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RE: My official hate GMC thread!
My son just had to give up on his beloved Cavalier that he drove for over 2 years. It's still running but we're anticipating problems at 280,000 miles and with it being a 1989. He just moved up 16 years and bought a 2006 Cobalt. He sure did love that car though.
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johnas
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02/24/10 06:59am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: My official hate GMC thread!
GM vehicles are very undependable.I recently gave my brother a 2002 Cavalier to tow behind his motor home. It only had 146,000 miles on it. I still have a 2003 Cavalier in service with 257,000 miles. neither of these cars have had a tune up. In fact my brother is selling his Chrystler and driving the Cavalier. I have a 2007 Cobalt with nearly 100,000 miles. absolutly no problems.
You mean dependable?:?
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johnas
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02/24/10 06:57am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: My official hate GMC thread!
Stop crying that you need to put some money into a used vehicle with almost 60,000 miles on it. If you think that another truck from another manufacture will be perfect then think again because it won’t.
Stop raining on my party! LOL. It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!
This is my official hate GMC thread, not hate GMC and every other truck made thread. All I'm saying is that I wouldn't have expected so many problems under 60K miles. My wife's Nissan Xterra has 105K on it and has been a very reliable vehicle and I have owned several Fords that held up just fine. Wish I would have stayed with Ford!
Yet friends of ours ditched Ford for too many problems and went to Chevy. All cars have potential problems, I don't care who the manufacturer is. Look at the all mighty reliable Toyota now.:R
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johnas
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02/23/10 06:54am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Full timing with school age child
Staying at a local camp ground while school is in session. Then traveling and returning the next school year until he graduates.
To me full time means living in the motorhome all the time instead of using it for trips and living in a house the rest of the time.
If he's all for it, it sounds like a great idea. The fact that a 14 year old is all for it to travel with grandparents and leave friends behind is pretty cool in itself.
We have 4 kids and I know they would have all been for it. They still love to come with us even today though 2 are in their 20s, one teen and an 8 year old. However, not all teens think that way.
This sounds like a great opportunity and it's wonderful that you want to still enjoy your retirement and are raising your grandchild.
Outside of homeschooling, which is okay but a huge commitment and a lot of work, enrolling him in a highschool in Texas is the best option.
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johnas
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02/18/10 07:25am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Lake Powell
We were in Waweap in 2000 but that's some time ago. It's okay to stay at, nothing spectacular but functional. In the section of the park we were in, the rigs were pretty close together. We were there in July/August so it was extrememly hot.
One thing we found spectacular was that at the end of our row was a cliff overlooking the lake and Waweap resort(it was pretty high).( By the way, the resort amenities at the time were available to the campers like the pool and hottub. You'll have to check if that's still the case.) The sun was setting in one direction with a flaming red sky, and then to the South there was a massive thunderstorm with charcoal grey clouds. This and then the surrounding red rock made it even more impressive.
Have a great time, I know I'll always remember that trip. I do recommend a GPS on lake Powell I found it to be very confusing without one. We rented a boat.
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johnas
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02/18/10 07:09am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Trip Fueling Help
I would try and punch any 5 digit# and see what happens.
Tried that and it doesn't work.:R We tried the 90210, a real postal code but wasn't linked to our card.
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johnas
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02/11/10 06:52pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Trip Fueling Help
It is a pain. I was thrilled at being able to just slide my credit card through the pump until you now have to type in your postal code which is a hard thing to do as a Canadian. Now I go in Hubby pumps the gas. It's a real pain though especially at night when you want to go through the process as quickly as possible.
I would expect that a quick phone call to your credit card company would clarify the numbers to enter. Most likely it will just use the letter/number translation of a standard phone keypad i.e. 2=abc, 3=def, etc.
No, we tried that and we'd have to take on a US address. That's what we were told. We can't just create a US adress either we were told because our billing would go there.
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johnas
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02/11/10 06:51pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Bunk Houses; Yay or Nay?
We have a quad bunkhouse and love it. We started in 1998 with a pop-up travelling with my parents, 3 children who were 5, 8 and 11 at the time. Our main goal was that we wanted to be self contained. Camper washroom was a must.
We bought a trailer too small for us, so don't make that mistake.
No slide out and it was 7x25 ft.
Double bunks, the rest had to be created from dinette sets etc. A real pain and couldn't sit when kids had to go to bed.
Pull down cupboard for the 5 year old, no slide out....needless to say, way too small. The only thing we liked that it had 2 dinette sets. That was a traillite.
Then we were suprised and blessed with our fourth child. By then our other children were 15, 12 and 9. Our youngest had out grown that cupboard bed and we had nowhere to put a crib. Plus no slide out made it impossible to move within the camper.
Bought another trailite camper with a triple bunk, big mistake. There isn't enough room between the top bunk and the roof. We thought our youngest son could squeeze in there but it was clausterphobic for him after 6 months already (he grew). Our other son hated the bottom bunk because he had feet in front of him going to the bath room and the bathroom floor was his view with the door opening and closing all the time. Plus it started to fall apart after 5 years.
