this was from when Mariko was a 3rd grader, mid year.
Yuna as a 3rd grader, just a few weeks into the year, tested as a 1125. per that same scale that's grade equivalent 11.2, partway through junior year.
:notbadobama:
Toshi's thread
- Thread starter Toshi
- Start date
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Two more days to enter the Secret Santa!
Entries must be in by midnight on November 29th. We're kicking off the 2024 Secret Santa! Exchange gifts with other monkeys - from beer and snacks, to bike gear, to custom machined holiday decorations and tools by our more talented members, there's something for everyone.
Yuna as a 3rd grader, just a few weeks into the year, tested as a 1125. per that same scale that's grade equivalent 11.2, partway through junior year.
:notbadobama:
State of the reseeded lawn, post first mow/weeding/vigorous raking of the areas that haven’t taken
www.threads.net
and now overseeded once more with a blend from a local company (albeit with seeds from Washington!):
www.threads.net
Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads
State of the reseeded lawn after its first mow, weeding, and vigorous raking of the areas that are lagging.
www.threads.net
and now overseeded once more with a blend from a local company (albeit with seeds from Washington!):
Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads
In the meantime, overseeding/reseeding with a seed blend from a local company that should be well suited for our climate.
www.threads.net
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I did a ski-gear thing
Before: Mindbender 108 Ti with Look Pivot 15s set up with Cast
After: Mindbender 108 Ti with ye olde Look Pivot 14s, with replaced half moon piece
and
Mindbender 116 C with the Pivot 15/Cast moved to them. 182 cm.
For the price of buying the already discounted from list 2024 model year 116 Cs new from Powder7 they’re doing all the mounting/remounting action gratis.
Before: Mindbender 108 Ti with Look Pivot 15s set up with Cast
After: Mindbender 108 Ti with ye olde Look Pivot 14s, with replaced half moon piece
and
Mindbender 116 C with the Pivot 15/Cast moved to them. 182 cm.
For the price of buying the already discounted from list 2024 model year 116 Cs new from Powder7 they’re doing all the mounting/remounting action gratis.
Transits of note the past few days:
- saw an E-Transit being loaded onto a gooseneck car carrier behind a F-350/450/550. As in the guy was driving it up the ramp right then behind the F-250 extended cab “short” bed in front of it on the trailer.
- passed one of the Bustang Pegasus Transits on I-70 yesterday. T-350 DRW AWD, bus style single door at front right, nice vinyl wrap job. Anyway, I’ve seen them before but didn’t notice until today that they have automatic chains!
- saw an E-Transit being loaded onto a gooseneck car carrier behind a F-350/450/550. As in the guy was driving it up the ramp right then behind the F-250 extended cab “short” bed in front of it on the trailer.
- passed one of the Bustang Pegasus Transits on I-70 yesterday. T-350 DRW AWD, bus style single door at front right, nice vinyl wrap job. Anyway, I’ve seen them before but didn’t notice until today that they have automatic chains!
How does that work?...
Automatic Snow Chains – how it really works
Automatic snow chains are used by many drivers around the world. Find out how this ingenious traction tool really works
intblog.onspot.com
they're the chains hanging down at the ends of rear axles on some buses/trucks. super cool
had a post written up but RM doesn't like it
Cliffs Notes: going to put in a water softener and reverse osmosis filter in the Denver house. (two separate systems, softener for whole house, filter for a kitchen tap.) Plumbline-via-Costco quoted an absurd sounding price, so going to go Home Depot installation + DIY-save-for-granite-drilling combo route likely.
as I and two of three kids have eczema to varying (minor) degrees this probably would be a good thing. at some point I should replace the dishwasher, too, as 8 years of hard water has made the near-silent Bosch very much not silent now.
Cliffs Notes: going to put in a water softener and reverse osmosis filter in the Denver house. (two separate systems, softener for whole house, filter for a kitchen tap.) Plumbline-via-Costco quoted an absurd sounding price, so going to go Home Depot installation + DIY-save-for-granite-drilling combo route likely.
as I and two of three kids have eczema to varying (minor) degrees this probably would be a good thing. at some point I should replace the dishwasher, too, as 8 years of hard water has made the near-silent Bosch very much not silent now.
