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RE: Campgrounds in California
I live in Visalia which is a short trip to the Sequoia's. I actually have never been yet, but mostly becasue I have a 31 foot trailer with a big truck. Not sure if I could get it up there.
I also have 2 suggestions that would be close as well. We like going up to Shaver Lake even for a quick weekend getaway. The first campground is Camp Edison which is owned by SCE power company and has full hook ups. It takes us ab out 2 hours or so to get there from visalia.
Camp Edison at Shaver Lake
The second is Wishon Village which is not far from Shaver. It has full hookups and takes about 3 hours from Visalia. We stayed there last week but had to cut our trip a little short due to our 7 year old getting croup and having to get transported to Valley Childrens Hospital ER....which on a sidenote also had full hookups...go figure.
Here is a link for Wishon Village....
Wishon Village
We are always looking for nice campgrounds as well since California is so big. We lived in the desert (Borrego Springs) for 5 years and also like it down there. This summer we;d like to take a week long trip or so somewhere in Northern California. Maybe moderators could have a topic for camping in California where we could exchange ideas and whatnot specific to California camping etc......just a thought :B
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Visaliaipa
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10/05/08 11:33am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: If bail out passes and works
can you say A. Fishman... 19 million for 20 days work...
And to think he still needs to be bailed out.......I just don't know how he makes it with on 19 million.......Well in California you can bet his kids would'nt get free school breakfast and lunch. LOL
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Visaliaipa
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10/04/08 11:23am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: If bail out passes and works
This bailout will do nothing for the normal hard working people like you and me. It just helps the CEO's and all these big corporation to keep their extravegant and oppulent lifestyles.
All these mortgage bailouts do nothing for me and all the people that live within their means and pay their mortgages every month. If anything gonna hurt us because taxes will go up. I say let wall street suffer a bit. Yes the economy will experience a downturn, like we aren't already, but might do some good, instead of instiling in people and investors that they can spend without consequences.
Oh well I guess the rest of us will continue to work hard and pay for it. And me being in California don't get me started on how much the illegal immigrants drain from the economy....thats a whole different hot potato. It won't be long before people say no more we just can't afford it.
Ok im done venting...thanks
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Visaliaipa
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10/04/08 10:20am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Leaving hitch in?
I leave mine in and yes I am a member of the shin injury crowd. Dang that hurts and my 5 year old is a member of the greasy hand club. He just can't resist grabbing that dang ball. But I still keep mine in just to provide a little extra cushion for the rear enders if it happens. Here in CA people tend to follow wayyy to close and also in Ca it is ot illegal to leave it in. I work for the CHP and have never seen a law or written a pink for it.
A good freind of mine desgined an insert for his when the draw bar is out. Basically slides in the hitch but also had a bumper mad out of steel with LED lights on it and a step to help step up to the bed. Looks a little red-neckish but people can definantly see him hit his brakes......
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Visaliaipa
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10/02/08 09:35pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Water in the Campgrounds
We usually have a cooler full of bottled water (and other cold refreshing umm beverages) just for drinking. And not becasue for fear of getting sick but just becasue its ice cold. We use the campground water for everything else and use that blue filter from Wal-mart. I'm 38, alost 39, and grew up in Ohio and if we wanted water we got it from the spigot or from the hand pump well at my grandparents house in the country.
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Visaliaipa
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10/02/08 09:27pm |
General RVing Issues
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Trip to Wishon/Shaver......sick kid...Childrens Hospital
Well last week I noticed i had Saturday and Sunday off so figured I might as well take a vacation day on Friday. I got it and had been itching to get away for a little stress relief due to an upcoming sergeant promotional exam. So I conviced the wife to do an improptu camping trip to Shaver Lake. Camp Edison didn't have any spots so, having never been to Wishon, said lets try up there. Here's a link.....Wishon Village Campground
Well we left on Friday and got there before dark. My 7-year old had a slight cold, not a big deal. Well as the night progressed it got worse and turned into croup....... Croup
He's had it before and only once we had to take him to the hospital. Later in the night it got pretty bad so we took him outside. Sounds like the opposite but the cool air helps the breathing. Of course we decided to cut the trip short and leave the next morning. We did and about 45 minutes later we stopped for a potty break. He was not doing good at all. Was having labored breathing...lethargic.....not really talking. I knew then that we needed to seek emergency medical attention. I tried the cell phone and had no service to call 911. Which was a bummer becasue being a CHP officer I was hoping to get a helicopter since he was starting to go into repitory distress. Ended up doing ground transport to Valley Childrens in Fresno/Madera.
