RE: Putting Fridge on Propane while using A/C
IF when you turn on the A/C the voltage drops below 110volts, you should switch the frig to propane, as low voltage is hard on all appliances. One of the slickest plug-in meters we have shows our voltage and sounds an alarm if wiring is not right also.
RV travel in the heart of the Adirondacks??
Hi Folks, going from Niagra Falls to Lake George area (RPI or ROD camp, any preference?).
Considering a couple of non-freeway routes:
1. Central Adirondack Trail (Hwy. 28) thru Blue Mtn. Lake from Rome
2. Lower part of Adirondack Trail (Hwy. 30, 4, 9n) along Great Sacandaga Lake from Johnstown & Gloversville.
Are these routes doable with a smaller 22ft. travel trailer?? Are the campsites along the way reservable? Any electric sites along these routes (private cg's)?
RE: Kansas to Portland, Or to San Fran and back
Our favorite drives in Oregon are through the Columbia River Gorge (I84), and a nice place to stay is the city campground in Cascade Locks. The State parks in the gorge are OK but are all between the freeway and the railroad tracks.
The Oregon Coast is spectacular (Hwy. 101), and Sea & Sand in Depoe Bay has wonderful views from your campsite if you are on the three levels overlooking the ocean, but need reservations way in advance. Harris Beach State Park near Gold Beach has a few ocean view sites, but most State park sites don't have a view but do have a trail to the beach. IF you go to see Crater Lake Natl. Park, there is a really nice forest service camp on Diamond Lake nearby, but no hookups. September is ideal on the Oregon Coast, and some consider it the best month to go there (nice weather, and the kids are in school). Enjoy!
Maritime Province routes & questions
We're heading east, and want to get to Quebec. From there we are debating following the St. Lawrence all the way to the Atlantic and going through Gaspe before touring Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia OR hanging a right on 185 and heading to Fredericton on way to PEI.
Any recomendations either way??
Anybody know what the ferry costs between Yamouth (NS) to Bar Harbor (ME) for 40ft. total length??
Masa vs. Skymed vs. Good Sam EA+ medical transport??
Would like to hear from those that have actually used any of these services. Skymed's contract emphasizes taking a member to one's home hospital more so than does Masa, which I like. Can't beat the price of Good Sam ($100/year) but they only cover air transport between hospitals if medically necessary.
Masa has the advantage of a lifetime contract for $4k. Has anyone had problems getting to a home hospital with Masa? Masa contract says transport is to nearest appropriate hospital.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
RE: medical evacuation insurance (air ambulance) - opinions?
Both Skymed & Masa have policies that cover ambulance & helicopter. Skymed's legal contract emphasizes that you have more of a choice of which hospital you want to go to (such as the one near home). Masa has the advantage of a lifetime contract for under $4k, whereas Skymend is $2k for 5 years. Good Sam EA+ can't be beat for $100/year, but only covers air transport to "an appropriate medical facility" from your original emergency hospital if needed. They do not cover ground or air ambulances that I can tell.
RE: What are your opinions?
Did anybody see the "future of automobiles" on PBS a few months ago with the Click & Clack brothers?? More hybrids, and lighter materials are on the way. A think tank in Colorado (Lovins??) has designed a composite car that will use the same energy at 55mph as the standard car today uses just to run the A/C!!
We are on our second around the country trip as I write this, and on our way to Indiana to talk with RV manufacturers about designing smaller & lighter travel trailers (under 27ft. & 5000# dry) for extended travel, meaning bigger tank sizes (40 gal. min) and more useable closet space and perhaps less sleeping spaces that take up so much room. This would be for the retired traveler market.
We average about 10mpg towing now, and about 11.3mpg overall on our travels with the rig below.
RE: 2003 GMC Yukon XL 1500 Pulling Passport 280 BH?
FWIW, we have the same YukonXL ('04/5.3L/3.73diff)k1500 and have pulled our 22ft. TT all over the USA. Our TT is at its GVWR, and so is our Yukon AFTER some of the weight of the TT is transferred to the Yukon via the weight distribution bars. We are barely under the GAWR on the rear axle, and our Michelin P tires still have plenty of extra weight capacity left.
Even though we are maxed out GVWR-wise, we aren't maxed out on our 7200# towing capacity, and the whole set-up pulls really well, even in the mtns. of the west (though I was down to 30mph in first in the Big Horn Mtns of WY recently, but that is really rare).
We safeguarded our tranny by installing a Isspro tranny oil temp gauge and I put the sensor in the hot outgoing line, which is the most responsive location.
I suspect you will be fine, but nothing beats weighing each axle on a scale (tv & tt).
RE: Doran360 tire pressure system info.
