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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Two Nights in Palm Springs Area - RV Resort help
Hi Chris, it's Jim in Ontario Canada. We found there is really nothing that is reasonable in Palm Springs unless you go up to Desert Hot Springs and we feel it's not nice up there. There's no middle priced RV parks. It's either high end or low end. That could be a tough find. Maybe you're better staying outside of Palm Springs somewhere. Looking forward to seeing you at the end of Nov.
JIM
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toban
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09/26/11 09:34pm |
Snowbirds
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I-29 freeway south towards Omaha NE
We are leaving here in a few weeks and noticed on the Iowa state road condition maps that I-29 is closed because of flooding or alot of repairs are being done.
We will be coming down Highway 75 from the north in Iowa towards Sioux City Iowa. We want to go to a campground in North Sioux City SD just north of where highway 75 comes into Sioux City Iowa. All I can see are ramps closed to try and get onto I-29 north to the KOA campground for the night. So, that's the first question, what is the best route to get onto I-29 north from highway 75 north?
Second question is: Can you get over the bridge in Sioux City Iowa in order to get onto highway 77 south? Is this a good highway if we want to skip I-29 in Iowa because of all the flooding problems and go down to Gretna NE where there is a Flying J I always stop at?
I've done alot of reasearch on this but have never travelled highway 77 south of Sioux City. I hope one can get over the bridge there on the Missouri river?
Thanks again.
Toban
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toban
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09/18/11 10:15am |
Roads and Routes
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Changing electrical element in water heater?
I have a suburban 10 gal DE water heater. I have never changed the electrical element out. I flush it once a month. The heater element is working alright but was wondering if I should change it? It's been there since 2005. What is involved in changing it?
Toban
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toban
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09/04/11 08:16pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Catalina Spa & Resort
I appreciate and respect your opinion on this park at Palm Springs but the bottom line is, yes, it's an old park with old wiring. When we pulled in there, a person on the next site from Wisconsin said he was pulling out because he just burned up his microwave because of low voltage. We have found many people have no idea what kind of voltage they are dealing with in parks. The lower the voltage, the higher the amperage and the more heat is created on all your appliances. We had a work camper come and see us when we were there as the office sent him over. He verified the park has a problem with the electric. I would say the office would never say anything about it. As I said, most people have no idea what the voltage is going into their unit as they don't have a voltage meter. I have a 40 ft MH and no way would it run safely on the power which was provided at the post. Many people just don't say anything and try and live with it. Encore do not maintain their parks very well. Anyway, I was really upset when the work camper said that's as good as it gets here sort of thing and drove away and so did I.
This has been my experience there.
Toban
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toban
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08/31/11 09:04pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Catalina Spa & Resort
We moved out of Palm Springs Oasis as the voltage there was just awful. They put in new 50 AMP posts but still had the old wiring. With nothing plugged in more than my inverter my voltage was at 116 volts. When I put on a heater, it was at 105 Volts. My surge protector cuts out at 105 Volts. I remember going into the office and asking about this and one of the people there said, does the low voltage burn up microwaves like it did mine yesterday. The park was only half full and it was in December. Could you imagine what the voltage would be when it was full or hot? They had a work camper come over and he was frustrated and admitted they have old wiring and yes they have poor voltage but most people he said aren't aware of the damage it can do and don't say anything until there's damage. He said the park knows about it but hadn't done anything to rewire the park. And, yes, he did mention they had main breaker problems. We got our deposit back and left pronto.
Toban
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toban
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08/25/11 10:03pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Canadian Snowbirds and the Close Connection Form
99% of the people don't fill them out because they don't think it's an issue. As I said, I've been told by my accountant of 2 of his clients being approached and the fun begins.
Toban
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toban
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08/11/11 10:38am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Canadian Snowbirds and the Close Connection Form
Don8ch:
I think you are wasting your time with an answer.
Let's just drop the subject.
Toban
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toban
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08/08/11 07:56pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Canadian Snowbirds and the Close Connection Form
How many people here who have answered my post have actually seen and read the closer connection form? I'm assuming from some reactions, there are alot of assumptions on the pupose of the form without reading it first. They are basic questions but I feel it's worth filing this than wonder what to do if I am picked and approached in the future. I carry the previous years forms with me when I'm crossing the border also.
Oh well, I thought I would just let my fellow snowbirds know with a heads up on the situation.
