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RE: Be Our Guest---Resort Camping
Went to one of thse timeshare presentations in Mexico years ago and in hindsight, I wish I-pods had been invented then. Sit way in the back and crank up the tunes.
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bstark
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01/28/12 05:12pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Wellton Az experience
Now to the golf; there are two golf courses in Wellton and both are nice courses with one being a long sucker. Coyote Wash is a very nice course but the cart ride to get to the back nine is about a 1/2 mile. Not a real problem as it's on, a wide enough for two cart, pavement or concrete path. For the most part the fairways are kept lush from frequent watering and views are spectacular!
Wellton has a little mom and pop Mexican restaurant that in my opinion serves the best mexican food you're likely to encounter throughout the area.
My advice would be to stay within the Yuma/Foothills city environs and commute out for golf days.
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bstark
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01/24/12 04:31pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: AutoMate back in business
I for one hope he succeeds as the failure of Automate was discussed by owners who knew him, as hitting hard for him personally.
I even read somewhere he had contemplated suicide as he believed he'd failed his employees and loyal customer base.
One thing that seems different is Gina Wyrick...use to be able to talk to Bill fairly easy...now it seems Gina may be the voice of Automate.
You know as well as I do, Bruce...there are very few in the RV industry more innovative than Bill Wyrick...can't wait to see a 2012 5th wheel.
That's good news as this industry needs all the manufacturing integrity it can muster. he will give some of them good competition in quality, amenities AND service.
That's all good for us end users.
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bstark
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01/23/12 05:34pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: AutoMate back in business
I for one hope he succeeds as the failure of Automate was discussed by owners who knew him, as hitting hard for him personally.
I even read somewhere he had contemplated suicide as he believed he'd failed his employees and loyal customer base.
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bstark
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01/19/12 06:46pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: AutoMate back in business
With an 18 wheeler's trailer in mind...wouldn't the travel trailer pull much better (less sway) the further the axles are set back?
Yes it would. It wouldn't corner as well and you would have way to much tounge weight. Axel placement is to maintain ballance.
Somewhere in the nomenclature for the build and spec's of those trailers I read that they featured aluminum frame rails. If so that would reduce the overall weight on the rear axle of the truck significantly and also lend to towing stability with less "tail-wag".
This is probably being done to allow towing by trucks or SUV's with less than maximum CCWR ratings. Much the same idea as the earlier Airstreams. The design will work as long as they don't start adopting floorplans that move heavier items such as kitchens to the front of the frame in an effort to give something to everybody.
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bstark
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01/18/12 06:07am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Access to Furnace Blower Motor?
I am going to suggest that "most" of the later designed Suburban furnaces have placed the air movement module at the very front of the furnace just behind the outside grill with the burner and heat exchanger positioned behind that.
This design has come about through the normal evolution of the heat exchanger cabinet needing to be positioned to facilitate connection of ductwork to the "knock-out" ports.
As circuit boards, gas solenoids and blowers commonly need servicing on a more frequent basis than the exchanger itself it would be a desirable design feature to have those parts "more accessable" without actually removing the furnace from the body of the coach.
The Suburban furnaces I have personally worked on were all 35-42K BTU models and all shared the feature of being able to change out the above mentioned items without actual removal from the coach body. One presented a difficult approach to get at the gas tube connection but that would not be necessary to undo unless you were removing the furnace.
Individual servicemen may prefer to remove the furnace to place it at a more convenient working height but it shouldn't actually be necessary if your furnace is one of the later series.
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bstark
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01/16/12 08:31am |
Tech Issues
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RE: AutoMate back in business
The Automates were endowed with a few features that set them apart from the crowd and those who owned them, as an average, either kept them or traded them in on another Automate.
They originated as a non-dealer direct factory sales outfit and I believe they stayed that way, so very few would have shown up on dealer's lot's as most deals on new or used were consumated via the factory itself in California.
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bstark
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01/13/12 04:39pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: AutoMate back in business
A bit of recall on the brand:
They were noted for building a very quality oriented trailer with customer inputs during construction and they stood behind their product.
