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RE: towing a 5200# jeep with a gas motorhome; 8.1 l wrkhrs
I tow an Explorer Sport Trac behind our W22. Weight as towed is about 4850-4900. I've upgraded everything in the system except the original tow hitch (5K capacity) to a minimum of 10,000 lbs equipment. So far, towed over 11K miles with no problems and no wear/tear on the hitch in evidence. I use an Even Brake, and with the 4 wheel disc brakes on the Sport Trac, it usually slows the motorhome pretty rapidly.
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Loren Ross
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05/19/12 12:45am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Grand Canyon in early November
There's always one thing about Grand Canyon that nobody ever bothers to tell you about.... Ravens. Yep, the ravens are a force to be reckoned with. If you leave anything outside that "might" contain a food item.... They will destroy whatever the container is to get inside to find your food. And, they will also destroy your sewer hose just to get a drink of water. You need to keep the hose covered if you leave it connected all the time. I'd recommend storing the hose immediately after use to protect it.
Don't leave plastic water or soda bottles outside either, they peck them apart and sometimes eat small pieces of the plastic which later kills them.
Have fun in GC. It's one of the most beautiful of the National Parks.
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Loren Ross
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05/10/12 08:38am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Flat towing 2010 Ford Explorer 4x4
If you don't want to pay the dealer $250 plus installation for a Neutral Tow Kit, I can help you make your own and install it yourself for under $10. Email me at ross0737 at aol dot com if you need this. I've helped over 60 other guys make their own now with no failures.
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Loren Ross
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05/10/12 07:50am |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Lance Jacks Reinforcement - ADVICE?
I noticed that my camper used to sway a little while jacking, but didn't think much of it. Then, several years ago, I hit a rock and tore one of my jacks off the back corner. I then discovered that the jacks were bolted into the wooden frame of the camper, but only 1/2 inch away from the edge of the 3 inch piece of framing. (Measured from the center of the hole). It took nothing to pull the jack off.
I removed all the jacks and took the mounting brackets to a welding shop and had an extra piece of 1-1/2 inch strap metal welded onto both edges of each bracket. I then drilled new bolt holes and re-bolted the jacks onto the camper. With the new piece extending the brackets, the bolts went into the frame directly in the middle instead of along the edge of the wood. Very strong this way!
It was a little expensive for my thoughts, but well worth it. The jacks were much more stable and I had no more sway at all when lifting.
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Loren Ross
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05/08/12 05:32pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Cyclone Sewer Vent for Roof
I've had one on my pipe for over 3 years now, works wonders and stays on just fine.
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Loren Ross
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04/30/12 08:48am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Flat towing a ford Explorer 4x4 W/ auto Trans
The transfer case is electric, so by using the NTK the ECM (computer) is telling the transfer case to switch into neutral. You leave your shift lever in Neutral and that is all that is required. When you activate the system, you'll actually hear two loud clicks from your transfer case as it switches into neutral.
When you're done towing, just put the shift lever back in Park and start the engine. The transfer case automatically goes back into gear. No cooling needed, no stops to run the engine, nothing. Just activate the NTK and you are good to go. My Sport Trac tows at 65MPH all day with no problems. I've now towed it over 15K miles and everything is fine.
Ask all the questions you want! I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability. Again, all you need to do for your vehicle is install a small LED somewhere on the dash. Seriously, less than $10 in parts and you can tow in minutes.
Loren
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Loren Ross
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04/06/12 04:52pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: even brake portable braking system for toad
I have owned an Even Brake for 7 years now. Had one problem with it not activating, so I sent it into Roadmaster for a tune-up. They ended up sending me a brand new unit, so excellent customer service. We've towed across the country and back 3 times now, and only had the one problem.
I also have a Ford Sport Trac with the Neutral Tow Kit. No problem there either. If you have the NTK, you just have to wire the unit a little differently into your vehicle using a Diode. It was actually easier to install in my Ford that in my older Suzuki Grand Vitara.
