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RE: Quadra hydraulic Big Foot Levelers
Just to be absolutely clear, the problem with the fob is an annoyance. I don't like spending my money to get a product is annoying to use. The real problem is when you want to do something like perform auto level and you can't read the display. When you push enter you don't know if the selected function is retract all or auto level. It's basically like flying blind. If you are unhooked with the front jacks down and you select retract all jacks, it will do just that--retract the front jacks. If that is OK with you, go for it.
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RetiredGuy
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10/14/11 10:17pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Quadra hydraulic Big Foot Levelers
The fob has four buttons. One turns it on, another returns the FW to the unhook position, and the other two raise and lower the front jacks. The return to hookup raises the rear jacks. The return to hookup gets it close but we still need to adjust the height. That's why the two buttons are there to adjust the height. So we use the fob to turn it on and return to hookup. Then we have 13 seconds to back up the TV to hookup. If it takes any longer, the fob has to be turned on again. It is not unusual to take 30 seconds to get everything lined up. In our opinion, the fob is worth very little.
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RetiredGuy
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10/14/11 09:36pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Quadra hydraulic Big Foot Levelers
We have BigFoot. It was a factory option on our '07 FW. We recently bought and installed the new control panel. While we like the functionality there are several BIG problems. If the sun is shining, the display is totally unreadable. The control panel is located inside a compartment and it is set back back inches so the sunshine doesn't actually shine on the panel. The new control panel provides functions such as retract all jacks and auto level. If you can't read the display, knowing which function you have selected is fraught with danger. The other problem is the fob. When you activate it to hook up, it turns itself off in 13 seconds. That means unless you can hook up that quickly (we can't), you have to keep turning it back on.
The manufacturer, Quadra, knows about these problems but haven't come up with a solution. I am considering reinstalling the old control panel.
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RetiredGuy
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10/14/11 08:45pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Early winter planning East Coast to West Coast - January
Several years ago we were driving east from Salt Lake City on I-80 at the end of December. We were not towing. Without any advance warning, in Wyoming I-80 was closed and we were forced to exit in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. I suppose we could have reversed direction and gone back to the last town but it was not close. I am guessing that finding a motel room there would have been difficult as there were many others who were in the same boat.
OTOH, there are times during that time of year when it is short sleeve weather. You just need to be ready for bad weather.
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RetiredGuy
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10/03/11 02:20am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Good Sam what would you do?
I am pretty sure (98%) that in Canada if someone sends you something addressed to you, without being prompted or agreed upon.. it's yours to keep with no legal strings attatched. They can not turn around and send you a bill for it later if you fail to return it nor are you obligated to send it back.. not sure if it's the same there..
I think it's the same in the US.
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RetiredGuy
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09/30/11 11:00am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: How to Handle a 5th Wheel Stranded
Our TV broke down on the Alaska Highway. Good Sam's ERS policy was to tow the TV to the nearest repair facility and the trailer to the nearest CG. The nearest CG (about 2 miles away) was closing in a week and the repair facility (about 125 miles away) said they would take two weeks to repair the TV. The tow truck was a Jerr-Dan so the TV was put up on the bed. The tow truck had a hydraulic lift on the back to pick up the wheels of a car. A fifth-wheel hitch was attached to that lift and the FW was hooked-up. TV and FW were towed 125 miles to the repair facility.
The question not asked was what about the people. We were told the ERS would only pay for two people to be transported. Fortunately, our cats ride in the FW and there are only two of us so we rode in the tow truck. If someone has a family of more than two, they need to make arrangements for the extra people and perhaps for pets that don't ride in the trailer.
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RetiredGuy
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09/30/11 08:36am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Gps systems
Is this a yearly subscription? If so, can you still use the outdated sub after it expires?
The low clearance data is downloaded to your computer and then it is loaded on your GPS as POIs. There is no way that I know about for someone to get it out of your GPS once there unless you remove it and there is no way that I know about for the POIs to expire. I believe the annual subscription is for the initial download to your computer plus the updates during the subscription period.
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RetiredGuy
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09/29/11 04:41pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Gps systems
If I download a low clearance program for my Garmin, does it give clearances for interstates only? I'm sometimes not on interstates.
LowClearances.com provides data for more than just interstates. It will alarm based on proximity. That means you can be driving on a road without any underpass in front of you and it will alarm for the underpass you are driving over. Just like any program, it is only as good as the data so it still pays to watch clearance signs.
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RetiredGuy
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09/29/11 01:49am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: motorhome break downs
I don't own a MH and never have but I thought this might be interesting to those who do. Several years ago we towed our FW to Alaska. Most of the Alaska Hwy is as good as many roads in the lower 49. But the stretch in Canada just before hitting the border to Alaska is as bad as it gets. The frost heaves are terrible and a good towing speed is something like 20 mph (and sometimes slower). As we drove along, we were often passed by big Class As that were probably doing 50-60 mph. We stopped at the first campground in Alaska as it had been a long day. Parked next to us was a big Class A. As I was hooking up the water line, I noticed what looked like an air bag sitting next to the front bumper of the Class A. So when someone got out of the Class A I asked him what was going on. He said they blew the right front air bag several days before on the bad stretch of highway. So when the right front blew, it put all the weight on the left front and it blew as well. He had made some phone calls and had located a replacement in Texas and another in California. They were both being flown to Fairbanks and then flown to Tok on a small plane and then driven to the campground by truck. He figured he was stuck in the middle of nowhere for several weeks.
