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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Queen of the fence jumping
Most dogs can jump twice their standing (on hind legs) height, if they are in shape. You might string a single strand of wire on the top of fence and hook to an electric fence generator. That will not really hurt the baby, try it yourself to see, but it might act as a discouragement. Worked great with several of our German Shepherds over the years. One "hit" and they would forgo trying THAT trick. Several learned to open fence gates, and one could open doorknobs, even when door opened in. Fortunately all of them soon learned what no meant.
Good luck!
Don't know much about this electric fence procedure, but my basic electricity tells me that the dog would have to be grounded for her to get a shock. How does this work?
We have a lab at home that laughs at our 4' fence and I've thought about the electric trick, but need some education on it.
thanks
Ron
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lanerd
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11/23/08 09:44pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Racor Fuel Filter / Primer Pump
Thanks Brett... I will most definitely use my pump to fill the filters. This last time, I did purchase a new one gallon gas can (plastic) and filled it with diesel from the local station and used it to fill both new filters. When changing the filters, I did notice the pump, but at the time did not know what it was. My manual mentions "priming" when changing the filters, but does not explain how. Now I know.
thanks again
Ron
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lanerd
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11/23/08 06:07pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Rear Slide Problem
We also had a slide switch go bad on us and it was replaced at an RV repair place in Anchorage with an identical switch that they had in stock. Guess what? It was bad also. They pulled another new switch out and it worked fine and has ever since.
Ron
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lanerd
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11/23/08 05:46pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Racor Fuel Filter / Primer Pump
snip...snip...
Caterpillar recommends installing new filters DRY and using the primer pump to fill both filters. snip...snip...
Do you know the reasoning behind this recommendation? What will happen if you install new filters full of fuel rather than using the pump?
Just idle curiosity on my part.
thanks
Ron
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lanerd
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11/23/08 11:54am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: diesel oil change and filters
For our first scheduled maintenance, I decided that since we were about to head out on a 9000 mile Alaska trip that I would have the maint done professionally. So I took the MH to Quinn Cat and had them change engine oil and filter, both fuel filters, generator oil and oil filter. They also drained and replaced all the antifreeze and lubed the front suspension. The cost??? Over $600 bucks! :E
So after our trip, I thought that since I've always done the maint on our vehicles, that I could also do the MH. Unfortunately, our small city does not have a parts house that could provide me with all the necessary and correct filters so I had to order them on-line. After much searching, I couldn't find a single source for everything and had to order from several different on-line stores which really added to the shipping costs. I purchased my two gallons of Rotella 15w-40 from Wal-Mart for about $25 bucks and then replaced the air filter ($40), oil filter ($23), large fuel filter ($31), smaller fuel filter ($16), and hydralic (pwr strg) filter ($14). Included in those prices of filters was a combined charge of about $30 for shipping. I did have to purchase a heavy duty filter wrench, but since that is a one time charge I didn't add it into the total.
Even if I could get everything local, the price of the oil and all the filters would still be more than $100.......but a very far cry from $600.
The labor was much easier than I had anticipated and everything went off without a hitch and only took me about 1/2 day. I didn't do the generator as we hardly used it on our Alaskan trip, and also didn't do any lubing up front or mess with the antifreeze. I think the hardest part was removing and replacing the engine pan guard that is bolted under the engine.
For future efforts, I will definitely search out and purchase all the filters the next time we are in a city that have these parts on hand. A little planning will reduce the cost considerably.
Hope this helps
Ron
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lanerd
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11/23/08 11:42am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Booties to wear when dumping
Snip.. Yes, you can use Wal-Mart bags. But will you be able to take them off easily for disposal. Won't you have to use some tape to keep them on? Plus you can easily wear a hole in them walking around. Snip...
I use the wal mart (and other plastic shopping bags) bags by first cutting one of the "handles". Then I stick my foot in the bag so that the un-cut handle is behind my heel and then use the two straps (from cutting the first handle) by running them back around my ankles and through the handle in back of my heel then run them around the same side of my ankle to the front, pull tight, and tie off in a neat little bow. Works great. Yes, if I do too much walking around or scuff the bottom of my shoe, I can make a hole. But after a couple of tries, you get use to walking carefully. We keep a sealable container in the side storage compartment (next to the door) and I pull the bow strap and remove the bag from my shoe and put into the container. That way no diesel smell gets into the compartment or inside of the MH.
