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RE: Posting New Topic Problem?
You can also go to the www.goodsamclub.com site, then click on Community and go to the "forum". It works as wel, without any problems for me. About one out of 10 posts will go through on RV.net for me the last few weeks. All the portals end up here at the same place.
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joe b.
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05/24/12 03:20pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: colo springs & grand junction rv park suggestions
We have stayed at the Monument RV Resort and the GJ KOA in the past, both are very nice, easy to get to off the Interstate. There are several more in the Grand Junction area.
In Colorado Springs, the last stay we were at the Garden of the Gods RV park. I have mixed feeling about the place. Some of the sites are very nice and you have some room, others, like we got, were crowded and since it was raining, was very muddy. It is handy to Manitou Springs or CS. The KOA is nice as well for an overnight stay, plus the Camping World store is just down the frontage street, a ways if you need any RV supplies.
For the most part when we are in the Springs area, we stay in Woodland Park, just up the hill from the Springs. My wife grew up there and in Manitou, so it is a required place to visit. LOL Woodland park is much more laid back than is CS and the campgrounds are the same in attitude. We plan to spend a few days in Colorado Springs this summer and may try to get a reservation at Cheyenne Mtn. State park, just to try it.
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joe b.
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05/24/12 08:43am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Beer & wine in Canada & Alaska
Taking beer and wine to Canada is much like hauling coal to Pittsburgh. I am not much of a wine drinker but some of the wines of southern Ontario are great. Especially the "ice" wines where the grapes are harvested after the first frost of fall. Should be able to buy any type wine you desire in any of the provinces or territories.
Canada makes "real" beer, actually has taste and alcohol at a much higher level than most in the US. Many micro breweries as well. The one in Whitehorse, Yukon Brewery is my favorite of any I have ever visited, anywhere. The Yukon Red, just the thought is enough to make me drool. Never found it anywhere but in Yukon.
Just plan to visit any of the package stores in any of the provinces and spend an hour or so browsing. Most of the store clerks I have with have been very knowledgeable about their products. Many products from different Commonwealth nations, that we don't get here in the US, at least in Florida. Bermuda Black Seal rum is cheaper in Canada, than what I can buy it for here in Florida. Black Seal mixed with ginger beer, is a nectar fit for the Gods. LOL
Part of my travel experiences, usually includes trying the local foods and drinks, whenever possible, Canada included;
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joe b.
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05/23/12 11:00am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Red Dale Resurrection
Red Dale, not a name I have heard in a long time. We bought this one in the late 70s in Fairbanks. Pulled it one trip on the Alaska Hwy and then around the state for a couple of summers. In the early 80s, 1981 or 82, we moved it to our river front property, just upstream on the Kenai Rive, a mile of so above Soldotna Alaska. The spring shackles on both sides broke and had to be replaced and had a few leaks as well. Finally sold the 5th wheel and the property.
We had a bunk model Class C for traveling outside with, and a truck camper to take on fishing trips, in state or other short runs. We lived in Nenana Alaska at the time and just spent fishing time at the trailer, mainly in the summer time.
http://www.pajbcooper.com/Red_Dale_5th._wheel_on_our_Kenai_River_lot.jpg
Here was another fall or early spring photo of my wife at the Red Dale. Someone had broken into the trailer, (see the plastic taped over the door glass) and had taken the fire extinguisher. That was all that was missing. No one around us had a fire that I knew of so that is a strange item to steal IMHO.
http://www.pajbcooper.com/Pat_at_the_5th._wheel.jpg
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joe b.
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05/23/12 10:29am |
Truck Campers
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RE: us 50
Beautiful scenery along that route for the most part. The highway follows the Arkansas River for the first part of the route, just west of Canon City to about Salida. Monarch is a nice pull in the summer time and my favorite east-west pass in the winter, as well. You have room to slide off the road in most places without dropping 500 ft. LOL On west of Gunnison there are a couple of lesser pulls, in the Blue Mesa area and then Cerro Summit, not too far before you get to Montrose and turn north. Cerro again is one of those sections of road that is fine in the summer, but can get down right spooky in winter weather at times. The years we lived in Ouray Colorado, numerous times through out the year I had to make trips to the Springs and/or Denver. A very pleasant drive most of the time.