His problems could have happened to any rig but when we were passed on the bad stretch of road it was always by the big Class As.
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RetiredGuy
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09/13/11 11:38am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: We are all family aren't we?
Gee, I'm sorry I can't make it there. But I do want to help. Send me your FAX number and I'll FAX you a $20 bill to help cover the cost of the beer!
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RetiredGuy
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09/13/11 10:56am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: CG Host Directions When Parking - No Thank You
I back the rig in while my DW provides directions via a handheld CB. We have done it this way for years. Every so often someone from the campground tries to give directions to my DW. She relays them to me by saying, "He says to" and then she repeats his directions. We both know that anything proceeded by "He says to" means to ignore those directions. Works for us.
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RetiredGuy
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09/12/11 01:09pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Nitrogen in the tires
When you get a tire mounted, unless it is performed in a sealed room that is filled with pure nitrogen, there is air in the tire. Of course, this never happens. Bringing the tire up to pressure with nitrogen does not remove the air. Therefore, there is not a tire on the road that is filled with pure nitrogen.
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RetiredGuy
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09/07/11 04:09pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Elk makes itself at home in Estes Park!
A few years ago, Rocky Mountain National Park (right next to Estes Park) was overrun with elk. And of course they also spread into town. There were so many elk that it upset the ecosystem. The elk ate all of the willow along the streams causing the beavers either to leave or to die. Without beaver dams and ponds, the trout population was almost destroyed, No trout meant . . . etc. Some of thought that wolves should be introduced like was done in Yellowstone but the locals objected so there were multiple controlled hunts.
In September, the elk come down out from the higher elevations to rut. It used to be possible to see thousands in the meadows. Now there still are a lot but not like before. And seeing elk in Estes Park is very common.
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RetiredGuy
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09/06/11 08:08pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Washer n Dryer usage
We debated about adding a W/D (we have a closet that would easily hold one.) We talked to many who have them and most of them use the W/D every day. The reason is that the W/D is so small. And many with a W/D still have to visit the laundry every so often to wash things that don't fit. Instead we decided to buy a small chest freezer. I have told many people that we need to do the laundry about once a week but we eat every day. We shop for food at places like Costco where the quantities are large. We have a Food Saver and we repackage things and freeze them. While going to the laundry once a week costs, we save a boatload on food by buying large quantities. Laundry once a week takes about 2 hours and it's all finished.
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RetiredGuy
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09/02/11 02:04pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: How many would......
I see plenty of huge fifth wheelers and class a motorhomes but I still have a had time understanding the appeal. If you really need all of the comforts of home why not stay home or stay at nice hotels or resorts? I would think the hotel approach would cost much less and provide even more convenience and comfort.
We went from tent to pop-up to TT to FW. Generally we don't go camping any more--we go RVing. We go south in the winter and north in the summer. We go RVing a lot of places with no hotels or resorts. And even if we stay where we could stay in a hotel or resort, we prefer to sleep in our own beds, eat our own cooking, etc. If you are going to compare the cost of RVing versus staying in a hotel, make sure to add in the extra cost of always eating in restaurants when staying in a hotel. We also backpack on occasions for a week at a time. And finally, try staying in a hotel where you can sit around a campfire in the evenings and invite you neighbors over for a drink. There is a distinct lifestyle to RVing that doesn't exist any other way.
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RetiredGuy
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08/28/11 04:58pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Electric drain gates/valves
I'm not criticizing those who have them but I have never understood why anyone would get electric dump valves. What does it do for you other than keeping you from pulling a handle to open the valve and pushing it to close? Our manual valves are so easy to open and close that my DW has no problem with it nor do I. There has to be something other than bending over enough to reach a handle that is about two feet off the ground.
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RetiredGuy
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08/28/11 03:00pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Traveling With Wine Bottles in the Wine rack
We bought some plastic wine crates at the container store. Each holds six bottles. When we travel the wine is in them with the top pointing up. We put them in the closet. The wine crates can set on their side so that the bottles are laying down.
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RetiredGuy
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08/28/11 02:44pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Near-miss at Montrose KOA
There are a few KOAs that we will stay in. These have reasonable rates and are located in places where there are few or no other choices. The reason that I try to avoid KOAs in general are:
1) They tend to be the most expensive CG in any particular area. I don't mind paying a more for the kinds of amenities that we look for in a CG but often the lower priced CG is as good or better than the KOA.
2) Try making a reservation at any KOA. Then try to cancel it far in advance. We had to cancel a KOA reservation months in advance and still got stuck with a cancellation charge. As I recall it was $10.
3) KOAs consider their CGs as "destinations" meaning they think people stay there to use their swimming pool, playground equipment, etc. Of course, they jack up the price for these things which we don't use. When we do stay in a KOA it is for a short stop.
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RetiredGuy
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08/23/11 04:33pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Rear View Camera
I have a camera on the rear of the TV and one on the rear of the FW. The one on the rear of the TV is to get lined up to hook-up. The one on the rear of FW is for backing into a site and to see if anyone is right behind me when going down the road. When backing into a site, the DW is outside with a hand-held CB giving directions. I stop backing if I can't see her either in the mirrors or the camera. Both cameras are wired. It works for us.
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RetiredGuy
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08/18/11 01:19pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Big Foot Levelers
Big foot can be install by handy man or it need special training and special tools?
I believe the jacks are welded to the frame. In some cases they need to relocate stuff inside to get the jacks in the proper place. I won't ever consider having a "handy man" install the system.
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RetiredGuy
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08/08/11 10:39am |
Fifth-Wheels
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