RE: Frequently get requests for donations.....
We are constantly contacted by phone other means for donations for uncountable causes.
We set a donation budget each year and support a few great causes with good, long term, records, like United Way, but our largest yearly contribution goes to the Altzheimer's association, as my FIL died a few years ago, way to early in his life, at 68, from that terrible disease. My wife's mother had passed when she was very young and her father was extremely important in her life. The final 2 years of his life were beyond horrible..
For the others, the reply "I am sorry but we have already spent our yearly budget for donations. You can try again next year if you like" is the one I use.
RE: Did you go from Coleman/Fleetwood to hybrid?
Our best friends and camping partners went from a Fleetwood Evolution PUP to a Starcraft Antigua 195CK this spring before our first big road trip of the year.
Plus stuff:
STORAGE cabinets, compartments, there is a place for everything instead of a bunch of plastic bins to load and unload from the back of the pickup.
A Bathroom with a tub/shower and toilet
Holding tanks for drycamping and a decent sized FW tank.
Getting ready to go, set up, unloading when back home all much easier and less time consuming.
Ability to use the trailer at a roadside lunch or pottie stop. Everything is available except for the beds.
Better protection against hot days and cold nights.
minus stuff:
Higher initial cost.
less fuel economy towing.
The plus stuff far out weighs the minus stuff. In their case, the overall length of 21' will still just fit in their short driveway. It is not much longer than the PUP was and it is the main reason they bought a HTT instead of a regular TT. There was no way to get same accomidations in a TT of the same overall size (like 2 double beds)
RE: Getting ready to evacuate
How long will a tank of propane run the fridge?It depends on the size of the tank or tanks you have.. It's a little hard to answer unless we know that. In general a fridge uses very little propane as the burner is quite small.
Just ordered a Briggas $ stratton 2000w generator - does anyone have experience with one?They are noisy, they use quite a bit of fuel for the power generated, since they are not an inverter type, they run at a fairly high speed constantly. They are good for emergency power as long as you can get it far enough away from you and others that the constant clatter does not drive you or them crazy.
RE: best camping memories
Weekends at Lake Berryessa with our then, early teenage kids, our old class C MH, and our ski boat. They usually had a couple of friends along also.
RE: Flow master
Flowmaster is a local company and I have had some real experience with their products. They do improve exaust flow and they are noticeably louder. They are very well made of heavier construction than a stock muffler so they have a very long life. I used them on my race cars.
One common mistake is that people think that simply improving either exaust flow or intake flow by itself will create a real difference. An engine is an air pump. If you want to improve performance you have to increase the entire package as the most restricted area determines the overall performance.
Therefore if you are looking for a real difference you need to change the whole package, Intake, camshaft and exaust complete. A simple muffler change does little, except in this case, it make it much louder. (like the kids do with their Hondas)
RE: Just picked up a Honda EU1000I
Have you checked the valve adjustment? A tight valve can cause this.
This is assuming that they have adjustable valves, which they probably do.
RE: vector inverter
Yes, I am always curious when I see posts condemning MSW inverters. I have a 1500W Xantrex inverter that works just fine for my:
LCD TV,DVD player, Direct TV receiver box,
My power supply/chargers for: Cell phone, walkie talkies, flashlights,Dell laptop computer,
Also My: Expresso machine, coffee bean grinder, electric razor,Hair dryer, toaster and 120v lights
and finally, even my microwave for very short periods of time. (but it does not like it so I avoid doing that)
Someday I might replace it with a PSW inverter to solve that problem, but the price difference ($120 vs well over $500) so far as kept it off the top of my list of things to do.
RE: Travelling to Canada
Personally I have always felt safe without a handgun or any other gun as I have never owned one ever.. Of course I am only 60 and have only been to almost every state in this country and most of Canada in my lifetime..
