RE: Travel to Yosemite on Friday.
Thank for your replies. There is no way we could get there early enough to beat it, we live just north of Santa Clarita and have three little ones. Our inlaws who are caravaning up there with us have a bit of a cold, so they don't feel like camping in the snow. He is also pretty new at towing his trailer and doesn't feel comfortable in inclimate weather yet. We have decided to head the other direction and go to Death Valley. high 30s at night 70s daytime, no rain or snow. I think this year it will work out better. We'll try again sometime next year.
Travel to Yosemite on Friday.
Ok, I am hoping to get a bit more info than I can find on the forecast. We have reservations at Upper Pines on Friday night through Monday morning. There is a Storm Warning for the area beginning Friday afternoon with rain and then snow in late afternoon and evening, then cloudy to clear the rest of the time trip. This is exactly the time (late afternoon) we would be hitting the area. We are planning on going 41 to Oakhurst, 49 to Mariposa and 140 into the Valley (22ft TT so the rockslide bypass is OK). I am OK with rain and snow flurries, but I don't want to deal with chains. Snow level is supposed to be 5000, with a little accumulation below that. 140 doesn't get above 4000, and the valley is around 4000, so it doesn't sound like much snow in the valley itself or the merced river road. Anyone have more info on what to expect? Do you think they will require chains on 140 and/or the valley? Any people living in the area with some experience would be helpfull. I have a call in to the park rangers, and am waiting to here back. Just trying to gathjer all my information before making a decision on what to do. Thanks!!
Daniel
RE: More LED lights (long post with lots of pictures)
I have the same ones pioanotuna has, from ridgid industries. They come with two different bases. I love them, they put out almost as much light as the 18W 1141 they are replacing, and draw 0.25A instead of 1.5. Color is also very good, not quite as warm as regular bulbs, but very good for LEDs. My TT has opaque difuser lenses so the LEDs difuse as well as the regular bulbs did. I replaced 6 bulbs, and now can light my whole trailer for the energy cost of 1 bulb!
RE: Batteries.
The TCs my dad had, the house battery was mounted under the hood of the truck on the opposite side of the engine compartment from the starting battery and power fed through the electrical connector. The house battery was isolated using a solinoid that connected it to the truck system only when the engine was running.
RE: Coleman ProCat Catalytic Propane Portable Space Heater
I used a coleman procat in my old 8ft pop up trailer. I bought a adapter kit from camping world that had a T and extension hose for appliances that use 1lb bottles. I connected the T and hose to the main tank, routed the hose inside, and attached it to the procat. We go to Yosemite every November. It can be cold, and canvas has no insulating value so I ran the procat 24/7. The old pop up was not air tight by any means so ventilation was not a problem, but you do need two small openings for ventilation. It kept the pop up warm enough. Our 5gal tank did not run out for the 3 days we were there running the procat and cooking.
I imagine the procat will work great in a B. Spend the extra for the "pro" model with the battery powered fan. It made a big difference to get the warm air moving. The batteries lasted about 2 days running constantly.
RE: Brake Controller -Cheap vs. Expensive
IMHO, if I an tow a trailer, I'll get the most expensive or best
controller I can and not base it on 'cheapest'. Sure, I'll buy a sale,
but of the one I think is 'best'. I'll not base 'my' trailer controller
on 'cost' alone.
A rhetorical comment/question, as I have a P3 and no experience with hydraulic
based controlers.
My background is motor controls, process controls, factory automation, etc.
The brake systems in all of the vehicles I've ever worked on, or looked at all
has the pedal switch activate BEFORE the MC piston rod has engaged the hydraulic.
This is dependent on how that pedal switch is adjusted in reference to the pedal
stroke and the hydraulic stroke.
To me, any pedal movement or sensed will have the signal of TV braking come
before any hydraulic based sensor.
I've watched my P3 and it indicates way before the hydraulics initiate on my
Suburban.
Comments?
True, but with an accelerometer based controller like the prodigy or P3, the voltage applied to the trailer brakes is dependant on detected deceleration. So if you just bairly touch the pedal, activate the brake lights and "activate" the brake controller, you won't get much if any trailer braking because there is no deceleration detected. If you have the boost turned up you may get a little bit because boost adds the the base voltage for 5 seconds.
RE: Half Empty/ Half Full... lol
Yes, gas milage is affected by aerodynamics and weight, but aerodynamics is by far the greatest factor. Drag caused by rolling resistance due to weight is a shallow linear function, meaning it goes up a little as you add weight. Power required to overcome aerodynamic drag is a CUBIC function of velocity. For example, to double your speed from 30mph to 60mph requires 8X the horepower, and that requires gas.