Now we have quad bunks, lots of living space because of our large slide out, and a great kitchen with master bedroom. We should have had this from the beginning. Our youngest is 8 now and we usually still travel with at least 6 of us. When we have a spare bunk we usually use it for storage as well. Our trailer would be too heavy for you because we have a 3/4 ton sub, but similar layouts are available in lite weights too. We have a 31 ft. outback RQS.
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johnas
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02/10/10 07:26pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Trip Fueling Help
It is a pain. I was thrilled at being able to just slide my credit card through the pump until you now have to type in your postal code which is a hard thing to do as a Canadian. Now I go in Hubby pumps the gas. It's a real pain though especially at night when you want to go through the process as quickly as possible.
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johnas
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02/10/10 07:00pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: How often do you stop?
We don't have a set schedule but we travel with a minimum of 6 people. Our number one reason is usually to get gas every 2 1/2 to 3 hours or so when we tow.
At these stops we have compulsory bathroom breaks and snacks. If one insist they don't have to go they know it will be at least 2 hours before the next stop. We have to do it this way because if everyone chose to go to the washroom every 1/2 hour we'd just never get anywhere.
We always stop for fatigue because its just my husband and I driving. We usually switch at gas station breaks anyway.
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johnas
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02/10/10 06:54pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Tropical Palms Resort Florida
Most people already informed you what's in the area and yes, everything is close by. My brother has stayed at the cottages twice, once in the older one with the two bedrooms and loft and he liked it as he was with wife/three kids. It was starting to look a little tired but he liked the big patios/decks and the court setting it was in.
Second time he stayed in a brand new one, a two bedroom and of course it was much nicer. It was all equipped and very nice. I'd consider it if we didn't have the travel trailer.
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johnas
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02/10/10 05:17pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: 3 adults-1 day at Disney- which park?
My question I just want to go to a park we haven't been to at all or not in a long time. We're also taking my parents and therefore think it would be great to retry Epcot after not being there for at least 10 years.
We'd also been thinking about Holly wood studios, but we've been to Universal/Islands once too many times as well. Are they similar? Anyone been to both?
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johnas
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01/31/10 09:34am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: 3 adults-1 day at Disney- which park?
Keep in mind that when you repeatedly visit one place it can lose it's magic and appeal. Of course it's overpriced-that's a tourist attraction trait. Whereever you go, keep an open mind and let your imagination run wild. THAT'S what theme parks are all about.
True, I agree.
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johnas
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01/31/10 09:31am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: 3 adults-1 day at Disney- which park?
I'll go ahead and be the downer here. My 1st time to WDW was about 74 it was great, went again in 90 with my wife, It was good, but saw Kingdom, Epcot and MGM. Went again in 95 it was just okay. Went last year it was a rip off. Magic Kingdom, in my opinion went from a "family" park to a "kiddie" park. Everyting is geared to a kid about 4 yrs old and ridiculously overpriced. (not to mention, tackily fake). Cleanliness and quality are gone. If you want to ride in a cart through a ride and see plastic cutouts while stupid music plays, or buy a $45.00 shirt, Magic Kingdom is your place. My kids, 15, 12, and 9 were bored and disappointed. If I ever go back I will spend my money at Blizzard Beach or MGM Grand.
Okay, this post gave me quite a chuckle because even though I've had great times there, this post does have a ring of truth to it :D.
I've been there countless times, too many to mention here. I've enjoyed some times more than others (mainly the atmosphere). The kids' ages in our family are quite diverse. They all liked it when they were little in the '90s. Now, my two boys 17 and 20 think it's lame and would agree wholeheartedly with the quoted post. My daughter 23 still likes it.
We didn't go for many years because of the lack of change but started going again when we were blessed with yet with our fourth child. She was so into princesses and the magic of it, that it was fun all over again.
I think, the problem is that in 1974 most of these rides like the Pirates ride was really considered high tech and totally perfect animation. Now, I think that a lot of it has gotten stale and technology didn't keep up here. That would really ring true for that Snow White ride, Small World and Peter Pan.
I went for the first time at the age of 20 in 1981 and thought it was the most technologically advanced park I'd ever seen and was very impressed. Since then not too much, in my opinion has really changed. There have been refurbishments of Peter Pan and Small World even though I don't know where, honestly.
If it wasn't for our little girl jumping up and down in excitement I wouldn't have gone 3 times in the last 5 years. Now she's out of the whole princess thing and we're open to visiting a new park instead.
Let me note that I never got caught up in the princess coiffure stuff that they offer at Disney now. It's like $225.00 USD to dress your daughter up like a princess. yeah right.
Note: that I think that park tastes are very individual. A couple of years ago we know of a guy who'd seen Disney for the first time at age 25 and just loved it and couldn't get enough. My one brother and his family can't stand the place and left at 2 in the afternoon (that's a little extreme to me but.....)My other brother and his family religiously go every year.