The wife went with the ambulance and I followed a little later with the trailer. I got there thinking where am i going to park this big old thing, plus we had the dog and out 5 year old. But luckily, and unknown to me, Childrens Hospital had 8 RV spots with full hook-ups. One was open so pulled in, pluged in, and tunred on A/C and TV. Took turns in the ER and after about 6 hours he was released after a dose of steroids and other treatments.
Everything ended up well but had potential for even worse. And ofter telling our pediatrician she also prescribed us an Epi-pen since we got camping and are away from quick medical care. So much for a stress-free trip...LOL
But everything turned out well and ended up camping in our driveway. Thought I'd share this story with my fellow RV'ers here on RV.net and have plans to go back to Wishon and spend a couple more less stressful days.....
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Visaliaipa
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10/02/08 09:05pm |
Family Camping
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RE: Dummy with a Diesel
I've got a 2007 3500 6.7 SRW that I bought in April of '08. I am getting ready for the first oil change so well see how that goes. I also run with the EB on all the time. As said prior it helps with cleaning and it does save on your service brakes. And yes not to mention its sounds good too.
I use it at high speed (freeway speeds) as well and love when I see traffic ahead slowing and all I do is let my foot off the gas and let the EB do its job. And of course its even better in tow/haul mode when towing my trailer......
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Visaliaipa
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10/02/08 08:42pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Want to impress newbies
At our local grocery store and I'm sure others as well, they sell these pre-marinated tri-tip roasts. Perfect size for family of 4. Rosemary garlic and red wine marinade.......then foil wrap sweet corn with butter salt and pepper....and yukon gold mashed potatoes.......
Turns out really good on the grill. Then for desert, I make it before we leave, home made Tiramisu. I've never tried a dutch oven but would love to. Anyone have a link on where to get a good one?
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Visaliaipa
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09/29/08 07:20pm |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: SLOW DOWN!!!
I used to see it all the time going out to the desert. Poking along with camper and trailer at whatever the posted speed limit was, saving gas, enjoying the trip. Who was passing accross a double/double yellow on the two-lane highway?? Usually a late-model lifted 3/4-ton diesel crewcab 4x4 with big tires, pulling a BIG 5th wheel toyhauler, doing minimum 10 over whatever the posted speed limit was.
Hey SoCalRider I know what you mean. I used to work out in Borrego Springs and stopped many drivers on that stretch of Hwy 78 between Yaqui Pass and Borrego Springs Road. Mostly alot of the pre-runner type young folks. Did alot of jeepin in Anza-Borrego....Pinyon Mtn....The Squeeze....Coyote Canyon just to name a few. Nice area
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Visaliaipa
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09/28/08 09:53pm |
Towing
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RE: Needing a new place for our annual family get together
Hey there....We live in the Central Valley (Visalia) and just got back this weekend. We like to go to Shaver Lake. Two campgrounds we have been to are Camp Edison (Camp Edison at Shaver Lake and Wishon Village (Wishon Village
Lake Cachuma is nice. We stayed at the Live Oak campground which is down the road from Cachuma. We used to live in Borrego Springs which is out in San Diego County in the desert. Great place and a very small town. Downside in September is it will probably will still be hot.
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Visaliaipa
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09/28/08 05:55pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Buying Dodge Mega Cab: 5.9L vs 6.7L Cummins Diesel?
