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Dexter E-Z Flex Triple Suspension Kit and fliped axles!
Ok so here we go! Working on my 2001 FS3000 triple axle toy hauler.Last winter on our last Glamis dune trip of the season I Stopped at a gas station on the way home and while looking at the tires I noticed a broken spring shackle! It broke clean off and the lief spring was just hanging in the air! I had another 300 miles to go to get home and it was of course new years day with nothing open. So after staring at it for an hour or so then I concluded that it was not going anywhere as it was connected solid in the back. (drivers side ft of last axle.) I started to crawl home and stopped every five mins to make sure all was ok. Nothing was hitting. Just seemed to be floating in the air! Ok so I made it home and parked the trailer. fast forward to a month or so ago and I purchased a new Dexter E-Z Flex Triple Suspension System Kit for my toy. While installing it I decided the 'flip the axles' for more height. I purchased new u bolts for the axles to fix it up right. Here is where the fun begins. What I was informed was by flipping the axles I would gain about 5 inches in height. Well after the Dexter kit and the axle flip I gained 12 inches in height! I love the clearance but will need bigger steps for momma and baby dog. But here is the problem. With the trailer hooked up to the truck The truck still sits level but the trailer has a really cool raked look to it. I have the Shank flipped and adjusted all the way up and still have the raked look. What can I do to get it to ride a bit more level? What kind of problems will I have towing like this? I put 20 miles on it yesterday and it seems to ride fine. I did notice that I had to back off on the brake controller as I had a couple of wheels locking up. WHAT HAVE I DONE? HAHA Any advise short of flipping the axles back? Steve1.8KViews0likes7CommentsDealer location VS best price?
OK The wife and I love the Jayco Pinnacle in either the ft bathroom model or the Kitchen pantry setup. My dilemma is this: The local dealer does not carry the Pinnacle model and when I downloaded a brochure and entered my e-mail address (my mistake) I had a local salesman e-mail me to say he had 'LOTS" of Jayco Pinnacle's in stock. When did I want to come see them? Well a quick search of his website showed one on his lot and not what I was looking for. I e-mailed him back and told him this and his response was "well we have a few on order." I have been to that dealer and they are small and way over priced on there other trailers. The closest dealer that actually carries the Jayco Pinnacle is about 350 miles from home. Now after many hours of research I have found an online company that beats anyone's price. They beat a show price by 8 grand and that was with more options added. My concern is that if I buy online and have problems what do I do about warranty work? I don't think the local place will help as they don't carry the line I want. Do I try to work a deal with the one that is 350 miles away so that if I have problems I can haul it to them? The online place sounds great and I would love a 'road trip' on the way home from picking it up so that is not a problem. Just thinking about the future. Have any of you dealt with a non selling dealer to get repairs? The local place does carry Jayco just not the Pinnacle line. Thank! Steve2.9KViews0likes12Comments5th wheel hitch question
Ok I am planning on a purchase of a Jayco 5th wheel trailer that weighs in as: Unloaded Vehicle Weight 13500 (lbs) Dry Hitch Weight 2735 (lbs) Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 16500(lbs) My truck Tow rating is MAX 14500 (lbs) I am driving the truck 1450 miles to pick the trailer up from a dealer. Then hooking it up and towing it back home as it sits from the dealer. Not adding water, propane or any other items. Just a 3 to 4 day drive home. Once home the trailer will be parked in a RV park full time for the next 7 to 8 years until retirement. If it is moved again it will be short trips with this truck. When the time comes a new tow vehicle will be bought and we will travel in it. So the question is this. For the 5th wheel hitch do I purchase the 16k hitch or the 18k hitch. There is a big price difference between the two. Any preference in brand type? Thanks, Steve2KViews0likes8CommentsDes Moines, IA to Las Vegas NV
OK not driving this in the next week or two. more like 3 to 4 months from now. I just like to plan things way in advance! The plan is to drive from Las Vegas NV to Des Moines IW to pick up a 5th wheel I am ordering. The drive on the way home looks like I80 thru Iowa and Nebraska. On to I76 to I70 Thru Colorado and Utah. Then onto I15 to Las Vegas NV. My main question is road conditions and elevation? My concern is the ride home. It is 1400 miles one way. Mainly driving thru Colorado and Utah. I can not find information on elevation. Are the roads super steep? What about long down hills? My tow vehicle is an 2002 ford F250 Turbo Diesel. It has a tuner for towing and brand new super wazoo brakes! So it has the pull and stopping power along with the 5th wheel having its own brakes. The weight of the trailer will be about 1000 lbs less than my max tow/load rating. So do I go for it or should I take the long way around?1.4KViews0likes2CommentsGather Around Keystown Alpine Owners! Question time!
I have been researching for months and have decided my new 5th wheel will be in the Keystone Alpine line. I have looked online and finally last weekend drove 250 miles to walk thru a few of them. I liked the ft bathroom model but walking thru it I would hit my head on the door frame going into the bathroom. I also noticed that by having a large ft bathroom and a second bathroom downstairs it seem to take a lot away from the 'living' area. The we found the 3591RS. Mother loves the amount of storage. She wants the larger 'home style' refrigerator. There seems to be a lot more cabinet space and storage. The problem I am running into is getting more information on this model. On the Keystone site it says. "stock" I notice this model is not being made in the 2017 model. Does that mean that what is out there is all that will be made? Also Some company's are listing it as a "New Design" I have no idea what the difference is. I love the technical aspect of things so I am always looking for details. So here are a few questions that come to mind: 6 point leveling system. do you like it? It shows a couch in the back but I cannot find anything that says if it is a sleeper couch like I see in others. For those of you that have the larger Samsung refrigerator does it come with an ice maker? I see when you get the larger fridge it has a 1000w invertor. Is that for travel only? In other words if I am parked with shore power is it using the shore power to operate the fridge or does it always go thru the invertor. ( My plan is to live in this full time at the same place for a few years and can see it burning out an inverter or two.) That should do it for now. I am sure more questions will pop up so thanks in advance! Steve1.1KViews0likes3CommentsRe: Tell Me I am Crazy... Or Not...
noplace2 wrote: My wife and I have been fulltiming a little over 15 years, so you won't hear any negatives from us. I would echo 2 comments made by others here: 1) It is extremely important that and your wife be best friends. 2) Buy a rig that has been gently used and 2-3 years old. You'll save a bundle and if things don't work out, turning it around for close to what you paid for it should be doable. Best of luck. I feel we are best friend. We both believe in 'till death do us part' As long as she doesn't kill me! (Just kidding!) The plan is what you are saying. 2 to 4 years old trailer. I am in good shape on the house. Plenty of equity to pay cash for a decent 5th wheel.412Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tell Me I am Crazy... Or Not...
midnightsadie wrote: your right,your crazy, jump from a house to a rv. 30hrs a week? get a job that pays money, and that host job will get old quick. sell your house find some thing you can,afford in your retired years. rv,s are not maitence free there a big expense. I think you misread my initial post. I DO have a job and a good one at that. The idea is for my wife to volunteer the hours and I keep my job to pack away money for retirement. Just moving into a trailer for the free rent and utilities. And dropping the $3500. a month house expense.412Views0likes0Comments
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