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1) The colorplast: I wanted to inspect everything...I do NOT trust the crappy workmanship of the Montana crew.....That just is a true statement, they earned it. I am also going to better insulate the underneath area..... There are areas that have insulation on the bottom, but nothing on the steel sidewalls of the compartment..... I intend to put in a bunch of rigid foam and reuse the reflective bubble wrap too.... I will neaten up the rats nest and correct some ****-pour wire connections......... I want this to be better and to last for a long time. I will also reinstall the bottom covering in a manner that is well sealed and easy to remove in sections....... I am thinking of sheet alum instead of the colorplast... ????
2) The suspension failure is due to terrible roads and to being undersized. The 7,000 lb axles and springs are carrying that much. No room for a safety factor. Also the steel springs are China Steel......... So, IMHO..... Poor engineering.....Shortcuts for everything.......Poor workmanship.....Bad roads......
3) I will be adding a number of steel cross-braces to beef up the frame. Some reading and discussion with an engineer friend have convince me that this needs to be done.
BTW: Don't skimp on safety...... I neglected to wear safety goggles yesterday, just safety glasses...... Got something in my left eye .... visit to the Eye Doc this morning. Scratched cornea....Some antibiotic goooo and it should heal up ok.
With everything so exposed and the trailed jack-up up with no suspension, would be a good time to add electronic waste valve system. Not that expensive, I think.
bruce....
I am spending too much right now......... It will be easy to get back to it if I choose......
After I make a few bucks doing disc brake installs for Performance Braking...... I just might do that upgrade.....
Last fall I noticed that the Port side (Drivers side) of the 5th wheel was sagging....... Weather got too bad before I could get to it. Now that I am in the process of replacing the 7,000 lb axles and leaf springs with 8,000 lb axles and leaf springs I am tackling the MorRyde Rubber Spring. The leaf steel springs are taken care of with the upgrade axle and springs. I ordered in a new Rubber Spring just "knowing" that I would need it. Today I removed the MorRyde Rubber Spring........
Unbolted from the steel housing above...... Rubber Spring on the ground.
I moved the steel brackets from the Dead Rubber Spring....... Bolted them onto the New Rubber Spring..... Then mounted the new Rubber Spring in the steel housing. I attach a new steel leaf spring.
New MorRyde Rubber Spring........
them rubbers made in china or what? chinaeze quality!
I noticed you have a box of the mens dove hair care for stronger more resilient hair, Roy is your hair ok?
Roy...think I made the right choice not getting the Montana and going with the Grand Design? Lots of Lippert parts on the GD also!! I think all these campers are built by crackheads on a work release program in Indiana! Just my 2 cents!
Roy...think I made the right choice not getting the Montana and going with the Grand Design? Lots of Lippert parts on the GD also!! I think all these campers are built by crackheads on a work release program in Indiana! Just my 2 cents!
It's funny you say that. The labor shortages in Elkhart are so extreme right now they are doing exactly that.....
After reading some of the horror stories, I am glad that when I bought my camper I got a Northern Lite. It seems to be very well built. Made about a 2 hour drive away from me. https://www.northern-lite.com/truck-campers.php
After reading some of the horror stories, I am glad that when I bought my camper I got a Northern Lite. It seems to be very well built. Made about a 2 hour drive away from me. https://www.northern-lite.com/truck-campers.php
well prices of chinese steel and anything made from it will be going up with tarrifs. i think if its made in the usa with foreign materials its still better then made by the commies.
Roy, before you get too far along, something has been bothering me about the wheels. If you can, test fit the wheel and then put on a lug or two. I've read that some that went with the bigger studs and then got new lugs, the lugs didn't have quite enough room the seat completely. The stud was wider that what the wheel was actually made for and the new lugs, being slightly different bevel, didn't sit well in the lug well on the wheel and would loosen. Just wanting everything to work out well for you when this is done. Hopefully all is fine, just wanted to mention it so it wouldn't cause you any troubles.
Man, you are making me want to do this so bad!
04-09-2018, 01:29 PM
Thanks for stopping by.........
I intend to put in a bunch of rigid foam and reuse the reflective bubble wrap too.... I will neaten up the rats nest and correct some ****-pour wire connections......... I want this to be better and to last for a long time. I will also reinstall the bottom covering in a manner that is well sealed and easy to remove in sections....... I am thinking of sheet alum instead of the colorplast... ????
..... So, IMHO..... Poor engineering.....Shortcuts for everything.......Poor workmanship.....Bad roads......
