RE: Any Advice on Financing an RV Purchase?
In regards to my income vs. something not being right. My mother has a lot of serious medical expenses for her long term care. I also have two young children.
So what is being stacked against me:
1. Disabled mother medical care. As an example, I recently finished paying off a $40,000 bill due to things not covered.
2. Pre-teen kids
3. Living in California in general is damn expensive
4. Just recently paid off both of our cars and saved 11,000 so I am now going positive with my cash flow.
5. Always paid cash throughout my life. In the past 18 months, I have been establishing credit. So I guess you could say I have "new" credit. Which I'm told some financial institutions like to see 10 year credit histories. My average age of accts is 2.2 years.
That's ok, you do not need to explain it to anybody, it's none of there dang business!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RE: Debit or Credit Card?
To me it's a personal choice. I don't use CC that often. If I have the money I buy and if I don't I don't buy. I carry 1 CC for emergencies, but I pay cash for everything. I spent 30 years traveling and the amount of rebates I recieved weren't worth the hassle they were. JMHO
What you are not getting is the fact one can use a credit card to spend the money they already have. Just because one uses a card doesn't mean they are borrowing money. You pay cash with green stuff, some pay cash with plastic.
If one takes enough paper money for a significant trip and then loses it, has it stolen, etc. there is no way to recover it, that money is forever gone. Not so with the plastic version of cash...
RE: Advantages of a manual transmission
I hate to ask but what was (is) the point of this thread?
The initial information given isn't true in many ways. Then the OP starts talking big rig transmissions which isn't all that relevant.
The Allison used in the GM trucks has the torque converter always locked in T/H mode and so engine braking is equal to a manual. It is a 6 speed. I don't know of anyone offering a manual in a light truck with more gears. I believe Ford's Torqueshift transmission works similarly.
A thinly veiled bash on inferior people who have automatic transmissions?
Gotta love choices, that way each can have what suits them. Obviously automatics are not "inferior" or the vast majority would make nor be able to continue to sell them.
RE: It's that time of the year....dog complaints.
I see two negative threads going about dogs. Seems to happen every year. Did you know that dogs were the first animals to be domesticated? They have been with humans for thousands of years providing protection and companionship. Lets take a moment to consider these wonderful animals and their unwavering dedication and loyalty to us.
Considered... thousands of years, great companions, wonderfull animals.
Now keep yours out of my personal space please!
RE: Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos
Makes me wonder if the reason it's not a sticky has to do with CW's profits. Whatever - their playground, their rules.
I Know! I'm tired of all these conspiracies! We have to stand up for our rights better... :W
RE: Rv financing
Financing Dumb.
Wow, page 2, usually it's page 1 when your called an idiot for not paying cash! :R
So true! Just ignore the holier than though crowd, finance responsibly if that is what makes sense in your situation...
RE: Magnum ME-BMK vs. Bogart Tri-Metric 2025
Is the Magnum ME-BMK battery monitor running through the Magnum ME-RC50 remote as accurate in monitoring actual battery condition as the Bogart Engineering Tri-Metric 2025 battery monitor? Handy Bob says the BMK is inadequate "because of the automatic charge efficiency calculator and it’s 97% limit" and the Tri-Metric 2025 is the only way to go. An installer has said the BMK is of "equal quality to the Bogart Engineering Tri-Metric." Who is right?
While I cannot speak to absolute accuracies (I don't believe anybody can) and I have no experience with Bogart equipment, I can state this:
I use the Magnum BMK. Mine has no 97% limit. It always registers 100% when appropriate. My setup is 4 golf cart batteries with serious cabling (short and big). The inverter charger is the ME2800. Love the system, no problems of any nature have shown up in two years.
RE: Power tongue jack --Why ?
It is quite interesting to see the different personalities here on RV.net in accordance with their answers.
I posted what I thought was a simple question, and along with many answers that were straight forward and answered it, I received lots of sarcasim, and a few outright mean answers.
I thank you people who enlightened me on the tongue load, and weight.
I also thank some of you others for enlightening me on the fact that there are some RV'rs that I wouldn't want to be next to at a camp ground
I won't read or post to this particular thread any more, and in the future, if I have a question, I'll make sure it is one that just requires a "yes" or "no" answer.
Jack L
Maybe it wasn’t the question that brought forth the answers you find offensive but rather the condescending tone of your justification for the question… not to mention your other comments which followed the same tone...
