Take A Second When Mailing out Christmas Cards This Year
Why not take an extra few seconds this year when mailing out your Christmas Cards and write one or two that just says "Thank You for what You're Doing!" Drop them in the mail for some of our injured troops recovering here in the US.
A Recovering American Soldier
etc.
RE: How to attach things to RV top?
We have 3 PV Panels and they screwed through the roof then covered it with Dicor. Not leaks as of yet, and that's been 2 years on the road fulltime.
We met and camped with a couple from Germany who asked how we attached our panels. He told us overseas, no one would think to screw through their roof. They glue everything.
They also had a few panels and had been fulltiming for multiple years and no problems. I guess, it's all just a matter of what you think will work
RE: Travel novels
I'll add a strong second to the "Under the Banner of Heaven"
I've recommended that book to 10 people who have all been flabbergasted by who crazy it is. To think it's all going on here in our backyards and the media wont touch any of the stories!
Not a travel novel, but a must read!
RE: The Picken's Plan for RVs?
I'm thinking this is more of a West Coast thing. We traveled through Quartszite and only saw two RV's with Turbines. Both I talked to and both were using the Air-X models which come with a built in battery monitor.
Another guy I spoke with in California who siad he had his AIR-X for over 5 years swore by the thing. Here is what you have to remember. You dont use this as your only means of power. He also had 3 solar panels so when the sun wasnt shining, the weather had usually turned bad and the wind had picked up.
The best of both worlds in my mind. Also, out West, the winds usually pick up each and every night when most of us are in using the computers or running more lights. A wind turbine will generate power all night long while you're sleeping.
We camped beside the guy in California (Boondocking near the Imperial Dunes) and I can honestly say we never heard the turbine once. Most of these newer models are whisper quiet.
Here is the way I think of it. If you do alot of camping beside a lake, the ocean or anywhere there is usually a slight breeze, the turbine would be a great addition to your Alternative Energy source.
The Air-X models are only $600 and include the regulator. This is nothing compared to a good solar panel which at it's peak will only produce 130watts. The Air-X will produce 400 watts at its peak.
Remember, the turbine will still produce power even if the wind is only slightly blowing, it just wont be the 400watts. Much like a solar panel will still work early and late in the day, just not at it's peak like around noon
RE: Travel novels
Here are a couple of MUST READS in my opinion. Like you, Travel Novels are all I usually read.
Walk Across America - Peter Jenkins - Young man who left school one year and walked from North East to the Gulf and his story. Jenkins went on to write a whole series and even spent a few years on a boat floating along The Edge of America
Travels With Charlie - John Steinbeck - Great novel that really hits close to home. Steinbeck only took back roads and tried to stay out of any large city in his travels. This is exactly what my wife and I try to do.
Blue Highways - William Least Heat-Moon - Classic travel novel done the way it should. This book I read in my late teens when I first got the travel bug and is what got us started to where we are today.
Reapers Line - Lee Morgan - Not necessarily a travel novel, but if you RV along the Mexican Border like many of us full timers do, you should read this for sure!
Running North - Ann Mariah Cook - Fantastic novel about a husband and wife who spend a year in Alaska while the husband prepares to run the Iditarod. This book made me want to pack up and move to Alaska before I was even finished with it.
Then the Mother of all Travel/Adventure Novels
Undaunted Courage - Stephen Ambrose - The BEST story of the Lewis & Clark Expidition. If you read one book, make it this one. The first time I read it, when I finished the last page, I closed the book, waited five minutes thinking about how amazing it was and opened it back up to start reading it over again.
Then there are numerous websites I could recommend.
Tioga George
RV Dreams
North To Alaska
Where RV Now
These are all travel blogs
One of the best writers/photographers is Erik Gauger who puts together Notes From the Road - This site is more of a travel documentary with fantastic writing accompanied by outstanding photography to compliment his words.
