Consolenut

Simple tell the defense if he's here he done it.  Take him out back and whip him. Yes corporal punishment.  One word Dismissed

My 5ver tips the scales 20,185 empty unloaded. As it is right tad over 23,000.  Axle scaled weight is 16980. 6400 on the pin.  Quality means heavy hence I went to an MDT and trailer saver TSLB with the 3rd airbag to handle the piggy pin weight. 

Mounting the indoor unit to the wall isn't the hard part.  The hard part is the hose, drain, and power cable to the outdoor condenser unit.  I just did a.moni split installation.  It wasn't bad just had to think it through in its entirety first. Mine does cooling and heating.  I mounted my fairly low due to space restrictions.  But even mounted low it cools great.

On 7/3/2021 at 10:01 AM, TXiceman said:

People do not buy an RV for  good fuel economy.  You will like a diesel for better pulling power.  We tow the rig in our signature at 65 mph and trailer a bit over 19,000 lb.  We typically get 9 mpg and on rare occasion, close to 10 mpg.  In the mountains, we will get 7 to  8 mpg... A gasser would not begin to tow this load.

Ken

I'm a lot heavier then 19k I'm closer to 24k on the 5vet and 35k overall.  I tow with and MDT gasser.  Properly geared and driven correctly no prob at all.  Let the gasser ride at peak torque no issue.  Rev it up and let it roar. No lugging in OD not built that way.

Depends on budget.  All electric will narrow your choices.  And propane Genny would eliminate all electric

On 12/10/2021 at 3:39 PM, steiny93 said:

last couple 5th wheels were 15k lb or above, pulled them with a pile of different tow vehicles

- ram 2500 with the 6.7 diesel

- gmc 2500 with 6.0 gaser

- volvo 610 with cummins ISM

 

The 6.0 gaser was under powered and really didn't like wind or hills.  Mileage in the 4-6mpg range, it wasn't enjoyable at 15k lbs.

The 6.7 diesel had plenty of power and pretty decent engine braking.  When the load cleared 20k lbs more truck would be better, but it wasn't a power issue.  More so braking and engine braking.  15k lbs it would get 7-9mpg.

The ISM was great for eating miles on the interstate.  9-11mpg with the 24k lb trailer, insane engine braking and very stable.

Only diesels I'd own are a sport chassis 8.3L Cummins or a Volvo with a D13.  F350 F450 pickup can't handle my piggy pin of 6400 empty tanks. Not even the Dodge air ride 3500 can handle it. And yes I've had a few try it. Buried bumpers lol. My truck squats maybe an inch. Being I'm not a Ford guy nope. And the 6.7 Cummins is good but 90k or more for a new 4500 dodge no thanks.  I'll stick to a used MDT or HDT. More truck for the money. To each his own.

The 8.1L and Allison 6 speed are awesome.  The downshifting and grade braking alone rival any diesel.  I like listening to the 8100 roar up a grade at 3200rpm.  The diesel clangity clang clang is what I don't care for. 

Lol in comparison I saved almost 12k going the 8100 route as compared to dmax.  Difference being paid for vs a loan. 12k I've done lots of traveling, bought air ride seats all kinds of goodies. Not including the interest on a 5 year loan. Gas has it's advantages.

On 12/5/2021 at 11:40 PM, gjhunter01 said:

A diesel will last 500k miles if you take care of it and then the resale will be higher with a diesel which will offset some of the original purchase cost. Comparing a diesel to a gas is like oranges to apples!

I have a 100 gal aux diesel tank in the bed of my Chevy DRW which makes refueling for any trip under 1400 miles, a non issue. Not to mention the cost savings benefit of stocking up in cheap fuel areas. I'm sure a 100 gal aux tank of gasoline would not be a wise move in the back of a gas engine truck. Some thougts to consider.

For the record I put 505k and 561k on my last two gas engines  No rebuilds never took the valve covers off.  Only replaced one transmission.  Both 7.4L vortecs aka 454's. Would still be driving one but I upgraded to the 4500 and the 8.1L. now I've got more rear gear, air ride seats and an air ride tslb hitch 

On 12/4/2021 at 9:34 PM, TXiceman said:

Wondering what kind of average speed do you run and what is your MPG?  I spoke at length to a fellow with a 3500 GMC dually with the 8.1L and a 18,000 lb. trailer and he said it pulled fine, but he could pass everything except a gas station.  We were getting close to 10mpg pulling a 16,500 lb. trailer with our 7.3L Ford diesel running 65 mph.  He was getting half that towing and about 10mpg running solo.   

keep in mind my overall weight combined is just over 35k .. my 5ver weighs 25k alone. Not sticker but scaled at cat scales. I get 7-7.5 pulling 65-68mph. My truck has a 53 gallon tank from the factory.  It might due better if I pulled faster because I'm at the bottom of the torque curve at those speeds. Still not complaining at that weight.

Gas engine if geared right can tow no problem.  I have an 4500 with the 8.1L. 6 speed Allison and 5:13 rear gears. my Teton weighs 25k. With 6400 on the pin. And it goes just fine.  Let the gasser rev to peak torque and let it roar.  For the difference in the gas engine cost vs diesel you can buy a lot of gasoline.

