RE: Say goodby to Saturn,GMC, Pontiac,and Saab
Yes Japan builds cars here. But the last I knew no foreign company was manufacturing cars here (there may be some I'm not aware of), they are assembly plants. Now where do they get their parts? Japan. Who do they buy them from? The "mother" company. I worked in an office with a CPA who used to work in the auto industry. He was well aware of this "built in the US" scam. Yes they are put together here. Yes they hire Americans to do it. But where does the capital earned go? Back to Japan. They buy parts at high prices which shows a lower profit here--meaning lower tax costs. Some of the plants I know have already closed and are being moved back to Japan. I agree there are issues that the domestics have to deal with--too high labor costs is just one of them. As pointed out most is the legacy costs (pensions, retiree health care, etc.) But when it's all said and done, if the domestics go we won't like the consequences much. I'm as conservative as they come (also have a lot of libertarian in me), I'm pretty much anti-union also but I can see the other side of the coin, which apparently a lot of those in this post don't. Again be sure you know what you wish for, because you may get your wish and not like it much when it happens. I'm not from Missouri but I'll have to be shown a Japanese company building F-350, F-450, and their GM, Chrysler counterparts. I can't believe, I see an American write--a foreign manufacturer promises to build our trucks for us if we just let our own auto industry die. I wonder, just who did win WWII? I think the history books are wrong!
RE: Say goodby to Saturn,GMC, Pontiac,and Saab
I tend to agree with what's been posted so far--with some reservations. One is the ripple effect if one of the domestic manufacturers going belly up. I wouldn't think I need to list them, everyone should be aware of them. Many point to bankruptcy and the success of airlines in doing that. There is one major problem. If you buy a ticket on an airline that is bankrupt and can't use the ticket your out a few bucks (compared to an auto). If used you pay your money, get on the plane, go to destination and your done with that transaction. Would you buy a car from a bankrupt company? I doubt it, consider the length of the warranty and who may not be there to service it. We have posts on this forum with concerns of RV orphans and they only have one year warranties. I guess I'm not really ready to send all of our vehicle production to Japan yet. Now I would like to see some heavy concession by the UAW, but the president of that mob already said it ain't happen'. Every day I become more and more convinced that we are our own worst enemies. We have a manufacturing problem in this country--that is we have very little manufacturing (re: that manufacturing jobs) because we're more that willing to send them all to China, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, etc. No TV's (that's televisions) are made here anymore will vehicles be next? Also who is going to build our TV (that's tow vehicles) if the Big 3 go? Not Japan, you can be assured of that. My whole point is think it through before you notify your congressman as to how you want them to vote.
RE: Day Night Shades
I think the shades are good for what they do. I however would prefer the mini-blinds. Most people today like to live in an environmentally controlled atmosphere year 'round. I like windows open with a view and a breeze, both in the fiver and at home. I wouldn't ever turn on an AC if it were up to me. My wife goes along so far (temps over 95 for several days brings on the AC). With shades you have to have all or nothing. If you want privacy the window has to be blocked. With blinds I can drop them but then arrange the slats to let air in. But that's just my opinion based on the way I like to live--can't ever stand to be in a house (or RV) during daylight hours, regardless of temps outside.
RE: Is a 40 ft. fifth wheel to long for most campgrounds?
Let me really stir the pot. To all the guys complaining about those concerned about weight, I might ask: If all he wanted to know was about length in campgrounds why did he make a point about the TV he was going to use? He didn't need to add that info sense it had no effect on the direct question; length vs: campsites. I think maybe the weight police are on fairly stable grounds here! Now how's that for really stirring every thing up?
RE: More Yahoo Sillyness
I use Firefox and Yahoo also. I do not have any problems with Yahoo mail. I would imagine that adyeidlmanager is what Yahoo is using to put up those ads that you see. I see it in my status bar when the page loads but it never causes any grief. Also if you need to "clear out old stuff" clearing history will not help. All history is, is a list of sites you have visited over some period of time. History has no effect on where you are going now or in the future. Clearing history will only erase any "bad" places you've been (no you probably haven't) so no one will know. Have a 12 year old nephew who my sister says clears the history all the time. Hmmmmmm! If you need to "clear out old stuff" you need to clear your cache. Don't know where it's at in IE but just peruse your Tools menu and should should find it. Not a bad idea to clear it once in a while anyway.
RE: We have a tripod mounted Dish 500 with Dual LNB
I should also add that the dish guy is correct, it makes no difference what cable is hooked to what input. It's all the same. I have a quad LNB because I run 4 tuners (two dual tuner sets). The dual, quad etc. only refers to the number of connections you can make to the switch in the LNB, not how many satellites you can look at.
RE: We have a tripod mounted Dish 500 with Dual LNB
IMHO those inline sat finders are a waste of time. I bought one but it spends all of it's time in the box. It would lock onto a sat but might or might not have been the correct one. The first thing I do is make sure the stand is perfectly plumb. I have a tripod I bought from CW. It worked fine with the small dish (18") but wanted longer legs for the Dish 500 so I bought some square tubing and made my own. The tripod as degrees on it so I make sure the N is facing north. I then look at the tripod point the dish at the degrees dish says I need and set the dish there. Just remember, you don't line up the dish with the asmuth, but the bracket it's mounted to on the back. Most of the time I'm right there, sometimes I have to play a little to get both but usually works well--for me.
