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Forum
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RE: $$$ for checking on your house???
We have a more complicated issues, as we live on 5 acres that has a good deal of landscaping. To further complicate issues we have large areas of annual grass that dies at the beginning of summer that needs to be cut. We also have a "mother-in-law" detached unit that we rent out. Our best solution was to find a tenant that is willing to take care of things for a reduction in rent and utilities while we are gone. They also forward our mail. Normally this "credit" runs about $100 to $150 a month. This may work for some.
Regards
Bill and Carole
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BillandCarole
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10/15/09 09:29am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Meal Planning on a Budget
Itchi noodles- translates from "kid" to mean Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup.
Sorry about the lack of translation.
Bill
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BillandCarole
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10/08/09 02:59pm |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: What to park on
Has anyone thought of a good way to take the weight off the tires? Would placing jacks under the axles and lifting help? Our tires never wear out but "age out", even when we block out the sun. Our rig sits for 3 or 4 months between trips. We could jack it up but would this significantly extend tire life?
Thoughts? Regards
Bill
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BillandCarole
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10/06/09 11:44am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Meal Planning on a Budget
We found your menu very interesting and have adopted several of its suggestions. 2 weeks for us also seems to be the max time frame before things start to go "sour" or dry out, or seriously run out. Our approach is now slightly different in that we while we don't have a 2 week menu any longer, we do have a "master list" of meal suggestions that we find useful. We pack most of the ingredients for this list and just pick and choose as we go along. As we consume the ingredients, we place them on our grocery list.
regards
Bill and Carole
Breakfast
cereal
Oatmeal
Eggs and Sausage
Cream of Wheat
Fruit
Yogurt
English muffin, swiss cheese, + ham
Lunch
Bacon Sandwiches
"Hoggie Sandwich"
Chicken and Rice soup
Chicken w/Noodles (wide)
Ham and Rye w/swiss
Hamburger
Itchi Noodles
Peanut Butter
Potted meat
Steak Sandwiches
Steak and Potato Soup
Dinner
Beans and Cornbread
Chicken + Noodles
Chicken Parmesian
Chicken Pot Pies
Chili w/hotdogs + Spagetti
Cube Steak
Fish Sticks
Fried Rice
Fried Chicken
Ham
Hamburgers
Lasagna
Noodles and beef
Pizza
Pork Chops
Pork Roast
Roast, Beef
Roast beef Dip Sandwiches
Sirloin Steak
Sides
Beets
Brown Rice
Cottage Cheese
Cucumbers
Corn
hash brown potatoes
Baked Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Macaroni and Cheese
Mushrooms
Pasta Roni
Peas
Pork and Beans
Olives
Salad
Sweet Pickles
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BillandCarole
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10/06/09 09:31am |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Traveling the Alkan Highway
Well, since others are making corrections ... the Alaska Highway was built between Dawson Creek, BC and Delta Junction, Alaska. Although nowadays many consider its terminus to be Fairbanks. Nowadays it is also considerably easier to drive than it was 20 years ago.
To see many pictures taken along the Alaska Highway, visit the series of pages on my website at http://suethomas.ca/AlaskaHwy_Main.html. Continue with your research to uncover facilities and sights that interest you.
Also consider driving northward on the Alaska Highway and southward on the Cassiar Highway. The Cassiar is considered more remote but is a good drive now that it is all paved.
We think the best campgrounds are the non-commercial ones ... British Columbia and Yukon have lovely parks/campgrounds. Not with hookups or services though. Many of our favourites are also pictured on my website.
I beg to differ on the Cassiar being all paved. The northern end (about 50 miles) was mostly gravel and more than a little "rugged". It was a beautiful drive and I also highly recommend it. Just take it slow.
Regards
Bill and Carole
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BillandCarole
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10/01/09 09:41pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: I/90 Spokane thru MN last two weeks of Oct.
With the fronts punching through, and the next one due in this weekend, I would choose the lower routes and get moving. The winter weather patterns seem to becoming early. There are indications that it is to be an El Nino year, and that means it will be stormy and wet.
I hope so, as we need the water.
Bill
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BillandCarole
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09/30/09 10:47pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Fall color East - where? Take canoe at 13' high & bikes?
How many Kayaks do you have? How long is/are they?
