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Forum
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RE: Wrong Size Tires????
My TT was the same way. All the ads, brochures, documentation, stated 15", all the trailers of this model on the lot had 14" The 4 tires are rated to carry 7040lb, more than my 5900lb GVWR, and more than my loaded 5200, so I am not concerned.
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PUCampin
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05/24/12 01:25pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: The economy must be improving
I am glad to hear some parts of the country are picking up, maybe that is what the administration is talking about, but the economy is still bad here in sunny California. While much of the rest of the country enjoyed a small dip in gas prices, ours went up 0.25 in 3 days erasing almost a month of gradual declines. Our state government is in serious trouble, but refuses to address the real problems and is trying to make our taxes even higher to pay for their spending habits. Our small business (flooring) is only working because of jobs for the state, we have seen virtually no change in the amount of private work. Usually when people feel they are doing better, they will make improvements to their homes. Not happening. My wife was able to take some pay this month for the first time in 3 months, and only sporadicly the last 4 years. It has not been much fun.
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PUCampin
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05/24/12 08:42am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Gas Wars
Out here in CA, they always find SOME reason to push prices up. They had been very slowly going down, and a week or so ago when the national news was reporting a nice decrease, our prices shot UP 0.25 over the weekend! 3 weeks of drop gone in 3 days. Excuse? Oh, we had to shut down 3 refineries all at once for maintenance. All the while crude oil has been going down, now below $90 When crude goes up they use it as the reason for rising prices, when it goes down, they find some other reason to keep it high. It is very frustrating, and yea $48 to fill my 2001 focus twice a week, and I can't remember the last time we actually filled the expedition. And all that gas tax we Californians pay to "improve our roads" :S
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PUCampin
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05/23/12 11:26am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: How long is too long? re: length of TT
Our family of 5 does fine with our 18ft box (22 hitch to bumper) trailer. Guess it depends on your reference. I grew up taking cross country vacations in a 72 VW Wesfalia. DW and I started our lives together in a 8ft pop-up (hence my screen name PUCampin), so our 18ft feels big from my reference, and it is the only trailer the kids have known. The non dedicated beds is not an issue for us. Kids each have a sleeping bag and pillow that stores under the couch, the couch converts in about 5 seconds, the table in about 30 seconds. The overhead single overhead bunk holds clothes bags during the day, once the table is down most of that goes under the dinette. I like how easy it is to get our 18ft into places out here in the West, there are definately state parks and and federal campgrounds where it is best to be under 30ft. Everything is a compromise, and only you and your family can decide what that point is. Look up campgrounds around some of your favorite places to go, what kind of limits do they have if any? Good luck with your research.
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PUCampin
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05/22/12 02:54pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Is it time for new tires?
Highway Master is one of the Greenball brands, they have been making specialty tires (trailer, atv, etc) for some time. yes, they are approaching the end of their usefull life, but that partly depends on how they were previously cared for. Take a good look at them. Look for bulges or uneven sidewalls. Look for deep cracks in the sidewall (you can tell if it is worse than typical weather checking) Look for cracking in the grooves between the treads. All these are indications they should be replaced.
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PUCampin
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05/22/12 10:20am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Protectant for hardwood cutting board stove topper?
I also use mineral oil, no issues. Here is a bonus, instead of buying the official "butcher block" or "cutting board" oil for several dollars or more, go the the medical section of your favorite retailer. I bought a bottle of "Intestinal lubricant" (yes, this is what is on the label and is a fancy name for mineral oil) for less than a buck. If you want to add sealing properties, shave a 1/2 teaspoon of beeswax into a cup of mineral oil and microwave until it's melted. Apply the mixture.
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PUCampin
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05/22/12 10:03am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: BLM fire restrictions read if you are going to the desert
Reading the restrictions is states susch and such counties "near urban areas". I would call and ask about the specific area you are planning on visiting for more information if it is not near a city but still within one of those counties. The permit is really just a CYA for the BLM. If you have it and signed it and start a wild fire, you can't say "I didn't know I needed to clear an area and have water near by etc. All the fire safety info is on the paper you signed.
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PUCampin
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05/17/12 11:43am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: 4wd for towing stability?
