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Forum
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RE: Fuel Mileage?
Like others, mine varies, but I've averaged about 11.8 this year on over 3,000 miles of towing from the Alleghenies in PA and the hills of southern IA to the flatlands of IN and IA and no wind to heavy head winds. Some of my best legs were 14. WC loaded is just under 10K, combined gross is just under 18K. I set cruise at 63 (the shift point for 6th in Tow/Haul mode of the Allison)
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Glen Schumann
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07/02/08 04:59pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 2009 Wildcat 32 QBBS?
Put a deposit on a Wildcat QBBS today after alot of looking.
Here are a couple of Wildcat owner forums you might want to check out.
Forest River Wildcat Camper Forum: http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/index.htm
Wildcat Owners Forum: http://www.wildcatonline.com/
Sorry those are not clickable links, but this site won't do the linking function. Copy and Past will work.
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Glen Schumann
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06/30/08 06:47pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Wildcat 28RKBS & Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab Duramx 6.6L Combo
Sounds good but ditch the 4x4 and go for the same rig in a 2WD configuration. You lose towing capacity and fuel mileage with 4x4.
While I agree about the towing capacity and fuel mileage, I'm guessing that the OP is thinking as I do, when living in snow country I would not be caught dead (or rather I might be) with a 2WD pickup in the winter. I think NW PA gets a fair amount of lake effect snow. Am I correct?
OP, with the rig in my sig, I am just fine on all weights EXCEPT GVWR of the TV when hitched which is about 500 lbs over. I have weighed at a CAT scale and our 29rlbs loaded for camping grosses at just under 10,000 lbs. You may be substantially more than 500 lbs over if you take your new 5er to GVWR. I have noticed no problems with stability or stopping power with my rig. Power is never even close to being in question. That Duramax just loves to pull!
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Glen Schumann
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06/29/08 09:40am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Whats Your Real Weights? Truck and Trailer. The Real Deal
CAT Scale Weights: (scale weight, rating)
with FW hitched
TV Steer Axle 4,400, 4,670 (under by 270)
TV Drive Axle 5,280, 6084 (under by 804)
TV total 9,680, 9,200 (over by 480)
Trailer Axles 8,000, 10,050 (under by 2,050)
Gross Combination weight 17,680, 22,000 (under by 4,320)
TV only
steer axle 4,400
drive axle 3,460
total 7,940
Thus Pin weight is 1,820, FW total weight is 9,820 and pin weight is 18.5% of FW total weight.
All water tanks empty (fresh, both gray and black)
LP tanks about 2/3 full
FW loaded for travel
Fuel tank full
TV loaded for hauling
Myself, DW, 5 yr old grandson
There was 50-75 lbs of firewood in the TV box which will not be there on most trips and I am beginning to think I have more leveling material than I need. This can probable be reduced by another 50 lbs.
There is plenty of room in FW GWR and CGWR to fill the fresh water tank (about 320 lbs) which will take weight off the pin as it is at the very back (is 200 lbs reasonable?)
I do plan to have a pin box bike rack which when fully installed and with max load should be about 150 lbs. There was also some cargo in the FW which could be shifted to the back end. I am figuring we can get to within about 200 lbs. of TV GVWR with the adjustments.
I think I am comfortable with that. Your comments are welcome.
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Glen Schumann
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04/28/08 05:20pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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Signature Picture Not Posting - Why?
My signature picture is not posting. I have checked and it fits within the parameters. Can someone please explain and or have the problem corrected?
Thank you.
Edit: Naturally, when I post this message it shows up again!:R
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Glen Schumann
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04/16/08 04:41pm |
Forum Technical Support
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RE: First 5er Camping Weekend
Can you recommend any particular sites in the campground? We live an hour west of you near Rochester, MN, and we have a rig about your size. Its always nice to get recommendations from other people on specific sites within a park that might be better suited for rigs like our's.
Not knowing how familiar you are with WI State Parks, let me share some general information first. As far as I know, there are NO full hook up sites in WI State Parks. There certainly are none at Perrot. A dumping station is avaialbe (but was not open last weekend). There are electric sites which at Perrot are $5 extra. Out of state campers pay a higher park permit fee and a higher site fee ( being native born does not help, you have to be a WI resident). One of the things I like about Perrot is the sites are generally large and very well separated with considerable privacy. Most (but not all) of the electrical sites would have handled our rig. The electrical sites are in the lower campground (A & B Loops). We did not see an electrical site we did not like. Most had lots of tree cover (when the leaves come in).
Reservations link. But all sites are first come first serve until May.
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Glen Schumann
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04/15/08 04:49pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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First 5er Camping Weekend
The DW and I took this past weekend at a nearby WI state park (Perrot near Trempeleau). We had the campground to ourselves Friday evening and one other camper on Saturday. Lows around freezing but we kept ourselves comfortable without using a lot of propane. Small ceramic electric heater helped as long as we kept it on low, hi blew the outlet circuit breaker. We aimed for about 60 degrees F while awake and 50 while sleeping. Having been tent and PUP campers, we are used to being on the cool side. The bed sure was toasty though. Sunday was beautiful, especially the afternoon.
We were glad to get the experience with the unit and feel confirmed that the floor plan is the right one for us.
See photos.
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Glen Schumann
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04/14/08 07:37pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: More white stuff
MNtundraRet,
Head on down to the SE corner by us and head over into WI to join us at Perrot State Park outsdie Trempeleau. Our first trip will NOT be stopped by snow (our forecast is for less than your area). We are supposed to be in upper 40's by Sunday with partly Sunny.
