RE: roof fix for pop up TC
.....unfortunately, I think John H is correct. That entire roof section appears to be completely rotted out. There is nothing under that siding to fasten to it appears. In spring, remove, and re-build. For the time being, just tarp it for the winter. John I'm sure can help you through a re-build "virtually" now, in Spring, you'll have a bill of materials and approximate cost worked out to start the project...that is if the camper is still a keeper for you.
Paying good money to Line-X it in this condition would be throwing your money out the window...
Good luck,
Silver-
RE: World Corruption (Crime?) Perceptions & where Mexico ranks!
....the indicator being debate here is purely qualitative in nature. Additionally, the assumptions upon which the indicator is constructed have changed/change over time making temporal comparisons rather difficult.
The proponent to detractor ratio seems to point to this indicator being unreliable and ineffective as a tool for social scientists...
There are far better indicators out there that could be more useful...
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: 3M 5200 - The Caulk From Hell!
MTbob, 5200 is an adhesive, that should only be used to bond surfaces that you never intend to separate.
Yep. 3M makes numerous sealants/caulks; you have to be very, very careful which product you are using.
The 4 thousand series I use for caulking cures to the touch very quickly; after curing, it feels like butyl rubber.
Good luck,
Silver-
RE: Many New Lance TC for 2010
Now, if Lance would only make this camper for a **LONG BED** truck, we might consider it as a second camper !! Are you listening Lance ?
...and let me clarify: I mean an Euro-830 with tub and skirt cut for a long-bed truck, and NOT a 1040.
On edit: I did a bit of research on Lamilux, and apparently it has been used in the manufacture of some RV in the US as long ago as year 2K...
Silver-
RE: Many New Lance TC for 2010
Didn't Lance start building a totally-framed aluminum camper called the Euro-830 two years ago ??
This camper, IMO, would be the closest competitor to the smaller Northern-Lites. It's interesting to note that Lance has closely scrutinized the Tischer campers (made in Germany) and is actually importing from Europe the Lamilux laminated paneling, and producing a camper as close to the European manufacturing quality as can be, for a price point of around $20,000. Now, if Lance would only make this camper for a **LONG BED** truck, we might consider it as a second camper !! Are you listening Lance ?
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Should I sell the Outfitter and get a Northern Lite???
why not buy a folding kayak to go with the NL? Folbot and Klepper both make dandy expedition grade kayaks
At this risk of going off-topic for a second:
...what I love about the Folbot (the unit I use) is that they can be flown in cargo and taken with you anywhere on the Planet, relatively inexpensively. I think that the NL may have a basement compartment large enough to re-pack a skin-and-frame kayak or 3 into....a cheap solution to "porting a kayak".
Used FBs come up for sale from time to time in great condition...
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Crowded Page
I use Firefox and the Ad Block Plus plugin.
The precise spelling is: "Adblock Plus"
You have to get used to web pages loading without the ads: this means a strange layout that could be more disconcerting for the viewer than reading the pages WITH ads!
....however, the product works "as advertised" :B
Silver-
RE: Outfitter Apex Filon Problem
would you happen to know any other Similar filon that does not have any wood product backing?
Another product made by Crane is called: Noble Select. This product does not have a wood/fiber backing. And in fact is considerable lighter per sq ft than any Crane product with wood backing. However, it is only produced in limited runs, making it potentially extremely expensive.
The only effective way to source RV manufacturers using this special product is to call Crane Composites directly, and to inquire, as a potential end consumer of this product, which RV manufacturers are using it for their wall/shells. Remember: just because any x manufacturer is using it for their walls/shell construction does not mean that they are using a non-backed FRP for other exterior shell fabrications ! So, if you really want to know if your prospective RV supplier is using this material to cover all their external shell real estate, you must visit the factory and know what to look for "on the line" as your tour progresses...
Good luck,
Silver-
RE: PC in your TC?
Typically, when a writer refers to a computer as a "PC" this refers to a full-sized computer box with separate screen. These genres now come in micro-miniature footprints that can be put in the corner of a storage compartment inside the camper, with minimal ventilation. With the advent of wireless keyboards and mice and long D-Sub cabling, you could compute from anywhere in or outside the camper (as long as the monitor is visible, even sitting it on the dinette table facing out the window, while you type sitting on the pic-nic table outside).
With the advent of cheap miniature hard drives with monumentally-large storage capacities as 2nd, 3rd, and 4th drives tethered to a laptop via FireWire 400, 800 or USB 2, this renders the need for a PC computer "box" with multiple drive bays completely null and void. So, running a business "on the road" can easily be done with any recent multi-core laptop, and N-protocol wireless. And, many of the newer laptops have HDMI interface, where you could drive a high-definition DVD on your laptop to play on your 26-inch LCD TV in the camper.
