*Truck and Towing thread........ask your questions here.*

[Teamubr]

Hey you could be on to something new here, a pop up fifthwheel.

You mean like Will Smith's?

Here's a little video.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

Hey Randy, wouldn't we just discussing cab overs as tow vehicles?

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Hey Randy, wouldn't we just discussing cab overs as tow vehicles?

Yep sure was, I still swear it would be cheaper in the long run. Cabovers are cool looking but I still like this 81' KW.

 

[peg110]

Or the other side of the spectrum. The Truck Campers. I have been looking at them too. You'd think they would be less expensive because they are smaller. NOT! They can go as high as $50K. Some descent ones START at $20K. We bought our 27' TT (granted it was used but only a few years old).

Often times we need little more than a traveling bathroom and a place to lay our head. That's why I looked at them. I guess I need to look elsewhere!

 

[PaHunter]

You mean like Will Smith's?

Here's a little video.

j

Yeah, must be hard being that oppressed. I think I could suffer.

 

[Barney Fife]

Great info guys. Not exactly what Heather wanted to hear but she will survive. I'm thinking we will have to downsize a little bit. I would rather be safe than sorry. I plan on traveling farther than Disney in this thing and will probably be doing some smaller mountains, too. I guess I will be looking for lighter campers now which is fine with me. Maybe a smaller price tag Or maybe that's wishful thinking.

I weighed my 2015 F350 CC LB SRW a few weeks ago. I have a 90 gallon auxiliary tank in the bed so I filled up before getting on the scales. With me, the wife, and over 120 gallons of fuel, the truck weighed 4080 on the rear axle. My rear GAWR is 7000 lbs. so that leaves me with a hitch pin weight of 2920 lbs.. Diesel fuel weighs about 7.5 lbs./gallon so if I left the extra tank empty, I'd lose about 675 lbs. of weight behind the cab. I will guess at least 400 lbs. of that will benefit the rear axle. So, now I'm looking at maybe 3700 lbs. on the rear axle.

Long story short, a 3300 lb. pin weight would not concern me at all. I'm not as concerned with the entire weight (GCW) as I am the rear axle.

This was way back in 2011. My old 2009 F350 and it pulled the Cyclone like a pro. I remember one wicked storm coming home one night near Lexington, NC. Strong cross winds but we stayed very stable. But shortly thereafter, I realized the pin was far heavier than I thought and I was getting close to 1000 lbs. overweight on the rear axle. So we traded it in for a dually.

Once we get our Work & Play TT toy hauler sold, we are getting another 5er. I will definitely get a triple axle at least 40' long. Just won't be something super heavy on the pin.

 

[4077]

Or the other side of the spectrum. The Truck Campers. I have been looking at them too. You'd think they would be less expensive because they are smaller. NOT! They can go as high as $50K. Some descent ones START at $20K. We bought our 27' TT (granted it was used but only a few years old).

Often times we need little more than a traveling bathroom and a place to lay our head. That's why I looked at them. I guess I need to look elsewhere!

It's interesting.....don't hear too much about truck campers on here ever. I too was surprised at the prices of them when searching the RV sale websites. It is interesting to see the very high end ones with multiple slides...

 

[tiggerdad]

Yeah, they kinda proud of them.

Randy, I still like the cab overs. Sorry bud, the ability to be maneuverable just wins me over. Like this 79 model International Transtar II:

 

[barbz56]

We bought a used Layton 19Ft. TT and will be coming to the Fort in October. Pulling it with my 1999 Ford Ranger https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206750224021719&set=pb.1458354150.-2207520000.1454617437.&type=3&size=1536,2048

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...0.-2207520000.1454617437.&type=3&size=960,720

 

[jbrostek]

If I can ever swing full time for a year or two and travel the states, I would invest in a custom hauler. And I have thought about a cab over as the perfect hauler because its turning radius would kick all in the nose.

 

[tiggerdad]

We bought a used Layton 19Ft. TT and will be coming to the Fort in October. Pulling it with my 1999 Ford Ranger https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206750224021719&set=pb.1458354150.-2207520000.1454617437.&type=3&size=1536,2048

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205740336295157&set=pb.1458354150.-2207520000.1454617437.&type=3&size=960,720

Good looking compact rig there. Ranger handles it pretty well I assume?

 

[barbz56]

I don't know yet tiggerdad. This truck was a project, from the frame up, son did all work cause frame was bent. Hubby had him beef up suspension. We haven't towed it yet. Hopefully it will tow it ok.

 

[tiggerdad]

Looking forward to hearing about it.

 

[barbz56]

Thanks, we are camping Oct 1-8. We can't wait.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Love this thread- lots of good looking set ups. I can we the hubby upgrading us in the future.

 

[peg110]

So I have a question. My TT stabilizers are a "Scissors" style (and TOTALLY Manual) and the base of them (part on the ground) is circular (maybe 10" in diameter) and QUITE rusted. When I do put them down I put them on Blocks or something similar so they are not sinking in the ground, but I have concerns about them rusting out.

My question is, what are the best stabilizers to get to replace them with and how hard is it to change them out? I am pretty handy but haven't really done much mechanical work on the TT (at least not yet).

Ideas/suggestions are welcomed and encouraged.

 

[tltay2005]

We just replaced our rear ones (ordered from Amazon), and they are so much easier to crank than the old ones. We don't have the scissor style, so not sure we can be of much help.

 

[tiggerdad]

Most of them just bolt onto the frame. On my jayco, the scissor stabilizers have 4 bolts that mount them to a plate on the frame. Easy replace if I ever have to. I also put something under mine. I actually have 8x10" pieces of 3/4" plywood pieces cut to put under mine. I use an old trick to keep ants out of my camper. I put vaseline on the plywood. This keeps the mess off the stabilizers. The ants won't cross the vaseline.

 

[peg110]

Most of them just bolt onto the frame. On my jayco, the scissor stabilizers have 4 bolts that mount them to a plate on the frame. Easy replace if I ever have to. I also put something under mine. I actually have 8x10" pieces of 3/4" plywood pieces cut to put under mine. I use an old trick to keep ants out of my camper. I put vaseline on the plywood. This keeps the mess off the stabilizers. The ants won't cross the vaseline.

I haven't had an issue with Ants (at least not yet) but I suppose it's worth noting for the future.

I have a set of "Leveling" blocks (well actually 2 sets of 10) like below (but mine are orange). I usually use one under each of the stabilizers. I also have several pieces of 4x4 if I have to get more height. I don't, however, think it's conducive to Vaseline all over these to solve the issue of ants.

Maybe someday, I will have automatic stabilizers. You know, like in a Class A! Ah... to dream.

 

[peg110]

Okay, this is depressing.... This thread is making it WELL below the fold. I think we need a bit more Testosterone to keep this thread alive (and above the fold)