RE: Old weight distribution/anti-sway system
Put my 20 yr old Draw Tite on Craigslist for 100 bucks. It was in good condition, stored inside, sold to the first caller, had 3 more in line.
RE: Slide Topper...is it worth it?
I asked the dealer about slide toppers and he recommended we not buy it. I always carry a small ladder and I clean the slide off with a cloth before we close it. Also gives me a reason to inspect the top of the slide. MY$.02.
Our slide is long, 11', and any topper would pool up the rain water. I found a roof seal applicator broom, light bristles on one side, and a squeegee on the other. Works really slick, and I don't mind getting up there to clean it off. Jayco's roof is textured, and it is not slippery. Ladder is a different story, but until I can't get up there anymore, slide will be brushed/squeegeed off.
Nevada 50, Loneliest Highway
Thinking of running east from Reno area, on Sept 13th. Depending on time, will either head north from Ely, or go into Utah, and head north on I-15. Tent camping on this trip, map shows Bob Scott NF campground, east of Austin, and several around Ely. Any hints, tips, avoids, or must see?
Thanks in advance.
RE: Packing and Storage Tips for new trailer owners
cleanser (to put around tires/jacks to keep ants out of the trailer
What kind of cleanser???
And, in one of the outside accessible storage compartments, I keep a hotel sized shampoo bottle, for trips to the campground bathroom. Anyone can open and take it with them.
Had a bit more time, so did a quick google, the following is from oldfashionedliving.com:
Ants Be Gone!
From Old Fashioned Tips
While living in a rental house we were over run by ants. My husband by accident grabbed the wd40 and sprayed the trail. It killed the ants on contact and the slight residue repelled any more ants using that entrance. From then on it was my first choice to deter ants anywhere but the kitchen. In the kitchen I would spray the trail with simple green or 409 cleaner then go outside and spray the entry points with wd40. I have two dogs and neither one wanted near the wd40. It seemed to repel them also. I've used vinegar on small hills showing on a brick patio and that seems to do the trick. Vinegar is also good to pour on weeds sprouting between bricks. ~Jo D
Another good way to get rid of ants is to mix borax (found in the supermarket with the laundry detergent) and white powdered sugar together and set it out anywhere the ants might be. It works great!! I gave this advice to a girl at work who had carpenter ants. She tried it and came home to so many dead ants that she had to vacuum them up. It does work!! They get attracted to the sugar and die immediately. ~Mary Lou
The spice - ground cinnamon - will stop ants from entering the house. Just sprinkle it all around the baseboards and NO ANTS. Non-toxic and smells great. ~Nancy
I'm surprised to note that no one has mentioned white powder of any kind (last week), be it baby powder, talc, cleanser, flour, all of these will make ants run for the hills. I first saw it used at a campground. Someone sprinkled cleanser around their car's tires, which was where they kept their food. I couldn't figure out what the white squares in their parking spot meant! I tried it around my dog's dish with cornstarch baby powder (my daughter was 18 months old at the time) & they left immediately! No poison, no worries about the dog getting sick and they will NOT cross a line of white powder. I don't know why. At least the little black ants won't. I've used it ever since, I always have pets around & can't use poisons. I have never tried this on red ants, though. ~Kristina
My mother also told me that boiling water poured over the ant hill will kill them. Sometimes two doses are needed. It definitely works! Also, growing mint near the outside doors helps ward off ants. For some reason they do not like mint of any kind. Sometimes I even crush a few leaves and put them in my bathroom by the baseboard to ward them off also. ~Kathleen
Just in case you didn't or the readers know...Mule Team Borax is boric acid. It is fairly reasonable priced and easy access. It also works wonders with roaches and silver fish in the home. I made dough balls with a little grease, sugar, flour and boric acid. Just put them were children and pets do not reach. It took a little while but it worked. Much easier than letting off bombs and all that extra cleaning up. And much cheaper than hiring a company to a long term contract. ~DJ
I have heard that using cucumber peelings really work at getting rid of ants. I had this question in one of my newsletters, then got a response back saying it worked..I never would have thought of that and perhaps you had heard of it...:) ~Donna from http://www.ICanGarden.com
