Aluminum Camper Forum

Quote from: GrampaKilt on June 30, 2021, 02:08:35 PM
Better yet, kindly ask the tire tech to put the spare back after fixing the flat . GK

No way would I trust the "tire tech" to put that securing bolt in without stripping the aluminum threads in the frame!

https://alphallc.us/product-care/

For sure certain roads combined with certain vehicle lengths can set up a rhythm no matter what- even if not towing!
Way back, early 70ish, there was a particular  interstate bridge in my area-  the boat shop I worked for after school had a Ford pickup with the old twin I beam suspension...
I dreaded that bridge when running errands in the company pickup-  the joints in the bridge were prominent and as that truck crossed that bridge it would start bouncing, and then without warning the front wheels would begin a high speed side to side oscillation- it would actually almost yank the steering wheel out of your grip  and the truck was literally to the point of being uncontrollable by the end of the bridge!

To stop the shaking and jumping  you had to almost come to a stop.   Not good on a bridge with fairly heavy traffic. 
BTW the truck never exhibited this anywhere else.     It was a well know characteristic of the twin I beam design- known as F150 death wobble.   

Good times

I have 2 older drawbars where the 2" tube contains about a 1.5 inch steel center the ball is attached to.   The area around the inner drawbar was isolated by a type of elastomer to absorb vibrations and jolts.   They work quite well.    I don't think they are made anymore.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US6834879B1/en

No problem- I respect your decision of course. 

I was mostly referring to stopping while traveling- as in oh look- there is a place we'd like to stop- maybe for hours- but there is nowhere near level enough to park and keep the fridge going... 

Sure wish someone had a fridge that would do both- LP for efficient long term motionless stays and a compressor for quick cool down and parking off level.

Quote from: DavidM on September 16, 2020, 05:48:02 PM


Soon, when this crazy RV market cools and the CV abates, we will probably buy a short Class A motorhome. It will definitely have an absorption fridge since we almost exclusively dry camp. I may have to fiddle with it and add fans as GK and others suggest. I hope not.

I'd rethink that- I have a 4Wheel popup truck camper that has a marine 12V compressor fridge- I also use a 12V compressor ARB in my van.
Now for the good part- with a compressor fridge you have no need at all to park even close to level, which of course is a requirement to not ruin an absorption fridge.
The ability to stop anywhere at anytime in my 2 with DC compressor fridges is priceless to me.


At one time Dometic had a fridge that had BOTH technologies in it- that sounded great- must not have worked out though as it was short lived.

I use a Fastway E2 WD hitch (600/6000) to haul my 16TBS when I use my Ford Transit.  Tongue weight was in excess of 600 lbs! The Transit is rated to around 700 tongue weight.

I also tow with a 4Runner and bought another E2 rated at 400 lb tongue and 4000 gross.   With a good deal of effort I have managed to get my tongue weight down to 500lbs*.    The max the 4Runner is rated for.
So far I've had good results setting the 4Runner airbags to lift about 1/3 to 1/2 the tongue weight and use the E2 to do the rest.  I lke the lighter weight more flexy bars as I may go some rough places with the 4Runner pulling the trailer that I wouldn't go with the Transit.

*Took 130 lbs of batteries off the tongue and put a 30lb LiFePo4 in the very back in the storage compartment in the right rear.   I also now run with much less water than the full tank I used to for most trips where I know I can get water on arrival. 

I have owned several WD hitches over the years and still have a 1000/10000 and another that is less but more than 6000 IIRC. 
I really like the E2 non chain tension arms that use steel on steel friction arms to damp sway. 

Quote from: Merlin on September 04, 2020, 08:13:10 PM
Cool. Must be a feature added in '18. Under the steps would be a nice spot to have a light.

It is a nice spot for a light....
The mystery is why did they put the switch in the front pass through compartment?
Seems like inside near the door would make more sense.  Sort of like - oh I don't know-  just about every home's porch light

If rainwater and dirt were getting in then you have bad seals.   Oh wait......you said you did!

As for keeping hubs full of grease- might want to read this>

https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/28664/dangers-of-overgreasing-

Quote from: Merlin on May 07, 2020, 09:17:41 PM

Quote from: ADR on May 06, 2020, 09:08:57 PM
I recently picked up a BattleBorn LiFePo4 battery for my 2018 16TBS.  Very pricey at $950-  or so it seems.
Actually it is less expensive in the long run than any lead acid based battery.    Have yet to camp with it since the Covid19 canceled our reservations.

