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

[jbrostek]

Sounds like you are settling into the Sequoia just fine there Ed! I know you'll sort out the bike rack needs.

I just had a higher then expected repair on the truck. Took it in for the Spring oil change and service. Found out needed rear brake pads, which was about right for the mileage since last set. However, the expensive one was all my cab mounts the rubber was rotting out after 13 years. Not cheap, but not horrible and bonus the rattle I could not find after the tow home from Dismeet has been corrected. The total bill was still less then even a down payment on a newer DRW, though slight unplanned ding to the budget.

Someday ill trade up, likely to be the truck ill keep through retirement, so no rush right now.

 

[bama_ed]

PS - last thing to do is determine if I need a front hitch on this truck like I had in the YXL. The receiver on the back of the Aliner will take my lighter, smaller 2-bike rack I used on the front so I plan to put the rack and bikes on the back of the Aliner and go for a test drive to see if any wiggle/waggle crops up like it had with the YXL.

Just a follow-up here. I did get a front hitch for the Sequoia (like I had on the YukonXL) and got it installed this week. The hitch itself I bought in advance from eTrailer (which is up near @Teamubr 's direction) and paid for the labor to install (which wasn't bad IMO). They also drilled the 4-inch hole in the skid plate of the Sequoia (per the instructions) to allow a hand to get through to remove the oil filter and drain out the oil (normally the skid plate is removed for each oil change and then replaced at the end).

The test tow showed at certain speeds in certain configurations I still had a waggle with the bikes on the rear of the Aliner (my original bike location). Oddly, the waggle sweet spot seemed to be 65-70mph when heading very gently/slightly downhill. Level or uphill, not an issue. Faster or slower, not an issue. But to remove doubt and K.I.S.S. for me the driver, IMO this was an inexpensive peace-of-mind procedure.

Headed to Gulf State Park with the bikes for the DISMeet in about 3 weeks. Can't wait.

Bama Ed

 

[jaredjohn4]

I'm at the Fort now, but it hasn't been an easy trip. Three days before leaving the Chicago area I took my camper for a test pull. Coming back, I found the bracket holding the rear suspension shackle had broken loose. I took it to my local welder and put it back into place. After a few days in Nashville for a wedding, we continued south. 2 miles north of Jennings Florida, we blew a tire on the fifth wheel. Also the left turn signal and brake light weren't working. I mounted the spare on the side of the Interstate and stayed at Jennings KOA. Called a mobile RV tech and he determined the power converter was bad so he swapped it out. We got to Thousand Oaks north of Disney and replace the other 3 tires since we bought all 4 Goodyear Endurance tires together last time. We headed to Fort Wilderness and called another RV tech to repack Wheel bearings that I had tried to have done before we left. We saw the other side frame mounted shackle bracket had cracked also, so a mobile welder came out braced it up. So far we have only spent $2,400 on repairs on this trip. We're getting ready to make the 1,100 mile back home this next weekend. Hoping all goes well.

 

[Teamubr]

Good luck on the return trip. I know how frustrating the repairs/on the road break downs can be. I've heard more and more about leaf spring brackets breaking off. Seems Lippert (or whoever made the frame) needs to beef up the brackets and welds. I never had the whole bracket break, but did have the shackle bolts tear through the bottom of the bracket. I welded on reinforcements and switched to wet bolts. I think the dry friction over 10 years just wore the metal down. I was able to resolve my trailer tire issues by going up 2 load ratings (E to G). Much stiffer side walls (14 ply for the G vs 10 ply for the E). Not sure what size tire you have, but next time you need tires, look at moving up if you can.

j

 

[JP6972]

Had a spring break on our 5th wheel on a trip last fall. Fixed the one and changed the rest the following spring. Also did an up grade on the shackles and bolts with a wet bolt kit from MORryde as the shakles had a lot of wear.

