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RE: leveling and slide out
The manual for our 2002 Itasca Horizon, (made by Winnebago) with HWH jacks and slides, says level first then slides out. Slides in then retract jacks. It also recommends to leave the engine running while you extend the jacks and move the slides. It keeps the voltage up to the hydraulic pump motor. I have seen the battery voltage drop to 11.5 operating the slides without the engine running. This makes for a much higher current draw and more heat.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/19/13 12:37am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco
Here is a link to our Blog from 2011. The first entry starts from just north of LA. You can move down the see our route the previous day. It was quite a pleasant trip.
http://jacksonsjourneys.blogspot.ca/2011_04_01_archive.html
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/19/13 12:14am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Looking to cross the border in early October
We'll probably be several weeks behind you if you get delayed. We crossed there at the end of October last year. Feel free to PM us if you like as departure date approaches. We usually leave home around the 15th of October.
See our blog for last years adventures. (Link in our profile)
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/15/13 06:42pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: What did you do to your Class A MH today???
Took the TV out of the front (a flat screen that I had put in some years ago). It had stopped responding to the remote so we bought a new remote before heading off to Mexico last fall. Still didn't work! Won't work on a generic remote nor to any settings on the Starchoice Satellite remote. Then we realised that it must be the TV receiver! :S
I'll take it into the shop tomorrow.
The micro/convection in the stick house seems to be running a bit cool so I'll take it in while I am at it. It's the only oven we have so I hope they fix it quick!
We do have a gas oven in the rig--guess I could bring it down the drive closer to the kitchen!
UPDATE:
The shop we have been going to has closed--retired. Took it to a new place; Tony's TV Service. Tony too is Chinese (as was the owner of the previous place). I noted a certificate on the wall showing his qualification in electronic service. From Lima, Peru! We had a great conversation in Spanish! I had worked in Radio/TV repair decades ago. DW and I winter in Mexico so my Spanish in of a conversant level though far from fluent.
Got a phone call early afternoon the TV is ready, $89.00. Could have been worse. Now I just need to get it back in. Thinking about a different mounting system which will require modification of the cherry wood cabinet face. Thinking is the operative word. :h
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/15/13 06:35pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: What did you do to your Class A MH today???
Got all loaded for the weekend away at Kalamazoo, MI
Sent my RV to the Ford dealership to get the Oil Changed and filled up the Propane tank.
On the way back home my steps kept going out on me...
I returned to the local Ford Dealership begging them to fix ASAP which they did.
Said wiring was worn and causing a short... phew
They put all new wiring and better quality connectors
After this ... I thought FINALLY I will have an uneventful weekend away at a dog show...
Well I forgot to "knock on wood".. 5 hour drive I arrive and set up.
My friend brought pizza and I hooked up and turned everything on, admiring
my "hotel on wheels" ...
but I kept hearing a sssssss sound under the sink and could not see anything...
My friend said "oh it is probably the water heater filling up... hmmm made sense...
After we finished dinner I noticed the noise was not stopping and opened the
cabinet door to see a flood under there...
Thankfully this was Thursday and RV techs work MOn-Friday (and of course when do you need them for repairs ??? does not make sense)
so I drove 30 minutes to
a repair shop who after a few minutes told me it was my faucet that had a crack in it.
So they just capped it all off for me so I could use all other water sources
until I could buy a new tap. They didn't have time to install anything for me.
They said they reason it happened is most likely because it was
not winterized properly ...WHAT ??
Geesh... Of course my RV shop went bankrupt the previous week or they would have
gotten an earful !
Well the weekend came and so did WINTER...
OMG froze my butt off, as I packed for summer...
I went through more than half my propane tank
trying to keep the temperature comfortable in my motorhome...
When a friend said to me ... "we always have electric heaters with us as most
sites have hydro included in the camping fee"... hmm yes that would have been wise..
I was reading online that most regular kitchen taps would work in an RV so I guess
I will be shopping for new taps and some electric heaters this week.LOL
So my Camping Turmoils continue for yet another year... zzzzz
On a good note despite the almost hurricane weather, my canopies stayed put, thanks to
my following a friends advise of "Always stake your posts and the ropes no matter what"
so in the rain while setting up, I did take extra time to secure everything and it sure paid off.
Loved your post. DW refers to moments like that as "Blog Fodder". To see why, check out our blog. :S:E
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/14/13 11:50pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Replacing 2 12 Volt batteries w 4 GC batteries?
We just (October) replaced the batteries and trays in our motorhome. We used the same size tray that had held the 4 group 24s that were in there. Here is a link to the Kwikee web site.
Part Number 9057090 will just hold 4 GCs. Note that 4 GSs will exceed the Kwikee tray load limit of 200 pounds. I check the tray every time I check the batteries and suspect that I may have to replace it eventually. So far it is standing up well.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/14/13 09:18am |
Tech Issues
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RE: 12 Volt Outlets
While travelling, 2 GPSs and a small inverter for the notebook computer. We use the notebook for the Silverleaf PC program and now have mapping and GPS to put in there. When dry camping, we use them for charging cellphones etc.
The supply wires were not adequate for small inverter so we had them upgraded to #10.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/14/13 09:07am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Heading north, which crossing at Laredo
Stay in the far right lane on Blvd Luis Donaldo Colosio.It starts out as a 2 lane road,then goes to three lane as you get closer to the bridge.It may even go to a forth lane.Stay as far RIGHT as you can.That far right lane will take you UNDER the bridge to the Aduana.All other lanes go over the bridge.After turning in your paper work,turn right on the same road you came in on.That portion of the road is TWO way.You will cross Luis D.going back the way you came from.In about 1/4 of a mile do the returno and now stay in one of the left lanes.after paying the bridge toll move into the far right lane and cross the bridge.That will put you at the right US Customs booth to go straight into X-ray.
