alan0043

Hi Everyone,

Anyone know how Road Fitter is doing ? Have not seen any post from Ken for a long time. I was just curious to know if Pat and Ken are doing good in these difficult times.

Al

21 hours ago, RickW said:

Still a work in progress.  The channel posts about 3 vids a week so the posts are always what they are currently working on.  If you back back to around Christmas you can see what they were doing to the Smart back then.  The twin turbo LS AWD S-10 they are building is really wild.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the videos. That brings me to a thought or too. I have a friend who built a twin turbo LS and put it into a 70 1/2 Camaro. That was about 2 1/2 years ago. The car is a real sleeper. It's a driver. You would not have an idea what is under the hood. It puts out around 775 hp to the rear wheels. My friend did all the fab work himself.

Al

That little car is going to be so cool !!! 😎 👍👍  I wonder if the car is finished.

Thanks Larry for posting.
Al

53 minutes ago, Lights said:

I made the trip from the RGV Texas last Wed, Thursday & Friday back to Northern Indiana where I am  hunker down, just working on RV, Truck, Yard & workshop. We have 14 cases in our county. Most things R closed.

Hi Dan,

Glad to see you are home. I have been thinking about you. Stay safe my friend.

Al

Hi Everyone,

Things in northeast Ohio are good. The governor of Ohio wants everyone to wear a mask when out in the public. The only time you need to be out is to get supplies. My grand kids are doing on line classes right now. My oldest grandson goes to Kent State ( his classes are also on line ) and he also works in a nursing home. I need to go to the store tomorrow for supplies. The nice thing is that I can get into the store early because of my age. I also stay in touch with the kids thru my smart phone.  😎

Stay save everyone,
Al

2 hours ago, Brad & Jacolyn said:

Just something that occurred to me while reading your post. I thought a bed was one of the requirements for re-titling to a motor home. If I read the post right you are going to eliminate the bed.

Maybe the 730 has an upper bunk. I know a 680 or 780 would. I know my 630 does not have an upper bunk.

Hi Brad,

Thank you for sharing your pictures.  👍

4 hours ago, Chad Heiser said:

It got very real this week for me.  I have 8 coworkers who have tested positive and one of them passed away as a result.  My line of work dictates we can’t shutdown, so we continue on (albeit with some major modifications to how we are doing things).  I hope things clear up soon, but I’m not sure what things will look like when they do.  I am luck in that I know my job isn’t going away as a result of all the shutdowns,  but I feel for those that don’t have that security.

Hi Chad,

So sorry to hear about one of your co-workers.

Be safe,
Al

Tks. 😎

14 hours ago, rickeieio said:

Thanks Rick. I think we all needed to hear that from what is going on in the world. 😎

Hi Everyone,

A little update on the bed of the truck. Right now the bed is on hold. Do to the order from the governor of Ohio wanting everyone to stay in place. I need to buy some more materials to keep going. But with the order I can wait for a little bit. It would be nice to keep going. The weather is getting nicer.

Al

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for the input. Things sound promising. Part of the plan is to use a single strap over every tire. I already have the straps and ratchets.

Thanks Roger for the pictures. Pictures are always a big help for me. A picture is worth a 1,000 words.

Please keep the input coming.
Al

Hi Everyone,

I was curious to know what would be the minimum length for a bed for a Smart Car ( from divers side to passengers side ). Could 96" work ? Just trying to get ideas together.

Thanks for any input,
Al

Hi Everyone,

This is an interesting question. You could say I am a hermit. I am a widower of 11 1/2 years and have been retired now for 7 years. My pick-up truck does not move for days. There is most days I won't even talk to anyone or see anyone. I see my neighbor mostly on the weekends. I also live on 5 1/2 acres. Most of my neighbors have 5 1/2 acres. So you can see there is a distance between the houses. But I get by. I have a smart phone and I sent text's to my grand kids. The only bad thing with what is going on in Ohio is that all spring sports are cancelled. All my grand kids are into sports and that is one way I can get to see them, is to go to their sport. 

Remember, live is good.
Al

14 hours ago, SWharton said:

We tried and it wouldn't let us change our address. The form came in the mail, have no idea where to get a census form(probably closed anyway).

Hello SWharton,

I hope this helps. The following statement was part of my letter from the Census Bureau. "If you need help completing your 2020 Census questionnaire, please call toll-free 1-844-330-2020".

Good luck,
Al

16 hours ago, LostSoul said:

Originally my truck 2004VNL was equipped with only fog lights even though the housing in the bumper was for both. I am replacing the lights and housings with both fog and driving lights. Does anyone know if the wiring harness has both or if I will need to run additional wiring for the driving lights. 

Hi LostSoul,

I hope this helps. My truck has 3 wires. Yellow wire is fog lights, red wire is driving lights, and black wire is ground. I also upgraded the fog lights to Deep Space LED fog light.

Good luck on your project,
Al

On 3/15/2020 at 11:04 AM, rickeieio said:

You're killing me Rick !!!. LOL  

21 hours ago, trimster said:

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

on the interior... did you make a new inner wall panel?  or did you cut and modify the factory upholstery? I assume the RV window came with some inner trim to finish off the transition between the upholstery and the window frame?