Shared Skittles has noted NIMBYs in my mountain 'hood opposing a mildly dense multi family development. Here are the resubmitted plans (noting the first should have been approved legally but the planning board is weak). I think it looks great and we should build a lot more like it to boot. My lot is highlighted on the location map at bottom right.
North Table was ridden. Quickly.
Knee feels 100% good to go. On one of my two dabs on the loop (one was just poor line choice, actually both) I ended up hopping laterally a few times on the right (repaired) leg to not fall down the slope. And that was fine.
Knee feels 100% good to go. On one of my two dabs on the loop (one was just poor line choice, actually both) I ended up hopping laterally a few times on the right (repaired) leg to not fall down the slope. And that was fine.
Via electrek, official specsRe earlier exploration of economics of the Powerwall, I’ll pay attention to what the on grid continuous power rating is of these. Recall that Xcel pays a one time incentive of $500/installed kW of continuous, grid connected power under Battery*Connect.
Tesla starts Powerwall 3 installations: It looks worse but is more useful
Tesla has started Powerwall 3 installations despite not officially unveiling the product yet. The first installations confirm Electrek‘s first exclusive...electrek.co
will update math with this assuming that Xcel’s payout is the same for Battery*Connect, $500/kW continuous grid tied power. Big difference from 5 kW!
edit: see post tonight. Irrelevant as not suitable for existing PV installations.
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Circling back re Powerwall 3, at 13.5 kWh, 11.5 kW continuous on grid power.
Same arbitrage through discharging/charging it along with the $100/year ongoing credit from Xcel factored in. As of today I'm still seeing $33,288 pre-incentive price for 3 installed current-gen Powerwalls, $24,527 for 2 (with Tesla installation as that proved to be cheaper in my explorations). Let's assume these prices stay constant for simplicity.
Let's also assume that Xcel's Battery*Connect credit at $500/kW holds for the higher power Powerwall 3. That'd therefore be $11,500 for 2, $17,250 for 3. Tesla fall incentive appears to have been extended to March 2024, now a winter incentive as well: $500/installed Powerwall. Fed 30% and 10% CO still apply as does the $500 Denver that doesn't scale with size.
Ah, a fly in the ointment: Xcel's incentive is capped at 50% of pre-tax, pre-labor cost of the battery, so $500/kW won't actually be paid out, but instead 50%. I have to go back and note the pre-installation costs for each:
2 Powerwalls: $24,527 installed, $6,900 nominal installation, $16,200 cost alone
3 Powerwalls: $33,288 installed, $7,500 nominal installation, $23,700 cost alone
4 Powerwalls: $42,149 installed, $8,200 nominal installation, $31,200 cost alone
5 Powerwalls: $51,309 installed, $9,200 nominal installation, $38,700 cost alone
6 Powerwalls: $60,470 installed, $10,200 of that installation nominally, somewhat inexplicably $46,200 listed as cost alone as that doesn't add up but go figure
And in turn the amount of the price arbitrage depends on the number of Powerwalls. $2.13/day * # Powerwalls + $100/365, so $4.53 for 2, $6.66 for 3, $8.79 for 4, $10.92 for 5, $13.05 for 6.
So regardless of the funny internal Tesla site math, we'd be capped at 50% of battery cost alone. Resultant fixed math:
2 Powerwalls: $24,527 - $1,000 Tesla rebate - 30% * installed cost Fed - 10% * installed cost CO - $8,100 capped Xcel - $500 Denver == $5,116 net cost. 1129 days simple payback.
3 Powerwalls: $33,288 - $1,500 Tesla rebate - 30% * installed cost Fed - 10% * installed cost CO - $11,850 capped Xcel - $500 Denver == $6,123 net cost. 919 days simple payback.
4 Powerwalls: $42,149 - $2,000 Tesla rebate - 30% * installed cost Fed - 10% * installed cost CO - $15,600 capped Xcel - $500 Denver == $7,189 net cost. 818 days simple payback.
5 Powerwalls: $51,309 - $2,500 Tesla rebate - 30% * installed cost Fed - 10% * installed cost CO - $19,350 capped Xcel - $500 Denver == $8,435 net cost. 772 days simple payback.
