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RE: Attention Oregonians! Fight for better RV plates!
and now wants the no license plate frames law enforced so you can read the website. Oh the joys of the liberal legislature here.
That law is so that the state is clearly visible for law enforcement and reporting purposes. In most areas you can still have a license plate cover it just can't obscure the state.
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CathyGo
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06/18/12 01:55pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Attention Oregonians! Fight for better RV plates!
That standard plate is fugly. I'd hate to have to look at it every day.
Some places say they are concerned about clarity with specialty plates. I'd challenge those people to look at my Arizona conservation plate. It's very detailed but the stark white against a colored background still makes it easy to read. I love how it looks.
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CathyGo
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06/18/12 01:52pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Does ANYONE have any kind of RV or camping device
The only thing that has worked perfectly camping wise is my tent, sleeping bag, and pad. Simple is good.
I kind of like having something to mess with on my RV. I would probably enjoy it a lot more if I had the funds to fix it but there's enough to do that's just labor to keep me busy for now.
To do list for my RV:
get to electrical hook-up for a night to see if A/C units work(RV is up for sale if they don't)
Needs to be driven minimum of 3 hours with radiator cleaner in it
Flush radiator till it runs clean(ish)
If radiator flow still restricted try citric acid cleaner
Flush again(and again and again...)
Re-fill radiator with proper coolant mix
Find new cap for overflow tank
find out why convection microwave is sparking
Dump and flush/sanitize all tanks
Finish re-caulking kitchen area
Tear out old caulk on exterior where it has gaps and replace with new
Get up on roof and assess seals up there
Take apart storage area covers that are rotten and replace with new inner materials. I'm considering using polystyrene foam insulation boards.
Re-do spline on all loose window screens and repair tears.
Replace lock on gas tank
Wash
Polish(maybe)
Wax
attach propane to see if fridge/stove work
change oil and oil filter
replace lifters to get to the under bed storage
replace the 10 light bulbs that are burnt out
get generator running
pull big awning out to find where the pull cord went to and see if it needs any repairs
See? Plenty to keep me from just sitting around the house till my classes start.:B
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CathyGo
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06/18/12 02:10am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: how well you sleep changes when you hear KABOOM!
this is gonna sound dumb, but i never added water to it, and there was nothing on the battery anywhere that said anything about adding water. not even sure if the caps would have come off. it did say it was a maint-free battery. did i miss something????
st
I'm not sure what part of country you're in but around here even those sealed "maintenance-free" batteries are known to lose water and fail prematurely. I got just regular deep cycle batteries for my RV since it's so much more convenient to add water than to pursue a warranty claim.
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CathyGo
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06/16/12 09:30pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Reliable mechanic in Phoenix
Steer clear of Peoria Ford!
I was initially a little leery over being quoted $5500 for complete replacement of engine lifters when they couldn't even tell me if that was really a problem but what happened today made my mind up.
I went to pick up my RV from them yesterday to find several signs that it really wasn't ready. The plastic cover for the area under the steering wheel was sitting on the engine, various things soaked in coolant and rags underneath the vehicle, etc. It took us a minute to figure out what the random plastic piece sitting on my engine was until I realized that I could see more under the steering wheel than I normally could. The service dept guy said the tech that had worked on my RV was out sick so it took them a minute to get everything back in place. Just sitting there the RV was overheating and the afternoon was only going to get hotter so I asked if it would be okay to come back in the morning to give it the best chance of getting home. They agreed that would be okay and I left them my keys if they needed to move it for some reason.
I went back this morning and grabbed the keys from them. I didn't even get a full mile before the temp gauge completely red lined. I pulled over and called my road side assistance for a tow. They got me most of the way home but it still left me 3 miles or so short of home because of their 15 mile limit. I went back to where I left it tonight with 3 gallons of water and a half jug of coolant. By the time the radiator was full I'd dumped all but maybe a quarter of a gallon into it. I made it all the way home without it even threatening to overheat. I suspect that they didn't refill my radiator after replacing the thermostat. Might have been that the guy out sick had intended on re-filling it the next morning and everybody else thought it was finished.
I will give them a chance to explain themselves but I'm pretty irritated right now. The vehicle had no coolant leaks when I dropped it off and I don't see any signs of it having one now.