Do I think that those that own guns are bad or should not be able to do so? NO! Some, however tend to do stupid things with them. (Didn't our VP shoot one of his friends?) And it makes me very angry when a child shoots himself or a friend with a gun he found loaded in an unsecure location in his house.
I just think that the laws of any country should be followed if you plan on visiting there. If you choose not to, you will suffer the consequences.
And in Canada, the gun violence, although increasing, is much less common than here in the US, but you form your own conclusions as to why that is.
RE: CH 751 key
Face it, whether or not you change the locks will make absolutely no difference it providing any real security for those compartments. A travel trailer is not exactly Ft Knox... Anyone can break in any time if they really want to. And most offten the most valuable "stuff" is inside anyway, yes?
So do it if it makes you feel better as there is no other good reason to do so.
I prefer having insurance.. It gives me more of a warm fuzzy..
RE: Gibbs Penalties Announced - NASCAR Nationwide Series
Except for the lettering on the valve covers, the engines are all identical also, so don't even go there..
That's true with Indy Car (Honda) but the Toyota,Chevy,Ford and Dodge engines in NASCAR are not identical.
Ok, I'll give you that they are not totally identical except for:
Cubic inches
Basic design (pushrod, overhead valve, 2 valve per cylinder, V8)
Carburator
Intake manifld airflow
Horsepower (controlled and inspected by NASCAR)
Close enough for me.
RE: Gibbs Penalties Announced - NASCAR Nationwide Series
Yawn...
Nascar has lost so much lately.. Where's Smokey Yunick when we need him?
Creative rule interpretation has been a huge part of all forms of racing since the fun of racing was discovered. It is part of what made it all interesting.
Now everything is identical and getting more boring by the moment.. And I was a huge Nascar fan years ago.
I remember the fuss from some when Toyota entered the NASCAR ring.. Big deal.. Strip the paint off and you try to tell me what brand the car is.. I defy you to.. Except for the lettering on the valve covers, the engines are all identical also, so don't even go there..
RE: Brett Favre
Personally I think he got the shaft in GB and I wish him well. After seeing the new GB QB,(against the 49'ers) I think they will regret their decision.
RE: Changing brake fluid
Vacuum Bleeder..Best method..Especially for ABS ayatems. Be aware that some ABS systems require special tools to release certain system valves. (electronic or mechanical depending on make/model)
RE: Generator to run a AC unit in the Travel Star ck19
I run my 13.5 AC with my Honda EU2000I. I rarely need to use it for that, so a larger generator is not necessary. If I ever get to a point where I need the A/C more often, I will add another EU2000I. You cannot beat that model for reliability, quiet operation and excellent fuel economy, as well as light weight making it easy to carry.
BTW, not everyone is successful running an A/C with the Honda EU2000I. I have to have EVERYTHING else using 110v off. I have to have ECO mode off. I am not at high altitude.
Your results may vary,,
RE: What size generator would I need
Also, when most people tailgait with their TT, do you bother un-hooking it from the TV? My TV won't be going anywhere.
Not necessarily. If I can be level without unhooking, that's what I will do. I reccommend unplugging the main pigtail from your Tow vehicle. You don't want to risk running down the TV battery.
RE: What size generator would I need
For everything but the Air COnditioning, go with a 2000W for the air conditioning you will probably need 3000W, however I can run my A/C with my Honda EU2000I. Many cannot, but I rarely need it anyway.
As far as brand and type goes, if you plan on using it often, like we do, as we dry camp 90% of the time, buy the best you can afford, if not, go cheap if necessary. I went cheap for the first 4 generators, now I won't go back ever.
RE: WD-40 on Tires
Personally, I am not a WD 40 fan at all.. For almost everything it is used for, there is something that does the job better. You name it..
With one exception: If you have a wet distributor (on a vehicle old enough to even have one) that prevents the engine from starting, removing the cap and spraying inside the distributor and cap, then replacing the cap and trying again will often get it running. As noted, it displaces water.