6 Powerwalls: $60,470 - $3,000 Tesla rebate - 30% * installed cost Fed - 10% * installed cost CO - $23,100 capped Xcel - $500 Denver == $9,682 net cost. 742 days simple payback.
Edit: hiding as all irrelevant given new info tonight
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Perhaps things will snowball and accelerate in future cheaper years between now and when Mariko enters undergrad in 7.5 years or so, but at this point I'm looking quite far from retirement indeed.For me, this is retirement.
Oh well. At least I enjoy my life well enough as it is now.
at least this holds true (albeit capped at 50% as noted above).
(Xcel got back to me quickly after I emailed them.)
11.5 kW indeed.
but the paperwork seems rather daunting, and seems like something that Tesla would have to do. which I am told they don't do. I'll follow up with them to verify this.
(I could do all of it but I'm not qualified to make a site plan or single line diagram of the system including the solar. they'd have those things for the install but if unavailable then I'd be SOL.)
ahh, I didn't read all the way down in their email response (theirs in bold):
(Xcel got back to me quickly after I emailed them.)
11.5 kW indeed.
but the paperwork seems rather daunting, and seems like something that Tesla would have to do. which I am told they don't do. I'll follow up with them to verify this.
(I could do all of it but I'm not qualified to make a site plan or single line diagram of the system including the solar. they'd have those things for the install but if unavailable then I'd be SOL.)
ahh, I didn't read all the way down in their email response (theirs in bold):
Edit: hiding all this as irrelevant given new info, namely that the Powerwall 3 won’t work with existing PV installations.
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my near term priority 1 is making term payments on my sundry debts. priority 2 is repleting my taxable account from its current sad state to ~$100k, to account for rainy days as well as to save up for a 2025 Japan trip with the family.
things I'd like to housing-wise in the medium term future after these above goals are accomplished, in rough descending order of priority:
guess I should keep on doing all the extra moonlighting work I can at work, eh
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“The new battery differs from the Powerwall 2 in that it comes with an integrated inverter. This simplifies the installation, bringing both power conversion and energy storage together in one unit. As a hybrid system, it is suitable for new solar installations, but not for households with existing rooftop solar systems.”
Well that totally kills it for me then.
pv-magazine-usa.com
Well that totally kills it for me then.
Tesla heralds ease of installation, manufacturing assembly as Powerwall 3 shines at RE+
Crowds have flocked to the Tesla booth at RE+, as the American battery and EV maker displayed its new hybrid battery, the Powerwall 3. The battery, which the company is guiding will be available in “summer 2024,” features an integrated inverter and should deliver lower cost energy storage to...
pv-magazine-usa.com
Current state o' the credit score(s) at this point of drawing almost completely on ye olde HELOCs and therefore messing up credit utilization ratio and all. (At this moment the HELOCs have $25,596.74 available credit, to be precise. Lots of headroom on my paid-every-month consumer credit lines. But the HELOCs are dominating the algorithm now.)
686 - VantageScore® 3.0, powered by TransUnion, reported through US Bank as of September 11
678 - also VantageScore 3.0, reported by Chase as of Sept 16
685 - VantageScore unknown variant, reported by Capital One as of Sept 16
766 - TransUnion score of some sort, reported by Bank of America but lagging: Aug 21
685 - VantageScore unknown variant, reported by Mint as of Sept 16
678 - VantageScore 3.0, reported by Credit.com as of Sept 16
685 - TransUnion score of some sort, reported by Credit Sesame as of Sept 16
685 - VantageScore 3.0, reported by Credit Karma as of Sept 16
685 - Equifax score, reported by Credit Karma as of Sept 16
686 - LendingTree unnamed score of some variant as of Sept 16
685 - VantageScore 3.0, reported by AmEx as of Sept 16
Technically these are "prime", not "near prime" or "subprime" as y'all have read about wrt car loans. 720+ is "Super Prime".
I think these will all bounce back in the algorithms in a few weeks even without substantive changes in the balances on the HELOCs, judging from past months.