My mileage when driving in the winter with 4auto drops dramatically compared to 2wd in the winter. I'd hate to see your MPG towing in 4auto.
Towing in winter, I'd consider using 4auto, But even then, driving to conditions is best.
I can't speak to GM's system, but Ford claimed the 2Hi mode could increase the Expy's MPG by 1/2 a MPG over 4Auto. Not much difference there. Driving style and environment play a much bigger part in MPG than 2Hi vs 4Auto. Towing even more so. There is no way to control conditions enough for me to say towing in 4Auto garners less MPG than 2Hi.
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PUCampin
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05/17/12 11:07am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Tahoe vrs F150
About the only thing you will gain is some stability from the longer wheelbase. The 5.4 has a little more grunt down low, but will not make a big difference. Payload will also be about the same so don't plan on putting a bunch of stuff in the bed while towing. You are really not getting much for your $4500 and will likely be disappointed.
The Taho should tow your new TT ok. First if you don't yet have a quality Weight Distribution with integrated Sway control like a Reese Dual Cam or Equal-i-zer brand system, you should get one. These are far superior to a standard weight distribution with friction bar. Second, whatever weight distributon you were using for your previous TT, it will have to be reset for the new TT. You might even have to buy heavier rated bars, i.e. you have 600lb bars and now need 800 or 1000lb bars for the new tongue weight.
A 25ft TT is not to big for a Taho, you would probably be better off spending your money on a few items to inmprove your towing experience and going camping, unless you really just want a Pickum-up Truck :D
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PUCampin
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05/17/12 09:31am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 4wd for towing stability?
WOW! Why are most of you assuming the OP's friend is talking about 4WD with a locked transfer case? I took the OP's post to specifically mean 4WD with an unlockd transfer case. There are a lot of these on the road stretching back to the 70's with the NP203 which was a full time 4WD, and many exist today. My 4WD Explorer was full time with a 4-Auto (unlocked), 4 High (lock), 4 Low (lock) My 2007 Expedition EL has a Borg Warner 4417 with 2 High, 4Auto, 4High, 4Low options. The 4Auto mode is DESIGNED to be used on dry surfaces! This is what my owners manual says! GM's recent 4WD Taho/Suburban offerings are a similar.
When I tow, I switch the Expy to 4Auto (the Explorer was always in 4Auto). While it does not increase breaking ability, or overall stability, I like having the extra traction available when needed without having to think. For example trying to pull onto a busy 2 lane highway from a dirt parking lot, or even pavement. Or the time I made a right turn from a stop sign, and the middle of the intersection had black ice. The 4Auto transfered more torque to the front and the Explorer was able to simply pull itself and the TT through the rest of the turn. I almost didn't know it had slipped. I paid for this feature and will use it.
If your friend has a 4Auto mode with a center differential, which from your post is what is sounds like, IT IS SAFE TO USE IT! 4Auto is DESIGNED to be used on pavement!
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PUCampin
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05/17/12 08:16am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Shopping failures...
Something our small business has run into more in the last couple years is some suppliers deciding to sell to the public at or nearly at the wholesale prices. So the homeowner buys the material for the same price we can, and then finds someone to install it for cheap, often unlicensed. We have lost a few bids this way, when the potential customer comes back with a number that is below our cost to do the job, we have to tell them we can't be paying to do their job, and for them to check if their installer is licensed.
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PUCampin
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05/16/12 09:24am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Expedition owners - questions on 2009 expy
They all have 2" receiver, but only the tow package equipped have the 7 pin round. If the 7 pin is there, it has the tow package, if not, no tow package (unless added aftermarket, but not likely)
According to the Ford Fleet Towing guide for 2009, towing package 536 includes
7 wire harness & 4/7 wire plugs
Larger Aux transmission cooler than standard
HD Flashers
Radiator upgrade
The axle ratio is not dependant on tow package. You might want to double check your info, I am pretty sure in 2009 there were only 2 axle ratios available, 3.31 and 3.73 in the regular Expedition, and 3.73 only in the EL. Either way, it will not be an issue, the 6 speed more than makes up for it. It has a very deep 1st, good spacing, and a 1.14:1 4th rather than direct 1:1 which gives it an effective lower axle while towing in 4th (i.e 3.31x1.14 = 3.73) It will tow your proposed trailer with no issues. Our TT is 22ft end to end and about 5200 ready to camp.