This should get ya' started...LOL Sorry this is so long, but this is a passion of mine...Hence our lifestyle;)
I'd love to know if you have any that arent mentioned here, as all of these I had read by my mid-20's
Pat Bonish
RE: Locking down propane tanks
I've found the best way to secure the tanks is never to leave the camper anywhere that they might be stolen:B
We fulltime in our TT and just stay out of any neighborhoods where something like this might happen. If someone wants to come find us and steal them while we're boondocking out in the desert, have at em'
RE: "You need this" first timers list..
One very helpful thing would be a fuel card with no limit, and billed to a stranger who happily pays it for you every month.
...I'm still hunting for one like that. ;-)
Hey Pilot, if you find one of these, could you hook a brother up! I've been looking for one of these along with that tree that prints twenty dollar bills for years now.:B
RE: "You need this" first timers list..
We've put together quite a few lists. Here is a Link to a page that lists things like Pring Start up List, Winterization List, New RV list and other items those of us in the RV world might want to make copies of or just save a link to for times like this.
Hope that helps
Pat
RE: Ghost/Western Towns and Boondocking???
We asked the rangers about driving in from the East, and they advised against it because we had towed the TT up there with us.
He said you could do it with just a truck, but it's quite rough and said we'd probably curse him out if we were to do it towing the TT.
Road is now paved 99% of the way, with only the last 1/4 mile being dirt, and well graded at that.
Next time we go, we'll boondock just outside the park on the side of the road so we can get some Sunrise pictures of the town. SOmething we opted not to do on our first visit, but now are kicking ourselves for.
RE: Do You Know How Much Stuff You Have ??
Pat, (everymilesamemory) you must have had a lumber yard in your TT, you left 8 boards at my house. I took the hint and got rid of a few boards myself. I think I have the right amount now a couple times I needed all of them, but have not been short yet. Heading back to the mines in Nov. when you heading out again?
Hey Jeff, I figured you could either use them, or you'd find a good home for them at Mikes place...LOL
I think most of those were put in there before we left for Mexico because I was worried we might be camping on alot of sand??
Heading back out first of the year, so I'll let you know
Hopefully, alot lighter this time around!
RE: Do You Know How Much Stuff You Have ??
I can definitely see the advantages of a small travel trailer with very little storage space.:W:B
That doesnt mean you dont carry stuff around you dont need.
We've just got home after bing on the road for 2 full years and emptied out everything to take note of what we used and what we never touched for the entire adventure.
We found numerous items that we were sure we would need, yet never every opened out of the original packaging.
Other things like way too many pieces of wood for leveling. Got rid of about 8 pieces of various sizes of wolmanized wood that I'm sure was pretty heavy.
Found that our folding chairs we carried with us the whole time are about 10lbs heavier than the current models that are twice as comfortable and the newer ones actually fold much smaller.
Things like that should be noted while on the road.
We also noticed that we brought way too much clothing. You dont need 10 changes of clothes. Most of the time we only see new people for a few days at a time. Do they really know if we're wearing the same outfit twice in one week? And who really cares if they do know it!
I dont think it matters what size of RV you're traveling in, we all tend to bring way too much******thinking we'll use it some day.
Our goal is to drop about 500 to 800 lbs before we head back out on our next leg of the journey.
RE: how much to offer?
I know a good friend who just bought a new coach that was listed on the lot for $150,000
He offered them $75,000 out the door and they were happy to sell it to him.
I was shocked that they'd take that much off, but hey, times are hard!
RE: Locations or resources for Michigan, upper and lower pen
If gheading to the UP, check out Tahquaminon Falls which is about 45 minutes over the bridge and if heading over towards the Porkies (Porcupine Mountains) make sure to visit Bond Falls!!
There are tons of great rivers to paddle or trails to hike all over the northern parts of the state. The Boyne area has so many places to keep you busy and all within a hours drive of one another.
My wife and I are majorly into paddling, so we've tried to paddle every river in the state and have a few left to tackle.
Two Hearted River Campground is one of our favorite places to visit everytime we've visited the Upper Peninsula. The Two Hearted River flows right into Lake Superior and the campground has a suspension bridge that crosses the river onto a huge beach where they meet.
Fall Colors is our favorite time of the year to visit as you're done with the biting flys.
