| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Washing the TT
Dawn Dishwashing liquid is about as good as anything for getting black streeks off.
On a return trip home a couple years go, we were within a mile of the house and drove by the shopping mall. Local kids from the High School were having a car wash. I thought, "Why not?
I asked them how much to wash the TT and the truck, they said, Cars were going for $5.00 so figured $5.00 for the Truck and $5.00 for the camper. I was pleasantly surprised.
They washed, had a fantastic time, and I got lots of laughs watching them all work. When it was all done, I gave them $50! Hey ... it was for a good cause! They were tickled pink.
So, next time, look for a bunch of high school kids and let them wash it!
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/19/12 10:41pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: New trailer envy
Every Year! You've gotta be kidding! How about every time I see a new camper! I live and work between the I-69, US 31, I-465 corridor North and East of Indianapolis. Do you know what I see ALL the time going Southward on those roads? Yup, all those folks transporting NEW campers from Northern Indiana (Goshen, Elkhart, Napanee) to their respective dealerships south! Motor Home, TT, 5er's, even truck loads of PUP's! Every time I see a "new one" ... my wife has to scrape me off the floor, because I just melt!
Camper shows are a real killer. I quit going! After going to one of those shows, I go back home, step inside my camper and reevaluate and draw the conclusion, "THIS" camper does everything I want it to and I've already made all the modification to it I wanted. And convince myself I still love it! (Which I do).
Yup. I sure do understand where you're coming from! I really do!
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/17/12 01:28pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: 100th Anniversary of the RV Photo Gallery
I think the first "true" RV'ers in the USA or North American contenent were those folks who traveled from the East coast "out West" even if "West" was only as far as current Ohio. They traveled with horse and covered wagon. Truly the first hybred "travel trailer!" (Buck board wagons could easily be converted to covered wagons). The first campers were probably the American Indiana who lived in tents as their permanent home, but they also moved quite a bit too. You'd call that "full timing!" (although they really didn't know of any other alternative way of living). Maybe, they had it right, and maybe WE are the ones that are attempting to copy the heritage! You know, the ability to live outside and be mobile at the same time! (Just an observation).
I do enjoy those photos! Thanks for the link to that web page.
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/16/12 06:24am |
RV Lifestyle
|
|
RE: Two questions about the water supply system
I think some kind of regulator is important to have. When at campgrounds, the water pressure can be anything. Consider though, you're feeding your camper through a garden hose (white, green, or any other color, it's still a garden hose). The hose can maintain only so much pressure also. Although not published (or if so, very difficult to find out), there is a limit to how much the hose can take. More than likely, the hose will burst before the pipes in your camper. This happened to us once. The garden style hose was hot in the sun. The pressure built. It got soft and because it had a little age on it, it gave up the ghost! Better the garden hose than the pipes in your camper.
From that point onward, I started connecting the regulator at the spigot, not at the trailer. Not had a problem every again. No more broken hoses.
In town, or at your house, if you know the pressure, you may never need a regulator. At home, we're on our own well. The max psi is lower than the max psi for the camper, so I never worry. But at campgrounds ... I always use the regulator at the spigot now.
Also. As stated above. When on city water ... turn the pump off.
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/15/12 02:10pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: 100th Anniversary of the RV Photo Gallery
What's really scary? I remember many of these when they were still in use. I'm 58 years old now. My grandparents had a trailer in Florida in 1961 (I was 6 years old then). I can vividly remember "their" generation of campers! Oh my! I'm probably older NOW then my grandparents were back then ... that's scary!
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/15/12 02:01pm |
RV Lifestyle
|
|
RE: Bathroom odor
If someone "missed" it's possible it ran under the vinyl.
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/09/12 02:23pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Manual transmissions...will they be gone in a few years ?
I kind of miss those days of shifting manually. Funny thinking about this though. Back then you're "honey bunch" could sit beside you on the "bench" style seat. You could have your arm over her shoulder. You control the clutch, and she'd do the shifting ... of course with every shift came a gentle touch up your leg also ...
Now a days, they're all automatic. Now that we CAN have a free arm to put around our "honey bunch", what do they do? They put bucket-style seats in the front with a console between the seats! You' can't even hold hands comfortable any more!
I think I liked those days of manual transmissions better. MY "honey bunch" still turns me on! and she doesn't even need a key!
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/09/12 02:17pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Floor split over winter
Our shower surround cracked the 2nd year we owned our current TT. It was an extremely cold winter (like 20 below for days). The surround is installed with screws on the edges. No room for expansion or contraction of material (some kind of PVC plastic stuff like most are made of). Well, we never replaced it. It still has the crack, but I've used silicon putty and just covered up the crack. The silicon allows for the expansion and contraction now. And the crack has never gotten bigger. I figure, if I ever sell the camper ... which will probably be never ... I'll go to Home Depot or Lowes and find a replacement, like you'd put in your shower at home (a wall panel type). Until then, it's perfectly fine the way it is.
