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Chuck

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Everything posted by Chuck

  1. Chuck

    Oil sampling

    I use Blackstone. Every oil change, about once per year. Not only do they give you the info, but a narrative as well, comparing it to the last sample.
  2. Probably me. Left there May 7, after 2 weeks. 2003 Volvo VNL 610, Smart and New Horizons Fifthwheel.
  3. I have a 2003 vnl with an Eaton 10 auto. Never had to push in clutch. Like Chad said, I start most of the time in the am from standing in the boards outside.
  4. Chuck

    I bought a truck

    Is that the truck that was at the KOA in Toomsuba Tennessee?
  5. Campground nome. If he would just stay in one spot and shut up.
  6. Can only to speak to similar symptoms regarding the Autoshift in my 2003 vnl. Lock up in gear. Reset and go down the road a ways. Lock up again. Least expensive was the wiring harness replacement. No change. Changed the xy shifter, problem solved. Good luck.
  7. here is what was done with my hitch. Bottom completely boxed in. I am sure there will be plenty of comments on this. Given the pics of the damaged hitch, this is what the welder recommended.
  8. I started this thread back in Sept. I am having my reworked hitch reinstalled next week. I will post pics of the results. I hope the thread does not go off the rails, but probably will. Lol
  9. Below is the original email put out to all rally attendees. I was at the rally, I saw the damage. It is what it is. The pictures speak for themselves. Why this thread has gone off the rails I have no idea. But I’m pretty much done with it. Out of courtesy, when I get my hitch reinforced, I will post pictures of it. The fact is this should not have happened. I spent some years in the submarine service.Would welds or lack of be accepted there. Hell no. Heads should roll. It should be the case here. Inspection of components, is always a good idea. But my hitch, as well as the one that failed, were a year and a half old. These were not old hitches. These were post comfort ride sale to roadmaster. All pics, and one video, have been posted previously to review. —————————————————————— Let's do GOOD NEWS first! Frank met Rick Olsen, designer and original manufacturer of Comfort Ride Hitch, last Friday. Rick not only replaced the failed component but also diagnosed the problem! Frank is doing very well. We removed the tailgate today - what a mess! Frank will be leaving tomorrow and heading to Camp New Horizons. However, both Frank and I would like to thank Linda and Terry Cunningham from the depths of our hearts for their help! So, now the rest. If you have a Comfort Ride Hitch, here is what you want to know! Rick diagnosed the hitch failure. Rick said it was a "bad weld". It was a failure of a weld on the base of the hitch. You can check this! Get a friend (give him/her a beer or wine!), take the web restraint off the hitch, and lift it on its hinge. Now, look at both sides of the weld that attaches the plates to the "pipe". See picture that Frank provided. If you notice cracks in the weld (Rick's diagnosis) or anything "out of the ordinary", get it checked! Also, Frank has provided a link to the video when his hitch failed. Be sure to have the sound on!
  10. What kind of a BS company is Comfort Ride/Roadmaster. Call this a.m. to order new sleeves and a grade 8 bolt for my 308 hitch. I get to customer service, do you have the part number? No I don’t. Well let me put you over the technical. I get the technical, do you have the part number? No I don’t. We need to go out to our website and go through this process a blah blah blah blah blah to get the part numbers and call us back. What a crock of shit. Sorry for the foul language but this is not customer service. Stay away from these people. And, their products.
  11. Wow, if you want answers to your questions, just go to the original posting by me. This is about putting out information on the hitch issue and what was determined by Rick the original owner of comfort ride. The information deserves to be out there so hitch owners can take precaution. Nothing more. Lighten up.!
  12. I raised my hitch up and also noted the incomplete weld issue. It is about 1/8” on the bottom. Hence my little insurance policy of adding the cables. See pic above. I should be ok until I get to AZ. Also noted play at the pin, like the sleeve is wearing excessively.
  13. Once I get my comfort ride reinforced I will post pics. Could be a couple of months.
  14. Here is a pic of the latest incident
  15. I don’t have a 1 1/2” socket to check the bolt. Pick one up this week. A fellow HDT ‘r had a bolt break. That is my first order of business to check, as there is some slop. We will be in Tombstone for some time. There is a good hitch shop in Sierra Vista. I am also going to replace the sleeve as well as have the bottom unit reinforced. This kind of stuff should not happen!
  16. Currently in Creede. 149 through Lake City to Creede is a good one to test all systems.
  17. I am aware of 2 Comfort ride hitch failures since the June time frame. The latest happened to an attendee of the New Horizons Rally in Creede. The failures appear to be the same. Failure around the bottom sleeve. Fortunately, the latest failure happened at slow speed coming to a stop, where the trailer brakes pulled the trailer back, destroying the tail gate. Fortunately a rescue party went out and brought the trailer to Creede. The issue is in the process of being resolved. So, what to do. There is enough mental energy expended towing without having to worry about hitch failure. The pic shows my solution. I fished cables through the hitch and locked to the hitch frame. I only lose about 1/2 articulation on the back side. If the hitch broke on my tow rig, it would simply side off and hit the street. Those that use these hitches know they are supposed to be trouble free. It is very difficult to even inspect this failure area. Hope that Comfort ride addresses this issue on a wider scale.
  18. Chuck

    Engine heater

    What affect does this heater have on the temp of the engine oil?
  19. Chuck

    Engine heater

    First time plugging in engine eater. 2003 Volvo vnl 610. Noticed a minor gurgling sound from passenger side of engine. Is this normal.
  20. Chuck

    Road Blocks

    I agree. We chose to cancel you trip East because of politics. The wisest thing to do is to stay put in AZ. It does not make me happy. Nor does being run out of Cali because of politics. Safety is first. I do not want to be put in a position of being on a highway dead stop and confronted. As I stated on Facebook, it would not end well for the opposition.
  21. Chuck

    Road Blocks

    The was a posting recently on Facebook from a trucking co announcing a protest. I won’t rant here on the Boobs, losers and Morons BLM or the Pantitifa crowd. It would be mice for a web site giving this info. Suffice to say, I have cancelled our trip East this fall as we would be on the road on Election Day. I know one is not supposed to get political here, but so be it.
  22. Chuck

    HDT

    At a fuel island several months ago, had a couple of truckers come up and say they have never seen a set up like this. Took pics. Huh? Truckers!!’
  23. Chuck

    HDT

    Ok, sports fans. In our full time travel, other than rally’s , we have seen very few HDT’s on the road. And, only a couple in RV parks. I always get, “I’ve never seen a set up like that.” I tow with a Volvo, haul a Smart, tow a fifth wheel. What is everyone’s best guess as to how many Hdt’s there are in the country actively towing. This is not a number of beans in a jar, as there is no clear answer or a prize. Lol
  24. Chuck

    Highway 50 Colorado

    Got baptized the other day on 139 from Rangley going south. Drove many times on Highway 4 and 108 in Cali In the Sierras when I lived there. Any one who has driven these knows what I mean. They are seasonal pssses. in pick up and car. 139 was similar, 15 mph switch backs and grades. The Volvo performed flawlessly. Put the tranny in manual and work it and the engine brake. Thanks for the info on 50.
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