This summer in Alaska I saw several kayaks mounted on the rear ladders of rigs. I am in the process of building such a ladder mount. The rigs had a "hoop" at the bottom of the ladder (attached at the side of the rig) that the one end of the kayak rested in. The upper portion of the kayak was attached to a rung of the ladder by a bar locked into the cockpit. This works for only one kayak however. The max length would depend upon the height of your rig.
Hope this helps.
Bill
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BillandCarole
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09/30/09 09:46pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: I know I shouldn't but
What is the pin weight?
Our 8K (26 ft) Komfort comes close (a max pin weight of 1650) to maxing out our 2K8 Duramax and when the extras are added in.
Quite sure you will exceed the max gross weight rating of the truck (9200 lbs) with this rig. Put it on your truck and see for yourself.
It will pull it. But you are really pushing the safety margins.
Sorry
Bill
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BillandCarole
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09/30/09 09:31pm |
Towing
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RE: Arctic Fox vs Komfort
Our Komfort 241fs is now a little over 18 months old. We have traveled nearly 30K with it including a 4 month trip to Alaska this summer. This has been our experience:
1. We put over size (16 inch) tires on it. Komforts and Artic foxes both run heavy. Ours weighs nearly 8K when loaded. However with the oversize tires we are still nearly 3K under our gross weight. (A comfort). Our critical factor is TV gross weight (9200 lbs) which we crowd because it is a 5'ver.
2. Our gray water (45 gals) fills long before our black water (also 45 gals). The tank indicators are practically useless and not to be trusted.
3. All the appliances have had no issues although the heater ducts were full of junk and we have had to remove the grates several times to clean out all the manufacturing crud left in them.
4. Depending on the jack positions and stress, our floor tends to squeak. An annoyance that comes and goes.
5. The air conditioner struggles when temperatures reach a 100. I wish we had upgraded it to 13000 BTU's. An issue that we want to address. The rig is well (for a rig) insulated but this still isn't a lot.
6. With the axles flipped, and oversize tires, we're tall. A little over 120 inches.
7. Some of the cabinet hinges were installed incorrectly and had to be repaired.
This being said, overall we are pleased with the rig. Nothing is perfect. Also, if you call Komfort, (they are made in Clackamas, Oregon) they will give you a factory tour. Ours was an eye opener.
Best Wishes
Bill and Carole
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BillandCarole
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09/27/09 08:48am |
Travel Trailers
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Low Battery Shuts off the Propane?
Our previous 5'ver was a 1991 Alpenlite. Early one spring while dry camping, it snowed. The furnace had run quite a bit over night and the voltage in the batteries had dropped to 11.4 volts. At this point the stove would not light, the fridge started flashing (no gas) and the furnace was putting out only cold air. One propane tank was full and the other still held a decent amount of gas. Once we started the generator, everything returned to working. A tech at the local RV dealer said the rig was equipped with an automatic master shut off that functioned if the voltage dropped low enough to prevent electronic ignition. Is this true? I have carefully read our current 5'ver manual and can find no mention of this.
Regards
Bill
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BillandCarole
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09/23/09 10:58pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: What Alaska Cost Us
We hadn't looked at the $22 a day for food in this regard. It is an eyeopener. This being said, I will add that the food items included "spirits", some entertainment expenses (with friends) and the times we ate out. NONE of these are inexpensive up north where cheap beer can cost over a $1 a can and a "growler" well over $20. I don't even want to think of what the wife's wine cost... While we are far from alcoholics, we do like to relax in the evenings with friends and enjoy at least a palatable wine. And as for eating out, gads, we asked some Canadians how they afforded it, and their answer was that for the most part they didn't eat out... Alaska wasn't much cheaper.
Bill and Carole
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BillandCarole
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09/23/09 09:16am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Over Filled Propane Tank
When we started this topic, I never expected the wealth of confusion and controversy that was going to be generated. I greatly appreciate everyones input for I have LEARNED a great deal that we did not know before. I was misinformed, (my own fault) and well meaning. We wanted to know the truth and were willing to show our "ignorance". Knowledge doesn't come cheap. We think we have sorted it all out. Have we?
In summary:
The absolute maximum capacity of a tank is its TOC (water weight). This may or may not be stamped on the collar of the tank (ours wasn't).
80% of this amount is the max fill amount. in the case of a 7 gallon tank (actually 7.1 gals) this is 30 lbs or 80% of the water weight which is 8.5 lbs.
