Hitch mounted on new rails

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 number two: you WILL hurt yourself. Multiple times.

I ordered the rails online after consulting with a rep who assured me that they would fit my new truck and my old hitch. Okay, I won’t leave you in suspense – he was exactly right and they fit!  Good start!

Since I’ve been towing fifth-wheels for eight years, I have some concept of how it all works. There are two heavy steel brackets that bolt, through existing holes, to the truck frame rails under the truck bed. Luckily, a number of years ago I bought what’s called a creeper – that’s a rectangular, padded, wheeled cart upon which one lies in order to roll under a vehicle. It makes working underneath easier. Not “easy”, you understand, just “easier”.

When the carton arrived, I found I could barely pick it up to drag it in from the front porch where some poor UPS guy had to deliver it. I popped the box open and took the parts out a piece at a time and checked that everything was there. And it was! Yay – more good luck!

Simple, right?

Prior to starting anything, I studied the installation instructions which I’d downloaded and printed. Remember Rule Number One above? The one about it never being as simple as the instructions say it will be? Well, fate decided to take back some of my warm, fuzzy feelings. For example, why would the instructions say to place the forward rail exactly 50.94 inches from the rear edge of the truck bed? After fiddling with a calculator, I found that meant 50 and 15/16 inches. Why not just say that in the first place? Who has a tape measure marked in decimal places?

And that was my first worry – would it not work if I was off by a sixteenth of an inch? Okay, back to the instructions and double-check the dimensions, then climb up in the truck bed and measure and mark. Next, place the rail, centered from side-to-side and triple-check the distance from the rear of the bed, and mark and drill four one-eighth inch pilot holes into the floor of the bed. Yikes – holes in my brand new truck!

Now came the fun part – climbing – actually, rolling – under the truck and fitting the brackets to the frame and finger-tightening the one-half inch mounting bolts. Have you ever looked underneath a vehicle? There’s a lot of things under there, most of which have sharp edges and are all strategically placed to block access to the very spots you need to stick bolts. There’s a spare tire, a muffler, a gas tank, tubes and wires and cables and other tchotchkes all lurking under there, just waiting for some tender skin to get close enough to bite.

By the time I had been working a while, my arms looked like I had lost a battle with a cougar, and I mean the wildcat kind, not the… well, you know what I mean. I think I’ve personally kept Johnson & Johnson afloat with my BAND-AID purchases. Oh, and insert one of those little R’s in a circle back there after that name lest I hear from their lawyers.

Another little treat was that I would periodically find my head hanging over the end of the creeper, right where one of the little wheels could roll over a handful of hair (yeah, it’s a tad long), and try to snatch it right out of my scalp. You really don’t want to know the sort of language that prompted from me. Just understand that it HURT!

Fate decided to smile again, because when I lined up the pilot holes I had drilled in the bed with the brackets underneath, they matched! Bullseye! So, I immediately thought I was being set up for something to go awry later… yeah, the glass could be half empty…

But my pessimism was unfounded, because though the rest of the drilling and bolting didn’t exactly qualify for “falling off a log” status – just getting in the right position to get at least (and usually only) one hand in position was always uncomfortable and challenging – overall it still went pretty well.  Oh, and painful. Thereby justifying the headline of this piece – creative swearing. I tried very hard to keep the volume down, but Ellen told me she could monitor my progress from inside the house (the windows were open) because she could hear every four-letter (and five-letter, and six-letter, and so on) word. And she thought it best to stay inside and not go out into the lions den.

So, now the hitch rails were in place and it was time to take some sandpaper to the hitch itself and clean it up a bit to prepare for paint. By the way, this thing weighs over a hundred pounds and I can’t pick it up – much less lift it up onto the tailgate – alone. Even after disassembling the head from the base, I still couldn’t lift the head by myself.

So, in desperation I asked Ellen to come help. And amid some heavy breathing and grunting, we managed to get the thing up on the bed.

A day later, I had it painted and pinned in position on the newly installed rails, looking just like it grew there. Hot damn, I actually did it – it’s done. And I got to not only expand my mechanical knowledge and shed some blood, I also expanded my vocabulary. I just can’t use that last gift in polite company. !!%@!$#@

Please comment below, even if just a quickie!

