RE: Why Am I Nervous About My First Time At The Dump Station?
As a new owner, I have insisted that both the DW and I know how to do everything including dump and flush. One major fault to this plan is that she expects me to teach her everything. I knew nothing of dumping. So, I told her she needed to come along with me.
A shared learning experience?, she quized.
No!
A memory making moment? she inquired.
No!
And so it went on.
We get to the dump station and she finally understands as I tell her the following.
I've never done this before. I have no idea what I am doing. There is no one else around to ask for help. Here. Hold the hose ready because at the first sign of something going wrong, you start hosing me down.
Everything went fine. Just remember, it may not be a bad thing to get hosed.
RE: To tow or not to tow
I will always tow. I do not want to set up and tear down everytime I need to run out for something or go somewhere. The toad has a lot of storage. I can customize it to meet my needs. I notice no additional cost (fuel) to towing it. I used a REMCO drive line disconnect on a 4x2 quad cab dodge pickup. It's great. REMCO was great to deal with on this product. I bought tow plates used at hitchtrader.com. I sprang for a great new towbar from Blue Ox. I added Blue Ox'x additional lighting system. I will be adding an auxilary braking system, coach has air brakes and system I will use ties into toads master cylinder, translating air to hydraulic proportional braking.
Truck was paid for.
Toby, Big four-legged fur son has the back seat to himself. He approves.
Camper shell provides lots of secure storage while out and about. Tail-gate serves nicely as a service workbench. I have wood and machinists vices mounted on receiver tubes that I can use in the hitch on the PU.
Anyway, good luck.
RE: Smarter purchase / vehicle or conversion
Do your homework. Determine what you need to have in a coach. Base this on how you plan to use it.
For me, I did not want slides. I wanted the additional cargo carrying capacity. I also did not want to run into the expense of repairing slides.
I wanted 41- 45-feet, diesel (450- 550 hp), allison 6-speed, tag axel, good fit and finish, all electric, redundant power setup, not new, maintenance records, manuals, resonable mileage, good service availability, good user network, and many other things. It took over a year of planning and researching. We got what we wanted for a good price.
Also, a big requirement for us was that we will be able to operate, maintain and live in this coach for 10 years or more.
RE: Suggestions for "business cards"
Avery Templates #8371. They are micro-perferated and tear apart into individual business cards. MS Office applications for the formats. I like to print them on a laser because the ink is more stable than the inkjets and cheaper.
Avery product pack #27881 provides 150 cards and several printing practice sheets for set up.
RE: My question is missing
There is a classifieds section. For sale, or half for sale, or any fraction for sale or any multiple for sale of anything belongs there. Don't clutter the forums with half-a@@ for sale ads. Thank you.
RE: You probably wouldn't want to fulltime in it...
I have to agree with Cody. At the buy now of $595k, a 2004 with two slides, it is priced in line with that market. At 300k miles, an mechanical inspection and undercarriage inspection at Prevost, a run through Detroit Diesel, and a run through at the original converter and you very likely have a coach that would easily take you to the 2 million mile mark and last you a life time.
If you were to take this coach and compare against a new essex or signature, you would see that this has everything with twice the capacity, plus redundant systems and some of the best technical support in the industry.
Add to it that the fit and finish of the interiors are pretty much flawless.
As for the style, well I have to say that this one is pretty cool. If it weren't, I think that I could suffer my way through each and everyday in it, if I had to. I could. I could force myself. You all just go ahead and buy it for me and I'll prove it to you. Go ahead, come on, what are you waiting for?
RE: NADA vs MSRP Used RV
Why do loan values drop 5.5% on Sept 1st? Why would a loan value drop without corresponding price drops?
It is the end of vehicle year. Everything manufactured after that date has a vin number code that puts it to the next model year. Look up vin decoders, you will find many detailed explanations of the VIN coding system(s).
RE: NADA vs MSRP Used RV
Most believe that MSRP is Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.
I always tell the dealer, that MSRP is for the dealers. That price was hung out as a carrot to get the dealer to sell it thinking that they were going to make 40% margin.
I go on to explain that I am not the dealer and in their negotiating with me, MSRP means something completely different. It is now used to motivate the dealer to sell, because it now means:
Might Sell Reduce Price!
Cheers
RE: What causes fires in a MH?
