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RE: Toad Braking Systems
"BrakeMaster - the best supplemental braking system available" - from Roadmaster. DW hooks up in car while I do tow bars. We've put over 20K miles on ours and greatly appreciate it's simplicity and reliability. Tried something like a Brake Buddy and ended up with brake troubles because the brakes were dragging as well as dead battery in toad. I may have hooked it up wrong or it malfunctioned, don't know. With Brakemaster system, can't hook it up wrong or have a wrong setting. Not electrical so doesn't affect the battery.
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Toolslinger
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03/14/10 09:33pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: best tow 4 wheels down
It appears that there are as many "bests" as people posting. There are several options available. We each have different value systems and therefore different bests. The best thing is to see: dinghy towing guide, see what meets your standards and do a test drive. Everything on the list will tow well so it comes down to your comfort level with fuel mileage, weight, comfort, cost and features. What you choose for tow bar and braking control is what will determine how easy and fast it is to connect.
My '08 4 cylinder Saturn Vue gets in the mid 20's for mileage and has room for the dog and raft in back as well as guests if needed.
Have fun shopping.
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Toolslinger
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03/14/10 09:10pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Hot water
Winnebago's are designed to use engine heat to heat the water heater while traveling so you have HW available at your destination. Look in your MH manual. You can use your propane while traveling but it's not recommended and illegal in some places.
That said my refer is on AUTO so as soon as I unplug, it goes to propane. I should turn it off when traveling.
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Toolslinger
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03/14/10 08:10pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Day/Night shades
If you are not handy and wish someone else to restring them for you, most RV dealers can connect you with someone.
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Toolslinger
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03/14/10 07:57pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Florida- public vs State Campgrounds
The beach parks are most popular and therefore hardest to get reservations at. State parks are more affordable than private and the sites aren't tight against each other. State parks often have educational opportunities which is great for all. There is usually a buffer with trees. As mentioned, Reserve America will help with reservations. You can look on line at the state parks to see what interests you. We've enjoyed each state park we visited. Tell the reservation people what size rig you have and they will fit you in. We fit our 38 ft MH + toad in the national parks without trouble.
We just spent some great time in the Everglades National Park dry camping. Parks weren't full. Lots of cool creatures to entertain everyone. For a place to visit, Shark Valley is unbeatable for birds and gators. In the Big Cypress NP you can stay at Midway campground on HWY 41 with 50A service, water and dump station in park. It's very close to Shark Valley. No reservations, first come, first served. Get there between 11:00 and 2:00 and you shouldn't have a problem getting a site. Flamingo campground is on the southern tip of Florida by the beach with shallow waters but no hookups. Dump station and fresh water are available.
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Toolslinger
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03/14/10 07:31pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: How inportant is a driver door on a class a?
It was a deal breaker for me. I love mine and used it every stop. Probably won't ever consider a DP because of the door. With a front passenger door on a DP, the passenger, the seat and and often a section of floor must move every time the driver wants out for fuel or whatever while traveling. With the drivers door I don't have to interrupt what ever the DW is doing nor worry about the pet getting out. I can park next to a curb and not worry about the steps hitting it when they extend. When setting up, water, elect and sewer are on the drivers side so access is so much easier. If I need leveling blocks I can open the door and see where I am. Helps me get it right 1st time when parking.
I'm only 63. Perhaps when I'm 75+ I'll be to clumsy to use it. If you aren't healthy enough to use a drivers door, why be an RVer. If you can't go out and participate in the great outdoors, or just go to the same place every year, get a condo or park model. Seen some very comfortable park models that are insulated way better than an RV.
Obviously we all have different value systems as witnessed by the variety of responses. Choose what will best suit your needs and enjoy!
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Toolslinger
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02/25/10 03:46pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Backing in (Question about following signals)
It almost sounds like you want someone to tell you she is right or you are right. No one wins the "who's right" game.
You've already experienced what happens when you give control of driving to someone outside the vehicle. You get close to where you intend but not how you would prefer. As several have suggested, the outside person works best as a safety for the trees and other unfriendly objects. She says she is responsible for the back end. The driver is responsible for the WHOLE coach.
The stickers on your map suggest you've parked in quite a few RV sites. I suspect you know what you want in a site and how to best fit in one by now. I understand that you only have eyes for your DW, and if she's like mine, she likes to feel like she's helping. As driver you need to use the equipment provided ie. mirrors, back-up camera, eyes, ears, and brain to visualize where you want to be and how to get there. Use your spotter as a safety only and soon you both will feel more confident in your parking skills.
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Toolslinger
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02/21/10 11:11pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Gas MH owners who changed shocks
I replaced all 4 with gas Bilsteins from CW @ 24k miles because of porposing. It was better but not good. Talked to an RV suspension shop and they explained the difference between gas and Hydraulic shocks. Gas shocks expand as soon as you take the strap off. You can not compress by hand a RV gas shock if the shipping strap has been removed. It is always trying to be expanded so when going over bumps it gives a little extra lift. Hydraulic shocks give dampening action in both directions. I put 2 Hydraulic Koni's on the front and felt an obvious improvement over the new gas Bilsteins.
Whatever brand you chose, for the best ride I'd avoid gas shocks.
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Toolslinger
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02/21/10 10:17pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Repair in Bend Ore. Foggy Windows
We had B&D Auto glass in Bend do ours. They removed the window, made a template, and had a company in Seattle make the new windows (I needed 2). They were very nice and the cost was a fraction of replacing the whole frame like the RV dealer wanted to do.
I'm not steamed up any more.
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Toolslinger
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02/15/10 03:39pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Water Heater
Something working after being banged is most likely a bad electrical connection. Try moving the wires at the connection. If any seem loose that could be your culprit. Another test would be to wiggle the wires individually when it is running and see if one makes it quit. Hold on to the insulation near the end when you wiggle it, rather than the metal end. I like to use insulated long nosed pliers both for safety and to easier isolate each wire.
