Hello from Alaska

[The Alaskan]

Hello All,

My wife and I just picked up a 2016 Voltage 3818.

We're looking to make a few modifications to this 5th wheel and this site looks like an awesome resource because I'm not interested in re-inventing the wheel, nor can i afford to . And of course we are more than happy to share any of our 5th wheel discoveries along the way with others!

 

[RVNevada]

Alaskan, Go to "Show us your Mods" or Mods, You will need a bigger wallet…LOL Good Luck and enjoy your 3818….Let us know how many changes you make, I have added a few……to many

 

[The Alaskan]

I only got to page 23! sooo many mods I need to do. The only thing I've done so far is have Slide Covers put on before we picked it up from the dealership, then when we did pick it up, drove the 3/4's of a mile down the road to Les Schwab and had them put on 7 new tires before we headed back to Alaska.

JIM

 

[RVNevada]

Alaskan, Yes, do only as much as your wallet can offer, Hey you just got your 3818, Do some trips before you spent any more funds, you already spend a lot on the Covers and Tires….

 

[ATCguy]

... Do some trips before you spent any more funds, you already spend a lot on the Covers and Tires….

Exactly. Figure out what you want/need, what works for you... and what doesn't first.

 

[hddecker]

I only got to page 23! sooo many mods I need to do. The only thing I've done so far is have Slide Covers put on before we picked it up from the dealership, then when we did pick it up, drove the 3/4's of a mile down the road to Les Schwab and had them put on 7 new tires before we headed back to Alaska.

JIM

Jim,

Nice country you live in, we stayed in your area for 4 days last year. We may have to come back for four weeks.

You might want to consider upgrading the suspension with a wet bolt kit. Your roads do take their toll, the plastic OEM bushings and thin shackles don't last long.

The wet bolt kits give you bronze bushings and greaseable bolts. The kit shackles are about 2 1/2 times the thickness of the OEM shackles.

 

[The Alaskan]

Thank you for the welcome,

I'll have to look into the shackles upgrade because the ALCAN was not kind to the trailer on the drive up. The worst frost heaves I've seen on the ALCAN since the first time I drove it in 1998 when I was heading to my new duty station Elmendorf AFB. and I don't want to start chewing up those new tires...

JIM

 

[hddecker]

Thank you for the welcome,

I'll have to look into the shackles upgrade because the ALCAN was not kind to the trailer on the drive up. The worst frost heaves I've seen on the ALCAN since the first time I drove it in 1998 when I was heading to my new duty station Elmendorf AFB. and I don't want to start chewing up those new tires...

JIM

Yep, the frost heaves sneak up on you when they not well marked. The worst thing we found last year was Hwy 1 heading back to Tok from Anchorage. We come around a curve and found the asphault ripped up, there was a drop off about a foot. I think that was the beginning of the end for the suspension on our camper.

When we got home I looked at the tires on the left side of the trailer and couldn't believe what I was seeing. The front tire had been rubbing on the rear tire, looked under the camper and found a broken shackle. I don't know how long it had been broken, but it was somewhere in the last 250 miles, everything was still good when we stopped for fuel in Prince George.

I'm glad I had upgraded the tires to 14 ply, if I hadn't there would no doubt I would have blown all four tires.