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Forum
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RE: Trip Report: 2006 Honda Odyssey w/Jayco 17C
I had an Odyssey, they are great vehicles. You can get a transmission cooler on the net for very little money, installs quickly in minutes. The factory type cooler is just a simple loop that mounts in front of the radiator. Look in the holes under the bumper to see if you can see a loop of 1/4" tubing at the bottom of the radiator... if you have a loop you have the factory cooler already. It comes as standard equipment on some configurations even though they do not have the tow package. Mine had the cooler, but not the tow package.
Do not tell your local dealer you are pulling a TT, they will have a fit and may balk at any future warranty needs. Not that they would not honor your warranty, but they may give you a really hard time.
I pull a 30'TT with a Chevy Trailblazer. I am in about the same "near max" capacity situation as you. We just take our time and let the speed demons pass us. Just do not let yourself get off guard. Don't worry about the camper or the car; they make thousands of new ones everyday, keep your family safe!
Have a great time making memories with the family.
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tllogsdon
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07/23/08 12:09pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: camping with toddlers
Middle Tennessee has dozens of Corp of Engineer and State parks within a few miles. Each holds a unique experience for children and adults alike. Be cautious near the water and enjoy your summer. Slow down and let the wonders of nature and parenting unfold. Let the kids be kids, grab the camera and get ready for something special.
Our favorite places are Defeated Creek near Carthage, Fall Creek Falls near Spencer, and Townsend on the backside of the Smokies. When in the Smokies we never go near Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge... we keep all our travel and adventures in the park, away from the tourist/money traps of town.
Try staying at the Cades Cove campground in the spring (before it gets too hot). There are no electric or water connections and generators are not allow at night in any of the park campgrounds. It is great! Just the sound of campfires, children playing, crickets, and frogs.
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tllogsdon
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04/01/08 09:41pm |
Family Camping
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RE: share your "vintage" RV pictures
Some of the videos are too funny!
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tllogsdon
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04/01/08 08:59pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Any repairs or upgrades this year?
Last Year:
New fridge, water heater, water pump, jack knife sofa, dinette upholstery, toilet, laminate flooring, mattress, axles, tires, and replaced entire lower kitchen cabinets with solid oak.
This Year:
20" flat panel w/DVD in living room, 15" flat panel in bedroom.
Next Year:
Trade for newer trailer (lol), not likely!
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tllogsdon
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04/01/08 08:30pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: awning tear fix??
The wind blew our awning over the trailer and down onto the TV antenna (breaking it as well) and tore a 12" - 14" rip in the awning. We bought the clear awning repair tape at CW and it has held just fine. It has yellowed some, but is holding tight. I did not see how it could hold, but it has so far. We did put the tape on both sides of the awning. We used a large wooden cutting board for support and really pressed the tape into the fabric of the awning to ensure the tightest bond possible.
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tllogsdon
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12/31/07 09:30pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Refrigerators and Covers
The instructions direct from the factory were "to leave it in the vertical installed position" for preferred 24 hour period before using to allow the refrigerant to drain down.
As a side note if you restrict the roof vent the fridge gets HOT. Learned this with 18 inches of snow on the roof covering the vent.
If you did not misunderstand the sales guy maybe he should be selling used vehicles.
Art.
The comment about the snow on the roof causing the unit to not function properly was the type of input I was seeking. As a side note I waited two weeks before operating the unit, after transporting on its side. We were in the middle of a complete rehab on the trailer and the refrigerators were going off sale when I purchased the new unit. Our old unit functioned fine, but the door was severely damaged in the rehab and we could not purchase a replacement.
I cannot for the life of me understand why everyone is so bent out of shape over word semantics. I only wanted to know would the unit function properly with the rv cover in place? I have had several responses that it would not. That was my initial feeling, but wanted to verify my belief. I thought that was the purpose of forums… a collaboration of knowledge for everyone’s benefit.
I cannot see how the CW salesman's advice to operate the unit occasionally over the winter months qualifies him to be a used car salesman? The Nashville CW has been there many years; I would guess the man has experienced a lot of blown refrigerators over the years. I asked him for advice on obtaining long service from the new unit and he gave me his opinion on how to maximize its life. I am sorry if you do not agree with his advice, but I choose to go with it. We will never know if it helps lengthen the life of the refrigerator or not since we would have to have someone else not doing it under the same conditions to really know if it makes a long term difference.
I will partially uncover the camper and operate the refrigerator every month.
Thank you for your information about the snow, I will store that little tidbit for future use if we are ever out in a rv and get caught in the snow. I would not have readily thought about clearing the roof vent of snow.
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tllogsdon
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12/30/07 09:59pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Good Sam. Worth It?
We joined the "National Organization" for the discounts, but rarely ever use campgrounds (mostly State Parks). However through the National Organization we discovered our local chapter, that we enjoy immensely. They have a camp out every month somewhere in the middle Tennessee - northern Alabama area. They are a great group of people. I like to read the magazines every month as well. For us we enjoy the membership for other purposes besides camping discounts.
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tllogsdon
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12/30/07 12:02pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Refrigerators and Covers
CW is either pulling your leg or they really don't know much about how they work. The corrosion inhibitor in the cooling unit is sodium chromate. It is a yellow powder and it doesn't gell. It will cause a blockage in the cooling unit if it is run severely off level. You don't need to run it during the winter to keep it from "gelling".
Actually the guy at CW said "compaction and solidification of the sodium chromate" I changed this to "gelling" for simplicity. He also recommended bringing the unit home laying on its back to help redistribute the sodium chromate that had settled since the unit was manufactured.
