RE: Changing carpet on flush floor slides
That would be the way most installers would do it, unless they have a trailer with there edge binding machine in it!
Biggest thing in changing out the carpet is to not replace old carpet with a longer knap types. The designers of your trailer specified the height of the carpet so you would have proper clearance as the slides open and close. If you use thicker padding, or heavier carpet, you will quickly notice wear marks where the slides travel. Also, your new carpet will get dirty more quickly from the dirt on the bottom side of the slide rubbing off on the carpet.
Most of the carpet I have seen installed, is put down with a staple gun. the staples are usually about 1/4" wide at the crown and 1/2" to 3/4" long.
As for changing the carpet under the bed, why? Have the carpet cut to the edge of the bed and tack down the old carpet under the bed. There's really no reason to remove the bed and lay new carpet under it!
I've wanted to replace the carpet in my trailer since it was new. The designer that picked this blah beige color must have been watching too many HGTV home improvement shows, where they always go for the "Neutral Look". Just have not been able to convince the wife as yet!
Bandaid
Tax season?
Hi,
The wife and I have a volunteer application in for work during the months of Feb., Mar., and part of Apr. Today, being that this is our first attempt at RV Worker Volunteering, it dawned on me we will be 900 miles away from home when taxes need to be filed! Federal taxes are not our immediate problem, as we will have our mail forwarded to us and would have the necessary documents. Our problem is our State Taxes to New York State. Tax preparers outside of New York State would not be able to prepare our return. How do Work Kampers deal with filing taxes when so far from home?
Bandaid
RE: What Are You Doing in My Campsite? - Long Post
I agree!
Some people apparently feel they are the friendliest individuals around and everyone should just accept that! My wife and I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago, at a New York State Park. When we checked in, we were told we could set up by pulling into our pull thru site in either direction. Driving up, we noticed the hook ups were on the left side of the site, as per pulling thru in the normal direction. First thing we had to do was ask the people in the next site to move their car out of our drive thru. Guess they figured it was going to remain empty for the duration of their stay!
This couple, with a motor home, had pulled into their site in the opposite direction. They had all of their chairs, out, the belly door open, and the TV playing loudly. They were also using our fire ring, and picnic table. They were not an unfriendly pair, but made no attempt to move any of their stuff from our site so we could use what we had paid for.
After two days, my wife was getting a bit perturbed, as was I. We stopped at the office and had a discussion with the ranger. He looked up their name and said good news, they are leaving tomorrow. He also said the park had previously had problems with them doing similar tactics to others.
The next morning came, and the wife left. The husband took his time picking up their equipment and finally pulled out around 4 PM. Check out was supposed to be 11 AM! Needless to say, we were glad to see them leave. Sorry we got in their way, NOT!
It is a shame that so many Americans have this, "if it feels good do it and don't mind anyone else who it may affect". It's time we all took lessons in manors!
Bandaid
RE: Water in diesel
My present tow vehicle is an -6 Duramax, 3500 series. It has 27K miles on it and I;ve had to replace the fuel filter/seperator twice. First time was in Jacksone, Wyoming. Previous fuel stop I must have picked up fuel with either water of dirt in it. Fuel mileage started dropping and the engine became sluggish! After the change it was back to the original condition and mileage.
This spring, after the truck was laid up for the winter, with almost a full tank of fuel, Same thing occurred on a trip to Myrtle Beach. Poor mileage and sluggish power. Had the filter changed again. Suspicion, condensation from storage!
I now carry an extra fuel filter and a wrench to change it. Tired of paying $130. to GM service for a fifteen minute job! What would help is a seperator filter with a sight glass in it!
As for not buying fuel where you see a tanker hooked up. Best advice, drive on! Filling the tanks stirs up all the******in the bottom of the tanks. You rely on the filters in the fuel pumps to clean the fuel you are pumping into you truck/RV. Do you really want to trust that the station actually changes those filters frequently? Not me. Had a car one time and fueled up while gas was being delivered. It cost me having the whole fuel system flushed, a new fuel pump, carburator rebuild, and the loss of 20 gallons of gas! I learned my lesson very quickly after that one!
Bandaid
RE: Structural Problem on Foreward Frame Hitch Attachment Area
Hi,
We have a 2004 Open Road, by Pilgrim International, which also has a Lippert frame under it. I've contacted my dealer about a potential frame failure due to metal fatigue and poor welding from Lippert.
A couple from Canada, with a fiver similar to mine, had a complete pin box failure, which has caused extensive damage to their rig. Seems Lippert did some pretty poor engineering and quality control on frames made from 2000 - 2004 and maybe into early 2005. Definetly get your rig to a dealer/ service center and have the skin removed to check the frame for cracks and bends.
