Flat Tow - 2024 Maverick Hybrid

[BradnChristine]

... Oh one other thing, I don't have the patience to do it myself anymore. And the old saying is "you can't take it with you when your gone"

I used to think that way, but I have discovered it is terribly hard to find anyone who gives a crap about their work in most regards. I would have loved to have paid someone to do this, but there is no one who cares more about having it done right than I do. We've seen brake installs that have gone very wrong and destroyed the Maverick's brakes.

It's an odd thing when you go through life doing things for yourself because you can't afford to pay someone else to do it, and then finally, when you reach a point that you can afford to pay others, there is no "other" to be found.

I can't even get yard service to send someone out for an estimate...after 3 emails and they just tell me the guy is busy and will get to me. It took about 8 months to get someone to pour a concrete slab. I called the one installer I found (130 miles away) and he wanted to "discuss" the price with me and wouldn't give me even an estimate.

But the upside is that most things are not that hard to do for yourself and You-Tube is a real help that wasn't around years ago.

I still remember the first time I had a broken bolt to deal with. I realized that I could buy a drill (I was 18 and had no tools), a drill bit, and an EZ-out for less money than the guy wanted to charge me to fix it. And when it was fixed, I'd have a drill and a bit and an EZ-out. AND....I could get it fixed on my time, not whenever he could get to it.

This week, I'll be replacing the water heater that died on Monday. I did take advantage of spending $55 to have it delivered to the house instead of struggling to deal with getting the 121 lb unit into and out of the Maverick. Because I am sicker than hell this week with high temp and sore throat.

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[MakinDoForNow]

I used to think that way, but I have discovered it is terribly hard to find anyone who gives a crap about their work in most regards. I would have loved to have paid someone to do this, but there is no one who cares more about having it done right than I do. We've seen brake installs that have gone very wrong and destroyed the Maverick's brakes.

It's an odd thing when you go through life doing things for yourself because you can't afford to pay someone else to do it, and then finally, when you reach a point that you can afford to pay others, there is no "other" to be found.

I can't even get yard service to send someone out for an estimate...after 3 emails and they just tell me the guy is busy and will get to me. It took about 8 months to get someone to pour a concrete slab. I called the one installer I found (130 miles away) and he wanted to "discuss" the price with me and wouldn't give me even an estimate.

But the upside is that most things are not that hard to do for yourself and You-Tube is a real help that wasn't around years ago.

I still remember the first time I had a broken bolt to deal with. I realized that I could buy a drill (I was 18 and had no tools), a drill bit, and an EZ-out for less money than the guy wanted to charge me to fix it. And when it was fixed, I'd have a drill and a bit and an EZ-out. AND....I could get it fixed on my time, not whenever he could get to it.

This week, I'll be replacing the water heater that died on Monday. I did take advantage of spending $55 to have it delivered to the house instead of struggling to deal with getting the 121 lb unit into and out of the Maverick. Because I am sicker than hell this week with high temp and sore throat.

Dang, you just reminded me me I am 4 months past my annual WH check anode rod and replace elements (I can hear water boiling so deliming time for sure).

 

[BradnChristine]

Dang, you just reminded me me I am 4 months past my annual WH check anode rod and replace elements (I can hear water boiling so deliming time for sure).

This WH lasted 6 yrs and 18 days. The dummies that had this house prior to us had hooked the water softener up BACKWARDS so the sensor never triggered it to go into regeneration cycle. I fixed that 2 years ago, but I'm sure the water heater lost a bit of life from that. I wondered why the shower fixtures had crap on them when there was a water softener (empty of salt when we bought it 3 years ago). Another example of people not giving a crap...or just plain ignorant.