BTW, mother still knows best. It was her that suggested making sure that there was enough coolant in the radiator. :)
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CathyGo
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06/15/12 11:39pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Colorado High Park Fire
I think you can probably forget most fires this year in lots of the west. If all of Colorado isn't under an open fire ban within the next week I'll be amazed. most counties already are. It's unbelievably dry here. Looks like Mid-august, not early June.
I just got back from going through Arizona and New Mexico. Tonto NF and Cocotino NF. Fire bans EVERYWHERE!
The place I camped normally only had a requirement that campfires stay in the fire rings. I used a tiny quickly extinguished fire to burn all the cigarette butts the previous occupants left in the fire ring. (Gross! only 6ft from a trash can too) Found out later that a complete ban was in place. It was way too easy to find dry wood this year. Most of the time I have trouble finding any and have to scour the campground for dry wood. This year? I could have made a full bon fire from the wood within 20 ft. :(
We're in for a rough summer this year. My relatives in Illinois says it's real dry there too. The farmers say the fields are frying.
Always be able to get out in at least two directions if you go into the woods.
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CathyGo
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06/13/12 08:36pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 85 mph ?
We already have the 85mph speed limit on a very large portion of I-10 in west Texas.
I've driven that portion and didn't see any issues with it. The back highways I drove today where the speed limit was 55-65 still had plenty of people going that speed anyway.
Right to drive, Left to pass
If everybody follows that rule than the speed they're traveling at does not matter. In fact the only issue I had with a driver during my whole 600 mile camping trip was a driver who had to be "reminded" that when we had finally reached a passing lane after me enduring him slowing to 45 repeatedly to look at the scenery he'd better get in the right lane. Thankfully being on a scooter makes your hand gestures to get in the other lane very clear.:W
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CathyGo
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06/09/12 09:23pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Reliable mechanic in Phoenix
Thanks for the info. I also have a 1994 Rexhall. It is overheating currently but has sat for about 7 months straight and I'm pretty sure a lot of stuff is gummed up from that.
This won't be used to actually travel so I just want to get it to the point where it's registrable and can be driven lightly safely.
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CathyGo
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06/07/12 01:28am |
Class A Motorhomes
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Reliable mechanic in Phoenix
This topic has been moved to another forum.
You can read it here: 26116366
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CathyGo
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06/07/12 12:38am |
General RVing Issues
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Reliable mechanic in Phoenix
Anybody know of a reliable mechanic for an F53 chassis in Phoenix?
I'm willing to drive out to Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, etc. I'm getting told I need to do very expensive engine repairs on a 1994 with only 50,000 miles on it. So far they've told me I need to have fuel pump, radiator, engine lifters($$!), replaced and they haven't even gotten all the way through the vehicle yet. Looking for a second opinion.
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CathyGo
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06/07/12 12:38am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: not everyone is entertained by us
Three word solution to dealing with kids being kids.
Noise Cancelling Headphones!
You want the DJ style headphones, not earbuds. The earbuds get uncomfortable really quick. Some models don't even need music to be playing to get the canceling effect and I highly recommend looking for those. I'm sensitive to noise so I know that what I would consider "reasonable" would be too much to expect from excited kids. Unfortunately the bass from obnoxious stereos still gets through and gives me headaches.
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CathyGo
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06/06/12 02:17am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Rusty RV Steps
I thought it seemed a lot harder than paint. lol I will probably have to redo it in a few years. Love those diamond plate covers.
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CathyGo
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06/05/12 11:05pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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Rusty RV Steps
My rv's steps had several issues.
The first was that they wouldn't retract and when they did they only went half way. I found a tutorial that covered opening up the motor to check the plastic plugs inside. When I opened the motor all I had was white chunks of plastic everywhere.:E After removing all the chunks and old grease I installed new plugs and grease. It worked!
The next issue is that I could see bubbled paint which means rust. So the tread tape was pulled off and I tried to get all the rust off with a wire brush. Didn't work that well. Next I tried a wire brush powered by a drill. Better but still not doing the trick. I ended up using a chemical rust remover and converter that also prepared the surface for painting. The only hiccup I had with the chemical is that it ate the foam brush I was using to apply it and left a film. Vinegar cleaned up the film.
