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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Wax ?????
McGuire's Cleaner Wax...VERY good on fibreglass. Works well with a buffer too.
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MegaDodge
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10/19/09 07:32pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: inverter/converter runs all the time
Dogdiva....It's unlikely that you have a switch for your converter. They usually wire them direct to the Mains now....but I found the hot wire for the converter and installed a switch so that I can shut it off as was suggested earlier.
I assume you got deep cycle batteries. They like to discharge and charge and this prolongs their life...otherwise they live in the top 10% all the time. You can tell when the batteries are discharing as your lights will be a little dimmer.
ALSO, if you install an inverter, or if you have one, you must turn off the converter....(plus all other heavy loads, ie. fridge and hot water tank to propane, hot water dispenser if you have one, etc.)..when using your inverter. The inverter uses your batteries to make 120v. and they will evenually run down at which time you start up your generator, shut off your inverter, plug in your shorepower to it, and turn on your converter to charge the batteries.
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MegaDodge
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10/14/09 06:56am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: inverter/converter runs all the time
Your converter charges your batteries and runs your 12 v. lights if you have them turned on. If no lights on and the converter runs all the time, better check your batteries...one might be faulty and therefore the converter will continue to try to charge it fully. The converter should shut off when the batteries are charged up. Inverter should not...(will not)...run when you are plugged into shore power.
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MegaDodge
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10/07/09 07:02am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: 6.0 powerstroke diesel?
Oh well, Montreal...no wonder you're in a bad mood. We visit Nevada every year and winter in Arizona...Lots of Dodges in Arizona....usually from Canada. Sorry.
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MegaDodge
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10/06/09 06:30pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 6.0 powerstroke diesel?
I'm Rick James....Nope..she's stock. My truck was built before they started jacking them up to look ugly. When I hook up, the truck squats about an inch...and handles the trailer beautifully. It has ground effects which makes it looks lower.....and thanks for the compliment about "hideous." People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
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MegaDodge
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10/06/09 06:07pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 6.0 powerstroke diesel?
This is an amazing thread. Lots of great reading and entertainment. Oh, if you Ford guys wonder why I'm here, when I own a Dodge, well,...I just like to slum now and then. I like to be informed about the competition and even though I can buy a Ford cheap because my son works for Ford....it has always made me nervous when Ford fools with these Navistar engines, changing them too often and now bringing out an in house version. How long do potential Ford owners have to hang around waiting now to see if THIS ONE is any good.
It comes up from time to time in these threads that Ford owns Cummins. Actually a Ford dealer once told me that. Of Course, they don't. Can you imagine that Ford would have endured the nightmare with those engines if they could have Cummins engines in their light trucks?
Wildwood...if you already bought the truck, I hope you have good luck with it. Nothing worse than dealing with a lemon.
As far as wondering if Dodges are really good.....well, let's see.
Mine is a 1998.5 3500 dually - with a manual tranny. It has 205,000 miles, of which 105,000 miles has been spent actually towing my rig....and my previous rig...also heavy. I replaced the ball joints at 125,000 miles, still not causing tire wear. The tie rod ends are original, and it gives me 12 mpg towing and 22 mpg running empty(Hwy). I just replaced the original clutch with a Valair HD Clutch. No problems with the engine....I mean NOTHING. I am a maintenance junkie. I look after it. Original brake calipers on the front....but replaced the rotor hubs at 200,000 miles..(last winter). I guess what I'm saying is, I like the truck...and Dodges are easy to service. In a Dodge, you can actually see the engine when you lift the hood. Soooo, for my money, I don't care what truck I drive as long as it's wrapped around a Cummins engine. I'll get back to you when it turns 600,000 miles. Oh, yeah, did I tell you Cummins are legendary long milers.