Good luck at making your water heater loose it's cool.
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Toolslinger
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02/15/10 03:32pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Rubber steps on motorhome-where to buy new one?
I doubt there is anything that will remove stain in that type of material. I googled stair tread and one of the first things to come up was: stair tread. With a little on line research I expect there are may places available. Flooring places, not Home Depot type warehouses, in your area probably can help you also.
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Toolslinger
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02/15/10 03:08pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Water and sewer?????
Some people get too deep into plumbing. ;) I've seen way too many people pump their own gas and the get something to eat. Did they wash after pumping? Not in their car. Who knows what disease or where the hands have been that last used the pump. That's one of the reasons I appreciate Oregon's ban on self service pumps. In Florida if you let go of the handle, the pump stops. The hold device was removed by the state. That's a lot of standing time filling your class A.
I'm a full-timer who rarely spends more than a week at one place. Most of the time my water and sewer hoses are in the same compartment. That said, I do use common sense and soap. Stayed at a couple of CG where the water smelled bad (like sewer to me) yet people were living there.
We all start as babies with the intake and exhaust ports quite close yet moms keep us clean and we thrive.
My point: Practice personal hygiene, have a positive attitude and enjoy what you have, not living in fear.
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Toolslinger
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02/13/10 09:04pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Diesel vs Gas Maintenace Costs
When I took my gasser into a truck repair shop, I noticed the diesel rate was $40/hr more for labor. I like my gasser. More places will work on it for less.
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Toolslinger
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02/12/10 07:44pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Tire Question... how long will they last?
Know there is a date code stamped on the tire. You could purchase "new" never used tires that are already a few years old. See: Tire Date Codes If your tire is a few years old when you install it, it still should be replaced at a certain age rather than years of service.
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Toolslinger
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02/08/10 05:20pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: wire type
Don't use 12/2 Romex (house wire) in an RV. It is solid wire and although the gauge may be adequate for a project you are doing, solid wire doesn't like to flex. After while bouncing down the road, the flexing will make it brittle and it will break giving you that powerless feeling. Look at the wiring in your car and you will see it is all stranded. Stranded wire will better meet your needs and can actually handle a little more power than the same gauge solid wire.
My 500w inverter has 8 gauge stranded wire on it. You can buy it by the foot at places like Home Depot. I'd use a couple of colors to make it easy to identify which wire is which. Solderless connectors are recommended on the ends of the wires.
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Toolslinger
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02/08/10 05:14pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Flea fogger
The foggers are poison and are targeted for specific insects. Continued exposure to poisons can be unhealthy to humans and other breathing things. Unless you pet has fleas, fogging the RV probably would not make much difference. If you know of specific pests that are in your area, focus in that direction. We've not had troubles with insects but did have a mouse move in while were using the RV. There are a number of threads about mice that you could review.
My sister uses the electronic anti-pest plug-in device that she is very happy with. She travels a lot and says it keeps unwanted guests away. I've read other posts that had good luck with the electronic ones.
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Toolslinger
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02/08/10 04:58pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Pet Unfriendly FMCA SEA Rally
I've noticed that many state beaches also ban dogs. As is often the case, a few bad dogs and owners make it bad for everyone else.
A larger dog in the NACO/TT RV park attacked our 16 pounder and left her traumatized. They were both on leash. Wouldn't eat or relieve herself for over a day and several days later is still reluctant to go outside. I won't bring her to events such as described both as respect for others there and I don't want anything thing to happen to her such as being stepped on or her leash tripping someone. I also don't want to subject her to another "very friendly" dog that might consider her prey.
I know your dog is just trying to be friendly but I don't appreciate it jumping on me, even if it's only 10 pounds. Leave it home!
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Toolslinger
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02/05/10 09:23pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Mattress
We got a BedInABox.com a few of months ago and are very pleased with it. Our son bought one at the same time and is also quite pleased. We tried the "sleep number bed" for close to 3 months but it didn't have our number (sore back in morning) so we returned it. Have a Tempurpedic in the stick & brick. It's the first bed I've had that was comfortable a over a year after we bought it (it's been 8 years now). We like the BedInABox better plus it costs less than half the Tempurpedic. Notice that most of the replies mention some type of memory foam which is what the Tempurpedic is and Bed-in-a-Box has a large amount of.
Sweet dreams! ;)
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Toolslinger
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02/05/10 08:57pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Security system for motor home
Sounds like you don't want to wait to shut the barn door until after the horse is gone like many do that install security systems. Is your house alarmed? I would like the 2 tied together and monitored. If you aren't home, are your neighbors close enough and always home that they would call for help? Actually, the signs and stickers of alarm monitoring companies are more valuable than the alarm system. The potential thief sees the sign and goes elsewhere. No sign and they break in before the alarm system goes off. Even if they run, damage is done.
As a full timer, my neighbors are always around, and always changing. In a lot of campgrounds we don't lock up, depending on how long we expect to be gone and a "feeling" about those around us. Campers usually look out for each other. I've not heard any stories about anyone's barbi disappearing from outside their RV for instance.
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Toolslinger
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02/03/10 09:57pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Get newer coach or remodle 2003
If you buy a new rig it will depreciate more than the cost of most remodeling as soon as you leave the parking lot. An RV is not an investment. If you can do some updating and make it the way you feel comfortable, then go for it. If it's not comfortable because it's too small, no amount of remodeling will get you more slides and length. What is your goal? What is your budget? Is it remodeling or maintenance? Replacing tires and carpet are usually considered maintenance.
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Toolslinger
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01/29/10 09:51pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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