I used a hammered finish paint and it did a pretty good job of masking the surface craters from the rust. I was walking through the tile section and came across these rubber safety treads. They looked to be just what I needed and when I got them home I found that they were even the same length as my steps. I trimmed the width and attached them to the metal step with double sided duct tape. We'll see how that holds up in the Arizona heat.
I wish I had taken a before picture of the steps and what the motor looked like when I opened it.
Here's my steps now
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11/CathyG/IMG_0225.jpg
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CathyGo
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06/05/12 10:39pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Love Camping World
I've been in and out of my local CW in Mesa, AZ more than a few times over the last month or so to get various things or just browse. The employees in both retail and service have been friendly and helpful every single time. They remember me and ask if the RV is running yet. After hearing about how CW is supposedly really overpriced I've done comparison shopping on most stuff and CW was a few dollars away from everybody else at most. I'll gladly pay a few bucks extra to get the customer service and the ability to handle an item before buying it.
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CathyGo
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06/04/12 02:40pm |
Camping World Accessories
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RE: Starving cat at Seven Points CG TN
That's true and a difficult situation to work with. Still seems like there would at least be a better option than to let them slowly starve to death.
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CathyGo
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06/04/12 01:43pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Starving cat at Seven Points CG TN
Apparently the camp Hosts feel no obligation to call Animal Control or local Rescues. The problem is ignored.
Disgusting. :M
I picked up a pup that had been dumped at the Lordsburg Pilot station on my way back to El Paso once. Ticks, green goop coming out of it's nose, feverish, breathing hard, skinny, very lethargic, not socialized, etc. Probably about 4 months old. Witnesses saw somebody pull up and kick him out of a pick up truck. I put him in the drop off box at Las Cruces AC where he was most likely euthanized the next morning. A better end than being run over but I still felt bad about it.:(
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CathyGo
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06/04/12 09:31am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: ant bites
The aloe vera sprays with lidocaine are very effective on bites. The lidocaine numbs the area just enough to calm the itching down.
A trick I've found for mosquito bites is to rub the area very hard for a few minutes without breaking the skin and then leave it alone. A few hours later a small fluid filled bump will form on top of the bite. Drain it and most of the chemicals that cause the itch will be removed.
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CathyGo
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06/02/12 10:51pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: When leaving on extended RV trip???
Why is it recommended to turn the water heater off when shutting off the water at the meter?
Is there anything wrong with just turning the water heater down to the "vacation" setting?
Because Murphy has a field day with electrical appliances. :B Why assume the risk of a malfunction when you can just pull the plug and know that it's not going to try and run dry?
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CathyGo
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06/02/12 10:41pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Glad I got to the dump station first
could it be that these people just dont know how to use a dump station ?
That might be a factor. Even the garbage cans have more directions than the dump station. How hard would it be to set up a simple set of pictorial instructions clearly indicating the use of a hose and not doing unsanitary things with the freshwater spigot? I'll admit I looked up how to use the sewer hose on YouTube. I had a compartment full of fittings and had no idea what the hell they went to. :o
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CathyGo
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06/02/12 07:18am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: RV Parking City Ordnances
Most claim the RVs are a safety hazard if parked on the street. Too big for neighbors to see around when backing out of driveways. Create a bottleneck due to width. But overall it's probably more like the neighbors consider them unsightly.
She stated she had driven by my house one day when my RV was parked close to the corner (I live on a corner lot) and as she pulled forward a kid darted out from the front of my RV and and she nearly hit him and it really scared her.
I don't know about your street but on mine parking an RV would create a safety hazard due to situations like these. Our neighbors are really great and take it slow but people use our street as a cut through sometimes. A large RV would block their vision and the vision of people pulling out of driveways. Some streets are wide enough though and I think it should be on a case by case basis. There was an RV parked up the street while I was visiting my Grandma and it wasn't blocking anything at all due to the street being so wide there. It was a big class A too.
If it's parked safely it's nobody's business but if it creates a hazard it's gotta move no matter how inconvenient it is for the RV owner. I'm glad mine fits in the driveway(barely!). The school bus would have taken a mirror off by now if it didn't. :B
Any chance she knew who's kid it was? You were the easier target but I'd hope she would let them know the kid was doing something dangerous.
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CathyGo
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06/02/12 06:42am |
Beginning RVing
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