Renewal Notices
Today I received an URGENT REMINDER that my membership dues are over due and my membership has expired. The same billing notice says my membership expired May 28, 2014,which is correct. This is the second notice I've received in the past two months.
Is there any way Good Sam can get its computers synchronized with the correct data?
For your information, I would like to get a renewal notice about 3 months before my membership expires so I can plan for the expense. Then a second notice about 3-4 weeks before the actual expiration date so I can make payment.
Thanks
AK Old Timer
P.S. I've used my membership twice for flat tires and the service has been excellent!
Converting $/liter to $/gallon
Elsewhere on the forum there's an impressive list of travelers coming up to Alaska. Welcome to everyone. Since you will be traveling through Canada you will be buying your gas/diesel by the liter. And then you will be wondering just how much am I paying by the gallon?
I've seen several spreadsheets and cheat sheets posted on-line that will do the conversion. But, I found a better way!
I use my GPS!!
In my GPS (Nuvi 265WT) I enter "Tools" then "Unit Conversion". Scroll to the "Volume" conversion screen then enter the $/liter amount into the GALLON amount block. And then hit "Conversion", The amount that appears in the liter block is the $/gallon amount.
For you Canadians wanting to convert $/gallon to $/liter, just do the opposite.
I know the amounts are not exact due to the exchange rates but currently the $US is just about equal to the $CA so the result is fairly close.
Now fair warning. I came home from snow-birding in Arizona about 2 weeks ago. The gas prices in BC were running around $5.00 to $5.25 per gallon in $US!!! And diesel was even higher!!
RE: Wildland Firefighting
Thanks so much for all the helpful information! You are a wonderful source of info and my hubby appreciated your insight and inout!
Glad to help. Send me a PM if you have any more questions. I don't want to plug up the forum.
AK Old Timer
RE: Wildland Firefighting
Here’s some advice from a part time wild-land firefighter.
Throughout my career I was reassigned from my regular job to work as a wild-land firefighter. We were known as the “militia”, a nickname for Casual fire-fighters. I continue to do this even after I retired 4 years ago.
First of all, being on the actual fireline is more for the younger women and men. You say your husband is 53. Ask him if he could put on a 30 pound line pack, wear Nomex shirt and pants, climb the stairs (up & down) on a 50 story building, at 8000 feet above sea level, twice a day, every day, for 14 straight days. That's the best example I could think of to describe what being on the line is like. My knees gave out about 15 years ago so I developed knowledge and skills to work in a support role in the Incident Command Post (ICP). I now go out as an Incident Communications Manager directing the operations of the Commo Unit. Some of my Radio Operators this summer were full time personnel from Fire Departments in Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Denver. In a time of need everyone pitches in.
As former structural firefighter your husbands background and experience could qualify him for many positions in an ICP. I’m thinking of Radio Operators, supply and logistics positions, and based on his current quals, possibly an EMT1 or EMT Paramedic. When we have a summer like this past summer, qualified people are flown to the active fires from all over the country. This summer I went to fires in Alaska, Arizona, and Montana.
How to get started. First of all get on the Web and check out the sites for all the National Forests and the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, and the sites for your State (and other States) Department of Natural Resources. Each of these sites will have info on their specific programs and many links to other good sites.
Also check out wildlandfire dot com on the web. They have 100's of links to good wildland fire sites.
Next, locate the nearest office of the State DNR and/or US Forest Service and find out which of their offices dispatches firefighters to fires. To get into the “system” you’ll need one of these offices to sponsor you and keep track of your training, experience, and availability records in the necessary Federal databases. Visit the dispatch offices in the off season and get all the info you can. Some dispatch offices like to sponsor part-time FF’s while others do not. Keep checking around until you find one that will.
Even if you only want to work in the ICP see if you can find the 1 week Basic Wild-land Fire-Fighting class and get enrolled. It’s a good background to have and a requirement for many of the ICP positions. Complete the Incident Command System (ICS) courses which are located on the web.
Keep in mind that being available could keep you tied down during the summer. If you can get through the process you’re expected to be available when called.
Good Luck
AK Old Timer
RE: Dealer Sold Me Overweight Truck Camper - Any legal options?
OP -
I'm very surprised that after 14 pages of comments, none of the so called "experts" on this forum have mentioned the Tire and Loading Information sticker usually located on the driver's side door frame. This sticker is required on every vehicle by the Govt. This decal will list the vehicle VIN #, Gross Axle Ratings for the front and rear axles (GWAR FRT & GVAR RR) and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for that specific vehicle as specified by the factory. The sticker will also show the total weight of passengers and cargo that vehicle was designed to carry. These are the numbers to use when you evaluate whether the vehicle you are looking is adequate to handle the the TC you want to haul on the truck.
This sticker will also specify the tire and rim sizes along with the recommended tire pressure needed to carry the maximum specified load.
To sum it all up, take a notebook and write down this information for each truck you look at. Use these numbers along with the true weight of the TC to make sure you purchase a truck designed to safely haul what ever TC you wind up with.
Good Luck!!
RE: Michelin LTX225/75/16 M/S2
One of the Michelin pamphlets I read said the Michelin M/S "2" were tires only sold through "Clubs" such as Costco, Sams Club, etc. This is why you can't find them at regular tire shops.
