Tackleberry

My wife and I have a saying, "S**t happens on the road". It's just the cost of doing business as an RV'er

Finally had a chance to put the footage from our Key West trip together. We spent Christmas 2022 at Sigsbee Campground at Naval Air Station Key West. The weather was snotty for the first few days, but then cleared up. What a pleasure pulling the toy hauler with an HDT. I should've made the jump years ago.

Looking for a big rig friendly park near Denali National Parl. Suggestions?

Anybody have trouble bringing your HDT onto the parkway? Per: https://parks.canada.ca/agence-agency/dp-pd/ns-ss/ovr Vehicles exceeding 4550 kg gross vehicle weight are not permitted to travel on the Icefields Parkway (93 North) between Jasper and Lake Louise. Buses and recreational vehicles are permitted regardless of weight. I'm just wondering if the mounties will see an HDT and accept that it is an RV, not a commercial truck...

Meet Large Marge. She pulls our triple axle toy Hauler with ease! Should've went HDT years ago.

Is 400 miles a day an unreasonable length for the Alcan? I like to drive 8 hours a day. Sometimes more.

Anybody tow through the Big Horns on route 16? I tried it in 2017 with my 2001 F350 pulling the toy hauler and made it about 20 miles before burning up front transmission seal. I'm hoping the HDT can pull my toy hauler up easily, and more importantly DOWN safely. I would think it is up for the task, but I'm a little gun shy after that last $400 tow bill! I'm heading to Yellowstone via Cody WY. Trip originates in NY. Any tips on route? This is a stop on our Alaska trip!

I'll have to check the label, but I put a big bottle in for 200 gallons.

1st and 2nd snafu with the big truck. Stuck on icy grass and Frozen fuel filter.... Had to stop 1/2 way to our destination in Northern NY for the night. We stayed in a hotel, and I was very nervous about the truck not being plugged in overnight. Temps dropped to 15 overnight. Truck fired right up the next morning, no problem! Then we hit our destination, and while turning around in the driveway, I got the rear wheels over a lip of frozen ice left from the plow. Figured I'd go back a little further and get a running start. Nope, ended up stopping with the rear wheels in a little dip in the lawn, couldn't move forward or back. There was about an inch of ice on the grass. Luckily my brother was able to pull me out. I've done plenty of off road recoveries at the beach. Never used a kinetic rope, but we all use our poor tow straps as is they were! Broke a few. We'll, my brother put an old tire between the straps to act as a shock absorber, and I thought it was genius! His truck actually pulled me out with ease, so no running start needed, but the tire would've been a great shock absorber if we needed it. Then we parked the truck for a week. Yes, I put a bottle of Howe's in the tanks before heading up North. Large Marge sat for 8 days in 5 degree temps. Yes I had the block heater plugged in for 24 hours before starting (although I don't know if the block heater actually works). Truck fired right up, but then died within seconds (starved for fuel). This happened a few times before it occurred to me that the fuel filter must be clogged. My brother is a trucker and told me to heat the fuel filter with a torch to melt the wax. I did that a few times, but probably not enough as I was afraid of dying.... Went to NAPA to get a new filter, and of course they didn't have one. Closest one was an hour drive away. *Note to self, have spare filters on hand before next trip. Loaded new fuel filter with about 1/2 a coffee cup of denatured alcohol and diesel fuel. Dumped rest of denatured alcohol in the fuel tanks. She fired up and got us home (500 miles away and 50 degrees warmer). Anybody else use denatured alcohol? My brother has owned rigs for 50 years and swears by the denatured alcohol. He said with the new low Sulphur diesel, the anti gel additives don't always work. Used our Mudflap app on way home and paid $4.03/gallon for fuel. Saved $1.39 off pump price! Best price in NY!

Big truck means bigger problems, but I wouldn't have it any other way. While packing up from our fantastic Key West trip, my Rampage motorcycle lift broke (the cable), and I couldn't get the Harley off the truck when I got home. We tried several sketchy methods of getting the bike down, but finally gave up. Good thing my buddy at Tebben's Steel has a 3 ton trolley crane! We hoisted Dutch (the bike) off Large Marge and secured him on the bike trailer. Now I have to get some new handlebars.

