I'm thinking about a new fifth-wheel.

[Killgore]

I suspect I'll be keeping my CDL if I let myself get talked into this. I do have the AD G-56 transmission that would make pulling somewhat easier.
Right now the temperature is hovering around 100 and the humidity is close to 50%. DW says maybe we should just get another A/C unit. And I say, that's about like putting lipstick on a pig and we'll still have the same problem this Winter in reverse. Unless George is able to give me a
rating of one star, the plant tour is still on. And of course, your comments are truly appreciated.

- Ed

 

[RVTRKN]

You might want to install a temperature sensor on that G56, pulling that heavy. You can search my threads on this subject, I have seen as high 250* pulling a small boat. I now control the temps between 160*-180* even at 23k GCVW, and I can get it even cooler than that, before climbing grades.

 

[SnoKing]

Killgore, just my two cent! If you plan on traveling or snowbirding, I would first upgrade your truck to a new duallie with Aisin, rear air, 3.73 or 4.10 gears. Then you can address the trailer and not worry about load, transmission or lack of comfort.

We did the truck last fall and the trailer this spring. Love the truck and trailer ended up longer(39'4") than be planned going in.

#ad


SNOKING

 

[Killgore]

Steve, I've followed your threads in the past on the cooler and monitoring of the transmission, and I think you are right that I need to keep an
eye on that area. If we go in this direction I will have to consider a gauge a necessity at the minimum.

Chris, unfortunately I live on a beer budget with champagne tastes. Upgrades to old faithful are about the only way I can fiscally meet my
goals. Don't get me wrong, I would love to move up to a newer model leaving the limitations behind but right now that just isn't an option.
I did roll across the scales after filling my auxiliary tank and found that my rear axle weight was 3,740. The door sticker says I have a 9,350
GAWR. I can live with the difference although recognizing I am approaching the upper limit. Surely this won't be as dramatic as when I bought
my first tractor sixty years ago with a Cummins 220 with a 10-speed Road Ranger, LOL.

- Ed

 

[SnoKing]

Chris, unfortunately I live on a beer budget with champagne tastes. Upgrades to old faithful are about the only way I can fiscally meet my goals.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to move up to a newer model leaving the limitations behind but right now that just isn't an option.

- Ed

Yet you are looking at a champagne level trailer? Your truck is at it peak in value and will bring good money. Deals on left over 2016 are VERY good. The difference between what you have truck wise may be less than bringing our trailer wants down a level of two. There are a lot of nice trailer available from Montana, Cardinal, Cedar Creek, Big Horn, Big Country, Jayco and Grand Design that will come in at the 50K to 65K range. Or step down to a year or two old used trailer. Look here for factory refurb'd trailers. http://www.kansasrvcenter.com/

Snoking

 

[Killgore]

Incidentally, I do have one of those electronic thermometers that looks like a Taser. I periodically bail out of the truck and check brakes,
transmission, and rear-end. That was one of the better Harbor Freight investments for $25 that I've made.

- Ed

 

[kthaxton]

Yeah man, just go buy all new stuff.

 

[Killgore]

Points well taken and yep, we're not talking about a weekend camper but rather our future home on wheels. Attention to detail and engineering
expertise is something that I would consider a priority and something that I would hope would translate into something more than a ten-year
camper life. The pulling unit is just that, a pulling unit; always has been and always will be. But there again, points well taken.

- Ed

 

[kthaxton]

Points well taken and yep,
- Ed

Except my point was sarcasm, not directed at you.

 

[Killgore]

I recognized it as such, and nobody enjoys a laugh more than me. I was thinking more about what Chris (Snoking) had posted and he has some
good points. As I previously stated, for fifteen years I have managed to keep my campers together with a staple gun and Loc-tite and although
not as extreme as the old gal down the road who has a good business repairing campers who said, "they're all junk", I am forced to admit that
most campers are pushed off the production line with the only consideration being the P&L. Augusta has 15 employees and unless I'm wrong,
they have a pretty good work ethic and consider what they are doing something more than just a paycheck. When we do the plant tour I hope
to be able to look some of them in the eye and get some feel for their pride in workmanship. Maybe I'll be disappointed, but I'm hoping.