I don't complain about having to put the unit into and out of the vehicle. It takes less than 2 minutes either direction, and isn't hard to do. Basically, it works and I am very happy with mine.
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Loren Ross
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04/05/12 11:52pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Flat towing a ford Explorer 4x4 W/ auto Trans
For the Explorer, if you have the V6 engine, all you have to do is install an LED somewhere on the dash. If you have the V8, you also have to install a toggle switch to jump a couple of wires in the shift console. As stated, Ford still has to re-program your ECM to allow Neutral Tow. You can build your own and install it for less than $15.
If you want the original Ford tow kit, they are now being made again by another company. Previously priced at $65, they are now selling for $250 or more depending on which kit you need.
If you're handy and can do minor wiring on your own, I have everything you need to make and install your own Neutral Tow Kit for most Explorers, Sport Tracs, and some Rangers. Send me a PM with your Email address and I'll send you the information for your vehicle.
Loren
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Loren Ross
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04/04/12 11:37pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Don't know the name of this plumbing part
The one in my rig is called an "Add-A-Vent" and you can order them online or through Camping World. I don't know of an upgraded model however.
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Loren Ross
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04/02/12 04:18pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Explorer computer re-flash in Florida? (or in the South}
I have everything you need to make your own kit, including the Ford programming instructions. Mine cost me $12 for my Sport Trac. Send me an Email at ross0737 at aol dot com and let me know which engine you have (V6 or V8) and I'll hook you up.
It's really simple to make your own. Ford sells them for $250 plus installation...
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Loren Ross
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03/15/12 11:48pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: DEAR, MARCUS
I got picked once about 7 years ago to test a product. They sent me a set of corn cob prongs. They told me I could keep them for my time and effort. I sent them back, told them I didn't like them.
Oh well...
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Loren Ross
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03/15/12 05:04pm |
Camping World Accessories
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RE: Verizon MiFi 4510 performance
I've had mine since September, upgraded from the 760 USB, and it's running fast and without problems. When it was brand new, I did have the problem of hunting back and forth from 3G to 4G, but that was corrected when I downloaded the software update that is on the Verizon website. We are fulltimers and have travelled from Idaho to Central California and Northern Nevada with no problems in either 3G or 4G.
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Loren Ross
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03/11/12 11:51pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Directv wiring question
SCHNEID: Just google "AUVIO Wireless HD Transmitter Kit" and you'll find it. I'm really not sure how much more details I can give you, in the post you quoted I have a whole lotta stuff there already....
MIKESTOCK: The IR is for the remote control to work in the other room. In my case, I put a sensor on the Directv receiver, and another on the bedroom television. Now when I'm in the bedroom, I can just point the remote at the bedroom television and it is wirelessly forwarded to the receiver in the front room.
HADDY1: That Monoprice site sure has a lot of cool stuff, but it's pretty hard to navigate to anything unless you know the exact technical name for it. I perused that site for about 20 minutes this morning and never found anything like this at all. I'm not too savvy about this stuff in the first place, so it's probably just that I don't know how to search for it the right way. But I'm gonna bookmark that one for sure!! Thanks!
Been running it all day now, and the only problem has been a dropped signal on two occasions. Came back on within a minute though and I don't have any idea what caused it to lose signal. Maybe the sunspot problem we're having this week??
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Loren Ross
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03/09/12 11:22pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Directv wiring question
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Today, I walked into the local Radio Shack to pick up some new cables, and found the answer to my problem. It is an AUVIO Wireless HD Transmitter Kit. This kit "wirelessly transmits a 1080p picture and digital sound so you can enjoy your HD television or Blu-ray movie in two rooms without having to run cables." Works real well too!! I got it on close-out for $99.99 ($100 off regular price) and installed it in about 45 minutes. Transmits on 5Ghz up to 60 feet, and includes IR blasters/receivers so you can use the remote in either room as well. The transmitter has two HDMI inputs and one HDMI output. I ran my Directv receiver and my Blu-Ray into the two inputs, and ran the output to my front television.
