Alie&Jim's Carrilite

Had an '70 MG for a very short while... while it ran, it never ran right and was a nightmare to a 16yr old with a Western Auto tool kit..... sold it for a '69 Firebird.... had to grow the mullet though..

9 hours ago, rickeieio said:

So, I'm wondering, are there any air ride hitch options that would allow hitch placement above the rear suspension on an hdt?  The reason I ask is, we've been waffling on upgrading our truck.  I see lots of nice trucks that are longer than ours, which would make us even more over length, unless I could mount the hitch above the rear most suspension.  I know the Trailersaver and ET both need to be dropped down between the frame rails, but is there anything else available?

One reason I'm pondering this is it would allow more under bed storage, allowing the car to be closer to the cab, allowing the hitch to move forward...........

I intend to remain tandem, so singling mid is not an option, unless I find a truck with a factory air tag.  Not likely.

It seems there might be a market for such a hitch.  I woner if anyone (Henry?) has worked on it?

My TrailerSaver is actually sitting on a 1" plate on top of the frame.  Plate is bolted to the original hitch rails.  Our truck is singled short at 182" and the center of the jaws is 6" behind the rear axle centerline. 

We used this company for products back when I was build boats.  

https://www.ssicustomplastics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SSI-2019-Product-Catalog.pdf

Look for Chaffing rings, or any shape that would work.  

Or just do an internet search for Chaffing Rings, West Marine Products may have something as well.

55 minutes ago, kb0zke said:

Well, we're sort of looking for a used luxury 5'er. We're currently in a Foretravel that was $350,000 new - in 1993. Looking at Mobile Suites mainly, but checking others too. Since we're in Wyoming right now a Teton would be appropriate...

Before deciding on a Mobile Suite, consider Luxe or a New Horizon.  Even a used New Horizon.

20 hours ago, rickeieio said:

I once used a length of rope, laced though the wheel and around the tread, to get out of snow with a 2wd pick-up.  Perhaps a little red-neck enjinearing, but it got me out of there.

22 hours ago, Lance A Lott said:

I have used chain hitched to the tire, through the rim, many times to get a farm tractor out of the mud. It will work on a car or truck also. Not chain but a strap. If you have lockers it's easy if not then it takes more work. You can use 2 sets of straps, or cage the brake with the tow straps and apply the parking brake. I am hesitant to mention chaining the other wheel so it cant spin will work also. 

I am also very curious about the Tiger Claws, we used to put hardwood branches across the side of the tire through the tire chains it would lift the truck up out of the mud, got us out if the woods more than once, 3/4 ton 4x4 not HDT. 

Had a '76 K5 Blazer and buried it at the edge of a field... had enough chain and strap to reach a tree with a 2000lb come-a-long... Put the Blazer in 4low and wedged a stick on the accelerator so the rpm was about 1200 and got out and pulled on the come-a-long.  It moved 6 foot at a time....

Looks like something they left Matt Damon on Mars with....  🤣

Or a 1960's Center of the Earth journey type B-movie...

In most situations you won't need to be able to recover 40,000 lbs of stuck dead hanging weight. You'll just need to give it some help.  A little wheel speed while the winch is pulling can get you out of a lot of mess. So a high capacity winch like a Warn, Ramsey etc int he 12-15k range with a few snatch blocks can move just about anything.  I had one for my Dodge Dually days that I mounted on a receiver tube, could move it to the front or rear depending on the situation.  Just a thought.

In the pickup truck world, you had to have the pin over or slightly forward of the rear axle to evenly load the pickup suspension.  Even with todays Superduty 450 and better, the hitch still has to be over the axle.  

In the HDT world, our 4-8k pin weights are nothing compared to the commercial trailers so it doesn't really matter where the pin weight rides.  In the early years, many folks did single the rear and placed the hitch as close forward over the axle as they could thinking they had to like the pick up truck world.  It has been proven not necessary over the years.

When we were doing the gate guarding gig, we had a 250gl tank for what was considered "Potable" water.  I had a 3 filter system with the last filter being a Daulton Ceramic filter  https://www.amazon.com/Doulton-W9220406-Imperial-Sterasyl-Ceramic/dp/B009TVD0F8

I used a potable water pump that had a 60psi (+-) pressure on it and transferred from the big tank to our onboard as needed.  It takes time (and Pressure) to push water thru the ceramic filter but we used it for everything but drinking.  

The water came from a potable source and I'm pretty sure it was still clean at our faucet.  I kept a small container of pool chlorine tablets- I used the little oval grain type-  to keep the big tank clean.  Just drop in 1 or 2 tablets as needed. 

If the tank is going to be in direct sun, painting the outside a dark coating with an overcoat of a white or tan color will slow down any growth inside.

So what are they gonna do with the billions of barrels of gasoline that will be the byproduct of the lubricant industry, the plastic industry, etc?

Gasoline was a byproduct that didn't have a demand until the car industry cranked up.

Several years ago when I had been smacked in the head enough, I carried one of our hatch support struts into a local NAPA.  The first young counter guy said they don't carry that brand, couldn't cross reference the part number etc...

