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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Where do full-timers spend the summer?
Call me a sunbird. We lived in the south before full-timing so our home base is in southern TX (not the rio grande valley) & we return every year with side trips east & west staying just north of the snowbirds (they flock too closely for us). Summers vary from year to year UP of Michigan last year Montana this year. I agree with the poster who avoids the east coast in summer (way too many people live there), if we do east it is in the fall always when kids are in school and parents are out of vacation money while saving for christmas. Love our off season travels the best in spring & fall.
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Camps with Critters
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05/24/12 04:32pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: New or used for a newbee
From experience: Start with used, the depreciation of rolling a new one off the lot is really high and if you don't like full-timing you will lose a lot. Best way is to buy a reasonable cost used one, repack wheel bearings, check brakes & suspension thoroughly, & replace tires if not done recently (or have this work done). Go enjoy & if you find you like the lifestyle start making 2 lists, one of everything you like on the rig & one of things you would like different from it. Only then consider a new rig that would fit those 2 lists. Buy plenty of truck for the size rigs you are looking at, having a lot of brakes, stability, & power make traveling so much easier!
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Camps with Critters
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05/23/12 09:39pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: NAPA DEF sale
DEF? Whats that? :p
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Camps with Critters
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05/16/12 06:12pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: truck tag
In Texas you pay for the GVWR you will need for the truck. You can register it for more than the factory GVWR. If you are pulled over & weighed with more weight than registered for you get a ticket. That includes pulling a trailer, and the trailers weight that's rides on the truck.
Up to a certain point only, my truck is registered and titled only as "a truck greater than 1 ton", my trailer tag however is based on the GVWR of that trailer. As you can see from my signature photo my truck is way greater than 1 ton, in fact with only full fuel & me on board it is very close to 11 tons.
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Camps with Critters
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05/16/12 06:00pm |
Towing
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RE: Anyone else name their rig?
I'll just say yes, mine is named!
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h232/campswithcritters/Finished%20Gentle%20Giant/DSC00536.jpg
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Camps with Critters
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03/15/12 08:50pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Newbie Scale ???
Don't know what you are talking about? The button is always right outside my window when I roll it down.... :W
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Camps with Critters
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03/12/12 09:20pm |
Towing
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RE: Is it me or the frame?
Two words: Big Foot!
Hydraulic leveling systems don't care where the slides are and stay that way once they are out. No blocks or pads to drive on either. Just saying..... if you want it perfect you can get it every time by buying a big foot leveling system. I do not sell them, but I own one.
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Camps with Critters
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03/12/12 08:51pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: What is your MPG?
I guess I would fall in "the huge RV" category. I get 7 to 8 mpg with the truck, trailer, & Smart Car on the back. I get 38 to 44 once I get there driving the Smart.
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Camps with Critters
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03/11/12 08:39pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Who uses a gas TV with their 5th wheel?
It all depends on the load ladies & gents. Is the truck rated to tow what you want to tow? How much will you be using it for towing? Gassers do wonderful for those that tow less than 8,000 miles per year and within the tow rating weight wise. If you tow a lot of miles or mega pounds... well there is a reason the over the road trucks are diesels and I'll leave it at that.
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Camps with Critters
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03/07/12 07:52pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: What is your MPG?
At 47,260 lbs I get 7 mpg running 65 mph regardless of terrain and can get better if winds favor me. Never tried slower as that is the recommended RPM for my engine (14 liter) and it suits me.
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Camps with Critters
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03/03/12 10:19pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Diesel Truck Stops Locator?
Yep! Try THIS really important to me. If you have a preferred provider some are listed along the top, for all click on the gas pump right hand side of the page. I just use the laptop to plan next couple of days in advance.
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Camps with Critters
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03/03/12 04:06pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: MPG and gas prices
Fuel price varies greatly by state due to state taxation. My only advice is buy something with better range and check the prices online to buy where you want. Down side is that those of us with extremely long range (I can carry 200 gallons) usually get less mileage due to size & weight. I get 7 to 9 mpg regardless of terrain, wind affects me much more, luckily I'm never in a hurry and can wait for the wind to change!
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Camps with Critters
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03/02/12 09:51pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Whats Your Real Weights? Truck and Trailer. The Real Deal
Nice. Your truck weighs more than my GCW. With a rig like yours, I want even mention visiting FifthWheelSt.com. LOL
Well truck has GVW of 52,000 & GCW of 80,000 so not worried yet, if I do ever get close I'll look you up!