 

[Suptrack]

I have done most of the work that has been done to my house, autos, motorcycle. I still do some work on the bike and the motorhome. Yes, it's impossible to find anybody that wants to work and does a good job. I've found an Rv/auto service recently, they've been around for 50 yrs. I was having an issue with the Onan 7500 in the MH. Brought to them , I told them what Onan told me was wrong, it was going to cost 5k. We'll to make a long story short, it turned out to be a bad batch of batteries and the finally cost was 1100.00. Generator runs and works great now. They could have ripped me off and didn't. So they are the ones getting the Mav ready to be flat towed next week. Keeping my fingers

 

[MakinDoForNow]

This WH lasted 6 yrs and 18 days. The dummies that had this house prior to us had hooked the water softener up BACKWARDS so the sensor never triggered it to go into regeneration cycle. I fixed that 2 years ago, but I'm sure the water heater lost a bit of life from that. I wondered why the shower fixtures had crap on them when there was a water softener (empty of salt when we bought it 3 years ago). Another example of people not giving a crap...or just plain ignorant.

A thought about replacement of the elements of a water heater. The nuts on the element, particularly the newest ultra "low watt density" ones (which are desired for very hard or sandy water are resistant to dry firing damage or immersed in lime or sand) have very shallow depth which requires a socket with a reduced internal bevel. It may be necessary to grind some height off most sockets or purchase the special alloy water heater element socket to get adequate contact on the hex nut shoulder. The new elements have larger surface area to keep the surface temp low enough to not flash the water to steam but still emit the rated BTU. It's still a good idea to at least annually to remove the lime. Good luck on Monday.

 

[BradnChristine]

And what will you use for your next baseplate, once the BlueOx fails? You've not read much in this group, I am guessing.

Here's a recent example of Blue Ox failure and their response. The baseplate they sell you is too wide for the towbar they sell you, but that makes it your fault.

 

[BradnChristine]

Here's a recent example of Blue Ox failure and their response. The baseplate they sell you is too wide for the towbar they sell you, but that makes it your fault.

And.....

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Here's a recent example of Blue Ox failure and their response. The baseplate they sell you is too wide for the towbar they sell you, but that makes it your fault.

So who would have been responsible for ignoring this statement?

HRG

 

[BradnChristine]

So who would have been responsible for ignoring this statement?

HRG

You are right, of course...but it is a piss-poor design to make a 2-piece baseplate so wide, without a crossbar in use to make sure there is no outward pressure. And then sell towbars with different standards. My old Roadmaster Stowmaster or even my Roadmaster Falcon 2 towbars both have crossbars which negate the problem.

 

[realshelby]

So who would have been responsible for ignoring this statement?

HRG

Two things I can add here. First, until recently, there was NO warning like you have circled in red. This comes about after NUMEROUS failures. I am one of those failures and was also told my Blue Ox and Ready Brute towbars were not "compatible". All of the information available when I bought and installed my Blue Ox baseplate was followed when installed.....
Second, we now know there ARE FAILURES when using the "approved" size Blue Ox towbar. The difference is in the towbar arm length. Some are longer, and the ones listed above are the longest they offer. Yet a failure WITH that length towbar has occurred, and the failure was exactly the same parts and circumstance as all the other failures. This customer was forced to sign a discloser before they would settle. He was given a new set of baseplates, which are still on his shelf as he won't use them. Replaced with either a Demco or Roadmaster.
Blue Ox Maverick base plates have NO substantial part to tie the two sides together. This is why they spread apart and fail.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Two things I can add here. First, until recently, there was NO warning like you have circled in red. This comes about after NUMEROUS failures. I am one of those failures and was also told my Blue Ox and Ready Brute towbars were not "compatible". All of the information available when I bought and installed my Blue Ox baseplate was followed when installed.....

Thank you sir, I had a feeling that might have been a recent addition to the product page.

HRG

 

[LariatToad]

The Demco baseplate works great. Just finished up a 2800 mile trip over mountain passes, rough roads etc. Do your homework on the braking system. The Mav Hybrid brakes are "live and active" when in tow mode and don't need a lot of pressure to make them work. I used the Demco Stay n play duo and had to do some mods with the air pressure to make it work correctly. Basically you need to reduce from 80psi to about 20psi by using an inline reducer.

 

[BruceU]

Can you share more info on the reducer you used and where you installed it?

Thanks

 

[Twinboat]

Can you share more info on the reducer you used and where you installed it?

Thanks

It's a air pressure regulator that goes on the line after the control box and the pedal cylinder. I bought mine from Amazon and it came with push fit fittings, so an easy install.

 

[Twinboat]

After control box and BEFORE the brake cylinder .

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