Other areas we'd recommend are Munising, Copper Harbor, Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, and Ontonagon
RE: Boondocking - La Jolla, California style
Great to hear that the Hospital helped out and saved you both some money in the long run
Hope your child recovers well and great to know that is an option for some of us RVers if we are ever in the same boat
RE: Ghost/Western Towns and Boondocking???
Of all the places we visted in our last two years on the road fulltime, I think we liked Bodie National Monument the best.
Far from a ghost town as you pay a park service fee, but so well preserved and the park rangers were exceptionally nice and informative.
Vulture Gold Mine and Ghost Town was also a great find. There is a bunch of BLM land right up the street, or the caretakers will let you stay on their property if you dont mind drycamping with the inexpensive entrance fee.
Cerbat Ghost Town in Northwestern Arizona was also a very cool place and offered some exceptional boondocking. You'll want a 4-wheel drive for this location and if you have a ATV, you'll be in heaven
I know Steve Bingham who is also a member on this forum has some galleries of the ghost towns he and his wife Bobbie have photographed. Fantastic work and he has extensive knowledge on the Ghost Towns around the United States. You might want to Google him and ask him what he might suggest.
Good Luck and make sure to let us know what places you like the best
RE: Parking on the street to live.
I know we stayed in California for a few months, and did this Stealth Camping almost every night. I didnt know there was a name for it, but at least I now know what we're doing...LOL
I know around the San Diego area, we ran into a bunch of other RVer's who would give us tips and secrets of the streets and areas where the police dont bother you. That was as long as you were gone the next day, no setting up camp and BBQing on the street.
For us, it worked great. Like when we stay in a Wally World lot, all we're doing is sleeping for the night, so I dont care if I'm on some side street, or in a parking lot. I do know that we've only soent around $100 in camping fees so far this year, so I aint complaining.
Pat
RE: Battery education here
Have you looked into the small solar panels that mount on the deck of the boat to give the battery a charge while the suns out? Might be an option, and it's quiet..LOL
RE: Cross country trip with Kids - TT vs. Class C
I'd probably go with a TT strictly for the reasons that the other poster stated. You cant do too much moving around inside the Class C while you're driving.
Once you stop somewhere, unless you have a towed, you're going to have to bring your house with you if you have to run to get supplies. Something tells me with 5 kids (God Bless You Both) that trips to get supplies and other items will be something that will need to be done at each camp.
5 to 6 hours per day is alot of driving for any adult, let alone 5 kids. My wife and I travel full time, and 5 hours a day is our max, unless we have to be somewhere and cant help it.
Anything over that amount of time makes you tired, grumpy, sore and the kids will probably go insane. This wouldnt be bad if say it was just 5 to 6 hours for one or two days, then they were at their destination and could get out and enjoy, but to go 5 to 6 hours per day for 7 days so not going to be fun for anyone.
Think vacation from hell rather than great memories which I'm sure you're trying to make. I'd do some serious route planning and have stops that can be camped at each day that will allow you all to get out, do some hiking or something that will stretch the legs and plan a little longer adventure.
I know this didnt sway you one way or the other for Class C or TT, but if I was taking the family, I'd probably choose a TT just for the fact that you can drop it off in a campground and do side trips.
Our side trips are the bread and butter of our travels, and we've had many fellow RVers jump in with us because they were in a Class C and didnt have a tow vehicle. This meant they were stuck in the camp ground and could only do things that were within walking, biking distance.
Have fun
Pat
RE: New to Boondocking
My wife and I fulltime and 90% of our camping is drycamping or Boondocking
We average 10 days before we need to find a dumpstation. It is almost always only for the gray tank or because we are out of water. We also carry a larger water tank in the bed of our truck if we know we're going to be out for longer periods or away from a town for too long.
Like the others have said, we know to conserve just like during our backpacking days. Military showers, reusing the handwashing water to put in the toilet, wet-wipes for many of the washing to conserve water...etc
After a few times out, you'll be amazed at how comfortable it is. We enver go through the hassle of freeze drying any of our foods. That just seems like a whole lotta work and isnt the idea to go out and have fun?
Pat