The Arkansas River, last June.
http://www.pajbcooper.com/IMG_0116%20(Medium).JPG
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joe b.
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05/23/12 05:43am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Cost of new Duramax
I just purchased a new 2011, Chevy 3500, CC, 4 by, DuraMax, long bed, DRW. It had a window sticker of just over $60,000 on it. Frightning.... but I ended up paying close to the $50,000 price. The hard model for me to find around here, was the long bed with everything else I wanted on it. Lots of the dealers had the short bed models,diesel one ton duallies, or spected out as work trucks, but this was the only one I could find in this area, found one in Miami but I wanted a local dealer. Checked with Dodge, Ford, GMC and then Chevy. It is the first Chevy truck I have ever owned, many of their cars but not trucks. So far in 850 miles, I am impressed with it. The size takes a bit of getting used to driving around town, as my trade in was a Dodge Cummins, 3/4 ton two wheel drive extended cab. (130,000 miles on the Dodge and the dealer had it sold in 3 days)
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joe b.
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05/22/12 09:00am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: International Calls
We normally communicate with family and other over the Internet, available in most communities. For phones we generally will buy a prepaid phone card at one of the big box stores and use pay phones in Canada. Pay phones are much more available in Canada than they are in the US these days. I had the AT&T Canada plan but all it did was reduce the roaming charge to $.58 a minuted plus the long distance charge. We normally turn off our cell phones at the border till we get to Alaska.
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joe b.
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05/21/12 03:58pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Where to stay on the Kenai Penninsula.
Pick up one of the Fred Meyer customer cards at any store. It is good for a fuel discount and is tied to the dollars you spend. Last year in Fairbanks, we were getting a dime a gallon off the posted price. Safeway is also a good store card to have.
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joe b.
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05/21/12 02:03pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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Copper Center Lodge Destroyed by fire
One of the oldest of the highway lodges was consumed by fire, Sunday morning. It was one of the main places, we like to stop when RVing in that part of the state. We would often plan to spend the night at a campground in the Glennallen area and the next morning, on the way to Valdez, we would stop for breakfast at the Lodge. Sad to see that happen to such a piece of history.
http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/18672138/article-Bad-wiring-suspected-in-fire-at-historic-Alaska-roadhouse?instance=home_news_window_left_top_4
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joe b.
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05/21/12 11:53am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Money Exchange
I tend to stop at the first bank after crossing over into Canada and take out $400 at their ATM. It will last me till the return trip, where I will do the same. Some of the cash usages we have are at an ice cream shop, a bar, quick foods, some of the campgrounds use a "drop the funds in the Pipe" method, occasionally I will run across someone selling hand made items I wish to buy, etc. Any remaining Canadian funds, I will use the last day or so of the return trip, to buy fuel. Last summer I had about $40cnd left over which I will take back next time.
You can run into situation where a more remote gas station, may have a credit card machine not working and they only will accept cash. Doesn't happen too often but I have had it occur to us. Not too difficult to put $150 to $180cnd of diesel in my tank.
We have two of the zippered bank money pouches. One we keep US dollars in and the other has Canadian dollars. Canadian businesses are much better about taking US dollars than US businesses are about taking Canadian dollars. the discount rate won't be in your favor normally.
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joe b.
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05/21/12 10:52am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Traveling thru Colorado
We used to live in western Colorado, Ouray, prior to moving here to the swamp country. Just a matter of taking it easy and really watch your speed. Make sure your supplemental brake in your Jeep is working as well. My wife and I used to tow a Grand Cherokee over the passes headed east. Sometimes we would use I 70 and other times we would drop down and take Hwy 50 across Monarch Pass instead. Then you can cut across from Colorado Springs to Limon and get back on I 70 if that is your desire.
