RE: Wildwood quality
We love our 2007 Wildwood. We had about ten minor issues fixed Under Warranty, like loose trim, sticky window, leaky window, crooked drawer handle, stuff like that. Fixed them all at one time from a list after we used it all summer last year.
The LE Models are basically an entry level unit, but we love our floorplan and all the storage space. It also tows and handles well.
Axles/Suspension rides soft and does not allow anything inside to be out of place when we get to our destination. We put three Mountain Bikes inside on the beds, two on the Queen and one on the pull-out Sofa. Still sitting in the same position when we arrive. So far she has been real good to us.
The areas where I found the sloppiest work were on the roof with the Caulking. Did alot of touch up caulking just to make sure we didn't develop any leaks. Getting ready to give the Roof Caulk a once over again for this year around the stress areas, like the Roof Antenna's and wrap over edges near the gutters.
Hope this helps!
RE: Roof Fairings or Shrouds to reduce drag?
Can you post a link to the Camco cover you referred to, I would like to see more info on it.
Camco Fridge Vent Cover
RE: Anyone know of anyone that tried this stuff?
A 10 mpg increase is a big number when you only get 20mpg to start with.
Ya, but you see we didn't take it down to the local UL Listed LAB DriveThru to get our numbers Certified so it's not REAL DATA.
Boy, this is better than the daily funnies.
I think it is too, I was just starting to have fun. The real funnies for me is those that have commented about the Enviro's and Greenie's, (I guess they are assuming I am one). That is the funniest thing in the world to me because I have never been or am not now an Environmental Wacko, Greenie, Enviro or any of the other Earth Loving denominations.
I just like the Experimentation and my main goal is to keep from spending so much on Gas at these prices. HHO Ain't Free?? I haven't seen any Free Gasoline or Diesel Pumps around here either. I just looked up that it takes over 8100 btu's to produce 1 gallon of Gasoline. That Ain't Free energy either! I never claimed that HHO was Free energy but using it as Supplementation off an existing source is very cost effective when a guy gets 10 mpg increase in his Dodge Caravan, especially at current Gas Prices.
Ok, I'm going to get back to Real RV issues now because this is keeping me from getting my TT ready for the next trip.
It's been Real, It's been fun, but now I need to go find that Snake Oil so I can give the TT a good Wax job. Does anyone have any REAL DATA on Snake Oil's effectiveness vs Silicone Based wax products? :W
Roof Fairings or Shrouds to reduce drag?
Anyone know where to order Roof Fairings to cut down wind drag?
I'm talking about for the AC Units and Fridge Vents. Have seen more Streamlined Fairings or Shrouds on newer model TT units for the AC and for the Fridge Vent.
I found a Camco Fridge Vent Cover that is aerodynamic, but it has a build in Solar Powered Fan Unit in it. I just want the basic shroud.
RE: Anyone know of anyone that tried this stuff?
Gimme a break!!! - since when did kinetic energy and potential energy have ANY relevance to generation of hydrogen from water in a holding tank!:S
(Hint - it's not free!)
And neither is that power you are drawing from your alternator. It could be sucking down a couple of horsepower to produce that current you are using. Once again - NOT free! Alternators absorb power in direct relation to the electric power being used - they don't just sit and spin.
I thought you were done with this topic?
Lets see... Water in a tank has potential energy, you heat it with a catalyst (KOH) in the mix and you get Hydrogen Gas which burns and produces power thus fulfilling it's potential.
And once again I say, So what if it draws a little HP if you still end up increasing your MPG by 10 MPG? You keep ignoring the results of my friend's installed unit.
Air Travel, the Internet, Star Wars Anti-Missile Systems, vehicles faster and more powerful than a horse all used to be pipe dreams too. Somebody will get all the details and workarounds figured out sooner than later.
RE: Anyone know of anyone that tried this stuff?