Second old fart counter guy comes over and starts looking at the strut, measures the open length, compressed it (gas had long escaped), measured the compressed length, and guessed that a 20lb strength would work.  Looked on the computer for a few minutes, scribbled some numbers down and disappeared into the stacks.

Reappeared with 3 in his hand, all 3 were different part numbers and sizes but all close to each other.  We went outside and found the one that fit the best.  He had 2 more of the correct one in stock and ordered the 4th for me.  They were a little more than Amazon, but the service was great, and taught the younger guy how to source parts....

55 minutes ago, Darryl&Rita said:

Dual wheels, tandem axles. Just sayin'.

Today was one of the few days I wish I had a tandem with locking diffs and axles.... Not muddy, didn't dig, just slick as snot, hard pack clay that got rain 2 days ago....

27 minutes ago, Pyscokev said:

Sounds good, appreciate the help.  Would you agree the d12 is a pretty good motor for rv service? 

There are a bunch that run that engine.  My suggestion would be a DOT inspection to make sure the truck is at least temporary safe on the highway, and a DYNO run.  The dyno will tell you the health of the engine.

Is this an Escapees members truck or other?

Chad- We are gonna play this kinda loose.... I'll be back in the Dakotas/Montana area again this summer.  If everything goes decent well attend again.

10 hours ago, rickeieio said:

Rt. 9 is my back yard.  Four lane, easy grades.  What way are you coming into Cincinnati?  You'll likely not even be travelling that grade on I-75 spindrift mentioned.  I haven't gone up it in 25 years.

EDIT:  Rt. 9 is 4 lanes to just east of Maysville, KY, then narrows to 2 lanes which is still very good road.  Running Rt. 9 won't save you a lot of time or miles, but is a more scenic drive.  I would go that way.

When are you passing through?  If we're around, you're welcome to overnight at our shop.  Water and electric, dump too if you have a macerator.

We'll come into Cincinnati on I-74 from the north.  Looks like we'll run around the south side on 275, and pick up 9 at Wilder.

Where are you located on Rt 9?  I'm leaving Northern Indiana Saturday morning by 8, and will run interstate all the way to Cincinnati.  We need to be south of Greensboro NC Sunday by 2-3ish, want to be parked by dark.

PM me if you want, or 252-327-zero five three one 

Haven't heard anything from DT in awhile... he surviving this mess?

Just now, spindrift said:

Run, don't walk, to your nearest Cummins dealer and have them turn up that engine.  The M-11 is a decent hunk of iron.

Up as far as it can without adding swapping injectors.  400/1425 is what the last Cummins dealer said it was at.

6 minutes ago, spindrift said:

Easy ride.   There's a decent climb going south on I-75 on the KY side just as you cross the Ohio River coming out of the city.  If you've got power, don't get stuck in the far right climbing lane or you might get trapped by faster traffic.

I'm sure @rickeieiowill be able to offer another perspective. 

Thanks,

The old M-11 we have is finicky... if we're on a long climb and have 55+mph momentum rolling, we can usually run up without issue....

BUT.....

If I have to slow and drop out of 10th gear and try to accelerate back to speed..... I'm screwed and in the slow lane with the rest to the top.  Kinda like if the hamster wheel is spun up, don't slow it.....

Anyone drive this route?  Big rig friendly? 

Alternative is to drive on south and run the interstate, but if this is a decent route it will keep us on a more scenic ride.

I can't find the brand used in your rig.  If you can get a pic of an end cap that has a model number or something on it, you should be able to google it.  It might be a Shoreline" reel, most likely..... 

Surprised it doesn't have a bull....errr.... kangaroo bar across the radiator

46 minutes ago, EverywhereMan said:

Thanks for your thoughts Clay.  

I don't know how to access the inside of the reel.  The reel is located on the back end driver side of rig.  It's enclosed in a metal box surrounding it.  From underneath the reel area, I removed a few screws and sheet metal but still could not see end with the motor.  I took a few pics but they are too large to upload.

What kind of rig is it in?  That may help with the brand and what could be wrong with it.

When not towing, I have found fuel cheaper than the TSD program, but its at places like Qwik Trip or a Murphys, Costco, or Sams.  Pumps are slower, but sometimes 2-3 cents a gallon is worth it when you pump 200gl at a time. 

There are several large department stores that used (pre-covid) single axle haulers to move their stock.  

PrePass https://prepass.com/services/electronic-toll-payments/ is what the trucking industry uses.  It does have a monthly fee if you use it or not.  

We personally us EZ-Pass and Sun Pass.  They cover enough states that we haven't had any issue.

6 hours ago, 2gypsies said:

Looks like a nice RV but needs better decorating ideas.  Perhaps it's the blue and grey but it just doesn't seem to be a 'warm, inviting' home.  Also, the square-armed contemporary sofa doesn't go with the oversized big-armed recliners.  What is the purpose of the wood divider with cubby holes?  Unless things are anchored down they're not going to stay during travel.  It just looks like a haphazard piece of wood.  I like the desk area though. 

You got to remember that SpaceCraft builds and installs EXACTELY what the customer requests.  If you ask for their decorator to assist or do all the colors, then you end up with the show rig.  

These folks I'm sure got what they requested.