Left vegas for FL this morning.. 400 miles in .. blew out a tire.. no clue how long I drove it like that.. car next to me flagged me down.

Ram is a champ.. Have why too much weight on the bumper hitch.. rt 40 out of AZ is rough! I how it gets better..

Have a 10k cargo trailer loaded with maybe 13k.. Had a spare.. Bought 2 tires here in NM.. Must have lost air.. and blew..

Taking a break.. at hotel..

Lets see how far I get tomarrow..

Hope things go better for you.  Agree about Rt 40.  Went to Havasu from Colorado for Memorial weekend.  Man, 40 was a bear.  Maybe it was coincidental, but had a ceiling vent fall off and one of my storage hatch supports broke off.  Hello warranty work.  

Steve, sorry about the tranny.
How many miles on the truck?
Did the tranny get hot at anytime?
We are not even out yet, I hope this does not happen to us, we can learn from your experience, tell us more about what happen to the tranny, I just have to know. LOL !!!!

Lonney

Steve:

If I might ask, is this RAM3500HD the one with the high output engine option?  I know you mentioned 4.1 gears and that is a giveaway, but I am interested if the transmission is the Aisin AS69RC HD? The “69” transmission is the commercial transmission installed the high output engine RAM’s – the ones with 385HP and 850 lb-ft of torque.  No point to be made, just information as these trucks (the HP versions) have a completely different - bigger-  cooling system for the engine and transmission than the slightly lower HP / Torque versions of the same 3500HD truck.

You aren't having much luck are you. I hope the trip gets better for you. It seems like we always get blow outs on the way home (after we are tired, dirty, and hungry. This last one I must have drove for a long time with the tire blown out because there was nothing left of the tire. I didn't even notice one bit. Thankfully it only left some rubber marks on the trailer, but every single screw in the trailer was loose (including the water facet in the kitchen (strange). Maybe a tire sensor remote is in order. 

Anyways, hope all is well now. 

The Junkman wrote:

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 I think My DRV has goodyears on them.. 6 of them.. I think I will need to change them pretty fast..

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Steve:

IF the DRV has Goodyear G114 “H” tires on it you don’t need to change them. It’s not the “brand” as such most of the time, it’s the build of the tire.  The Goodyear G114 “H” tires are a commercial tire in a totally different class then the “G” RV type tires regardless of who made them.  Last report the G114’s, are made in the US – Decatur if memory serves which it sometime doesn’t.   You can tell by looking at the codes on the sidewall.  You’ll have to search Howard’s blog, or the internet, to discover how to decode the markings on the tire as to where and when it was made.  But Goodyear “H” commercial tires are the ones you want on the DRV any other trailer for that matter in the ~15K and up class.

The Junkman wrote:

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I will look into those.. I did know they are a heavier duty tire. And seen they are pumped up to 125 psi versus te 65 on the marathons..

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Steve:

You don’t necessarily need 125 psi in the G114 tires on a 6 wheel trailer.  On these tires (actually all tires) proper inflation is based on the weight on the heaviest tire as per the Goodyear inflation chart.  As only a guess based on experience 110-115 lbs is about correct for your trailer with headroom.  Maybe a little less.  But if you want to run 125 psi that’s fine as well.

As an added note of information: These tires are rated for 75 MPH even at lower inflation then the max of 125 psi.  Many tires are speed limited to 65 MPH.  The G114’s 75 MPH is just another reason this tire is superior to almost all other standard “RV” type tires supplied by OEM’s. But they are expensive and that’s why they are not standard equipment.

DRV moved from Michelin “J” tires to the Goodyear G114’s as an option sometime ago and that was a good move, IMO. I had a long and pleasant conversation about the speed limitation issue with the DRV factory when I visited more than once. They seemed “attentive” to that conversation and apparently did some research.

Again, this isn’t a brand issue.  It is a quality of tire / rating / class of service / result issue.  I dislike the Goodyear “G” G614 tires.  I had a set.  Terrible performance but got them off before I had a failure and damaged the trailer.

There may be an exception, but I have not seen a post where a G114 has failed.  That is not to say they can’t nor are they perfect.  But if you ever look at one of these tires, un-mounted and compare it to “G” tires you’ll see why many of us, like Howard, Jack and myself, recommend these tires for larger rigs; which many define as anything 16K and up.

FWIW

Junkman, sorry we missed you. We have the New Horizons in Dothan. Our Volvo is in the shop in Dothan also.  Sorry to hear about your troubles we also just started full timing and have had a few glitches but as my wife and I tell each other as we laugh.... This is another part of our adventure. Stress kills... Laughter is the medicine we take every day.  Hang in there, hope to meet you on the road one day.

Gene

Steve:

As you are from the west, and please excuse the suggestion if you know all about this – Try not to go through the Atlanta area in the morning or late afternoon. (I define “Atlanta” as 50 miles either side.)  And, believe it or not, just go straight through on 75.  The “by-pass” has become terrible over the years, IMO, as the through semis are required to go around on I-285.  So, based on our experience over many years, straight through is the best way assuming no accidents.  Monitor traffic on the smart phone.  You may also have some issues just south of Chattanooga but there isn’t a lot you can really do about that; just sometimes too many cars on too little asphalt where I-24 joins.

Except for the traffic this is actually a pretty drive – especially the northern parts of the trip.

The Junkman wrote:

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...But if no traffic, and just me and the tractor trailers, I will push the speed limit.. Usually the the commericial guys know how to drive..

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 You mean like the horrendous stuff anyone can see on countless YouTube videos? Just google "truch crash"

Just saying, the operative word is usually, however it only take one time or a moment of inattention or a hundred other things to create the situations... being safe means being cautious and not relying on the false premise that professional drivers are somehow always safer to be around.  Physics says that the larger the vehicle involved in an accident the greater the amount of damage caused for a given speed.  Slow down... arrive alive.

FWIW, Brian

I think Glenn was referring to the clearance between the bottom of the front of the 5er and the bed rails of your truck. Your photos don't look like 12-15 inches... more like 6 inches.

Brian

On edit... looks like several posts were deleted from this conversation.

Mitch snipped:

 That's why I love my F550 with custom Hauler body.  All of my tools (I am a freelance Field Engineer) fit in my beautiful truck body.

As a matter of fact, today I bemoaned that I didn't have my sawz-all as I was installing my wifi ranger mobile antenna.

(to cut through my DRV's body (Just KIDDING all!)  [really just to cut the plastic pipe I am mounting it on...]

Following Jack's Instructions

I modified his instructions (search article above:for "retractable pole system" to see what I was doing today.

Interesting observations:

a) The antenna comes with a 25 ft (I think) ruggedized ethernet cord.
b) My DRV has a ethernet port by my water/waste water tanks, going to the inside.c) My connection will NOT need to be snaked thru the body or the slide, as I can disconnect when traveling!
d) I needed to cut the 10 ft outside (and maybe inside too) to make sure the ranger fits 'inside'/under the AC "height line".  But using this will get me at least 15-18 feet off the ground when extended. Yay!

The Junkman wrote:

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Glenn West wrote:

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Think DRV measures by inside walls. Know that is the way my DRV measured.

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That is the inside dimentions.. I have a slide in the bunk house too.. Has a huge closet with draws on the bottom... Half full already too. Still have a tone of stuff in the cargo trailer.Broght way too many tools. going to gave a garage sale or go to the flea markets..

-- Edited by The Junkman on Monday 8th of September 2014 04:19:26 PM

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 Ready to meet and take 1/2 of your tools sight unseen, said Mitch "Tim the Toolman"

And yes, I DID downsize from 4 ladders to 2, and lots of tools and wire gone too!