Thanks for the excellent clear directions. I have just copied and pasted into our Mexico Travel notes.
(Although they will probably be out of date by the time we need them!)
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/14/13 09:01am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: What did you do to your Class A MH today???
Nothing -- I'm retired now.
X2
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/14/13 08:53am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Neat OZ Stop Sign
He was only stopping to turn on his windshield wipers.
:B Now that's funny. I almost wet myself!
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/12/13 10:04am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 12 volt coffee makers is the any good reason to own one?
French press. Been using for years now for camping.
X2 and then some. That is the ONLY way to make really good coffee.
DW even has a thermal mug with French Press attachment.
Since it takes her at least half an hour to drink a cup of coffee this gets us on the road a little sooner!
Hint: after you pour the boiling (actually just simmering) water onto the grounds you will note that the grounds very quickly float to the top. Give these grounds a quick stir with a long handled spoon. The coffee grounds will then disperse more evenly through the hot water. put the top and screen back on and wait 5 minutes or so before depressing. Note: do NOT use a fine coffee grind or you will end up with sediment or even grounds in your cup.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/12/13 09:58am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Good Source for Replacement Shower Pan?
Our 2002 Itasca has the same problem. Been waiting for a new one through the dealer for almost a month. Apparently they do not stock these for older units are are made to order! It's going to be the better part of $1000.00 including shipping charges.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/12/13 12:26am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Wet battery terminal
Both of the positive terminals are darker than the negative post and are damp. I see some corrosion on the wire end that goes over the battery post but not the negative. They are both 12v , are 2 years old and are full of distilled water. they do charge up when they are hooked up to the trailer. Can anyone tell me if something is wrong?
You need to REPLACE BOTH batteries.
The seal around the positive terminals is DAMAGED and the electrolyte (acid) is creeping up the positive terminals.
I had that happen to a tractor battery. No matter how much I cleaned and greased the terminal it would turn black in a couple of days. I even tried the anti corrosion felts which often work well, they didn't in this case.
The only solution is to replace.
Gtetrailer MAY be right, but it may be just venting from hard charging as others have suggested. Clean as suggested and watch carefully. If the corrosion reappears quickly, then you likely have a leakage issue and they should be replaced before the acid does real damage.
One of the starting batteries in our DP had the + post corroding. I cleaned it every couple of weeks until we returned home and then replaced them both. They were dated June 2007 so I wasn't too upset!
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/10/13 08:05pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Leeking Batterys
4 battery leeking from the caps.do I need new batterys?If leeks are growing from the caps, yes.
I was going to suggest that perhaps he had run over a chicken and it was "cock-a-leekie" (chicken and leek soup) but then I realised that that would be rude. My speling is quiet good butt I often make typos.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/10/13 02:55pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Advice on full-timer rig needed
We "half time" every winter, mostly in Mexico, in our 2002 32' Horizon Itasca. (made by Winnebago and very similar to the Journey.) You can see it here and there in our blog.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/10/13 02:43pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Chassis Battery
On most MH (gas) the starting batt. is only charged when the engine is running. The starting batt. powers among other things, starter , steps,back up camera, some cigarette lighter ports, hard wired smoke and propane alarms, etc. you need to look into a Trik-L-Start unit to keep the starting charged while hooked to shore power.
On our DP the chassis battery also powers the hydraulic pump motor for the stabilisers and slides.
Even so, three days is a very short time to go completely dead. There is something wrong somewhere. Something is drawing current continuously.
Once you diagnose and repair the problem, some sort of chassis battery charger is recommended. We use the Xantrex Echo Charger.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/10/13 02:35pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Small Solar - Inexpensive
If you go with an 80 or 100 Watt panel I'd suggest that when you run the wires, size them for at least twice that wattage. It won't cost a lot more and if you do find you want to add more panels later your wiring will already be adequate.
That was my main regret when I installed 2 80 watt panels. I had asked for wire large enough for 4 panels, but when I added a couple of 130s later, the wire was barely adequate. Upgrading that is a summer project for me.
As others have suggested, for boondocking, also consider LEDs. Just changing out one or two lights that you use the most will make a big difference.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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05/09/13 12:11am |
Tech Issues
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RE: More 70 cent/watt solar
Wow! I could replace the 4 panels I have, gain 20 watts, and have more usable real estate on the roof. . . for more panels? :B
I wouldn't even need a new controller--my Blue Sky is good for 25 Amps :) Hmmm, I could put three up there and recharge my 4 GC's is no time!
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Canadian Rainbirds
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04/30/13 07:23pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Magnum Inverter
Thanks guys the problem was I had the fridge set to Auto so when I turned on the inverter it switched to ac.
I was just going to suggest that since I have done that. . . TWICE :E
The second time, the new 4 GCs similar to yours held out a lot better than the 4 group 24s I had in there before. :S
Another one to watch for is the electric hot water.
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Canadian Rainbirds
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04/29/13 07:13pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Working under my Class A
As everyone else has said a BIG NO.. Second those are not jacks.. They are levelers to be used to level the RV.. Mike Mathews..
X2
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Canadian Rainbirds
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04/29/13 04:19pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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