EC's Going For It

[Electric Chicken]

I'm down again until I can get a new 5th wheel.

Or swap out the one from the day cab.

I'll lose my extra height if I do the latter plus its a bunch of heavy lifting to do myself.

No one seems to want to rebuilt my Jost and the rebuild kits are more expensive than just buying a new plate anyway.

Fleetpride Carlisle has a shop that will do the swap over to a new one. Gotta get it ordered and in and an appointment.

Swiping the Discover now seems more prudent because I'd be cursing the day cab 5th come winter again anyway.

All this comes after a bunch of attempts to adjust it with the rod, replacing that pad thing, thinking it needed just a tiny bit more adjustment, seemingly getting close, then lately slamming from a stop worse than ever.

It's to the point I don't trust it. Its a loud bang coming off a red light.

I'll get the mount rebushed and pinned as well. Its definitely not the source of the bang but it's a might as well type thing.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Easy now. You'll make everyone's property taxes go up.

That's the borough and I'm not in it. Let 'em hate.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Today I learned the auction house a mile from my house also has a rental division.

Surely they have something that can lift a 5th wheel.

 

[Hillbilly Canuck]

Today I learned the auction house a mile from my house also has a rental division.

Surely they have something that can lift a 5th wheel.

Nothing less than a 40 tonne excavator will do.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Nothing less than a 40 tonne excavator will do.

Agreed. If you're paying for it.

 

[Rigjockey]

Today I learned the auction house a mile from my house also has a rental division.

Surely they have something that can lift a 5th wheel.

Engine hoist might work.
Might be worth it if they deliver and pick up the hoist.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Engine hoist might work.
Might be worth it if they deliver and pick up the hoist.

I have one of those, just no good way to roll it around.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Chassis shop who did my alignment says they'll do a 5th wheel swap no problem but they'll only do a bushings replacement if they can check it out and see the new parts and feel comfortable doing it.

They're going to get my truck in for kingpins anyway (they have the parts) so I'm thinking gather all the bits and pieces at at least let them look at it.

They have lifting equipment its just whether they feel comfortable doing the work.

The bushings dont feel super bad at the moment so perhaps I can live with them doing the lift and swap because its the jaws that are the real problem, if they won't do the bushings.

At least it gets me going again and I can figure out the lifting to fix the Mack and the old Ford and rebushing it later.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Just got back from Frederick. I thought they had a shop but they don't. Glad I called first. I ran the pickup down instead.

Beings as its an old ass truck I ran US11 down to US 40 then east into Frederick then just a couple exits of 70 just to go around city center. I don't like how it handles with big trucks around and especially at speed.

On the way back I programmed Google to avoid all interstates and it directed me up 15 and across 550 into Blue Ridge Summit and back down 16. I forgot all about that route. It would have been better on the way down too.

Pretty sure that's the furthest I've driven that truck in years. I took a couple extra fuel filters and wrenches along just in case but it did fine.

It was good exercise for it going up and down the hills I think.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Also, ain't it Purdy. Fleetpride also has a house brand copy of the Jost for a lot less money but me being me I decided against it because I'd always be wondering.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Still haven't got it swapped yet. The pin and bushing situation is turning out to be a bigger pain in the butt than the other one was. Totally different setup where the pins are huge, the bushings are thin, and the tolerances are tighter.

That means the pins are way tighter and possibly seized.

Jost makes an overpriced slide hammer specifically for it. I have one on order.

You're supposed to simply pry them out with a screwdriver or prybar otherwise but that's not going for me.

My last resort will be fire I guess but that'll trigger PTSD from the shocks.

This process has been way more drawn out than I planned.

 

[Rigjockey]

Still haven't got it swapped yet. The pin and bushing situation is turning out to be a bigger pain in the butt than the other one was. Totally different setup where the pins are huge, the bushings are thin, and the tolerances are tighter.

That means the pins are way tighter and possibly seized.

Jost makes an overpriced slide hammer specifically for it. I have one on order.

You're supposed to simply pry them out with a screwdriver or prybar otherwise but that's not going for me.

My last resort will be fire I guess but that'll trigger PTSD from the shocks.

This process has been way more drawn out than I planned.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Special overpriced slide hammer is on its way via FedEx. Should be here Monday.

 

[Electric Chicken]

FedEx seriously dropping the ball on this slide hammer delivery.

It shipped Friday and has has sitting in Hagerstown since Saturday after me paying $50 extra for overnight shipping.

It's a $550 tool that I wouldn't otherwise need.

I'm reaching the point where it would be more cost effective to buy the entire mounting bracket brand new and slap the new plate on that.

Take this whole old ass assembly off the truck and toss it in the station wagon for recycling. F it.

 

[Rigjockey]

FedEx seriously dropping the ball on this slide hammer delivery.

It shipped Friday and has has sitting in Hagerstown since Saturday after me paying $50 extra for overnight shipping.

It's a $550 tool that I wouldn't otherwise need.

I'm reaching the point where it would be more cost effective to buy the entire mounting bracket brand new and slap the new plate on that.

Take this whole old ass assembly off the truck and toss it in the station wagon for recycling. F it.

That would really piss off anyone especially if you paid extra for overnight.

 

[Electric Chicken]

It finally showed up Wednesday. The pictures and description showed and talked about a thread adapter that you screw into the bracket pin and onto the slide hammer.

It was not included.

Turns out even if it was it wouldn't have been the correct threads for the pin.

So now I'm stuck longer because I have to fabricate something out of bolts and nuts that is going to involve welding.

I thought I found something from snap on and ordered it overnight in haste but it too turns out to be the wrong thread sizes.

This whole damn thing is a mess. I would have had less money in buying a cheap tractor loader for lifting and moving, and just doing a direct swap from the day cab 3 weeks ago.

But nooooooooooooooo.

I get why people take on new truck payments now. Its the stupidest shit that foils you.

 

[Electric Chicken]

I won't let it beat me. Spite is my religion.

But I'll never go all in for Jost again. If my next truck has it and it needs replaced it'll get dumped right off.