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RE: EZ pass questions
If someone told you you needed a commercial account, they told you wrong.
Not wrong, just "different" ... bear in mind that each state that offers EZ-Pass does it their own way. When I first looked into getting one years ago, I shopped several states and found a number of differences in their rules, including the treatment of large RVs as "commercial" by some states.
I initially intended to get one EZ-Pass for the coach, and one for the toad, then put the toad unit in the lead bag when towing, but I was never very confident that the automatic counting of axles, etc., would work out as advertised, so I didn't do it.
Now that we are moving to Delaware, and crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge often, we've gotten one for a car (it's all the same unit, but they ask you to register for the type of vehicle you'll use it in), which we switch back and forth depending on what we're driving. (Just ask for a second set of Velcro strips, they're free and it makes it easy.) Delaware's rules say if you only tow a trailer "occasionally," just register for two axles, and the counter will catch the trailer when you tow, and charge appropriately. We've watched our statements, and it does exactly that, including catching the difference between single- and tandem-axle trailers.
We got ours from Delaware when they were running a special, so the transponder was free -- I forget what they normally charge. No monthly fee though, unlike Maryland. I understand that Virginia is going to be offering a similar deal soon, because they will require EZ-Pass to use the new HOT lanes on the Capital beltway.
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Mike and Trish
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04/22/12 08:43am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Tag vs Non Tag
The only thing tag axle does is gives you more carry capacity. It also gives you a more stable coach on cross winds. And that is about it. All this BS that non tag axle coaches porpoise is nothing but BS. A forty foot diesel pusher will give you a nice ride and incoming big rigs on two lane roads are no problem. You won't even feel any buffing.
It is also two more tires to buy and it also takes away a compartment, plus most will have a side radiator that takes another compartment space. But they are a must on any coach over 42 feet long.
Yup, that's about right ... "all" my tag axle does for me is:
- provides much more carrying capacity (I figure a net of more than 5,000 extra lbs. - the 10,000-lb. GAWR of the tag axle, minus the weight of the components themselves)
- gives a more stable ride all around, including bumps, crosswinds, etc.
- adds an extra set of brakes
- lets me have a coach nearly 45 ft. long, with plenty of room for that extra half-bath and everything else
We love our big coach, and the tag axle that makes it possible.
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Mike and Trish
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04/14/12 06:50am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Tax prep
I've used TurboTax for at least 10 years or so, but I still check everything myself to make sure it all makes sense. (To me, the main use of TT is to do the arithmetic and fill out the forms -- I retain control of the process, and don't take what the program produces as gospel.)
I don't see the program as "conservative," but just doing everything by the book. (If you want to be a bit more "creative" with your taxes, you have to do that yourself.) As to your RV-as-second-home deductions, there are none other than loan interest (and that has several restrictions) as far as I know. Think about it -- the only deductions you get on your "first" home are mortgage interest and property taxes.
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Mike and Trish
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04/13/12 08:26am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Progresive Insurance
I had Progressive insurance on an old motorcycle. The engine blew so I cancelled the insurance. A few days later I get a letter from the "DMV Audit Dept". They made me show proof that all my other vehicles we're insured(they we're). Very sneaky Progressive. Bet you wouldn't think that they would rat you out to the DMV. I know it was them. Never again Progressive. Wouldn't go with them if I got it for free.Some states now require insurance companies to promptly notify them of insurance drops, for whatever reason.
I know Maryland does, for one. We have to be careful, when selling or otherwise disposing of a vehicle, to turn in the plates BEFORE cancelling insurance. If you have even one day of a vehicle that is registered while not insured, there is a fine of $150 for the first 30 days, then $7 per day thereafter.
In any case, it sounds like Progressive was doing what the state required. If you don't like the law, blame the state, not the insurer.
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Mike and Trish
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02/24/12 07:57am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Permanently wired shore power line?
We had a 2008 Georgetown for 2 years, and I know I didn't have this problem. Can't recall the exact setup, but I believe there was either a screw-in port in the floor of the bay where the cord was, or a notch in the door frame as someone else suggested. Look carefully, and/or call your dealer or Forest River for more info.