Toban
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toban
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08/07/11 05:58pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Canadian Snowbirds and the Close Connection Form
I was expecting to hear, "I'm not filling out any forms"! I know of 3 people who have been approached. I don't know them personally but have been told by good sources they have been approached. It's up to everyone to make their choices. I'm just telling you, you don't want to be challenged by the IRS as they have penalties for not filing. They have the freedom to do whatever they want to collect what they think is due to them at this point because of you being there longer than their law states as a Canadian. A tax lawyer is your next step. If you look at the form, it's very simple with no questions that are evasive. It just determines you have a closer connection to Canada than the U.S.
Instead of slufffing it off as many do, go to the Snowbird website and read it in detail. This is not fictional. Of course, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, so continue on if that is what one wants to do.
I'm just trying to put a heads up to all my fellow Snowbirds.
Toban
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toban
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08/07/11 07:44am |
Snowbirds
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Canadian Snowbirds and the Close Connection Form
I assume everyone who is in the U.S for more than 182 days over a 3 year period are filling out the "Closer Connection" form and sending it into the IRS before June 15 the following year? If not, you better think about it. It's available on the IRS website. It's form 8840.
The way you calculate this is:
Total number of days in the U.S in the current calender year
1/3 of the total days in the U.S. of the previous year
1/6 of the total days in the U.S of the 3rd year
If this calculates more than 182 days, the IRS can approach you for being a U.S. citizen for tax reasons. It can be quite messy.
The Snowbird Association have a handbook which explains this in greater detail but it's worth filling out the form and then it exempts you from being approached. Filling it out later is too late and won't work. All the agencies are working alot closer now with border patrol.
Just thought I'd pass this along.
Toban
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toban
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08/06/11 09:09pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Lazydays / Beaudry RV in Tucson, AZ
I guess it's what a person wants in a park which makes the choice where one stays.
Toban
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toban
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07/23/11 09:12pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Who tows an '04 Honda CRV
Yes, I change the transmission fluid on the scheduled basis. I think it's every 3 years or 30,000 miles. I change all the fluids as normal.
Toban
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toban
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07/23/11 09:10pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Who tows an '04 Honda CRV
We have a 04 Honda CRV and have been towing it since it was new. It's a great car to pull. We have had this car longer than any car we have ever owned just because we pull it behind the MH. We have 86,000 miles on it and it drives as good as when it was new. We were thinking of getting the new design for 2012 CRV but we may just stay with this one awhile longer. We have had people asking when we want to sell it. Just make sure you shift it through the way you are suppose to before you tow it.
Toban
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toban
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07/20/11 08:33pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Lazydays / Beaudry RV in Tucson, AZ
I read on Lazydays website the campground will be open for business Sept 1. This is good as it's a nice resort.
Toban
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toban
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07/20/11 08:28pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Tucson, AZ
Lazydays has purchased Beaudy's in Tucson. They are reopening the park portion September 1 apparently. They had a nice park there and it waas a shame when it closed. They are already open for service.
Toban
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toban
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07/17/11 08:20pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Current manufacturers of Class A DPs
Last triple E Class A's were built in 2009. My friend bought one and was and still is very unhappy with the quality and service.
Toban
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toban
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06/18/11 04:27pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: At what fuel cost next winter - stay home??
Hi Chris, don't want to give up those trips to BJ Brewery on tuesdays for the 1/2 price wine and pizzas do we?
Hope things are well at your place.
Toban
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toban
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05/21/11 09:39pm |
Snowbirds
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Winegard Switcher Box for TV
I have a 2004 DSDP with a winegard switcher box up in the cabinet which controls all the functions from DVD to TV1 to TV2 etc. It has cable,VCR, antennae buttons etc. I'm finding the button you push for cable is starting to cause some distortion of my TV picture and I have to push it in and play around with it until it gives me a clear picture. I think it may be a contact problem.
Does anyone know where I can buy a new switcher box? If this unit quits working,how do I operate anything?
Toban
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toban
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05/15/11 09:31pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: At what fuel cost next winter - stay home??
Hey Chris, remember CV had 50 names on a waiting list last year to get in? Silence is sometimes good in hiding a hidden jewel.
Talk to you soon my friend.
Toban
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toban
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05/14/11 05:51am |
Snowbirds
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RE: At what fuel cost next winter - stay home??
Hi, I'm from Canada and we're already paying $5.17 for a U.S. gal equivilant. Canadian price per the size of our gallon is $6.16/gal since the Canadian gallon is 20% larger. I own a boat and and the price at the marina is $6.84/gal.
I think one needs to comapre how much MORE it's going to cost over what you paid last year.
Toban
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toban
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05/14/11 05:45am |
Snowbirds
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