I don't burn my hands. The tires and rims can get hot and you can feel the heat the same way you feel it when holding your hands up to a campfire about 2 feet away. I have a IR thermometer, but it isn't needed to see if a tire is hot. Using a IR thermometer to find a hot tire is like looking up in the sky to see if the sun is out.
The tires and rims will, not can, get hot, no question. The question that needs answering is what is the temperature that each of the wheels and tires are operating at.
Read here from the Bridgestone Commercial tire web page
"Dear Tire Doctor,
{With air pressure and tire temp sensors installed in aluminum wheels, what kind of temperatures should be observed while driving in 90- to 100-degree temperatures?
What air temperature reading would be too high? I am using the Smart Tire system.
Dear Tom,
Thank you for the opportunity to be of assistance.
The answer to your question depends on a number of factors, and quite frankly, there is no hard and fast rule.
There are basically three types of tire temperature measurements:
1. Probes inserted into the tire
2. Contained air temperature (which your system uses)
3. Tread (surface) temperature
A probe inserted into the tire - into either the belt edge or the bead area - the hottest points of the tire - is the most accurate method; however, it can only be performed under controlled conditions.
The contained air temperature method is the next most accurate, however, it is affected by the mounting system of the sensor - if the sensor is attached to the wheel, it will pick up heat from the wheel (which is picking up heat from the brake drum); and if it is attached to the tire interior, it will pick up heat from the casing.
Tread (surface) temperature is the least accurate; since measurement is normally performed by a hand-held unit, thus hampering repeatability, plus the question of where do you measure? The ribs will be cooler than the grooves, and the center will be cooler than the shoulders, etc. So, while all this has so far done little to answer your question, we hope it has shed some light as to why we are being a bit reserved in our answer.
Now, what can I say to try to address your question?
While this is not set in stone: A very general rule of thumb is that a properly inflated/loaded tire, when up to operating temperature - one hour or more of operation - will typically run about 60 degrees F hotter than the ambient temperature. Anything above 200 degrees F could lead to tire degradation and you need to investigate for a problem.
Best regards, Tire Doctor}"
Hope that helps clear up my position for you.
RE: Should I Pull Ahead My Purchase of a Diesel Coach?
I decided not to wait. In the high end coach market, there are some deals. I found them to be rare and even rarer were "deal" coaches that I would lay out money for.
I spent a year researching and adjusting plans. I found about a half dozen coaches and invested the time and money on a 4500 mile, 11 day shopping expedition.
I reached as high as I could both in the coach and the budget. I have up to a year before I can full time and I know that I will use every spare moment making additional adjustments to the coach and drilling to really know how to use all of the systems and do the safety checks and do all the maintenance I can.
I strongly support buying a few years old, with all maintenance records and I have a preference for dealer/manufacturer support.
Read all the pre-delivery inspection checklists and procedures you can lay your hands on.
Look at every rig that you can get too. Drive them, pretend to spend a whole day in it, go through all your routines. Take lot's of pictures and notes.
If you can narrow it down to a couple of brands, you will find that you can keep comparisions in order.
Don't let price be the primary influence. If you get a good (price) deal on a rig that doesn't meet your needs, how good was it.
Here is the best piece of advise I was given early on in the process. Apparently, a lot of people go through many different RV's before the get to the one that they like. The number that was put out there for me was five. So, bottom line, buy your fifth RV first.
Good Luck and keep reading this forum. Lot's of very good discussions here.
RE: What causes fires in a MH?
What sort of checks is needed for brakes and wheel bearing?
ernestfortier & henchman guys, save your hands. Invest a couple of buck in an IR thermometer. You can point it at the each hub looking for an over heat condition. It is also useful for checking your tire. Point it in between the treads and take several readings across each tire. If one or more tires are running hotter, then you know that you have a problem with pressure or loading. Either way, heat is a tire killer. Very quick to do at each stop.
Cheers.