The fact that you put an additional extention onto your factory pin box, IMHO, is not helping this situation either. Anytime the pin is moved forward of the point where the weight is bearing down, you are creating a lever and multiplying the force, which in this case is the weight of the trailer on the pin box. You may do yourself well to have the extention removed and if necessary, go to a reciever system that matches your truck top the factory pin box!
Bandaid
Williamsport, PA
Hi,
I've always avoided staying on the interstate section traveling north and south through Williamsport, PA. Thought it took us too far out of our way, as we were traveling Rt. 15 to, or from, Harrisburg. However, with the ever rising fuel prices, I'm wondering if using the interstate route to Shamokin Dam, or the next bridge south, would be a better choice to avoid those big hills between Lewisburg and Williamsport. Any suggestions?
Bandaid
RE: Slide Awning Collects Water
I had slide toppers installed on my trailer last spring and had the same problem. I cured it by going to Walmart and buying 3 rib, large diameter pool noodles! Also got some 1/8" nylon braided rope and tied the three nodles into a length wise triangle. Then tied a length of rope to both ends so the support could be pulled into position under the topper, then tied off. Wind will lift the topper cover and the support will blow out unless it is tied in. Only aggravating problem is having to get the step ladder out both when we set up and when we pack to leave, but at least the water no longer puddles in the topper!
First time we camped withthe slide covers, I was openning the dump valve when my wife decided to close the slide. I got a nice cold shower as the water poured off the end of the slide cover! That's when the light bulb came on to visit Wally World!
Bandaid
RE: fuel at 4.89
What I wonder about the Futures Trdaing of Oil, is where is the money really coming from. There are rouge leaders out there that would just love to see the US and all of our allies economies shatter and crumble like glass! Chavez, of Venezuala, even stated that he would support oil going to $200. a barrel just to bring the US to its knees's. That was in a speech he gave while visiting Iran!
It is not likely that Congress will, or can, put regulations of the Futures Trading, other than what is done on US soil. However, there are trading markets all over the world and our regulations would have no effect on them.
We were warned in 1972 and di little to nothing to prepare for what we are facing today and in the future. We were caught with our hands in our pockets just as we were on 911!
Bandaid
RE: Odor from the hot water????
Hi,
Thereare no anode rods in the Attwood systems. Ours is a 2004 model and we experienced a smell last summer. I had our dealer check it out, because the smell had a metallic smell to it. I thought it might be electrolosis, but he assured me it was not. The tanks are glass lined! They did flush the tank and found sediment in the bottom. It was suggested as meny others here have indicated, to drain the hot water tank when the trailer is not in use. I don't know if draining will remove allwater from the tank, but most of it for sure. Many camp grounds have wells, and you can not be sure what the water quality really is.
Most of the camping supply stores sell tablets for purifying water. Proabably would not hurt to use one them a few times a year. The chloine bleach method is alsosuggested, but I would keep the solution weak, as Chlorine can be corrosive to some metals and react with some plastics.
On the drain of my water heater, I screwed in a ball valve pea cock. It makes it a lot easier to drain the water tank.
Bandaid
RE: WiFi card plans
Sorry!
Sorry for the misleading question. My wife and I are new to the lap top and WiFi deal.
Here's the situation. We have a lap top that is WiFi ready, which I think allows us to get on line where ever free WiFi is available. This next spring we are hoping to do volunteer work, for two months, at a State Park Campground. They do not have WiFi. Guess my question shuould have been if it would be worth it to add the internet connection to our cell phone plan. We are with Verizon.
Thanks,
Bandaid
RE: how to keep dining table from sliding open?
Hi,
I had the same problem. You can make a strap and fasten it to the bottom of the table. Screw a snap button on the bottom of the sliding part and the cap part into the strap. Both the strap material and the snaps should be available at an upholstery fabric outlet.
Bandaid
RE: CG's near Seneca Falls, NY
Hi,
Junius ponds may be alright, but it is right next to the New York State Thruway. You may get a lot of noise from the trucks going by!
There is the Canandaigua KOA not far off Rt. 332, but it would be a bit of a drive to get to Seneca Falls.
I'm pretty sure the State parks, either Sampson, or Cayuga has 30 amp service. Only thing they don't have are sewer sites. You have to use a blue tank, or the dump stations.
I think, a mile or so north of the Thruway, at the Geneva exit, is a private camp ground named Cheerfull, (or Cherry), Valley. That would be as good and equally as close as Junius Ponds.
Bandaid
WiFi card plans
Hi,
Simple question. Do any of the Cell phone compaines have WiFi cards/ plans that can be purchased by the month, or similar to buying prepaid phone cards?
Bandaid
RE: Brazilian Ethanol anyone?
Hi,
Brazil owes our country plenty on loans given in the past and has refused to us pay back, but they would gladly sell their surplus ethanol to us! We should buy their ethanol and give them money as we do to the oil Sheiks? However, we should learn their ethanol technology. How they are able to make the ethanol in such volume.
