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RE: Lest We Forget
Spent a few hours digging about 100 feet of snow about 8 feet wide. I am thinking I will head out on Ground Hogs Day. By then Spring will be just around the corner. Very pleasant today with temps hitting 45. Didnt seem like winter.url=http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a60/borregokid/CIMG1222.jpg
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Keith M
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01/30/12 06:45pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Lest We Forget
Thats a good question, I have been taking care of grandkids. I also decided to take in the three holidays and Halloween which fall within two months. I missed the Escapees Thanksgiving in the desert. I did get a couple of calls asking where I was. I am going to wait for a decent thaw though. I dont even have a snow blower as I am usually gone by Decemeber. Its supposed to snow 7-10 inches today. The coldest daytime high temp in Borrego Springs was 47 and the coldest night time low 14 in my time spent in the desert. If you park your rig so your windows face directly south in the desert the sun will heat the inside up on the coldest desert days.
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Keith M
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01/24/12 06:53am |
Snowbirds
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Lest We Forget
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a60/borregokid/CIMG1211.jpg?t=1327366026
I swung the gates open a week ago before the snow hit. The snowplow guy put about 3 feet up on the shoulder. The rest is about 18 inches deep to the trailer. It might take a couple more weeks before there is a decent thaw to head south. Today was actually very pleasant with the temperature going from 15 to 36 degrees full sunshine and no wind.
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Keith M
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01/23/12 05:51pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: wINTER CAMPING
I would run RV anti-freeze through all the lines if it was really cold. If you were to try to flush a toilet that has frozen water-ice running through it you will break the flushing mechanism. One of the reasons why the RV anti-freeze is cheap.
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Keith M
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01/13/12 08:24am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Living in extreme weather
I would probably install two of the bigger Olympian Catalytic heaters. You will have to be adding heat to the rig all the time. The two big ones would put out 16,000 BTU's which is probably marginal once it drops below 20 or so. The trailer furnaces arent much more than 50% efficient. i would use that when the two Olympians cant keep up. The large tank is a good idea. Some people get one or two large aluminum tanks that they can throw in their car/truck and get filled.
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Keith M
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01/13/12 08:14am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Best route from Malibu to Palm Springs-Emerald Rv Resort
I would just stay on I-10. According to google maps its two miles longer and 7 minutes more travel. The difference in travel time is a lot less in an RV when you are traveling 55mph instead of 65.
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Keith M
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01/12/12 01:17pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 1000 inverter w ith 2 batteries on Fleetwod Discovery
Depends what you are inverting. An old TV and satellite dish will draw 2 batteries down very quick. The biggest draw I supect for most people are the lights. Many of the older automotive type bulbs draw 13-17 watts. I would replace all interior bulbs with some decent LED lights.
The other issue is the batteries themselves. If you are unplugged and have fairly high power needs consider going with 4 golf cart batteries.
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Keith M
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01/10/12 10:45am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Interesting post on Quartzsite
Quartzsite has had its high water mark just as RVing had its high water mark several years ago. High gas prices and a lousy economy has probably cut the number of Rvers in Q in half from say 1999.
From an economic perspective with declining real estate all over the US but especially in Arizona and the Coachella Valley you would absolutely be nuts not to look into purchasing a second home instead of a costly RV.
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Keith M
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01/01/12 12:05am |
Snowbirds
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RE: The New Winter Spot is going to be Gila Bend
Lukeville Gas Station and Store Sold
Gila Bend is definitely a crossroads plus its the nearest place to get supplies if you are staying at painted rock. I came across this story above on Lukeville. Lots of rumors about the grocery store closing. I dont know if it happened or not. Its about five miles from Organ Pipe. Ajo the nearest town is 24 miles away.
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Keith M
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12/07/11 09:57am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Where are all the snowbirds ?
Usually by this time of year I would be down in the desert. The lousy economy has a ripple effect. In the past year I have found I have had to spread my resources around my "community". Christmas is a big financial hurdle that will have to be crossed before I head south. I suspect other snowbirders have had their plans changed by stuff thats really outside their control.
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Keith M
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12/07/11 07:59am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Dangers in Organ Pipe National Monument?
Heres a link to quite a few pictures in Organ Pipe.
I wouldnt hesitate at all spending time in Organ Pipe. They have closed the big loop road that goes to Quitobaquito which is an oasis in the desert-very rare. There are some great hikes out there though. Most of the illegal activity is at night with smugglers coming over from Sonoyta. I have in the past seen a couple of border crossers in the day but most are at night and usually are south and east of the campground.
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Keith M
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12/03/11 11:47am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Nice Yuma BLM sites (14-day)?
Surprised no one mentioned Pilot Knob which is on the south side of the Interstate. It has a LTVA available for $40 and about a mile west of their on a dirt road there is a free 14 day area. This is exit 164. There is also the Casino which is at exit 166. It can get pretty busy and the spacing is pretty tight. The BLM off Ogilby that is free is about eight miles from the Interstate. I guess if I was staying for close to 14 days I would spend the $40 and stay in the LTVA at Pilot Knob. Its close to the freeway but the spacing is pretty good between rigs.