The empty weight of the tank is 25 lbs. The full tank should weigh about 55 lbs. The weight of the propane should be 30 lbs and have a 7.1 gallon value assuming a reasonable temperature (usually 70 degrees).
Do we have it right?
Thanks
Bill and Carole
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BillandCarole
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09/22/09 03:15pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: What Alaska Cost Us
Do you consider this the cost of the trip ?
Or can we figure about 1/2 of that ?
I don't know about others, but when we stay home, we still eat, and buy misc stuff:E
The wife and I didn't "scrimp" and then again we didn't splurge either. We could have done it more cheaply. We boon docked when we could and diligently searched for the "best" (translated the most for the cost) RV sites. Our rig averaged 12.4 mpg (diesel) and we had a 60 gallon capacity. We were able to bypass the most expensive refueling points. Also, a month was spent outside Canada and Alaska.
It would be very hard to cut the cost by 1/2. 1/4 to 1/3 would be hard to do, but doable but the enjoyment a lot less. We did some tours, ate out some, and made a lot of side trips. No fishing licenses etc although we were given salmon (and even some halibut). A seniors Canadian National Parks pass was included in the costs.
The bottom line is that this is what we actually spent for the time we were gone. It reconciled neatly with our bank account records (the costs were an Excel spread sheet kept diligently by the wife). We actually came home to more money than we left with in the bank.
Bill
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BillandCarole
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09/22/09 02:42pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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What Alaska Cost Us
Departed Vacaville, CA 15 May 09 (Near Sacramento)
Returned 9 Sept 09
10,700 miles - Diesel w/26ft 5'ver
Gas: $2,653
Food: 2,558
Lodging: 1,757
Misc: 2,431
Total $9,381
Also toured the Canadian National Parks.
Regards
Bill and Carole
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BillandCarole
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09/21/09 11:20pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Over Filled Propane Tank
I have done a bunch of research since the original post. What I found is that the tanks are not to be over filled, defined as 80% of capacity. The tank in question were 7.5 gallon tanks and therefore should not have been filled with more than 6 gallons of propane. Previously they had never taken more than 5.6 lbs. The something was definitely wrong here and a letter is in order.
Exactly how dangerous this was, I am not sure. Did they really put 7.1 gallons in it? Or was I over charged? I am not sure. What ever happened, we are not happy about it.
Thanks for the replies
Bill
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BillandCarole
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09/19/09 06:47pm |
Tech Issues
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Over Filled Propane Tank
This topic has been moved to another forum.
You can read it here: 23212001
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BillandCarole
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09/18/09 03:41pm |
Forum Technical Support
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Over Filled Propane Tank
The last time we refilled one of our 7.5 gallon propane tanks, the "technican" put 7.1 gallons into it (this is what we were charged for) I raised a fuss. It got me no where. I took the tank, paid the bill, and left. The tank functioned as it was supposed to. Did I make the right decision? Previously the tank(s) had never needed more than 5.6 gallons (80%) of the capacity. Should we complain to the upper management?
Thoughts?
Bill
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BillandCarole
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09/18/09 03:41pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Satallite Dishes-TV and Internet - WHEN?
An aircard is epitome of simplicity when compared to satellite internet. Talk about a pain in the posterior, particularly when you get up north. ARGH!!! Takes forever to aim and setup where it won't move. And this has to be repeated to take it down. Some of the newer automated units are nice, but who wants to spend that kind of money? It'll buy a lot of diesel, or used to.
Been there and won't go again.
Bill
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BillandCarole
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09/17/09 10:28pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Can Our Bumper Handle Bikes?
I would be VERY cautious about rear bumper mounted bike racks. We have used ours for two years but we have had to have the mounts and receiver modified twice, at a cost of over $200. And we still had damage to the bike rack and bikes last month. We use a VERY beefy Yakima rack mounted on a 2" receiver. We stress-sheared one of the arms off the rack while in Canada. Not a great thing to have to recover from a long way from home. There is a lot of movement on the rear of a rig, its like being at the end of a fly fishing pole. Lots of amplified vertical movements. If nothing else is available then do it, but ONLY as a last resort.
Bill and Carole
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BillandCarole
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09/17/09 09:56pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Crossing the country!
Hi
We envy your departure... The wife and I are planning a similar trip for next fall and have been assembling information on routes and things to see. If you will PM us with your email address we will be glad to share this information with you.
Bill and Carole
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BillandCarole
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09/17/09 08:54am |
Truck Campers
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