Help with new Excel

[Qman15]

I am buying an '97 36TKE, but it's my first 5th wheel. (yes, excited) I've looked at these Excel's for about 5 years and finally pulled the trigger.

Are there some general things I should be looking at based on your experiences with these units? (any suspected issues on a 5 year old?)
Anything I should be doing for deferred maintenance?

What are my best options for short box hitch in an F350 SRW? Someone has suggested a sidewinder...but again, I'm new to 5th wheel towing.

Thanks for any advise or suggestions
Jim

[jaird]

Jim,

Excellent choice of 5th wheels. Some things to look for: check the slide out cylinders for rust/corrosion; push up on the slide out floors...should be hard. If they feel soft...there is possible water damage; operate all slideouts, they should operare smoothly; check ALL seams for cracks(however small). If you find any, you probably have water damage; check the battery/s for corrosion,low water and any sign of bulging. Also, check the operation of all appliances, furnace, water heater(both electric and gas), check water heater for leaks and the condition of the anode,
air conditioner operation. Check all water lines/ connections for leaks. Note: must have pressure on the system. Check operation of holding tank valves. Check dates on all tires...usually recommended to replace every 5 years. Check dates on LP cylinders...must be within 12 years. Jack up and rotate each tire/wheel...listen for grinding or other unusual noise. While doing this, have someone apply the brakes and listen for unusual noise. Check all lights. Check all doors and drawers for proper operation. Make sure that all will stay secure while traveling.

I am sure that others with more experience than I have will respond with other recommendations. "Forewarned is forearmed".

Hpoe your experience with Excel will be as good as ours has. We really enjoy our TKE.

God bless.

Jesse

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qman15 I am buying an '97 36TKE, but it's my first 5th wheel. (yes, excited) I've looked at these Excel's for about 5 years and finally pulled the trigger. Are there some general things I should be looking at based on your experiences with these units? (any suspected issues on a 5 year old?) Anything I should be doing for deferred maintenance? What are my best options for short box hitch in an F350 SRW? Someone has suggested a sidewinder...but again, I'm new to 5th wheel towing. Thanks for any advise or suggestions Jim

Welcome aboard Jim. I think you mean 2007 TKE. Sounds like jaird hit many of the highlights of what to check on the rig before buying. Does the rig have hydraulic or electric slide? Since that was Excel's first year for hydraulics.....there are some things to be aware of. And I won't get into that unless I know you have one. Not a lot of units built with hydraulics that year. Really got going in 2008. Know history of maintain schedules from the previous owner. WH flush, caulking, tire replacements or at least date codes, manual antenna lube, shackle lube intervals and various other maintenance items. That way you can tell if this babies had a good home. I always leave a history of maintenance with my old rig, but there again I tend to be a bit anal!! Hope my little input helps. Let us know what you find and maybe we can go from there. rockin'

[Qman15]

Yes, I lost 2 years somewhere....it's a 2007!

I believe it is hydraulic, so fire away. I have not taken delivery yet so I have time to review the unit and make sure everything is okay.

I am the first to title this unit as it is at a dealer. They say they will give a 1 year warranty....i will review the paperwork on that!

Thanks, this is the type of info I need.
Jim

[rockintom]

The '07 had the brackets that connect the rams to the slide wall/room that were basically flat piece of metal like 1/8" wide. When the slides (especially the large-heavy slide) were commanded to retract from the open position.....the plate would bend due to high demand especially on the initial starting of the ramping up of the room (when the nose cone of the room goes up on the rollers). That's when the highest load is on the system slide system. The problem was magified with folks that load the slide room with junk (books, scrape books, cases of wine and the like!!!) You know who you are!

Anyhow they added this nice little piece of iron on a 90* angle that makes the plate much more robust and that issue was fixed. Also they (Lippert) had some valving/solenoid issues. Replacement of those solenoids pretty well took care of that. Other issues are the legs would lower while going down the road and slide rooms walking out at the same time. Also some of the rooms would move out when lowering the jacks. The control box also (pendant) had some intermittent issues. That's about it for now. Hopefully we are mostly behind these issues.......but if it mechanical, electrical or hydraulic it can break! Check for external leaks of the hoses and jacks, ram cylinders too. The fluid is reddish cause it's Dextron III ATF.
rockin'

[Bruce and Jenna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qman15 [Snipped] What are my best options for short box hitch in an F350 SRW? Someone has suggested a sidewinder...but again, I'm new to 5th wheel towing. Thanks for any advise or suggestions Jim

I have an 07 33RSE with hydraulic slides and jacks. I suggest you search for my posts to read my problems and solutions for this new system. Tom is correct about the slide plate needing reinforcement. A cheap fix.