We would often unhook the Cherokee and my wife would drive it over the passes. Just easier on everything, IMHO, to do this. Doesn't take long with the modern tow bars to connect and disconnect.
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joe b.
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05/20/12 02:14pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Crossing with Bear Spray Onboard
Bear spray canisters, will have that in large print on the can, "Bear Spray" and will have a photo of a grinning bear. There is a minimum size, too big to fit in your pants pockets, about the size of a soda can that can be taken across the border. Last trip I stopped at Sportsman's Wholesale Store in Grand Prairie. They had it for sale there so you would know it was the correct size, etc. I was looking for bug head nets and other bug paraphernalia, to me a much more vicious critter, than the bear. LOL
Here is an example that Amazon sells that I believe meets the criteria to cross the border, either direction.
http://www.amazon.com/Guard-Alaska%C2%99-Bear-Defense-Spray/dp/B0018XTIX8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337525490&sr=8-2
Make sure you read the directions and how you would plan to use the product. Don't spray it up wind as it will come back on you. Then you not only have a very angry bear, but you won't be able to see, to try and escape.
Also if you have to use the spray, leave the area as soon as possible as the lingering smell of the spray, seems to attract bears.
Bear spray, like firearms, are a tool of last resort IMHO. Use good judgment, stay alert in bear country, store food properly, always hike with someone that is a slower runner than you are, don't let children run ahead on the trail, make some noise on the hike, etc. Wild bears normally don't want anything to do with humans, unless surprised or they feel threatened or challenged in their territory.
I had an old Yupik guy (Eskimo), that I used to hunt with in Alaska, tell me that when God was making all the animals, he made too many rabbit brains. Rather than throw them out, he put the left over rabbit brains in bears. Explains why you can never count on what a bear will do next. LOL
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joe b.
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05/20/12 09:12am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: I-10 to Orlando
I wonder if I will ever learn how to spell the name of that town in Louisiana? Breaux Bridge. LOL
http://www.pajbcooper.com/IMG_0218%20(Small).JPG
We had been driving in the rain for several hours when we stopped for the night at Poche's RV. Some standing water from the rain, but not any problems with getting into our site. Lots of room to back, probably could put a 45 ft rig in most of their sites. Several man made fish lakes that you can fish for a fee. Nice pool area and well managed, friendly folks.
http://www.pajbcooper.com/IMG_0068%20(Medium).JPG
We were there in mid June and not at all crowded.
The pool has showers as part of the building
http://www.pajbcooper.com/IMG_0217%20(Small).JPG
We have stayed at the Hilltop RV Park, just east of Mobile, around Loxley (closer to Robersdale, Alabama, County Rd 64 exit off of I 10) and it is very acceptable to us. Last summer we stopped at the Tallahassee RV Park for one night. It is also on the south side of the Interstate and just a few blocks off, enough there isn't any road noise that we noticed.
The Tallahassee RV Park.
http://www.pajbcooper.com/IMG_0057%20(Medium).JPG
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joe b.
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05/19/12 05:47pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: I-10 to Orlando
We were over I 10 last summer, 2011, from Florida to Beaux Bridge and it was majorly improved. The previous time we were over it, in about 2004, we swore never to use it again, due to being so rough in general. But last summer, we were trying to dodge tornado activity in the middle of the country so stayed south on I 10. While not in perfect shape, it was a much improved ride where we didn't feel we were going to damage our RV. Stayed at Poche's RV park and fish camp in Beaux Bridge, a nice campground that I would return to without hesitation. It was about 6 miles off the Interstate to the north.
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joe b.
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05/19/12 08:05am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Maiden voyage, short but nice...pic's!
