Maintenance & Restoration

jvhretiredatcs · 05-10-2022, 08:54 AM

We decided to keep our little Ultra Lite Fiberglass 5th Wheel and make a few upgrades and we are glad that we did. Now that we have we are about to set off on a Cross Country Adventure. Some of the upgrades that we made are flipping the axles to match our new truck height, added a step because of the new height, greasing the wheel bearings, new brakes, a new Coleman a/c with heat strips and new tires making this road ready for us.

Now that the work is done we are getting ready to head out on a 3 week Cross Country Adventure hitting spots like Memphis, Niagara Falls (with visits to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame), Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone. We plan on taking our time spending at least 2 nights at each stop along the way. Maybe we will see some of you. We will take pics as we go and post.

parmm · 05-10-2022, 10:13 AM

Have a safe trip! But having made the round trip from just south of Buffalo NY to Yellowstone and back, I'm sure you're looking at more than 3 weeks if you plan on seeing anything!

jvhretiredatcs · 05-10-2022, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parmm

Have a safe trip! But having made the round trip from just south of Buffalo NY to Yellowstone and back, I'm sure you're looking at more than 3 weeks if you plan on seeing anything!

The main part of the trip is to go to Niagara Falls and the things in that area as it is the furthest point from our starting location. The stops at Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone are more to just relax and take in the beauty of our beautiful country along the way. This will be our first LONG trip and we are taking our pets with us. It should be lots of fun and quite the adventure too.

D Jean Fullerton · 05-10-2022, 05:24 PM

Enjoy and be safe!

jvhretiredatcs · 05-11-2022, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D Jean Fullerton

Enjoy and be safe!

Thanks we plan on it!

Kenny Strong · 05-12-2022, 10:31 AM

hi
When you flipped the axle did you reverse the brakes, "THEY" say they are set up to work in one direction; try to get a brake specialists opinion, I just thought I read that about the brakes once. ???

Later Kenny

skipperclyde · 05-14-2022, 10:16 AM

Yes, brakes are side specific.

matthfam · 05-14-2022, 10:39 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't "flipping" the axle a misnomer ... and what you really do is you take the axle from over the springs and place it under the springs. It is not turned over as the crown must remain up, and you do not change sides. What would be the purpose of swinging the axle around side to side?
The brakes would always be the same way if done right.

skipperclyde · 05-14-2022, 12:54 PM

Yes you are correct. But you must weld new spring perches on top of the axle. Older axle were not always made with a crown. In that case the axles can be simply flipped.

Mitzi Agnew-Giles · 06-04-2022, 05:33 PM

My experience with Niagara Falls and the grandkids was to sign up for a professional tour company. The tour company always jumped to the head of whatever line we were at. It started with the geology of Niagara at the gorge escarpment, and included all the things like cave of the winds etc. We went to the fireworks show at night and there are absolutely no rest rooms near enough to the audience area for someone taking Lasix. Word to the wise. Oh, Maid of the Mist was seperate.

jvhretiredatcs · 06-05-2022, 06:48 AM

We did have new brakes installed and they did have to do a little bit of welding for the job. So I thank you all for the input as it is important information to have. So far we have made stops at Abilene State Park in Buffalo Gap, Tx, very nice place. We then went to Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis, Ar. While there visited Graceland, a must see place, Mud Island and Beale Street. Today we are heading to AJ Jolly RV Park just outside Cincinnati before heading up to Lake Erie State Park tomorrow. Supposed to rain the 3 days we are there but will be dry inside Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. We do plan on doing the Maid of the Mist and a tour at Niagara Falls and with all that water who cares if it's raining. So far this trip has been fantastic. It is funny to see all these huge rigs and then our small 21 footer next to them.

jvhretiredatcs · 06-06-2022, 05:19 PM

Made it to our ultimate destination at Lake Erie State Park and to visit Niagara Falls. When we got here there were 2 other fiberglass RV's here, an Oliver and a Casita. You can see them in the background.