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Jack Mayer

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Everything posted by Jack Mayer

  1. Lazy Days does insurance? Do you have to be a customer??? Do you have a contact?
  2. We will be offering an extension handle shortly...eg. a longer version of what is there. They are already going on the new hitches. We will work on an "arm" to make disconnecting easier.
  3. Yeah it is frustrating to get bad advice. I had a camera wiring/compatibility issue between Voyager systems and Rear View Safety systems we were trying to solve. Called up Voyager and talked to their tech people. They said - "No that is incompatible and won't work". After thinking about it we decided that made no sense and did some further testing and configuration....lo and behold, it works....when they said absolutely it would not. If we had listened to them it would have been an expensive experience for the customer.
  4. This is why we carry copies of our domicile state laws concerning MH status. Registration and licensing is reciprocal so given that you can show your legality in your home state, that should be sufficient. Now, a LEO may still write you a ticket, but asking for a supervisor in that case would likely mitigate that - IF you have the research handy and it is clearly stated.
  5. If you want blended color and a fade-out is that not going to be difficult to do with vinyl? I would think you would want to paint it on. Good idea, and it will look great if done right!
  6. We used a hydraulic motorcycle service lift for the stacker lift table. Done over again we would simply use hydraulic cylinders and do the design and layout ourselves instead of a "store bought" lift. Or, use a winch. The advantage of the lift was it was pre-engineered with safety factors built in, and cut our time down quite a bit. Time is money for the customer. Not so much for the DIY builder. All of this stuff is possible. I just find it unlikely that it is going to happen for the price "required". Even attempting a bargain price is going to require ALL the work be done by free labor, and use of donated or salvage parts except perhaps repurposing of some manufactured trailer parts.
  7. It is going to be challenging to get a motorcycle on next to a Jeep. How are you going to get it into place? What mechanism will hold it safely? Where will you find the "room"? On the "rack" above the Jeep hood, what are you going to use to elevate it? It is not at all simple to do safely. It has to be braced very securely and the Jeep below it will cause challenges in that regard. Our stacker system was very carefully designed to take these forces into account. It was VERY challenging to get that design correct and implemented. You say you want to build a bed to carry a Jeep and motorcycles for 1/3 less than our beds. Our modular bed that carries a smart is about 18K in its most expensive optioned state (rear light panel, boxes, etc)....more or less. Without a hitch. You want to add a lift mechanism and motorcycle racks to that, lengthen it significantly, and get it delivered to you for around 6K by your statement. That is simply not realistic. You could not build a simple deck of any quality for that. If you paid someone to do the work I'd be surprised if you got anyone to build anything useful for 6K. If you do the work yourself you will have more than that into it by the time you are done. I think it is time to step back and look at what you really need, and reassess how you are going to get there..... You can "crowdsource" a design for a Jeep deck. That will get you an outline you can build. But even if you do much of the work yourself you will be spending over 10K to complete the project. At least in my opinion, and we do this every day....
  8. I'd still recommend you consider a fire "go bag". Nothing complex, but if you have a fire it will be invaluable.
  9. Linda I do a "Fire" presentation at the HDT National Rally. In that I discuss a bug-out bag for fire....not for "urban collapse" Here is a document that describes the contents of ours.....it may or may not suit you.... If the link does not work let me know. LINK
  10. This one is running around Quebec, but no incline.....
  11. Let's all use good judgement here. We don't want the thread closed, or members suspended. Personal attacks work on Facebook, but are not tolerated here.
  12. That was custom work....there is no normal "head swap" of an ET "super binkley" to the Trailersaver "Binkley". It is going to be custom and depend on the particulars of your hitch. If you have an ET and want it refurbished and maybe the upward dampeners put on it then that is another story. It would depend on the "vintage" of your hitch.
  13. Shannon, Glad you enjoyed your visit to SE Kansas. You sure got a lot done. One note on the ET handle. We do have longer handles coming....they should be "retro-fit-able". But I find if you take a small tube (like a chain link fence top) and crush the end that it works perfectly as a handle extension. For others that need hitch work done, we normally do that here at our shop - Shannon was just fortunate that Young's took on the job. If you need upgrades or refurbishment we are happy to help if we can. Or just come to visit
  14. I've also used those lights like Phil got....they work well and are good quality for the $$$. They are not near as good as LED though.
  15. What works and won't work is determined by a wide variety of factors. You have to know them all to determine the final result, and even then it can change based on the trailer that you use. In general long overhangs (cantilevers) have to be scrutinized very carefully. It does not mean they won't work. But the longer out you go, the more you have to be careful. In general on our builds we don't like to go over 6'. Not that it can't work, but what works in one configuration may not work in others, and owners HAVE been known to make changes in their equipment along the way. If we build it for a specific situation and it is used in a different situation and causes issues, we don't want to carry that liability. Pushing things to the "edge" leaves little room for contingencies. If you work your numbers and understand them, then you have done your homework....and what you build will likely work for you. It is up to YOU to understand all your numbers, which I'm sure you will. One thing to point out - on ALL long cantilevers the trailer is far more "twitchy" than shorter overhangs....which is easy to understand if you think about it. This can vary from "not too bad" to "unmanageable" depending on the trailer characteristics - NOT just pin weight. For example the ratio of the king-pin-to-axles vs. the overall length is a major contributor to "non optimal" handling. Yet the actual pin weight may be the same as a trailer that has a "better" ratio. So there are a lot of considerations. Also, heavily loading the rear can set up a teeter-totter effect that can contribute to poor handling on a very long cantilever rig.