Actually she is tired of making the trip to/from Alaska. We have done over 20 round trips in our married life, 13 of them by RV, the rest by car or truck. Then several more by small aircraft following the Alaska Hwy up. We had a couple of Class A's but we neither cared much for them. Used one for the 2 1/2 years we full timed it.
The TC is perfect for running around fishing in the north country. We used to keep a 5th wheel on our river front lot on the Kenai River, just upstream from Soldotna, a TC for short trips and a Class C for our longer trips, especially if we went outside.
My wife and I are both pilots and each had our own aircraft for a number of years while we were living in bush Alaska. Before she got her license, she was very comfortable flying with me. But after she got her license in Anchorage one summer, she came to realize how much I enjoy pushing the envelope when bush flying and was convinced we were both going to die because of it. So two planes it was. LOL
One grayling fishing trip, I was able to catch the limit that I wanted. Had one of the fishing vests with the pouch on the back to store the fish in. Somehow I didn't get all the fish out and stuffed my vest in a corner of the TC. In a few days she started complaining about something stinking. When she finally tracked down the source, I really heard about it. Guess that is what happens when you marry a city girl. LOL
We have both found, that as we get older, comfort has become more important. She doesn't like to fish, right up there with moose and bear hunting with her, especially in the cold or the rain. But it works for us to have our own hobbies, and has for almost 40 years. I do miss the fishing in the north country, especially the shee and grayling fishing, my favorites.
The Paxson Lake area is good fishing both in the fall and spring time. Just when the lake is starting to thaw and has water around the outside the ice, the lake trout, big ones, are in the shallow water and hungry. Toss a lure or fly out on the ice and pull it slowly back off the ice into the water. The trout are just waiting for something to hit the water.
In the fall, just before freeze up there is a nice run of steelhead up the Gulkana River headed for Paxson Lake. Never saw anyone else there, when I would go over to fish it. I usually took my Folbot Kyak with me to fish out of or my Archiles inflatable depending.
Grayling in the second and third Tangle lake, south of the road have some of the biggest one I have found anywhere in Alaska. Some real small dry flies and late in the evening, it just doesn't get any better. The campground on the north side is BLM and is free to boondock there. Take plenty of bug dope.
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joe b.
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05/17/12 03:41pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Marvel Mystery Oil (MMO)
I grew up on a ranch in southern Oklahoma and my dad was a real believer in MMO, especially in the crankcase of farm equipment. After I moved from home, probably 10 years later, I bought a new Buick, V6 with a turbo. Nice running car till the lifters started sticking and clattering. Took it back to the Buick dealer and they changed the oil in it and all was fine, for about 300 to 400 miles. I took it back and they again did the oil change, same story. The service manager told me he was going to change it again but this time he was going to replace one quart of the oil with MMO. Not a sound out of the lifter for the full 3000 mile oil change interval. I took it back to the dealer for the next oil change and this time they didn't put the MMO in the oil. Within 300 miles the lifters were sticking again. So the dealer pulled a quart of oil out and replaced it with MMO. Solved the problem again. So after that the Buick got a quart of MMO with every oil change. Why it worked I have no idea, but it did work.
I keep it on hand to oil pneumatic tools, works great. With my previous truck, 2002 Dodge Cummins, I carried a couple of quarts with me in case I got a load of "hot" fuel and the Cummins started to detonate and ping. Dump a quart in with the fuel and within ten miles the engine was sounding and running fine.
No magic there, it just added oil to the dry fuel I had purchased. Remember having to do this, when I filled up at a station next door to an airport, that did a lot of jet traffic. I suspect some fuel delivery driver, just dumped the remains of the Jet A or B he had on his truck in the station's diesel tank rather than take it back to their depot.
It's fairly cheap, smells good, looks good and I tend to believe it works for some tasks, so I keep some on hand. LOL
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joe b.
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05/17/12 01:05pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Maiden voyage, short but nice...pic's!