Is it possible to swap out my auto-shift lever for the push button system? Eaton 10 speed. I'm not as nimble as I once was, and getting over the shifter to get into sleeper is flirting with danger! The autoshift lever doesn't fold down like the i-shift.

I built the table with some walnut scraps I had in the shop. Being a middle school woodshop teacher has its advantages!

Cotreker, these are the ones I bought. I'd get them about 12" longer if I did it again. That way the kids can sit sideways or next to each other. These work fine for 1 person. Again, it's better than nothing and getting ejected. I made the table out of some scrap walnut I had laying around! I'm proud of it:) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009FOG8MG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was a bit worried about getting the girls into Large Marge for our camper trip to Key West over Christmas. I almost bought a $300 set of folding pet steps. Luckily I remembered we had this expandable ramp. I don't let the girls jump out of my pickup truck or the Hummer. They need to go easy on those hip joints. They figured the ramp out on the 1st try! Link to video of ramp in action: https://photos.app.goo.gl/s9b71KtyQKUNd8bk8 link to ramp: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016HPTFW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I just put lap belts in my dinette! Order belts a little longer than you'll think you need. I attached the belts to the existing bolt holes in the steel under the cushion. Just remove a screw, and put it through your belt eye mount. Better than nothing. https://photos.app.goo.gl/BE1fcD9aQH4uHd1x6

My brother (who is a trucker) turned me on to this free app. They must buy bulk fuel and offer users discounts. I saved .50 cents a gallon off posted pump price last fill up. You link your debit card to your account. The map shows you the prices in your area. You get a fuel code on your phone. Show the code to the cashier. Pump fuel (disregard what pump price says, you're paying less) Go back in to cashier and sign receipt. The app deducts fuel price from your debit card. I was shocked at the steep discounts posted. I can plan my fuel a lot better now for my trip to Key West next month. I'll try to fill up in GA. I see $4.50 a gallon there right now with app. Best "near" me right now is $4.83 in NJ. Local BJ's is $5.36, but those are not always on my route.

Still getting the hang of this magnificent beast! How do you do it? I was told to deflate trailer saver air bags and rear truck suspension when unhitching, and have all bags filled when hitching. Is that the common HDT method? Original owner explained that full airbags on the hitch will cause hitch to pop up when truck pulls out from under trailer, and pop an air bag. I get that, but why dump rear suspension air when unhitching?

I found the replacement parts on eBay. Both sleeper windows are now functional again!

Well I called good Sam twice and both times once they got the Vin number they said no way.

After years of dreaming, and a lot of back and forth, I finally found my perfect HDT. 2000 VNL 770 Cummins N14 708K on clock It was converted from commercial service 17 years ago. I think it is singled mid. 10 Speed Eaton Auto-shift 50 gallon fresh water tank 50 gallon waste tote goes on bed (with macerator) Rampage motorcycle lift on bed Herrin Bed Had to fly from NY to Dallas to get her, but Large Marge is now home with us. We even took her for an inaugural tow yesterday to see how it felt. I could hardly tell the trailer was there at all. Leaps and bounds better towing than my F350 (7.3L). Can't wait to taker her to Hershey Park next month (5 hour trip). Oil changed, a few leaks fixed, 6 new Toyo tires (ouch$) Now we can finally come to a rally! https://photos.app.goo.gl/m3EAfo27SuEe7Pqx8

700k. Minimum blow by out dipstick

Mobile mechanic at pre purchase inspection spotted head gasket leaks in 3 spots

Looking at a truck with the Commins N14. Head gaskets are leaking a bit. What's ballpark inframe cost in these? Thanks.

Looking at a 2000 770. The sleeper windows are inoperable because the plastic that holds the crank arms has failed. Where can I find sleeper window parts? Are Volvo sleeper windows strictly a Volvo part, or are they all the same? I think the age of the truck is causing me to strike out on some sites. Thanks.

I just talked to 2 different Good Sam reps, they said my Volvo is commercial and not covered.