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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Best battery for camp shower
Motorcycle/Jet Ski size sealed AGM starting battery.
Charge battery with a plug-in cigarette lighter adapter.
http://www.powerwerx.com/adapter-cables/
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McZippie
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04/18/12 04:47am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Boondocking end of June in Moab??
There are very nice high elevation BD camping spots south of Moab in the Southern La Sal Mountains. Take CR 101 east from Monticello.
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McZippie
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04/17/12 08:06pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: Small C opinions
http://www.coachhouserv.com/
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McZippie
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03/30/12 07:48pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Towing behind my class C
FWIW From a lifetime of towing many types of trailers, I wouldn't worry about having brakes on that light of a trailer.
Trailer brakes on light weight trailers really don't add much to the combined stopping power.
With that light of trailer while traveling at highway speed you could lock-up the trailer brakes and would hardly notice the brakes were locked-up.
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McZippie
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03/30/12 02:55am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: McZip's Rig..."Hit the Road Jack" requested info:
I've noticed your rig in the forums for quite some time ... nice looking rig!
Here's some commnets:
- Your rig is DRW. Is it light enough such that it can run with one of these (Load Range E?) tires flat for several miles? i.e. Does one tire of each DRW set wind up being more for safety/reliability redundancy than for load carrying capacity?
That's the plan, I don't carry a spare, so if a flat on a front tire a rear one can be used on the front.
- Your rig is a rare diesel ... too bad these are so hard to find anymore in the heavy duty E series. Is it's diesel tank capacity at least 36 gallons?
40 gallons
- Your BW/GW/FW tank capacities are too low for many of us who may want to drycamp for several days. More capacity could perhaps be tucked up under in between the frame rails?
We don't dry camp for longer than a few days, but I did add another fresh water tank between the frame rails.
- How much headroom is there inside?
6'4"
- Glad to see you've added some generator capability ... never leave home without it!
It was more of a fun project than a need, because it's a rare light weight and 'inexpensive' inverter type generator with electric start
- Way to go with the twin alternators!
- You might want to carry along a couple of Powerfilm's 60 watt foldable solar panels for laying out on the ground to keep the battery's charged up without having to use the generator or alternators.
Maybe some day when they make some really super high efficency solar panels that are paper thin, flexiable, peel and stick kind then I'll put them on the roof. We do a lot of touring rather than extended camping so a generator and/or solar is less important for us.
- Have you given some thought to adding a 8K-10K BTU air conditioner that the 2000W generator can run for extended drycamping in unexpectedly high temperatures and/or humidity?
Again don't do much extended dry camping, but for another 'fun' project, have been considering installing a Dometic semi truck in-cab split unit AC. Don't want a a roof unit.
http://www.dometictruck.com/img/remote.jpg
http://www.dometictruck.com/select.php#AX
- Now ... if only you were to have it upgraded to four wheel drive with a bit more ground clearance ... why would you want/need to tow the Rubicon?!
I looked into converting it to 4WD but decided against it because of cost and limited use. You are correct it is to low to ground and will get lifted a few inches someday.
We tow the Jeep only on trips that are planned around using the Jeep for back roads exploring.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/284827_2290879076008_1369941973_2686737_7407179_n.jpg
Great rig to this point!
Thanks!
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McZippie
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03/24/12 02:32am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: McZip's Rig..."Hit the Road Jack" requested info:
McZip, who built it? Turtle Top? Did you supply the cab/chassis or did the builder?
Yes Turtle Top in Indiana built it and Turtle Top ordered the Ford E350 Cutaway.
It was ordered through Best Bus Sales in Des Plaines, IL.
http://www.bestbussales.com/
Turtle Top has a custom division that make all kinds of special use vehicles; SWAT, Mobile, Rescue, Limo Buses, etc., so this was an easy task for them.
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McZippie
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03/16/12 10:55am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: McZip's Rig..."Hit the Road Jack" requested info:
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs130.snc1/5575_1188362993795_1369941973_524617_6161890_n.jpg
Love that bed!
What does that turn into a Queen size?
It's not a standard size bed, it was custom made to fit in the RV. It's some where between a queen and king size. Wife and I use separate snuggie blankets. It's surprising comfortable, with highest grade foam and leather.
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McZippie
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03/16/12 10:38am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Super singles - to not clog up the other thread with this
Very nice Rig! Are you going to mount a camper in the bed?
Like maybe a nice fiberglass one, painted to match the truck?
... Hmmmm...I should mod my Excursion to fit dubs like that.
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McZippie
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02/18/12 03:38pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Dinghy Towing
FWIW: Jeep JK or JKU no base plate needed, tow bar folds on RV bumper, so no extra parts to stow away or deal with. Can detach in under a minute, reattach in 2 minutes. The JK has a manual transfer case with neutral position that disconnects both axles.
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McZippie
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02/17/12 03:37am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Slingbox
We have been watching Slingbox with a Aircard for years now, but usually prefer watching a Roku box for Netflix, Amazon etc. Time Warner seems to have cut-back on the home upload speed so the Sling-box has more problems now.
