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RE: Brake fire question
Geez! I was just thinking of a little extra safety precautions a person could make in an emergency. Personally I take pride in my driving and the way I handle the grades. I also carry extra extinquishers and the right types. I was just thinking of ways that might help others based on the posts on brake failures. Thanks for the backup Gale. Maybe i'll just keep my ideas and suggestions to myself. Didn't mean to get anybody riled up.
jjammo try to not let those who post just to hurt others not stop you from posting. It can be their desire to "control" you and others. There are times when we all need specific info and times we can share specific info then there are the post that do neither.
A case in point last Sat evening we looked at a hot tub setting in a yard near the road and having never owned or really knew anyone personally that owned one I was totally clueless. Within in hours (and before we were to go back and look at it Sunday afternoon) several posted good info in the way of a heads up and some even personally had the brand I was looking at. It made a tough decision go better due to what others shared.
Keep up sharing thoughts or questions with the rest of us.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/27/08 11:02pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Brake fire question
Well our 5 gallons of COLDFIRE came in today and 5 more used 2.5 gallon fire extinguishers but with the hot tub now set up and functioning I am short on time. :)
On a sad note one of our staff lost his home to fire yesterday. It went fast and most of the roof caved in. Thankfully no one was at home. Their two year old son's room was in the one corner that was left standing so the fire department passed some clothes, pictures and some toys that just got wet but can be cleaned up.
Fire is real. Watching his wife wail while she watched their house burn is something I will remember for a while. It was so hot it melted the siding off the house next door and it would have burned due to the wind was it not for the fire department.
Prevention clearly is about the only thing that works well.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/27/08 04:49pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Wal-Mart Inverter
Beware the smoke will leak out of it if you hook + to - and - to +. :(
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Gale Hawkins
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08/26/08 04:06pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: New RV Anti-freeze
This may not be the same thing as we are currently using.
Propylene Glycol
A cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. In the skin and hair, propylene glycol works as a humescent, which causes retention of moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. The Material Safety Data Sheet warns users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/26/08 03:55pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Important cancer info...
Thanks for the link. We have a friend that was being treated for mastitis by one doctor but she went to another clinic and they gave her the bad news because it had been long standing.
This is a killer.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/26/08 03:29pm |
RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues
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RE: HOT TUBS in general SOFTUB in specific
Two issues developed and one was a quick fix and the other on is going to take many manhours. First when we got it filled we were all excited but found the jets make about as much water movement as a minnow then I remembered the post about how adding air in cooler weather caused some heat lost. Then it it me I had it closed so my son turned the air control valve fully counter clock wise and it like to have beat us to death. We like it at 12 o'clock.
The other issue from the SOFTUB purchase was I decided to put it on a small isolated deck at is about 10% the size of the total treated wood deck. It looks so good now (not black and green) the wife expects me to do the rest. :)
It is going to take a while to learn the temps we prefer, etc but after 18 hours of working with it we are very pleased. Because of limited movement I was concerned about getting in and especially out of it. With the bottom and top edge being soft makes it pain free unlike I have used.
It was at the 102 degree setting this AM so so far it is working like the manual states it should work.
Bumpy I did in fact only gather up $700 cash and did not plan to go more because for one I was going to be the third owner (last reason was a divorce reason) and I did not know any thing about hot tubs or SOFTUB as a brand before late Saturday evening.
Pen hookers used this to get my dad to sell at the farm vs the market. In my case I really did not know if I wanted a hot tub or not.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/25/08 03:27pm |
RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues
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RE: HOT TUBS in general SOFTUB in specific
Guys I went with the SOFTUB that was 5 miles down the road over in the edge of TN. I gave him another $20 and he and a friend delivered it to our deck this evening. I have to admit the Spa In A Box for under $800 and being able to pick it up from the local WM after ordering it off of their web site was VERY interesting.
Prior to learning about the one off of the WM website I had decided to offer $700 for the SOFTUB the guy was asking $1300 for. We had when last night and got the cash together to take with me when we went to look at in day light.
