|
|
04-24-2010, 09:14 PM
|
#1891
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 385
|
Tom,
When we had the gooseneck hitch I used the 7 pin connector next to the gooseneck ball in the center over the axle. Camping World installed the new hitch and 5th Airborne pinbox without offering any instruction after a six hour installation process, finally I got one of the installation service clerks to guide me through what I needed to do. What I didn't notice is that the hook was missing from the back that was on my old Fadex 520 pinbox. I used to use it to hang the cable after we unhitched.
The excess cord eventually just dropped down to where I was plugged into the rear 7-pin connector, dragging as we went up the highway. Since we have no tailgate, there way nothing stopping the cord from rubbing on the road between truck and trailer. After the repair I rigged up a fat-wide bungy cord & a couple of wire ties to prevent it from happening again. I had no conception that the cord was long enough to drag like that ... you learn something the hard way every day!
Dave
__________________
David, Sheila & Stella the Beagle pup SKP Full-timers since 2008
'12 FORD F-350 Dually King Ranch crew cab, Firestone airbags, 52" hitch extension
'12 Lance 1181, all options + 250W solar, pushed by '09 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited + Blue Ox 5K tow bar
'93 Fleetwood Oak Park w/12'x34' lanai @ Pioneer Village in N. Ft Myers, FL
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
04-25-2010, 07:37 AM
|
#1892
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 385
|
I just updated our blog to show photos of our new 5W hitch and 5th Airborne pinbox. While I don't have a MDT or HDT truck, I do have a MDT Hitch! I had the added challenge of getting a hitch low enough so that our coach trailered level. The new hitch is 10.5" tall and the new pinbox is in its highest possible position. The trailer isn't completely level, but is is about as level as we are going to get it. The hitch I really needed was a TrailerSaver medium duty hitch at 8" tall, but it was too $$$ for me at this point since I also had to buy the new pinbox at the same time. Overall we are pleased with the new setup and perhaps feel like real RVers now instead of redneck cowboys ... now if I can just find someone that will install a new Pacbrake on our truck in the next three weeks or so I will be thrilled when we climb that 11,312' Monarch Pass!!!!
Dave
__________________
David, Sheila & Stella the Beagle pup SKP Full-timers since 2008
'12 FORD F-350 Dually King Ranch crew cab, Firestone airbags, 52" hitch extension
'12 Lance 1181, all options + 250W solar, pushed by '09 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited + Blue Ox 5K tow bar
'93 Fleetwood Oak Park w/12'x34' lanai @ Pioneer Village in N. Ft Myers, FL
|
|
|
04-25-2010, 09:28 AM
|
#1893
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fulltime TX Escapee
Posts: 8,901
|
Thanks for the explaination......I'll reserve my comments to when we meet in person.....they'd probably get deleted if I post them here! Just kiddin' Looks like you did a nice job of repairing. Not an easy job to replace the whole cord is it?
On our first Excel when it was new, I had very intermitant back up lights on the rig. Hard to diagnois since it was so intermitant. Finally found the issue, by moving and working the cable by hand on the rig every couple of inches. About 2 ft up the cord from the end I could make the BU lights come on and go off just by wiggling the cord. Opened the cord up and found the #7 yellow wire (accessories) was messed up from the factory. The insulation wasn't damaged or anything. The copper wire had a gap in it where there must have been a start and stop of wire processing. Weird....but if it can happen....it will happen to me. Quick splice and tape job and we were good to go.
__________________
2012 Excel L33ft. GKE named Charm as in 3 times is a Charm. Love Fulltiming. Bullet '14 Chevy D/A 3500 LB CC DRW Summit White - Ebony Interior. Check out our blog at: https://claphamstravels.blogspot.com
|
|
|
04-25-2010, 11:50 AM
|
#1894
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 385
|
We are going to stop in SC in May to get a slide adjustment and I'll consider replacing the cord then although it is perfectly functional now. With the repaired cable I surely won't forget to secure it when I am hooking it up. I am just so amazed that the Camping World folks did not give any consideration what-so-ever to secure or shock-cord it so that it could not have fallen. They claimed they installed 1 or 2 hitches a month on flatbed trucks, so I cannot believe they had not addressed this issue before. I take 100% responsibility for the "incident", but at the same time I am amazed at how they did not even mention it or try to put something on it to prevent a potential disaster. Why I still had trailer brakes until we got to the campground I will never know. The technician that tested our L.P. system also left our stove on so the residual gas in the line filled the inside of the coach so we arrived to hearing the gas detector singing its little heart out. I am glad with the cord sparking away on the highway that the gas floating around inside hadn't come to another disaster either. Sometimes you can't take it for granted that the professionals always know what they are doing, LOL!
Dave
__________________
David, Sheila & Stella the Beagle pup SKP Full-timers since 2008
'12 FORD F-350 Dually King Ranch crew cab, Firestone airbags, 52" hitch extension
'12 Lance 1181, all options + 250W solar, pushed by '09 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited + Blue Ox 5K tow bar
'93 Fleetwood Oak Park w/12'x34' lanai @ Pioneer Village in N. Ft Myers, FL
|
|
|
04-25-2010, 02:04 PM
|
#1895
|
Registered User
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: North of the Mason Dixon Line
Posts: 1,565
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KU9L
I am just so amazed that the Camping World folks did not give any consideration what-so-ever to secure or shock-cord it so that it could not have fallen. They claimed they installed 1 or 2 hitches a month on flatbed trucks, so I cannot believe they had not addressed this issue before. I take 100% responsibility for the "incident", but at the same time I am amazed at how they did not even mention it or try to put something on it to prevent a potential disaster. Why I still had trailer brakes until we got to the campground I will never know.
