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RE: kayaks vs canoes
The most versatile will be a canoe. The easiest will be a Sit-On-Top (aka SOT). The most expensive a salt water style Kayak (long, heavy, designed for BIG water). The hardest, small white water kyak. For the beginner, if you are looking for something to travel the back waterways and lakes, then I would recommend a good canoe... And you could easily take you, the wife and the dogs. Personally, I have 16.5' Wenonah Kevlar Rendevous that weighs in at 36lbs. It is one off custom that I picked up many years ago. I have had in the Puget Sound and in some Class II stuff with no problems. I have also had an original Old Town Tripper, an 18' monster. Have had this baby in the Puget Sound as well as well loaded up with 5 adults. Weighed in around 80lbs, but I could manage solo with proper technique.
Don't have much experience with inflatables, other than the few I have seen that were flat or saggy. Not to say a quality one might be ok? And honestly, that will be the key between a long enjoyable life on the water and a few why did we do this moments.
My recommendation, go to a paddling event. They will be starting up in a few months and are like an RV show for canoes/kayaks, except you get to try them out. Check with your local outfitter, they can usually tell you when. It's a lot of fun, you can learn a ton, there are usually classes and exhibitions and you will really have a great time!
HC
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WHS
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01/31/12 04:11pm |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Other than outdoor showers, what don't you use (and why?)
Love my oven... I will get some pre-made cookie dough and then at night bake me a little snacky, mmm mmm mmm, plus makes the trailer smell really good just before I go to bed.
As far as what I don't use.
TV antenna (have no TV).
Microwave (once in 6 years).
Stereo/CD changer only gets used when I am cleaning up unit in driveway after long trip.
Outdoor shower - If you have dogs, you will use it! If you are a sportsman, you will use it! I use it.
Coax Cable input/output - No TV! NO NO NO
Convertable bunk over is storage area, never has been slept on, but opened for easy access to store larger stuff's.
Thats about it
HC
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WHS
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01/31/12 03:55pm |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: ABS LIGHT ON
Unlike passenger cars and pickups using OBD systems, the large over-the-road manufactures can still use proprietary systems. So, yes you may have to go to Cat, or find an independent that has invested in the Cat equipment. This is not abnormal...
Good luck
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WHS
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01/31/12 11:53am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: New to towing -confirm modifications needed
There has been some really good advise given, and I would especially concur with Gman22...
Here is what I would recommend. Get out to the RV dealers and hit some RV shows. DONT BUY! Just spend some time with the kids and the dog and check out some of the smaller units. Seriously, pull out the beds and set it up just like you would for a night out. You might just be surprised. I have a nice little 17' Trailer, its 8' wide, has a gaucho and a nice 4 person dinette. But gets really cramped with more than two people (other than dinner). In fact, I had some friends kids stay over and between me and the three boys, it was packed. My friends of course stayed outside in my spare tent. Then check out a few tent trailers and you might just be pleasantly surprised.
Good luck and Have Fun!
skip
p.s. Bears are not a problem, as long as you use common sense and follow a few simple rules. I have spent many a night in bear, cougar, wolf country in just a little tent without any problems.
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WHS
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01/26/12 05:20pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Rear end bounce
Three words, It's a Dodge.
Ha ha, ok just kidding... Let's try these three words, Coil Spring Suspension.
Play with the weights and tire pressures, but it may be inherent to the design.
Good luck
HC
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WHS
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01/26/12 04:50pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Best way to lift a trailer for bigger tires?
Wow, are you sure you really want to do this? I would just recommend replacing the******tires and roll on... Because you have to remember the gap between the tires as well. If the tires get to close, it will create it's own set of problems, not too mention fitting them into the wheel wells.
Best of luck, but sounds like you should have figured this out before you laid out the cash...
HC
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WHS
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01/26/12 04:33pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Cummins Responsibility -- or Balderdash?
Here's a good story. I purchased a used Remington shotgun from a pawn shop (my favorite gun places to shop). Anyhow, after many a missed shot I finally noticed that the barrell was ever so slightly bent. I contacted Remington, and told them exactly what I bought and where. They said, We don't care, we guarantee the product not the person, send it in. So, I did. End result, a new barrel was installed for free. I have since bought two more Remingtons and recommend them to anybody who asks. They could have just as easily told me to take a hike, but they did not. Too bad more corporations are not like that... I guarantee you, if Cummins treated people like Remington does, we would all be driving them.
WHS
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WHS
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11/17/11 05:01pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Wife Sad Now
There will always be a bigger and better RV than what you have. Just keep this in mind... happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want.
Well put! I like that quote sonicsix and I hope you don't mind if I borrow it.
And I am another one of the no-slide crowd. My little 17'er has all the amenities of a larger RV, just not as much room. However, I spend most of my time outdoors. The inside is for sleeping, showering and some cooking. I only eat at the dinette when it's pouring down rain, and even then if it's not too windy, I sit under the awning.
My advise, get a good set of comfortable outdoor chairs, a couple of nice small end tables (I have a nice little fold up one) put out the awning and enjoy.
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WHS
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08/31/11 04:56pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Load question
Unless you are very close to your max or only have front or rear storage, 500#'s is not going to make a huge difference either way... As long as your hitch set up is correct, I agree pack it where you are going to use it.
