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RE: Huntington Beach ca campgorunds
I see that you've already made your reservations at the Newport Dunes, so I'll give you a tip for your next trip to the area.
For just a simple RV site with no amenities, I suggest the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Cheap ($25 last year), green grass and tall trees, convenient to everything, full hookups with 50 amps.
For the best coastal experience, I suggest the Huntington Beach City RV Park located on the ocean near the base of the Huntington Beach pier (north of the Huntington Beach State Beach). Great view of the ocean, steps to the sand, 50 amps and water - no sewer but dump station, asphalt. Not open during the summer though - they use it for beach parking. $45
The only State Park with full hookups is San Clemente State Beach. No view from the campsites, but short walk to the beach.
I dislike the Newport Dunes, but I know that many others love it. Noisy, expensive, tiny -- I mean tiny -- campsites.
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Gary Franks
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09/07/08 01:58am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Boat Launching with a DP
I have found the comments in this thread encouraging.
I had been planning to buy a boat for awhile, but I was concerned that I didn’t have anything to pull it with other than my motorhome. So, I bought a Jeep AND a boat a few months ago.
Now I have the challenge that whenever I go someplace I have to make two trips: once to tow the boat and another to tow the Jeep (I am a one driver family).
I have found a few places where I could maneuver the motorhome on the launching ramp, but I haven’t tried it yet. Having read these comments, I am now emboldened to give it a try and venture off without the Jeep.
I’ve thought that if I found myself in a tight spot, I might be able to find someone nearby to launch my boat for me.
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Gary Franks
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09/06/08 11:49pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: MCD Innovations sun screen
I also have the MCD sun screens on my Bounder DP. It is one of the best purchases that I have made for the motorhome. It is amazing what a difference they make in keeping the heat out.
My only gripe is having to get the ladder out every time I want to put them up. Of course, this gripe applies to any brand (except for that one that wraps around without fasteners).
I can take them down without a ladder. I use one of those grabber things like they use pick up trash. I've tried and tried to snap them on using the grabber thing too, but it can't be done.
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Gary Franks
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09/05/08 10:49pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 4 down vs dolly
I have a motorhome similar to the original poster (Bounder with Cat C7 – 300hp, Allison 6 speed). My original toad was a Lincoln Town Car (about 4500 lbs.). I had a U.S. Gear Unified Tow Brake installed when I first began towing.
I recently bought a new toad, a Jeep Wrangler 4-door (about 4200 lbs.). I bought another U.S. Gear Brake for the Jeep but I have not yet installed it (I didn’t move the brake system because I still have the Lincoln).
Twice I have made a hard stop pulling the Jeep and really have felt the difference without a braking system. I am anxious to install the system before I get in that situation again.
Pulling either vehicle with my Bounder has been easier than I originally expected. Stopping is the real issue. Having experienced the difference, I absolutely would always have a braking system.
I also had the Lincoln break away once (that’s a story in itself). The breakaway cable did what it was supposed to do and prevented any damage.
Aside from the hassle of using dolly or a flatbed, I would not use either because of braking. Even a flatbed with surge brakes would not be as good as towing flat using the toad’s brakes. Since my coach has engine braking for deceleration, the surge brakes would engage more than necessary. I only want my toad or trailer brakes to engage when I am applying brakes in the coach. On a downgrade, with the engine brake doing all of the work, surge brakes could engage excessively causing overheating and constant jerking on the coach.
Now to try to address the question that “larry_cad” asked about the toad brakes engaging before or after the coach brakes are applied:
My U.S. Gear brake allows me to adjust the sensitivity with a control knob in the coach (this system provides progressive AND proportional braking). This will affect how much toad brake is applied with my coach brake. If I adjust it to the max, I can feel the toad brake engage more firmly and pull back on the coach (too much).
My toad’s brakes aren’t applied in an all on/ all off manner, they are applied progressively. So whether they are starting to be applied before or after my coach brakes are applied is not as important as ensuring that they are being applied proportionately. I can’t explain this very well, but I sure can feel it when I have braked.
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Gary Franks
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09/05/08 01:20am |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: 2007 jeep with auto trans.
I tow an '08 Wrangler Unlimited 4wd. The replies that suggest pulling the IOD fuse are correct. For the first few times, I didn't pull my fuse out far enough and it bounced back in. Be sure to pull it to the second click, then it will stay out until you put it back in.
Question for other 07/08 Wrangler owners: When I get around to installing my brake system (U.S. Gear), I will have a charge line running to the Jeep. Will I still want to pull the fuse?
