Alie&Jim's Carrilite

If I had known then what I know now, I would have gone with a tandem truck or a factory single with a 23k rear axle, a 13.5k front axle and a locker in the rear axle.  Our 1998 Volvo has a 12k front axle, and an 18k rear singled short.  It turns on a dime, is very maneuverable, but if I change the bed to carry our Smart, put the Smart on, and carry our current 4800lb pin weigh, we will max the 18k axle.  If I move the axle back to the "Mid" position, chances are I'll overload the front axle.  

11 hours ago, Kirk W said:

Even humans have very strong jaws, as do most animals. 

Top 10: Which animals have the strongest bite?

Toddlers have the strongest bite of humans... ever try to get an object out of a 3yr olds mouth?

12 hours ago, Brad & Jacolyn said:

Success. Was looking at a campground web site and it popped up in facebook with my Chinese. At the bottom of the page were other languages and clicking English fixed that. Then when I tried to get a password reset (because I did not even know I had an account) it told me the account was suspended for rules violations. So I created an account using my phone number and I'm in. No idea what the rules violation was and I have found that for a novice they are hard to work with. So since I am in and have filed for membership  I will call it good.

Facebook has a problem with people opening fake accounts in other peoples names.  Thats probably what happened to you.  But since you provided a new phone number it created a new account for you.  Its recommended you change your facebook password frequently.  

3 hours ago, GeorgiaHybrid said:

Not sure about this one but be aware that most of the RV community considers a Class A as a "big rig" and the people in this forum think "big rigs" are 70 feet plus in length and that a class A is a small unit to drive.

CORRECT!  I've seen it the book in other campground stores and looked at it.  Its geared more toward the Class A bus crowd.

On 2/26/2022 at 5:02 PM, Moresmoke said:

I lose about a gallon every winter from my Volvo. Radiator leaks when it is cold. Never leaks in summertime temps. Eventually the radiator will need replaced but for now it works.

We just changed the radiator on our '98 Volvo 610.  We had a small crack at the top drivers side tank. In freezing weather you could set it steaming on occasion but not all the time. 

What plug is on the port? 6 or 9?

Google "Pedal Extender"

2 hours ago, DJohns said:

Yesterday in North Platte,NE the big boys on the interstate were $4.09 for credit  and one block of the interstate at a truck stop price was  $3.49 for credit.  The big boys are ripping us off.

 

 

 

Look into https://www.tsdlogistics.com/services/fuel-program/

You pay what the fleets pay.  Big difference.  Here in Oregon, the cheapest is Costco at $3.99. Petro which is 6 miles away is $3.65 with the TSD card.  Sign price at Petro was 4.34.

2 hours ago, ARGO said:

I have been using a 4.5" angle grinder for polishing. I have a wheel made of cloth, and "fingers" gripping the cloth to the metal backing. It's lasted me many years, but now worn out. All I see available on Ebay are fiber wheels, look like Scotch Brite. Anyone use one of these? With the speed of an angle grinder I wouldn't use something that will fly apart. 

Look on the Iowa 80 website. https://www.iowa80.com/pd/9-airway-buffing-wheel-with-center-plate/314954/

10 hours ago, trimster said:

 

Foam, like the pads that go under our hoods, target a bit broader range of frequencies,  but bias towards lower end. It's cheap from sites like Wish. ½" thickness is a sweet spot for the range we want to target inside our cabs. You could add a bit of traditional house insulation if there's space. 

Use the 'under hood ' stuff in the walls and doors of the truck, and additional carpet on the floor. You should hear a big improvement.  Not much you can do about the plastic, reflecting surfaces.

After all that's done...you'll hear how loud the wind noise is. Not much we can do about that unless we can retro-fit a Tesla cab to our frames.

What type of foam are you referring to?  Unless you're referring to material like Sound Down with the foil, rubber mat , and foam all in one.

11 hours ago, trimster said:

When we returned to home base mid-december, Costco and Sams club were a buck below going price for a week. $2.85. Setting at ¼ full, we topped up. Now ready for next outing. 