Thanks

Hi Robert,

I like the looks of your truck from the link you provided. It sounds like you will be removing the interior of your truck to add windows. I just want to throw this idea out to you. Have you thought about adding any sound deadening material to the side walls and floor ? I don't have any pictures of the interior of my truck but I added sound deadening material and Reflectix bubble insulation to my cab, even on the cab ceiling (the rear half only). I used 3M Super 77 adhesive on the bubble insulation to hold it onto the sound deadening material. If you think that you are going the remove the seats and seat belts be careful removing the seat belt bolts. They are only spotted welded in place. When I removed mine, It was a two man job. I was under the truck with a propane touch and the other person inside the cab with a ratchet.

Best of luck working on your truck,
Al

Hi Everyone,

I can feel for Carl. I know this was not and easy decision to make. It probably kept him up at night. Carl also talks about the HDT group as family. When you have a family you do everything in your power to protect them. 

Thank You Carl and Donna for what you folks do for the rally.

Al

12 hours ago, RandyA said:

Chee wizz....... come on guys I made a stupid spelling mistake (thongs rather than tongs).  I'm referring to those clam shell things that are used to pick up salad or whatever.  But, now, I have something to share....... we are in Florida - a short hop to the beach.  This past Sunday we were enjoying the sun and surf when this "woman" appeared wearing a true string bikini.  You know, full buttox hanging out and everything but the center of the breast fully exposed.  Only issue is she was not one of those hard body swimsuit models you see in Sports Illustrated.  Now, I am not one to criticize or judge a person's body, but this woman was well into her 50's and had considerably extra inches around her midriff.  OK - that is only part of it.  Her "companion" was a gentleman I would guess well into his sixties.  He was darkly tanned, moderately muscular for his age.  He was wearing a "Speedo" that possibly had a sock stuffed down in the front.  Nancy commented that she thought they were "body builders" as they did have some signs of muscle that I do not possess.  Anyway, it is not what I went to the beach to see - not that I expected to see anything - but, well.....you get the picture. 

Hi Randy,

Your story made my day !  LOL.

Al

41 minutes ago, Nigel said:

Well said Carl.  
 

See you next month.

Nigel

Hi Carl,

2X that Nigel said. I"ll support you what ever you decide to do. See you in April.

Al

12 hours ago, Orange300 said:

Thanks for the add, my name is Andy and I’ve been a lurker for a very long time now. Been kicking around the idea of going the HDT route for almost 10 years. We’re several years off from retirement and I doubt we’d every go full time. I pull a 40’ 20k toy hauler with an F-450 and it’s time to have a truck that won’t get pushed around in the Colorado mountains and will be a more comfortable/safer ride for the longer road trips. We thought this would be the year we find a truck and start building it but, got, what I think is a solid truck in great condition so we can start using it this year and maybe plan a build for the next one.  I’ll apologize in advance for all the stupid questions I’ll be asking.

Hi Orange,

Welcome to the forum. 2X on the research guide. A lot of great info. There are several HDT rallies during the year. You might want to think about going to one. You don't need a truck to go to the rallies, just a list of questions and the desire. What part of the county are you in ?

Best of luck,
Al

1 minute ago, jenandjon said:

You can drill it with a regular drill but a mag drill with cutting bit is faster. I was talking to one guy who said he drilled a small hole then used a bridge reamer to get the right size. No matter what drill you have a bridge reamer is very handy tool to have when doing this project. I got a 1/2 9/16 and 3/4.

https://www.amazon.com/Drill-America-Qualtech-High-Speed-Uncoated/dp/B00FXJGSLI/ref=asc_df_B00FXJGSLI/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312440347105&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2736057981198873765&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9024548&hvtargid=pla-569921301568&psc=1

2X on the bridge reamer. That's how I did my holes. Go slow and use a cutting fluid to help keep the reamer cool.

Hi Everyone,

A little update you guys might get a kick out of. I found some prices on line of other tire pressure systems.

Prices are from Amazon;
* EEZ Tire - TPMS 10 B ( 10 sensors + booster, 3 year warranty )        $ 514
* TST 507 ( 10 sensors + color display, 3 year warranty )                      $ 589
* Tire Minder ( 10 sensors + B&L display )                                               $ 545

Prices from TST Truck System
* TST 507 ( 10 sensors + B&L display )                                                    $ 648
* TST 507                                        20% trade-in price                               $ 519

Sort of shows that the trade-in for 20% off is not much of a deal. Not much incentive to buy from TST or even buy a TST system. I just wanted to post some prices and get some thoughts. Good or bad opinions is ok with me.

Al

15 hours ago, SuiteSuccess said:

Alan,

I have had the TST for 10 years.  I went over to the 507 system and I’ll stay with them.  If you dump your system and start over you’re going to pay about the same price.  You might try taking one of the sensors and see if you could get the cap loose with a Dremmel tool or something and replace the battery.  Could probably get another 5-7 years with a new battery.  Heck, what have you got to loose?  On edit, I have the Gen 1 black &white 507 and I did have a problem where the signal of one or more sensors would drop out in a campground.  This was due to cross signals from other TSTs in the area.  No problem on the road.  TST said it was software problem that had been fixed in colored monitor.  They suggested I change monitors but didn’t offer me an exchange deal.

Hi Carl,

Thanks for the idea. I bought my 510 system back in 2015. At one time I needed to have a couple sensors replaced under warranty because they lost a signal. The total life of my system is just going on 5 years. If you need to replace the 510 system with an other system shows me my original system was of poor quality. That's probably the reason there is no 510 systems for sale anymore. Very disappointing. 

I wonder where you would make the cut to get the cap off of a 510 sensor ? With my luck I would cut in the wrong place a ruin the whole sensor. Anyone ever cut open a 510 sensor ? Could be a video out there. I'll try to check.

Please keep the input coming,
Al