We do use a laptop while on the road to keep in touch with clients, to work on contracts or projects, and to analyze weather data feeds; at this time, we choose to use a stand-alone HD video player tethered to our HD TV in the camper that in turn has ATSC tuning capability, however the new laptop I'm looking at will be able to handle all those tasks, and will eliminate one piece of hardware freeing up more storage space.
As for laptop taking up valuable storage space and weight: this is a total non-starter. The laptop takes up about the same volume as a half-inch stack of paper, and the weight is insignificant. So the question of bringing one along is purely philosophical, not utilitarian.
I also personally carry my Blackberry too, for critical comms from anywhere...and GPS tracking.
Silver-
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Should I sell the Outfitter and get a Northern Lite???
Murg:
We've been very seriously considering a second camper, and that camper would probably be a Northern-lite. We've seen literally every model built between '05 and '09, and have come to the conclusion that the very latet models (08 and 09) appear to be the most appealing, for many, many reasons.
Getting back to your evaluation process, I believe that you've really tought out your realistic mode of camping (no White Rim Trails or equivalent), and your actual "camping days a year" would, IMO, would justify a full-sized hard-side. It's nice to dream that one will be doing extreme expeditions to sectors where only the pop-up would go if alone for top-side clearance, however the reality for most of us is: not.
When considering the Northern-Lite I can only suggest to you that you absolutely consider the far better performing European-style window and roof hatch system! IMO, if buying a Northern-Lite (or equivalent) with such design thought put into the insulation and you opt for the cheap same-old RV windows that leak air and have a zbouero R-factor, this would be like buying a yacht with a hole in it's hull.
Not having 4x4 is a blessing for hauling a heavy camper as you've got more hauling capacity; but not having 4x4 could be a double-edged sword, too. You've managed to live without it (successfully, it appears), so the positive falls on the side of increased hauling.
Holding tanks:
When was the last time you filled your tanks to the max, and literally went through it all? Even with our much smaller Caribou and boondocking as much as we do, we never had!
Kayaks:
These will probably fit INSIDE that Northern-Lite with little problem, and wouldn't offer any gain or loss in terms of energy/time expended to remove from roof of Apex or from inside NL!
Stealth:
A popped-up camper sticks out like a carnival in the parking lot of Carnegie Hall. At the local Walmart 16 kilometers from here, we always spot the pop-ups long before any other genre; can you imagine how quickly a trained LEO will be able to differentiate yours popped-up from say a Class B or Northern-Lite parked on a street?
The only downside to your move is having spent such a large sum on the Apex, and having to unload it a year after buying. Our Caribou probably cost about half what your Apex cost and we've gotten a huge quantity of expeditioning done over almost 5 years with it, so for us, buying a second TC is not so much a "trade the truck every year for a new model" pill to swallow. However, if you have the financial ability to sell the Apex (at a good loss) and purchase a very expensive (but very well-made) hardside at retail, then excellent :B
In the end, sleep on the decision for a good month before jumping.
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Return To Navajo NM - Keet Seel
Could any of us live like those ancients?
...we'd certainly do this any time. Say, for a year, paid for by a network broadcast endeavor. We'd use the same implements and house-hold items that are now housed at the Anasazi Heritage Center (Dolores, CO), the same heritage corn that the Hopi have preserved, the same agricultural growing/harvesting techniques used by Mogolon, Anasazi and Hopi, the same star/moon/sun tracking to plan harvesting and planting and time-keeping, the same hunting implements, and the same clothing, too.
So, if any national TV networks are out there and wish to fund such an unprecedented endeavor, PM me. It'll practically guarantee 40~60 million viewers per week.
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Endeavor Launch - STS-130
Sounds like an excellent idea! Wish we had the schedule to allow for it.
It would be interesting to have all 3 EMSs covered by truck campers (like a launch/landing boondocking party, etc). All communicating by laptop vid-conf from each site's "Host's" camper (outside).
We'd need a volunteer for one ALS however, like Moron, AB, in Spain ?
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Road dust
We have pre-cut 20 mil clear plastic shapes I tape over all exterior ports, like fridge vents, all water fill, propane access port, etc (when driving, for example, to Chaco canyon, NM). I use a very cheap Ductape all around door (cheap Ductape/generic brand peels off easier after a day's driving).
I also apply Ductape over the jack crank receiver holes, too.
For our windows (standard RV issue side-sliding), I wet a half paper towel, and push it into the window slide guide (on the inside of camper) to block the window's 2 weeping holes (weeping holes is where the dust infiltrates from!). The wet paper towel is an excellent seal, preventing nearly 100% of the dust from coming in. It's eventually dry, but the wet paper towel takes the shape of the windows slide guide perfectly, and easily pries out after a day's driving.
