RE: How slow is unsafe?
The biggest problem when passing slower moving vehicles is when they bunch up -- two or three in tight succession. If you're not going to pass that slow moving vehicle ahead of you, please leave ample room for someone passing you to pull in front of you, so he doesn't have to pass a caravan of vehicles all at once.
IMO, If everyone would just drive the posted speed limit it would eliminate a lot of accidents and certainly a lot of stress.
RE: Oops! Bad for Leather!
A *GOOD* upholstery shop might be able to find matching leather and just replace the torn sections. If cost is a major concern you could probably remove the seats and the damaged leather material yourself, let them sew in the new section, then put it all back together yourself.
Matching the leather will be the hardest part. If your MH isn't too old, I'd first try contacting the manufacturer to see if they can be of any assistance in getting the material -- or even the complete seat cover.
RE: Probably a dumb question....
Someone posted some pictures (or a link to some) recently that showed a 5er being towed by a VW bug. It was designed just for the bug, and the bug was modified with the hitch on the roof. It was probably from the late 50s or 60s.
Most 5ers have a pretty high pin weight that wouldn't work with most SUVs, even if the SUV was modified with a pin on top, and there wouldn't be enough clearance for mounting on top anyway. If you want to pull with an SUV, get a travel trailer. Fifth wheels are designed to be pulled by trucks.
RE: Live each day as if it were your last
CR, my deepest sympathy to you at this difficult time. I understand what you're going through. Twelve years ago I lost my wife, also 51, also suddenly without warning, also named Sandi. We'd used our new truck camper once, the weekend before her untimely death. We were planning to start fulltiming in about 5 years. While her death came without warning (an artery burst in her brain), I found this poem a couple days later on her computer. She always wrote from the heart -- what she felt or sensed that other felt.
To Comfort You
By Sandi Schmidt (D)
Love, linger not at this, the home
In which you've laid me down to rest.
Don't weep or scuff the fresh new soil
That presses lightly on my breast.
The heart that danced in time with yours
No longer strains or clings to life.
The pain that tore us both apart
No more can harm your faithful wife.
Come, touch the stone that speaks my name;
Don't curse the fates that put me here.
The day has passed for fault and blame;
It was my time to leave you, dear.
But, though this grave, now hoe-blade new,
Will, in good time, be overgrown,
My spirit's warmth will follow you,
And see that you are not alone.
One day, I know you'll join me here,
And take my hand in yours once more.
Together, we'll go toward the Light
And knock, as one, on Heaven's door.
Now, tuck your sorrow far from sight
And kiss the children tenderly.
I'll slumber, dreamless, in the night,
Until, at last, you come for me.
RE: Badlands Trip
Unless you plan to be in Sturgis for Bike Week there's not much there to see. Wall Drug can be a quick stop off when visiting the Badlands, and you can do the Badlands tour pretty quickly too. I think you can have a nice time in four days and see "enough."
RE: Probably a stupid quesiton, But how to level??
Of course the other way to level (other than blocks) is to dig out a shallow hole for the tires on the high side. The last time we went camping I used the wooden blocks on the low side but discovered it wasn't quite enough, so I pulled forward and dug out a little depression for the tires on the high side, backed in again and called it good. Oops! Then it was an inch low on the "high" side. We lived with it. (It was getting dark and our neighbor was already complaining about our lights and noisy engine.)
The main advantage of digging a depression for the high side tires is that, when the low side is also your door side, that first entry step can get pretty high if you've got to raise it more than a couple inches. Obviously, always fill in the hole before you leave.
RE: Combining Camping with your other Hobbies....
"It’s easy to mix fishing, photography, or hunting, but what else do you do for fun?"
Nothing I can talk about here. In fact, I've put hunting behind me and don't fish much anymore either. I started camping with renewed passion about 15 years ago when I also renewed my interest in photography. In the last 10-12 years I've concentrated on portrait, wedding and commercial photography, and that's kind of burned me out so that when we go camping photography takes a back seat to other things, but I'm looking forward to retiring and doing nature photography for fun again. (I wasn't good enough to make a living at nature photography. Tried for a year and just couldn't make ends meet.)