I typically only use these at the fuel pumps as we always stay in relatively clean rv parks and never use public dump sites (those are almost ALWAYS gross..ewwww). I have used the bags also when rain has made the rv park site messy (muddy) and they work just fine for that. Came in real handy this summer in Alaska.
Hope this helps..
Ron
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lanerd
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11/22/08 11:24am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: My Next Question??
The latest Camping World flyer has a 30% discount coupon on any new motorhome (except in Texas). I'm sure that if they have a 30% off coupon that you surely could get more off from other dealers. I would think in today's economic turndown, 30% would be a "starting" point. We got 30% off on our MH 18 months ago at the Redmond Rally.
Ron
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lanerd
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11/21/08 07:54pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Veterans Day in the desert
Opps i just saw loud planes have no clue what they are or where they are from, Wish we could have snapped a pic or two they went so fast didnt have time.
So where they going to china lake? we didnt know what was out there we have seen them before.
Not sure I understand your question! "So where they going to china lake? My answer: To the airfield...since China Lake doesn't have an aircraft carrier stationed there.:W
The airspace over Panamint Valley is part of the US military's vast Special Use Airspace complex. The Panamint Military Operating Area (MOA) and covers the entire valley. The airspace is primarily used by military aircraft from Nellis AFB, Edwards AFB, NAWS China Lake, and NAS Lemoore for high and low altitude mission training.
We had a few flyovers this weekend. The best one was 2 F-18's and in the middle a smaller jet. Kinda looked like the one they use for dog fight training. Too cool.
Are you sure the two were F-18's? Sometimes they are a little difficult to distinquish from F-15's and F-14's. If yes, the smaller jet was probably a AV-8B Harrier (VSTOL)from China Lake or Lemoore. If you're sure that the smaller jet was like the one for dog fight training (remember TOP GUN)....which was an F-5; therefore, the two larger were probably F-15's....from Nellis AFB in Las Vegas.
Hope everyone enjoyed the winds... we called them up just for your pleasure. Sorry about your flag pole Darryl.
Ron
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lanerd
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11/19/08 09:03pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Veterans Day in the desert
I am curious, we stayed in Panamint Valley for the last weekend. We had about 5 flyover by military jets from China Lake AFB, do the jets fly over Spangler??http://www.desertdawgs.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1131&g2_serialNumber=1 width=640
No, we called them in to bomb U!:B
AFB??? AFB???..... don't let the swabbies at China Lake hear you say that!
China Lake is a Naval Facility...."NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER" and "NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION" to be exact and it's the largest land based U.S. naval facility in the world...over a million square acres! AFB.... cheesh! Everybody knows the AF doesn't have F-18's...
Ron
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lanerd
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11/18/08 06:26pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Is a 40 ft. fifth wheel to long for most campgrounds?
Please define "campground". When we had our 25' TT, we found some state (or provincial) parks (CA, OR, ID, MT, BC, AB) that were difficult, but not impossible to get into/out of. Sometimes I had to get out and cut some tree limbs, move some rocks, ect.... but never really found a park that I couldn't camp at. However, now with our 36' MH (even with the toad disconnected), I have found some parks extremely difficult or even down right impossible to get into, much less, out of.
Of the few National parks we've been to, we haven't had any problems at all and the same goes for 95% of all private rv parks.
Backing that 40 footer into a tight spot may be very interesting and I bet each time you'll have an audience.
As for your 5'ers 2560 lb pin weight, find out for sure what your 250's load capacity is (GVWR minus the "actual" weight of the truck loaded for camping including all passengers and a full tank of fuel.....see posts above about "CAT SCALE"). Once you know the true load capacity, compare that to the (again, "actual") pin weight. Keep in mind, that the "advertised" pin/tongue weight of just about all trailers is not the true pin weight as many times accessories are added by dealer or first owner, may add greatly to this amount. Again, you really need to get the pin weight from a scale before you purchase this rig and maybe save yourself not only a lot of money, but a huge headache to boot.