I remember when I was MUCH younger we had a larger ant colony in our side yard. On wash day dad took the water from the wringer washer and poured it over the ant hills. By the next week they were all gone. I would think a pail or two of very hot soap water would do the same. ~W. Peter
We have been invaded by ants. I cleaned scrubbed and ran out to buy ant proof dishes. I paid $9.00 for the cats and $12.00 for the dog. The cat's is so narrow she would not eat. The dog's was just TOO high and she liked her other bowl, as did I. You see the bowls are in the kitchen where everyone can see them. So thinking over a glass of lemonade, the idea came to me. The ant proof bowls were just a bowl with in a bowl creating a water mote. I dug out the glass pie pans, set the well loved and pretty pet bowls inside and DADA I have ant proof bowls. Hope this hint works for your ant problems as well! ~MJ
When it comes to piss ants (Ed. note: Many types of small indoor ants are often called piss ants -because of their smell-, or sugar ants, and can be any of a variety of small ants. ) try a mixture of borox and powdered sugar. Put it where your pets can't get to it. It will take two or three days but it works and it's cheap. ~Joe
RE: Packing and Storage Tips for new trailer owners
cleanser (to put around tires/jacks to keep ants out of the trailer
What kind of cleanser???
And, in one of the outside accessible storage compartments, I keep a hotel sized shampoo bottle, for trips to the campground bathroom. Anyone can open and take it with them.
RE: The Big Donut
Jealous, but will share anyhow....
Not sure how you were planning to get to Washington State, if you come in from the northeast, be sure to stop at Grand Coulee Dam. Most of the hydro projects offer some sort of tour or visitor center, but Grand Coulee also includes a laser light show on the spillway, usually between Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Ending time may be extended, but is certainly seasonal. They have a very good on-line presence, so if that interests you, you can get more info.
North Cascades Highway, SR 20, is a very scenic route, but if you just came across 'Going to the Sun' road, it may be redundant. Any of the cross Cascades routes are good, I-90 is the fastest. If you have an interest in military installations, Fort Warden State Park, on the Olympic Peninsula, has restored quarters, with docents in period dress to show you around. It was the film site for Officer and a Gentleman.
If you don't want to tour around the Olympic Peninsula, and just run down I-5, be sure to drive up to the Mt. St. Helens National Monument. Again, the road is open seasonally, due to snow. If you decide to start your coast run on SR 101, and include the Peninsula, be sure to stop in South Bend, at Chesters Club, for oysters. It is a dive, but I mean that in a good way.
There is so much just in Washington, I could tell you many more, we actually have a Stonehenge replica near Goldendale!
Wilburton Tunnel going away
SB I-405, south of Bellevue, Washington, will close completely this weekend, for the first of 3 possible times.
If I could remember how to hyperlink this I would, you will have to cut and paste into your browser, the WSDOT info link
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i405/112thavetose8th/wilburton
RE: Gas vs Electric water heater
Sorry took so long to jump back in here, tank is Atwood, and is probably 6 gallon. The way I have the trailer parked does not allow me to open the slide so I can get in there and look for sure. Next time out, probably late August, I will check run time, and go from there.
Thanks all.
RE: Gas vs Electric water heater
Also, usually the standard water heaters are either a 6 gallon or a 10 gallon. Provide us with a model numner and we can help you a little more.
Will look it up late tonight, got grand kid stuff to do after work.
RE: Tow Vehicle Nightmare- First Long Distance Trip
I stayed in my Lance Camper on the Dodge lot two nights for free! We had bikes so I got to know Santa Cruz real well. We got the brake line replaced and finally got to the fancy RV resort in Carmel. But my real memories are what I did in Santa Cruz including my outdoor shower on the Dodge lot, BQing hot dogs, and drinking beer in my lounge chair after the workers and customers went home! :)
Lemonade out of lemons, cool.....
RE: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Dodge dealer
The dealer in Auburn has been in the same family for over 30 yrs. Service manager has been there almost that long. Not every visit goes well, but the majority of the time they do OK. And I would recommend them.
