RE: What did you do to your Class A MH today???
Moved it down in front of the house so the tech can work on the hydraulic levelers tomorrow. Then the tech called to say he had been delayed and can't make it until Friday. Oh well, we're in no great rush. He just might have to work in the rain though.
RE: Help! First Timer, Should I walk Away?
My nephew has on he might sell cheap--might need a little work though. :B
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/935687_10151971163660620_129868183_n.jpg
RE: Toads??
2011 4 door convertible Jeep Wrangler Sahara. Mexico and back every year.
Before that 2001 Chevy Tracker 4X4 soft top. Towed for 10 years, about 100,000 kilometers.
Before that 1991 Chevy Tracker 4x4 soft top. Towed for 10 years also, but not as far.
No issues on any of them.
RE: More Solar for "Us"
Monday june 17, sunny 86F with cool on shore sea breeze
during afternoon i ran the portable 'ice machine' from the inverter,
i usully make ice when the generator is running
19.34 peak amps
258.1 peak watts
168.68 aHrs
2262.9 watt hrs
Now that is very cool!
RE: Solar Panels
Get the controller make and model, then the wire size and estimate the wire length. Post it here, you'll get plenty of suggestions.
X2
RE: Carpenter Ants take out RV....
Exterminators deal with them all the time and can supply stronger stuff because they are licensed to use it. Call one to get rid of them for you.
X2
We have an annual plan with a pest control guy. A former neighbour kept chickens and he didn't use a lot of care with feed storage and the neighbourhood became infested with rats. The new owner has cleaned it up and the rats have gone--now we have only field mice lol
At any rate, he visits once a month to check on things, we can call him free for an extra visit if a problem (more mice, wasp nests etc) show up.
However, termites and carpenter ants would be an extra charge--they aren't easy to get rid of. Get a pro.
RE: Solar Panels
You are talking 10-12 amps on a good day. How undersized could the wire be ???
And even if it was 14 gage instead of 10 gage, what we loose, 1 amp ??
Parallel another panel and be done w/ it. The voltage or amperage doesn't have to be exactly the same either.
It's all about power loss in the resistance of the wire. 10 gauge wire has a resistance of about 1 Ohm per 1,000 feet. 14 gauge is about 2.5 Ohms per 1,000. Heat loss is the square of the current times the resistance. It really depends on how long the cable run is.
RE: Leak from windshield
Have you checked the marker lights about the windshield? This is a major source of cab leaks in both motorhomes and heavy trucks.
That was our problem. Though we (nor the tech) could really see a "for sure" problem, the tech resealed the clearance lights and we haven't had a leak for the last 14,000 kilometers.
RE: What did you do to your Class A MH today???
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/935687_10151971163660620_129868183_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/946551_10151971163165620_568272852_n.jpg height=300 width=300
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/424626_10151971164495620_227632812_n.jpg height=300 width=300
NOT ME or mine, but my Nephew.
Cory says never turn around on a logging road when you have a migraine!
RE: Why won't 2000w inverter run 900w microwave?
We run our microwave from the inverter very rarely and for very short times; less than a minute. The batteries are 4 new 6V GS rated at 242 AH each for a total of 484AH. The cables from the batteries to the Xantrex Prosine 2.0 (2KW PSW) are 3/0 and less than three feet long.
When running the microwave at full power the battery voltage will drop to 12.0 after a very short while, drawing over 150 amps from the batteries. Since ours is a Panasonic Inverter microwave, using it on a lower power really means lower power and not full power being cycled on and off like all other microwave ovens do.
Our previous batteries were 4 group 24, at maybe 80 AH each, for 320 AH. Same connections. The microwave on full power would draw 170 Amps or more.
I suspect you have two problems: 1) Too much voltage drop between the batteries and the inverter, and 2) not enough battery. Really beefing up and seriously shortening the battery-inverter cables may help.
RE: Help Identifying Wires Connected to Battery
Sorry, I think I messed up the picture. Let's try this.
http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/BigFly10/BatteryWires_zps45713524.jpg width=640
It looks to me like the right side green cable goes to an inline fuse (or is that just a connector?) then connects to the red wire and three more smaller black wires at the blue Marrette.
One of those seems to be in with the black and white wires. Any idea where any of the three go? Can you see where the two individual black wires go? It's possible that one goes to the trailer plug as charging cable. Do you have a power leveling system?
RE: Fear of Driving to the Mountains
This comment isn't about nervousness in the mountains, its about nervousness with something new. I've driven a lot of mountains.