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Glen Schumann
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04/10/08 12:26pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Pop-ups and high winds...can it be a problem??
Two summers ago we were camping with our 10 ft. Coleman Sedona in the state park just east of Williston, ND when a high wind came up (50-60 MPH?). We had the awning deployed and both of us spent 10-15 minutes hanging on to the awning until the wind slacked a little and we could get it rolled up. Then a few more minutes later the wind shifted to the other side and picked up again. I was concerned that we might be blown over. I decided to move the TV ( a Chev Blazer) to the windward side of the PUP and that made a huge difference. No damage sustained at all, but some time spent worrying. I can't speak for other PUPs, but I believe that Colemans are very solid.
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Glen Schumann
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03/19/08 06:35pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Minnesota State Park's new 1 year reservation window
When my wife and I planned our trips for the year in mid-January we were unable to make reservations in Minnesota (our home state) or Iowa because at that time both did not permit reservations more than 90 days in advance. Our busy lives require advance planning and confirmed reservations. Now maybe my home state can get some of my camping money in 2009.
I complained via email to both state DNRs. Iowa did not even give me the courtesy of a reply while Minnesota replied promptly and informed me of the pending change.
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Glen Schumann
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03/19/08 12:16pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: YOUR IDEAL CAMPGROUND
First, thank you for your service.
My list includes: Large sites with lots of space separating them. Lots of trees and undergrowth between sites also (sites should feel private). Fire pit (no need for campground provided grill). Plentiful supply of properly dried firewood for sale at a reasonable price. Clean, modern well maintained comfort stations. Keep the "amenities" such as game rooms, enteratainment, etc to a minimum. I want a campground, not an amusement park. Have a good set of rules and enforce them; especially important are quiet hours, noisy and/or unattended pets, respect for others, uncontrolled children. Well maintained over all but only mow the grass on the sites(NO mowing between sites).
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Glen Schumann
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03/17/08 09:17pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Camping Etiquette
I have paid for the site, it's the same as renting a home. If you're on my site without my permission you are TRESPASSING.
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Glen Schumann
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03/17/08 12:20pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Fifty Cents A Mile
If these projections are correct; the trend will improve after April: EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook
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Glen Schumann
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03/15/08 03:32pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Fifty Cents A Mile
We were figuring our camping trips for the season and figured it would cost us fifty cents a mile to move our coach. FRY
The IRS rate for mileage deductions for 2007 is $0.485, and that is without a 5er! From that viewpoint your not doing too badly!:W
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Glen Schumann
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03/15/08 12:35pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: RV ing Pacific to Atlantic and back the 9th time
I think one of the most beautiful places in the Mississippi River Valley is Wyalusing State Park just south of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The best time to be there is during fall bird migration though. Pikes Peak State Park across the river in Iowa is also a good spot.
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Glen Schumann
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03/13/08 06:23am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Taxes for Uncle Sammy
Not completely true. Home equity loans have their own rules for deductibility.
I got to learn something new tonight. Here is a quote from IRS Publication 936 to add detail to what mssmith wrote:
"Home equity debt limit. There is a limit on the amount of debt that can be treated as home equity debt. The total home equity debt on your main home and second home is limited to the smaller of:
$100,000 ($50,000 if married filing separately), or
The total of each home's fair market value (FMV) reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of its home acquisition debt and grandfathered debt. Determine the FMV and the outstanding home acquisition and grandfathered debt for each home on the date that the last debt was secured by the home."
We are well below the limit.
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Glen Schumann
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03/12/08 10:58pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Taxes for Uncle Sammy
If financed with a home equity loan (which is what we did) the interest is deductible without having to meet any other requirements.
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Glen Schumann
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03/12/08 09:11pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Diesel price
That's not true. Demand has pretty much remained stable and actually a decrease in the past year.
Here's a link to a government source for all sorts of supply and demand data about distallates (which includes home heating oil and diesel fuels).
Demand has not been stable but has risen and fallen a good deal. It has risen for 4 out of the last 5 weeks, but fell in the most recently reported week (these are four week running averages). Demand is currently below the average for 2006-7 for the most recent period. The US demand curve spent most of 2007 above the average for 2006-7.
Supply is an issue as production has fallen sharply and is about to go below the average curve while imports have also fallen.
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Glen Schumann
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03/12/08 08:44pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Diesel price
There have been a lot of comments here about "speculators" and oil/fuel prices. I suggest that it would be a good idea for some of you to study the commodities futures markets. Here is one source which you might find helpful: The Mechanics of the
Commodity Futures Markets What They Are and How They Function
As has been mentioned in one other post I saw, speculators actually play a moderating role in price swings.
In my opinion, there are several forces driving oil and fuel prices. Included are: skyrocketing world wide demand, the geo-political situations in the Mideast and recently in South America, supply shortages of oil due to manipulation by OPEC and supply shortages of fuel due to production disruptions from a number of factors including government regulation(too many blends is just one). Edit: I forgot one: the falling value of the dollar.
The total size of oil company profits is due mostly to HUMONGOUS volumes. As has been pointed out here previously, their profit margins are not at all out of line, somehwere in the 9% range I beleive. Many industries make much more than a 9% profit margin.
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Glen Schumann
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03/12/08 06:57pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Just a thought
Me 58 (59 next month)
SWMBO 58 (59 Sept.)
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Glen Schumann
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03/11/08 12:05pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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