The Roku works with any TV so a computer or smart phone isn't needed.
The connection is an unpowerd Wilson outdoor antenna, Verizon unlimited 4G air-card, Cradlepoint router, Cat-6 to Roku, HDMI to TV. Anywhere we get a strong 2 bar or better 3G connection it works OK. With full bars and 4G connection can start watching a Netfix/Amazon HD movie in a few seconds, 40mbps.
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McZippie
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02/14/12 10:54pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Question for all Class A,C,B & TC people about towing
Had the same issues, so had a custom shuttle bus with MH features built. Tow all kinds of trailers and boats with it, including an enclosed car hauler.
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McZippie
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01/12/12 12:33pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: What was your Occupation??????
Surprised with the number of people with a military background.
Sincerely, thanks for protecting our freedoms.
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McZippie
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01/08/12 07:04pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 2003 Ford Excursion with 7.3
So just when I had convinced that I didn't need a new-to-me TV I have stumbled on a '03 Ford Excursion with a 7.3 diesel for a bit more than What I could sell my TV that is in signature. The X has @ 105K on the odometer and seems in very good shape. It is located a bit far from me so I really can't go 'kick the tires.' what ? Should I ask him about the vehicle. What problems will a 10-year old X have that I should worry about. I absolutely love the IDE of owning a 7.3L diesel SUV!
They are great trucks! If this one isn't 'clean' take your time to find one that is. If it was well maintained it should drive and look like new.
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McZippie
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01/02/12 11:52pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: How many miles on your ford 7.3
2000 F-350. 195,000 miles. Replaced a water pump and new brake pads. Taking it to Alaska next year. Don't even bother asking me if I might want to trade for something else.
YOU are part of the problem I had trying to find a decent 7.3L! I searched for a year until I found one. Owners that know what they have won't let go!
Phil
2001 7.3 179,000
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McZippie
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12/12/11 05:49am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Metric or SAE (So9cket Set)
Buy metric only. 1 mm=1/25 of an inch. That means if you have all metric sizes, you have enough finely increasing sizes to fit any SAE size, particularly if the sockets are 6 point.
Yep!
I've restored cars and do all my own parts changing and only own a complete set of metrics. The only SAE size needed is a 7/16", metrics will fit everything else.
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McZippie
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12/12/11 05:31am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Battery Life
That's a pretty hefty drain to kill your batteries in 7 days. Either your batteries are played out and/or there is something approaching a 1 amp drain.
FWIW I had about a .08 amp drain and using an in-line amp meter tracked down every parasite load and was able to complete eliminate any battery drain while my Rig is parked. Even the Fantastic fan was drawing .01 amp when turned off.
I know many leave their converters/chargers on all the time but I have a fear of electrical fires/meltdowns, so choose not to do that.
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McZippie
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12/12/11 05:10am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Can't Locate This Vintage Jack
FWIW: How to repair a vintage jack.
http://www.salsaholics.com/misc/jack.JPG
http://repairingyesterdaystrailers.yuku.com/topic/1992/Jack-rebuild-no-pictures
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McZippie
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11/25/11 01:17am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Towing
Most states and provinces do not allow double towing behind a TT, only a 5er.Again, someone who does NOT know what he talks about. Of the 38 states that allow RV double towing, ONLY 4, require the 1st tow to be a 5th wheel and one of those defines a 5th wheel in such a way, that you can double tow with a motorhome. So in reality, only 3 require the 1st to be a true 5th wheel...IMHO, that is NOT most states....I don't know anything about Canada, so I don't try and say what they allow.
I have double towed in many of the 38 states that allow it, with the 1st being a motorhome, the 2nd a pickup and the 3rd being an ATV or boat trailer.
Texan,
Of the 3 States that require the 1st to be a true 5th wheel, do they specify that it 'must' be a 5th wheel type hitch or rather that the 1st cannot be a ball hitch. So in other words, in these 3 States would it be legal to tow a toad and small trailer if the toad wasn't attached with ball hitch? (i.e. the toad would be attached with hitch pins to the receiver)
http://www.etrailer.com/merchant2/graphics/00000001/pics/R/M/RM-522.jpg
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McZippie
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11/04/11 12:17am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: I gotta vent.
WTF? That's just asinine, and calling it a 'RV idiosyncrasy' is just everyone ignoring the issue and not demanding better.
Sorry for your problems... but it's kind of your own fault for not buying a quality unit. Most people apparently don't have the skills to differentiate between construction methods and only look at the glitz and price.
FWIW if I was in the market to purchase a RV I'd wouldn't purchase one built from most of the manufactures. I'd be looking at Air Streams, Fiberglass bodies or Expedition type trailers. Of course they cost a whole lot more.
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McZippie
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10/27/11 09:48pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: RV's that are unique and individualistic...or not!
This one is actual very well built, has a complete metal welded frame under the siding.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268228_2250533707399_1369941973_2631877_3381713_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268228_2250533707399_1369941973_2631877_3381713_n.jpg
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McZippie
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10/27/11 09:28pm |
General RVing Issues
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