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RE: Lake Anna State Park, VA
I come to Lake Anna from the SW so I'm not familiar with the roads in from your direction. Route 208 is a good road but is undergoing some construction just north of the turn to the Park. The road into the park is a "small road" for sure. Large RV's travel it all the time but it's a rather narrow road.
The state park is a very nice facility. The campground was just opened in 2007 so it's still fairly new and clean.
Thanks for the response. I'm not bothered by small entry roads at all. But I am leery of following my GPS down a small narrow dirt road or coming across a 12'high overpass. There is a good chance I'll be traveling at night.
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Lantley
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05/15/13 08:03pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Grills that hang on the side wall of the trailer
I used an RVQ grill for five years with my old rig. Never any discoloration or heat issues. It was at the edge of the awning. I was able to stay dry if it rained. The RVQ was very convenient. In some ways I wish I still had it.
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Lantley
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05/15/13 07:42pm |
General RVing Issues
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Lake Anna State Park, VA
I live in the suburbs west of Baltimore. I am interested in directions to Lake Anna State Park via 15 South or 340. I can pick up both of the routes fairly easily in Frederick,MD. I want to go via 15 south and avoid the I 95 corridor.
Is anyone familiar with these routes all the way from Frederick,MD to Lake Anna? Are there any low clearances to avoid. I believe there are a few train bridges through this area. Google Maps shows the route as doable but I am concerned about bridges and small roads.
I am hoping to hear from locals or those familiar with the area. Thanks in advance.
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Lantley
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05/15/13 07:24pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: which tablet?
Another vote for Nexus 7.
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Lantley
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05/15/13 06:36pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Half Ton Fifth wheel advice...
If you are getting a 5 er....chances are you plan on keeping so why not get a 3/4 T truck or something bigger if you plan on moving up?
I get a kick out of guys that choose the smallest thing they can get away with as a TV then choose the largest rig they can find to pull?
But in the end we all have are reasons and the freedom to choose and do as we please.
It's funny too, a lot of you think you only get one chance to buy a truck. If I decide to move up in 5er, I will simply get a bigger truck too. Right now, if the camper only gets used 8-10 times a year, it is hard to justify driving that 1 ton dually to/from work, when a heavy 1/2 ton would be much more enjoyable everyday and pulls our camper real good.
Remember, just like campers, they make trucks everyday too.
Hey Shadows I understand your point and I don't want to hijack this thread.
I respect that everyone has different wants and needs. Trucks and RV's are expensive. I try to find a combo that will last me awhile in order to avoid upgrading either every few years. I try to foresee at least the next 10 years when I purchase.
Funny I do take a one chance to get it right approach vs. change vehicles as necessary. Experience has taught me it's cheaper that way. It always cost more to get it right the 2nd time. For the record I have had my share of getting it right the 2nd time and I try to avoid that scenario.
Once I set my sites on a 5'er, I purchased a dually for my next truck when the time came. I towed my prior TT with the dually for awhile in anticipation of the fiver.
In the end we all have our reasons,frequency of use is certainly an important factor.
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Lantley
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05/15/13 05:45am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Half Ton Fifth wheel advice...
If you are getting a 5 er....chances are you plan on keeping so why not get a 3/4 T truck or something bigger if you plan on moving up?
I get a kick out of guys that choose the smallest thing they can get away with as a TV then choose the largest rig they can find to pull?
But in the end we all have are reasons and the freedom to choose and do as we please.
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Lantley
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05/15/13 04:47am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Handheld Remote control for awning,rear jacks.slides,etc.?
I have on it's nice to have when you are in a tight spot however I really don't use it that often. Stays in a closet on a hook most of the time.
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Lantley
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05/15/13 04:41am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: What Are The Upsides & Downsides To Driving A DRW Truck?
Lantley, amazing that you can alter the laws of physics just by owning a DRW. I need to go out and buy one, so I can, too. :)
It's really not that complicated. I don't need to consult with Sir Issac Newton or get a degree from Hopkins or M.I.T. to drive my dually.
As a matter of fact it's just as easy to drive as a SRW truck.