They all come with "P" tires. Since we only go a few times a year, maybe as many as a dozen, the "P" tires work fine and provide a smooth quiet ride for the family the rest of the time.
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PUCampin
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05/15/12 03:16pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Vanity plates
My wife is a die hard disney fan and has "MICNMNI" on the Expedition. We get a lot of looks as people try to puzzle it out. The "I'd Rather Be At Disneyland" frame helps :)
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PUCampin
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05/11/12 11:54pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: McGrath State Beach California
according to the save McGrath facebook page, as of May 4th, the park is slated for a grand reopening the end of June with reservations available July 1st. Acording to reservamerica I could reserve it now. I tend to believe the former. I will have to drive by on my way home from work on Monday and check it out. However, did you notice the fee on reserve america?? $45!!!!! HOLY COW! I love McGrath and so does my family, but wow, if that is what it is going to cost for a flat space with no hook ups, man I just don't know if I can stomach it.
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PUCampin
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05/10/12 11:40pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Where are The Weight Police when you need them???
I called Dryers ice cream and asked why they went from 1/2 gallon to 1.75 quarts to now 1.5 quarts........the lady told me people have asked for the smaller packaging..........do what????
I told her that we have purchased our last container of Dryers ice cream until they bring back the 1/2 gallon.......she hung up on me!
Buy Blue Bell ice cream. It is still in 1/2 gallon tubs and is lots better than Bryers. Of course we only buy it when it is on sale. :B
I predicted when ice cream dropped to 1.5qts, that at some point the 1/2 gal would return at a higher price and be called "Family Size" Vons actually did this not to long ago. The didn't call it "family size" but something close :m
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PUCampin
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05/10/12 11:32pm |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Hobbies...
Hobbie? :h What's that? With 3 little ones and a very active DW seems all I have time for is putting out fires, and I have been getting behind on those! Then I do make work things like put a hole the the bathroom drywall while trying to bravely squash a bug for DD :S I guess I could say my family is my hobbie. We have them in several different activities, my DW is leading several of them, and I help DW prepare for those. We have not even been camping this year except a parking lot for a Relay for life (which of course DW was also heavily involved in). Some of my favorite past times are reading, hiking, gardening, camping.
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PUCampin
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05/10/12 10:25am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Smoked The Converter
You can bypass the converter, just flip off the breaker in the MoHo for the converter. Plugging in to shore power will still power all 120v items and receptacles.
Yes, one 30A single pole breaker. The cable must also be at least 10AWG with a hot, neutral, and ground. If he ran 12AWG then the biggest breaker you can use is 20A.
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PUCampin
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05/04/12 09:30pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Outback Steakhouse - Thumbs Down
Looks almost like is a regional issue, everyone from CA stated Outback was decent, as has been my experience. My experience with TGI Fridays has been very poor, and I have been to several in here in CA.
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PUCampin
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04/24/12 04:08pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Who grinds your coffee beans...........
I have a spinning blade grinder and it works fine. The key is to not set it on the counter and run, but hold it and shake it while it is running. I use 1/8 cup scoop of beans per 6 oz, so my 12oz travel mug gets 2 scoops of beans into the grinder. I grind for 16 seconds while shaking the grinder, and it produces a fine very consistant grind. The grounds go into a melita cone, and I pour hot water through it. The result is a strong flavorful cup with no bitterness. Would I like a burr grinder? Sure, but too many other demands on my pocket book
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PUCampin
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04/24/12 10:24am |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Ford & Continental Tires
The stock Continental Contitrac tires on my Expedition EL experienced tread separation last year at 40k miles, lots of tread left. The Expy is mostly our famly hauler, only tows a few times a year. They were not part of the recall. I got no love from Ford (past the 36k mile bumper to bumper) or Continental. I replaced all 4 on my dime. I bought the highly regarded Yokohama HT/S (I don't need the AT/S) as replacements. So far I am really happy with them. They are smooth and very quiet. I will never buy continentals.
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PUCampin
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04/24/12 10:03am |
Tow Vehicles
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