2006 Mobile Suites 36TKS too much weight

[Cummins12V98]

DAN V

If you want quality stick with the DRV. It does have a Lippert frame but it is built to DRV standards. It has a triple stacked tube frame. Two 2"x6" and one 2"x3" tubes stacked and welded to make a 2"x15" frame compared to other 12" I beam frames.

Lippert has a bad wrap because they build what the RV makers spec out. Cheap and light weight!

 

[DAN V]

What about Carriage and Carriage cameo? They have a few of these as well. I will be going down Friday morning to look at these as well more than likely.

 

[RustyJC]

Carriage built nice rigs. They are certainly worth a look. They had some slideout drive problems, but the fix is pretty simple. Just run the slides fully out and back in and check for gears "jumping" or "skipping". The slideouts are driven by 12VDC electric motors running through a gear reduction box. The screws that hold the gearbox together have a tendency to back out which takes the gears out of mesh, so they skip over each other and can ultimately result in broken gear teeth. If the teeth are in good shape, the fix is to Loctite and retighten the screws and use star lockwashers under the heads.

Rusty

 

[Bug Out]

I still chuckle at the ratings of my 2005 3500 dually 4:10 6 spd 5.9 only capable of 23K weight GCVW and my 2500-2013 with 3:42's is capable of 25K GCVW. My 05' 3500 felt more secure then the 2500 does extra power aside.

 

[Bill Stockard]

What about Carriage and Carriage cameo? They have a few of these as well. I will be going down Friday morning to look at these as well more than likely.

We have a couple of RVing friends who owned Carriage 5th wheels and traded for Carriage Cameo 5th wheels. Both couples say the Cameo line doesn't seem to be as well insulated as the Carriage line as their Cameos feel colder in the winter. They are satisfied with their Cameos, but not as well as they were with their Carriage trailers.

Bill

 

[DAN V]

Thanks for all the help with my questions and for all the feed back. Looks like I am leaning more towards the DRV as it has a stronger frame, and also has disc brakes.

 

[Bob V]

It hasn't been mentioned yet, and I don't know if you are buying new or used. Keep in mind that ANYTHING over 5 years probably needs new tires no mater how the tread looks. The factory stuff is not very high quality and rots. Might want to add the price of a set of tires to the cost of the unit.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The disk brakes are AMAZING! If you get one with disks be sure to remove the calipers and properly lubricate the slide bolts.

 

[DAN V]

It hasn't been mentioned yet, and I don't know if you are buying new or used. Keep in mind that ANYTHING over 5 years probably needs new tires no mater how the tread looks. The factory stuff is not very high quality and rots. Might want to add the price of a set of tires to the cost of the unit.

I will be sure to look at the tires when I look at it.

 

[DAN V]

The disk brakes are AMAZING! If you get one with disks be sure to remove the calipers and properly lubricate the slide bolts.

The slide bolts or side bolts?

 

[RVTRKN]

I don't want to put words in Cummins12V98's mouth, but he's probably talking about slide bolts that the calipers float on.

 

[Cummins12V98]

That is correct RVTRKN !

The calipers come from Kodiak with little or no grease and this causes only one pad per caliper to do the braking. I had some serious carnage on my 07.5. Lucky I did not loose all the brake fluid.

Yes that is the caliper grinding into the rotor and the outer pad is missing!

 

[DAN V]

Now I see what you are talking about. I have signed papers and will be getting new tires and some other work done to the DRV before I go to do the PDI at another show they are going to bring it to which will be closer for me to not have to drive as far. Almost didn't get it because of the tires. They have a few things to fix/repair on it before I sign off on the PDI. Especially some rust below the water manifold in the storage area and around the kingpin.


I will be contacting you Cummins12V98 in the near future for help if that is ok .

 

[Cummins12V98]

DANV

No problem happy to help.

What are you doing for tires?

 

[DAN V]

The dealer is replacing them with new.

 

[RVTRKN]

Why look a gift horse in the mouth, but beware if there Chi Com tires, they usually won't make the 5 year span, but they also have been known to blow on the first trip. I have Chi Com on my 5ver but I only take it from storage to the camp site, about a 1/4 mile, I do have to bring it home to a new storage site, so I probably will be replacing them with Michelin XPS ribs.

 

[DAN V]

I will be looking at the tires for sure when I go back down to do the PDI in a couple of weeks. I would also like to have XPS rib.

 

[RustyJC]

Sorry, but XPS Ribs are only available in Load Range E 16" sizes (LT235/85R-16 @ 3042 lbs typical) - that's not nearly enough tire for your MS. At a minimum, they required the LT235/85R-16 Load Range G Goodyear G614 RST rated 3750 per tire. Later units used 215/75R-17.5 Michelin XTAs or Goodyear G114s rated 4805 lbs per tire. I've retrofitted my MS with the 17.5" Michelin XTAs to get rid of the failure-prone G614 RST Goodyears with which I had 2 failures, the last resulting in over $2500 damage to the 5th wheel.

Rusty

 

[DAN V]

Sorry, but XPS Ribs are only available in Load Range E 16" sizes (LT235/85R-16 @ 3042 lbs typical) - that's not nearly enough tire for your MS. At a minimum, they required the LT235/85R-16 Load Range G Goodyear G614 RST rated 3750 per tire. Later units used 215/75R-17.5 Michelin XTAs or Goodyear G114s rated 4805 lbs per tire. I've retrofitted my MS with the 17.5" Michelin XTAs to get rid of the failure-prone G614 RST Goodyears with which I had 2 failures, the last resulting in over $2500 damage to the 5th wheel.

Rusty

Thanks for the info Rusty. I will look into the GY G114 when I get the coach home next month. Thanks.

 

[RustyJC]

I'd suggest giving Scott at Trailer Tires and Wheels a call. He can supply you with the complete package - wheels, tires (your choice of a number of brands, including GY and Michelin), lug nuts, center caps all mounted and pre-balanced shipped to your door. A lot of us heavy 5th wheel owners have bought 17.5" wheel and tire packages from him.

Rusty