RE: Jayco Embark
chase107,
1.) The 26" TV that is hidden when the slide is in and will be blocked by folks going to refrigerator when the slide is out is still there, correct? That wasn't changed.
2.) Baloney!!! They EASILY could've exchanged the position of the steps and the comfort lounger. There's no way the rear axle is THAT far forward.
You don't have to get defensive, but for the price range of that rig, someone should've thought a bit more about functionality. But that's just my opinion...and I'm feeling a bit "grumpy" today! :)
~Rick
RE: Please, we need your prayers.
UPDATE:
Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers. Below is the text from Lexi's CarePage for today, Day 28.
On Tuesday, September 10, 1996 at 11:50 p.m. God sent us an angel to love. On Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. God asked for his angel back and we let her go. God Bless you, Lexi, you will live forever in our hearts.
Love,
Gail, Rick, Ricky, Chrissy & Joey.
Purple was Lexi's favorite color. :) We know she is at peace now.
~Rick
RE: Please, we need your prayers.
UPDATE: Today started out pretty good with her breathing nicely on her own throughout the night.
However, at about 3 p.m. this afternoon she developed a complication in her lung. Bacially, her lungs have developed a leak, so that the air being pushed into her by the BiPAP machine leaks into her body. This is obviously not a good and we are very concerned that Lexi's chances of hope are diminishing rapidly.
Please continue to pray for our daughter. We don't know what God has in store for her, but we sure wish he'd let us keep her down here for a while longer.
~Rick
Please, we need your prayers.
Hi fellow RV.net members,
I'm not sure where to post this as I usually frequent the Class A, Class C, Tech, Dinghy, Beginner & General Forums....so I chose this one. I'll leave it up to the Moderators/Administrator to move/copy it if they so choose.
As some of you know, our oldest daughter has been struggling with acute lymphoblastic leukemia since April 23, 2008. This is a relapse of her lymphoma diagnosis from October 2003 when she was 7.
Lexi has battled one complication after another with this relapse and has been a survivor. She is MY HERO!!! :) She underwent an HSCT (blood stem cell transplant) on August 19 and today is Day 26 of the transplant.
Tonight, however, she is struggling with a potential lung infection and is having difficulty breathing. She is on a BiPAP machine, but if that can no longer keep her lungs working they will have to intubate her. Sadly, most patients in her condition who are intubated never recover.
My wife and I, along with our family, ask for your prayers tonight and in the coming days so that she will have the strength to overcome this hurdle.
If you would like to know more about Lexi's story, we have set up a CarePage at www.carepages.com. Her CarePage name is Lexi96.
May God Bless us all,
~Rick
P.S. Thank you all so much for your support. Yes, the CarePages do require membership. I believe the main reason for this is so that the Managers of each CarePage have a little control over who posts. That is, we can delete posts and Block users. The default is that you will be sent an e-mail everytime a new Update is made, but that can be disabled. Again, on behalf of Lexi and our entire family, Thank You. +
RE: The Pickens Plan
As for "The Pickens Plan", I think he makes a lot of good points, but I guess I'm become so jaded I fear that he's doing it mostly to make a name for himself first, and possibly more money second. Think about it...how many people ever heard of him before his bid for the election? All the money he had, but not enough fame. Running for president gets you that fame. Remember H. Ross Perot? I think he had the same motivation.
~Rick
RE: HP Computer is a lemon - What would you do?
hershey,
I wish you many happy years with your new computer. It sounds like a great system and it's nice to know that (eventually) HP stepped up to the plate to make things right.
However, one has to wonder how many sales they might have lost during the life of this thread where you kept sending the unit back for repairs and the problems were never resolved. I think in the long run it would have been in their best interest to replace the system months ago.
Still, glad to here you got it repaired and that you're happy.! :)
Good Luck,
~Rick
RE: Moving MH with slides out???
Can I retract the jacks and move the rig a foot or so so that I can put something under the tires without damaging anything?
Not until I can get over there to watch! :) LOL
I wouldn't. If you were talking about moving it a few feet on a paved surface, I'd probably say OK. But if your rig is that far out of level now, NO WAY would I intentionally try to move it with the slides extended. Put them in (takes what, a minute?), pull up the jacks, move the rig. Reposition the rig, level it, put them out (that's another minute). So, it'll take you an extra 2 minutes to possibly save untold hours of grief.
Just my opinion...but then again...I'm not usually much of a gambling man.
Personally, though, I wouldn't worry about having a front wheel up in the air. Not really a big deal for most rigs. I've done it many times. Having a rear wheel up in the air is bad as those wheels are what keep the vehicle in position due to the parking brake.
~Rick
RE: I need help with this deal... Im a rookie!
Hi,
Just my opinion and I haven't seen the vehicle. But right now is a buyer's market. I would think low NADA would be a good starting point. There are those among us who think the NADA prices are high as they do not properly reflect the current state of the economy/RV market. If that's the case, then start even lower.
The rig you are looking at is an entry level unit that could probably be had brand new for low $40k's.