No energy in water?? Ever seen a Flash Flood? Ever seen a Water-Wheel Grind grain? Ever seen a Liquid Fueled (Hydrogen/Oxygen mix)Rocket launch? My 11 year old tells me "All Matter Has Energy". It's in her Science Book... :R There are two kinds of energy: Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy. Standing Water has Potential Energy, Flowing Water has Kinetic Energy. Point is, there is Energy in all Matter. Water is Matter so it doesn't matter whether you think there is Energy in Water or not. :S
My friends that built their own units are only using 1.6 volts DC after a Reducer, from the 12 volt already available voltage, to heat their Stainless Steel elements, to heat the water and KOH to produce the HHO Gas. Since Number One vehicle gained 10 MPG from that, I fail to see the Big Deal about how much energy it took to extract the HHO Gas when it is coming from already existing voltage produced by the alternator resulting in a 10 MPG Increase. It's not replacement that we are doing (too expensive for us at this point). It's Supplementation. For $272 I think 10 MPG Increase is worth it at today's gas prices.
Oh, I just heard this AM on my favorite Internet Radio Station out of Michigan that GM is working with the US Postal Service on Hydrogen Fleet Vehicles and will be testing them in California. Joining many States who are already doing this. These are Hydrogen powered, not just supplemented.
RE: Washing your rig before a trip??
Usually the last major thing I do is wash it before we go.
When we get back I usually only do the front but since I just
got a new powerwasher few weeks back, I break it out if the streaks start building up too much. It's gets a bath once a month either way.
RE: Anyone know of anyone that tried this stuff?
A local hardware store friend built a homebrew HHO Generator this month, installed it in a late model Dodge Caravan. He was getting 20 MPG, now gets 30 MPG. Second friend and co-worker helping him is now building his own and putting in his Mini-Van. Will know soon his numbers as he is taking it on a 400 mi roundtrip. After I see his numbers and get back from the big trip next month, then I will stick one in my old 96 Olds Ciera work car for testing. Going to buy a kit instead of gathering parts and totally building from scratch.
Sorry, I won't be able to make the trip to Canada so you can see it and know somone who knows two other someones because I will have used all but two days of my vacation time by then. :)
RE: who else??
It's going to cost us under $1000 for two weeks on our trip, staying at 4 different locations for 3-4 nites so we get to see 4 different areas and experience 4 different campground settings. That's fuel and overnight fees plus some half-day tripping in each area. Eating out will be very limited this trip. With Fire-Rings, Portable Grill, Microwave, Stove and Fridge, lots of RV Food options.
Several of my friends are heading the same distance this weekend in cars and vans staying on the beach and I know they usually rack up around $1200 for a week not counting all the eating out they have to do twice a day and fuel.
Who is spending more money for half the time and cooped up in the same room/location everyday with two things to do, the pool or the beach? Just too boring for me.
Besides I got my SUV Towing mileage up to 9 mpg now! That's two more mpg than I had last year. That helps to counter the cost difference for fuel this year when you are driving 1000 miles or so.
RE: Ohio Campgrounds
This was recommended to me by a business friend and fellow RV'er. They go somewhere every other weekend and really like this place. Said it is really nice and Super Sites are Really nice. Little too expensive for my taste, but if you have kids lots of activities right there for them and he said a nice park.
Buckeye Lake
Also someone referenced this place couple of weeks ago in the Hocking Hills/Logan area. I think we are going to try it in the Fall.
Scenic View Campground
RE: I just wanna MAP! grrrrr
How about this? Got it from someone on here few months back.
Campground Map
Keep clicking on the map or use the Zoom Slider on the left side
until you get down to the Red Markers. Single Clicks on the Pin will pop a bubble up with info.
RE: Wild weather: what would you do?
Have a Sheltering Plan for each place you stay either before you get there if you have the layout or when you arrive. Scout it out.
Have a Weather Radio with you when you are traveling and have it on monitoring for Alerts.
Remember, most all Tornadoes come out of Severe Thunder Storms so if there is a Severe TStorm Warning out, better be ready to take cover.
Sometimes no time to get Tornado Warnings out and you just might be the first to discover there is one heading your way!
Don't disregard the Wind Damage Potential from TStorms and Straight-Line Winds.
Try to find a local NOAA Storm Spotting class in your home area and go through it. Valuable info for the 2-3 hrs worth of time. Classes are free.
Check Forecasts Before Departing for the day on the road and know what is Forecast for your area daily when you are exposed in an RV.
This is a helpful link for Daily Severe WX Forecasting:
Storm Prediction Center
Can't always know where and when, but these steps give you an edge.