Standing behind their product to the point of providing full customer satisfaction on fairly major issues long after the rigs were out of warranty cost them dearly.
Eg; one issue was the cloth type of ceiling cover that was fastened to the roof structure aluminum cross members were showing signs of condensation having collected when prevented from entering insulation by vapour barrier then causing a type of interaction with the aluminum to turn ceilings "grey" along those attachment lines.
Consider Automate's response to those who demanded adjustment regardless of warranty expiration: They would make an oppointment with owners to bring their units back to the factory and remove all inside cabinetry that abutted up to the ceiling all ceiling fixtures such as Fantastic fans, light fixtures etc., to then remove and replace entire ceiling fabric with new, then replace all the removed items so that you essentially got a new inner ceiling with no sign the rig had ever had a problem.
The enormity of just that one endeavour with the man-hours impact on both the cost of labour and delay of building new units must have driven them to their knees!
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bstark
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01/13/12 07:55am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Indian Creek RV Resort - Fort Myers
We could have bought a nice house,in a regular subdivision. Instead we preferred a senior developement of manufactured homes. The lot rent pays for lawn care,sewer charges,lake maintence,club house,pool,spa,and maney common areas maintence. as a gated community,we have great security.Our home is beeing watched by all the neighbors,while we are gone. I just printed out the calender of events for Jan,and it will keep us busy,even though we only participate in 20% of the events.
Many posts will express this view.
Here's my opinion why; like these folks we too figured to put down roots and park the rig and explored the options of detached bungalows condos and townhomes along with foreclosures and short sales and just couldn't reconcile leaving a detached property unattended for months at a time in Florida.
Summation: when purchasing in a resort "you're buying the lifestyle not just a building".
Another part of it is: we're now at the time of our lives where saving or investing is over; we are now divesting and spending with a vengeance! You CANNOT take it with you!
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bstark
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01/12/12 06:52pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Windows sweating inside
Your heaters don't put out moisture. The condensation is from the outside of the glass being colder than the inside air causing what moisture you have in the air to turn to condensation. ****You can run the furnace once in a while instead of just using space heaters constantly and that should help reduce the moisture in the air because the furnace exhausts some of this moist air outside*****, other heaters heat the moist air we exhale when we breath. Make sure you use the exhaust fan when cooking and showering. The trick is to cut down on the moisture in the inside air. If the windows are sweating there is a chance that the walls could start sweating in enclosed places like the closets and you don't want that to happen. A little moisture on the windows are normal but if it starts running down it is too much.
The furnace uses a closed circuit system that completely separates the combustion circuit from the circulated heated air and cold air return circuit. *****There will be no exhaust of internal air to the outside of the rig through any direct means other than heated air being sent into the basement sotorage/tankage bay areas to then perhaps leak outside from there******. The combustion air for the furnace is drawn from outside and exhausted back to the outside carrying moisture released through combustion with it.
Electric heaters do not contribute to condensation however any propane open flame source such as the range cook tops and ovens or catalytic type add quite a bit of moisture content to the air as Propane is an inherently "wet" fuel.
If it were me using these inside, I would require a detector for things other than just propane inside such as both Carbon dioxide/monoxide as well as an oxygen depletion sensor built into the heater for auto shut down if oxygen depletion within the trailer becomes an issue.
I didn't say that electric heaters put out any kind of moisture. YOU put out moisture when you breath and from the pores in your skin. The electric heaters only heat the air around them-- If it is moist air they heat moist air. Maybe YOUR furnace doesn't pull any inside air when it is running but mine does through the return air vent under the fridge. LOOK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A LOUVERED PANEL NEAR YOUR FLOOR>
I would like to thank The administrator for editing this post. I sometimes get defensive when I feel like someone is making me look less intelligent. But then I regret it afterwards. I sometimes have to remember that regardless of how much we know or don't know-- everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Thanks again and I will try to be more civil.
Been awhile since I was on this thread so didn't catch this one earlier.
