RE: lighting up the night:::
Pelican, Mag-Light, Dorcy, SureFire and Stream Light all make police tactical LED lights that are durable, American made and bright enough to be seen from outer space! Some use small Xenon bulbs, and many are rechargable. My son has one that will light up tree tops 1/2 mile away! Can seriousily light up the night, and ruin a "bad guys" eye sight too!
You can find some of these at WalMart or sporting goods stores too.
RE: One night stay in Santa Margarita, Ca
There's also a RV Campground right at Rancho Santa Margarita, O'Neill Regional Park. Ran by the County of Orange, reasonable rates...nestled in the hills in a heavily Live Oak Canyon, hot showers. O'neill
RE: GM/Isuzu joint venture that builds Duramax at risk
"If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger." Sounds like GM can do as good as or even better job of designing, engineering and building their own state of the art diesel with the help of their two in house diesel guys!
The fact that Toyota now has their hands on part of Isuzu must ring an alarm bell at GM anyway!
Maybe Ford can sell them a few new Scorpion Power Strokes in the mean time! ;)
RE: Alternative for Day/Night Shades
For a trailer go with aluminum mini blinds. For a Motor Home Vinyl will make less noise while traveling. I don't like the 'day/night' shades at all! Then we have pull down blackout mylar shades for hot weather or day sleeping!
RE: I didn't know all the good things about 5th Wheelers
You back into your space with a fiver, put down your front landing gear enough to remove some weight from the 5er hitch plate, pull the pin release lever, block the 5er wheels so they don't roll, and drive the truck out from under the trailer! Thats it! Then you (optional if you're only spending the night) set the rear jacks down to level the rig and hook up any utilities. It literally takes 15 minutes.
I think you'd find the fiver ideal for your chosen lifestyle, as you can drive the pull vehicle while leaving the living quarters behind. ;)
RE: Just ordered the new TT
Congratulations on your new Jayco, and welcome to the Jayco Family! I know you'll love it as much as we've loved all of ours!
The differences between the ProPride and the Hensley (I've had the Hensley and PullRite TT hitches) would be enough to sway me towards the ProPride if I was to buy a TT again.
Mr. Hensley himself designed the new ProPride Hitch for the ProPride Company's Owner Sean Woodruff, after Hensley sold his design and factory years ago. He admitted that he added into the new ProPride design things that he wanted to do on the original Hensley Arrow, if the technology existed way back then! So all of his knowledge went into the ProPride. The ProPride is easier to hitchup and use that the Hensley.
RE: Lookin for Tires
The Marathons from Goodyear are once again Made in the USA. I've had Marathon's on all 7 of my Jayco's with great results, no issues or problems. The last set I had were Made in Canada Marathons, which were terrific and I was sorry to see them go, after 5 years...and was going to replace with Maxxis. The Marathons were Chinese made up to the beginning of this year, but Goodyear saw the wisdom of bringing production back to America, and I was happy enough to buy them!
RE: Does stored diesel go bad?
(Note: Not my research. From a posting "How to store diesel fuel" on another Diesel Site by oblio13)
Diesel is less volatile than gasoline, with a far longer "shelf life". And it's much, much safer to store. Gasoline is more dangerous than dynamite.
There are two common problems with storing diesel fuel:
1. It begins to oxidize as soon as it leaves the refinery. Gums and sediments that clog fuel filters form. The process can be slowed by keeping it cool and by adding stabilizers.
2. Water, usually from condensation in the empty part of the storage container, is the medium for algae growth. A slime that will again clog fuel filters results. Adding biocide will prevent algae growth, but better yet is to keep it in a sealed, full container and in a stable temperature to prevent water from condensation in the first place.
Those who store large amounts of diesel for long periods (deep water sailors, the military, nuclear power plants with back-up generators) periodically test and "polish" their fuel, filtering and adding additional stabilizers. For us little people, rotating stocks is more practical, but funnels with built-in filters are available.
Exxon's website says that: "If you keep it clean, cool and dry, diesel fuel can be stored 6 months to 1 year without significant quality degradation. Storage for longer periods can be accomplished through use of periodic filtrations and addition of fuel stabilizers and biocides."
Chevron says: "those who store diesel fuel for a prolonged period, i.e., one year or longer, can take steps
to maintain fuel integrity. The steps below provide increasing levels of protection:
1. Purchase clean, dry fuel from a reputable supplier and keep the stored fuel cool and dry. The presence of free water encourages the corrosion of metal storage tanks and provides the medium for microbiological growth.
2. Add an appropriate stabilizer that contains an antioxidant, biocide, and
corrosion inhibitor.
3. Use a fuel quality management service to regularly test the fuel, and, as necessary, polish it – by ?ltration through portable ?lters – and add fresh stabilizer."
BP says: "Under normal storage conditions diesel fuel can be expected to stay in a useable condition
for:
• 12 months or longer at an ambient of 20ºC.
• 6-12 months at an ambient temperature higher than 30ºC.
As diesel gets older a fine sediment and gum forms in the diesel brought about by the
reaction of diesel components with oxygen from the air. The fine sediment and gum will
block fuel filters, leading to fuel starvation and the engine stopping. Frequent filter changes are then required to keep the engine going. The gums and sediments do not burn in the engine very well and can lead to carbon and soot deposits on injectors and other combustion
surfaces."
Cenex says: "If storage exceeds one year, testing is recommended."
Diesel fuels are blended for different seasons and regions. "Summer" diesel may cloud or gel at cold temperatures.
From BP: "Always purchase fuel to replenish stocks in the winter season. This will
ensure that the fuel will not cause wax problems whatever season it is used."
