RE: Transportation from NYC airports to Liberty Harbor RV Park
One bus and two subways will get you from LaGuardia to a half mile from Liberty Harbor
“ 60 “ bus from LaGuardia to Astoria Boulevard
At Astoria Boulevard /31 Street transfer to the “ N “ train to 34 Street-Herald Square / Broadway
PATH from 33rd Street Station to Grove Street Station
RE: Propane stopped working
7:41 AM POST
Last night the temperature dropped to freezing.
Sometime during the night the gas furnace stopped blowing hot air.
This morning none of the devices are receiving propane –
We have a full propane tank
8:22 AM POST
The last time filled was about a month ago on a trip.
We turned the tank off and back on and everything is working fine now.
(I think turning the tank off then back on had NO effect)
Where did you get your “Propane" tank filled?
You are from the South (normally warm climate)
What is really in your tank?
You might have a propane – butane mixture in your tank.
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) can be propane, butane, or a mixture of the two.
Oil refiners are in business to make a profit. This means they need to sell both the Propane and Butane produced. Propane is more suitable for use in colder climates and Butane is useable in warmer climates.
Propane has a freezing point of -310 and a boiling point of about -43 degrees Fahrenheit. Butane has a freezing point of -144 and a boiling point of about 31 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you purchased your LPG in the north or a cold climate, you can probably safely assume that is propane. If you purchased it in the south and during warm weather, there is a high chance that it could be a blend of propane and butane and possibly just butane. .
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas ---Propane/Butane) is liquefied by pressure. This means that in our normal environment ( our standard air pressure and average temperatures) it would be a gas. However, if it is compressed (put under pressure) it becomes a liquid. It must be kept under pressure to remain a liquid and this explains the difference between the equipment and procedures used to fill your propane tank and to fill your fuel (gasoline/diesel) tank.
When using propane/butane, the tank valve is opened, the regulator allows the pressure to be released at a controlled rate. When the pressure is released, the liquid propane/butane (boils) changes into a gas at low pressure which flows to the burner.
When a liquid changes to a gas, it boils. (This boiling takes energy. Heat energy is taken from the tank’s surroundings and this is why the tank gets colder.)
Propane has a boiling point of about -44 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of us do not use our RV’s at this temperature so above this temperature, the propane will boil off and the gas would flow to our burners.
Butane, on the other hand, has a boiling point of about 31 degrees Fahrenheit. Many of us do use our RV’s at this and even lower temperatures. If the Tank and contents are below 31 degrees Fahrenheit, the butane will not boil, thus it just stays in the tank as a liquid, even though the valve is open.
With out the butane boiling and the gas flowing out of the regulator, no burners will work. If your burners work when the outside temperatures are above 35 degrees Fahrenheit or so and not below, then this could be your problem.
Don’t expect the person that fills your tank to really know what they are putting in it. Many do not know that there Propane/Butane mixtures.
This problem has been reported before. Filled “propane” tank in southern California and every thing was working. Took a trip to the mountains (temperature below freezing) and furnace would not work.
RE: New York City
Liberty Harbor
I have stayed at Liberty Harbor several times. Can't wait to go back I have been there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and during the summer. It is basically a parking lot with Electrical and water hookups. There is a dump station. There is an adequate shower house.
You are going to New York City; Liberty Harbor is simply a convenient place to stay not a resort destination. You will not be spending much time there. What it offers is location. If you get a spot at the harbor side you have a view of the Statue of Liberty
There are those who want to be alarmists about safety (mainly those who have never been to Liberty Harbor) but I never felt unsafe while in the campground or the area going to the Grove Street Path Station. They are building expensive high rise condos next door.
I have walked between Liberty Harbor and the PATH station many times, both day and night and have never had concern for my safety.
I have noticed however, if you spend more than a minute looking at a subway map, someone will always offer to help you find your destination and best route. With the public transportation, you can do your visiting in the city and still comfortably return to the campground any time of the day or night.
On weekdays, you can take a water taxi from the campground to Manhattan. Ferry travels between Liberty Harbor in Jersey City, NJ and Pier 11, Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan. Not really cheap but you should do it once during the day and once at night for the view. Once you get to Manhattan, the Staten Island ferry is free and also offers a good view.