Another question, or statement. For years our domestic agriculture was paid not to grow crops, because the grain wasted away in silo's. We have former tobacco farmers all over the south who said they were having to go out of business because of no crops to grow and drive down any rural road and see for yourself many farm fields laying fallow
Last year my wife and I took a trip across the southern US and found numerous historical references to rice and sugar plantations. Where are they today? Furthermore, two years ago we were in Hawaii and all we heard from the tour bus drivers was how low labor costs and prices have shut down all of the sugar plantations and pineapple farmers. Isn't there a need to rebuild their industry?
It seems that we are our worst enemies when it comes to figuring out who is too blame for the rising fuel and food prices! Would it be too much to ask that money destined for foreign soils be spent here, developing genetically engineered sugar,sugar beets, and other high sugar crops to grow in our climates and support the ethanol technology. We surely don't need to try and buy more friendship form other countries!
For years our farmers complained about loosing their farms because there was no market for their crops and prices were too low. Now they have a market, actually two! Develop and plant the crops that will break some of our dependence on foreign imports. At the same time, plant the grains that we need to feed ourselves!
Bandaid
RE: Open Road Repair...Done....well,almost!!
Another Open Road owner here. One of the more positive things Pilgrim did in designing the Open Roads was to make the walls removable and exchangeable. As you have experienced, those of us who have early models have had to deal with design problems, which hopefully have been corrected in the newer models.
Over the past couple of years, many have experienced severe wall damage from blowouts with KENDA-Loadstar tires. Any trailer built after October 2003, through last year, may have tires that were not rated high enough for the application. Check your tires and make sure you have the corect ones on your trailer. Terry Hayes may be able to help you with this, as I know he has had several trailers in for repairs! It would be a shame for you to have been without your trailer this long, gone through the hassel of extensive repairs, and then maybe have a blowout causing another rebuild situatioon.
Good luck. By the way, what part of NY state do you live in. We may be close to each other!
Bandaid
RE: RV Slide Out Awning Airwedge
I had slide toppers put onto my fiver last year. After the long slide pooled, I went to WalMart and bouught 3, large pool noodles and some 1/4" nylon braided rope. I tied the noodles into a lengthwise triangular position and used the remaining rope for tie cords. Biggest hassel is getting the ladder out to slide the things under the topper. Once it is slid to the middle of the slide, I use the rope to tie it to the brackets at each end of the slide. If you don;'t tie both ends, wind will get under the topper and lift it, causing the noodles to blow to one end of the slide.
After use, I untie, pull them out, and roll the rope around the noodles. They store easily in the basement cubby!
I think I have a total of $18.00 in all of the materials, if that!
Bandaid
RE: Learning to Pull a 5er
Hi Again,
I agree to a point with using the toy trucks. However, remember that on a trailer portion of a semi rig, the trailer wheels under the trailer, are at the rear of the box. On a camper, they are closer to the middle and there is a lot more rear overhang swing. It always helps, when backing into a site, or backing up in general, to get out of the truck, walk around the back of the camper and see how much room you have and if there is anything that is in the way.
Having the extra person to watch your blind side is also very helpfull. Just make sure you tell them exactly what to watch for, or you will get a lot of nervous and unecessary signals. When in doubt, get out and look for yourself! Again, be mindfull of the height of your rig and if there are any low hanging limbs that might tear the AC unit off the roof.
One other thing that I see a lot of people forget. Hang a tag on the handle of your bat wing antenna, telling you it is in the raised position. I've seen a lot of camper pull out of sites with the TV antenna still in the up position, but not for long!
Bandaid
RE: Learning to Pull a 5er
Hi,
First, buy an up to date truckers road atlas with the restricted and low clearence routes listed
second, measure the height of your trailer, when hooked to the truck and post a sticky note on your dash in front of you, to look up and pay attention to low hanging objects such as tree limbs, wires, bridge overpasses.
third, remember that the trailer will turn inside the radius of the truck. If you are near a curb, or telephone pole, while making a right hand turn, make the turn wide and watch your right hand mirror to make sure the trailer does not side swipe the obstruction.
Same thing applies when making a left hand turn and there are highway islands to negotiate around.
fourth, when backing the trailer up, put your hand in the bottom of the steering wheel and push the wheel in the direction you want the back of the trailer to go. Once you get the trailer angled, you will have to play catch up withthe front end of the truck.
As suggested in other posts, find a parking lot where you can practice backing the trailer into simulated camp sites. I've also heard that some tractor trailer driving schols have abreviated courses for fifth wheel RV drivers. I'm seriously considering this for my wife, as I don't think I have the patience to teach her.
Bandaid
North Fork RV Resort
Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has stayed at North Fork RV Resort , in Front Royal, Virginia. We are Passport America members and will be traveling through this area next week. Looking for an overnight stop.
Thanks,
Bandaid
