May we introduce ourselves?

[walkingman]

Hi Everyone.

We're new here, and new to RVing, so please excuse any breaches of protocol or whatever.

We're Tom and Ginger from Boulder, Colo. After researching RVing and fulltiming for a couple of years we decided to take the plunge and bought a 2006 33RSE Limited from an individual. The deal included a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel dually with 4WD.

The plan is to figure out how to operate this thing over the next year or so by taking little weekend and week-long trips, then hopefully blast out of here for good in a year or so.

Couple of questions for you. Is there a reason to go with a Glide-Ride air pin box because it's offered by P.I. as opposed to, say, a 5th Airborne? Also, does anyone know if our unit has the axles that don't need lubricating (Dexter, I think)? Or, is there an easy way for me to check that out?

We want to upgrade to disc brakes on the trailer and we just bought a better brake controller (Hensley TruControl). Other than that and the air pin box, I think the rig is in pretty decent shape, although Ginger wants to replace the furniture, curtains, etc., etc. Anybody want to swap a dining booth for a dinette?

As complete rookies at this, we're real interested in your input and advice.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

[evan0810]

Welcome aboard. You are the proud owners of my 2nd favorite floorplan. I couldn't tell if your unit already has a 5th Airborne pin box or not. If you have one, there is no need for the Glide Ride. But for comfort, you should have one of the aftermarket pinboxes to take the forward/backward jolts out of towing. I heard that PI tested all of the pinboxes and settled on the Glide Ride for the performance. I originally bought ours w/o one trying to save a few pennies. Prior to this, our heaviest 5th wheel was about 11,500lbs and never felt the need for one. A short trip leaving the dealer proved I had made a mistake and called PI to order the better pinbox. They make a world of difference.
I'd be glad to help as would everyone else reading this, but it is a long way to Colorado. Don't hesitate to ask questions here because that is one reason for this forum. If you have a good friend who RVs, they could help w/ general questions as alot of things are common to others makes.
Congratulations on your new (to you) Excel. You made a good decision buying a quality RV instead of trading 2 or 3 before buying yours.
Ed

[d.duin]

I am in Ft Collins and have an 05 L33RSE with washer and dryer and love it. Anyway,
I tow with an 07 Cheve 1Ton DRW with the std pin box and don't have any problems but do think the Demco would smooth things out a bit. Anyway feel free to call for any info, you have a good unit. I don't think though that it will be cost effective to go to disk brakes as I think you have to change axels to do that.
Ace

[LarryGodby]

Tom and Ginger,

Welcome to the forum. I also have an RSE and really enjoy the floor plan. Do you plan to go to the Family Reunion in Smith Center, KS from the 27th to the 31st of May? If you can swing it I would highly recommend it as they have seminars planned that would answer all your questions and then some.

We live in Longmont and will be glad to help you out with any questions you might have. I might as well plug the Excel Club of Colorado while I am at it. We meet twice a year formally and some of us get together at other times of the year. Send me a PM on any thing you want to know. Between this RSE and our previous SKO I have looked over or tore apart lots of things in the rig. If I can't help you there are plently of qualified people on this forum that can answer most anything.

Again welcome to the board and let me know if there is anythnig I can do to help.

[MonacoMama]

Walkingman..Welcome to iRV2 and the Excel Forum!! We are glad to have you join the "Excel Family" ...I am sure you can tell just how willing the Family is to help you...and it might be a great long weekend or maybe even the week spent over at the Family Reunion.
Again - welcome... We hope you visit and post often!!
MonacoMama
PS.. I added the Excel Family badge under your name on the left side..

[Still Working "NOT"]

Welcome to the Excel group, Walkingman and family. This is the best forum on the net as you will find out. Just watch out to those few wild strays that we have on here. They will give you good info but you will have to sort through it to figure out what they are telling you. They do have a serious side most of the time.

Again Welcome.

[TXiceman]

Glad to have you here on iRV2. Got any questions be sure and ask them. Look as the Rallies are and see who is camping in your area nd join the group.

Ken

[rockintom]

Hi walkingman and welcome to our little world!

We have the Glideride pinbox and really enjoy it. We had chance to experience the original pinbox and then the improvement in chucking with the glideride. The Glideride only improves the back and forth movement (chucking). I understand that the 5th Airborne does that and also improve the "up and down" bobbing movement. I've heard nice comments on that pinbox also.

We had the standard drum brakes and I was not impressed with the performance of them, especially on high demand situations. Went to Elkhart, IN and had MorRyde do a disk brake conversion, using Kodiak brakes and Brakerite actuator. Love them now. Regarding the controller, we were able to use our brake controller with this system. Some actuators you can and some you can't. Once you know which actuator you want contact the manufacturer and see if it is compatible. I will never have a rig without disk brakes again, they work that much better.

Hope you come in here often as we try to help one another with our experiences and have fun too! Travel safe and have fun in your RVing adventures! Maybe we'll run into you sometime down the road. rockintom

[Workshop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkingman Also, does anyone know if our unit has the axles that don't need lubricating (Dexter, I think)? Or, is there an easy way for me to check that out?

From what I would 'assume', the Dexter Nev-R-Lube bearings wouldn't be a standard install on the Excel, maybe an option? Did any paperwork that came with the unit indicate they may have been installed?

From what I've found out from looking at Dexters site that covers maintenance on the Hubs is that the greased hubs will have the typical washer, nut and cotter key.....the Nev-R-Lube will have a lock nut to hold everything together. Their parts listing shows the greased cap as being rounded and the N-R-L either having it stamped on the cap and/or also being 'more square cornered' and some caps as also being rounded. Don't know without taking the cap off to be sure.

[walkingman]

Sure appreciate the warm, friendly welcome and good advice. We can't make it to Sedalia, unfortunately, but we will definitely attend some rallies in the future.

Tom & Ginger

[MakinSmoke]

Welcome Tom and Ginger......I'm the least mechanical of the bunch around here so if I suggest anything, it is really easy, else I'd never be able to figure it out. Pull one wheel and look at the center hub cover. If your axles are never lube...Nev-r-lube is actually embossed on the silver hub cover.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Howdy and welcome also.

We have an 07 L-RSE. With the glide-ride and disk brakes. Tows easy.

[ChiefJohn]

Tom & Ginger,
A big "Excel Family" welcome from us also! I don't believe you will find a more personable bunch of folks than those at Peterson Industries -- from the owner of the company down through the folks on the factory floor, everyone goes out of their way to make your 'Excel'ing' (RV'ing) experience enjoyable.
John & Marilyn

[davydee]

Tom, A big welcome from us, too! We've got the glide ride pinbox, but the glide ride is a "mechanical" device vice an "air" unit. Wasn't sure that came across in the posts above. This is our first 5th wheel. We've never towed with a non-glide ride or air pin box, so we have nothing to compare the ride quality. Our trailer can move our truck around enough for us to notice it on rough roads, but it's bearable to us. Sorry we're not much help! David