I have to agree with this too...Jack, you have been a member for 10 years and have 3400 posts or something like that, every few months we have new guys asking about power jacks.
No question at all. This is a common thing here. Why do you people do x,y or z? You are wasting money, you are lazy, etc. etc. I do it this way so there is something superior about me. To say otherwise fools nobody...
RE: Oregon Coast Trip
We are anticipating a trip up the Oregon coast on Highway 101 in the future. We have a 36 foot Jayco Seneca Class C with a tow car. We plan on starting on Highway 101 in the southwest corner of Oregon at Brookings. We aren’t sure how far north we will go (possibly all the way to Astoria) pending some of your answers to question #1. Our questions are as follows:
1. Is Highway 101 conducive to travelling with a tow car? I have a 36 foot Class C.
Welcome to Brookings when you get here! Know that a lot of these coastal towns (esp here at Brookings) have some pretty foggy summer days next to the ocean. It usually clears up in the early afternoons.
July and August are typically the worst for this.
All of 101 is used every single day by massive amounts of semi trucks and trailers, any RV/towing combination conceivable without any problems at all. Do not worry about getting around on 101...
If you have kids, stop in at the dinosaur place North of Goldbeach. Old town Bandon has some interesting shops with lots of craftwork. Check out any of the Myrtle wood shops, glass blowing, etc.
RE: When to retire
The other thing I'm a bit suprised that hasn't come up is people who have careers that they love.
I hear that brought up a lot ... and frankly I've never understood it.
My career (electrical engineer) offered a whole bunch of satisfying high points day after day over the years, but not anywhere near as much enjoyment as retirement activities such as:
- Having enough time to really help others, including traveling to them ... both here in the U.S. and in other countries
- Having enough time to really help with the care of our elderly parents ... including just about unlimited time traveling to them and staying with them
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Photography
- Rock hounding
- RV'ing throughout this great country of ours with no time constaints
- Bird watching
- Exploring
- Finally getting some things done decently at our residence
IMHO, such things as those above are so far above any kind of work I can't imagine trying to compare the two. I would have had no problem retiring the day I was born - but was born way too poor to do that. Work is work - and "work" ... when you get right down to it ever since the Garden of Eden ... is basically to provide food, shelter, safety, and health for us and our loved ones.
Let me attempt to help you understand...
I already get all the time I need or want for volunteering, my hobbies, etc. So, like some others, I don't have to choose.
Work is not just "work" to some or just a means to an end.
Some people get paid to do those things you are doing in your retirement.
Just because "work" provides money for the necessities doesn't mean that for some it can't also provide the same enjoyment you get from the things you do in retirement.
How satisfied were you really with your daily career that your retirement was so far above your work that you couldn't compare the two and would have retired at birth?
A lot of people have jobs where helping others is what they do, like doctors, nurses, pyschiatrists, troubled youth counselers and many other professions that are centered around helping others. Also some peoples hobbies are their jobs, like fishing and hunting guides, etc.
In the end, we all have to do what suits us best, retiring at birth definitely isn't for me!
RE: When to retire
But you have to have something to retire to; not just retire FROM something! Does the term Stir Crazy come to mind?
I think this hits it on the head. A lot of folks ask when the DW and I are going to retire, we are not that old BTW, But the question I always come up with is what would I do all day?
OK I get the whole travel in RV, and seeing different things, but you can't drive everyday, I like golf and have other hobbies, but hobbies are those things I do when I have free time, I don't want to turn them into a job...
Volunteering, while good, has it's own issues, so many people want you to volunteer for different things that it can turn into a 'full time' job in and of itself. THe DW was going to volunteer at the local hospital, till they told her she had to volunteer for 40 hours a week and be on a schedule. If I am going to put in 40 hours, I am going to get paid.
I here you there. The other thing I'm a bit suprised that hasn't come up is people who have careers that they love. I fall into this category, work for a great company that really looks out for us, have a very satisfying and rewarding job where I feel useful and can make a difference and am doing what I love. Only putting in about 40 hrs a week, can possibly see that being reduced, but not too much. At 52, the job and it's structure/my satisfaction give me what I need even though we could probably swing retirement...
RE: Increasing Airflow through Condenser.