Put down that pencil and paper turn off you imagination. Get behind the wheel of a dually and you'll find it's not that hard at all. You won't need to use E=MC^2 either;)
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Lantley
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05/15/13 04:35am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Surge Guard Universal Lock ??
I'm a little confused with this Surge Guard Universal Lock. Looks to me like if someone wanted to steal it just unplug it from the power post and then unplug the 50 Amp cable from the trailer and walk off with it.
Or am I missing something here??
Click here: Surge Guard Lock
Happy trails,
I think you got it. The surge guard is only as secure as the power cord.
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Lantley
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05/14/13 08:46pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: What Are The Upsides & Downsides To Driving A DRW Truck?
Jeff, what makes you so sure that people who don't have a DRW have never driven one?
Yes, you are more likely to get door dings. It's not your door opening that you have to worry about. A SRW can cheat against one line in a corner parking space to gain effective space on the other side. The DRW can't go over as far because the wheel/fender sticks out.
I'm happy for those of you that can't tell a difference in the spaces for where you park. That's not the case for many of us. I don't drive my truck to work now because I can only park it in a very few spaces. I can literally be blocked in by people being legally parked. The spaces are barely wide enough for a SRW if you want to stay inside the lines. Like it or not, a DRW track is wider. I would have bought a SC SB GM if I knew I was going to work where I work now, no, it would not be a DRW LB CC. :) I would have had to bail on the Ford. I bought the Ford because it was the most capable diesel that would fit where I had to park at work.
As far as length is concerned, Ford's are longer than Chevys from cab forward, and crew cabs are longer than a super cab. You don't have to like it, but that's the truth just like if the turning radius barely works for a short wb supercab, a DRW CC is going to be a major pain in the neck. Most DRWs seem to be CC. Some people have SRW CCs. Those would be the same length, but for the most part a SC isn't even an option for some DRWs.
Just because you don't have to deal with it doesn't mean it's not true.
From real experience it is much easier to back a crew cab truck into a space vs. pulling in. 9 times out of ten the cars around you have pulled in front first. In this scenario the doors of the cars around you do not line up with the hips of the dually. There is no door ding issue.
I agree that mathematically there is a point where a dually will be too wide to squeeze into or through a given area. With the exception of drive thru's and gated parking lots yo do not find these tight areas very often.
If you do its usually a simple matter of parking a bit farther away. A crew cab dually is no harder to park in real word situations than any truck its same length. I have encountered spots I cannot fit into however I have yet to come upon a scenario where I thought if only I had a SRW I could fit.
Those of us that drive a dually in the real world know duallys can be driven on a daily basis without any real heartache. Those of us that drive dually's on paper can contrive all kinds of problematic scenarios that you simply don't encounter in the real world
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Lantley
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05/14/13 08:06pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Bumper Pull vs. Fifth Wheel
I have had both. Towing is not the deciding factor. A 5'er tows well out of the box. A TT may require more tinkering and WD hitch adjusting. A fairly expensive premium hitch may even be required. However both can be dialed in to tow the same.
Focus on floorplan,storage needs,height,TV capability,amenities and camping style when deciding between TT and 5'er
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Lantley
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05/14/13 06:55am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: i like these two floorplans--pros and cons?
Have you looked at or considered front living room models?
Like this Open Range Front living room 386 FLR
I'm not pushing Open Range there are lots of Front living room floor plans
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Lantley
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05/13/13 09:14pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 10 Gal hot water heater.
Thank you everyone! It looks like I may be a bit impatient with the water heater. Next time out I will give it 45 mins or so. Have a great day.
Don't set any time limit. Let it go until it shuts off! It could take an hour depending on incoming water temp and ambient temperature. Remember a watched pot never boils.
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Lantley
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05/13/13 08:27pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: i like these two floorplans--pros and cons?
I would choose the model that does not have an outdoor kitchen. If you are going to 3/4 time storage space will be at a premium. Why have 2 kitchen when one will do?The space used for an outdoor kitchen could be put to better use. For me outdoor kitchens are more of a weekend warrior item. Neither floorplan has much counter space. Of the 2 I'd choose the rear master bedroom.
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Lantley
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05/13/13 08:24pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: What Are The Upsides & Downsides To Driving A DRW Truck?
