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Forum
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RE: Caravan tours of Alaska and Canada
I have never been on a caravan and after what I have seen in Alaska I would never be on one. Here is just one example of why. I am currently in a campground in Telkeetna. Last night a caravan pulled into the campground. None arrived before 6:00 pm and some didn't arrive until well after 10:00. Telkeetna is a neat little town and worth a day or two to explore. I am here for two days. There are great flightseeing trip to Mt. McKinley from here. There are a lot of historic buildings and interesting things to see. By 8:00 this morning, the entire caravan pulled out. I guess they have a schedule to make and no time to see Telkeetna. If you like showing up late in the evening and leaving early the next day without seeing the sights, then maybe caravans are the way to go. This is not the first place in Alaska where I have seen this late-in-early-out forced march of caravans. That coupled with the cost makes we wonder why anyone would ever consider a canavan. Just my two cents.
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RetiredGuy
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08/24/08 02:41pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: 55 Gallon Water Drum
I know some who have used a water bed for hauling water.
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RetiredGuy
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08/24/08 11:34am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Need Information on Haines, AK
I have been in Homer, Valdez, Seward, and Haines. All four this year. I would rate them in the same order as I listed them. I loved Homer, thought Valdez and Seward were about the same, and thought Haines was OK. We weren't there when all of the eagles congragate. If you want things like gift shops and a lot of restaurants, that wouldn't be Haines. I think if that is what you are looking for, go to Skagway. I have never been in Skagway. Like Haines, Skagway is at the end of a fairly long road. The road from Haines to Haines Junction is a pretty drive.
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RetiredGuy
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08/18/08 04:22pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Verizon Data Service in Alaska
I got internet service most of the time in Alaska, with extended network.
When did you have service? Were you using an air card, USB modem, tethered phone, or what?
Thanks,
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RetiredGuy
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08/17/08 05:38pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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Verizon Data Service in Alaska
Does anyone know if Verizon data service (Broadband and/or National Access) works in Alaska? Calling Verizon to ask this question is almost useless. Maybe someone at Verizon knows the answer but I can't seem to find that person. I have been told that several years ago Verizon did offer data service in Alaska but since then they pulled out of the state and sold everything. All Verizon cell voice service is on Extended Service meaning some other carrier is supplying the service through contract with Verizon.
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RetiredGuy
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08/17/08 04:03pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Where to Register Your Rig???
You can be a legal resident of any state. You become a legal resident by your intent. There are many factors that can be used to prove your intent. These are things like where you vote, where you pay taxes (if any), what address you use when filing federal tax returns, where you have a library card, where you get your drivers license, your mailing address, where you claim your residence for medical insurance, etc. Ususlly not any one of these proves your intent. If you are a full timer, you should get as many as you can to strengthen your case. If you do things like have a drivers license in one state and vote in another, then this raises questions about which state is your legal residence. In addition, you need to understand how your current state looks at losing you as a legal resident. New York used to be notorious about going after their residents who spend 6 months in Flordia and 6 months in New York. These snowbirds all tried to switch to being Flordia residents to avoid New York taxes. New York didn't want to lose the taxes. I don't know if this is still a problem. I have never heard of any state not wanting to gain a new resident.
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RetiredGuy
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08/16/08 02:49pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: State and Federal Donut Hole
For starters, I think Reserve America stinks! I recently used it to reserve a space in a park where I thought the park would be full. They told me on the phone I was lucky as I got the last space. When I got to the park there were literally over 100 empty (non-reserved) sites that could have been reserved. Maybe that many people canceled or failed to show. Want to buy a bridge? I have never had a good experience when trying to reserve a camp site with Reserve America. And when I have mentioned Reserve America to the campgound hosts where I have stayed, not a one has good words for them.
Many campgrounds do not allow all of their sites to be reserved. I just stayed at one where about half the sites were reservable and half were first-come, first-served. The campground had something like 80 sites. There were 10 or so sites that were reserved for the weekend without anyone in them.
My advice is to just go and see what you can get or call the campground directly and ask about available sites.
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RetiredGuy
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08/04/08 03:27pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Potable Flat Hose
I have one of these hoses that I have used a few times. I would never use it to hookup. The times I have used it is in public campgrounds. There are some that have potable water available at a drinking fountain with a water tap on the side. If you want to get fresh water they expect you to fill water jugs and carry them to your unit. With a 50 foot hose you can normally reach your unit that is parked on the road. In a short time you can fill up and move to a campsite. I also carry a thing called a "Water Thief" that can be used to connect to a hose tap that has the threads filed off as most of these campgrounds have done.
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RetiredGuy
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07/23/08 11:53am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Would you do it?
While seeing the southeast coast including Juneau is a great experience, I don't think it is doable on a short trip. We spent a month just on the southeast alone. And if they want to go on the ferries (a necessity to get an RV to Juneau), a reservation is highly recommended. It may be too late to find space. OTOH, ALaska is a beautiful place and I would highly recommend it even if someone is only going to be on the road for four weeks. Tell them to go for it! I'm betting that if they go they will wish they had spent more time as there is a LOT to see and do.
