Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

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Yeller
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Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

I started getting a lot of questions about the single axle car hauler in my Gladiator build thread (in my signature). Where I had all of that information posted was in a members only area on a different board that I'm a member of, it started in 2018 so its a lot of info, now here for all to enjoy :D . Stuka cleared me to copy that info here so I will get to it. Feel free to ask questions. I'll edit out much of the banter unless it contributes, may seem a little odd missing many of user names from the host, but I'll be sure to add it if I'm not the one replying.

Thanks Stuka!

Steve Sharp AKA: Yeller
Last edited by Yeller on Mon Oct 10, 2022 6:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Sep 8, 2018
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#1
As many of you know I've had a Redneck Hauler affectionately known as Gypsy Wagon for several years. It has served us well and we've put close to 80,000 miles on it. But we keep having issues being able to stay where we want to, usually due to its 60' overall length and it not bending in the right places or just too long to park. So I've had a hankering to try putting it in the truck and using our fly weight trailer (770#:eek:). My history has not been good with big slide in's in trucks, they have all been a handful to drive so I was reluctant. The results are very surprising, wind buffeting was minimal and I can't tell if the trailer is there or not, could not tell the difference other than I could feel the trailer brakes. Now to make a few trips and confirm that we like it, drove a 100 mile test loop twice, once with the trailer and once without.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Sep 8, 2018
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#2
The weight ticket was with full fuel and water. The Bronco weighs 500# more than the buggy, so not expecting any surprises.

For reference here's a weight ticket with the original Gypsy Wagon.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Sep 9, 2018
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#6
NGABronco said:
It reminds me of me!!! The damn extension for my hitch costs as much as the camper!!;D;D;D

I must doing something right;D

I hear ya on the extention, I built mine and raised the end so it was higher off the ground, I'll post a pic after the sun gets up. I built the frame mounts for the camper too. For me this was an experiment and I just couldn't justify spending more dollars than absolutely neccessary.
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

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#9
Yeller said:
Sun's up:p

NGA do you have airbags on yours?

Yes sir I have air bags as well as the little twister deals that put the springs on the big helper spring from the get go. I bought the Tork Lift Super Lift double receiver hitch and extension. I also bought their tie downs for the frame. I'm not the talented designer and builder that you are so I opted to buy mine. I've never weighed mine, the camper is about 3000 lbs., trailer about 1350 lbs. and anybody's guess on the Crawler???%):eek:%)

These are the lil twisty things https://www.torklift.com/rv/stableload
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Sep 9, 2018
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#10
If my camper only weighed 3k I wouldn't give bags a second thought as a need, mine is right at 4300 and it definitely has a case of the sags. Anyone use Timbrens? About the same cost and no leaks, I just don't have any experience.

Some of what has been really driving this is the camper is 20 years old and been outside it's entire life. Something to replace it was going to be needed in the next few years and I was on the fence to build a custom toy Hauler in a size package that fit better or buy another slide in. At the moment new slide in is the winning idea, and most importantly I don't have to build it out.
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Sep 9, 2018
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#11
Steve, my truck has a sticker on the lower driver door post that gives the max load, not sure if it's Ford or the tire folks. Shows 5909 lbs, do you have this sticker???

You'll have to stand on your head..... I can't get it to do right!!!%):eek:%)

Sep 9, 2018
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#12
Yes I have one of those. the diesel and 4x4 cut into that quite a bit, 5298. Easy to get to and see, right on the post between the doors. Really makes me wonder how the guys with 6000+ pound units make it work, I've only seen the 7000# payload numbers on standard cab stripped gas models.

Sep 10, 2018
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#13
NGABronco wrote
Yes sir, been coaching a friend on slide-ins. He has a new F350, 4x4, diesel, SRW, w 6' bed and his sticker is like 3500 lbs. He ended up with a light weight pop-up slide in.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Topic author
Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 3, 2018
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#16
Time for an update :p

Made a few short trips and found a few big deal short comings, most notably the fly weight trailer is very limiting, what ever is on it has to be able to drive over the tires and have 28” of rocket cleance so we couldn’t take the FJ or GMC. There was also no place to store firewood, extra fuel or water if needed. While confident in the extention it bothered me and I know I was exceeding the factory hitch design so I was looking into a super hitch and extention to pull a more normal car hauler.

So the new plan between needing a more normal trailer and a super hitch I opted to build my own trailer and be able to forgo the super hitch by eliminating the long extention, it’s down to a very comfortable 12”, same over all length as some of the fancy overly complex ball mounts available commercially. The new trailer has a 14’ deck with an 84x34x12 basket for the extras, 4’ dove tail, single 7k axle and the tongue is extended to 6’6”. I also C notched the frame and lowered it 2” by reworking the spring brackets. It’s has an overall length of 20’6”.

As a side note these tires are the bomb 14ply rated all steel belts and 4400# each.

