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Great comment Henry. You and Robert and I all share the same IH4700 history. You and Robert the HDT life(I'm not there yet). I learn something everytime I come here. What a wonderful education and from the comfort of my office. Thank you all!

Or a forklift?? How did a man walk AROUND THE WORLD?? One step at a time. I have multiple paint projects and I am breaking them down into pieces so they dont seem so daunting. First one is failing clear coat on my Teton: $12K for a complete single stage/1 color paint job. I bought the material and will just respray the clear. Most painters will say it wont last, well I need 5 years and then it will likely be someone elses, so it will work for me and get me around my world. I guess its mostly about your objective.

Following.

Not trying to poke a hornets nest here. My choice is just that, mine.

Wow, great that you sold it, but I dont want to be around that rig going down the freeway, esp when loaded and in high winds. Looks like a Ram 2500 with "it has a diesel so it will pull it". I met someone that had a 33' Teton for sale, which I ended up buying. He told me a story of someone coming to look at the trailer in a F250. He asked if they intended to tow with that truck, and with affirmation, declined to show it let along sell it to them. He told them it would be unsafe and would not participate. Understandably his opinion, but at least he was maintaining safety as the better direction. I thank him. I am not passing judgement, just continuing my own direction.

Although I work in warehouses and distribution centers, I never really gave that a thought, but you are right. With pin weight not being the limiting factor, esp with 5er RVs, the axles could be moved way back and add a totally different approach to control and backing. Hummm?? Good point.

I have an '08 with the Lippert square landing gear. I had someone remove them to have them rebuilt and they arent working correctly. Can someone send pics of the hydraulic hose set up on EACH jack, for reference?? This unit has the umbilical controlled system. Landing gear is not reacting as before. Wondering if the hoses may have been reinstalled incorrectly. Thanks

Agree with Glenn. Keep in mind most companies did mostly assembly of materials and parts to come up with their units. Of course the outside skin is unique as is the quality of the parts they used to assemble each model. I have a 2008 Experience. I find it better quality than the previous Alfa and DRV 5ers I had.

This is very enlightening for me as I am venturing into the acquisition of an HDT. Chad- If you had a platform extension ALA Idaho Tote style, would it have made it easier or harder to maneuver in your scenario? It would eliminate a pivot point which you have double towing but would increase your tail swing.

I was taught that both PORT and LEFT have 4 letters. Helps with remembering. BTW-RIGHT and Starboard do not have 4 letters

As to doing any type of touch up on those truck surfaces, even when using Rustoleum, get a catalyst so that the material will fully cure and get hard. I have used Rustoleum both with and without and I can say I will use it WITH most times. Can find the catalyst(sometimes called hardner) at auto paint stores and even at Tractor Supply. But then again if you need to go to auto paint stores, might as well get the right color and do that way.

I doubt Teton literature would help you with that. I have a Teton and all the literature and havent seen anything like that. I would think that it was added as a specific upgrade for its intended purpose as a site dressing room trailer or equal. It will likely take some troubleshooting to determine what is doing what. I would think that it may have had some multiple devices used inside and as such perhaps the electrical panel was separated to make their use safe. Look at the breaker panel area. It may lead you to some others elsewhere in the trailer. That could explain the multiple generator/shore power feeds.

Because people buy them.

On another side note: while all the opinions are the basis for consideration and can be used for final decision making, please also remember that those charts that are published are very often used my insurance companies to deny claims in the case of accidents, and finding that you MAY be at fault for towing a trailer that is, by those same charts etc, too heavy for your truck and as such you caused the risk and that, in their opinion, is why you are at fault in a particular accident. As Elmer Fudd used to say: Be Very Very careful(well he said quiet but you get the point)

Sounds like winner, winner, chicken dinner

I'm down the I15 from you just North of Temecula in So Cal, if you come back this way.

And they attempt to get ALOT more even if they make an error. I recently got a government letter showing that I have a credit in a tax account. The math calls out a penalty and interest that I have to pay, based on they OWING ME $$. Get that, they owe me money and they want me to pay penalty and interest because I did not pay exact amount owed. This is becoming a pretty significant climate we have here. Advise given to me was that I should just pay it because it is a small amount and its the government. OK-so what happened to for the people and by the people. In this case, doesnt appear that is true. Document everything and keep copies of all correspondence and conversations. You never know if you will need it.

Dont forget to set enough aside to pay the taxes if applicable. That has been a painful lesson for me to learn some years ago. DONT ask me how I know.

One thing to consider is that starting batteries and coach batteries are different and do/operate in unique ways. Starting batteries are made to provide periodic bursts of power to start the engine and operate accessories, and generally charged with an alternator. The coach battery is different due to its function of providing small draws over a longer period to power equipment in the RV, generally charged by an converter/charger using shore power or generator power. A better way to increase your capacity on either function would be to add capacity to your coach batteries with another 12VDC(connect in parallel) or better yet 2 6VDC batteries, which will add capacity(connect in series). Never add a new battery with an old. The new will be degraded to the condition of the old quickly and you will have lost the gain you tried to get. On the starting battery, a second battery will ad reserve capacity to starting function. If you are currently having starting issues, you might have a battery that is on its last legs and needs to be replaced, not supplemented. Advise previously given is valuable for your circumstances too.

Anyone tried the nano graphene finish from 303??

Using your math, that would leave you with a 4% safety factor. If it works for you then make the best decision you can. For me, I'm a 10%+ sort of person. I tow with an LBZ CC DRW for my peace of mind. My 5er is in a similar weight standing as the one you are going to look at.

I find this resource to be helpful to determine tow capacities of particular trucks. https://www.trailerlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trailer-Life-Towing-Guide-2006.pdf It has certainly enlightened me when I thought I had enough truck for a particular application.

Is there room to notch the towers of the hitch side frames? You wouldnt need much to clear the truck frame, I would think. May need to add a stiffener if needed or an angle bracket that can then be bolted to the truck frame for reinforce it due to the removed material for the notch.

I feel you Dave. In my contracting business I am asked to provide hard money bids for jobs. Then when I order materials, well, there comes all those upcharges. Fuel surcharge, delivery charge, and a few others. And then dont forget the taxes, different in each county. Oh boy, there goes the profit. I've ordered concrete, like 2 yards of it for a small job. The per yard costs were quoted at >$100 but the final invoice amount was close to $600, for 2 yards. And then I am required to maintain $5Million in liability insurance, and I work alone but am required to maintain $1Million in workers comp insurance and $1Million in commercial vehicle insurance. All told, that adds up to about $1000 a month in premiums and all because those are required as cost of doing business, which I have no choice but to pass it on to my customers, who ask me why the price is so high, and then I take the time to explain. Most of my customers work for corporations and they are not given access to all those same charges that their company charges their customers so they dont know about all that. They are quite surprised. The moral of this story is many of the charges you got quoted might be required for the business and they call them out separately so that you will know that they arent making that money, but are required to charge them and then pay the entity that is requiring it or they are out of business. Sucks but it appears to be common all over. Sorry about the chicken lights and chrome.

Some years ago I made an adapter to allow for the use of a traditional 5th wheel hitch with attachment to the gooseneck ball. The gooseneck hitch had been welded to the frame of the Dodge while my friend who bought this truck, wanted to use his 5er hitch. It was way better to make the adapter than to cut the gooseneck hitch from the truck frame. He is still using it to this day.