Ferry
The PATH (subway to Manhattan) is a short walk (0.6 mile) from campground. Buy the QuickCard and save time and money crossing over to Manhattan. (1 card can be used by several people) Use the Grove Street Station
Path
For the city, you can get a Metrocard, good for unlimited subway and local bus rides. A 1-Day Fun Pass ($8.25) or a 7 day pass ($27.00) will get you around the city (NOT VALID on PATH) (each passenger will need own card)
MTA
On the Google Earth view of Liberty Harbor Google Earth View of Liberty Harbor If you scroll upward you can see the Grove Street PATH Station
Google Earthview of Liberty Harbor
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RE: Must See in Alaska ?
“We're retired, so have plenty of time” Good --- to do it right, you need a lot of time.
A good start on trip planning would be to check on the opening dates of campgrounds.
I attempted to plan a “COUNTER-CLOCKWISE” trip ( Banff – Jasper – Alaska – Inside Passage – back through Washington State ) only to find that the campgrounds in that part of Canada opened much later in the season. I found that with a “CLOCKWISE” trip, I could start more than a month earlier.
The climate is much milder along the Inside Passage. The Japanese current that travels along the West Coast of the United States also provides lower Alaska with a mild maritime climate. The area is called the "Banana Belt of Alaska". You can be enjoying your Alaska experience while the campgrounds at Banff and Jasper are still closed.
In May of 2006, we traveled up the inside passage as part of our Alaska trip. Starting at Anacortes Washington to Victoria on Vancouver Island... Washington State Ferries Then drove to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island... ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert BC Ferries Then up the inside passage with stops at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau and ending at Skagway.
Since we wanted to see the country, we tried to travel by ferry only in the daylight so we spent two or more days at each port as we waited for the next daytime ferry. Prince Rupert and Skagway can be reached by driving. Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg , Sitka and Juneau are accessible only by plane and by ferry.
Each town is different than the others and each is interesting in various ways. The ferry docks are not in the towns and you would not be able to see anything in the hour that the ferry is in the dock.
How many times are you going to Alaska? Travel up the inside passage. Stop and take some time to see and enjoy. I made reservations for the ferries, but it was early in the travel season and there was still space available.
Travel during the day so you can enjoy the view. This requires a lot of extra planning and looking at the ferry schedules but I think it is worth it. The fare is more for multiple stops, but how many times are you going to take the ferry to Alaska?
If you can be flexible on the day you board the first ferry, you should be able to make a workable schedule with a smooth flow from port to port.
A small rig for ferry travel is good as the price increases if your rig is longer than 21 feet. There are campgrounds near each port. I tried to schedule each trip segment so I would be traveling in daylight although one departure was at 4:00 AM.
Cabins are not necessary if you travel during the day time. Some travelers making a non-stop Washington State – Alaska trip duct tape their tents to the floor of the upper deck.
Some of the ferries have showers on board. There are over 10 ferries on these routes and they are all different.
Don't miss Butchart Gardens in Victoria.
Teklanika is the best place to stay in Denal.
You might want to check out the bus transportation into the park before choosing your campground. If you stay at Teklanika, you can purchase ONE bus pass and use it every day. Normally you get a reserved seat on the bus on the second day of your stay at Teklanika but you can ride the bus as many times as you like. If you stay at Savage or Riley, you must purchase a new ticket every time you wish to take a bus ride into the park and depending upon the crowds, a seat might not be available. If the weather is bad and you are at Teklanika, you can always take the bus the next day
Don't miss Banff and Jasper on your way home.
We took the Dalton Highway, the "Haul Road" past the Arctic Circle to Coldfoot and Wiseman. You would want to check the road conditions before trying that.
It is fun to say that the RV has been North of the Arctic Circle.
RE: UltraGauge
After having my check engine light come on and no nearby access to a free code reading, I decided to never find myself in that position again. I now run an UltraGuage on my Ford V10 fulltime.
I am very satisfied with the unit
UltraGuage
RE: New York City area in early-mid November
Liberty Harbor will be open.