For the camper's access tub: I Ductape the entire perimeter from the inside.
The only thing we don't seal are the 2 roof vents; however I torque them down just before driving off...seems to work well.
The above takes about 15 minutes to apply just before hitting the gravel roads/trail, and needn't be removed till you arrive at camp. All the heavy gauge plastic is removed at camp, rolled-up and stored in a small map tube.
*I have a DV (digital video) of me doing all this at the trail head just before departure from Chaco, however I need to spend time reworking it for Youtube...
Good luck,
Silver-
RE: Outfitter Apex Filon Problem
Travelnutz:
Congrats in the DW's 2nd knee operation !!! PM my special e-mail with the details.
I've done some finished goods research using various economic research publications. An interesting article was published by Currency, and finished goods (automobiles) was their focus. You wouldn't believe the disparity in prices on autos made in Germany and sold in Germany, and, the same new vehicles sold, for example, in Finland (or Greece),
"In the market for a new car and want to take advantage of these price differentials? If this is the case then avoid Germany as a shopping destination. Ironically, German automobile prices are the most expensive in Europe even though it is the home of many manufacturers and designers. On a Volkswagon Passat the price is 40% higher in Germany than it is in Greece. The second most expensive country for automobile purchases in the EU is the United Kingdom, where cars are considered to be overpriced compared to other EU countries..." (Site: Currency)
I suspect that literally every product made in Germany, particularly "living units" for RVs, and RVs themselves, and any motor vehicle made there is twice the price they need to be !
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Outfitter Apex Filon Problem
Check it out for yourself! It would not have a chance of selling in any kind of volume here or in Canada...
Travelnutz:
Oh yeah, I asked the owner. The price for the unit we looked at in Utah was about $80,000 equivalent ! It'll be quite interesting so obtain the recent pricing from your relative after they consult with the manufacturer.
I think that my general thrust in the Post was that European manufacturers do make campers (TCs) as large as the units on this side of the pond (site the unit I examined) and far lighter in weight with numerous options; and that the reinforcement technology going into the newer GRP/PU composites-built campers over there (competing directly or indirectly with Nidacore) have been well tested. The price-point over here would need be in line with existing genres, of course (not out of the question), as labor costs here, taxes and business operating costs would be vastly different here & in Germany, reflecting in a lower consumer retail number (assuming German product costs are weighted toward the labor component!).
It would be very interesting if your relative could get a sense of the German manufacturer's reinforcements systems...
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Outfitter Apex Filon Problem
Travelnutz:
Yes. I've seen the Tischer "trail" model (core-paneled expedition-grade) truck camper, with a rear hydraulic lift mechanism. This is a huge cored shell design not using clam-shell technique, manufactured for 0.75 to 1 ton North American trucks. Interior net height is at 6.6 feet, OD: 89.3 inches (!), well laid-out interior, *at least* as much room inside as Northern-lite's largest camper, but at only *a fraction* of the weight (1767 LBS) with many, many options (like light-weight high-efficiency heater and airconditioner' flexible mylar solar collector glued on roof, etc).
Cored panel attachments reinforcement for through-the-floor-to-frame or via external jack attachment are already well-developed and long-tested in Europe for slide-ins, so the wheel needn't be re-invented at all...
Cheers,
Silver-
RE: Last Chance Get Away Of 2009-part2
Thanks, C. ! I like the stargazing photo taken early AM !
It's already in TR.
Looking forward to the next installment...
Cheers,
Sand & Dunes
RE: Outfitter Apex Filon Problem
Travelnutz:
Sorry for the long delay in responding! So busy around here lately...
There are already numerous specialty companies that supply composite shell components around the world. The GRP, PU or cored panes are ordered according to the bill of materials/component size output from your flavor of CAD software, along with all appropriately-cut coping, radius and corner connectors, and adhesives, and shipped via container to your plant, FOB destination.
So, for example, if you had a plant set up to "finish" shells for truck campers, expeditions chassis vehicles, Class C, Class A, or towables, you simply order from the component supplier for JIT delivery. The pre-cut shell pieces are delivered to your assembly facility (China, South Africa, Australia, Canada) from say, Europe; the plant assembles the shell, cuts model-specific ports (windows, vents, doors, etc), inserts the components, and either mounts the "box" onto the model chassis, or, in the case of a truck camper, simply ships the units out to dealer/customer.
Here is just one example of a primary component supplier who specialize in truck camper, expedition box, Class C, motorhome bus pre-cut living unit pieces:
Ormocar-->
Cheers,
Silver-