The bean counters have the final say, not the engineers. Good enough is far from ideal. Maximum profit always wins out and if they can get a case of fans for 10 dollars cheaper that have different cfm ratings, then that is 10 more dollars in the pocket of the guy up top who gets to praise the bean counters for allowing him to by another useless bauble for his trophy wife/mistress for whom nothing will ever be good enough.
This made my day... you absolutely sure it works like that everywhere, all the time? Funny stuff! :W
RE: Labor Day Weekend - Who's Camping?
We're fortunatre that we do all three major holidays over the summer! Going to Howard Prarie Lake in Oregon, Thursday thru Monday. Wouldn't miss Labor Day camping for anything!
RE: GPS Disappoints
I wish you could put user defined routes into these things instead of it always building the route. More like aircraft and marine systems. I think the on route guidance and information they give is very handy but they often won't take the route I want and it is difficult or impossible to trick them into building the route you want. The GPS building a route in a city you don't know can be very handy but on the highway it can be very frustrating.
One thing I have learned is never use the "shortest distance" function unless you are on a bicycle or a horse because it is liable to take you down a goat track.
This is probably possible and fairly easy for you to do on your GPS. Use Google maps as others have said, finding the route you want. Break the route down into a few pieces, making sure the individual pieces hit the key turns or specific cities or waypoints you want to take. Most GPS's let you string together waypoints or you could just set up a series of places to travel to. Maybe named mytrip1, mytrip2 etc. so they are easy to find in order...
I've tried it on both Garmin and Magellan units and haven't found it easy at all. It can be done sometimes but usually involves a lot of trial and error and gnashing of teeth.
I don't think I explained the latter half of my suggestion well enough.
Say you want to go from point A to Point C but want to make sure you go through point B because it makes you avoid whatever you want to avoid. Set a waypoint to point B and when you get there set your next waypoint to point C. Repeat as necesary. It will obviously take more time than just one waypoint but if you can set one waypoint you can set a 1000 just as easily.
It can always be done, no exceptions, and done very easily, it just takes more time. Guaranteed no trial and error or gnashing of teeth!
:)
Happy camping!
RE: GPS Disappoints
I wish you could put user defined routes into these things instead of it always building the route. More like aircraft and marine systems. I think the on route guidance and information they give is very handy but they often won't take the route I want and it is difficult or impossible to trick them into building the route you want. The GPS building a route in a city you don't know can be very handy but on the highway it can be very frustrating.
One thing I have learned is never use the "shortest distance" function unless you are on a bicycle or a horse because it is liable to take you down a goat track.
This is probably possible and fairly easy for you to do on your GPS. Use Google maps as others have said, finding the route you want. Break the route down into a few pieces, making sure the individual pieces hit the key turns or specific cities or waypoints you want to take. Most GPS's let you string together waypoints or you could just set up a series of places to travel to. Maybe named mytrip1, mytrip2 etc. so they are easy to find in order...
RE: Egos
Some people don't accept disagreements well. Just because someone disagrees with you, and tells you so, doesn't make them a know-it-all. They have as much right to their opinion, and the right to defend it, as you do.
And none of us are immune to this illness:
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/myl/llog/duty_calls.png
Awesome cartoon! :B
This is so true, see myself going there. Not to BE right but to try to GET to right.
In other words, I don't think it is usually ego on technical issues; it is more about not getting blinded by trying to get to the truth of something.
This happens a lot when people are in exact, precise technical trades that require things to be broken down to their black and white levels to be dealt with. The difficult situations occur when technical people try to help non technical people, or when two or more technical people fixate on different aspects of an issue.
This either brings out the worst or the best of someones abilities to effectively communicate, which I don't think I do well. I do admire those who can communicate well through that barrier, and will start leaving that to them! :)
RE: electrical issues
i appreciate all the help and ideas from everyone but it seem this post has turned into a contest for other members instead of a discussion about helping try to solve the problem.
thank you all again for the help and i will end this post
if anyone would like to know what i find out than ask and i will have no problem posting it.
thank you all again, im sure with everything discussed before the contest started, i should be able to get to the bottom of the issue.
shawn
Shawn,
sorry you feel that way, I for one, apologize for contributing to taking any attention from your thread. I did not think I was in a contest with anybody, just trying to keep an open mind and not rule out any possibilities.
We are all interested in trying to help solve the problem and hope you will post what you find when you are able to get back to it on Friday.
:)