Hope this helps
Ron
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lanerd
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11/16/08 04:28pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Route - Sacramento to Quartzsite
Ok, here is another way that we usually take. Little more complicated, but we like it.
Again, at Kramer Junction (intersection of 58 and 395 locally called "4-Corners") turn right (south) on 395. Go to Victorville and turn left (east) on "Bear Valley Road". Follow BVR to Hwy 18. Turn right (south) on 18 to Hwy 247. Turn left (east) on 247 to Hwy 62. Turn left (east) onto Hwy 62 and go until you reach Parker, AZ. In Parker, 62 will turn into Hwy 95 and it will lead you right to the Q. Note: do not mistake Hwy 95 in California as Hwy 95 in Arizona....two different highways.
We usually take Modracer's route home and stop off in Havasu to view the London Bridge and get a quick bite to eat. Also at exit #9 on I-40 is fuel that is normally 30 cents cheaper than in California...good place to fuel up.
By the way... in January you WILL more than likely run into snow at Tehachapi. However, Caltrans usually keeps the highway clean and clear. And, I'm sure you are aware of the fog possibilities coming down 99 and going over Tehachapi pass.
Hope this helps
Ron
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lanerd
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11/14/08 05:44pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fuel cost way down per mile
Well, let's see. Right now, diesel fuel at the cheapest place in town is 2.89 and my rig gets about 8.5 mpg so that equates to: .34 cents per mile. Of course thats much better than the .56 cent per mile we spent this summer on our 9000 mile trip to Alaska and back!! :E
Ron
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lanerd
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11/14/08 05:10pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Booth Dinette vs Table & Chairs??
I assume most replies are referring to the typical booth setup that converts to a table. I am wondering if the "booth ensemble" is more comfortable for seating. I know it does not convert to a table. Picture of a booth ensemble can be seen at:
www.beavermotorcoaches.com/modelsxml/beaver.aspx?model=contessa&content=gallery
I tried to make this a"clickable link" but could not figure it out. If anyone wants to take the time to send me a message on how to do that I would appreciate it.
HERE you go.
Ron
ps... Hey Kathy, how ya doing?
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lanerd
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11/14/08 04:50pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Albuquerque RV Rally...Who's going? April 17- 21 2009
We also received ours, but they have assigned us to "LOT" #1.... no site number mentioned. When at Redmond in '07, sites were not assigned, only lots. When we arrived, we just followed the rv in front of us and the helpers just located us in the next site beside the rv we were following.
Are you sure you received a "site" number?
Ron
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lanerd
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11/14/08 11:03am |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Booth Dinette vs Table & Chairs??
We had the booth in our TT and it was pretty cramped especially for those of us who are "fluffy"...so when we bought our MH, we decided on the table and chairs. The table top does slide in and out for extra surface area but even when it is out, there really isn't sufficient room for four people to eat unless only the plates/glasses used for dining is on the table and all other bowls and stuff are located elsewhere. Even still, the two outside people would be situated more towards the corner of the table rather than the sides...table top just not big enough. Since there is only the two of us, this hasn't been a problem. However, the chairs are really not very comfortable and we have added pillows to provide additional support. On our trip to Alaska this past summer, we left the two fold up chairs at home and they are still in the storage cabinets in the garage.
I think I would prefer the booth "IF" they would make them large enough so that they weren't so confining....but haven't seen many (if any) of those.
Ron
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lanerd
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11/14/08 10:57am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: GEO Method, one more time
GEO may be folklore, but after 2-1/2 years fulltiming, it appears to be working.
I use liquid laundry detergent rather than dish detergent, exactly because it foams less. When liquid Calgon can't be found, as in an area with soft water, I use 20 Mule Team Boraxo. There's more than one way to "soften" water a bit.
Sluggo
Hi... I post this same info about once a month.... here it is again and hope it helps you out...
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Maybe this will help you understand better... There are many different "brands" of water softeners; however, be careful as one is not always as good as another. Softeners fall into either one of two "groups": Precipitating and non-precipitating, and most of the time, the labels will not tell you which is which. You have to know for your self.
The first group (precipitating) is not recommended for the GEO method as it has some characteristics that while are not harmful to our black tanks, does not really work as well. This group contains the brands: Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, Raindrops, Blue Dew, Borax, Climalene, Melo, White King Water Softener, and Borateem.