RE: 'Slow movement' wants you to ease up, chill out
After having our own TT vor over a year now, finally got each outing down to a routine that is fairly easy and I take my time doing it. We can transition to Fully Deployed at a site and be riding bikes and crashing in chairs outside in an hour. Tear-down is a little more stressful due to time and wanting to do some last minute bike rides, lunch and back-flushing the tanks.
All in all, I'm learning to slow down by starting trip preps a week before on the weekend and doing a little each evening after work. That makes the departure way less stressful. One problem for me is, as soon as I take the afternoon off from work to finish up and head to the campsite, I get lots of TXT Messages and Calls about all the things that just went wrong with systems at work. Can't ignore those since we only have two Techs and I am the main Administrator. I even have to be On Call for technical solutions and advice when away, even if I'm all the way to the top of Michigan on the big trip. Hoping this will be less of an issue as the other guy develops more systems knowledge over time.
I've also been applying the Slow Down at work over the last couple of years because making decisions under panic levels is bad. Trying to calm down others around me that I work with and make them think out better low impact solutions instead of working in a frenzy and making rash decisions that bite us later. Bigger Picture and Out of the Box.
So I would say we are definitely working on Slowing Down! Ours is 11 also and she loves going camping now because riding our new Mountain Bikes on park roads and trails is Awesome! She is really into art and seeing beautiful places and things outdoors inspires her to draw and photograph more. She has a real God-given talent in that so we are nurturing it this way.
RE: cut fule use by 50%
Ok, I'll try to make this easier to understand.
Three of us locally that I know of, have been investigating HHO Injection, (not Water Injection) for several months and the other two guys just built their own HHO Injection Unit from an Online book provided by one of those outfits out of Calif. PVC version. Total parts gathered from local Hardware Store, approximately $110.
It's Hydrogen Gas extracted from water only using a few volts and amps off the cars 12volt system thru Electrolysis. It's just using available DC power already there. It's real Hydrogen Gas, burns and pops like rice krispies if you use a mini torch or grill lighter over the Bubbler. It injects into the Air Intake stream. The engine burns the hydrogen and gas or diesel together. Since there is a second fuel in the stream, it uses less gas or diesel. I don't see why this is so hard for some to comprehend.
First test run of 75 miles in a late model, still Under Warranty Dodge Caravan. (Dealer told them not a problem with Warranty). Normal Gas Mileage he was getting 20.2 mpg before. With new HHO Unit installed in vehicle on the 75 mile test run he got 30.75 mpg.
What part of 10 MPG Increase cannot be understood?
The Range on the Water Resevoir is about 300 miles before refill, at somewhere around 30 Liter/Hr of Hydrogen being produced. Larger ones for over a 3.0L engine size can go up to 600 miles before refill.
I will report back when the second van gets his installed and running soon.
I'm not going to gather the parts myself, don't have time. Just going to order a kit and put it together and install. Here's similar ones they modeled and have running in the Mini-Van. I'm ordering the model 30 for my 96 Olds.
HHO Units
I've heard it said, Aeronautical Engineers say that there is no way the Bumblebee should be able to fly. Why do they keep chasing me on my Cub Cadet!??
RE: scary article
I thought that was odd too, said he had it on the side of the MH in a "compartment". It's definitely the Portable Plug-In model. Must have had it mounted and using an extender power cable to the post. Looked like the same one I have, but I only hang it at the post. If Lightning hits it, it could meltdown or catch fire so no way would I mount it on the outside of the TT.
RE: cut fule use by 50%
The Big 3 (that aren't so big anymore except in new overseas sales) never raise mileage unless they are forced to by new CAFE Standards.Sorry, got to disagree with you on that one. Don't underestimate the power of competitive pressures. If Chevy was offering a Malibu that did 60mpg instead of low 30s, what do you think the demand would be.
Why do you think the Prius is selling, even with the potential complexity of the electric side of the Power-train and future expense of replacement batteries?
The Competitive Pressures have been out there for over ten years at least. The Big 3 continue to loose to them. Why aren't they capable of producing at least a 40MPG Malibu to compete? They continue to lag everyone else in more efficient and cheaper cars.