- Ed

 

[SnoKing]

-Ed, don't go drive a new RAM with your wife along, you will be dead meat, and calling your financial adviser!

Here is what happen to us. We bought he 2001.5 new in June of 2001, and 2004 bought a larger 29' 5th wheel. We wintered in Arizona starting in 2008 with that trailer. Most of the RV resort have a 10 year rule. We decided that we needed more truck before getting more trailer, so last year we sold the boat and bought a 2015 left over RAM from John Elway in Greeley, Co. Had fun flying out and driving it home to Washington.

Off we went after Christmas to Arizona and on the way home the first of April we wanted to ago across Phoenix area to Surprise and take friends out to dinner. AND the park asked for pictures of the trailer! In the end we said we were coming from another Cal-Am park and they said ok no picture needed.

We had been looking at another Cardinal, however only one model have a light enough pin weight for the SRW truck we just purchase. Montana's are all pin heavy, Cedar Creek had light pin weight ratios, however we did not like their two tone wood work and flooring. So we kept going back to Bighorn as a lot of trailer for the money and rated for full timing! Except to get the features we wanted including the bigger rectangular shower we ended up with a 39' 4" trailer and will have to watch pin weight. Note: DW did not want a duallie! May end up with 19.5" rims and tires!

Things had been really falling in place over the last year, and an opportunity came along to sell our home in a private sale. So here I am posting from our new Bighorn home waiting for the house to close next week. And we plan to be off for Arizona in mid October. DW has her eye on a park model in our RV Resort. We will be half a year in the trailer and half in the park model.

SNOKING

 

[RVTRKN]

I toured the B&W plant for just that reason when I purchased my flat bed. It was a very impressive tour that I had with a personal guide. I don't think they do it any more, but I was impressed enough to only buy their product when I need something they make. Good luck with the tour, hopefully they'll let you take pictures.

 

[Killgore]

That's a pretty good adventure. I attended the CME Plant Tour three years ago and had the opportunity to drive one of the new models. I knew
right then that I needed to erase the memory. Geez, what a truck; I fell in love at first sight. DW looked at me and grinned, and the tears welled
up in my eyes because I knew that she knew how I felt and it just couldn't happen, LOL.


What I am still driving today continues to be the best truck that I've ever owned, in great part due to the Cummins power plant. Would I get rid
of it? No, it meets my needs and is set up to handle my expectations. Are there some good deals out there? Yes, but at my age I have to
consider how long I will realistically be able to hit the road. At 73, like it or not, I am fast approaching middle age and my understanding about
the natural progression of things leads me to believe that my eyesight, reaction times, and common sense may begin to be in question. Some
might question my common sense at this stage due to this thread.

- Ed

 

[Killgore]

Okay, let me answer the question you didn't ask. I believe that regardless of the season in life that you find yourself passing through, it's
extremely important to maintain goals and visions, for without them, you will tend to vegetate and stagnate. I'm sure that some of you older
members would agree with me because unfortunately this wisdom only comes to most people after they reach a certain age. As younger
people our time was consumed with making a living and all the associated activities with raising a family. Now that we're retired, hopefully in
good health with a decent retirement, we need to replace all those hectic years with something that provides a challenge, stimulates our
thought process, and inspires others as well as ourselves. And no, I don't play golf.

- Ed

 

[Cummins12V98]

-Ed, don't go drive a new RAM with your wife along, you will be dead meat, and calling your financial adviser!

Here is what happen to us. We bought he 2001.5 new in June of 2001, and 2004 bought a larger 29' 5th wheel. We wintered in Arizona starting in 2008 with that trailer. Most of the RV resort have a 10 year rule. We decided that we needed more truck before getting more trailer, so last year we sold the boat and bought a 2015 left over RAM from John Elway in Greeley, Co. Had fun flying out and driving it home to Washington.