According to Exxon: "Non-winterized diesel fuel will not generally cause problems as long as temperatures are at or above 10°F."
So the basic strategy boils down to:
1. Buying "fresh" fuel (the quotation marks are because it's probably already several weeks old by the time it works it's way from the refinery to us consumers).
2. Topping off storage containers, leaving just enough headspace for expansion and contraction, but not much for condensation.
3. Keeping it dry and cool. Heat speeds deterioration, temperature swings will cause condensation.
4. Adding a stabilizer to slow oxidation if storage in warm temperatures or beyond a year is anticipated.
5. Adding a biocide to prevent algae growth (or better yet, keep it in a sealed, full container and in a stable temperature to prevent water condensation in the first place).
6. Rotating stocks every winter.
7. When in doubt, filtering. The "Mr. Funnel" plastic fuel filter funnel from Amazon.com has a good reputation. (The same funnel is marketed under several different names but for a lot more money.)
RE: Why a 5th Wheel?
Actually a 5th wheel has much more storage space under the floors, probably an average of twice as much or even more space than a TT. So you won't have to use your truck bed for firewood, lawn chairs, bbq grilles, etc. But the reality is that you still can use the bed for some storage while towing a 5er. You also have several feet of trailer hanging over your truck bed with a 5th wheel, so the towed length is shorter on a 5er than the same size TT.
There's a few other benefits such as easier and faster hooking up and setting up than a TT, zero handling issues when towed vs a TT's propensity to sway in windy conditions or when passed by big rigs, more interior volume than a TT so when full timing you feel less claustrophobic, etc.
RE: not level towing, options?
Oh! Now I see your issue, thanks for the updated picture! Congratulations of your new Jayco! You'll love it!
Lucky for you Jayco has the spring hangers that already have 3 different heights for adjusting your 5ers suspension height, and it's pretty much a DIY job unless you can talk your dealer into doing it for you. You may also have to have the 5er hitch raised up to compensate for the additional trailer height, to clear the bed rails! Best of luck and Happy Holidays...you already got your present!
RE: Delays, theives, but MAYBE, a Cougar for CHRISTmas
Belated and delayed congratulations! Go onto the San Diego Parks and Recreation Departments website and you'll find plenty of open spaces in one of their great CampGrounds, or hit Lake Cachuma. Best of luck...I'm glad the dealer didn't tell you they'd fix "your new RV" as good as new! Let some other poor soul buy that "previousily damaged" one! Happy Holidays!
RE: Need good but simple potato soup recipe
Simple Irish Potato Soup
We have made this at home and when camping, family loves it! Plus we're gonna have it with our Christman Ham!
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 leeks, sliced
3 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
3 (14 1/2-ounce) cans chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Toppings if you wish: shredded Cheddar cheese, crumbled cooked bacon, chopped fresh chives
Preparation:
Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat; stir in onion and leek. Cover and cook 20 minutes. Stir in potato; cover and cook 15 minutes. Stir in broth, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes or until potato is tender. Remove from heat, and cool slightly.
Process soup in batches in a blender until smooth (or mash the potatoes with a fork), stopping to scrape down sides; return to saucepan, and cook over medium heat until thoroughly heated. Serve with desired toppings.
RE: Mic....key....mouse
Mice have a very acute nose, and can home in on any potential food. A full sized mouse can get into any where he can fit his head into, about the size of a dime. And he can chew thru a smaller hole to enlarge it. I used up a whole cartridge of silicone caulking under my 5er when I bought it, sealed up every crack and seam, every wire, plumbing, propane and cable hole. No mice yet!
For natural repellents....Mice hate the smell of Cloves, Peppermint and Cayenne Pepper. Good natural repellents. And they also are repelled by ordinary household ammonia...which may remind them of a predator's urine.
RE: 5th Wheel to TT
tocools, When we went from 6 TT's to our current 5er Jayco Jay Flight, I noted that there was only one additional step on the 5er.
If the step up height is the only issue, it might be wise to keep the 5er and get a small platform step to place under the RV's 1st step, to help with the height of at least the 1st step up.
Platform Step
RE: Choosing a Dealer
Slapping a sign saying "Good Sam Rated", "AAA Rated Shop" or any other seal perceived as touting a upstanding business is no more likely to improve your chances of not being taken advantage of than a BBB placard.
You might as well rub your lucky rabbits foot, tie garlic around your neck or the "lucky shirt you always wear when the Dallas Cowboys win"! It's still up to the consumer to abide by the famous and ancient advice that since the year 1523 has warned us all "Let the buyer beware".
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RE: Christmas Ham Side Dishes...
Coleslaw! Or Potato salad. Serve with a pineapple/apricot sauce on the side. Kings Hawaiian rolls with creme cheese. Au Grautin Potatoes, cream peas.
RE: rubber/vinyl treatment
AeroSpace 303 contains NO silicone and NO petroleum distillates, both of which dry out vinyl and rubber, shortening their life spans...as well as causing the rubber seal's adhesive to fail. Rubber tires also benefit from 303, as does all the plastic trim found on RV's, fiberglass, paint, etc. Developed by AeroSpace chemists for use on expensive vinyl graphics and paint on commercial, military and civil aviation planes.
RE: Slide out rubber seal
I believe the only cure is to take off all the glue from the seals and rv wall, re-install using commercial grade Contact Cement. Follow the directions as far as application and allowing it to nearly dry or completely dry before sticking the rubber back on, it will fuse upon contact, so make sure to place it carefully. Keep the seals from damage or friction by applying 303 Aerospace, protects, cuts down the friction and keeps seals soft, yet does not contain petroleum products that cause the glue to fail.
