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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Becareful where you chose to work
Wouldn't the name of this park be helpful to others?
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Skip and Norine
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11/19/08 06:01pm |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Three Worlds Resort or Webster Travel Park Florda
We had some friends who stayed at the Webster Travel Park and workcamped there. They liked it and when we visited them there, we found the park to be nice, rustic and almost quaint. There are alot of permanent residents there and the park is older but very nice and seems to be well maintained.
Good luck !!!!
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Skip and Norine
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11/19/08 05:55pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Your Opinions on a A and a C
Ed, you might want to consider taking a slightly different approach here.
The "right" RV for one RV'er is seldom the "right" RV for another RV'er; largely due to the fact that the intended useage of the RV and the travel habits and needs of the RV'er combine to make one RV more "right" than another.
For example, a man and his wife (friends of ours) have a 26' Jayco Class C with no slides. As they use the RV on weekends and for trips lasting no more than a few days or a week at the most, that RV is perfect for them. For my wife and I (who are fulltimers), that same RV would not even be an option.
Even assuming that two couples are both fulltimers, the unique travel habits of each couple may well be better met by different RV's. For the couple who travels frequently, staying in one place for no more than 3 or 4 days at a time (like my wife and I do), a Class A may suit them better (as it does us) because it is much easier to move, is self-contained even during short, unplanned stops, and has the CCC most fulltimers have to have.
On the other hand, a fulltiming couple who tends to stay in one place for months at a time and then move to another place for months at a time (as many retirees do) may find that a fifth wheel better suits their needs because there is generally much more living space than there would be in a Class A and there is no engine to maintain or fuel to sour during those long stays.
What I'm saying is that in asking our opinions about one RV or another, you will be getting our views on what suits US the best; whereas it seems to me that you're trying to decide what suits YOU the best - a decision that might be easier to make if you consider your needs and travel habits FIRST and THEN match those against the capabilities and features of the RV you're considering to see if that RV can satisfy and accomodate those needs and travel habits.
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Skip and Norine
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11/19/08 05:34pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Key West for New Years
The first time we stayed at Boyd's (which will also be our last), we rented those little electric "Conch Cars" to get around easily and avoid the traffic. The only problem we had with them (aside from the mercenary attitude on the part of the rental shop staff) was keeping the batteries charged.
I've made no secret of my disgust with Key West as a money-grubbing tourist trap to which I will never return, but they do have quite a nice New Year's Eve celebration there; especially at Mallory Square.
Have fun !!!
Gosh we'll miss you.
Are we going to go through all of this garbage again?
Let it go.
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Skip and Norine
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11/18/08 06:02pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Financial Crisis RV Industry Chapter 2 : Lazydays
Have they stopped giving away their free:B lunches, seeing as how they have laid off 200 people, or is the RV service gone and lunches still free:h
As reported on another thread, the loss of their floorplan may be the reason behind their saving their money to run with.
Now, Bob....you of all people should know that the service at Lazy Days has ALWAYS been "gone" :)
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Skip and Norine
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11/18/08 10:02am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Key West for New Years
The first time we stayed at Boyd's (which will also be our last), we rented those little electric "Conch Cars" to get around easily and avoid the traffic. The only problem we had with them (aside from the mercenary attitude on the part of the rental shop staff) was keeping the batteries charged.
I've made no secret of my disgust with Key West as a money-grubbing tourist trap to which I will never return, but they do have quite a nice New Year's Eve celebration there; especially at Mallory Square.
Have fun !!!
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Skip and Norine
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11/18/08 09:58am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Business Use of Coach and taxes
BS, if you use the rv for business, there is no common area. It comes with the building. You do not need a bathroom in an rv to do business, so according to you , a bathroom is all inclusive to YOU, not business related.
Thats like saying a motel room cannot be deducted 100% if you have a bathroom or kitchenette in it. Glad I got a good CPA, instead of one who adheres to the glue on the back of the envelope.
Whats next, no bedrooom for overnight business? Are we going to be restricted to a 16x 10 rv or pay for the other square footage?
The IRS is not the gestapo, they are real people living in the real world. And they aint dumb!
Taxation was my profession for more than 3 decades.
There *IS* a distinction and there *IS* a common area in cases where there is a mixed use (i.e., business and personal).
Despite your petty attack, I (like the IRS, as you mentioned) "ain't dumb" either.
Ever since I joined RV.net a few years back, you have consistently been one of the few people who have posted mean, rude and ill-spirited posts like this one almost every single time someone disagrees with you.
Why is that?
I sincerely hope that you someday find an adult and NICE way to disagree with someone.
It would be a welcome change in the sarcastic, combative and caustic attacks that seem to typify your posts.
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Skip and Norine
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11/16/08 06:40pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Road side assistance
I agree with Bob (as usual).
We've had CoachNet from the beginning (when we started fulltiming over 2 years ago).
Each of the 3 times we've needed them, they came through for us with "flying colors". No hassles, no fine print, and everything went smooth as silk.
I checked into GS for the savings, but quickly found (like Bob said) that sometimes paying a bit more is WORTH a bit more; and for the pittance of savings ($30 a year is like PENNIES per week), we stayed with CoachNet.
