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...

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Comparing 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...

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NC Aviation Museum/Asheboro Regional Airport Fly-In June 9, 2012 Pictures

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NC Aviation Museum/Asheboro Regional Airport Fly-In June 9, 2012

    Beautiful sunny mid-Carolina skies and temperatures in the upper 80s provided the perfect setting for the 2012 edition of the NC Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame Fly-In on Saturday, June 9. Some forty or so private aircraft – from small to medium – were parked wingtip to wingtip both on the ramp and down near the southwest end of the runway. With a modest admission fee of just $5, it was a family-friendly event with many small children in evidence. The museum building was open for attendees as part of the admission charge, and was always crowded with visitors. Not just an aviation museum, it contains exhibits ranging from four-wheel military displays to small warbirds to World War II era newspaper front pages and historical aircraft models. One...

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Southern Women’s Show in Raleigh – April 27-29

What do authors, avocados, wine, dip mixes and cooking demonstrations all have in common? They are all part of the Southern Women’s Show at the Fairgrounds in Raleigh this weekend. The list would also include cookware, home business opportunities, scarves and Chevrolet. And much, much more. As one of the extreme minority – men – in the crowd-packed facilities, there was still a lot to interest me, even without being in touch with my ‘feminine side.’ It was easy to move from wine booth to dip-mix booth to wine booth, sampling whatever was on offer. You can munch your way through the Exposition Building and come out, if not full, at least not as hungry as you went in. We met a local author, Lori Verni-Fogarsi of Holly Springs, who has...

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