FWIW, the Georgetown gave us great service. We only traded it in to take a great deal on a DP.
Good luck!
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Mike and Trish
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02/09/12 07:35am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: toll roads
The new ICC (Inter-county Connector) in Maryland is E-Z Pass only. If you don't have one, you can still drive the road -- the toll system will take a photo of your license plate and bill you. If I recall correctly, they charge you more than the EZPass rate.
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Mike and Trish
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02/02/12 07:25am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Trust vs. Will
There are many places on the web that will provide better answers than you're likely to get here -- just Google "trust vs. will" or similar, and you'll get more info than you could ever read.
My understanding is that everyone should have a will, but only for those in certain circumstances is a trust necessary. Basically, a will distributes your assets when you die, while a trust manages those assets for a period of time after (or even before) you die.
This is one place you really need a lawyer's expert advice.
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Mike and Trish
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01/26/12 07:54am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Personal question re retirement
When it's no longer fun, retire.
I wish! If I could have followed that rule, I would have retired in my 30's ...
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Mike and Trish
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01/26/12 07:16am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Best Support Vehicle For Class A Motor Home
Jeep Liberty. The ease of hookup and bad-weather/off-road performance of a Jeep, with the comfort of a car, or at least a crossover. And ours has the "Sky-Slider" roof, so we can open up in good weather, or to give the dogs some air. Works for us ...
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Mike and Trish
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01/24/12 10:21pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Just some opions please
You say the unit was a demonstrator with 6,000 miles on the odometer and that they're offering a full warranty. Is the full warranty from the manufacturer or from the dealer? If it's from the dealer there will be severe restrictions. For instance, do you have to take it back to the dealer for warranty service? There are so many different warranties on a motorhome that "full warranty" is pretty much a meaningless term. For example a Cummins diesel has a 100,000 mile or 5 year warranty from Cummins. On the unit you describe do you think that Cummins would extend the warranty to 106,000 miles? No way.
I don't think this situation is unusual at all, except for the number of miles. Every new RV comes with some miles on it, often a thousand or more, just to be delivered from the factory. Many, like ours when we bought it, have also been driven to shows, and test-driven by previous shoppers. Generally, a unit can be sold as "new" if it's never been titled, and that includes factory warranties. No, they don't extend mileage warranties, but they do start the clock on warranty periods from your date of purchase.
We bought an '08 coach that had been in dealer's possession for about a year and a half, and had around 3,000 miles on it. It had clearly been used for shows -- lots of foot traffic, as evidenced by dirty carpets before they cleaned it up for delivery to us. We got it for around 35% off MSRP, warrantied as "new," and they replaced batteries and fixed a number of things at our request. We subsequently made two trips to factory service center (our choice, because we wanted stuff done "right"), one right at the end of our one-year coach warranty.
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Mike and Trish
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01/23/12 10:35am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Question about transmission and being towed
Check the fluid level. Dextron VI fluid is absolutely fantastic stuff. In fact in new Toyota vehicles, they make the transmission closed because you don't ever need to change Dextron VI. Way better & far superior to Dex III.
Not sure of your point -- are you assuming his trans is running Dexron VI? Because my 2008 Allison 3000 came with Transynd, as I think most currently do.
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Mike and Trish
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01/23/12 09:20am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: High altitiude engine adjustment(s) for better performance?
They will adjust the gasoline for you out west. You will find 85 octane fuel(instead of 87 octane regular), which works fine in the high altitude. It used to be that people would change the fuel jets in the carb to offset the slightly lower oxygen levels at high altitude. This is sort of a pain to do unless your vehicle was going to stay at that altitude for a long period of time.
Lower-octane gasoline is not necessary or helpful at higher altitudes; it's just cheaper, and blended that way because that's as high as it needs to be in the thinner atmosphere. Vehicles that run well on 87 octane at sea level will run just as well on 85 octane in the Rockies.
Here is the link from Conoco that says that the lower octane gas is required for carbureted engines at higher altitudes. It also mentions knock sensors, etc in fuel injected engines. It is the same as running high test fuel in an engine designed for regular. It is a waste of money and your engine will not run as good. According to Conoco the lower octane is necessary and helpful at high altitudes. Lower octanes at high altitude.
