Welcome Joe!

 

gojoe,

The JayFlight 31BHDS is an incredible TT for a family. I've only got 2 girls and that rear bunk area with accordian door is truly 'their own'. Jayco came out with a new model this year for folks that have more than 2 kids. The 32BHDS. If you haven't seen that one and have more than 2 kids...it may be worth a look. A couple of things though...the front bedroom has a wall right at the end of the bed...I'm short so it wouldn't bother me...but if you are tall..I can see being 'pinned' in between the headboard and footboard. Plus the bathroom and rear bunk area...I'm not sure if you can get to it without extending the slide...you could obviously get 'into' the bathroom from the outside door...check out the floorplan is my advice...looks real nice...no spec's yet on line...but if I had 3 or more kiddos...I'd look that way more closely. Here's a link to the floorplan http://www.jayco.com/php/products/fl...149&mod_id=859

For me tugging this 9000# TT 5000 miles this year on the east including the Appalachians...I averaged 8.2MPG. I tow at 63-65MPH in OD. I turn 2200RPMs at that speed in OD. For more than your typical overpass hill...I'll drop to third and then you are turning right at 3000RPMs for this speed. For REALLY challenging hills you need to be turning 3200RPMs for our V10's.

I notice you have larger 35" tires with your 4.30's...your RPMs and speeds will be reduced because of it...and I suspect your 'effective' gear ratio would be closer to my old 3.73's. Which not to bore everyone with here...you can read about my towing experiences at the following link. I put that post together in 2006 after returning from a long trip. I'm crappie_fisherman over there. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...g/1/page/1.cfm

I would expect your mileage to closer match mine from last year with the 3.73's. I truly believe the WIND RESISTANCE more than the WEIGHT to be the major factor in MPG. I can tow in OD so much more with the true 4.30 final drive ratio...it really is the perfect gear for the V10. BUT with the 3.73's...you can simply lock out OD as you will as you read...most of the time be playing 'catch up'...if you fall behind...it takes some time to get back in the 'groove'...with the 4.30's...well...there is more forgiveness...BOTH are good towing gears...

So what do you race?

Hopefully I answered your questions...if not let me know...I think this thread is kind of shot its load anyway...

another joe.

 

We also looked at that model (31BHDS) - but it was out of our price range at the time (and still is)... I need a better paying job.

Hey Joe - where'd you get the flag pole. I've been looking at different designs and even doodling with my own ideas.

 

Mark,

I got mine from Poles and Holders http://polesandholders.com/home.php the folks there are VERY friendly and helpful.

I had thought about making my own out of various PVC sections...and using a coupler on the ends to slip different pieces in...but when I came upon this one for $60 delivered to my door...I couldn't pass it up...BUT the PVC would likely be much cheaper overall...you'd just have to figure out how to attach the flags to the pole...maybe zip ties or something...

I did make my own mounts though out of 2" PVC...I've got one on the front and back of the TT so depending on my sites and trees...I've got options...

But the link above should take you to the site...ask for Corky and tell him Indiana Joe sent you! (I don't get anything)

joe.

 

Sorry you posted that twice - I see where you answer the same question in the other thread.
Thanks for the info.

 

I have tried to zip tie a flag on but it didnt work. Over time the sun kills the zip ties vand they become very brittle,
Nick

 

y do they call u indiana joe? haha

 

I do like that floorplan, I was looking at this Dutchmen too, http://www.dutchmen-rv.com/floorplans.php. Jayco's are built in Twin Falls and Dutchmen are built about 30 miles down the road so I'd probably go with one of the two.
I was racing a Super Six with the ISRL, it's a six cylinder sprint car. http://www.quinnracing.com/, I drove the red #6 car.
I went to the 315's to drop the rpm's when towing with o/d off because it seemed like I was never towing in o/d anyway, and it didn't seem to give up much bottom end even though it raised the effective ratio. The one pull I made to Eastern Oregon and back I got 8.2 to 8.6 mpg uncorrected. Except for the one pass between the border and Burns, OR where I got 7.68. I guess that's not too bad?
The one trip I made using my F250 to tow my trailer (same setup except 3.73 gears) seemed to do a better job because the rpm's were about 300 lower cruising and it still pulled the hills well.
What do you think?

 

That's the reason I got an X to start with.

Was considering getting a big trailer/home/camper kinda thingie and was looking for something to haul it with. Found the perfect unit too and THEN I realized that I'm in the USA and that in order for me to camp/stop I really have to go to a campground so I nixed that idea. Got the X though

 

That sucks that you cant stop anywhere just to camp, as long as it isnt a dangerous place to stay at

 

gojoe,

Great site for your sprint cars!...I didn't go thru all the pages but the pictures are pretty cool. Do you still race? Looks like that site hasn't been updated for a little bit though?...

