RE: inverter Plus digital clock
We had a somewhat similar situation with a new coffee maker. What I found out was that 'most' new electronic gizmos don't like inverters that are "modified sine wave" (MSW) inverters and will not work properly. Apparently you need to have a "Pure sine wave" (PSW) inverter for them to run properly.
We have a 1000 watt inverter in our truck and I know that some things work and some won't? IE: The inverter would not run a new microwave I bought for the truck, but it would run a toaster over with no problem. It would also not run the battery charger for my power tools, but it will charge the laptop batteries, the batteries for our cell phone, and the batteries for our GMRS walkie talkies.
I sure hope the MSW Vs PSW thing is true, because we're having a PSW installed in a week or so and I'm going to be really ticked off if it doesn't run the coffee maker! On a less serious note ;) , the PSW is supposed to also provide much 'cleaner' power for ALL of todays electronics, TV, DVD, Computers, etc. etc. Time will tell.
RE: Escapees website
After the new site was up, we got on for a little while, but it seems 'Ike' took over? Haven't been able to get into the new forum or even onto Escapees.com for a couple of days now. I'm assuming (hopefully) that it's just that they're affected by the massive power-outage and not anything more serious. Time will tell.
RE: Replace locks on Alpenlite fifth wheel
Hi Dave,
We decided to do the same thing, but as we also wanted to go to the circular key, we went to a locksmith . We were told, because of the need for a cylinder 1 3/8" long, that we would NOT be able to find locks with the circular key :-( .
So, what we wound up doing was buying four new locks to replace the plain old thumb twist locks and taking all the old '751' locks and had them all rekeyed to a non-generic setting. The security is a little bit better, but still not great.
Sorry I couldn't give you better info.
Bret
RE: How many new snowbirds this winter?
From Alberta to British Columbia to visit the younger members of our family, then to Oregon, to Kansas, to Texas, to ???
This is the start of our fulltime adventure, so do we still qualify as 'snowbirds'? We'll be south in the winter and north in the summer, but until next summer when we head back north, we'll be gypsy's with no fixed abode.
RE: Parked or Travelling
Well, let me see.... artificial knee, no... artificial hip? Yes, done twice now in four years!! Arthritis? Yes, every last cotton pickin' joint in my body!! Including my toes! BUT, the farm is sold, our auction is in three weeks and the kids are coming to get what they want. After that, everything will go into the truck/trailer... or to the dump!
And, just like Willie sings...."on the road again!!!" If we wait for medical concerns to subsist, at our age?? They never will!! Travel or sit?? We've asked ourselves that many times! Especially with the cost of fuel increasing as it has. But, we're still going, and expect we'll wind up doing as much traveling as we can afford? If we run out of money and con't afford to fill the truck ($1000 buck a pop!!) as often as we'd like, then we'll sit for a bit until the next pension checks come in. But at the same time, we expect we'll travel more for the first couple of years of this fulltime adventure. After that? Who know? Maybe fuel will go go down and we CAN travel as much as we like? (Ok, Ok, get up off the floor before your stomach hurts too much and you get all dusty!)
For the time being, we'll go wherever the urge says to go, stop when the urge says to stop and just enjoy what happens in between!!
Just our humble opinion....
RE: How many of us are waiting for the SOLD sign?
Well it's finally done!
We listed in February, went through LOTS of lookie lou's, turned down half a dozen offers, accepted two offers with conditions that the buyers ultimately couldn't meet, and last night..... accepted an offer with NO conditions whatsoever, almost what we listed it for and possession on September 15th!!
That means we'll be ON-THE-ROAD September 14th!!
YAHOO!!!!
RE: do it yourself solar panel install
Costco has a triple panel ( 3 X 15 watt ) for a couple hundred bucks, includes a 7 amp charge controller and a small inverter as well. Not hard to install yourself and would be more than adequate to keep your batteries topped up for that kind of use. Unless you do a lot of boondocking ( random camping they call it here in AB ) you shouldn't need much more than that.
On the other hand, if you run off of some six volt batteries and are willing to pay what you suggested, it may be worthwhile to look at some larger solar panels.
It is POSSIBLE, that a single 15 watt panel, like those at Canadian Tire, might do the trick for you? But, you would still need a small charge controller to keep your battery/s from being overcharged if the sun is doing it's job too well!
JMHO
RE: Volvo TV
VERY happy with it! We get better mileage towing with our truck than we did with with our 2005 F350 CC dually lb 6.0 PS six speed.
AND, the big truck does everything soooo much easier than the little dually ever did, start, stop, cruise, mountain ups & downs.
Downside: gotta watch your height restrictions and low trees, there's the odd parking spot it's a little tougher to get into (our F350 dually was 26' long, this one is 28' long) but generally the extra walking is good for us! And, 'normal' folks tend to thing we're rich, just because we drive a big truck!! I met another 'older' couple the other day that were enthused about our truck, but HE thought we'd paid around around $200,000 for the truck!!! He was quite impressed when he found out it was less than a quarter of that. I gave them both a tour of the cab and they were even more impressed.
Overall, if your capabilities extend to driving one of these beauties, I'd say go for it. The safety factor alone makes it well worth it IMO.
RE: Drumheller campgrounds?
The CG's in Drum are all pretty nice.... it just depends on what your expectations are? But the most important thing of all is RESERVATIONS!! That being a holiday weekend (kind of) you don't want to get there and find out "Sorry, we're full"!! No matter which one you pick, and there are many in and around Drum, get reservations. (you don't REALLY need to know how I know that, do you???)