Off we went after Christmas to Arizona and on the way home the first of April we wanted to ago across Phoenix area to Surprise and take friends out to dinner. AND the park asked for pictures of the trailer! In the end we said we were coming from another Cal-Am park and they said ok no picture needed.

We had been looking at another Cardinal, however only one model have a light enough pin weight for the SRW truck we just purchase. Montana's are all pin heavy, Cedar Creek had light pin weight ratios, however we did not like their two tone wood work and flooring. So we kept going back to Bighorn as a lot of trailer for the money and rated for full timing! Except to get the features we wanted including the bigger rectangular shower we ended up with a 39' 4" trailer and will have to watch pin weight. Note: DW did not want a duallie! May end up with 19.5" rims and tires!

Things had been really falling in place over the last year, and an opportunity came along to sell our home in a private sale. So here I am posting from our new Bighorn home waiting for the house to close next week. And we plan to be off for Arizona in mid October. DW has her eye on a park model in our RV Resort. We will be half a year in the trailer and half in the park model.

SNOKING

Let's be honest here! It was the ride in this to Jimmy's Pizza that got you two thinking about a new truck.

 

[Killgore]

Without question, that would seduce Ralph Nader, LOL.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Ed,

Good to hear you are going into the full-time lifestyle. Best wishes.

I have been following this thread with interest because I am working on a five to seven horizon to begin full-time.

My question: why do you reject a used trailer? I am going to start another thread on this topic, but am curious as to your reasoning.

Thanks.

 

[Killgore]

Hey Russell, and good to hear from you again. I've always owned a second-hand camper; two, I almost had to completely re-build; and the third
which was only five months old when the seller decided to upgrade and I happened to be standing there and got a deal. Rightly or wrongly, I
figure that most campers are built to make it 10-15 years at the most, that is, if they are covered most of the time, used primarily as a weekend
recreation get-away, somebody pays close attention to maintenance, and the weekend occupants don't act like bulls in a china shop. There
are some things we have little control over like deprecation, that two-way refrigerator that seems to only last ten years, the RV campground
that enforces their 'no campers over ten year's old' policy, and of course that roof with the questionable seams that is out of warranty at 12
years.

We've been full-timing it only three months now, but in that time I find myself fixing and tightening stuff that just shouldn't require constant
attention like trim, drawers that have less structural strength than a cardboard box, and an electrical system that is truly stressed if it isn't a
cloudy day. Am I disappointed? No, because I'm asking this unit to be more than it was designed to be. Full-timing puts demands on a
camper, like those RV appliances, some Lippert frames, and poor insulation, that cause them to be less than satisfactory. If I'm going to
hammer down the road I want to have confidence in the frame, brakes and suspension, and I want something besides ST China bombs
spinning around on 4,400 lb. axles.

I didn't answer your question probably, but my opinion is that an RV manufacturer must start out at the drawing board and build a full-timer's
unit, keeping in mind it's intended use, from the bottom up, use residential appliances, and proven residential construction techniques where-
ever possible, and adhere to sound engineering standards coupled to a strict quality control program. There are manufacturers that do this.
Unfortunately, just like you, I have found them to be out of my price range. I am therefore looking for 'the most bang for the bucks', and I stress
'still looking'. I will be following your thread and I may go in the direction you are leaning.

And of course, good luck!

- Ed

 

[SnoKing]

We go this morning to sign the closing docs on the SB. So we will be official trailer trash tomorrow when we receive our funding.

Summer home!

#ad

 

[Killgore]

Chris, your post brought to mind another issue that I failed to mention concerning full-timing. I found that many lenders run from the mention
of financing campers whose intended purpose is full-timing. I have been a member of USAA for well over fifty years and their reply to me was
a short, 'nope'. The lenders are somewhat limited in number and I turned to Good Sam (Bank of the West) when I was trying to investigate the
alternatives. Moral of the story; admitting that you are planning to become a full-timer could be a deal breaker.

Nice looking camper!

- Ed