We haven't been to Epcot in 10 years and never been to Hollywood studios or Animal Kingdom (Animal Kingdom doesn't interest us too much). We were really disappointed at Epcot then because so much was closed due to refurbishment. We're seriously thinking of trying it again. We hear so much about Epcot and Soaring that it's peaking our curiosity. My favourite back then was Figment but who knows what I'd think now.:) I guess I'll find out this spring.
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johnas
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01/30/10 07:25am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Should "family camping be considered" family of 4?
One of my pet peeves is that the only answer some can come up with, "go somewhere else." That's not the issue here, and good luck trying since many many campgrounds only give the basic rate for two.
There's also someone going to complain, some legitamately, some not. I've never run a cg so I don't know exactly how difficult it is to set the price. Family friendly to me means amenities, but if it means pricing most families out of the campground then it's not family friendly.
I have 4 kids so imagine the $$$$ it costs me. Couples may say, why should I pay what you pay. Should cost be established be by the unit you drive? People travelling as couples in a $500,000 prevost with two airconditioners and laundry machines onboard with three TVs can honestly tell me that I use more than they do? Why the discount. Most of the time couples sit around the site, use the electricity or exit the cg for the day.
Yes, when I come with the 4 kids they may take some extra showers however they do spend money at the store, at activities that charge extra $$$, and don't even begin to ask me what I put for coinage in those laundry machines. So where it costs extra to have my family most cgs more than make up for it in the other end.
I could easily say that if a couple doesn't want to pay for four they could go elsewhere, but I don't think that's fair. I don't think 2 people for basic rate is fair, may 4 would be my suggestion. That still wouldn't cover my family but it would be most fair in my opinion. I think a family rate would be more than fair. Or....what about a surcharge for people with their own laundry machines and 2 airconditioners. See, the options list can go on and on and someone will always be unhappy.
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johnas
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01/23/10 06:03pm |
Family Camping
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RE: niagara falls(canadian side) with kids in June
I've been to Niagara so many times (2.5 hour drive for us). We've never done the jet boats you're mentioning but I know of people who have just loved it and took their kids. Occassionally there can be a lot of spray in faces though. We spoke to someone who took their 6 and 8 year olds and loved it. We'd like to try sometime but it's pricey.
Niagara on the Lake is a nice village, very quaint.
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johnas
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01/23/10 03:58pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: niagara falls(canadian side) with kids in June
I agree with everyone above. June is a t-shirt and shorts month and most of the time you can also swim outdoors. The KOA also has an indoor pool for the days that it may be a bit cooler which can occassionally happen.
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johnas
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01/22/10 06:50am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Watkins Glen KOA
We went a few years ago for Memorial Day weekend and would definitely go back again. We had a site close to the office and indoor pool but they had new "premium" sites with patios and sunken fire pits which were really nice and some were across from their pirate ship playground which if you have young kids they'd enjoy.
We were there in 2008 in one of the above mentioned premium sites. We were even lucky enought to have the front site (no neighbors in front of us) and really enjoyed it. There isn't anything wrong with the other sites but I would rebook the premium site if I would re-visit this campground.
There are sites at the far back which to me are too out of the way ( unless you like that). The proximity to all the attractions are convenient. Overall it's a very nice cg.
I agree don't forget to hike that national park/Watkins Glenn Canyon.
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johnas
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01/21/10 07:08am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Washington D.C.
We always go to Cherry Hill when visiting DC. All the above posts are right it's clean, great proximity to subway line, close to other shopping, bus comes right in CG, great convenience, if you don't like your site they're very open to letting you have what you want when possiblie of course, all the booklets you could possibly need, clean amenities and you can buy local DC tours in advance through them as well.
On the down side, it's expensive like tumbleweeds said, but I find that of most private metro campgrounds that offer everything and great convenience. Depending on where you are in the cg there is also some road noise from the beltway though this is particularly not a concern to us.I find this cg worth the money.
Eight years ago we also went to the KOA (between DC and Annapolis, MD) it's also okay but it is much farther from the subway line (12 miles). They do offer shuttle but I do believe it's only at a certain time of the day. Though it's fine there we still do prefer Cherry Hill Hands down.
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johnas
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01/18/10 07:12am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Disney World - Fort Wilderness or Value Resort
Just another funny story. My brother and his family incl. 2 girls aged 10 and 12 and 13 year old boy, always went to FW in their hybrid camper. My brother decided to sell it and then go to the other resorts. The following three years they stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, the Music value resort and the contemporary.
My brother brought forth all the options for this year and brought forth some pretty nice Disney resorts. All the kids piped up that the really wanted to go to Fort Wilderness that the others are just not the same. They wanted to go to FW even in a tent if that's what it took. Shows what the kids like best.
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johnas
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01/12/10 07:13am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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