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Skip and Norine
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11/16/08 06:04pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Bug marks protection?
You can boil water in a 24 karat gold, diamond studded pot (Rejex), or you can boil water in a $2.75 canteen cup from Wal-Mart (Bounce, Turtle Wax, Pam, etc., etc., etc.).
Both will get the job done equally as well.
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Skip and Norine
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11/16/08 03:24pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Minnesota/Wisconsin sites not to miss
Count ours as another vote for the breathtakingly beautiful drive along Lake Superior's north shore.
Along that route (Minnesota 61, also called North Shore Drive) are several state parks (we counted 8, but I'm sure they're more), many of which you can "sample" by just pulling over off the road and walking right into them (Temperance River SP is one of these).
Here are some pics from our trip along that route last year.....
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rhh_Yqm2AWM/RmlcVrevvXI/AAAAAAAABTc/Wz5DDc7KZEI/s320/Split%20Rock%20Lighthouse%20on%20Lake%20Superior%20in%20Minnesota.JPG height=500
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rhh_Yqm2AWM/Rmlb47evvTI/AAAAAAAABS8/RIuVU20delI/s400/The%20falls%20at%20Gooseberry%20Falls%20State%20%28MN%29%20Park%20on%20Lake%20Superior-1.JPG height=500
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rhh_Yqm2AWM/Rmlb-bevvUI/AAAAAAAABTE/FXjU-5JpBOc/s128/View%20from%20atop%20Split%20Rock%20Lighthouse%20looking%20toward%20the%20Sawtooth%20Mountains.JPG height=500
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rhh_Yqm2AWM/Rmlc_bevvcI/AAAAAAAABUE/2ye5DyhLfG4/s128/The%20Temperance%20River%20flowing%20into%20Lake%20Superior%20in%20Minnesota.JPG height=500
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Skip and Norine
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11/16/08 03:01pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Natchez Trace National Parkway
I second the positive posts above.
The Natchez Trace is definitely worth the drive. Although we didn't drive the whole thing (only about 120 miles of it), it was absolutely one of the most relaxing, non-tracffic congested, peaceful and historically educational drives we've ever done in our 2 years as fulltimers.
As we didn't camp along the trace, I can't be of any help there, but I can caution you about 2 things, one of which has already been mentioned.
DON'T SPEED - The limit is 50 mph and they're DEAD SERIOUS about it, too (it's federally and locally enforced, so be careful!).
USE CAUTION IN TAKING SIDE ROADS OFF THE TRACE - Some of them have VERY low clearance bridges or overpasses.
Hope this helps!!
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Skip and Norine
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11/16/08 02:50pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Tow Dolly Stearing
If you MUST have a tow dolly, the ones with the ability to have the wheels track with the coach are the best, yet they are MUCH pricier.
Before I found out that tow dollies are a major PITA and before I started towing four down (which was a WORLD of difference better), I started with a dolly (Master Tow) on which the wheels did NOT track.
It was okay, but as another respondent pointed out, sharp turns are not advisable. Not only do the dolly wheels drag and scrape during turns (read: a blow out waiting to happen), but the control is not as great as it would be if the wheels were to track.
So......I bought a Kar Kaddy, complete with tracking wheels, folding hitch, brakes and everything. I bought it new because I couldn't find any non-rusted used ones. It ran me about $2,400 as I recall and it was MUCH nicer than the Master Tow.
This is my view. Yours will vary.
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Skip and Norine
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10/09/08 10:50pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Business Use of Coach and taxes
I was just talking with my tax person today and she's not certain how to handle depreciation on the coach since it's now our home as well as being used for business. I was just wondering is any of you who are still working and use the RV for business have addressed this issue before.
Thanks for any insight any of you may have on this one -
The reason she is unsure probably has to do with the separation of use issue.
The percentabe of time the RV is used for business determines the percentage of allowable depreciation that can be claimed. However, that business use must be sole and exclusive and not include any "common areas".
In other words, if any area of the RV is used for personal AND business use, that area is a common area and is to be excluded from business use calculations.
The problem here is in separating the two.
As almost EVERY area of an RV would fall into the common area category (because of the size), the accurate calculation of business use depreciation is very problematic.
Further complicating this issue is the tax benefit of the depreciation itself. Keep in mind that the dollar amount of the depreciation is not the amount you save. As it is a tax deduction and not a tax credit, the two are not synonomous.
For example, if you're in the 15% tax bracket, a $100 depreciation dedcution results in only a $15 tax savings. If you're a sole-proprietor (filing on Schedule C), the self-employment tax savings would be a bit greater, but not by much.
It all boils down to the amount of risk you're willing to accept.
Not only is an accurate determination of the deduction almost impossible, but your entitlement to it is in serious question and your actual tax savings is almost certainly not going to be enough to offset the problems you may face with an IRS examiner down the road.
Do not (I repeat, DO NOT) heed the advice of anyone who tells you that they have been doing it for along time and have had no audits and no problems. Not only is every tax situation different for every person, but in my view, those claims are akin to saying that I've been living for 52 years and haven't died yet. Get the point?