On a good size motorhome, the difference in gas milage between fully loaded and full tanks vs no gear and empty tanks is negligable to non existant. Think about it. The difference between empty and full is at most say 2000lbs. On a motorhome that difference may amount to 15% the total weight of the rig. Where weight becomes a concern is in cargo carying capacity, but not for milage.
RE: Do Performance Chips Really Work?
It really depends on the car and engine as to what gains are possible. Auto manufacturers in many cases ARE tuning to get the most out of their engines. I looked into possibilities for my N/A Imprezza and found out that the factory has the engine against the wall. The stock timing is SO agressive that it should be run on premium and depends on the knock sensor to "detune" on regular, and there is no more performance to be had without MAJOR mods like cams, valves, intake and exhaust, or going turbo. I don't know about the 5.4 in our expedition yet, but I suspect a similar situation.
RE: Thetford Aqua-Magic IV Toilet
Consider the Aquamagic Style II. China bowl, straight tube with no "splash chamber" and parts are available. I had a Aguamagic V. The seal on the flush handle shaft failed and was leaking odor into the TT. It took me 2 months to track it down. When I did, I found out the aquamagic V is disposable, no parts available.
RE: What's behind the name? Screen name that is.
Mine is kinda boring. When I first joind this board I had a old 8ft Pop Up camping trailer, sooooooo I was Pop Up Campin = PUCampin. After reading it I thought, well I guess I could also be considerded "Stinky" Campin :) A few years ago we bought our Pioneer TT, so that is why my sig says "No more PU Campin" :B
RE: What The Best Overall Knife To Use.
If I had to pick two, it would be an 8" chefs knife and 3" paring knife. In my home I have an assortment Henkles 4 star, In the trailer I litteraly have 7" chefs and 3" paring of a less expensive brand. Thats it. Thats all I need in the trailer.
RE: suggestions for TT @ 5000 GVWR
Most of the 18/19 foot bunkhouse models have a GVWR around 5900 lbs, but loaded reasonably will weight about 5100. Our Pioneer 180ck is 22'4" hitch to bumper, 4100 dry, 5100 ready to camp. Sleeps 5 comfy (double bed, bunk, dinette, couch) and 7 snugly. We have slept 4 adults and 2 kids in it. Layout is good for it's size, has a tub for giving the babies a bath. Large capacity tanks, ducted heat and ac. We love it. Fleetwood no longer makes TT's, but this foorplan is about the most common small trailer floorplan. Jayco 19bh, Forest River Rockwood 2106, Keystone Hideout 19fb, to name a few.
RE: The shortest Travel Trailer w/ Most amount of sleeping room
WHM,
If you like the Jayco 19bh floorplan, look around. Like weathershak said, this is one of, if not THE most common floorplan in shorter travel trailers. Just about every brand out there makes it. Granted it has a full not a queen but smaller trailers are about compromises.
For the best bang for your buck look for a few year old Fleetwood Pioneer or Mallard (Pioneer usually West cost, Mallard usually East coast) 180CK. Fleetwood no longer makes trailers, but they made A LOT of these as price leaders, so they should be easy to find, and you should be able to find a nice one for 9K or less. Compared to other brands of the same floor plan they have more standard features and are less expensive, but be sure it is not the "Spirit" version which I think started in 07 or 08, they started giving less features such as smaller water and waste tanks, smaller propane tanks, etc.
Our 06 is 22'4" hitch to bumper, and weighs 4100 dry, about 5100 full with gear and water. Sleeps 5 comfortably, 7 snugly. Some of the standard features you may not see on other brands with this floor plan include ducted AC, ducted heat, 30# propane tanks, 50g fresh, 40g black, 40g gray, full size residential sink. Also, it was the only one I saw that DID NOT have the bed notched for the bathroom door. The door doesn't open all the way as a result, but it is enough. I did not want the bed notched.
We love it and have taken it a few places you would not fit larger trailers.
RE: ok, my buddy bought a Voyager controler,
The voyage should be OK. It is still a proportional controller, just a very basic one compared to the other Tekonsha proportional controllers. It doesn't have the diagnostics, the boost features, or reverse operation. It also only has a 5 year waranty instead of lifetime like the other Tekonsha controllers. PLEASE INSTALL SOMETHING before your friend goes on another trip! It is very danderous to pull that much weight without trailer brakes, regardless of the tow vehicle capabilities, and here in the US it is illegal!! With no trailer brakes, it would not take much to end up with the trailer passing the tow vehicle and pulling it around.
By the way, some of the other brands are just relabled Tekonsha controllers. Tekonsha is the biggest electronic brake controller company for good reason.
Dangerously overloaded BIG truck!