After reading a lot of reviews from one star to five star on both units I was really confused. The SOFTUB looked nice and had most of the initial chemical kit, matching hard lid cover and the full circle bench/step up and showed no external damage plus I liked the hunter green color. Where it is going it will be about 2/3's under roof in a nice corner pocket that will be out of the wind this winter. We also have an out in the open deck option but I am planning for winter already. It is out in the open as we fill and play with it a few days.
Actually we have the jets covered and would get in since the water is not bad because we used hot water to fill it over the past 3 hours but it is raining hard for the first time in a couple months but that is OK.
Kill-A-Watt states in heat mode (as noted it makes heat from the motor) on low jet speed the draw is 215 watts and high jet mode (the speed it seems to run until set temperture is reached) draw is 900 watts.
Well a short RV road cost me $700 more than the gas. :) The MH did run well and since it was just my son and I it was special for both of us plus his sister was at a slumber party. We picked up a few shells on the beach at Paris Landing and ate at his favor place in Paris, TOM's Steak and Pizza.
In the morning I will check the temp and make sure it is still working. So far so good. Thanks for all of the input. I think I stressed more over buying the hot tub than the MH. :)
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Gale Hawkins
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08/25/08 12:20am |
RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues
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RE: HOT TUBS in general SOFTUB in specific
Thanks guys. Joe the one you mentioned is interesting for the price and that I could pick it up from WM. On all of them the reviews range from 1 to 10. Since both companies have been around for a while they must have more happy than sad customers. :)
The more I read the more confused I get.
Joe do you not have an issue with the air bubble system cooling down the tub quickly in cool weather as many reported?
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Gale Hawkins
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08/24/08 12:08pm |
RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues
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HOT TUBS in general SOFTUB in specific
We made a take it for a drive run down to Paris Landing State Park yesterday and just 5 miles from the house there was a hot tub sitting on the side of the road.
Having used them at hotels I know they really help with the pain so we stopped on the way back. It is a 300 gallon SOFTUB brand. No one was home but I called and the guy said it was three years old but the first owner of (two years) never used it and he only used it some last fall and is asking $1300.
Research last night was mixed to the brand. Chemicals about $300 a year and parts are high. Just a pump is over $500.
Has anyone one had experience with this brand or any hot tub?
It seems over time most all fall into disuse even if they do not break. My bones say yes and my research states NO. :)
Thanks for any experiences. We planned a place on the deck 18 years ago so that is not an issue. We just do not need to junk up the deck with something that will fall into disuse. The work to keep on up and the expense is not small. They are cheap for some reason on Craig's list.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/24/08 08:42am |
RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues
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RE: how to remove a wall
There is a chance the wall is part of the roof system and you will not find a clean breaking point at the top. You guys are brave to tackle these rebuild jobs. The roof is the last thing that goes on I think.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/23/08 12:22pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Why don't camper manufacturers use rot resistant wood?
Perhaps the focus should be on keeping out the water and not putting them on the road to shake. I do not think prices of TC's or any RV envisioned more than a 10 year service life without major care. Build a nice conventional home, lock the do door and come back in 10 years and see if it looks the same.
The law of nature is everything including us is trying to return to the basic elements formed from I read somewhere. :)
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Gale Hawkins
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08/23/08 12:08pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: brakes on tow dollie
Jerry if you mean to be legal then it is state by state per post on the subject. If you mean required (to be safe) that will depend on other issues like the weight of the TV and Toad. A DP has more reserve braking power than a 31' Class see in most cases I am guessing.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 06:03pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Winnebago , Chev. 454 air cond. stops blowing cold air.
It sounds like your R-134 is low. It can be checked with a gauge hooked on the low side of the compressor. The gauge and easy to follow instruction are available at Wal-Mart.
Chuck using the WM gauge can be dangerous to your health and that of your motor home. Pressure and volume are two different things a local A/C shop tells me.
I thought I was going to have a heart attack using the WM gauge. I was trying to get it up into the run zone on my 1992 454 P30 chassis because the PO said it needed some R-134a.
My compressor was making a clucking sound but I kept going to get the reading the gauge said was the correct low side pressure. The compressor safety valve released and I about lost it.
