RE: Should I winterize or not?
If you don't make the effort to winterize, and the pipes and/or fixtures do freeze, don't expect your dealership, nor the manufacturer to cover the repairs under warranty. I learned the hard way with an outside shower fixture. Our last TT didn't have one, and I completely forgot to drain the fixture on the new TT. Since I hadn't taken the appropriate precautions, I had to pay for the repairs out of my pocket. Luckily, it wasn't much, but a lesson well-learned.
RE: Help Cure My Dry Camping Phobia
Pay attention to the OP's actual problem . . . black tank gets clogged! I seem to recall reading another related post last summer. When all was said and done, if I remember correctly, the problem was traced back to a sloppy assembly process when the exit pipe was installed in the black tank. Somewhere along the process a 3" hole had to be drilled into the tank to attach the 3" drain pipe and valves. I think the discarded piece of tank material was carelessly pushed into the tank and was allowing paper and solids to catch and clog the hole. I'm wondering if something in the black holding tank is causing such material to cluster up, thereby making the dumping process more difficult than it needs to be. I can't remember how the culprit plastic was removed, plumber's snake, perhaps, or even how the owner was able to find this problem. I might suggest a trip to your local dealership where the repair tech's may be able to use their "specialized" equipment to "look into" the tank problem better than the owner.
Cooler weather camping is much preferred for me and my DW, we'd rather deal with and enjoy a few colder evenings than the sweltering heat of July when you can't go outside until 8 or 9 PM because of the heat and humidity! The leaves are colorful and the campgrounds are much less crowded, go forward and enjoy!
RE: End of another season.....most memorable experience.....
Four weekend trips to "Amish Country" in Holmes County, Ohio to stay at Evergreen RV Resort (rated #1 by Good Sam/Trailer Life Mag.) were great. Or was it the week we spent on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands in VA; sunrise off Assageague (a romantic moment for DW and me); kayaking with Jay Cherix, a local "'Teaguer", whom I consider a friend; or the great sea food? I can't overlook the many relaxing weekends we had at a local Ohio State Park, Barkcamp, only 5-6 miles from the house. But perhaps the best is yet to come . . . Bridge Day weekend in Fayetteville, WV. We'll stay with a dozen of our camping friends at our favorite campground (my secret), where the owner, Randy, will treat us like life-time family and friends; delicious ribs at "Dirty Ernie's"; and, oh yeah, watching the adrenaline junkies BASE-jump from the I-19 bridge over the New River Gorge, to land on the banks of the "New", 876 feet below.
RE: Fall trips
We're going on our annual pilgrimage to Fayetteville, WV, for "Bridge Day", Oct. 17-19. Annual event at which we watch crazy adventurers BASE jump (with parachutes) from the New River Gorge Bridge over I-19. We've been doing this trip with a group of friends for about 5 years now, staying at the same campground (that's my secret) each year. We've gotten to know the owner quite well, and are treated like family. We look forward to this annual fall trip as much as we do our summer vacation trips!
RE: 2007 Jayco 26BHS
After re-reading your OP, I realized you're really asking for advice. In this regard, I would assume your already have a TV that is adequate for pulling a TT of this size. I would hope that your dealership set you up with a hitch system that includes ample weight-distribution (WD) bars and sway bar technology. Never underestimate the importance of these, you'll be able to be much more relaxed when you drive, no "butt-pucker" marks on the seat, or fingernail marks on the wheel.
There were three after-market products we had installed by our dealership's service department. We have placed vent covers over both of the roof vents, thus enabling us to keep the vents open 24-7. We feel this allows heat, humidity, and condesation to exit through the vents, and allows fresh air to come in, even when it's raining or we're traveling. No more musty smells. Secondly, we had an electric power jack installed on the front, no more cranking the jack by hand. This makes hooking up, unhooking at the CG, and levelling a pleasant chore. Last, I had a second 12V battery installed, wired in parallel to double the amp-hours. This should keep our interior lights, ceiling vent fans, and furnace fan running adequately for one day or more, if we ever find ourselves dry camping. One of these days, I'll get the nerve to take it to Seven Springs Ski Resort in Western PA to overnight in the North Face lot (ya might be a ski bum if . . .).
We've completed many other modifications, all cosmetic in nature. I'm sure that your family will do the same over time, as you discover what your need are, and what personal decorating tastes you have. Enjoy your TT, and always remember, "Let's go RVing, Life's a Trip"!