RE: ELECTRICAL
HEY CLAYTON. I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE TYPE IN CAPS. IT IS EASIER FOR ME TO READ. I KNOW THAT A LONG TIME AGO, SOME ONE MADE UP A RULE SAYING USING ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED YELLING. WHO WAS THAT GUY? DO WE NEED TO FOLLOW RULES SOME ONE ELSE MADE UP? I DECIDED I WOULD NOT FOLLOW SOME ONE ELSES MADE UP RULES. I ASSURE YOU THAT I AM NOT YELLING. I AM ACTUALLY WHISPERING. THAT IS A RULE THAT I MADE UP. LOL
IT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER IF WE TYPED IN BOLD PRINT. STEVE
I'll play along.:W
No, you've got it wrong. If you want to yell at some one, only because they need it, then you type in all caps. There is a better way to assist your reading and it is much better for the rest of us who have adopted the conventions that are suggested for most forums for polite conversation. ;)USE THE VIEW OPTIONS ON YOUR BROWSER FOR MAGNIFICATION!!:W You see how well all this technology works?
Have a nice day.:B
RE: What does everyone do during normal days?
Rent the movie the Bucket List.
Make yours. Do it now.
Get going.
Life is short, Death is long.
While you're thinking about it, your life is happening. Do you want to watch or play on the field of glory?
Get out of your own way, make it happen.
Remember Teddy Roosevelt?
The best thing you can do is the right thing. The next best thing you can do is the wrong thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.
There are two worthless days, yesterday and tomorrow. Live now!
RE: How to register MH to avoid personal property tax
Okay, I hear you but here's the real question.
In a state where there's an ASSET TAX on vehicles, not property tax, which involves your MH and car which you have to pay this tax every year from what I understand, can you own property in the asset tax state and register your vehicles in another state which doesn't have the asset tax in order to avoid this tax? You also get a driver's licence from the asset tax free state too? So, the question is, where's your legal residence when you own property in another state which has the asset tax for more than 6 months in the year. Are you leagally a resident of that state and have to have a driver's licence for that state? You also would have to licence the vehicles also and pay the asset tax?
I'm trying to figure out if this is legal down there because it sure isn't here but we don't have asset taxes but we pay alot more in other taxes.
Toban
First, we can choose to become a legal resident of a state where our tax burden is reduced or optimized.
Second, each state has it's own requirements for the establishment of residency. That generally includes things like driver's license, vehicle registration, register to vote, health insurance policy purchase, etc. In some parts of this country, there are commercial operations that assist full-timers by providing services to establish residency without property ownership.
Third , we can own other real property (i.e., houses, etc.) in other states. Typically, a state has a requirement, if you move there, you establish residency. If you consider it a second or temporary home, then you generally have no requirement to change everything over.
Fourth, as far as I know, there is no state that will issue an additional driver's license. If you go to get a license in another state, you must surrender any current license from your old licensing state. Additionally, there are major negatives to driving a MH with a license from a different state than the MH registration.
As stated repeatedly by others, all of this stuff is dependant on which states you are talking about and where residency has been established. We have this concept call "States Rights". Simply put, this is the concept that creates much confusion because it allows a lack of uniformity in regulations and procedures between the states. It is the creator of the "loopholes" for the self-initiated. This is a concept that is particularly confusing to Canadians. Interesting enough, the illegal aliens have no problem providing uniformity in spite of State's Rights-induced irregularities, they ignore all rules and regulations with absolute uniformity.
I hope that helps some.
RE: How to register MH to avoid personal property tax
....... I know a couple who live in a state where there is a asset tax, own a house there but are registered in another state with their driver's licence and licence plates where there is no asset tax. Is this okay to do this or is it just trouble brewing? I guess they are actually residents of this other state but live in the other with the house and property.
In Canada, we have to licence a vehicle and have a driver's licence in the province you live and pay taxes to.
Comments would be appreciated.
Toban
Anyone who gave you an answer on this is at best guessing. You don't say anything about this that could lead to any definate conclusion. The only answer to your question as stated that has any reasonable creedence is Maybe yes or maybe no. Things like the state laws for the unidentified states are importnant. Did they define the MH as their primary residence? Did they later buy the stick and brick as a second home?
I love this forum, everybody on it knows everything. Just ask them. If they don't know a good answer, they'll give you a bad one. If they don't have a bad one, they'll guess or just make something up.
It just must be true, it's on the internet.
RE: Trailer Life or Motor Home?
Check the Motorhome Mag web site, I believe they have an offer for a free issue as a trial. Then you can decide if it is for you.
Motorhome magazine subscription page, free issue offer
