Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

Despite resolving to do some work I did NOTHING and in fact probably slowed down my progress because my girlfriend and I traded in our Lance camper and bought a 5th wheel trailer this weekend

It's a monster. 2013 Brookstone Ruby. 35'-8".
No, it's not going on my '55 lol.
But now I've gotta spend to buy a fifth wheel hitch and a couple Honda generators - DOH!That's money that won't be going toward the '55 now.

[_Ogre]

going backwards now. but enjoying life
there's a reason my truk took 8 yrs to build
life gets in the way

[Russell Ashley]

WOW! Nice. Camping ain't what it used to be, LOL.

[av8tr33337]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

WOW! Nice. Camping ain't what it used to be, LOL.

LOL WOW thats really roughing it!. Enjoy it Dan.

My in laws are "Snow Birds". Spend the summer in Kansas and the winter in Arizona in a 5th wheel camper. They have been doing that for the last 12 years and love it.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks guys. I'm not quite old enough to be a snow bird - and I live in California anyway, ha ha.

My GF is retiring later this year and her son & daughter-in-law are trying to have a baby so this will function as a sort of granny flat at their home a couple hundred miles away. I'll retire in about 4 years and THEN we'll use it for a couple extended trips we have in mind.

Now, back to cool old trucks!

[G&R's57GMC]

So you went from Camping to Glamping , thats a whole new world for sure.

Now back to the pickup and more BLING !

[Dan in Pasadena]

"Glamping" - Yeah, I just heard that term recently.

[Dan in Pasadena]

So, long story short (yeah, riiight!!!) after getting a quote of almost $1900 (EEK!) for a Husky 16K fifth wheel hitch installed on my '08 Chevy 3500 dually I decided I'd shop for a used hitch and see what I could find.

SUCCESS! I found a Reese Signature Series 18K hitch that came out of a truck identical to my dually, right down to the color for $960 all parts included - that's a $2000+ hitch.

I went at it this morning in 103*, high humidity and stayed at it for 4-5 hours. It kicked my ass, lol. I'll spare you some of the details though they involve buying $90 of tools, breaking a bolt, hot metal falling in my armpit (tank top) and face from a hole saw, yada, yada.

I threw in the towel and took it to a local hitch shop. They'll do it for $400 and p1ss on it, I need it done by Friday and I no longer have to try jacking up the bed, removing/cutting the heat shield, etc.

"My name is Dan and I am a wussy, fair weather mechanic!"

[G&R's57GMC]

Dan, here's a simple task you could do to make it your own, Put a chrome shift knob on the release arm of the hitch. ........ More Bling !

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ha ha, yeah that'd be something.

I actually went to The Truck Shop week before last and tried to buy the chrome bench seat handle they list in their catalog for the Task Force trucks. They didn't have them...so somebody is buying them!

The hitch I bought for the trailer is in great shape mechanically but the powder coating IS a bit faded...what's the fix? RUSTOLEUM! Yup, gonna give it a light sanding and just paint over it. I even ordered replacement Reese stickers to make it look kinda sorta new.

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Ha ha, yeah that'd be something.

I actually went to The Truck Shop week before last and tried to buy the chrome bench seat handle they list in their catalog for the Task Force trucks. They didn't have them...so somebody is buying them!

The hitch I bought for the trailer is in great shape mechanically but the powder coating IS a bit faded...what's the fix? RUSTOLEUM! Yup, gonna give it a light sanding and just paint over it. I even ordered replacement Reese stickers to make it look kinda sorta new.

Use adhesion promoter after sanding and paint within 10 min with Rustoleum,
Works great on powder coat.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I don't even know what "adhesion promoter" is!

You're not talking about that liquid sandpaper stuff, are you? Where do you buy this stuff? Brand names?
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[Number 9]

Auto parts store rattle can. Duplicolor and Rustolrum I think they have it.
I use the Duplicolor. Got mine from Winchester Auto Supply up here.
No it is for priming plastic's and is clear so you have to pay attention that you don't miss any spot while spraying on. Must put on paint within 10 min. It doesn't have to be dry to paint
over with finish paint.

[JR25]

I should have got to you earlier!! Do you have a ball in the bed of your truck (goose neck)? I bought a king pin to goose neck adapter for $300 and it stays on the camper. Already had the ball in the truck for stock trailer and my flat beds.
B&W makes a nice "roll over" (hide away) ball so that you can get rid of the ball in a matter of seconds, and since the adapter stays on the camper, I don't have to pull that heavy a$$ fifth wheel off the truck when I want to haul something!
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks JR. Good info and I've read several good recommendations on the B&W Companion hitch but...too late. I wanted to save some cash and bought a lightly used Reese 18K Signature Series hitch. I'll pick up the truck with it on later today.

Thanks for the info on the adhesion promoter. I'll be doing that spraying this afternoon. I'm assuming I do have to/should sand the powder coating?
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[G&R's57GMC]

Think chrome shifter ball .....

[Dan in Pasadena]

Glen, you're a troublemaker! And I get in plenty of trouble all by myself! Lol

So what's your plan for the long holiday weekend? I'm staying home playing with my new toy. I've never liked traveling on holiday weekends if I can avoid it. Besides, it is hotter than hell down here the last few days. Humid - which it usually never is in SoCal. Ugh.
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[Number 9]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks JR. Good info and I've read several good recommendations on the B&W Companion hitch but...too late. I wanted to save some cash and bought a lightly used Reese 18K Signature Series hitch. I'll pick up the truck with it on later today.

Thanks for the info on the adhesion promoter. I'll be doing that spraying this afternoon. I'm assuming I do have to/should sand the powder coating?
Posted via Mobile Device

Yes, sand.

[G&R's57GMC]

Being retired I can go anytime, so why bother when everyone else is out and about ?

I'll probably go out in the garage and go eeny meeny minny mo, which project do I do ?

Then do something else. Oh Well .

BTW think Bling

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I don't even know what "adhesion promoter" is!
Posted via Mobile Device

It is a rattle can clear spray, SEM is the brand I used on my vinyl, acts as a barrier coat so the paint will actually stay stuck to the vinyl.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I wanted to refinish the hitch before I pick up the trailer tomorrow but I've got too many things on my plate between now and noon tomorrow so the new trailer will just have to get hooked up with a faded looking hitch. We should all have such "problems"! Lol

Thanks for the good advise guys. I feel like the collective wisdom & experience here is seldom ever caught without SOME knowledge on whatever subject someone brings up. It's like my own personal Wiki!

Pix of the ocean liner-sized trailer will be on here sometime tomorrow evening.
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[JR25]

Im all about saving cash as well! But to clarify, the adapter I was talking about that I have on my camper is not like the B&W Companion, it looks like this:

I have noticed that you actually use the bed of your truck for more than just pulling a camper, this is just a lazy-mans(me) way to clear your bed when you get where you're going!
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[vht]

Let's get back to working on the truck! I need motivation.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by vht

Let's get back to working on the truck! I need motivation.

You're right of course!

Just one more fifth wheel photo (Oh suuuure!)

Picked up the 5'er today. This is the only photo I've got for now.

[G&R's57GMC]

Good grief that thing is trying to swallow your truck ! LOL