I went to the dark side this year and I bought a 2007 dodge MegaCab 3500 SWR 6.7 diesel with 4.10 gears. It does have the 6 speed auto trans and factory exhaust brake. I love the exhaust brake when towing. Just got back from a trip to Wishon Village campground and comung down the Shaver Lake grade (its 11%) I only used the service brakes twice. Between the exhaust brake and tow/haul mode kept it right where I wanted.
I've never had the 5.7 but yes it doesn/t have the new emissinos stuff. I can tell yo I drove from Visalia to San Juan Capistrano then back to Sacramento and average about 18 MPG empty running abt 78 to 82 MPH. Towing I average about 13 to 14 MPG. Thats based on what the built in computer says. Around town, commuting to work, and taking kids to school etc I average about 15 to 16 and I also run the exhasut brake all the time. I've got a shade under 7000 miles on mine and have no engine light or any other issues.
I like the Dodge and the way it tows. It just seems to be set up for towing. I shopped all 4 brands (Ford, GMC, Chevy and Dodge) for 6+ months and they all had pros and cons so this is in now way meant to say which one is better or worse. I liked the interior of the ford and Chevy a better but as far as performance and towing I felt the Dodge was better.
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Visaliaipa
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09/28/08 01:49pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Opinion: sway bar or no sway bar
I tow a 31 foot R-Vision Trailsport with a 2007 Dodge 3500 6.7 Cummins diesel and I still use the sway bar. Have never tried towing without it so I don't know the difference. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it......
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Visaliaipa
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09/28/08 01:29pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Trip to Alaska..........?
I do appreciate the info. I figured that 3 weeks probably wasn't enough. But I do like the camcorder idea......:B
Will have to wait awhile until me and the DW can get more time off together......dang I wish i could retire now. But I do like the Jasper Bamph (spelling I know) idea. We looked at those when we were thinking about a possible rail trip. That would be fun too or just hitch it up and go to Yellowstone....LOL
But again thanks for the info.........
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Visaliaipa
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09/25/08 02:08am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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Trip to Alaska..........?
Have a question for all the Alaska trip people. I have never been there and have thought it would be a great trip. Wouldn't be going next year, more than likely in 2010.
I'd be driving from Central California with a Dodge 3500 and 32 foot travel trailer. I am in the very beginning of planning to see if its even feasible with my time frame.
How long of a drive is it approximately. Was thinking about doing it during a 3 week vacation. Would that allow enough time for driving, sight seeing etc? Would be going with the wife, 2 boys (5 and 7 now).....
Any advice or suggestioins would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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Visaliaipa
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09/24/08 11:53am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Recommend me a new truck/TV
I was getting out of my 2003 Ford F250 V10 and spent over 6 months shopping around. I have always been a Ford guy. I've owned 6 since I was 25. I finally decided on a 2007 Dodge 3500 (SRW) 6.7 CTD MegaCab w/4.10 gears. I'm not going to bash any of the brands as they are all good trucks.
I got the Dodge becasue it seemed like the best truck set up for towing. Has a 6 speed auto tranny with a manual upshift/downshift button and the best part it comes with a factory installed exhaust brake (jake brake). It also has the DVD based NAV system. I ahve 2 boys...age 5 and 7 plus wife and dog. They love the room that the megacab gives, although you sacrifice bed length on megacab (6 3/4').
THe truck tows like a dream and will be perfect when we upgrade to a fifth wheel. Like I said before not trying to start a diesel brand war. All of them are very nice trucks and I looked alot. The Dodge was setup the best for towing and fr what I wanted.
A little note about MPG. I went from Visalia to Orange County then back to Sacramento and was avering 18 MPG at about 78 to 80 MPH. That was empty mind you and calculated with the trucks MPG computer. Towing I get about 13 to 14 MPG. Good lucvk and happy shopping. Hope your son recovers well. Side impacts are the worst to be in. Not alot to absorb the collision forces.
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Visaliaipa
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09/24/08 10:41am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: When to use tow/haul mode
I have a 2007 Dodge 6.7 Mega Cab 3500 SRW and use tow/haul mode every time I tow. The tow haul mode combined witht he exhaust brake give me excellant engine braking. My trailer is almost 32 feet and loaded I'm guessing around 6000 to 6500 pounds. IN tow/haul mode it downshifts based on speed, RPM's etc. I'm no engineer but thats what its designed to do. And combined with the exhasut brake on flat ground I don't hit the service brakes but fo the last 50 feet or so.