RE: 2007 Jayco 26BHS
Like DarylD, we purchased a 2008 24RKS in Sept. of 2007. We used it one weekend in September at a local Ohio State Park, then towed it down to Fayetteville, WV for "Bridge Day" in October. Only a few minor problems were identified during those "shakedown" cruises, and those were taken care of immediately by our dealership in late April of '08. We didn't even unhook from the 'Burban after bringing it home from the shop, after deciding on a whim to take a weekend trip to Ohio's Amish country, departing the next morning. We've grown to love our Jayco so much, perhaps too much. We figure we spent only one weekend this summer at our own home. . .local State Park, 3 trips total to Amish country, and a week-long vacation to Chincoteague Island, VA. Between our dealership's service department, and their advice for DIY fixes and modifications, we've easily worked through every minor detail encountered. IMHO, Jayco's quality campers are produced at a price most of us can afford, providing us with all the comforts of home while on the road. With the great Jayco you've bought, and a good, reliable dealership and service department, you're sure to have many enjoyable trips ahead!
RE: Is it my imagination?
My RV dealer told me that most of his PUP sales were to younger families just starting out in our RV lifestyle. They are looking for a less expensive way to get started. I would further guess that with today's economy going the way it is, gas prices, condo rentals, hotel lodging, car rentals, cruises, air fares with their add-on charges, bumping from flights, missed connections, . . . some of these PUP owners can't, or choose not to spend the big bucks on luxury vacationing. Perhaps they are looking at this as an affordable quality time to be spent with their families. We as TT owners should not begrudge or belittle the PUP owners sharing the sites in any campground. How many of us as TT owners started out with a PUP? RVing is a "lifestyle" to be lived, shared, and enjoyed by all, regardless of the accomodations we choose.
Tent camping also has its own level of enjoyment. Another side of my outdoor experience involves backpacking and canoe camping, in both of which I have used the tent as the primary means of shelter. This is a very comforting way to relax after a challenging day on the trail or water.
RE: Awning Lights..Do You Leave Them Plugged In All Night?
I once read a "Top-Ten List" of CG do's and don'ts, cn't remember where. Leaving outdoor lighting on all night was very high on the list of inconsiderate things we should not do!
RE: Finally ordered surge suppressor-30A
We just last night ordered the same $239 30-amp surge protector from CW. We're leaving for Chincoteague Island, VA on Friday or Saturday, It's a big CG, and the weather reports are calling for hot and humid weather during our week. From all the warnings I've seen posted about such energy draws, I sure hope it gets here before we leave!
RE: So how many have done this.
Our Ohio trailer tags are due in January, along with our other cars and Suburban. Who's thinking about the camper in January? Too many western PA ski weekends to think about. We did pay for and receive the trailer tags, but they were put away in the desk, where we "wouldn't forget them".
I towed the trailer to our dealership for service the last week of April, '08, brought it home on a Friday evening, the beginning of May, and didn't even unhook it because we decided to drive up to Ohio's Amish country for the weekend. Had a great time at Evergreen RV Resort and the Amish shops and restaurants. After returning home, we found the tags, realized how lucky we had been, and immediately put them on the plates where they belong.
RE: Water pump
After ordering the ShurFlo hoses from our dealer, he told me that 80-90% of the noise problem was more often coming from the hoses throughout the unit. I visually inspected the lines and discovered they were all laying on top of, or across thin wood cabinet panels which acted as amplifying sound boards. The longest stretch of hot and cold lines were actually zip-tied to the gray-water drain pipe, and lying directly on top of the thin gauge metal covering of the street side wheel well, also amplifiers!
Solution? I removed the zip-ties and wrapped each hose in foam insulation from Lowes, putting the foam between the water line and the wood panels, drain pipe, or wheel well. I also utilized some scraps of the 1/2" blue styrofoam insulation panels left over from a home remodeling project, placing one piece under the pump itself, and other sections over the entire metal wheel well. These simple efforts have cut the noise roughly in half, and I'm sure these water lines will benefit from the insulation if we use the camper in colder weather!
RE: Power Jacks????
Last September, my wife and I traded in our Dutchman 24QBL for a Jay Flight 24RFS. The longer axel-to-tongue distance put more weight on the front end, making it much harder to crank up or down by hand. Since we both may be retiring within the next two years, and both of our sons seldom travel with us (ages 24 and 19), we made a decision to "invest" in an Atwood 3500 power jack, as recommended by our dealer. We felt that if we waited until neither of us were physically able to operate the hand-crank, the price would have sky rocketed, and we would wish we had done it sooner. We've never regretted spending this money, it's been worth every penny.
Quit worrying about the cost of a better power jack. The convienence of this investment will prove to be priceless the very first time you use it. Any reputable dealer and service department will return your original hand-crank system, so that your power jack can be transferred to any future trailer unit. Each time you push that button to hook up, attach the leveling bars, disconnect, or level you camper front-to-back, it will bring a BIG smile to your face, and your neighbors will wish they had it so easy!
