New Truck..... - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

New Truck.....

Born2bfree · RV-Dreams Community Member

Very nice, congratulations and good luck with your new purchase.

Wlat

-- Edited by Born2bfree on Monday 23rd of May 2011 07:59:46 PM

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lindy:

I know you have had a Kodiak as well as the Freightliner. I am curious with the new 3500HD Chevy (a great truck got even better with the 2011’s) how your bed rail clearance issues are.

The new 3500HD’s are about 2-1/2 or so inches taller to the bed height and I think the bed rails are about 1” taller from the bed itself than the previous versions of the Chevy 3500.

My current 2006 4WD 3500 has almost 9” of bed rail to trailer hang over clearance with the trailer running spot on level with the truck. But I did a 3” trailer frame raise to make that happen. (Not an “axle flip” – a true frame raise - I've got an IS from MOR-ryde.) Now with the taller 3500HD’s I am curious how you’re doing trailer level wise vs. trailer to bed rail clearance. All this concern is sending me down the path of a 3500HD with a “RV Hauler” conversion on it to make sure I never touch the rails with the rig (which I would have if I didn’t raise the trailer.)

Comments please and thanks.

Bill

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Bill, I don't know what the clearance will be I haven't got the Trailer Saver TS 3, it should be here this week. I want have a issue except for the trip to the National Suites Rally in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on 6 June. I have a hauler bed on order but it want be here until the middle or end of June. The paint will be the same as the Truck, Sheer Silver. But the shipping is also a issue because they only ship 22 beds at a time. And most all are shipped in Black. My 2008 only had about 5 1/2" of Clearance, however at the time I was using the B&W turnover ball with the Companion 5th wheel hitch, and it was in the highest setting. And the 2009 Landmark and the 2009 Mobile Suites did ride a little high in the front. Just will have to wait until next week to get Trailer Saver installed and hooked up. But as I said when the hauler bed is installed I will have no clearance issues. I did order the 2" spacers from Trailer Saver and Aron salesperson said he would send the 1" spacers also. He didn't think I would need the 2" spacers, again will not know until everything is set up.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Delaine and Lindy wrote:
I have a hauler bed on order but it want be here until the middle or end of June.

Very nice. OK, hauler bed from who, etc. I'm in the hunt and all info in appreciated. I guess you will just ditch the pickup bed or did you order the truck with the "Bed Delete" option?

Thank you.

Bill

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill sent you a message......

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

You know, Bill, you can have a custom bed built by Herrin or Wayland Long. Get exactly what you want. Or, I particularly like Utility Bodywerks for a prebuilt.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack Mayer wrote:
You know, Bill, you can have a custom bed built by Herrin or Wayland Long. Get exactly what you want. Or, I particularly like Utility Bodywerks for a prebuilt.

Thanks Jack. Yea, I’ve spoken to all those you listed and plan to visit 2L and Herrin on the way to Arizona. It’s on our way to the NWT so I was stopping at Classy Chassis next week. Any comments about them are most welcome.

The good part about Utility is they are in Elkhart and we seem to be there more often than. But Texas isn’t all that far either.

I really like speaking with Wayland at 2L , by the way. Neat guy – “cut to the chase” nice.

As I said, I’m in the hunt and always learn something from those who have gone before me, especially you.

BTW, just finished installing, at least for this trip I hope, the Bullet with waterproofing etc. Build a mount and got all that secure. So, I hope we’re set for Canadian WiFi. I did choose to use a 6bd Omni. I spent about over a day comparing readings between it and the 3db Laird and it was consistently “better” in receive levels than the 3db. So, I went that way knowing full well that open air tests off a “range” are not all that accurate. But the results were so constant over a 2 day period that I made the choice. But, as you said, either will work, it is just in Canada sometimes a few db matters at the distance we are from the AP - been there before.

Thanks as always for any comments as I noted above as to why you "prefer" someone or not. You know the personal email as may be required.

Bill

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill, the 6db is always going to outperforrm the 3db. In your circumstance, for capture from really far away you may want to go with a directional, when called for. But for the average user in an RV Park environment - or up to around 3/4 of a mile - the 3db works fine and has some form-factor advantages.