  16. No one needs CAD to figure out this stuff. In fact, I'm not sure how CAD would actually help. What you need to do is have accurate measurements and weight of all items. And then calculate the numbers for the truck. But you also have to have some reasonable experience or you are just rolling the dice. For example, how do you think a trailer with 15% pin weight (with the axles well forward) and the kingpin 7' behind the truck axle is going to handle. You have to consider everything.
  17. I would not depend on that. I'd find the exact laws that are applicable and figure out what is valid myself. You cannot depend on a random law officer to give you appropriate information.
  18. You can You can, depending on the required extension on the truck. It is not that it cannot be done - it can. But there is no "single answer" that works optimally, despite what you might read on Facebook or elsewhere. It depends on the specific weights and lengths involved. Taking a measured approach and working out all the numbers is a requirement for success IMO. That is the way we operate, and won't do it any other way.
  19. You don't want to single any truck that is going to carry a full-size vehicle like a Jeep or something similar. And how successful you are with a combination with a long vehicle on it is totally dependent on a variety of factors - any one of which can cause you lots of headaches, and compromise driveability/safety. You can get away with a lot, using an HDT and light weight trailers/vehicles. But once you start putting on heavier stuff, or have an unbalanced, or not optimally balanced trailer, physics is going to prevail and you will start seeing issues. In particular, a long cantilever with the trailer hitch at the end can cause all kinds of issues. Not in EVERY case, but in a LOT of cases. It is all dependent on your particular circumstances. For others, if intending to carry a 4-door Jeep or something similar - you want a long wheelbase truck. Listen to Mr. Chips. You can debate it all you want, but physics generally tends to ignore "opinions".
  20. Not only is it painted with full body paint with clear....but the interior has been heavily renovated and modernized. And Dale is a designer, so it is nice job of the renovation....not weird stuff like you sometimes see. This trailer is worth looking at.
  21. Nice job, Glenn. When you get a chance some roof pics would be nice. How far is the cassette sticking up off the roof.
  22. Mark does have a Travel Supreme, and it is still available. I've owned three New Horizons, and am currently in a DRV Houston (2016). From a construction and systems perspective there is no comparison - the NH is far, far superior. Assuming it has been maintained. And the 2015 NH will have the new wall system that is far superior to the past in looks and in function. The DRV does have a well thought out interior, for the most part. But it does lack a great deal of storage in the bath and bed area - as compared to the same size NH that we sold (both being 44'). The tanks sizes are no comparison, and since you boondock quite a bit, that is a major consideration. Also, make sure that any of the DRVs do not have macerating toilets in them - because for boondocking, you will be challenged on water. Electric flush is fine - but macerating uses far more water. The DRV will have quieter air conditioning and a quieter roof. The laminated construction of the NH roof acts somewhat as a "drum", so you do hear rain more in it. But it is pretty indestructible as these things go. In the end, it boils down to what you prefer for the money spent. You have to be happy with the unit. But there is no comparison in construction. Let me point out the obvious.....a New Horizons is still an RV. No matter how well built it is, you are still going to have issues with it, just like any other RV. Systems fail. Things break. Expect it with any unit.
  23. Larry, Nice to see you back. It is basically the same as it has always been. It you domicile in TX then you need the Class A license (you would need a class B for most motorhomes). Insurance is not a problem to get, but it is limited in the places you can get it, and just like in the past, they will typically want both the truck and the trailer. There are exceptions, but that is the norm. Finding and converting the truck is far easier than it was in the mid 2000's. We do it, as well as a couple of other companies. And the types of trucks that are available are far, FAR better than what was available then. This is the biggest change IMO - the quality of the trucks for RV use.
  24. Phil is right, the larger diesel gensets will not fit behind the fairing. There are a lot of compromises to be made putting a smaller gas portable behind the fairings. The previous posters have covered most of them. Hooking power into the truck ranges from pretty simple, to very complex, depending on what you are trying to accomplish. If you are not doing it yourself, make sure you have someone that knows what they are doing perform the work for you. I've had had the "pleasure" of fixing a number of these "endeavours". Your biggest challenge on the generator will be keeping it clean, and the amount of vibration it will put into the cab. Plus, keeping it cool can be a challenge if not done right. If you expect to use this much, and want convenience, then Phil's advice to do a small diesel genset is spot-on. If it is occasional use then your proposed solution is viable, but heavy users won't like it much.
  25. I've eaten at Big Dadds many many times. Never saw boondockers there...that must be new. Would work for smaller rigs, not for big rigs....
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