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RE: Short trips in East Tennessee?
Yep, gotta watch those ticks in TN. Not to bad in the area you are at, but a bit further west and they become absolutely terrible.
As far as the southeast goes, you are close to heavan with a lifetime of opportunities within a couple of hours.
If you don't mind crowds, there is Cades Cove in the Great Smoky NP. Best in the east for wildlife viewing.
Cataloochee in GSMNP is great opportunity for Elk.
Now to get away from the crowds, check out Frozen Head SP. Close by with a wonderful day hike up to the observation tower. (Haven't made it up there yet, but it's on my bucket list).
Then there is Fall Creek Falls, but go in the off season to avoid the crowds.
Just north of you is Big South Fork that also has very small and primitive camping.
Head east on I40 and take the last TN exit (Harmon Den Road). Head north and wonder around until you find where you want to park. Best views in the area is Max Patch with a couple nice trails in the area.
Okay, let's leave those crowds behind now and go boondocking. This is my favorite place to park the camper and mosey around filling up the memory card. Just into KY near Cumberland GAP NP (yet another great opportunity) is Wilderness Off Road Park (but don't worry, I haven't seen many ATVs). Get to it by taking 25E north to 119 east to 1344 south. I think it's some of the best areas and one of the few were you can sit in your camp for great sunset pics then without moving, sunrise.
Both taken from 36.684944,-83.619491. First pic is sunset, second pic is looking towards sunrise location. Third is just one from nearby exploring though the grasses.
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/albums/2012/06-vacation/image%20(55).jpg width=640
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/albums/2012/06-vacation/image%20(51).jpg width=640
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/albums/2010/09-labor%20day%20trip/image%20(22).jpg width=640
Check out my photo albums for other suggestions.
Good luck and have fun camping.
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kohldad
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05/19/13 07:30am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Electrical Question
yep, tbltony has it right. It is wired to the output of the generator. If no generator, than it is part of the prep package.
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kohldad
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05/14/13 06:58pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Tent camping in/around Yellowstone, without generators
If you go before late June or after Labor Day, reservations are not required as the crowds haven't gotten bad yet. All you will need to do is plan to arrive at the campground early in the morning and wait for someone to leave. Just watch and you will see which ones are packing up. In July/August, you can still do this, but you will definitely be competing.
Another alternative would be Bridge Bay. While generators are allowed, tents are in a section by themselves and the rvs are over a slight knoll. No guarentees someone in the tent sections doesn't have a generator, but it would reduce the chance.
Unless I'm mistaken, there are also some back country sites which are relatively close to the parking lots. May pay to do a little research.
You could also disperse camp just outside of the park in the adjacent NF.
Just remember, Yellowstone is huge and driving speeds are slow. Unless you want to just pavement view the park, yhou will really need to stay at a couple of different campgrounds. Driving around a loop doesn't leave much time for getting far from the pavement.
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kohldad
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05/08/13 06:44am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: center of gravity question
Just from a quick look and limited knowlege, since it is only 12" longer, I think if you measure you will find the distance from the rear of the truck to the axle is the same as a standard pickup (short or long, the distance is the same). If so, then no issue except the weight transfered to the front axle will be less due to the additional leverage (length between axles).
It is possible the extra space is behine the axle, however, since when loading material on the truck, the extra lenght would tend to put the material's cog behind the axle also.
Extra space when you have lots of extra capacity is always a nice thing. I see some custom doors being made into the sides to gain access under the camper winds. May not be water proof, but will be theft resistance.
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kohldad
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05/06/13 11:43am |
Truck Campers
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RE: BaseBoard Heater Install completed
Fits real nice in that area.
For those wanting a little heat but not getting hot like the above unit, you can use a 240V unit on 120V. You just wire one side to Hot and one to neutral. This will produce a nice warm heat yet you can still touch the unit. Just remember that a unit rated for 400 watts on 240 will only put out ~200 watts on 120V.
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kohldad
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05/05/13 08:20pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: AC intake grill question?
If they are what I'm thinking, go to an auto parts store and look in the section with all the miscellaneous parts. Take one with you would be best.
They are used to hold trim panels together.