Interesting how neither have Diesel pumps in Arizona.  Not sure why. Only a few Costco stores in utah have diesel. Takes a while to fill, and those behind you are not happy. Oh well.

Sams in north Phoenix off of Bell road has diesel.  I've filled up there before.

23 hours ago, GlennWest said:

Only place I have been denied was 1 RV park and buccees

 

Yea.... I forgot Buccees..... Not allowed....

Cory, 

Its not hard, but you have to have some patience and determination.  There are you tube videos to guide you on the door part. 

The interior closet are usually tight.  A 3/8 impact helps since the bolts are in tight quarters.  If you unbolt the seats, door threshold plates, you can roll the floor material back a good ways.  I'd put the material as far up the firewall as I could.  Fabmat and Sounddown are the brand names I know.  There are generic materials available well.  A lot of the truckers put 2 layers in. In the door panels, you don't have to cover the entire door skin, covering what you can reach deadens the sound enough.

In 2013 when we went on the road fulltime, we budgeted for $4.00glgas or diesel.  Anytime we filled the truck, original Dodge or now the Volvo, and it's been less than $4.00 a gallon then its a bonus for us.  Having the Smart car does help this now, but we fulltimed with only the Volvo for 4 years.

WalMart in Laurel Mississippi had height bars at the front road entrance that were 10ft or so.  The side entrance was clear.  I always parked in the front and nobody every said anything.

23 hours ago, NDBirdman said:

Typed out a snarky reply but erased it.  Driving fast through ND, your missing some very nice small towns just off the road, most with free or cheap camping, great fishing, friendly locals, etc.  Ya ever seen a car/truck after a moose has crossed your path?  Not worth driving fast.  I tell folks, and yes it's a very old saying, slow down and smell the roses, well, except when going by the hog barns along hiway 2..... LOL  I'm just down the road.

I cover a territory from Redwood Falls MN to west of Billings, Canadian border to south of Rapid City, and west to Powell Wy every work season.  I'm crisscrossing the area on interstates, US roads, state roads, and the better and worse county gravel roads weekly.  I've seen the and eaten in many of the small town bars and restaurants along the way.  

12 hours ago, Bill Joyce said:

So a speeding ticket is just a surcharge to drive fast in North Dakota.  

1 hour ago, NDBirdman said:

Yea... a surcharge for the out of staters..... I live/drive withing 50 miles of the ND/MN state line.  I usually drive the speed-limit or a couple MPH under.  9 out of 10 vehicles that blow past me like I'm standing still sport MN or north of the border tags.  When I'm on my bike during our very short warm weather periods, that tends to scare the cwap out of a guy.

Considering how far apart major towns are, if you don't drive fast, you'll never get there.

2 hours ago, Darryl&Rita said:

Get her a CDL, run team, rake in the cash.

Not sure about the rake in the cash part.  

I have a couple that are working for me that were a driving team for 15 years and he drove for another 15-20.  They were owner/operators the entire time.  In a conversation with them, their take is that unless you are a company driver, driving their trucks under their insurance and their fuel, its getting tough to make it.  While there are successful O/O, most have been in business long enough to have dedicated routes and loads. 

46 minutes ago, GeorgiaHybrid said:

Jim, I have got to ask.... If those 24-year-old bolts were too hard for you to get out, how long did it take Alie to break them loose and remove them???

All she did was hand me the card....  Bolts at the 2 bottom corners are/were frozen thru the front stack.  Big impact wouldn't turn them, cut off wheel worked great.

Wider net.  I think they're booked 18months out right now.

Radiator got replaced today... or is in process... decided I wasn't going to tackle 24yr old bolts....

Also updated the block heater plug.  Installed an actual receptacle with a chrome flap to plug the  cord into.

Looks like a great site and plenty of company.  Maybe one year we can make it.

Any idea when this unit will become available?  Or is it already spoken for?

80grit DA on the parts you want red, then you can probably get away with a thin gray auto primer, just enough to cover, and then the sealer coat in the correct color for the red. Did this on several epoxy or powder coated parts and pieces over the years.

We met Scott at the 2nd WCR and enjoyed several tales of his adventures overseas.  He will be missed.