WHS
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WHS
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08/31/11 04:26pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Funny Campfire Story
So, just a couple of weeks ago I was caught out in a thunder and lightning storm. I was up camping and quading for a week with my brother... I had pulled over to wait for him when we were out riding, when I started hearing the thunder rolling... It was constant, I mean a solid 5 minutes of just booming. It was really cool... Then Bill pulled up, and I was like "shut it down bro and listen, it's just awesome".. Now mind you, we were about 10 minutes or so from camp. Anyhow, we sat there listening for awhile, when it started to rain... So we just moved over under a tree, thinking it was just a little passing shower... NOPE. It started to just pour and the sky became alive with lightning, constant rumbling and crackling... It was awesome! That is until the first strike hit! We ended up with our helmets on, trying to stay as dry as we could, huddling under a couple of trees in the forest, just wondering what the h#*%... It went on for a solid 30 minutes of this incredible display of natures power, including another couple of BIG strikes, very close! It actually turned pretty scary. After it rolled through, we waited for a little longer and hauled *#$% back to camp... Only to find that my brother had left the vent open on his brand new camper, right over the bed of course. I can't say it was funny, but we laughed anyways... We were alive!!
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WHS
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08/24/11 05:17pm |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Keep it clean!
We just purchased a used RV that looks like it has never been used, although it has.
How do you keep yours looking like new?
What are your favorite cleaning products?
Thanks for sharing.
Ask the previous owners (if you can), sounds like they know what they are doing :)
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WHS
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08/23/11 05:11pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Ordering a custom-built trailer: do's and don'ts??
Try to find a nice Nash 17C... Might just be perfect.
However, honestly from reading your posts and the type of camping you do, I would seriously recommend looking into a good slide in camper. They are no harder to unload and set up than a travel trailer. Also, if you want to stay with a smaller set up, you can even go with a new 4-Wheel pop-up or even an Alaskan camper. Talk about a nice set up. Check out last months Trailer Life for a great write up on this very thing.
Good luck and have fun
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WHS
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08/22/11 04:57pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: tow vehicle shocks
My truck was similar with OEM shocks - very hard ride when not towing and spongy when hitched. Several years ago I installed a set of Bilstein shocks ordered specifically for my truck and the ride was a lot better with far less sway when towing. Paid about $60.00 each with a lifetime guarantee. My next truck will also have Bilsteins, and the next, and the next....
BINGO
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WHS
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08/22/11 04:22pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: RV burglery
Had a 1965 Apache Tent Trailer that I was in the process of restoring. Had the original canvas, just had a new road cover made and was getting ready to order and replace the slide pieces and all the clips. Went out back one day and guess what.. Yup it's gone. I reported it, but not insured, since it was not worth much, in fact I traded an old Snap-On tool box for it... A couple of weeks later it was found, upside down in a ditch. Seems they figured out just what they really had, so they dumped it. I suspect it was some local kids that thought they were going to get a "real" trailer to use in the boonies as a party barn... Too bad really, because it damaged beyond what I was willing to fix. Sold it as is for $125 and that was that...
Now heres the funny part. I will lock down the tongue on my new TT, but leave the door unlocked... Life in a small town eh'.
HC
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WHS
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08/22/11 03:01pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Newbie Question about Water
My trailer was set up with a full water tank. It is 42gal at the very front of the trailer, so it makes a big difference as to how it travels, full to empty. So, I will travel with a full tank and will fill up before I leave an area if water if available. Difference is, 90% of my camping is in areas that have no water, in fact most are not even "campsites". If I am going to be gone over a week, I will even pack in an extra 6gal.
HC
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WHS
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08/22/11 02:30pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Propane Question
One more piece of advise. If you turn off your propane at the tank(s), when turning them back on, do so slowly. To quick and you can create an air lock condition. Have had this happen, during the winter and had to cycle the furnace ten times before it would fire.
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WHS
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08/20/11 04:22pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: most fuel efficient towing of a 20' camper?
Given your parameters, what you are asking is not impossible. I guess it would really depend on how minimalist you are willing to go. As stated, the VW Touregg (sp?) would be a good vehicle that will get you the mileage you want unloaded, but still be able to tow a decent sized trailer all over the country (and thats the key).
However, if you were willing to scale back a bit, you could easily get yourself a nice 2WD small pickup and a very small, but still self-contained trailer and still meet your goals. The Casita style, small, round, easy tow, minimalist type trailer can be pulled by these vehicles. Heck, for that matter, most small sport utes can tow them as well. And if money is not an issue, then you could even get yourself a nice Airstream Bambi... Easy towing, aerodynamic and liveable.
Good luck
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WHS
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08/20/11 03:51pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: What to do with no sewer hookup
Since you are new, the best advise I can offer is this... Start learning conservation skills! There has been a lot of great advise given already. The more you camp, the more you will learn. Eventually it will just become second nature. Heck, I routinely boondock, with no gennie or solar, for several days at a time and dont need to charge or dump.
In addition to the aforementioned;
One light on at a time and you don't really need an outside light do you?
Trickle the water.
I use my coffee cup to wash dishes (hot soapy water in the cup is enough) and will rinse into a pot... Then I use that water to "flush" the toilet.
As far as the dumping grey and black. A lot depends on where you are at and how you do it. I mean, I have zero problem dumping grey on the ground... However, in large busy campgrounds, I can certainly see why this would be a bad idea. In the uncivilized world... I don't sweat it.
HC
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WHS
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08/18/11 04:15pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Generator noise
Here's a thought... Just imagine the people next to you vacuuming outside their camper for hours on end.
HC
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WHS
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08/18/11 11:16am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Water pump in 5th wheel
Need a little more info. Do you have a by-pass that you are attempting to draw straight from the bottle or are you adding anti-freeze directly to the fresh water tank?
If you are drawing from another source, than the most likely problem are either a) sucking air from a poor connection or b) you may need to "prime" the extension first.
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WHS
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08/17/11 01:48pm |
General RVing Issues
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