I am a Certified Public Accountant (retired) with a Masters degree in taxation and more than 30 years of public and private accounting experience (15 of which were in my own public accounting firm).
This message is not and should not be construed as professional tax or accounting advice and you are advised to seek professional assistance from tax, accounting and legal sources in your home state.
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Skip and Norine
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10/05/08 08:25am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Chlorine in black water tank?
An RV technician told me the other day that instead of buying expensive chemicals for sanitizing the black water tank in my new RV, I could use instead standard household bleach or chlorine and pour a gallon of it down the toilet after emptying the black water tank.
A gallon!?! :E That seems really excessive, and far more expensive than the commercial chemical products where you only use a few ounces. It doesn't sound like good advice to me.
Ditto.
You got VERY bad advice.
We're fulltimers and we don't use ANYTHING in our black tank - no "Geo Method" no Thetford, no NOTHING.
All we do is dump and thoroughly flush it one a week.
2 years as fulltimers and no odor problems WHATSOEVER.
Water is a wonderful thing.
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Skip and Norine
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10/05/08 07:50am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Ladder Capacity
I judged mine by stepping on it and watching the flex. Then I bought a 20 ft ladder and a lad-lock. Works well.
That's EXACTLY what I did.
Our Class A ladder is rated (as many Class A ladders are) for 300 pounds, but I NEVER use it to get on the roof. Not because I weigh 275 pounds (under the "limit"), but because the flex I saw concerned me.
I now carry a Little Giant 17' ladder (54 pounds) and strap it to the RV ladder when we're on the road. When we're camped, I remove it from the RV ladder to avoid the constant stress.
ps: as previous respondents have noted, almost all of the RV ladders carry a weight limit sticker (usually near or on one of the lower rungs). you just probably missed it.
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Skip and Norine
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10/05/08 07:33am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Three Safety Tips
All of these are good ideas, but in reality there is absolutely NOTHING you can do that will convey your "ICE" data in all circumstances. There are just too many circumstances and situations that could occur for your ICE data to be readily available to others in all of them.
Despite all of the "sky is falling" and "what if" scenarios designed to elicit worry or fear in order to prompt an action or support a cause, the best we can do (IMHO) is just to carry the ICE data in our wallets or purses, and hope that the wallet or purse is with is (and is still intact) in the event of the accident or mishap.
Even then, if your wallet or purse is lost in the accident, stolen, or left at home or in the RV, what then?
Like a previous poster noted, even life is a risk.
We can't guard against everything in all circumstances, but we CAN and SHOULD take reasonable precautions and leave the rest to our faith.
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Skip and Norine
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10/05/08 07:17am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Does a Market Exist for Personal Drivers?
James Hendrix,
While I have only been active on the RV internet world for about 12 years and a fulltimer for just short of nine years, to date I can recall only one time that I have ever heard of any full-time RV folks who wanted to hire someone to drive the RV and live in it with them at the same time. In this case, the the man was severely disabled, the sought employee was to drive and also to help with personal care of the invalid male. I have no idea of what the pay arrangement was but I do recall that they advertised on several RV forums and also in the magazine "Workamper News."
I am sure that there probably are a few others who seek this type of assistance. There may also be a few who just want a driver, but in reading your post, I would suppose that you are looking to travel with the employer for more than just one trip across the country, but for the longer term and into many different locations? There might be such a market, but I think that it would be very small. I doubt that many of the RV community that I have ever known have a budget that could pay a person to drive the RV.
Once again, Kirk is right on the money.
I've just GOT to meet this guy! :)
As many have said, the market for this is really no market at all aside from the commercial RV transport companies. In our two years on the road as fulltimers, we've never met any RV'ers with a personal driver and of the only three commercial RV transport drivers we've met, none of them were making decent money.
My advice would be to look for another occupation.
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Skip and Norine
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10/05/08 06:53am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: caps on HW and fresh water tanks
We're fulltimers, so maybe our "water maintenance" schedule is a bit different than some, but we drain and rinse the sediment from our hot water tank each year.
Our fresh water tank maintenance depends upon how much "on the road" time we have.
If we're "actively" moving from place to place, we don't drain or rinse the fresh water tank at all (as it is constantly being used).
If we're staying somewhere for 6 months or more and using the park's water (as we have been recently), we drain, rinse and refill it about every 3 months or so.
We've been fulltiming a little ocer 2 years now, and that's worked very well for us.
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Skip and Norine
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10/05/08 06:45am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: campground reservations
We've been fulltimers for about 2 years now and have RARELY made a reservation. In fact, I can only think of three times that we did, and each of those times were during holiday periods.
However, we're in a Class A and we're completely self-contained. Those without a generator may have a different perspective.
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Skip and Norine
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08/24/08 08:49pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: CAMPGROUND VS. RV PARK VS. RV RESORT
I think the OP has an axe to grind, for some reason.
He made a substantially similar post in this Forum at about the same time he made this one.
My advice would be to relax, have a cold one and enjoy the RV lifestyle.
Yes, it isn't a cheap lifestyle, but it sure is fun.
Well, to most of us anyway........
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Skip and Norine
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04/12/08 07:05pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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