Community Forums

ralphie · 12-19-2014, 05:18 PM

So I decided to save a few bucks after dropping a bunch of money on the truck and new FW. The truck came with a gooseneck hitch and I need a regular FW hitch. I found a gently-used Reese FW head unit and rails, and found the frame brackets for a good price on Amazon. An installer told me 4 hours of labor to install everything and I suspect he was padding his hours because people on the forums said it's an easy 1-1/2 hour job. I read the mounting instructions and watched a couple of youtube videos and knew I could do the job.

I took a quick look at the gooseneck hitch mount, saw a few bolts and figured maybe a half hour to remove it, making the entire job 2 hours. Nay, nay, IT WAS A 4-HOUR JOB JUST TO REMOVE IT, and I had half my tools under the truck before I was finished! What a PITA. It took me less than an hour to install the new FW brackets and hitch. Moral of this story: I should have paid someone else to remove the damned gooseneck!

Rich and Cork · 12-19-2014, 05:34 PM

I would say you did well and had the skills and tools to do the job. Now you know how it is installed and where every nut and bolt is.

Pds47 · 12-19-2014, 06:22 PM

his first time took him just as long as you, now all you have to do is find someone who needs your help and recoup some of your cost

ChallengerRN · 12-19-2014, 06:33 PM

It just not possible to put a cost value on experience!!! That experience will look good on your resume !!

Russell

Fred1609 · 12-22-2014, 09:58 PM

It always takes twice as long the first time. Good on you for tackling the job.

Bamaman · 12-23-2014, 07:29 AM

I bought a Curt custom frame mount to mount my cross rails on. Needless to say, the holes in the mount didn't match the holes in my frame, and substantial drilling was required. It was a real pain in the rear end.

But the worse part of the project was assembling the components for the AirRide air suspension. The instructions were like reading German, and I'd have been a dead duck had the assembly not been shown on UTube.com. Mounting the air shocks was a breeze after putting them together.

Such jobs are so much easier if you have a lift to get the vehicle 6' in the air. Any repair laying on your back is going to take 3x as long.

MSHappyCampers · 12-23-2014, 07:43 AM

But look at all the on-the-job training you got!

t55watson · 12-23-2014, 07:48 AM

Your signature says...retired and enjoying life. ENJOY!!

dvmweb · 12-23-2014, 09:50 AM

Never knew you were going to have so much fun did you? Now you know.

2013 FleetWood Expedition 38B

FIRE UP · 12-25-2014, 07:03 PM

ralphie,
As you found out, nothing is what it seems it is. I have done extensive repairs etc. on our present coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with C-7 330HP CAT and, many times, I look at a potential project or, repair and, say, "well, this "ought" to take me a couple of hours". It never fails, it always takes me waaaaaay over what my estimates have been. And I've been doing this type of stuff since Jesus was a pup.

The replacement/rebuilding of one of the bedroom slide rams was a good example. That project was by far, the most serious pain in the a$$ job I've encountered on this or, any other motorhome we've owned. But, my point, you learned that there's always a possibility of hidden complications when doing a job. In the end, you tackled it, handled the "hidden" issues, did the job and the best part, you know the job is done right the first time.

The added benefit of saving money is a bonus. Of course we all like to save money and still get the job done. If you're one of those that's willing to look into the "darkness" of the unknown (taking on a job that you've never done before) based on your known level of expertise and tooling, then I applaud you. It's always nice to be able to save a little for the gas or, diesel tank.
Scott