As for your above question, I suggest you have too small a truck for this heavy trailer. From the stats on the current 36TKE: Unloaded Vehicle Wt. (W/O Water) 14,450. Add some options here and there and you'll see another 500#s, thus 15,000. Add 1,500 pounds of contents and you up to 16,500#. [Assuming you ain't a fulltimer, when you carry about 3,000 pounds.] Don't forget you might drag that trailer with some fresh water or gray/black, so put another 300#s in too.

My 07 DRW Diesel Supercab LB weighs 8,700 loaded [two people and a hitch and fuel]. With a towing package to bring it up from 23,000 GCWR to 26,000. My fully beefed up duallie would be right at max with your trailer, with no safety margin.

You did not mention the year of your truck. You need at least a newer F350 duallie with the towing capacity for that rig. I suspect your SRW fifth wheel towing capacity is 'bout 23,000#. Which would mean you 3,000# overweight.

I also wouldn't use a short bed. Not only must you compromise with a sliding hitch, but the shorter wheelbase just adds to the lower stability of an SRW.

Not good news if you already have the truck. But bad news if you can't stop it. And don't mention the trailer braking system. They don't work 100% of the time., as I well know, even right at this moment.

Any other questions? Ask us, not the salesman. Good luck!

[BSmith01]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qman15 I am buying an '97 36TKE, but it's my first 5th wheel. (yes, excited) I've looked at these Excel's for about 5 years and finally pulled the trigger. Are there some general things I should be looking at based on your experiences with these units? (any suspected issues on a 5 year old?) Anything I should be doing for deferred maintenance? What are my best options for short box hitch in an F350 SRW? Someone has suggested a sidewinder...but again, I'm new to 5th wheel towing. Thanks for any advise or suggestions Jim

Congratulations, I think they still had the two year bumper to bumper warranty in that year. I’d put my foot down and get that instead of the new one year warranty.

[Workshop]

I would have to agree with what others have commented....as this is a 'new' unit it does change some things as it hasn't seen the road wear yet....but because of the age of the unit, the tire date code would be a thing to look at, we all know they aren't cheap.

Having a 2001...I can only speak in general terms about a 2007. Considering it is a untitled unit, I don't know whether it will have a 1 or 2 year warranty. But I would be concerned about the 'shell' of the unit and the PDI and warranty will take care of the rest. By the shell, I mean the exterior and the bottom of the floors of the slide outs. The condition of the gloss on the fiberglass, of the caulk and sealants, the awning fabric. If the caulking hasn't been maintained over the past 5 years, possible moisture damage would be one of my concerns.

I would have to agree with Bruce about towing with a F350 short box SRW. I don't think that it will handle the weight of the unit. When I bought my 33RLE, I had a 2002 Silverado HD 2500 D/A. After looking at the weights and numbers that were on paper....I thought the truck would handle the trailer without a problem.

What I found out, the trailer weighed more than the numbers on the cabinet door. After I loaded up the trailer for a 7-9 day trip and had everything weighted, I was over the GVWR by #250 and was at the limit of the rear axle. The truck had the power to handle the the trailer and properly set up, I was comfortable with the braking. But with a 14,800# trailer, I knew I was overweight for my truck and with the SRW the trailer at times, because of the pin weight on the rear axle, didn't feel as stable as I would like. We just upgraded to the F350 DRW and the difference towing is night a day.

Good luck with your choice.

[Qman15]

Thanks for the feedback, I've gone to an F350 dually with a reese hitch.
Hope to pick up the new rig Monday.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qman15 Thanks for the feedback, I've gone to an F350 dually with a reese hitch. Hope to pick up the new rig Monday.

Good choice. Same as mine.

[Workshop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce and Jenna Good choice. Same as mine.

Good choice, same as mine.

Glad it worked out.

workhorse

[Qman15]

We just spent 4 hours cleaning the fiberglass roof on our Excel...what now? Do we wax it, spread protectant, etc. It has some oxidation but not to bad. Mrs. Qman15

[chief02]

LOL you lost 10 years...2007 - 1997 = 10 years,,,,just saying,,,and welcome

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qman15 We just spent 4 hours cleaning the fiberglass roof on our Excel...what now? Do we wax it, spread protectant, etc. It has some oxidation but not to bad. Mrs. Qman15

Mrs. Qman,

I tried to keep up with waxing my fiberglass roof on my first Excel and it just wasn't able to keep it shiny and slick over time. I was waxing it every 3 months and it still oxidized. When it gets really chalky and oxidized it will leave streaks on the side of the rig where the water runs off. I've had folks tell me that they use Protectant 303 every 6 months on the roof with good luck. I haven't tried it myself. I just try to keep it clean with every wash. Waxing the roof is about a 3/4 day job. I do keep the roof sides waxed as it is very visible.

303 is some fairly spendy stuff. Great for weatherstrips as it keeps them soft, pliable and lubricated. I also use it on my BR slide bottom for lubrication and general conditioner. HTHs rockin'