Liberty Harbor
Depending on the weather, they may shut off the water. If it hasn’t been too cold, it could still be on.
I have stayed at Liberty Harbor several times. Can't wait to go back I have been there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and during the summer. It is basically a parking lot with Electrical and water hookups. There is a dump station. There is an adequate shower house.
You are going to New York City; Liberty Harbor is simply a convenient place to stay not a resort destination. You will not be spending much time there. What it offers is location. If you get a spot at the harbor side you have a view of the Statue of Liberty
There are those who want to be alarmists about safety (mainly those who have never been to Liberty Harbor) but I never felt unsafe while in the campground or the area going to the Grove Street Path Station. They are building expensive high rise condos next door.
I have walked between Liberty Harbor and the PATH station many times, both day and night and have never had concern for my safety.
I have noticed however, if you spend more than a minute looking at a subway map, someone will always offer to help you find your destination and best route. With the public transportation, you can do your visiting in the city and still comfortably return to the campground any time of the day or night.
On weekdays, you can take a water taxi from the campground to Manhattan. Ferry travels between Liberty Harbor in Jersey City, NJ and Pier 11, Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan. Not really cheap but you should do it once during the day and once at night for the view. Once you get to Manhattan, the Staten Island ferry is free and also offers a good view.
Ferry
The PATH (subway to Manhattan) is a short walk (0.6 mile) from campground. Buy the QuickCard and save time and money crossing over to Manhattan. (1 card can be used by several people) Use the Grove Street Station
Path
For the city, you can get a Metrocard, good for unlimited subway and local bus rides. A 1-Day Fun Pass ($8.25) or a 7 day pass ($27.00) will get you around the city (NOT VALID on PATH) (each passenger will need own card)
MTA
On the Google Earth view of Liberty Harbor Google Earth View of Liberty Harbor If you scroll upward you can see the Grove Street PATH Station
Google Earth View of Liberty Harbor
RE: New York City
Liberty Harbor
I have stayed at Liberty Harbor several times. Can't wait to go back I have been there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and during the summer. It is basically a parking lot with Electrical and water hookups. There is a dump station. There is an adequate shower house.
You are going to New York City; Liberty Harbor is simply a convenient place to stay not a resort destination. You will not be spending much time there. What it offers is location. If you get a spot at the harbor side you have a view of the Statue of Liberty
There are those who want to be alarmists about safety (mainly those who have never been to Liberty Harbor) but I never felt unsafe while in the campground or the area going to the Grove Street Path Station. They are building expensive high rise condos next door. I have walked between Liberty Harbor and the PATH station many times, both day and night and have never had concern for my safety.
I have noticed however, if you spend more than a minute looking at a subway map, someone will always offer to help you find your destination and best route. With the public transportation, you can do your visiting in the city and still comfortably return to the campground any time of the day or night.
On weekdays, you can take a water taxi from the campground to Manhattan. Ferry travels between Liberty Harbor in Jersey City, NJ and Pier 11, Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan. Not really cheap but you should do it once during the day and once at night for the view. Once you get to Manhattan, the Staten Island ferry is free and also offers a good view.
Ferry
The PATH (subway to Manhattan) is a short walk (0.6 mile) from campground. Buy the QuickCard and save time and money crossing over to Manhattan. (1 card can be used by several people) Use the Grove Street Station
PATH
For the city, you can get a Metrocard, good for unlimited subway and local bus rides. A 1-Day Fun Pass ($8.25) or a 7 day pass ($27.00) will get you around the city (NOT VALID on PATH) (each passenger will need own card)
MTA
On the Google Earth view of Liberty Harbor Google Earth View of Liberty Harbor If you scroll upward you can see the Grove Street PATH Station
Google Earth view of Liberty Harbor
RE: Liberty Harbor, New Jersey questions
I have stayed on several occasions but I never saw a “Honey Wagon” of even heard it referenced until now. This does not mean that they do not have one. They might offer that service at the marina.
They do have a dump station.
Liberty Harbor
I have stayed at Liberty Harbor several times. Can't wait to go back I have been there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and during the summer. It is basically a parking lot with Electrical and water hookups. There is a dump station. There is an adequate shower house.
