nvlaircrew
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Re: Water pump slows to a trickle
Check the bowl the strainer sits in. I had a similar problem with mine. Couldn't get pressure with any sink valve open and took a long time charging to pressure. The bowl turned out to be cracked and it was sucking air into the lines instead of water from the tank. I took the strainer out a couple times thinking I had sediment clogging it up. I sometimes fill from a creek while dry camping for extended periods. Finally noticed the crack at the bottom of the bowl while wiping it out. Glued it back together with some JB Weld and not had another problem. Just got to remember to take the bowl off while winterizing. i figure the crack was from water freezing.1.7KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Cracked the bed of my truck
Mine is still within the 36 mo warranty and Ford told me the same thing. The damage was caused by what you're putting in the bed. However, I got my "platform" done last night and will be loading the camper up for a trip over to Wenatchee area to do some bird hunting this weekend. We'll see how it works out.523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cracked the bed of my truck
Tim/Fordman01 - What type of roads are you traveling on? I didn't see any type of cracking/deforming of the truck bed until I took it many miles off the beaten path. Did you notice a greater amount of porpoising? I was tell the DW about this posting and we both agree that with this truck the camper seems to porpoise more than the last one. I don't have the 5th wheel/gooseneck hitch installed on mine although it does have all the support for it. I wonder how much stiffer it makes the middle of the bed. Where the older model didn't have that support. Rick - Thanks for sharing your thread on the other forum. Reading through that gave me an idea to change the way I planning to put my plywood support together. Especially after looking at the pictures atchafalaya_man posted of the foam board compressing and the damage to the bottom of his camper. I don't have any deforming on the bottom of my camper, yet. I do agree that the bulk/all of the weight is supported by the box/tub of the camper, and thus putting more pressure on the seams of the bed with any type of roll or porpoising. I know how you feel when a bump or pothole sneaks up on you no matter the speed. 06Fargo - I have Torklift frame mounted tie downs with Happijac shackles. The shackles are as old as the rubber bed mat. I've been talking to the DW about replacing them with Fastguns. She said to put them on the wish list. :/ The Happijac's still work although with a little less spring in the fronts. All - thanks for all the discussion. It has helped me fine tune my plans to, hopefully, prevent any further damage.523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cracked the bed of my truck
After reading all the posts today I think I have a plan. I'm going to take a couple sheets of 1/2 inch plywood and cover the entire bed, including around the wheel wells with a seam down the middle of the bed short ways. Then take some of the pink insulation stuff, probably 1/2 or 1 inch, and put it over the plywood cut out the same way but with the seam going the opposite direction. Might even put a couple slats down under the plywood between the ribs just to even the pressure across the bed. I'll have to see what the local HD has. Not sure, but I'm thinking about gluing the whole setup together. I think it might make it easier to handle in the long run, but I'll wait until I have everything assembled to decide that. Last part of the fix is to get the crack welded and then have the bed sprayed with Rhino Lining. That I believe will help with any sliding around it does offroad. Putting in permanent guides is not an option as I use the truck for a lot more than just hauling the camper. Although I do like the idea. Might look to see what I can put together from some scrap wood blocks I have. I know the crack came from the forest service road and the potholes along the way. It takes a good bit of time to get to camp without the camper. With the camper it took me almost 1.5 hours, maybe a bit more. Not sure how far it is. I keep forgetting to check the odometer. If I take it up next year I can guarantee it will take me even longer to get there. Thanks for all the input.308Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cracked the bed of my truck
Thanks for all the responses. I agree with all of you that it is metal fatigue from the bed flexing. I know with my 06 the bed definitely settled closer to the frame with the camper on, but I haven't seen that with the 11. Probably just the difference in visual cues, my airbags were/are different for each of the trucks. I do have a rubber mat in the bed but it could be that it is wearing out a bit. I've had the mat since I bought my first camper way back when. I was thinking along the same lines with the plywood being able to spread the load out a bit more. I hadn't thought about checking the level of that seam. I'll do that tonight if I get the time.236Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cracked the bed of my truck
I don't think it could be any foreign object resting under the camper. There is no damage to the underside of the camper. I thought maybe something broke on the camper but I haven't been able to find anything. Besides I sweep the bed out real good before loading the camper. There's usually left over hay or straw in the bed.57Views0likes0CommentsCracked the bed of my truck
So, this summer my camper spent a lot of time on the truck. Made several long trips. One to Inavale Horse Trials in Oregon and another to Kalispell, MT for The Event at Rebecca Farms. In September I made the trip up to elk camp for the opener then came back down to go to another horse show, Aspen Farms Horse Trials. Then back up to elk camp for a couple more days of hunting. Well, when I took the camper off afterwards this is what I found: I have been to the body shop for a quote to fix it. Not worried about that part. More concerned about what caused this crack. The camper has been on two trucks and I've been hauling it since new with no problems until now. This is the first time I've taken it up to elk camp, but I have been on other roads with just as many potholes as the forest service road to camp. Anyone else ever have the same problem? What did you do to keep it from happening again? Suggestions welcome? Thanks12KViews0likes49Comments
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