RE: Compare Hughes vs; DSL
Here's more food for thought. I was a Starband customer. Not by choice but necessity. We have no DSL or cable service available. Satellite is better than dial-up but no where near as good as DSL or cable. We now have Wi-Fi so it was bye bye Starband. Now to my point. While in a SB users group I bumped into a fellow who was traveling with his SB. I thought this would be neat and quizzed him. Short story is this. To set up he needed info from SB each time. SB would not help unless a qualified installer. The fellow told me this was an FCC thing, not SB. Seems FCC could care less who sets up dishes for TV, it's one way, but Internet, 2-way, is different. He gave we a web address where they would train you and sell you all the equipment you needed. Way too expensive for my blood. Full timing maybe. Several here talked about traveling with their Hughes. Only one alluded to the fact that it might not be kosher (re: legal?). Just my story, be sure to check out this angle before buying. One more item. This is my personal choice, I would never put a dish on my unit. Why? I like to camp in or near the trees. Sometimes I need to move the dish aways to get a signal. Some like to camp out in the open sunshine, in the middle of fields, no problem with dish on unit. Just consider your camping choices before spending money on a dish on top of the unit. If it were me? Cell phone with air card, hands down. My friends full time and use it and love it. Good luck.
RE: HD-TV?
If he's buying an HD TV then it will be digital so he does not need a converter box. You only need a converter box if you have an analog tuner (TV) after Feb 17, 2009.
RE: New Open Road
Try Googling your model number and see what you come up with. That should give you some kind of an idea of prices out there. After that decide what it is worth to you and make an offer. Being an orphan I'll bet they'll be willing to deal. I did that when I bought my Open Road. I bought a 40' new 2006 in the spring of 2007. I think I got a pretty good deal but had to drive about 6 hours to get it.
RE: DTV conversion
P.S. If you haven't already bought your converter, look for one with analog pass through. Comes in handy if you stop somewhere with cable TV.
RE: Slideout locking bars (?)
I just learned all about the dynamics of slide a month or so ago. I had an "extra" slide in the bedroom. It was an entertainment center--we had two! Now how many TV's can you watch in a bedroom I ask? When the slide was in it blocked the door into the bedroom. When out it was under the awning--in the patio area. Neat head knocker. We used it for sh*t. I decided we didn't need another toilet in fiver so decided to get rid of it. Took it to Fox RV in Middlebury, IN and he suggested we cut it off instead, so we did. Instead of being two feet deep it is now less than a foot, other than that it looks no different. However, when out it tipped in, when in, it would tip out. It seems that what holds the top against the side of the trailer, whether in or out, is the weight of the slide. Never gave that a moments thought before. There is nothing holding the top of the slide against the side of your trailer other than the weight of the slide. In or out! We just cut off most of the weight. We must use the bar now when traveling.
RE: Changing to PVC
There's only one advantage to PVC over PEX that I can see. The fittings and equipment to install them. With PVC all you need is the cleaner and glue, very easy to do. With PEX the tool needed to crimp the bands around the fittings runs around $100 (I haven't done a lot of research on that price--but think that's abut right). Also there's the issue of the fittings. With copper and PVC the fittings go over the pipe, therefore the ID is the same as the pipe. With PEX the fitting go inside the pipe, therefore, your ID is reduced. It's my belief if I have a 1/2" pipe a mile long with one fitting with a 3/8" ID in it, my whole pipe is equivalent to 3/8". When I bought my unit new I had several leaks, it was the bands. The tech got his tool out and put a little more "crimp" in them and it's been fine since. The major reason I would endorse PEX is the freeze factor. I replumbed my house a few years ago and had to run the pipes through the attic. I wish I had been aware of PEX then as I would have used it.
RE: Home Winterizing
The original water lines in this house were in/under the slab also. However, they were a mess when we bought the house. They had a 3/8" line running from the front to rear to supply hot water to the bathroom--about a 50' run. I put in all new plumbing plus built a utility room and moved a lot of the sinks, etc. The only way to run the new plumbing was through the ceiling. I probably wouldn't be so concerned if the lines still ran in the concrete. I put the PVC right down on the drywall ceiling and wrapped them in foam insulation, plastic, and they have 6" of pink on top.
RE: Changing to PVC
The PVC would work fine, I wouldn't worry about the "bouncing" around. Having said that, I would stay with the PEX. I need to do some "rerouting" in my unit and intend to stay PEX. I think the freezing issue is one of the biggest reasons. The only thing I don't like about PEX is the fittings. With copper and PVC when I put a 1/2" elbow, T, or whatever the inside dimension is the same as the pipe--since it goes over the pipe. However, with PEX the fitting goes inside therefore your 1/2" pipe is now reduced to a smaller size. I have a shower that I think should have more water (quantity not pressure) than it does and I think about 100 'T's' in the line is the reason.
RE: Home Winterizing
I shut off water at street as you. I kill all electric in the house expect necessary for furnace and septic outside (plus security lights). I make sure all clocks, vcr's, tv's, etc are unplugged--they tend to use more electric than you would think. All refrigerators and freezers are shut off. I put water heater on pilot but leave the tank full. I do blow out all water lines through the house just in case. My house is on a slab so my water lines have to run through the attic. I figure that if electric goes out the pilot from the water heater will keep things warm enough in the utility room to keep anything from freezing.
RE: Gray tank backing up into shower when tank isn't full
Kejsj30 good point. I had forgotten that most fivers have their shower and toilet in the bedroom. One of my requirements when buying a fiver was for a bathroom on the "first floor" not in the bedroom. To others, before I went buying or renting cameras and "suck and blow suck and blow" (whew I need a cold shower now) I think I would buy a cheap snake and start poking (whoops I need that shower again). Snakes are pretty cheap and the process is pretty simple.
