Jack Mayer

I disagree on the three axle issues. We have been fulltimers in 3 axles for 15 years. And with heavy trailers. The issue is NOT the three axles. The issue is poor tires. While it is true that tires will scrub some - even two axles do that - it is not to the point of "destroying" tires. In fact, we show no additional wear on either the front axle tires or the rear axle tires. We do rotate tires every year or so. And our tires typically "age out" before we replace them due to a wear. One thing for sure, though. Many trailer tires ARE junk.

The answers are on a separate topic..... see that

No winners. I want names.... OK here are some hints...

Ken, I was afraid you would chime in. You guys hibernating?

People names is what will win the prize.

Later today or tomorrow I'll post a photo album of the "mystery guests". Here is a hint: Gregg's truck build, 780, 46' Continental Coach, Motorcycle with trailer. All color matched - Blacks and champagne colors. Whoever gets the names totally correct will get a "prize" at the HDT National Rally. And it will be a GOOD prize.

JC and Angie just rolled past our door.....Rainbow Plantation....have not seen them yet - don't know how long they are staying.... OK, it was not them....

We are back in Summerdale, AL t the SKP Rainbow Plantation until March. Then we will be at Lake Osprey trying out one of their fancy RV lots (for sale) for a week, and after that heading to the home(s) of Robert, Heidi, and David for a few weeks....)

Way to go, Jim. It does get far easier in time. Check out Ft Wilderness for me...remember, I'm longer....

All the Solar Rally participants are gone from Mayo, Fl. We leave tomorrow. Headed to Rainbow Plantation for a month. Car is loaded,and everything put away.....time to move on.

New Horizons will modify the chassis for a particular custom requirement. But in general the chassis are similar in the wide body lines and similar in the standard body (narrow). If there is something required to support a particular layout they will accommodate that. As will Spacecraft and Forks. All build custom coaches. All three have exceptionally robust chassis. You pay for that robustness in weight and dollars.

Comparing New Horizons, Forks (Continental Coach) and Spacecraft with something like Open Range is not really an "apples to apples" comparison. The custom built RVs cost a LOT more and are built a LOT better in every way. I post this only for future readers .....but I would think that most people know this.

Rich, I did not say a frame COULD not fail for being 1000 lbs over weight. Just that it SHOULD not fail. Flex at the riser for the upper deck is often a failure point on 5er frames. That is where there is (obviously) a lot of stress. Lack of reinforcement, lack of proper assembly and lack of sufficient material specifications can cause it. Typically it is a combination of factors, but a bad weld in this area will often fail pretty early in the life of an RV. One thousand pounds extra weight would typically be mostly in the main deck. It should not cause a failure in the frame. 1000 lbs is not all that much extra weight.

Rich a frame should NEVER fail for being only 1000 lbs overweight. If it does it is not built right. That said, I have seen some really CRAPPY welding on "some" Lippert frames. But I would bet that the percent of failures is not that high. No way of knowing, of course. ALL RV manufacturers have had frame issues. ALL of them. Some from lousy construction and some because they were under-engineered. Just the way it is.....Unfortunately.

Arrived Hidden River RV Park, Riverview FL. We are staging here for the Tampa RV show. Only here two nights.

Moved to Mayo, FL yesterday. We will be here for a month, then go down to Tampa for the RV show. We are in Suwannee River Rendezvous Campground, right on the river.

Some people will never come around to the use of an HDT. It is an emotional "blockage"....not based on reason or logic. In some cases it becomes a "power struggle" in a relationship. If either of those cases are true, then you will not win that battle. The best you can do is as you have planned. Introduce her to other WOMEN - not men - who can give her insight into use of an HDT. Then see how it goes. Also, you have to figure out her fears and resistance points so that you can respond to them. Not everyone is honest in sharing why the "don't like" an HDT, so sometimes that is a challenge. Come down to Tampa for the RV show and Danielle would be happy to talk to her. That would be a nice winter "vacation".

Jeff, if you get over this way, stop in. We are in the Escapees park in Summerdale, AL. Headed to FL in a few weeks....

We are in the Escapees Summerdale, AL park (Rainbow Plantation) until Jan 2. Stop by if you are in the area......

That was our philosophy as well Barb.....I'm holding off on a smaller pension I have (from the old days when there WERE pensions) in order maintain my health care supplement. Once I'm on Medicare I'll take that. It will maximize that benefit and I have 100% going to Danielle on my death. She has the same on her pension. In todays world it is far more income than we need so we will save the excess.....but inflation will catch up to the excess, eventually.

At your weights - and assuming not going much higher - I would choose the 450 over the M2 any day. Especially an M2 that was not a 112. The thing to watch on the 450 is the rear GAWR. It is pitiful.Make sure you have enough capacity for the pin weight and your cargo. Also the clearances on ALL the pickup bedrails are terrible. So my advice is to factor in a hauler body. Welcome to the forum....

My recommendation is to come to the National HDT Rally in October in Hutchinson, KS. It will help you moving forward, and you will save enough money from the knowledge you get to pay for your trip many times over.

Another thing about our trucks, Randy, as compared to a pickup.....once you fix it, it is fixed for the rest of your life....you are not going to have to go back and buy another one, or fix it again.

I've been back where you are talking about in my Jeep, and people take pretty big trailers back there. You could do most of it with an HDT and even my larger trailers. In my case the limitation would be trailer ground clearance, but with the right trailer you would not have that issue. There are sections of that county road/trail that an HDT would be challenged on, though....Ground clearance would be the issue. Especially far in.

My website has a section on singling and the pros and cons. You might find it interesting. LINK. Welcome to the site...