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Keith M
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12/03/11 10:45am |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: Ajo, Arizona BLM
Although its the desert and BLM its not flat like Quartzsite. The number of spaces to park a rig off the Darby Well road is limited and some of the spaces arent suitable for trailers. I would consider unhooking and looking for a spot. I would not drive down some of the roads without knowing if I could turn around. My guess it there is no more than 20 decent spots off Darby Well and at peak season most will be full. The BLM outside Organ Pipe isnt too far away and there is plenty of room. At Organ Pipe NM Senior Pass holder can camp for $6 a night. Its never full.
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Keith M
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11/27/11 12:46pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: The Economics of Snowbirding
I have done snowbirding with as little depreciation as possible over 11 years and have bent the cost down to about $25 per day for gas and depreciation. Looking at what looks like fire sale prices on some condo complexes and relatively low HOA, taxes, utilities and insurance which I am thinking $2400-$3000 plus electricity versus park fees, gas etc which would be maybe in the same range or more for winter. There are also some other hidden costs of owning two places. I wouldnt even be considering this except in so many places the prices have been rolled back to 1999 and gas is rather pricey.
Of course one of the issues of a condo or a senior community like Sun City, Az is that some have a really "old feel" if you know what I mean. I am sure many of you know "age" isnt really how old you are. I have met some of the youngest people out boondocking in the desert. Many were "younger" than me.
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Keith M
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11/17/11 05:19pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: The Economics of Snowbirding
I have 11 seasons of snowbirding mostly out in the desert so I know how cheap it can be done. But I am rethinking things with the cost of fuel $1200 or more and the cost of a newer rig. Current truck is 10 years old and 5er is 16. A condo or a desert house is certainly an alternative which 5 years ago really didnt exist. Hard to ignore prices that have fallen 50-70% off the peak for condo's and houses. There is a lifestyle in an RV park but I am thinking a similar or different lifestyle in a condo community might be just as appealing. Just my thoughts.
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Keith M
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11/17/11 09:14am |
Snowbirds
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The Economics of Snowbirding
The numbers in my opinion dont look real good for RV snowbirding. The boom years of RV snowbirds of the mid-90's to about 2005 had relatively cheap gas combined with reasonable RV rental space. Now we have gasoline pushing $4 per gallon and relatively high RV park rates. Last year I paid almost $800 for a peak month. While I agree that the parks have a lifestyle but at what cost? Almost everyone has a budget and with the recession many are looking to cut costs or are helping other family members out financially.
One particular market that will put the squeeze on RV snowbirding is the condominium market in snowbird areas. As an example a year ago people probably thought the bottom had finally been hit in housing. Instead prices have continued to slide. Palm Springs has seen prices drop 15% over last year and Sun City AZ is down another 5%. In Sun City its possible to buy condos easily in the 20-25K range. Much of the "for sale" housing in Sun City is approaching mid-90's pricing. The same is true in Palm Springs in the condo market. You start adding the numbers of high gas combined with low condominium prices and I think you will see fewer snowbirds. At some point I would guess RV parks might respond with lower rents. One of the parks I am familiar with is almost exactly double the price of 10 years ago yet condo's in the area are priced at what they were 13 years ago. Doesnt make sense does it?
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Keith M
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11/17/11 07:54am |
Snowbirds
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RE: US 97 in winter
Most of 97 through Oregon is over 3,000 feet elevation and some of it is over 4,000 feet. From Weed to Bend is the area of heaviest snow. Its pretty well maintained and is a major truck route. I have come down in November, December and January. Last couple of years I have stopped in the evening during snow. Last year I remember waiting in the mornning for a while after it quit snowing for the highway to be plowed. I waited until I saw some Semi's out on the highway. The worst snowfall area is Chemult where you will see snowmobiles around the businesses.
Use common sense when driving on 97 in the winter. If possible wait for a "window of opportunity" when there will be several days of no snow. Stay in line and dont do any passing...Its not worth it.
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Keith M
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11/05/11 09:34am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Brake Drums
I went through this last year. The only shop within 100 miles or so of my house wanted $85 to turn the brake and magnetic surface. It was a farm tractor repair business. It ended up being a no-brainer I bought new drums, magnets, shoes, and bearings for $150 per axel delivered to my house. The only special tool you need outside of a socket set is a $6 spring compressor. You can go to Youtube and Etrailer has some videos that show how easy replacing the brakes are.
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Keith M
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10/07/11 08:00am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Snowbirding in Southern California, Help and Comments
How much do you want to spend? There are two or three parks in Oceanside and one in Chula Vista that are in the $900 to $1200 a month range. San Diego is not a big snow bird destination. Palm Springs has several nice parks but also tend to be on the higher side. Borrego Springs as one nice resort park and three modestly priced parks. If you want to go really cheap you can stay at Peg Leg and Clark Dry Lake just outside of Borrego Springs for free. There is no time limit either.
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Keith M
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10/06/11 02:38pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: winterizing fresh water tank
I usually put about 4-5 gallons of anti-freeze in. I drain it out and most comes out. The real problem is getting all the anti-freeze out of the line going to the kitchen faucet. I dont really look at it as a major problem as we will drink bottled water and then filter when it looks like the pink is out. As mentioned driving down the road several hundred miles with the tank open usually gets all the anti-freeze out. Flushing the lines is probably the bigger problem.
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Keith M
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10/06/11 10:10am |
General RVing Issues
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