686 - VantageScore® 3.0, powered by TransUnion, reported through US Bank as of September 11
678 - also VantageScore 3.0, reported by Chase as of Sept 16
685 - VantageScore unknown variant, reported by Capital One as of Sept 16
766 - TransUnion score of some sort, reported by Bank of America but lagging: Aug 21
685 - VantageScore unknown variant, reported by Mint as of Sept 16
678 - VantageScore 3.0, reported by Credit.com as of Sept 16
685 - TransUnion score of some sort, reported by Credit Sesame as of Sept 16
685 - VantageScore 3.0, reported by Credit Karma as of Sept 16
685 - Equifax score, reported by Credit Karma as of Sept 16
686 - LendingTree unnamed score of some variant as of Sept 16
685 - VantageScore 3.0, reported by AmEx as of Sept 16
Technically these are "prime", not "near prime" or "subprime" as y'all have read about wrt car loans. 720+ is "Super Prime".
I think these will all bounce back in the algorithms in a few weeks even without substantive changes in the balances on the HELOCs, judging from past months.
Portion of Mule Deer. Forgot helmet, whoops. Bonus concert attire shot from last night
short video of me on a switchback at link:
short video of me on a switchback at link:
yeah, getting a late start on a sunny Sunday: would have been a shitshow and a half.
I think I only saw two cyclists and just a handful of hikers as I descended it from the top on my loop. Probably about 12:30 when I reached LOTB. Lots looked busy at the bottom though as I passed above them.
what is this wizardry you employed
they probably all turned off at Rutabega. But still they should have been climbing to there
I'd come via several other parks to reach the top, definitely no vehicle and parking involved
Oh, I saw your Strava track. Just wizardry in disappearing peopleI'd come via several other parks to reach the top, definitely no vehicle and parking involved
So the wife, through putting on pokey wire grocery bag hanger things on the minivan’s third row headrests that she never actually used, managed to rip the hell out of the leather seat covers on the bases: the hangers would flip around as they are wont to do then when the seats were folded into the floor for stowage then the wire pointy bits would go to town.
Anyway, looks like a whole 3rd row seat assembly pulled from a totaled vehicle will be $475-490 or so shipped on eBay. Or I could eBay the bottom seat covers but that’d randomly be like $400 shipped for the two.
I think I’ll splurge on the whole seat assembly after I confirm from either of the two sellers that it’s the complete left + right seat, not either individually. The backs of the seats are probably less worn/dirty than on our vehicle. 50,000 miles with 3 kids and their accoutrement is tough.
edit: looks like the whole seat assemblies are priced as individual seats. hmph.
Anyway, looks like a whole 3rd row seat assembly pulled from a totaled vehicle will be $475-490 or so shipped on eBay. Or I could eBay the bottom seat covers but that’d randomly be like $400 shipped for the two.
I think I’ll splurge on the whole seat assembly after I confirm from either of the two sellers that it’s the complete left + right seat, not either individually. The backs of the seats are probably less worn/dirty than on our vehicle. 50,000 miles with 3 kids and their accoutrement is tough.
edit: looks like the whole seat assemblies are priced as individual seats. hmph.
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Today's rear axle weight check: a Ram 3500 SRW Mega Cab (almost certainly 4x4) with the Cummins, towing an Avalanche 5th wheel. I thought it said "RK" on the model as I passed it but I guess I misread as 338GK is the nearest match.
images here in case you all have forgotten what a generic 5th wheel and a 3500 Mega Cab looks like
www.threads.net
That's a 12,685 lb trailer. 2,790 lb empty hitch weight and 2,815 carrying capacity, so by the math that'd be 3,409 lb hitch weight at max trailer GVWR.
Assuming a 2022 there are actually a ton of different possibilities on that towing guide even with the Mega Cab and Cummins as fixed values. Let's further assume no Rambox and the max GVWR possible for SRW. Then that'd be a 12,300 GVWR, 4,130 lb payload, 3,151 unladen weight on the rear axle against a 7,000 lb rear GAWR. 32,710 GCWR.