I hit all the big box electronic stores and searched online, but never found this unit or any other that would do this. Until today. So, PROBLEM SOLVED!!!
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Loren Ross
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03/09/12 03:52pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Directv wiring question
Unfortunately, you can't use Coax to bring HD from the Receiver/DVR to the bedroom. The only way you can have HD is via HDMI out of the receiver. There is a new HDMI switch available so that you can hook up the receiver to the Switch and then from the switch to the several TVs. However, you will have to have new HDMI runs made to all TVs.
In my case, I have the receiver connected directly to my front TV via HDMI in HD. Then I have component to Coax going to the existing switch that distributes my signal in SD. In the bedroom and the signal to the outside are only in SD.
I thought that the component connections (blue/green/red) also provided High Def... Not just HDMI cables. Of course the HDMI also provides sound, which component does not... Is that incorrect??
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Loren Ross
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03/08/12 06:19pm |
Technology Corner
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Directv wiring question
I have an HD DVR in my RV, with two TV's attached. The main TV is connected directly to the DVR with HDMI and Fiber Optic Sound. The bedroom TV is connected with analog connections through my RV wiring on RG-6 cables with stereo jacks on the ends (red/white/yellow). The problem with this wiring is my new Samsung bedroom TV is sending signals to my Directv DVR that it is not connected to HD, so the Directv DVR keeps switching to 480P. I'd like to change the wiring in the rear to be able to get HD all around.
I can change the wiring around to use the DVR component connections, still using the 3 RG-6 cables, for the video feed but then I won't have any audio feed. I still have one additional RG-6 cable that runs to the rear, attached to the rooftop batwing antenna, which I never use. My thought is to use that cable to run from the Digital Coaxial Output on the DVR to the bedroom TV. However, the bedroom TV does not have the same style input. Instead there is a blue plastic port, about a half inch square, that is labeled "HDMI/PC/DVI-D Audio Input". My Samsung manual does not explain what type of cables or attachments this port requires. It appears to be a 3.5mm jack style input, probably designed for using a PC or Laptop to connect to the TV??
My question... Does anyone know if I can adapt an RG-6 coaxial cable to connect the DVR and TV using the Samsung input? I have the stereo jack for the DVR end, but how can I connect to the HDMI/PC/DVI-D port, and will it work??
I'm seriously trying to avoid having to run new cables over the rooftop and drilling holes in the roof to install them.
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Loren Ross
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03/08/12 02:40pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Ads
What ads?
Go to http://www.abine.com/dntdetail.php? and download Do Not Track +. It blocks ads that track your browsing history. Makes for much cleaner web pages. I've been using it about a week and no downside.
X2 Works like a charm!!
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Loren Ross
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02/24/12 12:35pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: *** toilet leak ***
These are all great suggestions, but as usual, you didn't tell us anything about YOUR particular toilet such as make, model, etc...
When my toilet does that, I have to remove the toilet from the mount, take out the dual seal (plastic and rubber) and clean the build up of minerals from them. Then I clean the plastic "ball" valve, and then reinstall them and replace the toilet. Mine is a Sealand toilet model 111.
I'd check your manual first and see if it tells you how to handle the slow leak. Every manufacturer is different.
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Loren Ross
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02/17/12 10:58am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Reno, NV Campground
Since I officially live in Reno, and have visited each of the mentioned parks, I'd tell you that when we're in town we now stay at the Sparks Marina RV Park. Very clean, nice people, and close to shopping, food, and casinos if you're so inclined. Call and reserve now, they get full pretty quickly. 775-851-8888
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Loren Ross
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01/07/12 09:23am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: 8.1 GM
I installed a Banks system on my 07. Got about a .5 MPG increase, but I really got a whole lotta power. Changed from conventional oil to Mobile 1, and got another .75 MPG. Towing my Sport Trac, I average 6.8, and I try to maintain 60 MPH as that seems best on my rig. Higher speeds drop the MPG to 5.1.
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Loren Ross
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01/06/12 11:24pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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