In other news- I also just picked up a 2015 Aliner Scout.  I think I'm going to move the BattleBorn to it for a summer trip with the 13 yr old grandson.   We'll be hitting 4wd trails and towing the Aliner to places I wouldn't dare try to take the CampLite.
We did an 11 National Park almost 10k mile trip when he was 10.   I was shocked when at 13 he wants to go again!  I will do everything I can to make that happen

Good choice of battery. I have one of those for my boat and they are great. I am considering several more for my home solar system. They will be my next camper battery too. I hope you find this summer's trip as great as your last one.

Well the trip isn't getting off to a great start- got notice yesterday from Recreation.gov they have canceled our Rocky Mountain National Park reservations.

Apparently they decided to extend their covid lockdown.

The problem with Bearing Buddies is they do not replace the grease.  They exist solely to keep pressure on submerged hubs to keep water out.   I would not use them on anything but a boat trailer-

I recently picked up a BattleBorn LiFePo4 battery for my 2018 16TBS.  Very pricey at $950-  or so it seems.
Actually it is less expensive in the long run than any lead acid based battery.    Have yet to camp with it since the Covid19 canceled our reservations.

In other news- I also just picked up a 2015 Aliner Scout.  I think I'm going to move the BattleBorn to it for a summer trip with the 13 yr old grandson.   We'll be hitting 4wd trails and towing the Aliner to places I wouldn't dare try to take the CampLite.
We did an 11 National Park almost 10k mile trip when he was 10.   I was shocked when at 13 he wants to go again!  I will do everything I can to make that happen

Quote from: DavidM on April 30, 2020, 11:59:07 AM
It is sort of a compromise between availability, corrosion resistance and strength as to which bolts you use. I recently went looking for 1/2" Grade 8 bolts for a similar project, the ones Charlie used, and couldn't find them at an auto parts or a hardware store. So I used Grade 5 which is about 120,000 psi tensile strength vs 150,000 for Grade 8.

I think either would be fine for this application.

David

Do you have the Tractor Supply stores- they have them- sold by the pound.    Grade 5 and 2 also.

Quote from: DavidM on May 01, 2020, 12:26:40 PM
Paul:

It is very easy to grease the bearings yourself. Pop the rubber cover off of the bearing housing and you will see a zerk fitting (a nipple) inside. Use a grease gun that you can by for $10 or so at your local auto parts store, Walmart, etc and pump grease inside. You will see the spring compress and when it is fully compressed or you see grease squirting around the edges, stop. Replace the rubber cover and you are done.

David

What spring?   None in any of my many Dexter axles with the EZ-Lube.

I'm at 530 now-  after I added 10gal to the "empty" tank, which turns out had 8gal of water I couldn't pump out so I really had 18gal.
After I get rid of the 65 lbs of inaccessible water I think I'll be under 500.

The tongue weight on my single axle TBS16 is shown as 430 with a empty weight of 3210.  I think they definitely blew it on the balance calculations.   I'm betting those weights don't include the 2 40lb actual weight LP tanks but may include the 75lb spare tire under the front, since it comes with the trailer.      No reason for a trailer that grosses 4400lb to have 600lbs of tongue weight.

I'll probably start traveling with, say, 10 gals of water instead of the full 26 like I used to.

I also carry a pair of EU2000's on the rear so that is about 120lbs counterbalancing but they are closer to the axle than the hitch is so they don't remove that much weight from the hitch.

Well well....was struggling with tongue weight since we are switching up tow vehicles..*
I stated earlier they mounted the water pickup in the wrong spot and finally got around to actually measuring the amount of water.

The tank is 26 gal and I can only draw 18 out because of that tap off mounted too high.

My fresh water tank is forward of the axle so I have been carrying 65lbs of water I can't even use adding to tongue weight...

I'm first going to remove the tap and see if I can somehow insert a piece of plastic or copper tubing in it that is bent down to the bottom of the tank.    The catch is it will have to be perfectly sealed to the fitting to prevent sucking air when the tank level is below the fitting.

Stay tuned! 


*Switching to a 4Runner which has a 500 lb tongue weight limit- I started this at over 600 lbs!  Got rid of the 130lbs of golf cart batteries off the tongue and went to a LiFePO4 mounted inside at the very back under the fridge. 
Now to find unuseable water is also a contributor.....