So while certainly better than a 2500 SRW 4,130 lb - optional equipment on his truck - 3,409 lb doesn't leave a whole lot of room for passengers, the 5th wheel hitch itself (easily 100 lb!), and anything else in the bed or back seat. Should've got the DRW.
thus ends this episode. fini
images here in case you all have forgotten what a generic 5th wheel and a 3500 Mega Cab looks like
Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads
Today's rear axle weight check: a Ram 3500 SRW Mega Cab (almost certainly 4x4) with the Cummins, towing an Avalanche 5th wheel. I thought it said "RK" on the model as I passed it but I guess I misread as 338GK is the nearest match. That's a 12,685 lb trailer. 2,790 lb empty hitch weight and...
www.threads.net
That's a 12,685 lb trailer. 2,790 lb empty hitch weight and 2,815 carrying capacity, so by the math that'd be 3,409 lb hitch weight at max trailer GVWR.
Assuming a 2022 there are actually a ton of different possibilities on that towing guide even with the Mega Cab and Cummins as fixed values. Let's further assume no Rambox and the max GVWR possible for SRW. Then that'd be a 12,300 GVWR, 4,130 lb payload, 3,151 unladen weight on the rear axle against a 7,000 lb rear GAWR. 32,710 GCWR.
So while certainly better than a 2500 SRW 4,130 lb - optional equipment on his truck - 3,409 lb doesn't leave a whole lot of room for passengers, the 5th wheel hitch itself (easily 100 lb!), and anything else in the bed or back seat. Should've got the DRW.
thus ends this episode. fini
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Gah. Errors on posting again today!
Cliffs Notes: Water Works quoted me $10k for a fancy water softener (catalytic carbon filter upstream of water softener in particular) + reverse osmosis system. That ain't happening.
HD + Amazon + this extra filter that I may or may not DIY install should do functionally the same for ~$3k all in.
www.discountwatersofteners.com
Cliffs Notes: Water Works quoted me $10k for a fancy water softener (catalytic carbon filter upstream of water softener in particular) + reverse osmosis system. That ain't happening.
HD + Amazon + this extra filter that I may or may not DIY install should do functionally the same for ~$3k all in.
Genesis 2 Backwashing Catalytic Carbon Filter for Removal of Chlorine and Chloramines
The Genesis Catalytic Backwashing Activated Carbon Filter system for Removing Chloramines, Chlorine and Improving Taste and Odor.
www.discountwatersofteners.com
I saw a GMC Denali/Tahoe/whatever pulling a not small camper trailer on the weekend. Made me wonder what you'd think.Today's rear axle weight check: a Ram 3500 SRW Mega Cab (almost certainly 4x4) with the Cummins, towing an Avalanche 5th wheel. I thought it said "RK" on the model as I passed it but I guess I misread as 338GK is the nearest match.
images here in case you all have forgotten what a generic 5th wheel and a 3500 Mega Cab looks like
Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads
Today's rear axle weight check: a Ram 3500 SRW Mega Cab (almost certainly 4x4) with the Cummins, towing an Avalanche 5th wheel. I thought it said "RK" on the model as I passed it but I guess I misread as 338GK is the nearest match. That's a 12,685 lb trailer. 2,790 lb empty hitch weight and...
That's a 12,685 lb trailer. 2,790 lb empty hitch weight and 2,815 carrying capacity, so by the math that'd be 3,409 lb hitch weight at max trailer GVWR.
Assuming a 2022 there are actually a ton of different possibilities on that towing guide even with the Mega Cab and Cummins as fixed values. Let's further assume no Rambox and the max GVWR possible for SRW. Then that'd be a 12,300 GVWR, 4,130 lb payload, 3,151 unladen weight on the rear axle against a 7,000 lb rear GAWR. 32,710 GCWR.
So while certainly better than a 2500 SRW 4,130 lb - optional equipment on his truck - 3,409 lb doesn't leave a whole lot of room for passengers, the 5th wheel hitch itself (easily 100 lb!), and anything else in the bed or back seat. Should've got the DRW.
thus ends this episode. fini
The thing clearly had the power to pull it, but it looked like it was riding the bump stops on the rear suspension...
Both of these are actually moving forward! maybe.
A contractor is coming by tomorrow (with me not there clearly--I'll be in the hospital in Aurora) to check out the deck for the reinforcement project. If he agrees to do it and has a reasonable price I have the hurdle of the Grand County building permit to deal with--me making up architectural drawings? Sure, why not...