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RetiredGuy
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07/23/08 11:34am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: where to store the second spare
I carry my second spare tire along with my replacement engine and transmission just beside my extra fresh water tank, an extra axle, four repalcement windows, a replacement refrigerator and stove, two extra awnings, four replacement batteries, and a complete set of all plumbing inside my fifth wheel. Of course it fits just beside my complete machine shop that can fabricate any part that I might need. Just inside the door I also keep the tent that I sleep in as the fifth wheel is full of spare parts just in case. ;-) But sometimes I leave all of this******at home and just go out and enjoy myself!
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RetiredGuy
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06/10/08 12:08am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Jasper - Whistlers Campground
We stayed at Whistlers a few weeks ago. I'm not sure what jshul means by "hookup sites are close together." We had a full hookup site that was a pull through. It was along one of the interior roads and the pull through was a loop off of the road. The nexr site on our side of the road was 50-75 feet further on the road and the sites on the opposite were staggered. There were trees and the sites were about as spread out as you will ever find. There were a lot of elk that wandered through almost every day. I would give very high marks for Whistlers.
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RetiredGuy
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06/09/08 10:56am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: verizon phone coverage and cost in Alaska
We are currently in Prince Rupert, BC waiting to get on the ferry to Ketchikan and points northwest. Before we entered Canada with our Verizon phones, we added Canada to our calling plan. It increased the monthly amount by $20US. We will turn it off after we get to Ketchikan and expect to continue to use our phones in Alaska. While driving in Canada we have had good service while in the cities except for Prince Rupert. We have absolutely no service here. I know there is cell phone service in town but I guess Verizon hasn't signed an agreement with the local carrier. On the road in Canada the service has been spotty.
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RetiredGuy
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05/28/08 11:07am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: HitchHiker Construction?
I don't think the NuWa website is evasive at all. If you go to their website, click on "archives" at the top of the page. You can find the brochures on HH models back to 1999 (as I remember). If the brochures don't answer your questions, either the owners forum or calling NuWa directly are your best bet.
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RetiredGuy
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05/12/08 10:33am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Help! A Woodpecker Is Destroying My TT
I've never had then bother our RV but the try to work over the wood siding on our home. An air rifle is pretty effective.
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RetiredGuy
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05/02/08 04:41pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: MSRP - Where to start?
Skip,
If you are serious when you say, "If they STATE that it is MSRP then it's safe to ASSUME that they are telling you the truth" then I absolutely disagree with you. Many RV dealers determine the MSRP of the rigs they are selling. You can find the same RV at different dealers with different MSRPs. It all depends on what MSRP means. It could mean that the manufacturer says the retail price for a RV shall be whatever price the dealer determines. In other words, the manufacturer suggests the retail price the each dealer determines.
Unless you can find published MSRPs set by the manufacturer (such as NuWa), the MSRP that you find at any dealer is highly suspect. In that case the only meaningful price is the "out the door" price.
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RetiredGuy
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05/02/08 04:20pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: "Touristicus Arcticus"
The Alaskan indigenous species, scientific name (“Frozenus Buttcus”), normally does not have any annual migration tendencies although a few of this species have been observed in southern areas such as Hawaii and California. That being said, they normally head back to home grounds after short stays in warm climes. Many feel that the reason for the shortness of their southern stays is related to the disease know as “Lackus Bankrollia” although others have observed that they seem uncomfortable without being dressed in six layers of clothing. Another theory is that they, along with the native bears, need the annual salmon runs to store up for their long winters. Whatever the reason, they seem to be a mostly friendly species and migrating species such as Touristicus Arcticus need not be concerned about their welfare while in the northern migration areas.
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RetiredGuy
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04/27/08 10:21am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Wow, Dropping NuWa from my list of choices
Every manufacturer of RVs has produced products that have flaws. Rather than elimanating a producer from consideration because of a flaw, I suggest picking one because they have only produced perfect units. Good luck on your search for that! And when you find the producer who has only produced perfect RVs, be sure to post the results of your find here!
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RetiredGuy
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04/14/08 08:40am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 4 corners Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah Disappointment
We went there ONCE. We have paid far more than $3 per person to see other sights and many of those we would return to see again but not four corners. In a word, we thought that it was "cheesy" and not worth the money nor the drive.
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RetiredGuy
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04/07/08 09:52am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 5ers self leveling systems
We have BigFoot on our FW. It was a factory option. As others have posted, the capacity of each of the four hydraulic jacks is enough to lift the entire trailer off the ground. I would order the same option again without a second thought. The system is not cheap but if I wanted to be cheap, I’d still be camping in a tent.
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RetiredGuy
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03/31/08 01:34pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: dealer experience
Tom,
I'll sell anyone a new FW for 50% off MSRP . . . as long as I can set the MSRP at any price I choose. You want 100% off MSRP--no problem. The ONLY way that a percentage off of MSRP means anything is if the MSRP is published by the manufacturer. You don't have to look very long to realize that most of the Elkhart brands have MSRPs set by the dealers. You can see the manufacturer's MSRP for HitchHikers on the NuWa website. I believe the MSRP for a year old models is still available on the Owners Forum web site. If it isn't still there, PM me and I can send to to you. You can see the MSRP along with the weight for every option on a HH. Shopping for a brand that doesn't publish MSRPs means the only thing that makes a difference is the actual price out the door.
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RetiredGuy
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03/29/08 07:30pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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