The second group (non-precipitating) is the one that is best used for the GEO Method and the brands are: Calgon (a mixture of non-precipitating and precipitating chemicals), White Rain, Blue Raindrops, and Spring Rain. These softeners ties up hardness minerals in the water and holds them in solution (sequestering). No visible particles are formed. The water remains clear and usually contains phosphates. The water feels slippery (which also makes the sides of the black tanks slippery).
So, when you can't find Calgon, look for the others....just make sure you don't buy the precipitating type. Also, it's much easier on the tanks (and you) if you only use a liquid for both the water softener and the detergent. I get my Calgon from THIS PLACE in 32oz bottles. If you "have" to use a powdered form, dilute it in a gallon of "hot" water and make sure it dissolves completely prior to putting it in your tanks. I usually order it in a case (8) and the shipping is much cheaper(per bottle) than just getting one at a time. Hope this alleviates some of the confusion.
Also, texasjayco provided me with another on-line store that you can get calgon from. HERE it is and it's much cheaper than drugstore.com.
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And for the OP's question... I have used powdered but prefer liquid even tho the GEO originator recommends powdered. The liquid probably is a little more expensive, but the ease of use (I think) is worth it.
Also, I use Oxy Clean laundry detergent (again, liquid) and it seems to do a good job. I have not used any dish soap mainly due to the excessive amount of suds it creates; however, I have no idea if excessive suds is good or bad. Just seems unnecessary to me.
Ron
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lanerd
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11/13/08 09:12pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Can 2 12 volt batteries run a microwave?
If I had two deep cycle 12 volt batteries in a fiver would they be able to run a microwave?
What happened to Monty-Rob??? :h Asks a question and then never comes back.....:?
Sure would be nice to hear from him to see if he understands the info he has received here.
Ron
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lanerd
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11/13/08 09:03pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: What kills a motor home?
Routine maintenance and weather protection are my two main thoughts. I realize that they are made to be outdoors, but still.....
Since we live in the southern california desert, we get a LOT of sunshine which really has a detrimental effect on plastics, rubber, and other petroleum based products so I'm also a firm believer in keeping everything clean and where required, waxed. Also, routine maintenance using high quality filters/oil...ect is a must.
My coach has a one piece fiberglass roof and I keep it waxed like I do the sides (twice a year), but I've often wondered what to use on the plastic covers for the ACs, vents, and stuff. The sun out here will just eat them alive in two years or less. If the plastic is smooth, I put a coat of wax on them...however, my AC covers are not smooth (orange peel finish) and waxing them is very difficult and will typically leave wax that turns spotty white where the wax is not removed.
We are in the process of building an rv garage, but it is probably at least one to two years away ($$) and in the mean time I have no way of shading the MH. We thought about a fabric cover, but with our sand storms I'm afraid that the paint will be removed from all corners and edges in no time. I don't have to worry about sand pitting as it is located such that it is partially protected by our house and garage, hence, the sand doesn't hit it directly, but the wind will find its way under the cover no matter where we locate it.
So, for now we need to find some way of protecting those vulnerable plastic pieces. Any ideas? Does anyone make some type of cover for the covers??
thanks
Ron
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lanerd
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11/11/08 10:32am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Albuquerque RV Rally...Who's going? April 17- 21 2009
Ok, thanks. That's what I thought.
Thanks for the info.
Ron
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lanerd
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11/11/08 10:02am |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Roadside Emergency Service
We had both last year... Good Sam from previous rv and Coach Net free from new rv. Didn't use either one of them. This year made the decision to go with Good Sam only because we also had them for auto insurance and it seemed that they would cover a greater area.
On our Alaska trip this past summer, our coach wouldn't start the morning we were suppose to board the ferry in Haines. For those of you who are not familiar with Haines, it has about 1500 residents, three rv parks and a couple of garages. We called Good Sam ERS and they had a mechanic out at our rv park within 15 minutes. Even though the mechanic didn't fix our problem, I was still impressed with the quickness that they responded. For now, I'll stick with Good Sam until they do me wrong.
Ron
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lanerd
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11/10/08 08:49pm |
General RVing Issues
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