Nice, there is something really special about catching a fish, of any kind, on a fly you tied yourself. Give the steelhead fishing a try this fall when the weather conditions are about the same as you had on this trip. You talk about a rainbow trout with an attitude problem, the steelhead is it. LOL The Lab looks to be a seasoned camper and ready to go again.
When my wife and I were first married, in Alaska, she would go with me on trips like this, but now after almost 40 years, when invited to go, all I get is the comment, "have fun, I will see you when you get back." LOL
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joe b.
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05/16/12 11:22am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Spring time in Alaska (a trip report from the road)
Ah, springtime in Alaska. Thanks for the photos. Steve it sounds like you are a busy man. Bet you did enjoy the route you took to and from Fairbanks. I am always surprised, with talking to Anchorage residents, how many of them have never made that drive. Over the Glenn Hwy to Glennallen, the Richardson north to Delta and on into Fairbanks. Then southbound on Intestate A-4, also known as the Parks Highway/Alaska route 3. LOL
I like moose, right next to the mashed potatoes. Usually anywere there are young willow trees/bushes you will find moose munching away. Must be their favorite food source. Beavers are good eating as well, more fat like bear meat. Those damm beavers can sure make a mess when they flood somewhere people don't want flooded.
If you make the same route this summer you can take some contrasting photos to have showing the two seasons and the differences. Thanks again.
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joe b.
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05/15/12 05:29am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Puncture precautions - what do you do?
AnEv942, that is a nice tool the guy is using to break the bead on the tire. Any idea as to who makes the tool or where one might be available? I see that Amazon has some with the same general idea, but not as adjustable as the one in the video. Wonder if it would work with an alloy wheel without damaging the wheel?
I know that 90% of all tire problems occurs during the last 10% of the tread life but there is still that remaining 10% that had my name on it last summer.
After driving the Alaska Hwy for almost 50 years now, and having virtually no tire problems ever, I just got over confident in my tires not having problems, and didn't take my air compressor with me.
If that bead breaker isn't too expensive I might like to have one, might keep me from ever needing to use it. LOL
On Edit: Found the tool on the Internet. It is made in Australia and sells for $153 + change, by the time they get it to their dealers here. Think I will have to pass on it for now. LOL, I guess I was thinking more like $39.95 or close to that.
www.tyrepliers.com.au
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joe b.
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05/14/12 02:29pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Camper Blocking Factory Installed Satellite Radio Antenna
After a good bit of Internet research on this matter, I found it got somewhat complicated quickly. I looked at Netboy's site (great site, that I have taken many ideas from in the past) but found he has a mid 2000 GMC truck that used 2 roof antennas. A satellite radio one and his OnStar one.
Apparently, my single cab roof shark fin antenna, is a combination of XM radio and OnStar and has two leads off of it. The XM antenna was easy to find as it is behind the glove box on my Chevy, as mentioned above and on Netboys site, with a photo.
Easy to unplug but I was not able to find anyone selling an external XM antenna, that had the yellow FAKRA connector, that GM used to connect the antenna to the back of the XM radio receiver. Most 3rd party XM antenna use a "SMB" connector. Some XM antenna terminate with a "pink" FAKRA connector but I read that the yellow one and the pink one are not interchangeable.
So I ordered from Amazon, a Belkin F5X004 auto antenna with magnetic base, to place on the front fender.
Then I ordered from TSS-Radio, an adapter to go from SMB to universal FAKRA. Hopefully this will work and we can listen to the XM radio, with the TC on the truck.
The plugging and unplugging of the XM antenna from the radio should be a two minute job from the looks of it. One minute to empty and replace the junk in the glove box and one minute to actually change antenna leads to the radio.
We will see when I receive the newly ordered parts.
Thanks to everyone for their comments, as it gave me some good starting point to begin my researching.
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5X004-Auto-Antenna-XM/dp/B000E7WI0O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336999685&sr=8-1
http://www.tss-radio.com/products/smb-to-universal-fakra-connector
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joe b.
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05/14/12 06:50am |
Truck Campers
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