RE: Towing Bumper Pull vs. FW
I've had both, and would not ever willingly go back to a TT.
-I can see the hitch/trailer connection in the rear view while I drive.
-I can hook up and pull away on the first try since I can clearly see the hitch
-I can hook up and pull away in less that 90 seconds, every time.
-NO sway
-Winds do not bother me (up to a reasonable wind speed)
-Can jackknife trailer without having to disconnect WD bars/sway control if in a bad spot and need to turn around (bad for axles/springs/tires though)
-etc...
RE: Furnace drained the batteries overnight in COLD weather
I have (2) 12 V batts and can make it through a very cold night with the furnace set to 68. We have a local "Battery Mart" that sells nothing but batteries, and I swap my (2) deep cycle 12V batteries once per year for a cost of $65.
Unplug your truck from the trailer as soon as you set up camp. If your batts die, and draw your truck batt down, you are SOL.
Install a seperate small 12V battery for starting your generator. If you wake up in the morning (cold) to find the batts dead, simply connect your starting battery (Harbor Freight battery switch for $10) and fire up the generator. Install an isolator between your charging circuit and the starting battery to allow the SB to charge (but not discharge to the battery bank).
While you're at HF, pick up a solar kit for well under $100, and let the sun do some charging for you during the day. It's not the best, but it might keep your furnace going from 9pm to 7am instead of 9pm to 3am.
How would I set up an isolator to do this? A simple switch would work but yes, I'd then have to always make sure the generator starting battery is fully charged.
Install one of these and never worry about starting your gen again
RE: Furnace drained the batteries overnight in COLD weather
I have (2) 12 V batts and can make it through a very cold night with the furnace set to 68. We have a local "Battery Mart" that sells nothing but batteries, and I swap my (2) deep cycle 12V batteries once per year for a cost of $65.
Unplug your truck from the trailer as soon as you set up camp. If your batts die, and draw your truck batt down, you are SOL.
Install a seperate small 12V battery for starting your generator. If you wake up in the morning (cold) to find the batts dead, simply connect your starting battery (Harbor Freight battery switch for $10) and fire up the generator. Install an isolator between your charging circuit and the starting battery to allow the SB to charge (but not discharge to the battery bank).
While you're at HF, pick up a solar kit for well under $100, and let the sun do some charging for you during the day. It's not the best, but it might keep your furnace going from 9pm to 7am instead of 9pm to 3am.
RE: California campgrounds
Newport dunes is grrat for big rigs. Also san clemente state beach is nice and is ok for big rigs as well.
X3 for Newport Dunes. Its a bit pricey in the summer, but well worth it. They have their own beach, store, restruaunt, huge pool/spa, water toys in the bay, concerts on the beach in the summer, and you can ride your bikes to Balboa Island and the Newport beaches.I would camp there and make DL a day trip.
RE: Beware of no warranty work by Dutchman Voltage dealers
I guess things really would be peachy if you could go elsewhere to get a killer deal and the poor local guy down the street just gets stuck with all the warranty work with pitiful reimbursement rates.
So the "poor local guy" wants to make 8K off the sale of a new unit,and gets approached by a buyer that wants a deal that will net the "PLG" 4k. "PLG" turns him away, and makes $0.00. Buyer comes to "PLG" 2 months later with warranty work needed that will net "PLG" $70/hr for some simple warranty work, "PLG" turns him away and nets $0.00 again. So "PLG" has made exactly nothing, and probably still has the original unit sitting on his "poor local lot".
"PLG" takes deal for 4k profit, then customer returns with warranty work for $70/hr (rv mechanics make about 15/hr), then sends friends down for another new unit purchase 4 months later because he is a satisfied customer. "PLG" nets 20k over the course of the year from 2 sales, all because he recognized that good customer service is the key to running any business that is based on customer satisfaction.
Just because some guy decided to open a RV sales lot in my town does not mean that I have to open up my wallet to make sure HE stays in business. If you're going to take the business risk of selling a product with a warranty, and you have a service facility at your lot, then stand behind the product you are selling; even if you make $70/hr instead of the $100/hr that YOU think your time is worth.
I am a business owner (general contractor), and have to lower my service rates/profit expectations in times of economic downturns. If people aren't driving off your RV lot with new units every day, then you'd better find a way to bring in some money. I'd say that having satisfied customers would be a good start, and turning people away certainly isn't making them satisfied.
There is no reason that the RV industry should not be held to the same standard as the automobile industry regarding warranty support.If you warranty your product, then fix it when it breaks, period.