I am going to look at that pulley tonight.
Heads up appreciated.
RE: Dodge 08 6.7L K&N Filters
TDR tested different filter and box combinations, and discovered that Dodge did a great job designing the stock box on the 5.9. I don't remember if EGT's were addressed. Waiting to see how the 6.7 stacks up. I am relatively lucky, as I commute on the motorcycle, and seldom run the truck. Had it since Sept 07, just turned over 7000 miles. If I was driving long miles every day, I would be looking at every idea. K & N worked well on every gas powered vehicle I have had, verifiable hand checked mileage increases over the life of the vehicle.
Gas vs Electric water heater
So, in my old trailer, 5 gal heater, it was always quicker to heat with gas. New trailer, bigger tank, 7 (?) gal., took forever with gas to reach hot temp. No vents blocked, everything apperars to be working. Electric came up quick. Thots?
RE: Jayco Jayflight 30BHS
I have a Chevy Express 3500 Van with 6.0L and 4.10. Max tongue weight with distr hitch is 1,000 LBs, and max towing capacity is 9700 with the 4.10s (7700 with a 3.73). I am interested in purchasing a jay Flight 30BHS - but it says dry hitch weight is 990LBs. Is that going to be a problem, given my max hitch weight of my van is 1000 LBs with a dist hitch?
second question - dry weight of 30BHS is 6435 LBs. I have a wife and 6 kids. What would I expect that trailer (30 BHS) to weigh after i load it up with LP gas, dishes, clothes, food, and your basic camping gear? $7500 LBs?
(I am also looking at the Jay Feather exp 29a)
thanks, Ed
If you are going to keep the trailer for a long time, get the Jay Flight, heavy, but well built.
For the OP, really look at where you are going to be pulling. Local, alot, or out across the country. You can drag that trailer with a Hemi in a 2500 QC 4x4, I did just fine. But my long term goal is to toss a Harley in the bed of the truck, and take off. I went and got a diesel dodge. Great truck, 3500 SRW. Perfect for me.
RE: thoughts on Chevy 3500 6.0L with Jayco 30BHS
I pull a Jay Flight 31 BHS with a Dodge 3500 4x4 QC pickup, (SRW) no problems. When I get home I will look up my loaded weights and post them up for you. I suggest you run your TV across the scale, and get your axle weights. Then estimate the numbers you currently have for passenger and supply weights, and then check your tire capacity. Tire pressure is extremely important, as to how your combination will handle. The powerplant should not be an issue. Just plan on going slow sometimes!
I should have clarified, these weights are with my Hemi powered 2500 4x4 QC. I haven't run the 6.7 across the scale yet.
Front 3760
rear 4940
trk 8700
trl 7520
GCVW 16220
This was fully loaded, for a week in the sun. 5 adults, 4 grandkids, 9, 5, 4, and 1 yrs of age. I took the weights at the Bullfrog scale, EB I-90, west of Cle Elum. I left home with a full tank of gas, and about 2/3rds water, due to uncertainty of water at campground. On this trip, I averaged 7 mpg. Hemi pulled Snoqualmie pass just fine, just eased back to 3rd, left it in TOW/HAUL, and dropped to 2nd, east of Denny Creek to the summit.
RE: 2006 5.7 Hemi vs 2007 6.7 Cummins
Just got back from a trip to the same area, but I rolled at 62 to 65 mph. 10.7 mpg, by hand calc.
Resale value is not an issue for me, I tend to keep my stuff until the wheels fall off.
Sort of off topic now, but one of the things I consider, is that if I am towing on a two lane road, (one lane each way,) and I can't find a safe place to pull over, I will run a bit faster to keep from frustrating the driver(s) behind me. The CTD allows me to avoid being a rolling road block.
Tarp over trailer in summer?
2007 Jayco 31 BHS, not going to use it for the next 2 months, thinking of draping the tarp over it to keep the dust off the roof, and the moisture off the awning. Part of the issue is that I can't open the awning to air out while it is parked at the side of the house.
Live south of Seattle.
So, whaddya think???
