New to me 2016 Fun Finder 229 VSD

[mjpguy]

Welcome kmeinden !! I used to be a Ford guy but switched over to RAM. Myself as well as some friends and my Brother-in-law just had too much (expensive) trouble with Fords. My past two RAM's have had ZERO trouble.
I'm a wheeler dealer when it comes to buying and I've walked out of more than one dealership. I've found that RAM dealers are more willing to deal with ya and honest with their prices. My current RAM, I bought brand new in 2017 and ended up getting $14,000 off sticker. (yes, I can prove that) AND, that was the Friday before Labor day. Just sayin' and just my experience.

 

[kmeindin]

Thanks for the reply. It’s nice to here other peoples experience with their tow vehicles. It’s hard to make up your mind on what to buy.

 

[Dakota 1120]

I should add there are always discussions between a tow vehicle with a gas engine or diesel engine as advantages for either.

IF I was towing 75% of the time, an oil burner aka diesel would be better and one possibly could justify the extra thousands for the diesel engine and higher routine maintenance costs.

For me it was a no-brainer to go with gas. 99% of the 3/4 ton Ram pickups found for sale nationwide were diesel and I didn't want an oil burner. It took me about 5 months of hard looking to find a late model, low mileage, gas 6.4 L 3/4 ton Ram.

So when ready to upgrade, searching may take awhile.

 

[mjpguy]

I'm with ya Eagle. Diesel is usually overkill unless you use your truck primarily to tow. It's just too hard to justify the additional cost. Now, where I live, it appears EVERYONE has to have the biggest, most expensive 3/4 to 1 ton 4x4 diesel truck there is, if it's a dually, even better! cuz, ya know it looks good in the church parking lot......which is also the roughest terrain it will ever see!

 

[Dakota 1120]

I'm with ya Eagle. Diesel is usually overkill unless you use your truck primarily to tow. It's just too hard to justify the additional cost. Now, where I live, it appears EVERYONE has to have the biggest, most expensive 3/4 to 1 ton 4x4 diesel truck there is, if it's a dually, even better! cuz, ya know it looks good in the church parking lot......which is also the roughest terrain it will ever see!

Bingo .. we have a winner ^^^^^ right there. I know of many 4x4 owners with oil burners that have never seen anything but pavement - not even a gravel road! LOL
Of course, many farmers, etc. buy the biggest, baddest 3/4 - 1 ton dually because because they can write it off on their taxes as a business expense.

 

[kmeindin]

I bought four of the Goodyear Endurance tires !! They look really nice. They say to inflate to 65 psi. Wow. They should hold the weight and track well.

 

[kmeindin]

I just put them up in the store room at work for now. I will put them on in April

 

[kmeindin]

Thanks for the recommendation

 

[Dakota 1120]

You are going to be very pleased with the GY Endurance tires.

Have a Merry Christmas.

 

[kmeindin]

I wonder what 229 VSD means ? VSD ?

 

[LJAZ]

I wonder what 229 VSD means ? VSD ?

As a guess the 229 refers to your interior length, the V is the V shaped front, the S is for slideout and D is maybe dinette?

 

[kmeindin]

Thank you, I was thinking V for the front but couldn't think of what the S and the D was for. I will have to measure the inside. 23' ?

Do the other models numbers in the name stand for the length ?

 

[LJAZ]

In general, although not that consistent. Mine is a 210 WBS which is 20 ft with Walkaround Bed and Slide.

 

[kmeindin]

Thanks, It looks like a nice floor plan.

Ya, I am not sure what the 229 stands for ? On mine. It’s 26.5’ long.

 

[JimboFunFinder]

Just spotted that you are in the oil industry. I retired from ITT Barton which morphed into Cameron and the SLB. I am a little ahead of you, retiring in 2018.

Having towed with a Suburban and now the Ford, I would suggest getting a gauge for the trans fluid if you don't already have one. My Ford has stock gauges for both water and trans temperature. Heat is the killer of transmissions, as I am sure you know. In my truck I replaced the original trans cooler with one from Ford used in later years which is 5-6 times larger. Before I replaced the trans cooler the fluid would start to rise on every long grade. Not any more!

 

[Dakota 1120]

My Dodge Ram 2500 has readouts for oil pressure and temperature, transmission temperature, coolant temperature, tire pressure, etc. among other things.

 

[mjpguy]

I bought four of the Goodyear Endurance tires !! They look really nice. They say to inflate to 65 psi. Wow. They should hold the weight and track well.

Hey kmeidin, ya might wanna check this out. It is the official GOODYEAR inflation rates for your new Endurance tires. You'll notice 65 psi is the "maximum" inflation rate, NOT the recommended inflation rate. Check it out:

https://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf

 

[Dakota 1120]

Hey kmeidin, ya might wanna check this out. It is the official GOODYEAR inflation rates for your new Endurance tires. You'll notice 65 psi is the "maximum" inflation rate, NOT the recommended inflation rate. Check it out:

https://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf

I checked the Goodyear chart mentioned above when got my Endurance tires. They have a stiff sidewall .. far stiffer than the china bombs that came on the camper.
Well aware that sidewall flex leads to increased tire temperature/heat - I have always run mine at the max pressure of 65 PSI with zero issues.

Others may believe differently.

 

[kmeindin]

On that chart it shows 2,200 pounds. I guess per tire? So my trailer weighs 5,000 lbs. say 6,000. I think I would inflate them to 65 psi like Eagle. Under inflating them is not good. They wear badly.

On my last trailer when I bought it the tire were supposed to have 50 psi. When I got it they had less and I thought they had inflated them correctly. I took it on holidays and after awhile the tires started funny. Also they were crappy Chinese tires but I don’t think under inflating them did them any favours. I repalced two of them thinking they would be OK. Ran them for a few more years. I ended up taking them off and replacing the with Goodyear Marathons which were way better.