Dave
|
Quite a few folks with regular pickup beds and flatbeds put a plug in the bed so you do not have to hook into the bumper one. The pigtail then lays on the floor and you do not need to hook it to a shock-cord.
|
|
|
04-25-2010, 07:27 PM
|
#1896
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 385
|
I have a 7-pin socket in the hitch pocket well over the axle, but the new hitch covers that up so it isn't accessible anymore. The shock-cord idea seems to be the best option I am guessing as long as I made it robust and fail resistant!
Dave
__________________
David, Sheila & Stella the Beagle pup SKP Full-timers since 2008
'12 FORD F-350 Dually King Ranch crew cab, Firestone airbags, 52" hitch extension
'12 Lance 1181, all options + 250W solar, pushed by '09 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited + Blue Ox 5K tow bar
'93 Fleetwood Oak Park w/12'x34' lanai @ Pioneer Village in N. Ft Myers, FL
|
|
|
05-02-2010, 10:25 AM
|
#1897
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 240
|
I just purchased an 800 watt inverter and would like to know how I should hook up and the best use for it. I mostly wanted it for the TV and to shave so I would not have to start the gen. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thank you
|
|
|
05-02-2010, 03:14 PM
|
#1898
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fulltime TX Escapee
Posts: 8,901
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hermandutchman
I just purchased an 800 watt inverter and would like to know how I should hook up and the best use for it. I mostly wanted it for the TV and to shave so I would not have to start the gen. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thank you
|
Thought I'd take this to here.
__________________
2012 Excel L33ft. GKE named Charm as in 3 times is a Charm. Love Fulltiming. Bullet '14 Chevy D/A 3500 LB CC DRW Summit White - Ebony Interior. Check out our blog at: https://claphamstravels.blogspot.com
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 02:48 PM
|
#1899
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Rio Rancho, NM
Posts: 1,065
|
Hey Tom,
Just found the perfect tow vehicle for you Excel Types. It will get you there quick and when you get there you can have some wheels to have fun with!
__________________
[/SIGPIC]Phil & Carol & Sir Puck, Grey Lady and The Cat
2016 Ram 2500, CTD 4X4, CC
2022 Rockwood 8263 MBR
|
|
|
05-13-2010, 08:01 AM
|
#1900
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 385
|
New addition to our family
__________________
David, Sheila & Stella the Beagle pup SKP Full-timers since 2008
'12 FORD F-350 Dually King Ranch crew cab, Firestone airbags, 52" hitch extension
'12 Lance 1181, all options + 250W solar, pushed by '09 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited + Blue Ox 5K tow bar
'93 Fleetwood Oak Park w/12'x34' lanai @ Pioneer Village in N. Ft Myers, FL
|
|
|
05-13-2010, 08:12 AM
|
#1901
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Big Pine Key, FL
Posts: 1,424
|
Dave,
Stella is a cutie! Before long you will not have any probems with rabbits!!! Sure miss our dawg Harley.
__________________
Member # 47 , " squirt", Smart Cabriolet The Newest Family Addition
The Wagon, Excel L36CLO, Overkill, Volvo 610, Venture Out, Cudjoe Key, FL
|
|
|
05-14-2010, 11:19 PM
|
#1902
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Lakewood, Colorado
Posts: 151
|
Weird accident
I was at Harbor Freight today and saw a mid-size Dodge pickup roll out of its parking space, cross the parking lot gathering speed all the way, and smash into a brand spanking-new F-350. Both vehicles were parked and unoccupied. Maybe the Dodge's E-brake failed or it slipped out of gear. The ironic part is that the Ford owner had parked his new pickup at the far end of the lot, presumably so nobody would scratch his doors.
Let this be a lesson to us to always park on a high point. Of course that might make our vehicles more vulnerable to lightning strikes. I wonder about the relative probabilities of these hazards.
__________________
Bill & Deb Karsell
Excel Winslow D28RLW w/ Hydralift and rear camera
2009 Ford F-250 4X4 SRW-SB 6.4L diesel King Ranch Nav & Sync, Pullrite 16K SuperGlide
|
|
|
05-15-2010, 06:45 AM
|
#1903
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 509
|
Picture from Good Sam page on Facebook where they're asking people to guess the location. Someone got way too much time on their hands! But isn't that an Excel in the background?
__________________
David & Donna Driver SKP# 105170 | Fulltimer | 2009 F450 Lariat Plus w/Nav | 2011 MS 36RSSB3
|
|
|
05-15-2010, 06:50 AM
|
#1904
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 509
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KTM Guy
I was at Harbor Freight today and saw a mid-size Dodge pickup roll out of its parking space, cross the parking lot gathering speed all the way, and smash into a brand spanking-new F-350. Both vehicles were parked and unoccupied. Maybe the Dodge's E-brake failed or it slipped out of gear. The ironic part is that the Ford owner had parked his new pickup at the far end of the lot, presumably so nobody would scratch his doors.
Let this be a lesson to us to always park on a high point. Of course that might make our vehicles more vulnerable to lightning strikes. I wonder about the relative probabilities of these hazards.
|
I'd say the probability appears higher than it really is. After a decade of parking our corvette and pickups away from the crowds, I've been amazed at the people who will park next to our vehicle even though we're at the farthest end of the parking lot from the building
__________________
David & Donna Driver SKP# 105170 | Fulltimer | 2009 F450 Lariat Plus w/Nav | 2011 MS 36RSSB3
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|