My buddy.....here we go again....has a 2005 PSD F250 (6.0) He tells me he's had no trouble with it...other than a re-flash when it was fairly new.....but then he pulls a light trailer and never goes anywhere with the truck. Maybe he's afraid to drive it. He certainly knows about the problems with the (6.0) because he a savvy guy engine wise, and I'm sure if he could relive the purchase, he'd have kept his 7.3 a little longer. I always wondered why Ford didn't stick with the 7.3 and work to make it a perfect engine....it always was a pretty good engine. I also always heard that the 6.4 is a really good engine...so why are they changing it for a homemade version? Go figure.
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MegaDodge
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10/06/09 05:38pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Lake Havasu rv parks
Islander RV Resort...cross London Bridge, then straight for 2 miles, entrance on the left. Beautiful park.
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MegaDodge
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10/05/09 07:23pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Cambridge, Ontario CGs, RV parks
Best park in the area is Green Acres RV park....very nice park...close to the Farmer's Market in St.Jacobs. Find it in Woodalls. 10 stars.
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MegaDodge
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09/27/09 07:09pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: question on sleeping in the tt while moving
I'm surprised nobody asked, or mentioned sleeping in a fifth wheel. Our bedroom is over the truck bed and it is definitely the sweet spot. We have a cabinet with glass doors with glassware in it. nothing moves or falls over, in the 2200 miles we travel to Arizona. I have never done it, but I would think sleeping on the bed in the fifth while moving would be very comfortable. How smart, or legal it would be, is another story.
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MegaDodge
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09/24/09 06:52pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Aftermarket Clutch For 2007 Dodge 3500 RAM
I put in a Valair Clutch...and I'm very happy with it...AND...they are great people. The quality of the clutch is excellent and I do agree it is a little bit grabby...you should use first gear all the time...but I haul 13000pounds and have an Edge with Attitude chip....so I wanted something better than the EOM replacement. Their prices are also excellent.
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MegaDodge
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09/24/09 06:38pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: GoodYear Marathons
Cachingcampers....They..(the Marathons)... were 16" load range D. They were not overloaded according to the weight range on the tires and always properly inflated. Not sure where they were made...didn't look that up. As I started to have popped seams, and a Canadian dealer replaced them grudgingly, saying I had them overloaded, (which I did not, because I weighed the trailer)... I was loosing faith in the tires...then I had a blow out, the second Marathon to blow....then the delamination of the sidewall was the last straw. I suppose that's always possible with any tire....but after all the good reports about the XPS/Ribs...I was going that way anyway, so he had an easy sale, especially when he said he was buying back my Marathons. I can certainly see where some people would have trouble if they had 15" tires, as I did on the Golden Falcon as that limits your options. I agree with you that there are likely lots of
'un-expert' tire dealers out there. The Discount Tire dealer I dealt with was a Goodyear dealer and a Michelin dealer...that was good for me....I was really glad to let him buy my Marathons. BUT....when a tire dealer tells me that his tires that he sells, are nothing special, and they shouldn't be on my trailer....he gets my attention. I have 20000 miles on the RIBS so far, with no problems.
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MegaDodge
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09/22/09 08:28pm |
Towing
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RE: GoodYear Marathons
LarryJM... Discount Tire didn't give me any sales pitch...I already knew what I wanted and Discount bought my Marathons back for a hundred bucks a tire....and said they are good for around 2000 lbs...and said they have replaced HUNDREDS of them. I think I'll take a tire dealer's advice over yours if that's okay with you. He said they are not good tires. I see BionicMan agrees with me.
If you are tickled with your Goodyear Marathons, I'm happy for you..(sounds like you have been extremely lucky.!!)..but I would never advise anyone to put them on a heavy rig. My Everest was loaded to 10250 pounds on the four tires...(that's 1950 lbs. under max)...and 2500 lbs on my fifth wheel hitch. One tire blew out completely, three tires popped seams....and one tire delaminated for two inches all the way round the rim. The Michelin XPS/RIBS are about twice as heavy as the Marathons and rated for the same weight. I had Marathons on my old Golden Falcon which weighed 9400 lbs total weight..and had a blow out with them. I am careful to maintain pressures correctly....if you run Marathons, you better be.