You are going to New York City; Liberty Harbor is simply a convenient place to stay not a resort destination. You will not be spending much time there. What it offers is location.
If you get a spot at the harbor side you have a view of the Statue of Liberty
There are those who want to be alarmists about safety (mainly those who have never been to Liberty Harbor) but I never felt unsafe while in the campground or the area going to the Grove Street Path Station. They are building expensive high rise condos next door. I have walked between Liberty Harbor and the PATH station many times, both day and night and have never had concern for my safety.
I have noticed however, if you spend more than a minute looking at a subway map, someone will always offer to help you find your destination and best route.
With the public transportation, you can do your visiting in the city and still comfortably return to the campground any time of the day or night.
On weekdays, you can take a water taxi from the campground to Manhattan. Ferry travels between Liberty Harbor in Jersey City, NJ and Pier 11, Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan. Not really cheap but you should do it once during the day and once at night for the view. Once you get to Manhattan, the Staten Island ferry is free and also offers a good view.
Ferry
The PATH (subway to Manhattan) is a short walk (0.6 mile) from campground. Buy the QuickCard and save time and money crossing over to Manhattan. (1 card can be used by several people) Use the Grove Street Station
PATH
For the city, you can get a Metrocard, good for unlimited subway and local bus rides. A 1-Day Fun Pass ($8.25) or a 7 day pass ($27.00) will get you around the city (NOT VALID on PATH) (each passenger will need own card)
MTA
On the Google Earth view of Liberty Harbor Google Earth View of Liberty Harbor If you scroll upward you can see the Grove Street PATH Station
Google Earth view of Liberty Harbor
RE: Onan Gas Generator
I get the sound of the Gen trying to start, but it wont turnover
This could be the sign of a low battery or bad cable connections with the resulting “stuck starter”.
I had a similar problem with my generator. I checked it before a trip to Alaska and all appeared to be fine. Used it a couple of times on the trip and then it wouldn’t start.
It got to the point that it wouldn’t turn over and just made a click (klunk) that sounded as if the starter was jammed.
After returning home, I found information this forum that explained that sometimes the piston in the engine could stop near the top of the compression stroke and the starter motor then could not turn the engine over.
The solution was to turn the engine over by hand so it was past the top of the compression stroke. I found that by putting a wrench on the nut on the flywheel, I could get the engine rotated past the compression stroke. I also discovered that I was getting a big drop in the 12 volts as I tried to start the generator.
As a test, I used jumper cables from my truck directly to the generator (negative to generator frame – positive to battery side of starter solenoid) and it started instantly.
In my RV, the frame was used for the negative wire and the connections from the frame to the generator had corroded and although I could get a 12-volt measurement, the corroded connections would not allow enough current to pass to run the starter. In addition to replacing the corroded connectors, I ran a heavy gauge copper wire from the battery ground to the starter ground. This solved my problems.
As stated above, a large drop in voltage when trying to run the starter indicates a bad connection. You might need to check ALL of your ground connections from the generator all the way back to the batteries.
A bad electrical connection increases the resistance in a circuit. Ohm’s Law states E=IR where E = voltage I = current and r = resistance - Since the battery voltage will not increase (it actually decreases with each attempted start), increased resistance causes a decrease in current.
With a decrease in current, the starter motor produces less torque (turning effect) because the magnetic field produced in the starter is proportional to the current.
When the piston in the motor’s cylinder goes upward during the compression stroke the volume of the area from the top of the piston to the bottom of the cylinder head becomes less, According to Boyle's law, if you reduce the volume of a quantity of gas, the pressure will increase.
When the force of the gas pushing down on the piston (pressure) equals the torque of the starter the starter motor stops turning.
Attempted restarting does nothing to change these forces and the starter motor in an attempt to turn just runs the starter bendix into the flywheel producing the clicking sound.
By physically turning the motor past top dead center, by pulling on flywheel or placing a wrench on the flywheel nut, the piston starts on its downward stroke and the pressure becomes less so that the torque of the starter is adequate to rotate the motor.