Barry on the Road

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 stop in the Ford

Screen shows me current and average mileage in the Ford, although the current mileage is a half-inch high bar chart with a tiny, tiny scale to compare

Built-in trailer brake controller in the Ford – so no more standing on my head trying to connect wires under the dash

Rear seat floor space smaller in Ford and doesn’t have grocery bag hooks like Titan – small but convenient feature

Ford has Sync, which connects my cell phone to the vehicle so I can control it by voice without taking my eyes from the road. I rarely talk on the phone while driving anyway, but still, it’s a nice safety feature

Ford has no backup beeper like the Titan, apparently buried in some options package I didn’t want to pay for

Ford didn’t come with rear wheel-well liners as the Titan did. Oddly, Ford lets you order them but doesn’t put them on at the factory – the dealer has to do it. Or you can do-it-yourself, as I did

Ford also doesn’t have the universal garage door opener like the Titan does. Must also have been buried in one of those options packages

The Titan has a plastic bed liner (which had to have cutouts to accommodate the fifth-wheel hitch rails) but I ordered a spray-in liner for the Ford which I like better

I discovered, by accident, that the two passenger door windows in the Ford actually open like the front ones. The Titan rear windows are fixed.

On the whole, the Titan has been a terrific truck with very few problems for the seven years and less-than fifty-two thousand miles I’ve driven it – mostly highway miles towing. I’ll miss it.

But I’m excited about the new Ford and have been adding some things to make it truly my own, like moving the fifth-wheel hitch (watch for more on that challenge) into the bed, adding a bug deflector to the grille, and installing a toneau cover to the bed to keep things a little neater and cleaner back there.

Please comment below, even if just a quickie!

Barry on the Road

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 only a quickie.

Barry on the Road

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 and interesting characters and situations, don’t miss America One by Tollan Ian Wade.

Barry on the Road

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 back to the trailer and shut off the water feed and wondered what the #%^%# was going on.

Lifting the bed, I saw the area was sopping wet and the clear plastic filter housing was cracked open, allowing the incoming water to run all over and eventually find its way out the floor of the trailer.

A few choice words later – okay, a lot of choice words later – I started trying to soak up the water. At the same time, I also was trying to think of a way to of still getting water into the trailer with the busted in-line filter.

Luckily, there was a repair and parts facility on-site and they had what I needed to bypass the filter and still have water service inside.

As part of winter preparation of an RV, always drain the water lines and the filter housing. That way, when freezing temperatures strike, there will be no water to freeze and break the clear housing or rupture the lines.

I learned about RVing from that.

Please comment below, even if just a quickie.

Barry on the Road

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 shower. Success – found two!

Some of the items that caught my eye are below.

Mirror-like toy hauler

An R-Pod trailer with outdoor kitchen in the rear

Sylvan Sport GO very lightweight trailer

Getting more common, but still cute, Aliner popup

This is a Class C Renegade priced at $704K

A tub for Christine

Please comment below, even if just a quickie!

Barry on the Road

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 at Straight Talk in Walmart  a couple of times but couldn’t seem to find someone who could connect the dots for us about their service.

But then, last week, I got yet another email from Walmart touting their current store specials, and it included a blurb about the Samsung Proclaim which was available on their Straight Talk network.

I snooped about online for descriptions and reviews and, basically, it looked like a decent phone that would do everything we would want and then some. It’s not the very latest and greatest – it was introduced in May of 2012. According to information I found, it’s a rebranded Samsung Illusion just for the Straight Talk network. And we learned in the store that this phone uses Verizon’s national network, so we get the same coverage we’ve had on our previous phones.

We decided to go for it and paid $149 each for the two phones, plus we kicked in an additional $15 each for a two-year full-replacement warranty. If we drop it or lose it overboard, it’ll be replaced.

A month of service including unlimited minutes, data and texts is $45 with no contract. Our service is simply charged to a credit card every month. As of this writing, we’ve had them for less than a week but we’re rapidly turning into smartphone junkies. I’m already accessing stock market data, playing Solitaire when I have to wait somewhere for a few minutes, checking the weather radar, and scanning email.

I can feel myself becoming a glassy-eyed digital zombie but at least I feel as though I got a good deal. And a nifty phone. And no contract.

Please comment below, even if it’s just a quickie.

Barry on the Road

Welcome to ON (KINDLE) FIRE WITH AUTHOR TI WADE!

Author TI Wade is the popular science fiction author of the Invasion USA Series and his most recent series, America One. Known for his technological thrillers, this giveaway is a celebration of his books and his way of saying “Thanks” to all of his readers!

