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Pickups Pickups - Archived Discussions Cabover Campers & Camper Trailers (pickups) 
1377 messages, Last post on Nov 20, 2003 at 1:43 PM
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Watch out for the old "<fill in the blank> always underates the capacity of the truck. You can haul much more than the rating". First of all, if the truck is rated to haul x amount of weight and you exceed it you better hope you don't have a drive train repair that the dealer can refuse to warranty. Second, I recommend to all my camping buddies that they take their loaded trailer and truck to a public scale and get a certified GCW. A lawyer told me that any time an RV is involved in an accident and found at fault, the insurance company and lawyers will try to prove that the vehicle was overloaded, so lawsuit city. Another thing I learned the hard way: Some trailer manufacturers, namely Skyline (Layton, Nomad) will connect the brake wiring from the axle to the trailer harness using 3M Scotch Locs. While these are fine in some applications, they are specifically NOT recommended for exposure to road conditions and should NEVER be used in an electric brake circuit. I punched a Mazda Protoge through an intersection when he decided to slam on his brakes on a green light. I was really ticked that I couldn't avoid the accident as I consider myself to be a very good, defensive driver. I later found that the scotch-locs had been used on the brake wiring at the factory and exposure to water had caused them to corrode and loose continuity. So, I was trying to stop 7000# of travel trailer with a 1/2 ton GMC and no trailer brakes. After I found that, I removed the scotch-locs and soldered the wiring harnesses together. |
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That's a good point about the lawyers and insurance company. I never thought about that. It sounds like you had a pretty good case for a lawyer with that brake wiring. You'd think a manufacturer would know better. |
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| I took the camper off the truck today (I normally leave it off) and once again was so happy I put electric jacks on it. It is not only easier and faster but is also safer and more stable on these jacks. For those of you looking to buy a camper, definitely choose electric if you can. They are expensive but they make your camper investment so much more useable and enjoyable. Kind of like AC in a car; you can live without it but it makes the car so much nicer to live with. | |
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Regarding the question about frame vs. body tie downs, both work well. Here are some concerns people have raised. Frame: -Don't have much forward/rearward angle. True, but a rubber mat or spray-in liner provides so much friction I doubt it matters. -They stick out. Bad for off-road or shins. Maybe doesn't look so great. -It seems to me that the chain would go tight and slack as the bed moves in relation to the frame. Not a big deal I guess as long as a S-hook doesn't come free. Body: -Can damage the bed or bend the bumper. True for extreme loads. It happened to me but I had two extenuating circumstances. -Some don't like drilling any holes in their truck. -Optional cross stiffner bar in the bed can get in the way. I tore my camper bumpers out on it. I'm happy with my Happijac (body) mounts. They look pretty clean and don't use chains which I don't care for. In either case, I agree with the comment about the spring loaded turnbuckles from Happijac. They are quite nice. I wish they would add a little dealybob to close the open portion of the S for extra security. Don't consider using stake pocket brackets. They aren't very strong or stable. They move around in the pocket and flex. I've had them and my camper never fell out but I never felt very secure in case of an accident either. |
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| My tork lifts are lke small hitch receivers. You don't see them nor do they stick out unless you slide the tie downs in. Ith the bed mat my camper has not shifted--(yet) | |
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6856 miles later. My dad had changed his mind about Detroit and the Henry Ford Museum, and we went to Grand Island, Nebraska (Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer) and Minden, Nebraska (Pioneer Village). We all enjoyed both, but Pioneer Village seems special to us. Loren, you could fly out to Minden - they have a courtesy car at the airport you can take into Pioneer Village, and then you can stay at the motel. Well worth the trip. Plan on two days or one very long day. 2nd day is free if you sign up for it before you leave on the first day. 6856 miles, and the oil minder light is not on yet. 15.1 mpg average for the trip. Most driving was at the speed limit, Cruise Control on, AC on. High was 16.5 mpg (prior tank 16.0, next 15.7) low was 14.0 (California oxygenated gas - first tank of trip). I was very happy with the mileage. My wife got spoiled with the mileage, we got a tank at 14.7 and she's wondering what's wrong! For a 6.0L truck weighing 7450lbs, I was very happy with 15mpg! From CA we went up into Idaho. Amazing thing was, at the speed limit we were passing more people than were passing us! Didn't happen anywhere else. Through Wyoming, across Nebraska. Stopped in Fremont to visit my brother, his new wife and their new house! Then onto Iowa to see my dad and my other brother. On the return trip we visited the museums in Nebraska with my dad, then he returned to Iowa and we went on. We wandered north through Gillete Wyo. to tour the coal mines - well worth the visit! Then up through Montana into Canada. Up the Icefields Parkway and across BC. Many, many very nice Provincial Parks. Moose and Elk in the campground outside Jasper (give those guys a w-i-d-e berth). Some very nice parks in Washington and Oregon, and then down Highway 1, the CA coast and home. Wonder when that oil minder light will come on? Mike L |
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After we filled up in Sacramento, we developed a miss. First thought was, wow - bad gas! But then I noticed it got worse whenever we hit bumps or a rough stretch of road. Then the Service Engine Soon light came on. But we still got 14mpg going up to Reno. So, In the campground that night, I looked around and found a loose plug wire, then the engine ran fine, but the SES light wouldn't go out. I checked the gas cap, and it was tight. So, out in Winnemuca we stopped at the dealership, and they looked at it (literally, they were backed up and had a mechanic on jury duty) and said if it is running good don't worry about it. It could take 30-40 restarts for the light to reset itself. We tried 5-6 more time right there to no avail. So we drove off and about 2 miles down the road the light went out. Other than that the truck ran flawlessly! Mike L |
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| Glad you had a safe and happy trip. Was that milage with the camper? | |
| Wow that was a long trip. I only just turned 20k on my truck, I'll bet you have close to double that now. You saw quite a range of things, sounds fun. Glad the truck worked out okay. How does a plug wire get loose? | |
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Yes, that mileage was with the camper on the truck. And all of our gear, wife, etc. 7450lbs. I use Mobil 1 5W-30 oil and have the tires at 50/70 psi. I noticed better mileage with premium(about 10% better) and more power with premium. It would pull up hills better with premium. I guess with regular the knock sensor pulls back the timing and reduces power. Last years trip was all regular and averaged 14.0mpg. This year mostly premium and averaged 15.1 mpg. I imagined the plug wire wasn't properly installed when some (un-named) fool pulled the plugs out to check them. Maybe I should get a new mechanic? I think we just turned 27K on the truck. I may drive it alot in the summer, but I have other things to drive around day to day. Mike L |
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