And going down a steep grade is where it makes the money. I went down La Cuesta grade by Pismo earlier this year and was the first time towing with the new truck, and first time with a diesel too.
La Cuesta is a pretty steep grade and has a 35-MPH limit when towing a combination of vehicles. I never hit the sevice brakes to maintain my speed. In fact a couple of times I had to speed up because the tow/haul mode and exhasut brake worked so well.
I can't speak for other vehicle manufacturer's as I've never towed with a Ford or Chevy diesel. I have owned a F250 V-10 and glad I made the switch to diesel and to Dodge. IMHO Dodge seems to be engineered for towing. Again just my opinion but I shopped every brand for 6+ months before I bought.
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Visaliaipa
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09/24/08 10:22am |
Towing
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RE: You'll never guess what I saw !!
Well for people who it isn't a big deal and its good as long as they get it "in the hole" its just common courtesy. Kinda drastic but would you want that person coming in your house with the same attitude about using your home toilet? I wouldn't think so.
As far as the glove issue. Of course there is no law and glad there isn't. We are over-regulated as it is, but that being said i'm a fairly neat person and just owuldn't want the "poo on me" (thats from the movie Joe Dirt) and wouldn't want to spread it to anyone else.
I work in law enforcement and come into contact with alot of people. Good and bad. I never shake hands. Some people get a little offended when they extend their hand and I politely decline. But, I always tell them no offense but I don't know where your hands have been nor do you know where mine have been.
I always remember that whatever I touch.....dopers, drugs whatever goes where ever I touch and that includes when you eat..shake hands...hug your kids etc. Thats why i do use anti-bacterial soap whenever I can. When I think about it in that perspective I know hoe important it is to use gloves....
Just my .02 cents......
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Visaliaipa
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09/24/08 10:07am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: first trip out - what was on your "bring next time" list?
Well 2 easily overlooked items. Bottle opener for ummmm cold refreshments and a corkscrew for wine. i can manage getting a beer open with no opener but a wine cork is alot more difficult.
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Visaliaipa
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09/23/08 03:28pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Towing with a 2008 Dodge Megacab 3500.
I've got a 2007 dodge MegaCab 4x2 3500 CTD. Essentialy the same truck as yours. I tow a 32 foot Trailsport TS27QBSS. loaded its around 6000 and have no problems at all.
I put it in tow haul mode and turn the jake brake on (exhaust brake) on. Actually I run the jake brake all the time and love it. I've gone up long steep grades....Hwy 168 up to Shaver Lake and La Questa grade by Pismo Beach. La Questa has a 35 MPH limit if your towing when going down the grade. Had it in tow'haul with exhaust brake and never had to touch the service brakes.
I also have the nav system and thats pretty nice as well.
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Visaliaipa
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09/22/08 10:32am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2008 F250 - MPG's - THE TRUTH
I've got a 2007 Dodge 3500 SRW with 4.10's. A a recent trip from Visalia to Sacramento and back (not towing) the computer said I was averaging 17 MPG. That was turning 2200 RPM and "slightly" excedding the speed limit.
I am not sure ow accurate the computer readout is....might be skewed to the manufacturers advantage...:) I haven't figured it out by hand and towing to Shaver Lake I was averaging 13 to 14 MPG. Towing a R-Vision Trail Sport TS27QBSS. 31 feet long and probably weiging in at around 5000 to 6000 pounds.
First diesel I've owned (now a real truck owner...LOL) so I don't know how they compare to the older ones. I do know a friend of mine has the new Ford F250 and he is not happy with the MPG. Seems like the emissions******has hurt the MPG but the Ford mostly is the consensus from what Ive read.
I do like having the built in jake brake though.........
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Visaliaipa
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09/19/08 11:03am |
Tow Vehicles
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