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tllogsdon
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12/30/07 10:34am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Refrigerators and Covers
I seek to know if the unit can draw enough air to function properly with the cover on the trailer.
No. They work on the convection of the warm air, if you block the vents there will be no flow.
I was afraid this would be the answer, just wanted confirmation. I am aware of the concept of this type of refrigeration, just unsure how much airflow is actually required for proper functionality.
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tllogsdon
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12/30/07 08:53am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Ugliest Camper Photo's
Saw this one the other day in the K-Mart parking lot in Marathon in the Florida Keys. No people were about but there were two dogs sitting in the driver and passenger seats.
Dennis and Cindy Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Torrey Oaks RV & Golf Resort in Bowling Green, FL
I suspect these folks think they own a little piece of heaven. Who is to say they don't? It is just not the same piece I desire to own.
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tllogsdon
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12/30/07 08:40am |
General RVing Issues
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Refrigerators and Covers
When I purchased my new Dometic refrigerator from CW, in the spring, they recommended running the unit 24/7 to keep the anticorrosion material in the ammonia from gelling and causing long term problems. I have winterized the trailer and placed an Adco cover over the unit. Here is my main concern... the sales guy also recommended running the refrigerator at least one weekend every month in the winter to help prevent the anticorrosion material from gelling over the winter. Will the refrigerator get enough ventilation to function properly with the cover on the trailer? I really hate the thought of having to try to wrestle the cover off every month to run the refrigerator, but do not want to cause further problems by being lazy. Our refrigerator is approximately mid-trailer on a 30' trailer. This would be a snap if the refrigerator were on a corner and not mid trailer.
What have you guys done in the past and what was the results?
I am not looking to debate the pros or cons of running the refrigerator in the winter, I seek to know if the unit can draw enough air to function properly with the cover on the trailer.
Thanks for any advice you can provide on this matter.
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tllogsdon
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12/30/07 08:24am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Tiny toads?
Having just returned from Europe two weeks ago, I can tell they have some really tiny automobiles. They are also diesel, instead of gasoline. When viewing these little scamps I had to ponder why we Americans are too silly to embrace them here? And to make matters worse we take the most basic transportation available in Europe and import them to America as a status symbol (Mini). I have not put my $99 deposit down on a Smart, but I would like to know what they are going to retail for here. I have heard rumors of $29,000. That seems a little extreme. Even at 69 mpg on diesel that would require a long time to reach a break even point. I am not sure they will even offer the diesel in the US, but I could live with noisy and rough riding to cut my fuel bill from $75.00 per week to $15.00.
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tllogsdon
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12/17/07 07:40pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Don't use the, ......
Yuk!
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tllogsdon
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11/29/07 01:24am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: share your "vintage" RV pictures
If it was not for deer hunters, where would all those old travel trailers go?
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tllogsdon
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11/28/07 06:51am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: European RV's....WHEN?????
DW and I are currently traveling in Europe. The little caravans are everywhere and being towed by the tiniest cars you could imagine (we have only observed 2 pickup trucks on the road). The little motorhomes are 16-20 feet I would guess. I would love to see inside of the little rigs. I have noticed at the rv parks, along the autobahns, almost everyone has a considerable sized (often bigger than the rv) canvas room attached to both the trailers and the motorhomes. I am guessing the basic services are contained within the small units and the living areas are the canvas rooms. I am hopeful of finding a dealer to get some brochures and specifications. I have never observed an a/c on any of the units. I am guessing the weight is a large deterrent.
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tllogsdon
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11/28/07 03:48am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Living on your property in a rig
We live in the boonies, far from a town (2 miles to closest neighbor in one direction), the county we live in barely acknowledges our existence (except when they want taxes every year). We actually get our mail and water services from other counties. But when our neighbor's house burnt in February (killing him), his granddaughter placed a travel trailer on the property while she sorted through the remains of the home and made arrangements to clear the property. A county inspector informed her she would have to get a "building permit" for her "unauthorized" dwelling. She took her travel trailer home.
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tllogsdon
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11/28/07 03:21am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 1961 WHAT???
I saw one of these around a few years ago, but it had the original windshield as well.
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tllogsdon
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11/26/07 02:19am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Winterizing Problem.........Any ideas?
Look to see if the hose inside has kinked or collapsed. It almost has to be an issue with that inlet hose.
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tllogsdon
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11/25/07 10:31am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: NEW 55 MPH Signs for RV
I am ok with 55 - 60 mph, it only really makes about a 30 minute difference in a days trip anyway. If I need to get there by a specific time I just leave a little earlier.
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tllogsdon
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11/19/07 08:21pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: The 30'+ Club - Do you ever regret it?
Our first trailer is a 30' bumper pull, so we have nothing to use as a comparison. We have never had any issues with travel. We go at least one long weekend every month from 50 miles to about 400 miles. Our average trip is about 100 - 150 miles from home. I, like someone above, pay particular attention to the tail swing in town, but other than that we roll on down the road. I am not crazy about being passed by diesels on the interstate, but we cope.
The only time we have issues in campgrounds is when they are poorly planned and the older State Parks.
My next unit will be longer. 30' is ok, but 40' would be better. I would like to find a model that has two complete bedrooms (one on each end). We travel with my elderly parents a few times per year and we sleep on the couch to give them the bed. It would be nice to have two full/queen beds and a middle slide for the living area. It would be hard to get my 50 something DW into that top bunk on the bunkhouse models. When we were looking at those my wife would just say "sure".
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tllogsdon
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11/19/07 07:55pm |
General RVing Issues
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