Hydrotek guy is also coming by in the next week or two to price out a more modern replacement boiler system. When I chatted with him today he was frankly surprised that the current system had been working fine after his man Jesus had patched it up a year or two ago when it was on the fritz.
En route for eldest kid commuting-to-taekwondo (and later, school and college) purposes. I think she'll fit on it, and eventually she certainly will. Bikesdirect, ex demo bike.
I'll have to teach her to lock through the rear triangle and front wheel alike since there's no front triangle.
I'll have to teach her to lock through the rear triangle and front wheel alike since there's no front triangle.
similar but different: my former co-worker's setupToday's rear axle weight check: a Ram 3500 SRW Mega Cab (almost certainly 4x4) with the Cummins, towing an Avalanche 5th wheel. I thought it said "RK" on the model as I passed it but I guess I misread as 338GK is the nearest match.
images here in case you all have forgotten what a generic 5th wheel and a 3500 Mega Cab looks like
Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads
Today's rear axle weight check: a Ram 3500 SRW Mega Cab (almost certainly 4x4) with the Cummins, towing an Avalanche 5th wheel. I thought it said "RK" on the model as I passed it but I guess I misread as 338GK is the nearest match. That's a 12,685 lb trailer. 2,790 lb empty hitch weight and...
That's a 12,685 lb trailer. 2,790 lb empty hitch weight and 2,815 carrying capacity, so by the math that'd be 3,409 lb hitch weight at max trailer GVWR.
Assuming a 2022 there are actually a ton of different possibilities on that towing guide even with the Mega Cab and Cummins as fixed values. Let's further assume no Rambox and the max GVWR possible for SRW. Then that'd be a 12,300 GVWR, 4,130 lb payload, 3,151 unladen weight on the rear axle against a 7,000 lb rear GAWR. 32,710 GCWR.
So while certainly better than a 2500 SRW 4,130 lb - optional equipment on his truck - 3,409 lb doesn't leave a whole lot of room for passengers, the 5th wheel hitch itself (easily 100 lb!), and anything else in the bed or back seat. Should've got the DRW.
thus ends this episode. fini
I know this is a Ram 3500 SRW long bed with the Cummins, but it must be a phased out floorplan as there's no left front slide visible.
I'll assume it's similar in weight to a 320MKS, though: 10,721 lb UVW with 2,076 lb hitch weight similarly unladen, GVWR 13,995 so 2,710 lb hitch weight at max weight per mathematics.
That truck should be 12,300 lb GVWR, 4,330 lb payload: 3,010 unladen on the rear axle and 7,000 possible: like the Mega Cab above but with less weight from less mega cab-bage.
So they have 1,280 lb left on the rear axle and 1,620 lb overall for them and their in-cabin gear. Given that it's two adults + a smol human that seems reasonable.
But I still would have gotten the dually anyway.
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Your co-worker is a total redneck? NTTAWWT.
Redneck is a state of mind, man... supported by quad-cab 8' bed Cummins Dodge pickups and MONSTROUS RV's.
I mean, if you work backwards from the trailer weight you can't really use anything smaller.Redneck is a state of mind, man... supported by quad-cab 8' bed Cummins Dodge pickups and MONSTROUS RV's.
and the 8' bed/long wheelbase ones tow better, plus it's not like most garages can fit the "short" one anyway. in Ford-land at least 8' vs 6' 9" bed also gets you bigger fuel tanks, which seems to be a good thing when towing massive trailers about.
the question would be whether the diesel is worth it, but since the Ram gas option is the lackluster 6.4 then there ya go.
it makes sense. if you start with the assumption of a 35' 5th wheel up front, that is.
No - it's all fuckin' stupid. But people want to "camp" without any of the actual stuff that comes along with "camping"...I mean, if you work backwards from the trailer weight you can't really use anything smaller.
and the 8' bed/long wheelbase ones tow better, plus it's not like most garages can fit the "short" one anyway. in Ford-land at least 8' vs 6' 9" bed also gets you bigger fuel tanks, which seems to be a good thing when towing massive trailers about.
the question would be whether the diesel is worth it, but since the Ram gas option is the lackluster 6.4 then there ya go.
it makes sense. if you start with the assumption of a 35' 5th wheel up front, that is.
I give my sister shit all the time, 'cause she's an RV "camper."