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Gary Franks
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09/05/08 12:09am |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Best Waste tote brand Recommendations
I welcome your comments on my plans:
I’ve wanted to get one of these tanks for a long time. I just couldn’t figure out where to store it when it’s not in use. I don’t want to carry it on my roof or on the back of the motorhome – I don’t want to see it.
In three years of fulltiming, I would have used one of these four or five times. It would have been helpful in numerous other situations when I was conserving on creating gray water more than may have been necessary.
I’ve found a spot between the chassis rails on my coach where I could suspend it underneath the motorhome while traveling. Then I could just crawl under there and drop it and pull it out when I need it.
I am getting one of those hitch-mounted cargo racks for my toad. I was thinking that I could put the tank on the cargo rack to haul it to the dump station. This would be helpful in those campgrounds that don’t even have a central dump (I spent eight days in a campground where the nearest dump station was a 45 minute drive).
I also have a macerator pump that would enable me to pump my gray or black tank into the portable tank even from a distance, if I was unable to back the toad near the RV valve.
So for me, I want to get the largest tank that I can hide under my coach chassis and fit on my toad’s cargo rack. The tank’s wheels are of less importance to me.
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Gary Franks
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09/02/08 03:36pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Towing a car
When I first started RVing in my motorhome, I went without a toad for awhile and studied other RVs and how they pulled their toads. At the time, I had a front wheel drive Nissan and a rear-wheel drive Lincoln Town Car.
I kept the Nissan for awhile, thinking that I would put it on a front wheel dolly and tow it. The first time that I saw someone hook up their car on a front wheel dolly, I knew that wasn’t for me.
Then I thought that I might get a flatbed trailer for the Lincoln. Then I watched someone unload their Cadillac from a flatbed trailer; that wasn’t for me either.
Since my travel partner is not able to help with such tasks, I needed something easily done by one person.
Therefore, I decided to bite the bullet and equip the Lincoln for flat towing. I had to add the Blue Ox baseplate, a Remco disconnectable driveshaft and the U.S. Gear Unified Tow Brake to the Lincoln.
It wasn’t cheap. I think I spent more on hooking up the Lincoln than I got out of selling the old Nissan.
But I’m glad I did. I feel secure in towing. It’s easier to hook up and disconnect.
Sure, I can’t back up. There has been a three or four times over the past three years (of full-timing) that I’ve goofed up and had to unhook to turn around.
I just bought a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and I had a Blue Ox baseplate put on it and I will be adding a Unified Tow Brake to it also (I kept the Lincoln so I couldn’t move that brake system).
For me, the only advantage to towing on a flatbed trailer would be the ability to have the toad completely covered to keep it clean while being towed (but then I’d have to wash a trailer too).
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Gary Franks
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09/02/08 03:03pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fiberglass repair
On mine, I have used Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser. I have also used Soft Scrub as a rubbing compound. Both have been effective for removing scratches on my rig.
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Gary Franks
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09/02/08 02:16pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Lost diesel power
My '05 Caterpillar C7 will slow down just like that if its computer detects something wrong. In your case, if nothing is obviously wrong, it may be just a bad sensor. Just an experienced guess.
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Gary Franks
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09/02/08 02:00pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fiberglass body repair
I also reccommend The Paint Department in Chino, California.
They treated me honestly, promptly and they did a good job.
They have electrical hookups and might let you stay there in your coach while the work is done.
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Gary Franks
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09/02/08 01:54pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 2007 Jeep Wrangler
Just to clarify the reason for pulling the fuse: The '08 Wrangler does not have a key position that unlocks the steering column without powering up accessories (unlike most cars that I have had). When you unlock the steering column for towing, you have powered up everything in the car.
As with any car, if you leave the key turned on for a long period of time, you'll run down the battery. It really has nothing to do with how the lights are wired - diodes or no diodes.
I'm not really sure what is powered and not powered when the fuse is pulled. I discovered yesterday that the alarm is still powered, but the key fob didn't seem to work (I fumbled to get the horn to stop honking).
The CoolTech wiring harness, as 'Pigkisser' mentioned, would have been helpful to me if I didn't already have the factory tow package.
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Comment added to clarify remark on the CoolTech wiring harness:
Since I already had the factory tow package, I didn't need the CoolTech harness. I merely ran a 4-conductor wire from my BlueOx baseplate wiring connector to the trailer socket on the rear of the Jeep and plugged it in. I did not intend to diminish the usefullness of the CoolTech harness for others.