RE: Coffee pot suggestions please
Bought one of the damned B&D machines to hang under the counter, and because of the thermal carafe. The carafe works good, when the machine works, and that's only when we're plugged into shore power!! It won't work off our Honda EU3000 nor will it work off our MSW inverter. We'll be installing a new PSW inverter later this year, so maybe it'll work then?? Stupid, electronic gizmo!
RE: Canadians driving US registered truck and trailer in Canada
Hi Al,
I am of the understanding, that if you are a Canadian resident and buy/license those units in the US, when you cross the border to home, you are considered to be "importing" them for all intents and purposes. I believe Import Law will apply & you will have to have all the necessary paperwork and pay GST and Excise tax ($100) to enter Canada with them.
For Canadians returning home, the question most often asked is "What is the value of goods you are bringing back with you?". If you tell the truth, you may be delayed for quite a while, but trying to get through without telling the truth could result in confiscation of the item(s) in question. So, you have to ask yourself, is the chance of losing that item worth neglecting to tell the truth about 'importing' the item, even temporarily? And don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that you would do such a thing. It sounds like you have a fair bit of money invested in your truck/trailer and I'd hate to see you loose either.
In all likely hood, a quick trip to the nearest border crossing would answer your question? And get you a definite answer!
JMHO
RE: The Birds!!!!
Hemlox
Don't feel bad, we all do that from time to time. Sarcasm like that is unwarranted, I've seen similar posts made by the 'sarcastee'?
JMHO
RE: propane heater in rv
We us a "Big Buddy" which is rated for inside use. I would hasten to add that it is rated for indoor use as long as you have a fresh air intake, such as an open window!!
We use the Big Buddy almost exclusively rather than the furnace as it is noiseless and doesn't wake us up in the middle of the night, on & off, on & off, etc.
We have a small window that provides an opening of about 4" X 8", about five feet away from where the heater sits, and we open one of the roof vents about an inch or so to allow for air flow (in the window, out the roof vent) and after many nights we've never had a problem.
We DO have a CO detector in the bedroom and it has never so much as chirped (unless I'm pushing the test button to make sure it's still working!)
There will likely be many naysayers, but we have used it safely and warmly for a long time now. VERY happy with our Big Buddy. BTW, it has 3 heat levels and we normally only need it on low, and that was when we were in the mountains and the nightime temps were in the 10-15 F range.
JMHO
On edit... we NEVER bring a propane bottle inside the RV. I ran a 15' hose from the bottle and snaked it through to the inside. Yes, I had to cut a hole to allow the hose through, but connects and disconnects as necessary, permitting no propane leaks inside. Works for us!
RE: importing ford 350
Just did it, bought the Volvo in our sig, let me know what you would like to know? It's a piece of cake..... once you know exactly what you need!!
Or, you can PM me or email direct to brewen_north at hotmail dot com if you like.
It's really pretty easy!
Bret
RE: How many of us are waiting for the SOLD sign?
Well, we listed the farm mid February, we've had more than 20 showings so far, and now have an offer (our fourth offer) that our realtor's say they are sure will go through. It's a conditional 'til May 15th, but they seem pretty sure it'll be fine. That means we'll be out of here on June 30th and then it's 'away we go' on the 1st of July!
(Lord, PLEASE let this happen!)
If we're lucky, we'll see you on the road?
RE: Somebody wake me up!
Hey! Dianne, now you're scaring me! We have an offer on the farm and if all 'goes well??' we'll be fulltime as of July 1. All our livestock is gone now, cows, sheep & goats, but I sure miss 'em already!!
I know, I know, to those of you who aren't/weren't farmers you wonder how we can miss 'livestock', but until you've lived that life.... well all I can say is "You haven't lived!".
I'd offer a chance to do a little S*** kickin', but as I say, we're hopefully going to be done our auction and out of here by the end of June. Both a happy and a sad occasion. I surely do know what you mean!!
Bret
RE: Canadians Buying in the US - CSA Approval & Warranty
That salesman was either a flat out LIAR (most likely) or else poorly advised or just plain stupid! If you've dealt with that dealer before and have been happy with them, I would go back to the dealers and ask for the MANAGER and tell him/her exactly what kind of a 'tale' you got from that salesman.
However, having said that, you may also get the same kind of 'attitude' from the manager..... such as 'well, we can't afford to work on ANY unit not bought here because that wouldn't leave us enough time to work on OUR customers' etc. etc..
As soon as I hear that line of Brown Sugar, I just tell them 'fine, you don't want my business, I'll go elsewhere, including for my next RV purchase!' That statement usually elicits a very different response.
We as consumers should always remember that these dealers would not be open if wasn't for us consumers that purchase their products and service!
JMHO
RE: Joining the Fulltimers group
That's GREAT! Best of luck in your new adventure. We hope to follow shortly, as soon as our farm sells! Maybe we'll see each other on the road.
RE: Lookie what DH got me for my birthday!!
For safety sake, I certainly hope you get DH an equivalent present and upgrade your tow vehicle to at least a dually one ton!!
11-12,000 pounds behind a Tacoma?? NO WAY! If you do, I hope we travel different highways!
JMHA
RE: When to Start???
MaggieMae,
As a general rule, up here in Alberta, most campgrounds open 'around' the May long weekend, which this year is May 17/18/19. Depending on the type of camping you like to do, full hookups to boondocking, there's usually someplacewhere you can park, even if you come up before that weekend?
As you travel through Alberta you'll occasionally see small cg's beside the highway (not so much the main highways as the secondaries) that are operated by a nearby town, or the county or some such authority. They are usually operated on the honor system and some even have fresh water (by pump) but no electric or sewer. If you don't mind the traffic noise, which is sometimes non-existant, these small cg's are a great place to stop for overnites, or sometimes even longer!
Good luck in your travels!
