RE: Those annoying decals
As I see it, the more high the trailer the smaller the lettering of the company name and no pictures of animals or pictures of mountains, etc.
RE: TV Reception
I've been looking at this issue since early Janurary and I'll share what I've found. I applied on 1/13/08 on-line and just recieved the coupons (they look like credit cards) on 4/8/08. Second, they're only good for 90 days from the date of printing and by the time you get them you'll only have about 75 days left to use them. Third, the best features and hardware improvments only are available on very few models out of almost 70 brands and product lines. The best features include: analog pass through when powered off, s-video output, smart antenna, and a signal strength meter. I won't try and explain all those features as to value but they are the things most of us will want. Out of the almost 70 converter boxes listed on the Gov. web site more than half aren't even being built yet and might not even be available until late this year. At this time no big box retailer has any models with all the desirable features I listed above. The best models I've found are from an unheard of brand; Max Media. Their current model #MMDTVB03 (it may have analog pass through when off but has all the other features)is almost impossible to find at this time and a new model that won't be out until June the Max Media #MMDTVB02 which has all the features. The Philco TB100HH9 and the better Philco TB150HH9 have most of the features. Others that (I think) are not yet in production but could have most or all features are the Echostar TR-40 and the Digital Stream DX8700. If any of you find any of these models available let us all know.
RE: Yahama 2400 running 15,000 BTU A/C
A Yamaha 2400 will NOT do a 15K ac. My 06 ac pulls almost 23 amps on a start up and the generator can't handle it. I'm going to sell my 2400 and buy the new 4500 Yamaha for our house backup power and rv use.
RE: Which generator setup
There is a new Yamaha out! The EF4500ise will do a 15K AC plus more. 33.2 amps constant output plus a huge surge factor. 15.5 hrs. run time @25% load. More quiet than a smaller unit or even any two units. 194 lb. on wheels and only $2650 delivered. Saw it at Wise. Do a Google.
This article from RV.org is worth reading!!!
Formaldehyde Haunts FEMA Trailers
It's been three years and FEMA still hasn't gotten the point. Formaldehyde isn't going to disappear from RVs any more than American families are going to give up camping.
Although formaldehyde has many uses for giving modern products strength and flexibility, it also helps to keep bacteria from growing in places that otherwise love to hatch bacteria - such as paneling, plywood, and upholstery. And, as those of us who have been around the RV industry for eons know, cheap trailers (the kind FEMA buys) are not built to live-in standards. Cheap trailers are prone to collect moisture in cracks and crevices never found in more expensive trailers or standard-built homes. Because formaldehyde helps keep the trailer from disintegrating a bit at a time, it's the perfect preservative product for cheap RVs; however, this is not its primary function in the RV industry.
In the manufacturing process of RVs, formaldehyde is used as a component of the adhesives included in making particle board, plywood, and other synthetic wood products. Formaldehyde helps form strong chemical bonds that give these resins long-lasting effectiveness. Because its natural state is gaseous, formaldehyde is gradually emitted from the material over time. These emissions can increase in hot and humid conditions and can cause health problems when this occurs in confined spaces.
FEMA and the formaldehyde controversy are in the news again because the Center for Disease Control (CDC) performed air quality tests on over 500 of the trailers provided by FEMA to victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. What they found wasn't good. The tests yielded a wide range of results from very low concentrations of formaldehyde to concentrations not considered safe by current standards. The average concentration of formaldehyde in the tested trailers was measured at .077 parts per million, a level the CDC says may be a threat to health with long-term exposure.
Two congressional committees have opened inquiries into this matter. The House Oversight and Government Procurement Committee chaired by Representative Henry Waxman, D-CA, is investigating FEMA's response to the formaldehyde complaints. Manufacturers named in the investigation are primarily Pilgrim International, Gulf Stream, Forest River, and Coachmen.
Lawsuits against the trailer manufacturers may drag out for years, according to some experts. These experts say that the plaintiffs may have a difficult time proving that their health was adversely affected by outgassing of formaldehyde in their FEMA trailers at this late date. Yet FEMA is taking pains to move the remaining trailer occupants to new quarters by summer, when heat and humidity could cause further outgassing of any remaining chemical. FEMA needs to recognize that there is a reason why travel trailers have not been approved as "homes" by any government agency.
Manufacturers who sold to FEMA claim they have violated no standards - which is probably true since there are no set standards for formaldehyde content of building materials used in trailers. They claim that if the government does set a standard, they will comply. However, The Indianapolis Star's interview with Joseph Hagerman, an architect and civil engineer who studied the FEMA trailers for the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, reported that, "many manufacturers used inexpensive plywood from China and employed sloppier production methods than are usual as a means to cut costs and make higher profits."
In view of all the problems stemming from this issue, and probably to avoid lawsuits and more government investigations, last year the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) along with the Recreational Park Trailer Association (RPTIA) adopted formaldehyde emission control standards as established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the manufactured housing industry. Whether manufacturers of cheaper trailers adhere to such standards remains to be seen.
The really sad part of this is WE paid for this mess with or taxes and WE'LL pay to fix it with our taxes!!!!
RE: Manufacturers in Money Trouble
This year my wife and I decided to NOT go to the RV show, the boat show and the home show and spend the money that we saved on gas, tickets, parking, snacks + beer, etc. and use it to fund another week of CAMPING!!!! YES!
RE: Change tires on a new RV?
I would question the idea that the Goodyear G614's are being made in China. The ones that I looked at (that had just arrived at the dealer) in Sept. were made in the USA and had a date code in the early spring or summer of this year.
RE: Dumping my Karrier tires for ?????? Help!
I went with XPS Ribs in in the LT245/75R16E size. It's a better match size wise to your OEM tires; almost same heigth, same section width, same wheel width and will be a better match if you ever need to use your spare. Also speed rated to 75MPH and when inflated to 80PSI the four will carry 12,168LBS on the trailer axles alone plus what's on your pin on the truck. Weigh your rig to be sure but I think you'll be fine. On my rig per sig. I only have 8900 on the axles.
RE: My first tire problem.......................
Gnarlykaw, Since your in the St. Louis area I suggest you take a trip to the Costco in South County and visit the tire dept. They have a set of 4 Michelin XPS Ribs LT 245/75R16E tires that were a special order that was not picked up this Summer. Even if it's not the correct size for your trailer you should see how strong the construction of this tire is. Few dealers carry them as a stock item so it's hard to have a "hands on" evaluation of this tire. You'll understand why it's so much better than all the other E range tires and the China junk in particular. I bought mine at Costco and with the current rebate it was $889.67 complete and out the door.
RE: Has anyone replaced the kitchen counter in an Alpenlite?
We just had our home counter tops changed to quartz by a company called Granite Transformation. The process they use is to cover the old counter top and backsplash with an aprox. 3/8" granite/quartz layer that is bonded to the old counter top. The finished product is stain proof, needs no sealing and is as hard as any solid granite countertop and does not weigh near what a solid granite top would. It looks GREAT, cleans very easly and I'm seriously considering doing the fithwheel with it next next spring. After they measure and make a template for a trailer the install would be only 2 to 3 hrs. with no tear out and destroyed wallpaper and woodwork.
