Installing The Fifth-Wheel Hitch Rails In The New Truck, or Opportunities In Creative Swearing
As soon as I learned that buying the rails (those are two big, thick pieces of steel that go in the bed of the truck and to which the fifth-wheel hitch is pinned) and having them installed would cost me upwards of $600 at a dealer, I decided to tackle the project myself. I felt fairly confident because, after all, I’d once spent over three years assembling a metal airplane kit. Um… ‘course, I didn’t quite finish that one, but still, I learned stuff. Plus, I’ve tinkered all my life. And besides, I’ve got a garage full of tools just waiting for a new project. I sometimes forget the first rule of any mechanical undertaking: it WILL never be as simple as the instructions will lead you to believe. And, there’s always rule...
Read MoreComparing Trucks – 2006 Nissan Titan vs. 2013 Ford F150 EcoBoost
After researching pickups for features and towing capacity, and disqualifying any I thought too ugly or expensive, I settled on – and subsequently custom ordered – a new Ford F150 V6 EcoBoost. With the rear end I ordered – 3.73 – it’s rated to pull 11,300 pounds and a GCVW of 16,900 pounds (insert Tim Allen grunt here). It has twin turbochargers and gets decent mileage (for a truck) – at least when not towing. The Titan is rated at 9,300 pounds towing, still not too shabby, and more than adequate for our fifth-wheel trailer. As I was driving it home, and then later in the driveway, I started mentally comparing it to my seven year old Titan. Following are my observations: Smoother ride in the Ford – less trucky Less tendency to jump from a...
Read MoreNot Just Aircraft To See
As Sun ‘n Fun gears up to start, aircraft enthusiasts and their campers are showing up and filling the campgrounds on the airport. Cruising around recently, I spotted some unique non-aviation sights to see. 1950 Flxible (not a typo) Flyer bus, restored and converted to a motorhome. The original gasoline engine was removed and replaced with diesel. That’s the owner’s other toy next to the bus. A Nash Metropolitan convertible from around 1956-1958, beautifully restored. Named the Redneck Tiki Bar, this older RV sitting in the closest row to the runway, sports a beach sunset scene, complete with palm trees, in the graphics on the sides. Tiki torches outside complement the ‘decor’. Please comment below, even if...
Read MoreLooking For An Exciting Book?
I just finished reading – in two days – Book One of Tollan Ian Wade‘s new series, America One. It kept me glued to the pages – well, the Kindle pages – the whole time. Here’s what I recently wrote to Tollan on Facebook: ” I just started reading America One and had to tell you that you’ve outdone yourself. I enjoyed Invasion USA but America One may be even better. The characters are likeable, the action moves right along, and the technical aspects are very believable. For me, the best indicator that I’m really enjoying a book is whether I pick it back up and continue reading every time I get even a moment – and with America One, I do! Good job!” If you want an exciting techno-read with fast pace...
Read MoreI Learned About RVing From That: Winter Preparation
When we bought our first new and more up-to-date travel trailer, it came with a whole-house water filter – the first time we had had one. It was located under the queen-size bed in the front of the unit, right next to the fresh water reservoir and the 12-volt water pump. After the first winter of owning it, we loaded up for a three-hour trip to Charlotte to attend a trade show. We arrived at the RV park and got set up. The last thing I connected was the water hose, and then I walked over to the park office. After a few steps, an odd noise made me pause and look around. Looking back over my shoulder I saw the source of the sound – water was pouring out from underneath the front end of the trailer right under where the water reservoir was located. I sprinted...
Read MoreRaleigh RV Show – March 15-17, 2013
If it’s mid-March, it must be time for the annual NC RV Dealers show at the Raleigh Fairgrounds. Even though I ordered and took delivery of our new Rockwood fifth-wheel last July, I still like to look at what’s new. But, I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been to so many shows, or the industry is in a lull design-wise, there was nothing really startling to see. Yes, there were a few interesting tweaks, things like fold-up aft storage platforms on trailers and more non-white exteriors. Still, it’s always fun to wander through and check things out, and occasionally whistle at some of the high-end prices. And this time, friend Bob and I were on the lookout for an RV that would be suitable for his spouse who insists on a tub, not a...
Read MoreSaying Goodbye To The Two-Year Contract
Like most everyone else, since getting my first cell phone in early 1990, I’ve signed a service contract. That first one was for a year, but now they’re all mostly two-year contracts. But when our last contract ran out a year ago, we didn’t rush in to get a newer – read: more expensive – phone because we just didn’t want to sign up for another two years. We’re getting more resistant in our… (cough)… maturity. Whenever we’d talk to our provider and ask about new phones over the past year, we’d learn that we’d have to buy a minimum data package which would push our monthly bill up to $130 between us, and that would be with limited minutes and data, plus that ubiquitous two-year contract. We had looked...
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