RE: Mt. Rushmore in March/April????
I wouldn't recommend planning a camping trip to the Hills in March or April. March is still winter. I've seen it -20F in late March. The biggest snow storms I can recall (after living 35+ years here) occurred in late April. We never consider camping until mid-May.
You could luck out and find clear days in the 60s, but those days will be surrounded by more winter days.
I believe Hart Ranch would be open, and there are probably other campgrounds in Rapid City that would be open -- maybe the KOA. Most tourist attractions will not be open until May. (Rushmore is open year around.)
RE: Fantastic Vent
I just installed a new Fantastic Fan in my camper last month. But let me tell you why.
We had a hail storm last summer than broke the lid on my bathroom exhaust fan. I replaced it. Tried to turn on the fan but no joy. I figured the old fan motor had gotten wet and gone bad. Couldn't find the right sized motor and decided to just replace the whole works with a Fantastic Fan, since I'd heard so many good things about them. Got it installed and hit the switch on the fan to turn it on. Nothing happened.
I discovered that no juice was getting to the fan so checked breakers. I couldn't find anything wrong so took it to my local camper repair shop. He checked the same things I did and couldn't find the problem. Oh, I forgot to mention that the first thing he asked was, "Is there a wall switch?" To which I said no. Well, there was one. :S
So if anybody needs a cheap exhaust fan and vent, I've got one for ya. I'm keeping the Fantastic Fan. In fact, I'm kinda glad I was so dumb about that first one. The upgrade was worth the money.
RE: WOW, they are reading what we post.....
We bought our current camper after breaking an axle on the old one near Pueblo, CO. It was a Saturday morning, and I couldn't find any dealers or mechanics to work on it. One helpful mechanic about 15 miles north of Pueblo (where the axle broke) took a look at it but was just leaving for the weekend. He called the owner of JDL Trailer Sales in Pueblo to see if he could help. He was there in 20 minutes and blocked the axle up so we could limp into town. NO CHARGE! His shop was closed for the weekend, but he said he could remove an axle from one of his new campers and have us back on the road first thing Monday -- Sunday if he could get a mechanic to come in on the weekend.
He was so helpful that we picked a new camper from his lot and bought it that morning, rather than wait for the repair. We were back on the road by late afternoon in a new camper. We stopped there on the way back home a week later and had a couple minor repairs made and picked up the title. Again, we were back on the road in an hour. The dealership is 500 miles from our home, and we haven't been back, but I'd sure recommend JDL from the service we got.
RE: POLL: Weather Protection for RVs
#4.
If I had the room to build a shed I would. I used to have a 45x75 airplane hangar (pole barn) that I kept my camper in, but I sold the plane, then the hangar.
RE: Cruise control or not when towing??
I use mine all the time on the highway. I have a stick shift, so when I shift gears it goes off, and when climbing hills and the speed drops 10 mph it kicks out. Otherwise it's cruise control.
RE: 49er Football Game - A New Experience
That sounds great! As a (former) long-time holder of Bronco season tickets, we reserved rooms for all home games at the adjacent Holiday Inn (now Ramada). It made going to the games much easier and more enjoyable. One question: Are you limited to what time you arrive and depart with your camper? (Knowing what the traffic is like after a game, I'd think throwing campers into the mix would create an even bigger mess.)
RE: Who else has learned the hard way?
It's embarrassing to admit I was ever this stupid, especially so late in life, but....
About 20 years ago my wife and I decided we wanted a camper. We looked at a neighbors TT that was for sale; I think it was about 28 or 30 feet. It looked nice and the price was reasonable, so I said something to the effect of, "How about we try it for the weekend to see how we like it? I'll give you a $500 non-refundable deposit."
To his credit, the first thing he asked was, "What will you be pulling it with?"
"My Toyota," and I pointed to the 4-banger SR-5. I'd used it to pull my old 19-foot boat lots of times.
When he told me it wouldn't work I said I could use my Saab. He still wouldn't allow it. (Dang guy would never make it as a salesman!)
