RE: What's the secret to draining the water heater ?
I have a brass hot water heater plug with a drain petcock inside it. That way when I release the pressure I just open the petcock and let the water drain, rather than take out the entire plug itself. Works great. Got it at my local RV dealer, but I'm sure Camping World or somewhere like that carries them.
RE: Central Wisconsin campground suggestions
Devil's Lake CG is probably one of the nicest state park CGs I've stayed at. We were going to be there this year, except the flooding took care of our plans. Things are O.K. there now. Close enough to the Dells to do things, yet far enough away to not be a tourist trap so to speak.
RE: GPS or map?
When I was a ship's Captain, my junior officers and navigation watchstanders were forbidden from using our shipboard GPS until they were at least as good as, or could out-shoot me with a sextant. I'm a big fan of knowing how to find one's way or do things "the old fashioned way" but once proficient with that, GPS is fine. I still don't own one and have never gotten lost, but there's a lot to be said for the ability of today's GPS units giving you locations of services, especially emergency services.
Fort Wilkins State Park, MI
Michigan state parks get a bad rap, in general, but Fort Wilkins SP is a true gem. Just spent 6 days there. Serene, isolated, and beautiful best describe the area. The tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula just doesn't get much traffic. Used pull-through site #158, but all sites are easily accessible, depending on size of rig. Even on a weekend the CG was maybe 40% full. During the week we had the place virtually to ourselves. Pull-through sites are large, nicely separated from neighbors by trees/shrubs. All sites are separated from adjacent sites in same manner. The CG itself is immaculate. Didn't see a single piece of trash in six days. Bathing/restroom facilities also immaculate. Quiet hours are ALL hours, not just evenings. Unlike many lower peninsula state parks, where the campers are often rude, obnoxious, and inconsiderate, this CG was a real exception. The peninsula area offers many activities from hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, snorkeling/diving, kayaking, biking to name a few. Courteous, friendly staff and CG host. This park is well worth the extra drive. It renews faith in the MI state park system. We will definitely stay there again. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
RE: Cedar Point
I was there about two weeks ago, and while the literature says that skateboards, bikes, rollerblades, etc aren't "allowed" there were plenty of people using them. My question to you is that if this (Cedar Point) is your only destination, why do you need bikes? The RV park is located such that anywhere you want to go can be done on foot, and frankly, there isn't really anywhere you would want to bike without either being run over or running some pedestrian over. So, unless it's a can't-live-without, leave the bikes at home.
RE: Cleaning rubber roofs
Equal proportions of Liquid SpicNSpan and Murhpy's Oil Soap in a couple gallons of hot water - works great and won't harm rubber roofs.
RE: Power lift problem
I'd first look at whether a shear pin on the drive shaft has broken. It's happened to me a couple of times, so I carry spares.
Same happened to me. Check the shear pins.
E85 Experiment
Just for fun I've been experimenting with "homemade" mixes of E85 and gasoline to see what the effect would be on my truck mechanically and mileage-wise. I have a 50gal cross-bed aux tank in my truck, so my onboard capacity is 84 gal, which I figured would be a large enough quantity for thoughtful experimentation. I did the math and calculated how much E85 I could put in my aux tank to make an overall E15, E20, and E25 mixture and see how the truck performed, since the aux tank feeds the main tank. So far, with E15 and E20 mixes, I've seen no ill effects, no check engine lights, etc. I just returned from a second "short" 600 mile trip with an E20 mix and got close to 9mpg for the whole trip both times, doing 60mph. My whole point in doing this is not to really save any money, because if I can't afford the gas, I can't afford my truck and 5er. Rather, I've done this for an availability issue to see if, when things perhaps get tight, whether I can mix & match E85 with regular to keep things rolling. I don't buy into the argument that non-E85 vehicles cannot burn any E85 because it will destroy seals, gaskets, lines et al. Ethanol isn't corrosive like Methanol is, which is where much of the misinformation comes from. For any relatively new vehicle, the same components are used in manufacturing, with the exception of injectors and sensors that an E85 compatible vehicle uses to determine what it is burning, whether gasoline or E85. And, of nothing else, a little higher E85 level will keep the system clean and burn a little cooler. From what I can determine, a mixture of E25 is about as high as you can go before O2 sensors and other components begin to notice a difference in what is being burned. Would welcome comments from anybody else who has played in this arena.