1 hour ago, palmeris said:

The Topkick and C&C you are describing are class 5 trucks. The F450 PU is a Class 3, barely by 1 LB, but still a Class 3 at the top of that class 3 rating.

kstills quoted a post by noteven and asked if he would consider  a fully setup f450 capable of pulling " his" rig.

 

My response  to your specific PU / C&C comment was to point out that my F450 PU is well within specification to pull notevens trailer and I would not consider it to be derated or aneamic in its capabilities to do so.

However, I wouldnt attempt to pull your 6400 Teton pin weight with it , jeeze that got to be close to a 30,000 lb rig when loaded and is  requireing an HDT class 8 tractor to tow that beast.

Yes it is a beast.  But to clarify I was assuming 3500 on the pin being the lightest the pin would ever be. For notevens toyhauler. Most that post on forums post the listed hitch weight by manufacturer.  Which im sure know is dry weight. 

Little off topic but if there regrooveable and they probably are. I would go that route. Michelin encourages regrooving. Find and old school tire shop they can do it.  Not recap but retread. I learned to do my own from an old school tire shop.  Can only do drives though. You CAN NOT regroove steers so keep this in mind. That is the law.

My hitch is about 3 inches behind the rear axle.  Having the pin a little further back just creates a little leverage to tame the springs. little better ride too.

On 10/16/2021 at 12:28 PM, palmeris said:

My 2014 f450 Platinum is rated at 14,000 GVW,  33,000 GCWR,  with a 24,7000  towing capacity, 9100 RAWR and 5380 lb of payload , with the wide track front end I can easily manuver and make U turns when needed.  Is also my daily driver making 400 HP and 800 Torque with the 6 speed tranny and tow haul , I dont consider that derated or anemic

Yeah 14,000 on the pickup. Which IMO is anemic for a MDT class truck.   The cab and chassis you can get a GVW of up 17,500. Extra 3500 pounds of GVW is nothing to sneeze at. And its just a different beast altogether. 

in comparison my Topkick has a 11500 rear axle and a GVW of 17500.  If hauling a True full time rig you would be over easily on the rear axle weight ratings. New Horizon, Spacecraft even my Teton are pigs on the pin weight. My hitch weight as an example is scaled at 6400 with empty tanks.

Best advice I can give you. If you want a big 5ver over 20K.  Got MDT at minimum not a 450 pickup. Look at the new Kodiaks or International Sport Chassis. You want a true MDT. If money is an issue look at a used MDT or HDT. Same money spent in most cases at the end of the day. This way if you upgrade or go bigger you already have plenty of truck.

I have a Topkick and it will hold my 6400 pounds of scaled pin weight squatting maybe an inch. F450 pickup was buried in the rear. Same for the new 3500 Air ride dodge. There rating my say it but there not the same build quality or the same league.

Darn I had hopes of a new Hitchhiker in the making.  They had a good idea blue down foam insulation etc.  Not that i would replace my Teton. But the hitchhiker jumped out at me in reading.

On 8/19/2020 at 8:57 PM, kstills said:

My issue is needing a get around vehicle if I go with a 5er. I don't think the HDT would be a very good 'drive to town' vehicle for the most part. 

What would you suggest would be the heaviest 5er to pull with a MDT? 

A bob tailed HDT is no longer and wider then a 3500 CCLB in most cases. Its just taller.

On 8/19/2020 at 2:53 PM, kstills said:

Would you consider a fully setup F450 as a suitable tow vehicle for your rig? 

If its a Cab and chassis I would. Not the pickup. ITs derated to class 3 and GVW is anemic.

I was looking at Nuwa/ Kansas rv center website.  It says they partnered with a private kansas rv manufacturer.  To produce a Hitchhiker at there specifications etc. Has anyone else seen this and i wonder who is building it.

http://www.nuwa.com/kansasrvcenter/

500-800 a year id make a trip somewhere else like FL or Sd and register there.  Komifornia is out of there minds.  110 a year for my topkick and 45 for my massive 5ver. 

Speaking of landing gear. Mine dont weep. But the previous owner replaced mine. They look like those that come on a continental. anyone recall seeing one and maybe know who made the jacks. The legs are a good 6 inches in diameter.  Think semi trailer. I dont know what brand they are but if imagine one jack could lift the nose.  

I like the landing gear i have and it similiar or the exact gear used on the continentals. the landing gear tubes are about 6x6 in size. Almost like the gear on a semi trailer.  Big wide feet like a big trailer as well.  no way you eould ever bend those unless you were trying to.

Jayco made a Seneca that was an FL70 truck underneath

you need an air ride hitch from trailer saver or ET hitches.  the 5th wheel will never be heavy enough to spring the suspension on the tractor. it will beat the frame of the 5ver to death. cracked welds etc.  the goosebox isnt enough absorbtion period

Probably if had to guess 235/80/16  or maybe even a 7.50x16 as they are rates for the weight too.