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Gary Franks
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08/27/08 11:34pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Taking out of state delivery
I met a California couple that took out of state delivery on their Alpine Coach. They had some severe problems with it and took legal action under the California Lemon Law. Alpine's defense: "Sorry, California Lemon Law doesn't apply - you took delivery in Arizona."
I'm not being negative about out of state delivery - I wish that I had done it. Just an interesting anecdote.
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Gary Franks
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08/22/08 01:25am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Tow-N-See Mirrors
I've used them a few times. I don't think that the visibility is great, but it's all that I could find to work with my mirrors ('08 Jeep Wrangler). I definitely like that quick install and removal. Safety cords came in handy twice.
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Gary Franks
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08/19/08 01:18pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Help - Water Filter Pressure
Water filters restrict flow, which seems like low pressure. The inline filters often restrict flow more than the canister style filters. Some filter cartridges restrict more than others. Check the "GPM", Gallons Per Minute, rating for your filter cartridge.
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Gary Franks
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08/19/08 12:58pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Anyone stayed near Seattle WA?
We have stayed at the Maple Grove RV Resort for a few days. They have many longer term guests.
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Gary Franks
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08/19/08 12:55pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Carpet damaged by slide room
The dark stripes caused by the slideout on my carpet have always cleaned up easily with carpet spot remover.
Now if I could just fix the light spots on the carpet where I have dripped bleach putting it in the washing machine.
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Gary Franks
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08/18/08 11:30pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 2007 Jeep Wrangler
You’ll love your Jeep. I just bought a 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited 4wd (my first off-road vehicle).
I’ve been towing it with the hardtop and all 4 doors off. I’ve tried to find a cover that will stay on while being towed – no luck. I have the trail cover which covers the cab area including the door area, but it isn’t designed to stay on while being towed a highway speeds. Has anybody tried this?
I’m having storage bags made (the stock door storage bags didn’t fit right) for the doors so that I can slide them under the motorhome at the campground.
I had the BlueOx baseplate installed. I haven’t installed my U.S. Gear Unified Brake System yet. The light wiring was easier than could be imagined. Since I had the tow package on the Jeep, I merely ran a 4 conductor wire from the motorhome to back of the Jeep and plugged it into the jack that would otherwise be used for a trailer behind the Jeep. No diodes, no extra bulbs – wow, that was easy. Of course I’ll have to modify this when I install the brake system.
It is indeed a nuisance to have to pull the fuse on the Jeep to keep the battery from running down. I am hoping that I won’t have to do this once I complete my brake system wiring since it will include a charge line. We’ll see.
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Gary Franks
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08/18/08 11:07pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: blue ox bx8870 kargaurd
I have been using the BlueOx KarGard for a couple of years now.
I chose the KarGard over the Roadmaster model because the KarGard folds in half and can be stored in my motorhome’s compartment or in the toad’s trunk.
I did not consider using a bra on the car because it wouldn’t have protected the windshield unless I purchased one of the specialty bras specifically designed for a toad. I also didn’t like the idea of putting a bra on the car anyway, unless the car was clean, the bra would scratch the car finish.
I considered a huge mudflap on the motorhome, but after observing numerous motorhomes kicking up rocks every time their mudflap made contact with the ground, I concluded that mudflaps cause more hazards for the toad than they protect.
I considered the Protect-A-Tow but I wanted something a little quicker and easier to take on and off. However, I do think that the Protect-A-Tow would be the most effective.
I originally was towing a Lincoln Town Car and now I’m towing a Jeep Wrangler. The KarGard has been effective in protecting both vehicles.
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Gary Franks
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08/18/08 10:41pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: 35' RV +toad over hwy 29 from Calistoga
I drove SR-29 from Calistoga to Lower Lake in my 39' motorhome towing a Lincoln Town Car. I remember the curves and the climb. I was very glad to get to Lower Lake and finally pull over and stop. It was tuff but not unsafe. What I remember the most about that trip was that one of my air conditioners failed that day and it was a very, very hot Labor Day weekend.
The CalTrans length restriction does not refer to the overall length (in my case, about 63'), but refers to the length of the "king pin to rear axle". When you get there, that's what you'll read on the sign.
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Gary Franks
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08/02/08 12:21am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Front Center hub cap for 22.5 Aluminum rim,
Is this what you're looking for?
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Gary Franks
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08/01/08 11:57pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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