RE: Happy Anniversaries! When are yours?
50 years this September and we have enjoyed camping in one form or another for the last 43 of those and have plans to continue for many more.
First of all, MANY CONGRATS for 50 years of marriage!!:B
My bride and I will celebrate 25 years on Nov 26!:B
I promised her 50 years, and then we'd renegotiate the contract. She's definitely the BEST that's ever happened to me in my life. Of our first 14 years of marriage, I was physically away from her for 11 years, as we were both active duty Navy. What other woman would stick with a man with that kind of absence pattern? Wouldn't trade her in on a newer model for anything!:W
RE: Manatoulin Island
Thanks all again for your inputs. This Yank's life isn't complete until I get my Friday evening Canadian Lineup fix - 22 Minutes, Air Farce, etc. I'm very distressed that Air Farce is done on 31 Dec. I mourn the loss of Red Green. Hang in there 22 Minutes!! P.S. The seeds of my 27 year Navy career were planted as a 12 y/o after a tour of HMCS Skeena during Expo 67 in Montreal! :B:B
RE: Generator Question
I love my twin Honda 2000s, whether in parallel or individually. The other advantage of this pair is that when I'm doing work around my property that requires power it is easy just to carry one to wherever I need it. I debated a single 3000 unit, both Honda and Yamaha, but I now am glad I went with the two unit decision for the flexibility with other projects I have.
RE: Michigan RV park
Brighton State Park is a good place to stay. Not frightfully far off the xway (I-96) but it has sites that will definitely handle your rig. From the Brighton area access to Livonia, Novi, and other areas you cited is all pretty easy.
RE: Camping in Minnesota
Lilly01:
If you are looking for Northern Minnesota, we love Burlington Bay Campground in Two Harbors, Minnesota which is right on Lake Superior. Not sure about the fishing as Lake Superior is similar to an ocean, but I would be you could hook up with an excersion to take you fishing. Burlington Bay does not have a website. It is run by the City of Two Harbors, Minnesota. It is approximately 30 minutes north of Duluth on the North Shore. Some sites in the full-hook up section are right on the lake, but hard to get reservations.
Good Luck!
If you are near Two Harbors, stop at "Betty's Pies" on Hwy 61. The pies are to die for, plus their regular resturant is really great. We live in S.E. Michigan, and my wife keeps pestering me for a road trip just to go to Betty's Pies!
RE: Michigan U.P. campgrounds
Just stay away from "Camp Gitchee-Gumee" about 10 miles east of Marquette on Hwy 28 on Lake Superior. Web site says one thing; actual practice says another. My review, along with several others, is at this link.
http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/Michigan/Marquette.html
Manatoulin Island
As a kid, from 1961-1966, my family always visited Manatoulin Island and we stayed at Long Bay Lodge on Lake Kagawong. Took my then 12 y/o daughter to Fred's Camp on Lake Kagawong in 2001 and loved it. Didn't have an RV then. Can any Canadian friends recommend a nice CG on Manatoulin Island that would accommodate a 35ft 5er? Would like to bring my bride of 25 years to a place I loved as a youngster.
Thank you in advance.
RE: Towing and parking 5'er
When I brought my new 5er home in March '06 and backed it into my driveway, I forgot to disconnect the emergency brake cable. I had to make about a 70degree turn backing into the driveway, and with the emergency cable still attached, out it popped, and my 5er stopped in its tracks! Took me a minute to figure what had happened, but from then on, the first step I do is to disconnect that e-brake cable! Wasn't an issue on my previous TT.
RE: Thank You, Dealership!
The dealership I frequent is Gillette's Interstate RV in E. Lansing, MI. They are the best! They also conduct Internet sales for people out of the area. What I love about this place is that while they may only see me once per year, EVERYBODY seems to know me on sight. Sales staff, general manager, service staff, all of them. I'm not what you would call high-profile, but these folks either have tremendous memories, or are just super-customer oriented.