As far as dropping RPMs when towing...for me in my setup I actually wanted higher RPMs on my V10...specifically that 3200 magic number for really STEEP climbs.

When I had my 3.73's...I found that OD was pretty useless even the smallest incline forced a downshift and a sudden RUSH of RPM's before the TC locked back up...So I tended to keep OD off and ran about 2700RPMs...this V10 will pull darn near all day at those RPMs...it likes it and I mean some pretty decent hills too in 3rd at 65.

But I know what you mean about lower RPMs because with my true 4.30's in OD at 65 I turn about 2200RPMs...I can pull most hills at that RPM...so 3.73's in OD were too low and 3.73's in 3rd were overall too high...so I tend to now tow in OD with 4.30's and when I hit really tough climbs...I'm in 3rd and try to keep the RPMs at 3200 or higher (which means 70mph though and that is faster than I like to tow but for short distance)...with the 3.73's...I found it required 2nd to do that and then throw in the altitude sickness our normally aspirated motors suffer from...well in my write up you see that i was down to 1st in the Big Horns and Rockies!!!...while I haven't ventured back to the Rockies (yet) with my 4.30's...I am confident I can most likely avoid 1st gear (I may eat those words LOL).

So I understand the approach you took...with the larger tires...depending on where you tow and how heavy you tow...you may want to go back...but that is an expectation thing too...I'm not one of those that HAS to be FIRST to the top of each hill...I do push the V10 hard...because I have found if you don't...well it just simply doesn't like it that way...RPMs are the friend of the 2V V10...she's got plenty of power to give...BUT you have to have the right RPMs to find it...at least that is my take and my experienes.

As far as TT...well both Jayco and Dutchmans are made right by me as well. I'm partial to to the Jayco for the 2 year warranty...not sure if Dutchmans come with one or two...many RV mfgs switched their warranties a couple of years ago to just one...but many are switching back to two...

Your mpgs seem in line. You've also found out that this V10 is a pull dog. Many that have never towed heavier with a V10 have no idea what we are talking about...many that went diesel came from a small SB gasser with tall gears and were pulling at their max ratings...they then went to a diesel torque hound and claim to never want to go back...yet they never pulled with a properly geared V10 or 8.1L GM...that's okay...we know what this motor is capable of!...I've tested it to some pretty extreme climbs and made it to the top of them all!

Which floor plan are you looking at and what weight range? My double slide TT goes 9000#'s loaded and fits well behind my V10. MPG wise I wouldn't expect any more or less with the wind and weight load I tug...my buds with the PSD's aren't getting that much better...and when I was buying...they wanted $10K MORE for the 2005 PSD Ex...that's a LOT of fuel!!!...so I've been very happy with this setup.

Not sure what more I could say...If you want to talk about TT layouts or anything or WD hitches...let me know!

joe.

 

I can back up Joe's climbing statements - this past summer we went to OH from NC, stright up I77 thru Fancy Gap in Va. Lots of 7% grades and clibming from a couple 100 ft to 3000 ft... even with the 3.73's, I could easily hold 60+ mph climbing up there - I even passed a few diesels along the way... hehehe. I would drop in to 2nd a during the steepest climbs and hung around the 2800-3k rpm range (if my memory serves me correctly) - what a feeling... pulling 9k and being able to accelerate up a hill like that.

 

For those that have never seen the HP/Trq curves on a 2V V10 here you go.



What is interesting in this curve is do you see the PEAK Trq at ~3200 RPM?...and do you see that little 'plateau' back to lower RPMs...well in my experiences...when pulling STEEP grades loaded to my weight (~17,000#) once you get on the low side of that peak...you can't peddle fast enough in 3rd gear. The V10 NEEDS to be at or above that peak from what I have experienced.

In 2nd you can keep the RPMs above it...UNTIL you throw altitudes of 6000, 7000 and 8000' and higher into the mix!...that's where the RPMs and deeper gears will really shine (IMO) The power band IS WIDE on this motor...and it is kind of comical that I refer to a 400ft-lb plateau as a bad thing! ...but in my experiences it is at least in 3rd gear...the steep climb and heavy load is more than the power output can overcome...it NEEDS 3200 (i.e. that peak) or slightly above...but not screaming either...

Just thought I'd post that for those that hadn't seen it.

joe.

 

Its not looking good for the V-10 gas crew I just got a MSG from a friend that works for a local gas delivery and said reg. unleaded will be @ $3.59/gal by the weekend

 

so what...I guess that means $4 for diesel...???