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kohldad
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05/05/13 06:58am |
Truck Campers
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RE: WIND!!
Good news is the front will pass through in about 5 more hours for MB. The rain should stop, the sun will finally make an appearance and temps should hit the 70s. Probably take another day until the winds calm back to normal, but at Ocean Lakes you almost always have a wind.
Will be two or three more days until we get back to normal here along the SC coast.
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kohldad
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05/05/13 06:54am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Beach Camping in NC
By chance, did you mean Wilmington which is near beaches?
Closest place to Williamston would be Oregon Inlet Campground, but that is 100 miles away. It is on the back side of the sand dunes so a nice short stroll to the beach.
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/albums/2009/obx-p2/image%20(10).jpg
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kohldad
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05/05/13 06:45am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Where are all the Truck Campers ?
Mine has been stuck in the storage yard for the last month until yesterday. Haven't been able to travel much waiting on my youngest to graduate tech which was last night. Then I have the upcoming wedding of my oldest which I will be using the TC as my base.
But, even when I do get to traveling, you won't find me on the interstates as I prefer the back roads. And I really really prefer the back roads where I hardly see folks.
From my last trip in GA. Those are my tracks you see in the road as I was stopped by a huge mud puddle that I refused to attempt until I get the winch install finished so had to turn around.
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb480/kohldad/IMG_2232.jpg width=800
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kohldad
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05/04/13 07:09am |
Truck Campers
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RE: atwood jack repair
I'll fix the pic when I get a chance, but notice that the two bushings above the cross pin are labeled wrong. They are brass bushings, not nylon.
Fantastic!! Thanks for all the hard work!
You welcome, glad it helps some.
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kohldad
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05/03/13 07:23pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: atwood jack repair
Add some pics and update the steps. If something isn't clear or you need another pics, let me know. This was a bent jack beyond repair that I took apart just to know how to do it.
Yes, a bearing distributor may be able to match it up. Shame that I forgot about using them, they have matched numerous bearings in the past when I was growing up on the farm.
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kohldad
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05/03/13 11:24am |
Truck Campers
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RE: atwood jack repair
Very simple to do and is as straight forward as it looks with one minor exception. The top pinch marks were a pain to ply out. Wish I had taken a picture when doing that one step.
This is the best I can remember, but have all the parts laid out on my bench. I can take a picture if needed. Had planned on doing it, but got involved in other projeccts.
Did notice that the main bearing is a custom Atwood piece. Quick look did not reveal any non-Atwood numbers and it did not seem like it would be easy to substitue. Since Atwood considers the jacks non-user repairable, not sure if they will sell the bearing to individuals.
The small parts you will end up with.
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/04lance/jack/pic1.jpg
1) Crank jack to full extension. This will make seperating the inner and outer tube much easier later in dissassembly.
2) Remove cover
3) Remove roll pin from cross shaft that is located in cross shaft gear
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/04lance/jack/pic2.jpg
4) Using a small nail, re-secure the gear to cross shaft. Rotate gears to make roll pin in lower gear accessible. It may be necessary to remove cross pin, reset upper gear and re-install.
5) Remove upper gear and cross shaft
6) Remove lower gear
7) remove lower roll pin, washer, split washer, and nylon bushing.
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/04lance/jack/pic3.jpg
8) Seperate inner tube from outer tube.
This should be sufficient to service all components.
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/04lance/jack/pic4.jpg
However, some may wish to remove the screw rod from the inner tube.
9) drive small chiesel between crimp and collar
10) holding the inner tube, use the screw rod and pull towards the chiesel and crimp. This should easily pry the crimp outwards.
11) remove small chiesel and replace with large chiesel repeat step 10.
12) repeat step 9 thru 11 on the crimp on opposite side.
13) once the crimps are removed as much as possible, use a hammer against the washer at the top of the screw rod to knock it out of the inner tube.
http://kohldad.home.comcast.net/~kohldad/04lance/jack/pic5.jpg
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kohldad
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05/03/13 08:23am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Last minute trip near Charlotte, NC
Ebenezer was my first thought as it is a very nice park. It would be a good opportunity to see how you like if for quick trips later in the year when it gets hot. Only a few minutes to resturaunts.