I tried to address your submission that running your furnace "once in awhile to reduce moisture content as it exhaust air outside" as an error. Your furnce should not be exhausting any of the internal heated air outside as it is a closed loop with cold air return ducts taking air to to furnace and heated ducts disspersing that air within the trailer again.
I even went into detail of describing the combustion cycle and it;s intake and exhauist as being completely separte from the heated air.
Now to your snarky comments of "Maybe YOUR furnace... etc.,"
Please read my answer again and nowhere will you read I stated the furnace doesn't heat and recycle the internal air, whether through cold air return ducts or a cavity return like a pocket door with an open bottom to the furnace bay. ALSO nowhere did I imply you had said electric heaters contribut in any form to the humidity in the rig.
Re-cap: my entire post was directed to describe the fact that running the furnace does nothing to reduce the moisture content of the air within the trailer as it merely re-heats inside air complete with whatever humidity it already contains in the same manner as electric heaters would do.
Your body; through the act of breathing and sweating along with the use of the shower and the use of open flame propane burners ADD moisture to the air as they create humidity as a bi-product of combustion.
If you had taken the time to read my post without immediately going postal you would have seen I agreed with the entirety of it EXCEPT your submission that running the furnace would reduce humidity through exhausting of inside air to outside. If YOUR trailer does that you're wasting propane and your trailer isn't built correctly.
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bstark
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01/12/12 06:32pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Windows sweating inside
Your heaters don't put out moisture. The condensation is from the outside of the glass being colder than the inside air causing what moisture you have in the air to turn to condensation. You can run the furnace once in a while instead of just using space heaters constantly and that should help reduce the moisture in the air because the furnace exhausts some of this moist air outside, other heaters heat the moist air we exhale when we breath. Make sure you use the exhaust fan when cooking and showering. The trick is to cut down on the moisture in the inside air. If the windows are sweating there is a chance that the walls could start sweating in enclosed places like the closets and you don't want that to happen. A little moisture on the windows are normal but if it starts running down it is too much.
The furnace uses a closed circuit system that completely separates the combustion circuit from the circulated heated air and cold air return circuit. There will be no exhaust of internal air to the outside of the rig through any direct means other than heated air being sent into the basement sotorage/tankage bay areas to then perhaps leak outside from there. The combustion air for the furnace is drawn from outside and exhausted back to the outside carrying moisture released through combustion with it.
Electric heaters do not contribute to condensation however any propane open flame source such as the range cook tops and ovens or catalytic type add quite a bit of moisture content to the air as Propane is an inherently "wet" fuel.
If it were me using these inside, I would require a detector for things other than just propane inside such as both Carbon dioxide/monoxide as well as an oxygen depletion sensor built into the heater for auto shut down if oxygen depletion within the trailer becomes an issue.
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bstark
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01/04/12 07:56am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Carriage RV's
I don't understand all the angst over the "orphan" designation either. Carriage trailers were certainly of resonable to better build quality and amenities; that didn't change because the factory ceased production.
A good used trailer of any make would have no better appeal after it's warranty is up, would it? Factory support is nice if they are doing something unique in the build process that requires repair on your trailer and that's just not the case with any of them.
Any certified, competant repair facility is going to be able to repair any of them, regardless of make, as the basic build protocols are the same across the board and present no special challenges to the repairer.
The wiring runs etc., are generic as well. the fiberglass gel-coat needs it's own repair process that has been around since god invented fiberglass boats. Roof structure? Nothing unique. Frame configuration? Well, Carriage used a proprietary frame and while that might differ in some areas the basic idea will be the same and if the frame needs work it's still going to require a removal of the fiberglass bits around the gooseneck to inspect and repair or the standard practice of "fish-plating" failures elsewhere.
All the other stuff as has been mentioned is second party provided so no big deal at all. Teton's and Travel Supreme's didn't turn into lemons when the factories closed their doors, did they?
Summation; were a used quality trailer in my headlights; a Carriage would be right up there with all of the top builders still existant.
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bstark
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12/31/11 01:34pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: How to Engineer a Gas Spring Setup?
Be sure to use mounting brackets that take the end of the assisting cylinder past the center point when the bed is down so that there is actual down force from the cylinders to counter the bed wanting to raise from going over a bumb in the road.
