Recent content by wilfreddrabble

:oJayne, If you don't like the rear axle ratio & want to change it, you'll have to change the front axle ratio as well, that is if you ever want to use it in 4WD! Having said that, if you were to change both, you could go to much higher ratios (assuming you could find the sets) because you've...

:P Jayne, Virtually any mechanical parts that are specific to its International drivetrain or chassis will be hard to come by. The International gas V8 is not related to any other engine from other manufacturers and has not been made for many years. If you really like this rig, it's otherwise...

Well, there ARE Isuzu, Hino, & Mitsubishi medium duty trucks (ie, NOT American made) that I have seen used as TV's for heavy weight TT's but I'm nit picking and I do get your point! Tundras and Nissan 1/2 tons should be out of contention once GVWR's reach 10,000 pounds. John Alldredge, lurking...

OK, Karen, here's a made up scenario that replicates something you might run across in the real world: Imagine a pickup truck that weighs 5500 pounds empty and has a GCVWR of 12,000 pounds. In that case, allowing for a 10% safety factor, the highest GVWR trailer that you should tow with that...

I don't know anything about Keystone except what I see in their ads but I have been imprressed with Trail Lite. Some of the things I liked: large wheels and tires, bathroom layout and fixtures, arrangement of outside storage areas, quality of suspension and running gear, protection for water &...

;DThis system has worked for me for a few years when staying in one place for 6 months at a time: I have jacks at all 4 corners, and, after levelling the trailer with boards under the wheels, when necessary, I crank down all 4 jacks so that they are all bearing "considerable" weight (enough so...

:oIn case of snow squalls, icy, snow covered or center bare roads, in my opinion the best place for an RV trailer and TV is holed up in the rest area until the snow stops falling and the salt trucks have been out. Just cowardly that way, I guess! John Alldredge, losing his nerve in old age!

A Good Example of what I was referring to: A 1991 Pace Arrow 33L (no slides which is what I'd prefer), P30 with a 454 Chev gas TBI V8 and 18,500 miles just got bid up to $10,700 on eBay. There was a lot of action on this from several bidders. This is mighty cheap living, IMHO & would suit my...

;DThe best towing advice I ever got was years ago when this Forum was on CompuServe. Some wise RV'er said, "You can go too slow down a hill a thousand times but you can only go down it too fast one time!" John Alldredge

If the cold nights are as rare as you say they are, just unhook the hose and pressure regulator & bring 'em inside with you. You could wrap the water hose in plumbing heat tape and cover it with foam pipe insulation but I don't think it's worth the trouble in College Station. If you have a...

In my opinion, trailer manufacturers would do everybody including themselves & their dealers a huge favor if they would show a photograph of every model in their brochures  hooked up to an appropriate tow vehicle and show hitch arrangements as well, based on GVWR and hitch weights. These should...

:(Blackbird, TT's and 5th wheels really have no crash integrity to speak of. This is one reason why it's illegal to carry passengers inside 'em while they are being towed. They can break away from the TV, even with "safety" chains properly hooked up. They can "roll the tow vehicle" although my...

Yeah, I would greatly favor a Ford F53 myself but I'm not seeing many of these on eBay at the moment for some reason. I was aware of the overheating problems and the resulting trouble with the exhaust manifolds. I think I could spot this when I check out the unit but I might be rating myself too...

These days, the going rate for Airstream fixer uppers that are otherwise desirable seems to be under $4k on eBay. $10k should get you something pretty decent - ready to move into. Up to $20k better be extraordinary and/or nearly new. The very small Airstreams like Bambis are high priced if in...

;D If I were going to do what you propose, I would be looking for a Thor-built Airstream Excella travel trailer from the late eighties or early nineties. These have mostly "depreciated out". They are now priced about as low as they are ever going to be. There are a few of them around and can be...