They make a cross member kit that strengthens the spring hangers and frame where they mount. Thinking of adding that to our camper to keep from having the issue you had with the broken spring hanger a little harder now.

 

[jaredjohn4]

About 8 inches of snow on the ground here now, but the camper is winterized, bed made, and just needs clothes and food thrown in to head back south. We plan on hitting Orlando around February 16, and staying through the end of the month. Probably gone for about a month. Hopefully the snow will melt a little around the camper by February. One year I had to plow a path to the road to head south.

 

[team bradfield]

About 8 inches of snow on the ground here now, but the camper is winterized, bed made, and just needs clothes and food thrown in to head back south. We plan on hitting Orlando around February 16, and staying through the end of the month. Probably gone for about a month. Hopefully the snow will melt a little around the camper by February. One year I had to plow a path to the road to head south.

Same here, keeping the Bus plowed out, we leave on NYE, hoping for a warm up by end of month, Florida looks nice, 3rd yr snowbirding

 

[jbrostek]

Not Snow birding, however, for the first time in forever, I have a trip planned south in January to head to Daytona for a week.

 

[Teamubr]

Not Snow birding, however, for the first time in forever, I have a trip planned south in January to head to Daytona for a week.

Have fun at the Rolex. It is a party for sure.

If you get a chance Thursday or Friday, wander over to the Pilot Challenge GS garages and look up the Kohr Motorsports guys. (59 and 60 Mustangs) Tell them Hi from Jim and Mark from Team UBR in the NASA American Iron days. Dean Martin (really his name) is the team owner and we raced with Dean years ago.

My favorite viewing spots were T3 (International Horseshoe) standing at the fence from the access road looking down towards T4 and the grand stands along the infield between T4 and T5. We did go up to the big grandstands across from the start/finish line to see the start. That was pretty cool.

j

 

[jaredjohn4]

They say at O'Hare airport they have had 17 inches so far. We are about 30 miles west of there. Weather report says about 33 degrees tomorrow, some rain, then more snow on the way. Overnight lows on the weekend predicted to be 2 degrees. Good thing my snow blower is working well. And it's all up hill to get to the road!

 

[bama_ed]

You still have over 6 weeks of weather until you get to February 2026, @jaredjohn4 .

Here's hoping the weather that delivers big snows does not hit between now and then.

Good luck big fella! I'm pulling for you!

Bama Ed

 

[team bradfield]

They say at O'Hare airport they have had 17 inches so far. We are about 30 miles west of there. Weather report says about 33 degrees tomorrow, some rain, then more snow on the way. Overnight lows on the weekend predicted to be 2 degrees. Good thing my snow blower is working well. And it's all up hill to get to the road!View attachment 1030221

We must be close, we're west of rockford, this is not normal, December has been mild the last few years

 

[jaredjohn4]

We had a couple of days of warmer weather, but with rain. The temperature has dropped again. Went out to the camper today and the snow in front of it was melted, but the door was frozen shut so I could not get into it. Hopefully by February there will be no snow or no freezing rain.

 

[team bradfield]

I got the snow swept off the slide outs and went to fuel up, Oasis has been running for a month, easier than winterizing for 1 month, pretty decent weather for the next week or so, we pull out for Florida on NYE, makes Nashville on NYD a cake walk

 

[jaredjohn4]

Had my Ram 2500 Diesel in for oil and filter change today getting ready for my February trip to Florida. I expect to be gone for about six weeks. The bill was only $714. I can remember when a $30 oil change for a car was fairly standard. $143 for a fuel filter and $93 for a water separator filter. Only $127 for oil. If it keeps it running for another 15,000 miles then I guess it is OK.

 

[jbrostek]

Not sure how good your relationship is with your shop. I use the local Ford dealer as they have a big truck diesel shop (handle F450/550/650) in addition to pickups. The SR and the manager has no problems with me bringing a quality fuel filter. I but the Ford filter, but for half the price they charge. It saves me a bit on the services even paying the labor rate.