~Rick
RE: fuse to pull on Equinox Sport
Does the owner's manual say that these can be flat-towed? I know the pre-2007 model year XL-7 Suzuki's had a section that clearly detailed the way in which the vehicles could be towed.
If the owner's manual doesn't specify "Recreational Towing" instructions, I'd proceed very cautiously before committing to purchase. You could easily void your drivetrain warranty if the manufacturer doesn't condone the method of towing.
I'm not saying the Equinox Sport isn't towable, but if it's based on the XL-7 I'd be very surprised if it was. If it's based on the Grand Vitara, then I think it's still towable, but only with certain drive trains (4WD, I think).
~Rick
On edit: I checked the Dinghy Towing Guide here for 2008 and didn't see the Equinox listed.
RE: Best Memory?
"Good food, good friends, good health, God makes this possible, and to him, thanks." It was the perfect weekend, even if the dog did fart in the truck cab all the way home.......
Proof that God has a sense of humor. :)
Thank you so much for that post, I needed the chuckle. :)
~Rick
RE: Help! Need Hybrid Travel Trailer Opinions
Hi,
Be sure to read the owner's manual carefully on your minivan. Our Honda Odyssey has a 3,500 lb. tow rating, but when you look into it, once you start carrying passengers in it, that rating drops.
We were much like yourselves when we started looking about 6 years ago. Figured we'd pick up a hybrid to tow with our Odyssey. After researching the details and with some GREAT input from these forums, we realized that it could not be done safely.
We then investigated purchasing a full size van (Ford E-350) and a travel trailer. (We have 4 kids and a dog, so a pick-up truck & fiver wasn't an option.) We didn't think that would suit our needs best, so started looking at motorhomes. First we started looking at Class C's, and then Class A's, finally deciding on the rig in our sig. :) Wow...what a leap from where we started, but in the end, it worked out best for us. We still have the Odyssey...in fact...we tow it behind the motorhome.
So, my advice is to know what your needs are and what the limitations of any vehicle & RV you are considering. Whatever you do, you want to make sure you are SAFE.
A couple of words of advice. DO NOT listen to the RV salespeople. Most of them will tell you you could tow anything with your minivan. That's WRONG. If you start looking at new vehicles to tow a larger, heavier RV, then DO NOT listen to the car salespeople, as they'll tell you that any RV an be towed with "this vehicle". In both cases, they're priority is to sell you a vehicle. In most cases, they have never towed anything or have even used an RV in their lives. If you want some real world input, as you're getting on this thread, then your best bet is to ask your questions here. We'll give you the straight story...like it or not. :)
Good Luck,
~Rick
RE: Damon's "Avanti" Trend?, Yes/No!
Hi,
It's an interesting offering and I think it's a good option for those looking at the Sprinter based motorhomes, but wanting a bit more. This would never work for a crew the size of ours, so I won't comment on the amenities.
I DO question the 14.5 mpg number, though. The Sprinter's were advertised "up to 22 mpg", but most people that actually calculate the fuel efficiency properly come up with numbers in the 15-18 mpg range. If the Avanti suffers a similar downward scaling, that will put it in the 10-12 mpg range. Considering the full size gasser chassis's get 7-9 with much more space and ccc, and that fuel expenses are generally not a huge percentage of ownership costs, I agree with those that say this is a niche vehicle. It'll have some market appeal, but I'm just not sure how big of a trend this will set in the immediate future. Maybe given enough time. But with the market softening, those people with the available funds probably aren't worried about fuel prices anyway. Those whose finances are tight enough to be concerned about any savings in mpg probably won't be able to swing the payments of a new rig. I guess time will tell.
~Rick
RE: Best Memory?
Hi,
We have lots of them, but one of the most vivid was our first night camping in the motorhome, which was our first RV.
At night, I started a campfire and we all sat around it, the typical scene with marshmallows & smores. Kids had a blast that day and we're all enjoying great conversation around the fireplace. They enjoyed picking up little twigs and feeding them to the fire. They all thought it was funny when most of the marshmallows daddy made could by used as torches in a jungle movie! :) It was just one of those "perfect" nights.
After the kids were put to bed, the wife and I spent some time out there together...just talking. Something that doesn't always happen at home as often as it should. The purchase of the motorhome was a huge financial decision for us and I like to double/triple/quadruple/etc. analyze EVERYTHING, so I had doubts in the back of my mind of the financial obligation we had undertaken. (Many of our family and friends said we were nuts.) Sitting by that fire on our first night, I knew that we had made the right decision and that we would be making many great memories in our travels.
While some of our family and friends STILL think we're nuts, many now see our rationale. Those that don't understand it, sadly never will, and they measure their happiness by their bank accounts, stock holdings and the cars they drive. We measure ours by the great times we share as a family. When we bought the rig, our oldest daughter was still in chemo therapy from her lymphoma diagnosis at the age of 7. She was in remission up until April 23 of this year. We didn't camp this year. She's spent most of her days in hospitals fighting complications of her remission and is currently struggling to survive her bone marrow transplant. Sitting by her side, we've had the opportunity to discuss many of the great adventures we've done in the last few years with the RV. She wants to go camping again, as do we all. And we will, good Lord willing.