The noise and the vapor was scarely. After a trip to the house I came back and started it up again and it was cooling fine and the compressor clucking was gone.
After we loss our gas when we pulled the radiator I took it to the shop that the owner took the time to teach me a few automotive A/C facts to pump it down and recharge it.
Service and gas was $52. The static reading was like 65 (it is in another thread) and the live low side reading was 10 PSI at idle and 15 at 2000 RPM the best I remember. It has cooled fine for 500-600 miles since and with temps in the upper 90's. That is my story. :)
John I agree with you but one reason to open up and get some fresh air is insure CO is not building up inside, you passed some chicken houses or have gas problem from other two legged animals on the inside. :)
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 05:49pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Changing brake fluid
Some like the two person method to "force" more of the dirty fluid at wheel I have read.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 05:26pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Porta-boat website...are they kidding?
What is wrong with the site? It does look dated but they are not selling to teenagers but older men. I have a customer that states he is over 300 pounds and swears by his. He pulls a Hi/Lo TT.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 05:19pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Class A pricing - discounted 100k?
What's the big deal, there 2 and 3 years old.
Kind of like tires, they age out instead of wear out?
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 05:11pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Gatlinburg - Fall Leaves
If we don't get some much needed rain soon there may not be a fall leaf season. Here in middle TN some of the leaves are already turning a drab yellow and falling off the trees. Otherwise mid Oct. seems to be the usual time for this beautiful event.
Here in the west end of KY we are seeing the same thing and do not expect strong colors this year. Taking the dog for a run this AM i saw a lot of oak leaves already on the ground but oaks are the the color producers anyway like maples, etc. Calling is the best but when booking ahead I would go with the end. Heavy frost is often more near Nov.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 05:06pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: checked tires
Dennis I know the feeling having just hit 6 years with 20K miles. We pulled each one off and washed it with soap and water on all three surfaces and both sides of the wheel.
Three was no aging signs to be seen. The same went for the 8 year old spare. The PO did keep them covered the first 5 years however.
We did find on the two front tires wear patterns that indicated worn front end parts. The steering stablizer (shock) was shot and we swapped them out with the same side inside rear tires.
Since they ride and handle well and any factory defect should have shown by not and often blow outs are with new tires we plan to go to the next inspection point yet keeping an eye on them along the way since they are not Michelin. They are the R8 19.5 size on a P30.
Best wishes on deciding what to do. If you plan to trade in the next 5 years you could go for new now. Yes tire prices can be expected drop if we see a "real" decline in crude prices. There is no point on driving with less tread on older tires then sell it with two year old tires on it down the road. Enjoy the new rubber yourself if that is the case as planned today.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 04:48pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Help, thinking of buying a 30 ft class A gas
Do some of you only check MPG going down hill. :)
Using my scanguage II I find it entertaining to try and get the max MPG while driving. What I have found is if you use cruise control on anything but flat grade, you will get much less MPG. Anytime you hear the transmittion shift to a lower gear your MPG goes from 9-10 to 1.5-2.5.
I have some of those features on our 2002 Blazer and does drop MPG like crazy. In fact I ran in 3rd (D before OD was invented :) ) for most of a tank and the MPG was about the same even in it.
On our 1992 P30 chassis I have yet to even located the OBD-1 connector so if I downgrade my Xray scanner it could at least get computer reading of temps, etc.
In west KY we have free areas you can call flat anyway. I found with the 454 if left in OD (same as D markings in newer stuff) the MPH drops off and then shifts down and the cruise control pulls the pedal to the metal for the rest of the hill. If I just leave it in D (3rd for newer transmission shifter labels) that I do not loss as much ground speed nor does the pedal get sucked to the floor as often so I get over the hill with less stress on the drive train, less fuel but at a faster ground speed. At 55 in rolling hills I leave it out of OD most of the time now. RPM's run about 2500.
Also the TC stays locked more of the time. That saves about 300 RPM's when it is locked for the same ground speed.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 01:01pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Do Not Use Generators Inside
Most of us are doing things that will shorten our live. Some just fast track it.
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Gale Hawkins
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08/22/08 08:29am |
Tech Issues
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