyone else should feel safe. You are preaching to an admitted newby to towing and to aspound your brand of weight limits to someone who has never towed at these weights is just plane silly.
|
donn0128
|
11/22/08 02:43pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Confused on what to get to pull our fifth wheel - HELP!
RVER and cannesdo Have either of you ladies ever pulled your rigs across a scales to see how much you actually weigh?
I understand the mentality of people here swearing that they can pull such and such a load with their 3/4 ton trucks, but I still have to ask. What engineering degree do you have that makes you more qualified than the engineers that put the sticker on the door of that truck stating to the federal government that the truck is certified to handle the load as stated? I mean, the automotive companies are paying a lot of money to educated people to make these decisions. Do you really believe that they don't need these people. Or is this another make work place for old engineers to go to die? This debate has raged for longer than I have been a member but come on now, How can you in your right mind offer suggestions that just because you choose to ignore the engineering data for your truck that other people should also ignore it? As a simple analogy, would you go to a gun fight with a knife?
|
donn0128
|
11/21/08 09:49pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
What's Going On?
Was just over on one of the diesel forums and counter 12 threads current running concerning problems with the Allison transmission. What gives? I thought I was the only one with problems with one of those? Most consisted of codes, overheating, and not shifting, but 12 is a LOT!
|
donn0128
|
11/21/08 04:07pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Confused on what to get to pull our fifth wheel - HELP!
Sadly no, I do not feel you would have a good match there. Any crew cab you get with a short bed will scale ready to camp over 8000 pounds. And most of the 3/4 ton have a GVWR of 9000/9200 pounds. Get a 1 ton for sure You will not regret it. Personally I would get the dually, but you sound pretty insistant on a SRW so stick with that. Ford and Dodge are the only ones that offer a 1 ton in a short bed. Ford's fuel economy is less than the others. FIY Dodge makes a 1 ton dually mega cab that will get you more in cab room than anything on the market and it comes with a short bed. Good luck in the search.
|
donn0128
|
11/20/08 04:10pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Confused on what to get to pull our fifth wheel - HELP!
I think you have made some serious mistakes and I will outline them below.
Hello, My family and I just bought a new 2008 Coachman Chaparral 200TSB. It is 34 feet long and about 9,200 pounds dry weight.Dry weight is meaningless in towing. You need to lacking exact scaled weights to look at the GVWR of the trailer and size a truck to handle that. Pin weight of the fiver will be approx 20% of the trailers GVWR I need a truck. Of course of I am confused about diesel or gas - leaning towards diesel. You will find that the only gas motor that is currently available to comfortably handle that much weight will be the Ford V10. Fuel economy will suck though. I also do not know if I want a Chevy, GMC or Ford. This will be the first truck for us. We have been camping in a pop-up, pulling with a mini van - so we feel like we are stepping into a different world. We looked at a Chevy Silverado HD. The dealer said we need double tires in the back and diesel. I think this is a bit too big for what we have. I was told that the Ford 250 super duty would be fine, and that does not have double tires. Greenhorn mistake, DO NOT listen to a salesman. They will tell you anything to make the sale. This truck will also be my "around the town" vehicle too, since we camp April - October, mostly on the weekends. Also, I have heard you can blow out your back window if you do not get the right bed size. I am guessing a regular bed would be fine - not the extra long or short. There will be knot two bed lengths available, long or short. Many people tow with a short bed truck using a slider hitch. It is not a problem, and really a personal choice. My personal choice is long bed for the extra carrying space. We also need the crew cab in a truck. You need a crew cab? That indicates to me that there will be a minimum of four bodies in the truck? Remember that for every pound you add to the truck you subtract an equal amount from the GCWR and towing capacity. Also remember that a crew cab long bed truck will be around 28 to 30 feet long. Way too long for a daily grocery getter. Also, don't quite understand why you are shunning Dodge. They make probably one of the best diesel motors in the light truck market. So bottom line, please repost with the trailers GVWR and how much you intend to put in the truck? Any help greatly appreciated.
|
donn0128
|
11/20/08 01:22pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: 2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD Tire wear
Like I mentioned before this is not uncommon in the Allisons. Mine was doing that and it had only 11000 miles when I dumped it for a truck more capable of handling my load. If your tires are wearing evenly all around, it does not pull or wonder on the road I would still suspect pow rated tires or under rated tires for the load. Probably the most consistent high mileage tire made has been Michelin. But even they make some bad lines. Also you need to consider going up one size in tires if you have not already done so. LT265 will fit with no modifications, will give you a bit more load carrying capacity, and depending on brand could get you more miles.
|
donn0128
|
11/20/08 07:48am |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: 2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD Tire wear
Donn, you assumed wrong. I did not go with the cheapest tires. When I choose tires, I look at wear ratings, temp ratings, road noise, and I stick with what the truck manufacturer has suggested for tire size and rating. I will usually go into "analysis paralysis". If I have my wife with me, she gravitates to the most expensive (fill in the blank) on the shelf.
If I have assumed wrong it is because you have not mentioned brand or model of the tires you installed. Please do so. In the tire business, price does not always reflect quality.
|
donn0128
|
11/20/08 07:13am |
Tow Vehicles
|