I listen to a Michigan Radio Network all day long here at work and all I hear is all the GM plants shutting down, various divisions due to lack of demand. Just heard a news blurb just now as I type this about another closing, Delphi, American Axle, whoever, it goes on and on. Don't get me wrong, all I have had is GM and Dodge vehicles but they have to wake up, all of them.
RE: cut fule use by 50%
Why would the Automaker's include something like this costing them $300 - $5000 depending on which system would be installed when they wouldn't put in a $5 fix to keep Ford Pinto gas tanks from blowing up and killing people?
Ever look at how many TSB's are listed for GM, Dodge and Ford vehicles? Look at the same data for say a Hyundai or Kia (now being built in America in the South). Why can't they engineer out those problems, why do they exist in the first place on most models? The Big 3 (that aren't so big anymore except in new overseas sales) never raise mileage unless they are forced to by new CAFE Standards.
Never used to be a conspiracy kook, but starting to become one. Automaker's and Big Oil having a working relationship, let's just say, an understanding behind the scenes to cooperate together aiming at maximizing profits for both. Nothing else can explain it when there is other working technology that has been around for years.
RE: hydrogen generators: diesel
Don't blow off what you haven't tried for yourself.
I'm not selling them (yet), but three of us locally that I know of, have been investigating this for several months and the other two guys just built their own HHO Injection Unit from an online book provided by one of those outfits out of Calif. PVC version.
First test run of 75 miles yesterday in a late model, still Under Warranty Dodge Caravan. Dealer told them not a problem with Warranty. Normal Gas Mileage he was getting 20.2 mpg before. With new HHO Unit installed in vehicle on the 75 mile test run he got 30.75 mpg. It's not that complicated to understand how this occurs. Hydrogen is just another fuel, yet a much more powerful fuel.
Basically you end up with an HHO/Gas Hybrid, (Batteries Not Included).
NASA has been using Hydrogen for decades. I haven't heard of any spacecraft getting into orbit using gas or diesel.
The second unit is being built right now and will be installed in a Mazda Mini-Van shortly. I will post the results after I get more numbers. I am ordering a 30Liter/hr HHO unit next week for my work car, 96 Olds Ciera. I currently get 23 local and 31 on the road I expect to see much better than that.
I wonder who is putting out all the Negative Info while they continue to Gouge us at the pumps?? Why do you so readily believe the Negative side off the Internet, but won't "trust" the Positive side when you have no actual experience with it hands on?
I also see the same Slamming on here about CIT Cold Air Intakes. I installed one and a Helical Throttle Body Spacer and my mileage has gone up 2mpg both empty and towing. Run the numbers for 12,000mi per year at a 2 mpg increase at $4/gal. I got my money back for the CIT and TB plus over $200 left over. That means by next year the Gear Change is paid for too. If I inject HHO in the Durango at another $675 outlay and boost MPG even just another 2mpg I am covered. Results I've seen from a person I have known for years locally (not Off the Internet) tell me it's for real and worth the effort for the expense. I don't know about Semi Tractor mileage with them, but I do know about one Dodge Caravan already with more test beds to follow soon.
I'll post back what our three vehicles are doing after we get the other two going. Will probably have the second Van running in a week or so and my Olds by the end of the month, sooner I hope. After I see the mileage results for that I want to try the larger unit in the Durango.
What happened to Experimenting, Mods and the Sense of Adventure out there?? :@ At $272 for my Olds kit, (can build on your own with parts totaling around $110), it's a Low Risk investment to try if I gain 8-10mpg like my friend in his Mini-Van. It's also very fun messing with it!
I suppose the Wright Brothers were "Snake Oil" in their day??
RE: Is clunking sound normal with Equalizer Hitch
I have found that most of my Clunking was coming from the slop in the Hitch Receiver and the Equal-i-zer Shank. I put a Roadmaster Quiet Hitch on it and the Clunking stopped. However, I recently bent and broke off the bolt on the Quiet hitch plate so now am back to clunking. Found out I caused it by not First loosing the Locking Bolt before Un-Hitching. Bent the bracket at the bottom and eventually the bolt.
The Popping and Creaking is normal with an Equal-i-zer. I'm even using the Bracket Jackets (actually doing Field Testing of new materials for Progress Mfg.). Still makes the usual noises however they are reduced if I don't miss any lube points on the Head.