OK guys, how about this: You have a high pressure alarm @ 25% above baseline, but you will get a low pressure alarm at only 12.5% below baseline. I don't want that low pressure alarm going off on cool mornings, so my baseline is set at the pressure I want when tires are cold (ie before driving). Remember that the Doran360 also has a fast leak alarm. A nice all around protection system.
Just now taking off for an around the USA trip! Will give y/all a full Doran360 evaluation upon completion!
RE: Converting to TT to save on fuel costs?
FWIW, on the combo below, we averaged 11.3mpg on a recent 17k mile trip (solo & towing, but mostly towing). One advantage of a TT over a 5ver is lower height = less wind resistance.
RE: roof vent covers
IMO, Fantastic Fan is the best on the market, and provides the best after market service too. While vent covers slow the air exchange somewhat, you can offset that by removing the screens from the Maxxair covers, and Maxxair makes a larger Fanmate cover if you want to move more air out of your vent (ie, on high speed).
RE: Help! Trouble with right tail light on TT
Lighting problems are often related to poor ground connections. Look for wires attached to the frame and clean those connections.
RE: First time out this year, 7 days to launch.
We can relate. Headin' out for our second big post-retirement trip next week. Around the USA this time. Stopping off in Indiana to jawbone with TT manufacturers about building better smaller/lighter TT's for extended travel:
Under 5000# dry, 40 gallon tanks, useable closets (19-20" deep, 42+" tall (vs. the storage space "closets" next to most beds that won't even take a standard clothes closet hanger!). Most builders think everyone wants a smaller TT that sleeps 6, but has only enough useable closet space for about 1.5 persons!
For this trip, we added a tpms (tire pressure monitor system), a weather alert radio, and a 2nd prepaid cell phone.
We're working on our short list the next 4 days!
RE: MAXXAIR vs. SHURFLO
IMO, the fan leader with the proven track record and unequaled service is Fantastic Fan. We have the maxxair Fanmate cover (the larger cover) with the temp. controlled FF without remote and it works flawlessly. Who needs another remote getting in the way or lost? We do really like the automatic temperature control feature for the benefit of our dogs. Moves air around when it gets hotter, and shuts off when it gets cooler.
RE: New TT's designed like Airstream
More and more seem to be building front caps that at least slant back more for better aerodynamics. But they don't make their bedside closets any deeper, resulting in "closets" without enough depth to use a regular clothes hanger on the closet rod! Closets need to be 18-20" deep and 42+" tall to really be usuable.
RE: Doran360 tire pressure system info.
Movieman, from one Northwestern to another, you might be happier with the much less expensive Safety-tte system, though as you can see from that long thread here (do a search), their after sale service might be less than desirable, or they are just overwhelmed (no dealers).
For a discussion of the benefits of after-sale service, and more info. about the differences between Pressure Pro and Doran, go to the Escapees club discussion forum under General RV issues, and look for my thread there "PP tire pressure monitor questions".
Any monitering system is better than no system!
RE: Doran360 tire pressure system info.
Been thinking some about Shape Shifter's pros & cons re: setting baseline pressure, and think maybe PP has the convenience advantage? Let's say you want to maintain 100psi. Irregardless of outside temps, you air up to 100psi at beginning of trip. With PP, the baseline automatically resets at 100psi when you screw on the sensors. With Doran360 you set the monitor at 100psi for each tire one time.
Next day, temps are cooler and both systems show lower psi. You again air up to 100psi, and PP resets to 100 and doran is already set to 100. OK, PP still has the time advantage initially, true? If temps are hot next day and you let air out of tires to get back down to 100psi, both systems are still at baseline of 100psi (PP resets when put sensors back on).
I'm thinking the only slight advantage Doran might have is that if you don't air up right on the nose to 100psi, doran still has that baseline of 100. Am I thinking straight?
I do think the fast leak alarm of doran360 is an advantage. As the dealer told me, if temps are hot and pressure builds up to 120psi during the drive, the doran will give an alert if it drops just 2.8# in 12 seconds, whereas the PP won't alarm until pressure is all the way down to 87.5#'s, giving the doran the faster response time. Not that a tire would blow at 87.5#.
Doran does make the claim that their sensors will have a longer battery life (5-7 years), and that could be true. Their sensors are slightly larger (1.3" diam vs. 1.1") and heavier (.83oz vs. .66 oz).
Anybody know of any other pros and cons?
RE: Doran360 tire pressure system info.
Thank you very much Adam! That is the kind of detailed info. I was looking for.
I'm sold and will go through Daryl Lawrence, a fellow Escapee member.
RE: First timer - night before need advice
Always chk. all tire pressures cold before a long drive. Pre-cool frig. We also fill and drain water tank & lines, and sometimes put in bleach to really make sure the water tank is bug-free.