Fixing your floor might be a bit of a challenge. You might just look into covering the entire floor with carpet now and be done with it. Swapping out the vinyl will be a bit of a challenge, especially with it being originally installed on the floor first and then cabinets and wall put on top of it. It's easier to just cover it and move on.
After remodeling 2 houses, completely ... EVERY room, restarting from the studs outward, installing a bit of carpet in a camper is nothing.
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/09/12 02:04pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: How to break the ice with our CG neighbors?
I've found that if "I" really want to communicate with the next door camper, I look for something unique they might have and then simply go over and ask about it. It might be something as simple as a ice chest, but if it's an off brand, or a color, or a size that's not quite so "normal and average", I'll just simply go over and ask about it. That usually opens the door to more conversations. The secret is to know if you're REALLY not wanted. You can pick up that vibration pretty fast. If so, just tell them thanks for the new information and you'll be looking to get one similar to it. If they're the sociable type, next thing you know, you'll be sharing oil change schedules and cooking recipies!
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/09/12 01:40pm |
RV Lifestyle
|
|
RE: Winding down the day activities
Time consuming food ... for example hot dogs over the fire with each kid holding their own sticks, marshmallows or smores, popcorn and such. Finger food, fixing their own sandwiches or peanut butter on crackers or something like that. Food helps everyone wind down ... well ... do kids actually ever "wind down?" I think they just go-go-go until they drop! or you MAKE them drop.
Stories around the campfire, real life or fiction ... have to be REAL entertaining to hold their attention. A good ghost store is always a winner with kids.
Showers before bed time, either at the shower house or in the camper. This helps relax even the most wound up person.
Games that do not require movements ... count the start ... count the number of time you hear an owl hoot in 5 minutes. Basically, anything that makes them focus, but not move around.
|
DutchmenSport
|
05/09/12 01:30pm |
Family Camping
|
|
RE: Travel Trailer Height Clearance
The height of your camper sounds about right. If you travel normal average roads, you should not have any issues. If a semi truck can pass under a bridge, you've definately got no problems either.
The thing to really watch out for, are the small town type, older stone rail-road bridges. They were built in the early 1900 to accomidate model-T Fords and horses. They should be clearly marked, but not alwasy.
FYI, I've never traveled anywhere I could not pass through (yet). But yes, you DO have to be mindful of your height. Expecially drive-through restraunts, banks, motels, gas stations. That's more of a problem than low bridges.
Just remember you're height and be watchful. You'll be fine.
Good luck!
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/25/12 02:52pm |
Towing
|
|
RE: What is with these cursed danged ANTS?????
This works, but for some reason everyone seems to dismiss the idea.
If you've ever lived on or near a farm and have horses, there is a horse supplement for horse feed. It's called "Dried molassas." Its used in horse feed to sweeten it. And wherever it's used, you'll never find a single ant! Horses and birds love it. Dogs and Cat will lick at it. Turtles will go nuts over it. And it won't hurt them, or your kids, or you. You can eat it too, although it's rather grainy. And it has a really nice smell
But to ants its deadly! They carry it back to their hive, consume it. Because ants have a hard shell body and does not expand, once eaten, the molassas expands inside the ant and .... bingo! They explode! or blow up, or die! The entire colony will be dead in a day or two.
It's important to put some out where the ants travel, put some in a bottle cap, a small flat plastic lid, sprinkle around your home or trailer in the yard, put some right on top of the ant hill, let them carry it back to their hive. That will be the last time you see them. It works for all kinds of ants, any size, anywhere!
The only down side is, it comes in 50 pound bags and is difficult to find. So you've got to go to a feed store or grain elevator. You'll never find it at TSC or Wall Mart. And the wet molassas in a bottle will not work. It's already wet.
But ... who believes someone born and raised in the country who's now approaching 60 years old! Seems everyone wants to use chemicals these days.
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/24/12 02:44pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Is awning repair tape worth the cost and effort?
Used a bit of awning tape on my last TT. It lasted 3 years. It might have lasted longer, I'll never know, we sold it! Awning had a tear starting where the door rubbed. The door has a square edge, sharp too, that did it's damage way, way to soon after we bought it. Used the tape. Put some on both side of the awning about 4 feet in a curved arch in sections about 6 inches long on top of each other. It lasted and worked quite well. Never had another problem. I also make sure the door never touched the awning again. That little roller was worthless!
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/24/12 02:29pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: State parks??
Indiana State Parks state, "No Alcohol". But people still use alcohol. Do it discretely,don't loose control of your facilities (get drunk and act stupid), and don't offer any to anyone but your own camping party, keep the bottles or cans under cover, don't throw your empties around, and act civil and no one will ever know.
