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rdickinson

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About rdickinson

  • Birthday 08/27/1947

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    Victoria, BC, Canada

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  1. rdickinson

    Dream Truck

    I'd keep the 730, D13 485 I shift with the Premium shifter I had them install 'cus I couldn't depress the little button with the side of my thumb with the pin in it. 229 wb may have to be stretched, singled mid like this one, scrap the hanging locker and it's mate on the other side, lose the bunks and go with a crew cab with 4 doors. I'd go with the 630 but it ihas a shorter and narrower cab than the 700's. Fridge somewhere. Still go with a Herrin bed. Storage in the Fairings area. Heavier front axle, locker rear end, Jotto drop down chains, 8 0r 10kw onan between the frame rails or under the passengers seating area or on a slide pulling out the back from between the frame rails under the hitch. I'd get a different hitch from the Trailersaver. LED lights. This for starters.
  2. Well, I guess I'll chime in on this. 4 years ago, 5 Jan I headed out from Victoria to wind my way down to Florida. That day I-5 was frozen, closed with several accidents. So I headed over to the Coast road. Weather wasn't too bad, above freezing, maybe some rain. Linda Sand made reference to driving a shorter day, I'd agree with that. Days are shorter. I'd be inclined to drive between 10 am and 4 pm before it gets dark. There are very few white lines to use a visual reference, no roadside lighting and there are climbing and descending curves. Add to that as you climb in altitude, temps drop, roughly 3.5 f or 2 c per 1000 ft. So what at sea level is rain, may change to sleet, freezing rain or snow as you climb. Now you don't know if the road is wet or icy. Add to that up and down curves, no white lines or lights. When living in Calgary, we would generally wait for 3 days after a weather event for the roads to clear. The main roads in Canada and the US get the most attention due to being used for Commerce. But they still may require chains and there is no room on my rig for chains unless I go to snow socks or Jotto drop down chains and new winter tires, 2k$ ish. Give lots of space between you and the vehicle in front, at least 7 seconds, more if needed and don't take on the mindset that has killed a lot of pilots that, ' I have to get home'. Use your superior intellect to keep you out of situations where you have to use your superior skills....Another flying saying.
  3. rdickinson

    Crossfires

    Put mine on 5 yrs ago in Florida, no issues. Only need one TPMS sensor instead of 2.
  4. rdickinson

    Engine heater

    Here is what I was told in Calgary where it gets plenty cold. Firstly, I put in a frost plug heater and added a magnetic pan heater. The pan heater fell off so maybe the epoxy method would be better. The block heater was marginal as it only heated the water in the general area of where it was installed. I found the answer was a water circulator/heater. It was installed in the lower rad hose. It not only heated the water but circulated it as well and I'm told that would heat the water enough to open the thermostat allowing water to go thru the whole engine. I also put in a small cabin heater behind the seat on the floor. All this was controlled by a 120 v garden time which was set to come on in the early am. I'd go out to a warm truck cab and a truck with a warm engine. 1 - Question, where is the block heater on my D13? I've looked at the schematic but still can't find it. 2 - Question, where can I get a D13 oil dipstick? The plastic hand broke off mine. I have to replace the whole thing including the tube for over 100$. Volvo no longer shows the individual parts available. Thanks
  5. That seems more inline. Was that from a US supplier?
  6. The guy on 'Love your RV' said the package for his was about 2500ca$ for about a 30 ft trailer. Yeah, its more expensive than I figured. If the snaps could be bought, I'm wondering about slide topper material. I have some left from when mine were replaced earlier in the Lockdown.
  7. Figured I'd post this for those who may be interested.
  8. It doesn't matter if he does. Years ago there were 2 expert contributors from major tire firms. One I met in Calgary, the other I contacted by e-mail. When they posted information, members here told them they were F.O.S., so both left. Who needs it? So here is what the experts told me 10 yrs ago. In my case, I'm running Hankook 17.5's with a 4800 lb rating. Run them full pressure and you shake the heck out of the trailer. So by the time you take the trailer gross, subtract the pin wt and divide by 6, I'm running at about 75% of the capacity so the tires run at 90 psi not 110. Same with the Volvo. Rear and front tires run at 90 psi. The rear duals are connected by a connector called 'Crossover' as I recall. It's a braided hose going from 1 tire to the other. The whole system is monitored by a TPMS. All sensors are set for 90 psi. 1 sensor on the pair of duals 'cus they are connected. I set high and low pressure limits along with high temp limit. Yes running E>W, temps will be higher on the South side or side facing the sun. Years ago there was a woman with a dark or black RV. She couldn't open the door to get in or out, can't remember. Dark side was facing the sun and expanded causing it to jam. I told her to hang a white sheet over the door. It worked, that's all it took. This is what I do and it's worked for about 10 years. I ask the experts.
  9. Go to a battery place have them do a draw test. They'll charge them and test them. The test will tell you the condition of each battery. Also like others have said put in a battery switch. Solar charger is a good idea.
  10. Agreed, it is an RV application, check the manual, get the model from the pedestal and call your RV parts supplier. Works for me. Mine has been repaired X2.
  11. rdickinson

    Nine seat in HDT

    Peterbilt has made a stretched cab seating 7 including the driver. Look on horsetrailer world I think.
  12. Not sure if you are looking for a firm in LA, but Herrin in Livingston Texas did mine plus a number of others.
  13. Go to RDO Trucks in Fargo, talk to John Stearns if he's still there. Several others have purchased there. D16 had injector cup issues. Go with the D13. You can expect the injector harness to need replacing, at least on years prior unless they've fixed that issue. They will do a complete printout and cleanup and checkout of the truck. I was also told they could single it as well. Bring up their site, location, used trucks, make, year. Mine is an 09 and still running strong, a tad over 500k miles. Roger
  14. rdickinson

    Tire lifter

    Nigel, It's a tossup b/w 110v or battery impacts. Air isn't doable with 1/4" line coming off the trailer supply. So, re impacts, Can tire when they come on sale? They also sell Dewalt or plus a couple of other brands. This is not something that's going to get a lot of use. Electric or air would mean cords from the truck to probably behind the trailer plus to a car with a flat. . I may not have enough time to stop behind them. I can get a Milwaukee .5" big one for 360$ plus tax, no battery from Lordco. Jet has a set of torque sticks, 60 to 140 ft lbs in 20 ft lbs increments for 100$. So what would a car or an suv need in ft lbs. I think the trailer needs 135 ft lbs as per Dexter 12"x 3" - 8 stud drums. The dolley can be disassembled and stored easily in the truck and I could use detent pins instead of bolts to put it together. I may need a scissor lift if my 25 ton bottle jack won't fit under whatever it is I'm trying to fix. Maybe modify it to allow for the ratchet to lift it up. Any thoughts? BTW, the RV park has a lot of empty spaces. Cam from Ontario is stuck here without his wife. She was going to fly out but now that Airlines are filling the plane she won't fly. No winter trips to the US in the future. I'm making a Covid mask for the car from a Can flag and add some cartoon eyes for inside the windshield....should get a laugh or two.
  15. I switched the bolts out for the detent pins 2 years ago, The ramp foot still sits on the deck but the angle iron bolted to the foot sits in a stainless build out on the side of the deck.
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