As an avid reader of his books, I’m excited that I’m able to participate in this event to help spread the word while giving you the opportunity to win a great prize!

His first series, Invasion USA, is a breakneck thriller in which every electronic device made in China for the past thirty years all shut down at once! From traffic lights to airport communications, television to iPods, automobile systems to children’s toys, the whole of Western civilization is effectively dismantled. “A truly frightening scenario vividly brought to life!” You can learn more about INVASION USA or buy the books HERE!

TI Wade’s most recent series, America One, mixes space exploration with government intrigue: Ryan Richmond is a self-made billionaire who has always dreamed of going into space. After building his own space shuttle by employing the best minds in the industry, he is faced with the US government trying to seize his ship, America One! You can learn more about AMERICA ONE or buy the books HERE!

Please take a moment to check out his books by clicking their covers or their links!

And now, on to the giveaway! I encourage you to enter as many times as possible. Good luck!

PLEASE WAIT A MOMENT FOR THE ENTRY FORM TO LOAD. THANKS!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you enter as many times as possible? Fantastic! If you thought this was cool, please use the buttons below to SHARE with your friends. Thanks!

Barry on the Road

Quite often, I’ll see a Food Network post on Facebook which will send me off looking at various recipes.  That happened yesterday when I saw a dessert post which led me to another site which led to another…

I wound up looking at a very simple dessert called Lemon Cream Cheese Pie.  Desserts are naturally guilt-inducing, especially since I managed to lose some thirty pounds last year and have put some effort into keeping it off, so I try to find ways to lower the carb count.  With this recipe, I could substitute with some lower-sugar ingredients and still keep it delicious. 

Herewith follows the slightly modified recipe (based on a Cooks.com item):

Lemon Cream Cheese Pie

Pre-made graham cracker crust (higher in sugar)

OR

Combine 1 1/2 C of crushed graham crackers with 6 tbs melted butter and 1/4 C baking Splenda.  Press onto bottom and up sides of a 9″ pie plate and bake for 7 minutes at 375 (then let cool), or just chill uncooked for an hour before using.

Filling

1 large or 2 small Jello lemon instant pudding/pie filling (I used sugar-free)

1/2 C milk (may need slightly more to thin just a bit)

1 8 oz. package cream cheese (softened at room temperature for a half hour to be workable)

1 tsp. lemon flavoring (next to vanilla extract in the baking aisle)

Directions

Mix Jello with milk and stir to mix.  Add just a bit more if necessary to make it workable.

Add softened cream cheese and lemon flavoring.

Spoon into pie crust and smooth to edges.  If you want to step it up, add blueberry, strawberry or cherry pie filling on top.  I could only find low-sugar cherry but you may find a different selection at your store.

Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours and serve.  It’ll make your tongue slap your brains out, as the old saying goes.

Please comment below, even if just a quickie.

Barry on the Road

Some of the many tchotchkes available at the gift shop

For those of you who are readers of this site, you may remember when we visited the Pima Air and Space Museum on our last trip to Tucson a year ago. Yes, you know who you are. Ellen was having some leg issues then and I had to push her around in a loaner wheelchair outside. Because the ground wasn’t conducive to the narrow wheels, I couldn’t see nearly what I wanted of the many aircraft stationed around outside on part of the eighty acres of the facility. We did, however, get to look around at the displays inside the several large hangars there.

So I was determined to revisit the museum and stroll the grounds and see some of the many aircraft I missed last time. Ellen’s leg is much better this year so it was a go. Actually, I wanted to ride the tram that tours the grounds hourly, but was informed by a not-so-helpful front-desk employee that they stopped selling tickets ten minutes before each tour and that we were too late. Oh, and this was the last tour of the day.

We walked on through the building and when we got outside the tram was still sitting there waiting to leave. With empty seats.

As it turned out, our walking pace matched the tram for a while, since it would stop while the docent pointed out different aircraft along the way, and we could hear some of the descriptions.

I have to mention that Ellen was being a good sport, because her interest in airplanes doesn’t nearly rise to the level of mine. Not even close. Not even the same planet. Like I said, a good sport.

So, look below at a few of the aircraft that caught my eye, and follow the links to learn more. This is history, folks.

Convair B-36 Peacemaker bomber

VC-118A (similar to DC-6

C-119C Flying Boxcar

KB-50J Aerial Tanker (based on B-29)

Barry on the Road