To take a chance on running an inferior tire, rather than something of the caliber of an XPS/RIB is just crazy, considering the periferal damage that can result when one blows up..(coach damage, plumbing damage,etc.)...but lots of people do.
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MegaDodge
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09/22/09 03:45pm |
Towing
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RE: E rated tires (UPDATE : Also tire protectant ?)
Don't get Marathons....you already have bad tires..!! Get Michelin XPS/RIBS...the problems are over.
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MegaDodge
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09/21/09 06:02pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: GoodYear Marathons
Marathons are good for light travel trailers....don't load them heavier than around 2000lbs. They came on my Everest and blew out and delaminated until I got rid of them....The Discount Tire dealer told me they are rated for 3050lbs but are good for around 2000lbs maximum a tire....for heavy duty work get Michelins XPS/Ribs.....real tires.
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MegaDodge
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09/21/09 05:50pm |
Towing
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RE: Gettysburg
Little Round Top RV Park.
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MegaDodge
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09/21/09 05:44pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: RV park rates in AZ
Check out Lake Havasu, Arizona...way better than Yuma...beautiful. Us "Canooks" love it there....We burn our money there...?!!
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MegaDodge
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09/21/09 05:41pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: greasing wheel bearings
Every ten thousand miles bearings should be disassembled, cleaned, inspected and repacked. Replace your seals when you do this. If you do not know how to repack the bearings, have a mechanic show you the proper method. I use synthetic grease with a high drop point.
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MegaDodge
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09/19/09 06:47am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Inverter question UPDATED with new question
WWest....You CAN install the inverter close to the batteries and plug the shorepower cord into the converter if the installation allows you to do that. In my case, the shore power is on the other side of the rig and plugs in right at the back of the coach. So I installed a permanent extension cord going across the 'basement' to a compartment on that side. When I use the inverter I just pull out the end of the extension cord and plug the power cord into it. BUT....if your installation allows, you can plug your shorepower cord right into the inverter. Just be sure to isolate your big loads. I forgot to change over the hot water heater once. In no time I heard the alarm on the inverter whistling and realized what it was. It reduced the available amps at the inverter and sounded the alarm but the batteries were not seriously diminished because of the short time it took to alert me. NOW...I go around before I throw the remote switch for the inverter, and make sure I have the setup correct for inverter operation. Some people have a permanently wired installation where an isolator is essential so that power from both systems, inverter and shorepower cannot both enter the power grid at the same time. I have a double pole, double throw, centre off switch in my boat so that this can't happen.
The nice thing about simply plugging the power cord into your inverter is, first, the simplicity of the system, and when you are using your power cord as the only power source, whether into a standard for shore power, or into your inverter, you cannot damage the inverter from outside power.
I like to power the whole rig this way so that I can use the computer and use the lights where I want to, but at the same time you do have to be aware of the power source and therefore not waste power. Using power carefully, you will be surprised how long the batteries last.
Then when they need to be charged, I simply get out the Honda Generator, shut off the invertor, turn on the converter, plug the shorepower into the generator and let it charge. The batteries will charge according to the amp size of your converter....NOT the size of your generator.
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MegaDodge
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09/19/09 06:26am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Over Filled Propane Tank
When my tanks are empty they alway take 7 gallons exactly....
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MegaDodge
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09/18/09 06:09pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Duramax really bad towing MPG?
Your tire size...putting on bigger tires can mess up the computer. If you are taking your reading from the computer in the cab...might be wrong...but the tires being wrong will cost you fuel because the computer is messed up by it....You should be getting around 12 miles per gallon with that rig. Check this out with the dealer.
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MegaDodge
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09/18/09 06:05pm |
Tow Vehicles
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