Man I wish I had a camera. The other day driving home while at a red light, a big rig tow truck made a right turn from the cross road onto the highway going the same direction I was. He was towing one of those huge 6 axle mobile cranes. Beginning his turn, his front end looked really light, then it came off the ground! He had to stop, and inch forward a bit at a time to bairly keep the front tires down so he could make the turn. He finally made it and headed down the highway. After the light change and I went by him (4 lane road) I could see his front just kinda floating, bairly stawing down, scarry. Just think how much weight was cantilevered in the back to pull that huge engine and front off the ground like that!
RE: Anyone Towing With a Tundra?????
How did this thread go from the OP's question of "Do I need air bags to tow my new HIGH-LO!!! with a Tundra or 1500 Sierra, to bashing Tundra and debating towing 5th wheels with Tundra??
A new Tundra will not have any issues with the hitch weight of a High-Lo. Sway control and weight distribution is all you will need. Like other have said, airbags might smooth the ride, but are not needed. My FIL has a older Tundra and tows a 21ft Fun Finder using a Reese straight line/dual cam with 600lb bars. It is great match. Even without bars (while hooking up) it doesn't squat his truck much.
RE: What is your favorite Fall/Winter RV meal?
I love a good bowl of chili when fall is in the air! At home it goes in the crock pot and cooks at least 24hrs. Then it goes in the fridge and we take it as our first night out meal. Topped with cheese, green onions and sour cream Bake some cornbread in the oven to go with it, and a nice dark beer. Mmmmmm. Got a trip to Yosemite in 3 weeks and this is in the plan. Boy am I looking forward to it.
We also love to do pizza. I worked at a good pizza place for 5 years, and was involved in every aspect from making the dough through baking, and I try to put that knowledge to good use. We make the dough up ahead of time, divide into balls, and freeze (never did this at the pizza place, but works well for home). Then defrost on the day planned for pizza. We use the diposable cake pans or pie pans, sauce, shreaded chees, and favorite toppings. About 10min on 450 and done. The oven can hold 2-3 so we do a couple, and while munching on the first batch bake some more.
RE: Have you named your motorhome?
My parents used to name their vehicles, and even went as far as getting small mailbox letters and putting them in the windows. Of course my parents keep vehicles for a very long time.
The 72 VW wesfalia we had growing up was "Bedbug" We had Bedbug for nearly 20 years and 350K miles. Bedbug journied to Alaska, New York and DC, Montana, Canada, and everywhere in between. By the time I graduated high school, I had been more places than most people will ever go in their lifetimes.
The 81 Dodge 250 custom was "Leadville" Leadville carried a 8ft TC and took us many places after my parents split. Leadville was the best truck. Rubber floor, 318, NP435 4spd manual trans, 1ton spring pack. It would climb a wall. Leadvill gave his life to save my Dad and brother from a drunk driver in 93
The 90 Chevy 2500 that replaced Leadville is still around and is called "Circus Wagon" due to it's wild paint job. I hate this truck. It left us stranded several times and gets it's transmission rebuilt every year or so (No exaduration).
Our TT is "The Happy Hubbard Hotel" as it sits in our driveway and doubles as a guest house when my inlaws or aunt stay a night or two. (Our house is 3 BR and we have 3 kids, there is no guest room!)
Our Expedition is "The Big Blue Bus", We frequently use it to it's potential as a bus carting 7 or 8 with strollers and gear, and/or pulling the TT. My Stepdad calls it the Queen Elizabeath 2 or "QE2"
My 95 Ranger was "Green Dragon" which I finally parted ways with after 276k miles and 14 years. Green Dragon was requiring a lot more maintenance and time that I didn't have, and was starting to lose reliability.
My new commuter car, 08 Subaru Impreza is "Silver Streak", also known by my aunt as "The Bucket" due to its low seating position.
RE: Unusual Things People Camp With
I have a co-worker who has a 8.5 foot wide race car trailer. Inside he takes his motorcycles and.... a 14' pop-up camper! I imagine it is an interesting sight to watch him pull up, open the cargo trailer, pull out the motorcycles, and then the camper!
RE: What is the most useful cooking implement in the RV?
We almost never have hook-ups, and with three kids 3 and under, we are lucky to get one fire in per trip, so we extensively use the stove and oven. I have a whole array of pots, pans, and skillets. I use them all, and have on several occasions fed 8-10 people complete meals using my 3 burner stove and oven. The art is getting everything to finish cooking at the same time :) If I had to choose one item I could not live without, it would be my hybrid Wok pan. Its about 6" wide and flat on the bottom so it sets on the burner, then rounds up to 12" and is 5" deep. This is the most versital single pan in the TT. Great for large amounts of potatos, eggs, stir fry, one skillet dinners, etc. I don't remember where we got it, but when it wears out, I will get another one.