About 12 years ago we set off to Mexico following friends in their rig. From the border at Nagales to San Carlos as a day of white knuckle driving: Narrow roads and no shoulders with usually steep drop offs at the edged.
From San Carlos on to Mazatlan was two more days of the same, but I was beginning to get a little less uncomfortable.
Then we drove on our own to Puerto Vallarta and back by which time I no longer flinched when a semi blasted by, our mirrors no more that 6" apart.
Now I am quite comfortable (even though we lost a mirror to a tree once).
Just saying, new driving experiences are often nerve wracking. With a little practice and experience you will soon gain confidence.
However, even the most experience of us can get overconfident:
In our former motorhome, a 30" gasser with 16" wheels (read small brakes!) towing a Chevy Tracker, we did the Espinoza del Diablo from Durango to Mazatlan about 6 years ago and over heated the brakes near the bottom. We had made the mistake of stopping for a couple of minutes in 90+ temps when the brakes were already hot and with out the "cooling" airflow some of the brake fluid (or moisture in the fluid) vapourised. When we pulled back on the road and went to brake for a curve the pedal went to the floor! Fortunately we were still going slow enough that I could shift into 1st gear. Pumping of the brake pedal got a some slowing. Also fortunately we were right behind a big bus so I knew that at worst I would be able to run into his back end! I followed the bus (at maybe 20 mph) for about 20 miles by which time we were out of the worst part of the hills and curves and had our brakes back. In Mazatlan I had the system flushed and refilled with fresh brake fluid.
Here is a clip that I found on you tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au9tdT_iU1A
And another one, doing it by motorcycle!
Note that any speed signs you see are in Kilometers per hour, not miles. A factor of 5/8
RE: Is this legal?
Here's what you do. You hop into the TT and let your wife drive you around the block a few times. I guarantee after that experience, you wouldn't even consider letting your pet gerbil ride back there.
When I first started with a Volunteer Ambulance service in the early 70's all the new recruits had to ride strapped to the stretcher while the driver put the rig through it's paces. :E We soon learned drive a little slower and more carefully with a patient in the back! And that was in an Olds 98 wagon!
RE: Is this legal?
I won't even let my dogs ride in the camper much less a person. It might be legal in some places, but it is stupid in all places.
Nicely put.
It's people doing stuff like that who kept me gainfully employed in the Air Ambulance Service for 30 years.
RE: TRAVEL TRAILER BATTERY ISSUES
Also get a battery hydrometer. It will really tell you what your battery's state of charge is. It can also show a dead or weak cell.
RE: WALMART RV Parking
Yes. It isn't Walmart but local RV parks that are getting restrictions because they feel they are losing money. There is an app "rvparky" that lists the Walmarts that allow over night parking. Since we do a lot of traveling in the winter when RV parks are closed I just by pass those towns.So true. Yet another example of big business (the local RV park) stomping on the rights of the little guys (Walmart). As we all know, these giant corporations have all the politicians in their pockets. Maybe the Federal Trade Commission should be notified and these huge mega RV parks can be broken apart under the fair trade practices act. They are obviously acting in a monopolistic and illegal way. They should be busted up.
I can sympathise, but: We often arrive late and leave early. Are you there? Do you have space? If I don't have exact change do I have to leave a tip? How happy are the neighbours (your longer term clients) going to be with us pulling in at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, unhooking the jeep, then restarting the Cummins, backing into the spot (which we can hardly see because it is dark) putting down the jacks and putting the slides out while the engine in running (as per the owners manual). Then we have to take the dogs out for a walk. Then at 6:00AM we take the dogs out again for their morning constitutional, then at 6:30 AM we start the diesel, idle a couple of minutes while the air pressure comes up, pull out, shut down, hook up the jeep, restart the engine and off we go.
$30.00 a night? 40? More?
We just want to sleep. We don't need the swimming pool, hot tub, laundry, pool table, store, etc etc.
We have come across a few signs along the way saying "Overnighters Welcome: $10.00 no services. Sani dump $5.00"
And we have stopped there, often a little earlier than planned.
By the way, we rarely shop at Walmart. We don't like Walmart or any of the Giants. The only times we do shop at Walmart are when we need to overnight there and need something, or while enroute there is something that we need because at Walmart 1) you always know what they will have or won't have (they are all the same) and 2) you know you can get in there with the rig and tow car.
