Post your tow vehicle pics here
hello all I figure that I would start this thread so we can all show off our TV's that do the burden work and then are forgoten once you get where you are going. so here is my 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 LB, EC, 2WD Note from moderator, Please keep pics to a max 640 width as a favor to those with smaller screens and dial up. "IF" you can not figure out how to make the pics smaller, post them, PM me or hit 'notify moderator' button, say you can not resize pics, and I aka blt2ski/Marty will go in and edit/fix. Enjoy everyones pics Marty >1.3MViews0likes2652Comments
Actual federal weight law rules, some questions and answers
I have per the request of a few members, stickied this post. Please note, this is not a place to argue whether a law makes sense or not, just what the laws are. If you have a question about wt laws, that appears to be NOT answered in some way shape or form, please ask, and hopefully some of the ACTUAL weights and measures LEO's will answer, or those with some actual knowledge. In the mean time, I do thank the OP for starting this thread, altho I have taken the liberty to change the title to one I think and hope will be a bit more informative in name. marty TV moderator Some on this forum suggests that RAWR per the door sticker is legally binding by federal law. Specifically by para f of FMCSA: (f) Except as provided herein, States may not enforce on the Interstate System vehicle weight limits of less than 20,000 pounds on a single axle, 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle, or the weights derived from the Bridge Formula, up to a maximum of 80,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances. States may not limit tire loads to less than 500 pounds per inch of tire or tread width, except that such limits may not be applied to tires on the steering axle. States may not limit steering axle weights to less than 20,000 pounds or the axle rating established by the manufacturer, whichever is lower. The argument is that the last half of the last sentence "the axle rating established by the manufacturer, whichever is lower." is referring to the door sticker RAWR. It is my contention that this actually refers to the "steering axle" which according to my English classes is the subject of the sentence. My contention is to find a standard relating to the rear axle in para f you have to refer back to the first sentence: "States may not enforce on the Interstate System vehicle weight limits of less than 20,000 pounds on a single axle" I would like to hear from LEO's who might have a comment on this subject. I would also love to hear from anyone who can post a copy of a citation issued for exceeding door sticker weight ratings. A link to the violated code would be nice also. My only agenda here is to find out what really is and what really is not. I have intentionally omitted the names of those who make these claims because I want this to be about the law not people's claims. Thanks.366KViews0likes248Comments
Bought a second truck.
Last week I bought this 1976 Ford F-250 4-wd, gratefully it isn't a highboy. I really think I stole it after searching for another truck. Body and paint a bit rough but very little to almost no rust. Once I put my camper on my other truck I no longer have a PU. I've only taken the camper off of my truck once since March and I'll be using thru the end of November. The truck needs a lot. Its been sitting outside for nearly 20 years. Started and driven a few miles about once a year. It has a 390 2-bbl out of 1966 Mercury Monterey. Runs pretty good after giving it a tuneup. Replaced a bunch of stuff like the grill, battery tray, dash pad, seat cover, brake/clutch pedal pads and some other misc stuff. Still have lots to go. My new tires arrived Monday so I took some steel wool to the Dodge chrome wheels and then had the tires mounted and balanced. I like it. :B72KViews0likes368Comments
[SOLVED] Work truck with service bed to tow a fifth wheel?
Never towed fifth before, on the lookout for a tow vehicle, I see these kinds all day long for a lower price. But can they be adapted fairly easily for a fifth? This is assuming the tow rating is sufficient. What else do you need to know to answer my question? Please go gently, am a fifth newbie :) Pictures as an example of the bed only. I would get a crew or extended cab.44KViews0likes19CommentsChevy Duramax DEF issues
I have been following a thread recently on duramaxforum.com which is following people that have had DEF problems with their 2011 and newer chevy duramax trucks. I happen to be one of them. My truck is in the shop for the second time, first time they replaced the NOX sensor. 300 miles later it is back in for DEF issues and I won't know something til next week. I was wondering how wide spread it was because it is a 36 page thread and growing on duramaxforum. I would like to hear from anyone on here that has the DEF version Duramax and whether or not you have had any problems. I was thinking maybe we could post here what your year your DEF duramax is and whether you have had problems or not, and the mileage of such problems or hopefully the mileage of trucks with no problems. I am trying to figure out if I should keep this truck or not. Thanks I absolutely love this truck except when it breaks down! 2011 duramax 24k CEL NOX sensor replaced 300 miles later back in shop for DEF issue27KViews0likes72Comments
Gone to diesel? Some questions for those that have.
Looking for those that made the switch from a gas TV to a diesel some questions. 1. Happy with your choice? 2. Are maintenance cost as high as you were lead to believe? 3. What gas rig did you switch from, to which diesel? 4. What are you pulling and what is its GVW? 5. Will your next TV be Gas or Diesel? Just looking for honest feedback from those that have stepped from gas to diesel as a TV. This is NOT a gas vs. diesel, but real life feedback from those that have changed to diesel both positive and negative. To the moderators, this is NOT a gas vs diesel post, looking for honest feed back from members who have made the switch, and if it was a positive or negative experience for them.25KViews1like107CommentsF450 tires. I should have done this years ago.
I know it's a narrow segment of the folks here, but if you own a 10 lug F450 and have the same love/hate relationship with the 19.5 inch tires as I did, then maybe this will help. I've tried a few different tires and sizes in the last 105k miles. I started out on the stock 19.5 225 Continental HDR's....they rode o.k. but had no traction. I swapped those out for the taller more aggressive 245 Toyo 608z. Worst tire ever. They lasted two weeks on the truck. I then tried the 245 Michelin XDS2...smooth enough ride, but noisy on smooth asphalt and poor traction in snow....and expensive. I then lifted the truck and went up another size to 19.5 x 265. Michelin didn't make the XDS2 in that size so I was back to the Toyo 608z....which I suffered with for the last 40k Miles. Horrible tire. They even smell bad. I FINALLY decided I'd had enough. I ordered a set of Fuel 20 x 8.25 Ford 10 lug wheels, with 12 ply 35x12.5x20 Toyo RT tires. These are direct bolt on wheels. No spacers or adapters. They have the same load rating on the wheels as the Alcoas, and the 12ply F rated tires are only 300lbs less load per tire than the stock G rated Continentals. The wheels are offered in 3 different offsets for 285, 12.5" and 13.5" width tires. **** what a difference. PRO's They balanced out perfect. They are WAY quieter. MUCH smoother running at 70 PSI. Truck tracks straighter. I can air them down when needed. Tires are much less expensive. 45k mile mileage warranty. Far better traction in all conditions. CON's They are much wider. Sticking with the 285 tire offset could alleviate some of that. The initial cost of the wheels will take two sets of tires to recoup. I seriously should have done this 3 years ago. These wheels will be moving to a new F450 when the time comes!23KViews0likes24Comments
Unusual Tow Vehicle
I have seen more than one of these. Owners change to parabolic springs and air seats. Caravan is lightweight about 7,000lbs. 5.2 Diesel, . Payload is enormous compared to a Pickup. It has absolutely no problem on hills , very fuel efficient and bulletproof17KViews0likes91Comments