Kings Mtn is also nice, but not much to do for the little ones specifically. Great outdoors and hiking though.
Stone Mtn is another good choice. Hike up the mtn for some views or go to the south end of the park for relatively flat hiking in the valley. Deer are abundant and can usually be seen in the campground when it isn't busy.
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kohldad
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05/02/13 05:57am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Which camper would work better for me
Both are basically the same camper with only minor differences so condition and price would be the main concern. Look at the seams on both and see the condition. If the seams/caulking is rough, odds are it hasn't been taken care of very well and may have rot.
Would imagine the Lance is aluminum siding over wood frame which would make it easier to repair if you needed to fix any lot. Only other issue I know with the Lance is the grey and black tanks are on the small size to squeeze them both under the shower. You can see the sizes and specs on the Lance by going to their website at lancecampers.com, click on support at the top of the page, then click on the brochure. Not always complete, but good idea.
But if you are talking about the nice aluminum framed always covered in the Sacramento area, it would be hard to beat from the pics I saw.
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kohldad
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04/29/13 06:52pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: A problem I never knew existed.
They were there in January so imagine they had to deal with the winter winds and possibly ice build up on the door.
And oh boy, he was upset about the gravel sites too.
Guess he was looking for a high price resort park, not the very low price of $14 he paid.
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kohldad
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04/29/13 08:00am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Camping/Parking around Chicago
I'm not from Chicago and only visited while passing through on work about 20 years ago, so these are just thoughts and I'll let the locals decide how crazy I would be. Idea is only from looking at maps.
I would go in about 5am to beat the traffic and park at the mall. Either actually stay up or at least leave a light on and be ready for the security guard to knock on the door. If you tell them you are waiting on the stores to open and can name a few, I would think they wouldn't give you a problem. You can then do your shopping and take breaks back at the RV. Then either leave about 8pm after the traffic thins back out.
You could even leave the motorhome there for a few hours during the middle of the day while you run down to Michigan Ave. Just wouldn't have the cab pick me up from the motorhome.
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kohldad
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04/29/13 06:59am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Travel time pulling TT
Since 94, I have averaged 50 mph on interstates, about 40 mph off. Even on a day where we really push it, we don't manage 55 mph. This is traveling about 62 - 65 with a stop at least every 2 hours. Longer between stops, longer the stops so it all balances out.
However, now with the DW and no kids, sometimes we can't even average 30 mph sometimes off the interstate now. Amazing how things have slowed down traveling without kids. Imagine by the time I retire, I'll have to start figuring about 20 mph. :)
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kohldad
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04/28/13 12:18pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: why two tow hooks?
If you are getting towed out of the mud, you really would never use both hooks
I've helped pull stuck vehicles before where we wouldn't even think about trying to use a single vehicle. We used two vehicles, each with a winch with a block to a single tow hook. Each of those vehicles were anchored to other vehicles to keep them from sliding. That works out to about 34,000 pounds of force which would have easily ripped out a single hook. And we still were thinking of pulling a third winch line to the stuck vehicle but a little bit of patience did the trick.
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kohldad
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04/27/13 05:59am |
Truck Campers
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RE: why two tow hooks?
Having hooks on opposite side of the vehicle aids in providing the correct direction of pull. It also allows the pull to be split between two points reducing the strain.
But the cosmetic reason is to keep the vehicle balanced so it looks better.
However, most folks would not know the difference or how to take advantage of the different tow points. For them, one tow point would be sufficient.
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kohldad
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04/26/13 06:32pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: basic RV refrigerator question
If the coils get hot, then the inside should cool down. Don't forget, absorbtion fridges take a lot longer to start cooling down. Most will take about two hours before you can feel the back of the freezer starting to get cold.
Figure at least 6 hours for the frig to drop any noticeable temp reading. Even with the digital wireless temp, it takes almost 3 hours before the temps in fride drop more than 2 degrees. but then it gets much quicker after the initial startup.
Quick look at the instruction, should not need 12V for 120V or LP operaition.
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kohldad
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04/26/13 06:56am |
Tech Issues
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