I'm not really an idiot about most things, but towing capabilities isn't anything I'd ever thought about. There are lots of people out there just like I was at that time. Luckily I didn't have to learn THAT the hard way. (But I've learned lots of other things the hard way -- like to grease the wheel bearings every now and then if you don't want to lose a wheel!)
RE: Is this a good price (winterizing my 5er)
You could do it a lot cheaper yourself in a half hour, but if you prefer to hire it done, it sounds to me like a reasonable price.
RE: Just finishing the season
Sorry I never got up to Sheridan to say hi. I thought about it a few times, but it's been a busy summer here too. I hope you enjoyed your summer.
RE: Yellowstone in October
Hwy. 14 over the Bighorns is a little "hairy" if the road is dry. Hwy. 16 is a little easier, but I wouldn't care to pull a 5er over either of them if they're snow covered. Watch the weather closely the last couple weeks of October. That definitely can be snow season in the high elevations. I usually winterize the RV the last week in September, as October weather in the mountains can get to be more than we want. Or it might be fine.
I'm not familiar with Green Creek Campground, but the Wapiti Valley FS campgrounds I've stayed in have been nice. Keep in mind that it's a long way into the park from there, over a high mountain. If I was planning to see Yellowstone in October I'd prefer to stay in the park, in West Yellowtone or in one of the campgrounds between YNP and Jackson. The east gate often closes early for the season.
From YNP site:
Fall Road Closures:
October 14, 2008: Roads close to the public at Tower Fall to Canyon Jct. and Long Lake via Beartooth Pass to the Montana Stateline. (GATES CLOSE AT 8 A.M.).
November 3, 2008: all park roads closed to the public at 8 a.m. except from the North Entrance to Upper Mammoth Terrace, and Mammoth via Tower Junction to Northeast Entrance. Cooke City via Colter Pass to the Long Lake gate is not maintained for wheeled vehicle travel.
Fall: Fall weather is unpredictable; roads may be closed temporarily by snow or other weather conditions. Snow tires or chains may be required.
RE: So if you lost your job................
I've worked for myself most of my life. It's not a bed of roses! My first business was with two "silent" partners. It was highly successful, grew tremendously and provided excellent (6-digit) income for all of us, and that was 30 years ago. After selling out I found that self-employment can be a very tough way to earn a living. I've started and run three small businesses since then, and they've all been a struggle. I have no health insurance, since I'd need to be in a group plan to be insurable, at least at a rate I can afford, and I've never gotten back to a 6-digit income, even with the deflated dollar. My net worth is far less today than it was 30 years ago. (Investments aren't always good either!)
The way you asked your question leads me to believe you'd be better off finding another job. If you were well suited to start and run your own business, you probably would have done that years ago. If you want to retire in 8 years, this is probably not the time to start a business. Very few new businesses make good money the first year, most don't last 5 years. Additionally, you've indicated that the job market is tough in your area. That usually indicates it's not a great place to start a new business -- usually.
Unless you have a burning desire to start and run a specific business that YOU would bring expertise to, I'd look for a steady job where you can work for 8 years and quietly walk away into retirement.
RE: new fifth wheel
I'd be leery of those dollies at highway speeds. Have you tried any, Fordsooperdooty? I haven't, but I remember the 4-wheel trailers we used on the farm years ago, and they could start swaying pretty badly.
I don't know what kind of TT you're upgrading from, boathousegirl, but you'll be pretty limited in the size of the 5er you can comfortably tow with a 1/2 ton pickup. It'll probably be a small, low-profile, light-weight unit, so might not be much of an "upgrade" from what you now have.
I'd suggest you seriously consider upgrading your truck, preferably AFTER you pick out the 5er you like. Alternatively, look around at 5ers a little and decide approximately what size you'd like. Then trade your truck for one big enough to handle the biggest 5er you might like.
A 3/4 or 1-ton truck isn't physically that much larger than a 1/2-ton, but they'll sure haul a lot more -- safely and comfortably.
I'm going through that right now -- wanting to upgrade to a larger 5er than what my 3/4-ton truck should haul. I've been looking for a 1-ton or larger dually in nice condition that I can afford (close in value to my current truck). I know I'll find it eventually; it's just a matter of time.
