Shout Out... May 24, 2016, 10:54:53 am ....to my friend, Larry W., the master mechanic, who did an emergency repair on the bracket of the front anti-sway bar of my rig at Live Oak; the loud "THUNK" that I heard coming in on the gravel road was the tell! Using a creative two-bottle jack "pinch" technique and the tools on hand, Larry got the bracket back in place, threaded (on wire) a replacement bolt cannibalized from his Jeep and a 3/8" nut from the spare tire cover of my rig, and tightened the repair well as possible without being able to grab the bolt head. A stellar example of creativity and skill; thanks again, Larry! 3 Likes
Re: Shout Out... Reply #1 – May 24, 2016, 12:48:51 pm Now, if he would just come east of the Rockies...or clone himself...or create a franchise (perhaps something like "LD Wizards R Us")...heck, I've got 50 acres for boondocking here in north Missouri & would even hook the farm back up to the rural electric cooperative if he'd ever come to the midwest ...well, I guess I can dream... Actually, I am very blest, & have thought about this quite a bit since joining the cult...this is an open invite to contact me, if someone is coming to north Missouri; I would be glad to offer space at the farm for boondocking--though one would need a toad, since we don't have buses/cabs/light rail or even Uber/Lyft out here in the boonies. We're not far from where the Mormons thought the Garden of Eden was, 1.5 hours from Kansas City & St. Joe, lots of historical things like Jesse James/JC Penney/General Pershing/Walt Disney...& perhaps some folks even have relatives out here in Flyover Land. Ya'll Come. 5 Likes
Re: Shout Out... Reply #2 – May 24, 2016, 02:59:37 pm Quote from: Lynne Broyles-Greenwood - May 24, 2016, 12:48:51 pmNow, if he would just come east of the Rockies...or clone himself...or create a franchise (perhaps something like "LD Wizards R Us")...heck, I've got 50 acres for boondocking here in north Missouri & would even hook the farm back up to the rural electric cooperative if he'd ever come to the midwest ...well, I guess I can dream... Actually, I am very blest, & have thought about this quite a bit since joining the cult...this is an open invite to contact me, if someone is coming to north Missouri; I would be glad to offer space at the farm for boondocking--though one would need a toad, since we don't have buses/cabs/light rail or even Uber/Lyft out here in the boonies. We're not far from where the Mormons thought the Garden of Eden was, 1.5 hours from Kansas City & St. Joe, lots of historical things like Jesse James/JC Penney/General Pershing/Walt Disney...& perhaps some folks even have relatives out here in Flyover Land. Ya'll Come. Not to mention you are real close to Trenton! Great little town.... And there are 4 or 5 really nice Missouri state parks within 30-50 miles of you. One of the best Museums I have ever seen is in KC. Yes I started life in Trenton..A Historic Kansas City Attraction « The Arabia Steamboat Museum - A.....Garry 1 Likes
Re: Shout Out... Reply #3 – May 24, 2016, 03:45:06 pm Joan's 23.5 'T/K is equipped with IPD heavy duty sways bars, front and rear.One of the two bolts, securing the driver's side sway-bar bracket to the frame, decided to rip itself out, taking the threads, in the frame, with it as it left, never to be seen again. The u-shaped bracket was badly bent but would have been relatively easy to removed and straighten, but Hendersons, for what ever reason, welded one end to the frame...gee thanks!Hard to explain, It was straightened using a 6-ton and a 12-ton hydraulic jack to bend the bracket back into shape.A battery drill was used to remove the rest of the damaged threads. The only correct bolt I could find was one from my Jeep, it was non-critical. There is no direct access to the top of the frame so I fished the bolt through, using very lightweight gauge wire to make a 18" wire leader. There are commercial versions available. They work well with the spring steel wrap around. Didn't have any on hand so a very small gauge wire was used to wrap the threads and for the long leader.Reese - 18" Pull Throughs / Bolt Leaders - 7/16"; Bag of 20 - 5481With no access to the top of the bolt, it was tightened it as well as possible good enough until Joan can have it tightened by someone with an pneumatic impact gun.So a word of warning, check your suspension hardware regularly, especially if upgraded sway bars, steering stabilizers or track bars have been installed. They stress the frame and its hardware, to greater and different degrees than what Ford design them for. In most cases, these upgraded parts use the stock Ford hardware, instead of increasing the size and or grade, to match the increase in loading.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Shout Out... Reply #4 – May 24, 2016, 04:01:35 pm I listened to the Henderson pitch and was convinced he was selling snake oil. I would not do biz with them.I know this is blasphemy to all his satisfied customers.Completely satisfied with the handling of the stock E450.Big rigs don't bother us. It's reflect to steer into the pressure wave, when they pass.If the wind is over 30, we park.
Re: Shout Out... Reply #5 – May 25, 2016, 12:20:44 pm Quote from: Don Malpas - May 24, 2016, 04:01:35 pmI listened to the Henderson pitch and was convinced he was selling snake oil. I would not do biz with them.I know this is blasphemy to all his satisfied customers.Completely satisfied with the handling of the stock E450.Big rigs don't bother us. It's reflect to steer into the pressure wave, when they pass.If the wind is over 30, we park.I share your opinion, Don. If adding steering stabilizers helps one feel more comfortable while driving, then by all means folks should go that route. After 75,000 miles during all kinds of driving conditions, I've never felt the need for any sort of stabilizing device on our 30' Lazy Daze. Of course, YMMV.Chris 1 Likes
Re: Shout Out... Reply #6 – May 25, 2016, 07:45:42 pm When I brought my LD I just assumed a bit of being 'pushed' around by wind and larger vehicles. After all on a 24' LD has about 240 sq ft of surface area. And assuming a fully loaded heavy truck you are being hit with a 40 ton (max weight of allowed of Federal highways without a overweight permit) wave of air. A 7 ton vehicle will never be much of a match.
Re: Shout Out... Reply #7 – May 26, 2016, 05:06:38 pm I, too, am quite comfortable with the stock suspension on our '05 RB. A few years ago we came close to purchasing a used '04 RB with thousands of dollars of suspension upgrades from Henderson's. Fortunately the deal fell through, for we later learned the fellow that ended up buying it had major problems. 1 Likes
Re: Shout Out... Reply #8 – May 27, 2016, 02:58:22 pm We have owned two LDs, a RB and now a IB. I have never felt the need for any supplemental stabilizers or suspension upgrades. I do keep my speed at around 60 because we tow. When big rigs pass, I have seldom had an issue. I will say that we keep our 30 relatively unloaded and the RB was the same. I have driven in mountains, freeways, two lane roads, all over California and I can say all has been well with us. My philosophy has been that LD builds a sturdy and well balanced coach and I don't need to add anything else to the mix. We just drove home yesterday from Temecula to Laguna Woods and more than once I felt like I was driving a big ol' Cadillac like the old days. Straight and true down the road we went.Jules 1 Likes