I respectfully submit that you're interpreting Conoco's comments incorrectly, though it doesn't help that they're poorly written (and I say this as a former Conoco marketer!). It should say it the other way around, i.e. higher octane is NOT required at altitude because, etc.
Octane number simply describes the fuel's resistance to knocking. Once it's high enough not to knock in a given set of conditions, it need not be any higher. That's what they're trying to say.
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Mike and Trish
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01/21/12 03:16pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: High altitiude engine adjustment(s) for better performance?
They will adjust the gasoline for you out west. You will find 85 octane fuel(instead of 87 octane regular), which works fine in the high altitude. It used to be that people would change the fuel jets in the carb to offset the slightly lower oxygen levels at high altitude. This is sort of a pain to do unless your vehicle was going to stay at that altitude for a long period of time.
Lower-octane gasoline is not necessary or helpful at higher altitudes; it's just cheaper, and blended that way because that's as high as it needs to be in the thinner atmosphere. Vehicles that run well on 87 octane at sea level will run just as well on 85 octane in the Rockies.
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Mike and Trish
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01/21/12 08:12am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Chocolate not as good ???
For a long time, now, Hershey's chocolate hasn't tasted as good to me as it once did. I thought its just my old taste buds. I have found out it no longer is made in Hershey, Pa! It isn't even made in the USA! Hershey was bought out by some foreign company and is made in some Foreign place! At Christmas I saw there ad for 'Hershey Kisses' pumped full of AIR bubbles and selling at an extra higher price. No more Hershey for me. :(
Wow, your information is completely wrong.
Hershey's is a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. They still make chocolate in Hershey PA (along with other plants worldwide). See their web site here.
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Mike and Trish
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01/10/12 08:11pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Should I put more than the recommended psi in my tires?
Michelin recommends using corner weights and the weight to pressure chart to determine the range. Once the range is established they recommend running the minimum pressure.
Yeah, but what do they know about tires?;)
No matter what the manufacturers say, someone is bound to think they "know better."
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Mike and Trish
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01/09/12 08:57am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Dog Breeds
Wow that does not leave too many breeds that they allow.
I assume you were being humorous, and/or just expressing your preference for the larger breeds, but I can assure you that there are more breeds NOT on that list than on it.
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Mike and Trish
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01/08/12 08:05am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Got a call from Verizon Wireless last night
Don't always assume the worst. I've had Verizon Wireless since is was Bell Atlantic/NYNEX Mobile, and have upgraded my plan many times. Not counting the new data plans, text messaging, etc., the basic calling plans have actually gotten cheaper (or more to the point, more minutes for about the same or less monthly charge).
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Mike and Trish
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01/06/12 09:07am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: motor coachs and drivers put out of service in PA
A few yrs back,I had heard ,that MIch was thinking of having all Motorhomes go into the scales...but it never happened...but I thinnk they did go to a non-CDL type lic...
Chuck
Maryland has posted signs at the weigh stations stating that all vehicles over 5 tons gross have to go over the scales, but I don't know why.
I guess I will find out when the catch me drivng by. :B
It's been that way for years, but many here have reported contacting the state, and being told "don't worry about it, we don't enforce for RVs."
We live very near to one, and drive by it all the time, without ever stopping.
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Mike and Trish
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01/04/12 10:23am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Does reciprocity apply to total length?
OK. Here is where you're confusing me. You are talking about commercial trucks and trailers and I keep wondering how that pertains to a motorhome. A motorhome, as you know, is a domicile. Therefore exempt from the road regs of a commercial vehicle.
I agree that there are many differences between the regulations pertaining to commercial vs. non-commercial vehicles. But ... what makes you think that a motorhome's status as a "domicile" has any relevance with regard to highway laws and regulations?
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Mike and Trish
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01/03/12 09:06pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Does reciprocity apply to total length?
Yes. Reciprocity applies to driver licenses, but not length or weight restrictions. (At least, that has been the consensus on this forum and others for years.)
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Mike and Trish
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01/02/12 06:38pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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