This is where we are today, won’t take too long to finish, lots of details to go.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

more pics for previous post, haven't figured out adding more than 5 for 1 post
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Topic author
Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 4, 2018
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#18
NGABronco said:
Nice work!!!! Who makes those tires??;D;D;D

Thanks ;D

These are Mastertrack but Sailun, Boto, Hercules and others offer them.

BTW those of you that have issue with your 15” trailer tires Hercules offers a 15” tire of the same construction. I find it terrible that we trust our prized possessions to a trailer with crap tires and this is the only one I’ve found worth spending any money on in 15”
https://www.herculestire.com/tire-detai ... s/H-901-ST
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Topic author
Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 4, 2018
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#20
Got a lot more done today, but details don’t look like much until you do them... lol. There will be a strip light for stop and tail lights under the ramp and flush side marker lights

I’ve been asked, why a single axle? Simple, better bearings, better tires, less wear and tear, and easy to move around by hand with a wheel on the jack. Then there is the bennifit when you own a fleet of trailers that I only need 1 set of spare parts and they are interchangeable.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 11, 2018
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#21
Making progress. Got the spare tire mount done. Intergrated an old hub with a worn out brake drum, never know when it might save the day. I do carry grease, bearings, seals, nuts and 1” die to repair the threads if the worst happens. Wound up making the basket 10” deep instead of 12, I felt that was just too close to the ground.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Topic author
Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 17, 2018
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#22
What separates a $2000 trailer from a $5000 trailer? Details, they add so much time. Got the basket finished up except for bolting the expanded metal in the floor. Managed to get one fender all finished up. The fenders are structural made from 10” 8# channel, for 10” channel its pretty light, from experience these will survive a tire exploding. Also added steps and the required holes for lights. The plate on the tongue is a step for the camper. The liner on the fender is the same 14ga tread plate as the deck.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Topic author
Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 18, 2018
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#23
Made its way outside, time to clean the shop couldn’t take it any more. Up next paint everything underneath the floor before the floor goes on. The GMC makes an awesome empty trailer mover:D
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Topic author
Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 25, 2018
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#30
Nearing completion, time to complete the painting.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
User avatar

Topic author
Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 26, 2018
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#34
Ksm said:
What color are you going to paint it? Electric purple? Lime green? Baby blue?

Wish it was something cool but just plain basic black....%) not my 1st choice but it will do for now.

So here it is. Up next, test the electrical. I always make my trailer harnesses more complicated than most but every light has its own power and ground wire unless they are close enough to join the pigtails together, no daisy chains or jumpers. All connections are sealed with marine heat shrink. All grounds go back to the truck not the trailer, Trailer has a ground strap but none of the devices ground to the chassis. Takes way longer, uses way more wire but is way dependable and if there is an issue it effects a single light, not all of them and is easy to fix. So far all of the trailers that I’ve wired this way have had zero wiring issues other than one that gator’d a tire and ripped a bunch of stuff off
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
User avatar

Topic author
Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 26, 2018
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#36
Rob1962 said:
One would think you would at least paint it Yeller!

Sorry... couldn't resist.... :)

LOL that is ALWAYS the first color considered:p


Unfortunately it looses out to practicality more often than not.


Nov 26, 2018
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#37
We have lights! The tail lights were not what I was expecting so the outside pair may get changed but it can be seen. You can also see how the hitch will function. I still need to get it built but did confirm it’s needs to be 12”. You can also see how the ramps look pulled out.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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Topic author
Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 29, 2018
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#39
It fits!;D

After spending a lot of time with a tape measure and spinnin ideas in my head it’s nice to see it all works. I may cut 6” off the extension, it’s a little longer than it needs to be but I’ll wait, until it gets used and gets a veriety or vehicles on it. Time for a road trip :cool:
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
User avatar

Topic author
Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Nov 30, 2018
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#42
bax said:
Steve, you did good. That looks great behind the camper.. Good purpose build.

Thanks Bax! It was fun doing one of these that isn't so purpose built that it can be used for normal tasks. my last trailer project cam out cool but was so purpose built that its uses were very limited. Here's the last one, I've hauled the bronco on it, but it barely clears the rockers on the tires.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
User avatar

Topic author
Yeller
Posts: 1521
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Gypsy Wagon Rehash and More

Post by Yeller »

Dec 1, 2018
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#43
Made the first pull today and didn’t take any pics, I’m back to normal I guess%)

Pulled perfectly, if I didn’t see it in the mirror i’d never know it was there. I did get a couple of weight tickets and determined the trailer weighs 1750# and reconfirmed the bronco is a little chuncky, 4800#. Ready for a longer trip;D

Tickets with and without the bronco

I really encourage everyone to stop and weigh your load, it’s amazing how many are overloaded and think they are OK from miss judging what their stuff weighs. I can promise unless you’ve weighed it your bronco weighs significantly more than you think.
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The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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