As a side note all axles are well within ratings.
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Camps with Critters
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03/02/12 01:46pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Whats Your Real Weights? Truck and Trailer. The Real Deal
Well I guess I really did expect it to be heavy, but here is the whole enchilada! Truck full fuel, fresh water full, propane 30 of 40 gallons available. Oh and car on back had 3/4 tank gasoline.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h232/campswithcritters/Finished%20Gentle%20Giant/TruckTrailerweightMar2012.jpg
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Camps with Critters
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03/02/12 01:14pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Rapid RV assembly
Hubby and I were watching a documentary last night on the Amish in Pennsylvania. Part of it showed a factory where campers were assembled by the Amish as well as non Amish. We were astounded and dismayed at how fast these campers were assembled! They threw a piece of framing down, air gunned it and moved on in rapid succession. There was NO making sure the placement was correct. We could not tell who the manufacturer was, but I suppose it is done this way no matter where or who the manufacturer is. Maybe this explains the issues we have had with our new camper. Things that we considered were mostly preventable, correctable and overlooked. We have ourselves corrected them, but should not have had to. (Our choice, the dealer is over 400 miles away, and we didn't want to be without the camper for a long period.)
My issue is not with the workers, they are lucky to have jobs and do as they are told. My issue is with them to be required to work so fast and yet the manufacturer promises a quality product. In my own experience, if I had to maintain high pressure over a long period, my quality of work has suffered, much to my dissapointment and disservice to my customers.
Have any of you toured RV manufacturing facillities? What are your thoughts regarding this issue?
If you really want to see quality construction and can take the time to go through Missouri, please visit Spacecraft RV at THIS LINK
I promise you will find very few like it! It took us 2 weeks to design our rig and took them 6 weeks to build it. Total frame up custom build and not much more than a high end production line camper that is built in a day. Best part of it is it totally meets your design & needs! They are heavy as it is built to last a lifetime, but if you want it done right....
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Camps with Critters
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02/29/12 08:49pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: How do you Get Around?
I am as big as they come at 72 ft long & 13' 4" tall. I use a Garmin truckers GPS 465T that has adjustable rig size settings, and check that routing with a Motor Carriers atlas. And always take the campground listing or website directions instead of second guessing or short cutting. And I learned to back up this thing years ago!
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Camps with Critters
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02/25/12 07:59pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Need fast help Update problem solved
Does your rig have a main shut-off for 12 volt power? Many will not allow the converter to charge the system if it is off.
I take it it is a DSI unit (auto ignition) if so you should hear a constant ticking (next to the outside part of your furnace) that would be the spark unit trying to light it. If no tick tick tick then no heat.
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Camps with Critters
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02/24/12 07:29pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Gone and done it now.
If you need help towing them...... just saying!
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Camps with Critters
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02/24/12 02:44pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Show your grills
Full size Weber One touch Kettle, charcoal only!
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Camps with Critters
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02/24/12 07:59am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Help a newbie choose
As you can see by my signature that I am over-trucked more than most, but there is a reason for that. I live in my rig 24-7-365 and tow it continually around the country through all terrain.
The set-up you are looking at seems safe & sensible to me for weekends away and annual vacations. If you are doing 30 mph on that steep steep grade somewhere, I'll slow down & follow you up, I'm in no hurry and you'll save me some fuel!
Happy trails! :C
On Edit: As was said before buy the best brake controller you can afford, way more important than getting up the hill the fastest. As my father told me many times "Son, you gotta make it whoa before you make it go!"
Would the prodigy p2 be a good choice. I understand that proportional is the way to go. I can afford anything if it is the correct way to do it, I am that way about stuff. Not that I always get the best, but I will spend more if it makes it the best way to do it.
Prodigy makes a great product, by all means that is a good choice. Don't tell anybody, but I am using one now! Great choice to keep you and your family safe. If you have further questions PM me as I do not always hit the board daily but they email me if I have a PM. Many yrs doing this and many size rigs on along the way, always happy to help folks avoid my mistakes and have a safe & enjoyable trip. Been known to go rescue folks within 100 miles of me in the past, and as long as I can manage will continue to do so.
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Camps with Critters
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02/23/12 10:12pm |
Tow Vehicles
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