jon_lansing
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Re: Winter beach ideas please!
Many years ago when I was young, I lived in Orlando, originally from Iowa through the winter the beaches were great, very few people there in the afternoons water really didn't get cold until late February, I spent 2-3 afternoons a week on Cocoa Beach. I second the Navy Air museum we went last summer.562Views0likes0CommentsRe: Sand and debris in water lines
I have had this problem with the same camco filter, it was a new filter first use of the year, day 2 of a 3 day trip I was getting dirty water and sand from the faucets, then it would clear up and then came back it was middle of the day I figured the camp ground was on a well and maybe running low?1.2KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Is a Tundra out of the Question
spoon059: You guys that think you can only tow safely with a 3/4 ton or bigger make me laugh. Do I think a 3/4 ton would drive different than my 1/2 ton, sure, but am I unsafe with my combo, not a chance. I always bring up this point and the thread seems to just stop... or turn away from that argument into something else... There is a certain group of people who think that 1/2 ton trucks can't pull anything. They remark about the lack of brakes and non floating rear axle. The idea that a 6000 lbs truck can pull an 8000 lbs trailer is laughable and only acceptable if you are mentally ill. "Pulling a trailer that is heavier than the truck??? That's the tail wagging the dog!" "Those little puny brakes won't be able to stop you if the trailer brakes go out." The same people have no problem with an 8000 lbs truck pulling a 16,000 lbs trailer. I don't know how a trailer that is 2000 lbs heavier than the truck is insane... but a trailer that weighs TWICE AS MUCH is inherently safer. An emergency stop with 24,000 lbs and no trailer brakes... perfectly safe in the mountains... right? Look, some of us are intelligent here and know that a 3/4 ton truck is better for towing than a 1/2 ton. We also know a 1 ton is better. Then again, so is a class 8 tractor. Just because something is BETTER than a half ton does not mean that the half ton isn't adequate for the job. For people that can't afford to go drop $40K on a new heavy duty truck, can't afford to register it, can't afford to insure it, don't want to deal with the heavier weight when not towing, or any other plethora of reasons than there is nothing wrong with a properly set up half ton towing within its perimeters. My half ton Tundra has performed flawlessly for me over the 4 years I have been towing my 6500 lbs camper. Up and down the Appalachain mountain chain, up and down the eastern seaboard it has been fantastic. No sway, no "white knuckle" experiences. Plenty of power and safe braking every time. Thankfully I drive in a manner that reduces the likelihood that I will need to make an "emergency stop". I am also young enough that my reaction time is likely much less than some of the older guys driving 1 tons... My Tundra is a vehicle of compromise. I am 33 years old and have a young family. If I am lucky I get one or 2 extended (over 1000 miles round trip) trips a year and hopefully 5-7 shorter trips per year. For my miles towed and the weight of my trailer I do not want, nor do I need a heavier truck. All the bluster and bravado on rv.net is ridiculous at best. My 5 year old Tundra with a GCVWR of 12,000 lbs will stop better in this "emergency situation" than the guy with the 10+ year old 1 ton truck with a GCVWR of 24,000 lbs. That is simple physics... Very well said Spoon, I continued to read all 9 pages of truck debate kinda chuckling inside as I went along, I just couldn't stop about the time I felt I needed to share my opinion I read this reply. Which is very much inline with my thoughts. So the shortened version of my opinion, I will preface this with my qualifications to make the opinion, I am an ASE Advanced level Master tech, I hold master status in 4 high end European brands, I have worked on many of the Big 3's vehicles, I was expert certified at Toyota, I am currently a Technical trainer for a high line luxury brand. I also fall into the same category as Spoon, I am relatively young, I have a Young family I have no other reason to own a large truck other than the camper we have that makes a few trips per year. So we purchased a new 2010 Tundra crew max back in 2010, it has the 5.7 liter which in a personal opinion is far superior to the big 3 gas engines, rated at 380+ hp, over 400 lb-ft of torque it is well in the diesel range of years past, (2000 f350 7.3 was 210 hp, 425 lb-ft) I had one (1999 dually diesel) as a work truck I pulled an equipment trailer with various construction equipment it pulled well equipment and trailer well over 20,000 lbs. When buying my Tundra we looked at 3/4 tons $50,000+ was a little out of the budget, I also needed to commute in it, that would be the primary use, they rode terrible, all of them! Fuel economy was poor, I had a co-worker with a silverado it did get 21+ commuting but it was the 5.3 to get the power from a big 3 truck you need the big engine the fuel economy is really low then, the tundra made sense, I fully trust the vehicle, I was really hesitant to spend the money on general motors or ford or dodge, really. Real world use of my tundra at first I would get 18.5 mpg commuting, changed tires to better Michelin lost 1 mpg, but better heavier tire= safer. those that look down on the "1/2" ton brakes should take a look at them, they are big these days and very capable. 2014 f350 14.3" tundra 13.9" those are both huge in terms of brake rotors and very capable. Our trailer is about 6500 lbs loaded, the truck weighs just under 6000 lbs. Do I feel it behind me? Yeah its there. Do I have any problems accelerating, no, maintaining speed, no, Fuel economy, sure I wish it was better, 8-9 mpg pulling, do I regret buying a Tundra, nope. In terms of ride, I will honestly say the ride quality of the Tundra is only rivaled in the very high end luxury vehicles. Really give one a try, then go test drive a Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus... I have the experience to back it, the vehicles I have driven that ride better and are quieter on the highway than My Tundra, Rolls Royce Phantom, not the Ghost, 2014 Range Rover. The rear seat leg room on the crew max is unmatched by any truck I have been in. The one negative I have with my Tundra is fuel capacity, I wish it had a bigger tank for longer range particularly when towing. So now that we have had a 9 page debate about trucks the bottom line. If I could afford it and didn't need to rely on it for anything else or truly needed it sure a 3/4 or 1 ton would be it. Otherwise I would endorse a Tundra especially if you need it for other things other than towing. I would encourage you to look for used and maybe a short lease if that looks like it will work for you. I would love to be in your shoes to tank a long trip with the family like that. I would assume you have other vehicles, have you thought about the possibility to find a driveable for that trip and tow a second car, maybe a nice class C.400Views0likes0CommentsRe: Going from a 5th wheel to a TT
Check out the 31qbts several brands have the floor plan I think they are mostly forest river products. There is a full double slide kids room in the back with hard door, depending on options 4 bunks in bunk room, fold down sofa, dinette... queen bedroom in front also with hard doors.446Views0likes0Comments
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