RE: woman travelling alone
Get a medium sized male dog (gender is very important) that looks fierce but has a good disposition - herding dogs like the all black Belgian sheepdogs are a very good choice. This size dog will intimidate most folks and be able to leap into the motorhome and otherwise take care of itself. A male dog will consider himself to be the alpha dog and you his property which he will instinctively want to protect. The black fur really helps as well. People will be more fearful around a black Belgian or German shepherd than around a white Samoyed of the same size.
Think about all the places you have gone alone (bank, supermarket, work, hotels on business, airports, train stations, school) and realize that you were not attacked much less killed. Traveling around by RV is only different in terms of adding the possibility of breaking down on a remote little traveled section of highway. Avoid those routes or caravan those sections of road with others and you will be fine.
The male Alpha dog thing is a myth. If your dog thought that you were his property you would not be able to train or control him.
Female dogs can also be very protective of the FAMILY of which they are a part.
Size is a big deterrent. The Belgian or German Shepherd would be a good choice, as would something like a boxer, which tend to be very gentle and for the most part are happy to be couch potatoes (don't need a lot of exercise.) but would make the non dog owner quite nervous. They do drool a lot though!
RE: woman travelling alone
In my opinion, the only correct answer is to get a small handgun and keep it in a safe in your RV/trailer and keep it at your side when camping. Learn how to use it properly. Go to the range a lot and practice pulling it and shooting it.
I have gone out camping in the boonies for 25+ years. Sometimes alone and sometimes with family. There are lots of good people out there but there is only ONE TIME required for you to become a victim/statistic.
There was a time when I was with my family (wife, son and daughter) and we ran into some guys while camping in the woods. These guys came over and automatically my spidey sense started tingling. They told me they wanted to show me where some free firewood was. I said, "No thanks, we have some good firewood." They were insistant on taking me to show me where some firewood was. I kept saying no thank you but they would not take no for an answer. It got to the point where it was just plain weird.
I don't think they knew my son was with me because he showed himself in the door with a shotgun and said, "thank you for the offer gentlemen, we don't need any wood though, we're good." Then we packed up and left right after that and drove to another site.
I am quite positive that those two guys wanted to lure me away from my family to possibly cause me harm and rob, rape, steal or kill. I know that many of you have never been through anything like this so you will not feel a need to ever carry a weapon. That is fine as it is your right to do so, but I will say that I am happy my son was "packing" on that day and from now on I never leave home without carrying a sidearm.
Your campground is your home. If you would defend your home, there's no reason you shouldn't be defend your camp. All it takes is one foul encounter to end up in a bad situation. There are good people out there but there are also bad people. I'm never afraid of a bear or a coyote coming near my camp, but it's the two legged variety that I worry about the most.
Better to have a gun and not need it, than to need a gun and not have it. I recently read a story about a husband and wife and dog who were all shot and killed while camping in their RV. They weren't doing anything but just setting up. There are weirdos out there - just saying. You don't need to be Rambo, you just need to be realistic.
You obviously didn't read her first post. She is CANADIAN. We don't do the hand gun thing up here. And NOT just because it is illegal up here.
RE: woman travelling alone
We have a good friend that travelled from BC and/or Alberta (depending where she had found summer locums) to Mexico (Mazatlan) every year, well into her 70' until failing eyesight forced her to stop driving. The worst thing that happened to her was that someone in the park stole her lap top from the dinette--she had left the window open.
You can link to our blog from our profile.
Good luck, Happy Travels. See you on the road somewhere.
RE: need your opinions: rv or hotel?
I haven't read all the responses, so I may be duplicating some here.
We started with tents, then tent trailers, then truck camper,then a very small and very old (1973) 23" class A, then a 1997 30' Class A gas and now 2002 32' DP.
First, let me assure you that a Class A is every bit as "drivable" as a class C. They may be a bit bigger but the visibility is far better. I would far rather drive a Class A than a Class C. Size for size, a DP is easier to drive than a gasser. Our 32' DP is much easier and more comfortable to drive than the 30' gasser we had previously.
Class Cs tend to have more sleeping options if you have several kids. Class As usually have only one bed and a dinette or couch that convert for sleeping.
Class As also tend to have more storage and to carry more water and fuel.
We travel with 2 medium-large dogs for 6 months of the year. Previously we had two large (95 pound) dogs. Traveling with an RV the dogs always have there own bed and are always "home".
Depending on size, you may need to tow a car as well.
You can see some of out travels on our blog including Alaska a few years ago. (Blog entries from Alaska from July 2010. Getting there starts with the June 2010 entries.)
One last thought: You make a lot of new friends and meet some very nice and helpful people when RVing. You meet the odd twit now and then too, but then you can just move! :)
Happy travels which ever way you go.