Of all people to bash a vehicle...its like the guy who says the 6.0 is junk but has never owned one.
I have owned my dually for a week today. I must say that its no different then my old F250 when driving and parking it.
Talking about the physical characteristics of a vehicle is not bashing. Almost all of what I posted is due to the size of the truck. It doesn't take owning a DRW to read/see the dimensions.
Not all of us drive our trucks in the wide open spaces or park in really wide spaces.
In any case, the thread is about the downsides. Should we pretend there are none?
Your list is very misleading and inaccurate. Is it because you don't own a dually and are only imagining the issues?
You mention length. Length is not an issue. SRW & DRW are the same length.:S.
DRW are too wide to fit into a lane. Never had that problem:?
Harder to park than a SRW. I can park in any spot that the same length SRW truck can. Traction is worse? In normal driving conditions traction is not an issue? In extreme snow SRW would be better. However I am talking extreme conditions in excess of 12".
I have found no measurable difference in MPG's.
Finally they have hips and are ugly. They are built to carry a lot of weight not win style contest/points.
DRW trucks do not fit as well through gated or drive through scenarios. Some banks,gated parking lots and fast food drive thru's can be a challenge. Otherwise I have had no issuers using my DRW truck as a daily driver.My comments are based on real experience not simulated or imagined results.
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Lantley
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05/13/13 07:34pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: unplug my wire harness?
Unplugging or not is one of those why chance it things. Unplugging is easy enough to do. Why chance it. I always unplug. I don't really care if the system is supposed to be isolated or not. If I unplug I know it is isolated. Unplugging is 1000% foolproof.
Waking up with a dead TV battery would be a huge pain.
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Lantley
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05/13/13 07:00pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: What Would You Do?
If the truck is paid for... I would bullet proof it. I know Brian from BTS has bought many orphan 6.0 and 6.4 trucks. There are known weak points in these trucks, and he can make a solid 450 HP truck out of them for under $4500. I have the 7.3 much better out of the box, but the 6.0 can out do me when fixed! I've got the BTS 4R100 after the second transmission failure. My point is if you want to keep it, it's going to be an investment, much cheaper than new truck payments.
You do make a valid point that it can be fixed. But $4,500 cash goes a long way towards a vehicle that does not need bullet proofing to make it reliable.
It should have been bullet proofed at the factory from day one :h
However much to my dismay bullet proofing is a $4500.00 option for the OP.
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Lantley
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05/13/13 06:10pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Paying for electricity w/ 50 amp
I have a 50 amp rig and I try to get 50 amp service whenever it is available.
I am willing to pay whatever it cost.
I simply consider it the cost of doing business. In the end 3-5 bucks for 50 amp service is not a deal breaker for me.
However being able to use only 1 A/C unit in hot weather is a deal breaker for me. When it's hot out, I need 50 amps to be comfortable.
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Lantley
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05/12/13 08:28pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: What Would You Do?
At this point you need to bite the bullet and trade it in. The 6.0 has been problem plagued from the start. Cut your losses now.
You could consider the bullet proof mods however for me that $5k could go towards the new truck vs. trying to fix the issues that the factory never properly addressed in the first place.
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Lantley
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05/12/13 02:13pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Counting propane as tongue weight.
Why wouldn't you consider it, two FULL 20 lb. tanks weigh 78 pounds total (38 each), two 30 pounders like I have on my Outback weigh 108 pounds together when full.
But how often are that both full. that is what I was getting at. Often one of mine is empty.
For the record. I try to keep my propane tanks full. granted it's less critical during warm weather. Nevertheless the fridge and water heater are using propane all summer long. What's the point of having 2 tanks if you keep one empty?:@
The idea is to use one tank until it is empty then switch to the 2nd full tank. If the 2nd tank is empty there is no reserve to switch to when the first tank runs out. By keeping one tank empty at all times you have no reserve capacity.
When you first tank empties and your 2nd tank is already empty you are just SOL and out of propane. Of course this may lower your tongue weight but it will not help you have hot water or cold food while traveling.
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Lantley
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05/12/13 12:50pm |
Towing
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