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bstark
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12/30/11 05:03pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Anyone have one of these?
N/H is probably the premiere builder out there now with the Spacecraft also in the hunt.
You will not read many threads regarding frame failures, wiring/plumbing problems, leaks or tanks dropping onto the road in regards to these rigs as they are built to different quality standards than the also-rans.
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bstark
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12/30/11 04:54pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: AZ & FL, a couple of differences!
"I just hate to see some snowbirds interpretation of AZ based upon a trip to that wasteland called Quartzsite or Yuma.
Its only a small part of AZ."
Hey - I like Quartzite and Yuma.
I posted that I spent 6 winters in Yuma. I don't know where anyone got the idea I hated the place.
Quatzite not so much due to my International toter truck having a clutch fan that would kick in while dragging my total 34,000lb rig through the area and send dust everywhere within 4 square miles along with filling my Air cleaner cartridge and cabin air filter. Met a lot of nice folks there, as everywhere.
Things I disliked were the dust and other stuff that is prevalent in many areas of Az AS WELL AS other states.
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bstark
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12/27/11 02:12pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: AZ & FL, a couple of differences!
This thread need not get nasty as ALL places in the world present you with something unique to see and do.
The preference criteria and import to people are as variable as the locations themselves. Objectivity is hard to maintain unless you attempt perception through a variety of differing "eyes".
Arizona entranced (incomparable sunsets for just one reason) us for 6 winters but our desires evolved through reasons of family illness and our needing to be somewhere a direct flight back to Canada could be accomplished to attend an elderly parent within hours if required You cannot accomplish that from Yuma to Toronto so Florida was chosen again.
I must clarify what many are making assumptions about; we are not beach sun bunnies, those days are long behind us as are surf fishing and kayaking along with general boating of any nature; been there and done that for 50 years or more and are now doing other stuff.
Most folks who come to Florida come because of the tourist locations advertised endlessly like Disney etc., then are amazed at the traffic and density of humanity present in all of those touristy areas, well hellooooo. We are in the center of Florida and are not finding it any denser than either of Tucson or Phoenix or Alamagordo Nm. for that matter. You like the coasts, well stands to reason there's gonna be more folks there.
You can find dense (numbers and IQ's) groups of people wherever you go and if I were to describe ATV'ing at the Imperial Sand Dunes would you understand it if I said "never again"? Would that be a fair assessment of ATV'ing in the desert? OF COURSE NOT! Nor is it fair to say there are too many people in Florida, you just haven't looked beyond the normal locations and I guarantee I could dump you into a spot near Lake Okeechobee where you'd swear you were the only folks in the area.
Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, California present the RV'er with many, many beautiful spots to vist or stay, but in our experience so to do Louisiana, Misssouri, Alabama, Georgia, British Columbia (where the real Rockies are) Prince Edward Island etc., etc..
Everybody finds their own little niche for a variety of very personal reasons. That's what makes us unique. Deciding on one does not serve to denigrate the other.
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bstark
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12/26/11 09:12am |
Snowbirds
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RE: AZ & FL, a couple of differences!
Observations of Az. Dusty, dry somewhat colourless unless they've had a wet summer which is rare. Didn't anyone tell you that 1/2 of AZ is over 5000' and mountainous. Some of the USA's largest pine forests are in AZ.
You really need to get around a bit more.
Didn't you read my post where I described myself as a "snowbird" hence; winter months? Not going 5000' up in the northern half of Az in the winter for anyone. Escaping the cold is what snowbirds do.
Fulltimers of course would have a different set of criteria and your description of Az would be very pertinent to them.
.................................
Been all through Az and also the other 48 below the 49th as well as Mexico, Europe, the British Isles and the Caribbean so I've gotten around a bit more than the average.
I thought I made "my opinion only" fairly clear for the months of travel I described.
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bstark
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12/26/11 08:42am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Had a ride in a Chevy Volt
I would be concerned about replacing the battery pack. Say in 3-5 years it has gone bad, how expensive are the battery packs? It almost certainly would not be a DIY job. And I would think the resale value on anything over 2-3 years would be nil due to projected battery replacement costs.