Unfortunately, way too many people have the attitude they can come to a state campground and act like a fool, it's a place to let go and "party". They drink, act stupid, and get thrown out!
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/19/12 11:31am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Making PDF documents uneditable...?
Complete your work, then "Print" using PDF Factory. PDF Factory is Free. Once it's installed, you just "print" your document. It goes to a PDF instead of your printer. Do an Internet Search "PDF Factory" for the download links. It works. We use it at work for almost everything to make un-editable documents.
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/19/12 11:25am |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: NIMBY - Greed or Self Preservation?
Well, in this case I kind of agree. It's one thing to "park" an RV on your property because you own it, maintain it, and drive it around occasionally and I live in the stick-house on the property, and there's only 1 RV in my driveway or back yard.
It's quite another thing to have a "cluster" of RV in your back yard, front yard, driveway, or wherever you can squeeze one (or more) in and someone is "living" in it. Zoning ordinances usually specify housing editions as "Single Family Dwelling" and usually specify "living" in RV's is prohibited.
Myself, (and I've been down this route before with zoning issues ... and ended up moving because I could not park my TT on my own property any more), I would not appreciate an RV park in my neighbor's back yard either. Granted 99.9% of those people in their RVs are honest, hard working, decent people looking for somewhere to lay their heads at night after a very HARD day at work. And I do understand ... where SHOULD they live?
The answer is simple, but not necessarily "simple" to carry out... The companies they work for should provide space (outside the city limits) for them to park. If those folks are forced to move their domicile, next thing you know, the company they work for will have a parking lot full of RV's anyway!
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/18/12 10:01am |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: I.T. Geeks on the line?
It's a marketing strategy. Put just enough information on the web so you'll come and visit the dealer for the information you really need. But don't be surprised when you get there if the dealer just hands you a flier on your make and model. Still, they got you in the store!
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/03/12 12:00pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Road Pirates
I've enjoyed reading the stories on this thread. I MUST CONFESS ... the year: 1965, I was 10 years old. Mon and Dad had a little camper. We were camping at a seasonal type campground (very primitive), that also has lots of room for week-enders. There were 3 other campers there (seasonal) that had boys about the same age as I was, within a year, plus or minus. Because the campground was so primitive and the campground owner did not care what we kids did, so we'd often gather a bunch of fire wood, grab cots and blankets, a bunch of hot dogs and sleep out in a spot somewhere away from our parent's camp sites.
Well, boys are boys ... talking about the two most important things ... fishing and beer! (we hadn't discovered girls yet). And this kept us motivated to stay awake all night long, fishing with flashlights or lanterns until we dropped.
One night the beer conversation got a bit out of hand, and well ... we raided some of the week-end visitors coolers. (at least one we did). We were so excited and scared at the same time ... (and it was really dark), we finally got those bottles opened, took a big gulp ... to find out it was ginger-ale!
We only did that once ... learned our lesson.
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/03/12 11:15am |
Beginning RVing
|
|
RE: Electrical shock while storing
I remember years and years ago automobiles use to have a flat metallic strap that was attached to the frame of the car and the other end dangled, touching the ground. Of course when traveling, it flopped around, but when stopped, it touched the ground. The purpose was to keep static electricity from building up and then getting a static "jolt" when stepping out of the car, or when touching it from outside. I haven't seen that in years. I suppose it could be that simple. Just attach a heavy bare wire under the frame of the camper somewhere and let it touch the ground.
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/02/12 11:33am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Road Pirates
Couple years ago had a guy come up to me while pumping fuel (it was way after dark and wife was inside the store). He started haggling me for some money for fuel. He wanted cash. But he also acted very aggressive. I have a personal "thing" about giving "cash" to any stranger, but I had a very, very bad feeling about this guy. I finally offered to put $5.00 in his gas tank. I swipped my card, took my own receipt, and he finally left in his car. I went inside and talked to the cashier, he said they'd been having problems with people getting held up for drug money. Not at gun point or anything, but with verbal threats until they got money. He said I did a pretty smart thing by pumping gas for him and he split. Still, it was completely unnerving and something I never forgot.
That was the only incident in all my years of travel and camping (and I've traveled far). Only other time was downtown Indianapolis when a guy approached me. I was with my wife and kids (they were still pretty young). He insisted on Money. I went bizzark on him (I mean bizzark)... yelled at him to get his own job, and started screaming for the police. I mean bizzark. He fled! (My wife and kids had never seen me act that way, before or after ... I think they were shocked ... but also glad I temporarily went insane! We did finally get a policeman and reported the incident.)
|
DutchmenSport
|
04/01/12 10:13pm |
Beginning RVing
|
|