Yes, that first night was pretty special as it validated and set the stage for so many great days to come, each filled with great memories.
~Rick
RE: fuse to pull on Equinox Sport
Hi,
Question: What model year Equinox's are you discussing? My understanding is that since 2007 the Equinox is NOT flat-towable. Model year 2006 and older 4WD models were, I thought. The Equinox is a joint venture with Suzuki and was the same basic vehicle as the Suzuki XL-7. The Suzuki XL-7's were no longer flat-towable beginning in model year 2007. The entire vehicle, including the engine/drive train was changed from 2006 to 2007 and became more GM...less Suzuki.
Or am I mistaken?
~Rick
RE: Is a class A for us? Need advice from class A owners.
With a 5th wheel, you get lots more livable space for the RV length, plus you have the towing vehicle to get around in after setting up. downside is, you will need to buy a big truck to tow a 5th wheel.
Just for my own knowledge...what "big truck" is available that will pull a 5th wheel and seat 7 people comfortably? In our research, we didn't include 5th wheels because we couldn't find anything that would seat 6 (kids should be in the back seat, not up front) and the golden retriever. (OK...dog could've been up front...but not sure I wanted that! LOL)
I'm just wondering if such a vehicle exists.
misplacedidahoan, thank you! :)
texasbaskets, "If a kid can ride a skateboard, they can make it to the can in a moving motorhome." LOL...so true. I, too, have demonstrated the need for proper restraint in a moving vehicle to all of my children. I did this under controlled circumstances and when they were ready and prepared. I have NO PROBLEM with them buckling up before we leave. We don't even have to ask them. In fact, if I TRY to move the vehicle and one of them ISN'T buckled...I hear a panicked "WAIT!!!". Apparently they learned their lesson well...and I'm pleased! :)
squadleader, Your post is right on! Awesome!
~Rick
RE: USB External Floppy Disk Drive
Hi,
Are these 5 1/4" drives or 3 1/2" drives? If they're the latter, you just might luck out and find someone with an old desktop that still has one. Or, buy one for your own desktop and put it in. Should be real cheap! :)
You should be aware that it is possible that the data on those disks may not be recoverable. The magnetic domains on the media do not maintain their orientation for ever. It sounds like your disk could be 20-25 years old. That's a LONG time for magnetic media to just sit around.
One thing about floppy drives: Oftentimes, the drives would go out of alignment, yet they would still read and write their own floppies. However, if you brought a disk to a different computer, the disk wasn't readable. Hopefully, this wasn't the case with your disks.
IF you are successful in removing the information off of these disks, be sure to back it up so that you have several copies. Then, every couple of years, make sure that whatever back-up technology used is STILL viable. If it's being phased out (like floppy disks) then move your back-ups to a newer medium.
Good Luck...I hope you can recover your information.
~Rick
RE: Sunroof will not close
I know on all my Hondas, the sunroof always had a manual crank capability. I never needed it, but it was there.
Any chance your Ford has something similar? Check in the owner's manual. Once it's closed, then you'll have time to figure it all out.
Did you check the fuse(s)?
~Rick
RE: carrying capacity question
23hotrodr,
Probably. But even if it does, it pretty much tells you nothinng.
I take a different stance. Published NCC and CCC numbers can at best be slightly informative and at worst be downright misleading.
The true carrying capacity must include the weight of all of the options installed on the coach and must take into account the individual GAWR (gross axle weight ratings) of each axle. You reach your maximum weight carrying capacity when an axle has reached it's GAWR, which is usually before the rig reaches it's GVWR.
The only way to really know is to have the rig weighed and get individual axle weights. Then compare these to the GAWR's published for the chassis.
Stated another way, CCC and NCC are optimistic numbers because they assume that each axle is loaded to it's GAWR and that weight is perfectly balanced left to righ. Not likely. Typically one axle (oftentimes the rear) will reach it's capacity long before the other axle.
Does that help?
~Rick
RE: 110v and/or 220v
Wayne,
I typed a bit quickly. I meant to imply that with no resistance in the wires, the appliance was able to dissipate ALL 1000 watts of power.
I'm going to go back and edit it for clarity...I hope. :)
Thanks for proofreading for me! :)
~Rick
RE: Do your own Brake repairs?
Hi,
I haven't needed to do mine yet, but next Spring I'll probably do some "preventative maintenance" and inspection of them. The lugs on the W-22 wheels are torqued to 475 ft.-lbs.. So I used this as an excuse to purchase a torque multiplier and a 3/4" - 1" drive socket set. (OK...YES....I'm a tool-a-holic....I live to find excuses to buy new tools. :) ).
I heard the tire & rims weighs upwards of 150 lbs., though....so I'll definitely make sure to eat my Wheaties that morning!
~Rick