Other than not being able to afford the initial purchase (or lease) price, that is one of my major concerns; ending up with a vehicle whose book value is $4000, but it needs a $5000 battery change!
Then, there is the performance at 20 below zero, with the heater and defroster running. Will it still perform well?
How about at 105 degrees, with the air conditioning going full blast? Will it still perform?
If it is in an accident, and the battery pack ruptures, what kind of toxic spill will I have to pay for?
What kind of toxic waste is generated by the manufacture of the batteries?
Are the batteries easily recyclable?
Is the VEHICLE recyclable? How much petro-chemical plastic is used in the construction of the vehicle?
So many questions, so few answers at this time...
Wonderful thought process going on here. You are asking all the questions that the local GM sales guy gave me the "deer in the headlights" look after he'd spent a good fifteen minutes on his "green" schpeel.
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bstark
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12/25/11 12:03pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: AZ & FL, a couple of differences!
Living in Canada and "snowbirding" for 6 months of the year we spent three winters in Florida, two in Ft Myer's area and one in Moore Haven. We followed that with six winters in Yuma Az with time spent in the RGV (Mercedes Tx) and Chula Vista, Desert Hot Springs areas of California. We returned to Florida for last three winters and have fallen in love with it all over again.
Observations of Az. Dusty, dry somewhat colourless unless they've had a wet summer which is rare.
Seeing the desert in full bloom is rare but beautiful when it happens. Allergenic nightmare if dust and pollens are the triggers.
Golfing can be challenging for the lack of real sand in bunkers and actual topsoil for grass to grow in as most of the courses have gravel directly under the thin grass cover on the greens and fairways and smaller gravel in the bunkers.
You do NOT take divots in Arizona unless you can afford to buy new clubs every round.
Your sand wedge will be a five dollar-garage sale club.
Greens fees are inordinately high for having to golf on this stuff.
Florida; lush green verdent growth easily found anywhere.
Limited dust problems.
I have enjoyed the multitude of golf courses availabe at very reasonable rates indeed. Tee times are not a problem here.
Costs for amenities and services are very comparable to Az. and I'm not experiencing those higher prices others have made claims over, but then i haven't hung out near either coast at the touristy traps either.
Weather is a change-up experince in comparison to Az as one year you might have a cooler winter or like this winter I'm sitting here in mid eighties typing this on Christmas Day while friends in Yuma are wearing long pants and sleeves.
RGV well; having purchased a rig with two large awnings on one side of the unit to not be able to deploy either of them to set up the optional screen rooms due to constant winds; won't go back.
Yes Texans are friendly and are experiencing less 'outright arrogance' from their illegal population than Arizona does.
I have not experienced undue chagrin or ill treatment in any of my snowbird locales from it's native citizens.
I'm back in Florida after 6 winters in the Southwest and loving it enough we got rid of the RV and bought a sticks and bricks to winter in.
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bstark
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12/25/11 11:55am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Dealer Allowing Test Drives of Sold MH
Do you really have the option to walk? Is the deposit refundable?
That's the other side of this conundrum no one has mentioned yet.
He's ordered a rig and placed a deposit. Unless the contract stipulates a 'no reason required' cancellation with return of deposit; it would be my belief he'd have to show reason why the rig does not fulfill the contract agreed to.
It's still new as explained by titling details of other posters. Dealer was still in posession to perform PDI descoverd issues so he's perfoming his part of the contract. Rig (I assume) shows no damage from being "demonstrated" so it's still deemed "whole and intact".
Maybe this isn't as simple as getting all huffy and walking out the door, unless a penalty is attached as in, loss of deposit.
My advice remains; call the dealer on his behaviour but do it with care. Provide the dealer with an 'out' by suggesting he provide you with a goody or two and be on your way.
Lastly; this will all fade into your rear-view mirror's the very first time you enjoy the thing, and even more so the first time you put a ding on it yourself!
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bstark
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12/22/11 09:25am |
General RVing Issues
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