sparky60
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Tow Dolly Recommendations
Hello everyone, We’ll be buying a tow dolly to pull our 2022 Toyota Corolla behind our Class C Motorhome (cannot flat tow the Corolla). There are many kinds, no pivot, center pivot, electric brakes, surge brakes. I'd like to hear from those of you that are using or have used a car dolly and what kind and brand you would or would not recommend. Thanks very much!4.2KViews0likes7CommentsPark Model Wintering Recomendations for affordable RV Park
Hello all, We're currently in a Park Model in Mesa, AZ. With the yearly rate increases pushing past our fixed budget (rent is now at $5,700 year), we're beginning our search for a new park. We're able to live just about anywhere in AZ, prefer to be a half-hour or so from a larger city with all the conveniences. Being very difficult to get rate information online, I thought I'd throw this out there and get your recommendations for an affordable 55+ RV Park. We can sell our PM and buy another one, or if it makes sense we can have ours moved. Thanks very much for your input!2KViews0likes7CommentsRe: Full Time living in Mesa AZ in the summer-what rig to buy?
Us out West wrote: sparky60 wrote: Old-Biscuit wrote: Didn't you like the answers from yesterdays post in 'Fifth Wheel' Section :H Get a NUWA We FTd for 7 yrs Been in -19*F and 120*F temps The answers were great. Someone suggested that I repost in the full timing section instead, so I took that advice...... That 'someone' must not be familiar with the Forum Rules either. From those Rules: Forum Rules wrote: You are not allowed to post the same message in multiple forums without permission from one of the Open Roads Forum moderators. Sparky you are new so no biggy. But the 'someone'....:W My apologies..... :(132Views0likes0CommentsRe: Full time 5th Wheel living in Phoenix in the summer
jshupe wrote: Op, you should be fine if you pair your included dual ACs with a 12K mini-split. Or throw in a larger mini-split and you can turn one of your factory units off. I ran the calculations for our rig (in my sig) a while back and figured that we'd need around 42K BTU to keep it comfortable in the AZ summers. That means I'll be adding a 12K BTU mini-split at some point in our rig's life to the 2x 15K RV units we already have. This is an example of one having been retrofitted. Dometic doesn't advertise SEER ratings, but I read they're somewhere around 9. By comparison, home AC units might be around 13-16, and mini-split units can be 18 to OVER 30! Higher is better. I've never heard of a mini-split until your post. After researching further, I'm surprised these things aren't installed on more RV's. IN fact, if one of the big RV manufacturers would put these in their units as a nice clean factory install, I've got to believe that would make a huge splash in the industry! They seem like a terrific way to cool things down! Thanks so much for the great info - exactly what I'm looking for!491Views0likes0CommentsRe: Full time 5th Wheel living in Phoenix in the summer
Cummins12V98 wrote: Recently spent two weeks in Desert Hot Springs, CA with temps up to 122. Had zero issues keeping the RV in the low 70's with 3 AC units. RV in sig. Once again, it sounds like a Mobile Suites is the way to go. Did you run all three AC's at the same time?491Views0likes0CommentsRe: Full time 5th Wheel living in Phoenix in the summer
Us out West wrote: Me Again wrote: Buy a park model with a real AC unit! Chris Thats where I was going. One can buy (don't rent) a park model at a variety of RV parks for half the cost (or less) of a new 5th wheel like maybe the OP is considering. So....after a "few years" in Mesa sell the park model, there are always buyers. You'll have been a lot more comfortable than living in any RV in the Phoenix area or any place in AZ in the Summer....and that would be 3 Summers if you stick to your plan. Just get into the right Park and don't worry about having to move. Either way, RV space or Park Model space, you still have to pay a space rent. An RV space is about $250, and a Park Model space is about $500. Which park do you recommend?491Views0likes0CommentsRe: Full time 5th Wheel living in Phoenix in the summer
soos wrote: We spent an entire summer in Lake Havasu City, which is actually warmer than Phoenix. We were in our Mobile Suites. We were able to maintain an interior temperature of 76-78* all summer, even though the exterior temperature rarely went below 100- at night. We were careful which site we picked so our patio did not face west. We set up sunshades on both sides of the rig, making sure the refrigerator was protected from the sun- we used a gray tarp for that section. None of it was pretty but it worked. We kept all shades closed most of the time, and put insulating material in the windows that we really never cared about opening. We have 2 air conditioners and from mid June to the end of August, neither one of them ever shut off, but as I said, we were able to keep it cool enough to feel very comfy. My bigger complait was that even using straight cold water, the water was too warm to take a shower. We were lucky, we also have a truck camper so we took it on weekends and went to Flagstaff where it was significantly cooler. One of my worries was the cat. I wouldn't go too far because if we had left him home and lost power, I don't think he would have survived long. he always came in the camper with us. So, we did it, but it did have the feel of cave dwelling. Great info, Thanks , Sue! It sounds like a Mobile Suites is the way to do this.491Views0likes0CommentsRe: Full time 5th Wheel living in Phoenix in the summer
Me Again wrote: Buy a park model with a real AC unit! Chris Park model space rent is over $1100/month. An RV site is about $230/month. And if I want to go to another park at some point, I don't have to sell a tiny home. I just hitch and drive. I really need to hear from those that have "been there, done that", and what rig they had.210Views0likes0CommentsRe: Full time 5th Wheel living in Phoenix in the summer
ford-willy wrote: I have experience in a very hot climate. We own a RV lot at a Resort in Lake Havasu City Az. We normally just winter in our big Grand Junction 5ver there. But on occasion have been there in 115 degree temps. It is a huge strain on a normal 50 amp RV service. Last September, 115 degrees outside our transfer switch melted down requiring a 3 day fix and a motel room. Very lucky. could have burned the whole darn rig down. We now run a smoke detector in the sub floor area. Running 2 airs almost 24/7 along with other appliances is a huge strain. You need to minimize use of other appliances when running 2 airs constantly. Any little weak spot in your electric system (loose wire connection etc) can cause a huge failure. This summer we rented the lot to a full time couple. We have an electric usage deal with them. The monthly electric bill is running just under $300 per month for them if that helps you any. If you leave the rig for any time at all, and don't leave the 2 airs running, when you get back the rig will be so hot inside (maybe well into the 110 degree mark" that it will be midnight before it even cools down enough to sleep. WOW! That's a big electric bill! Great info - Thanx!171Views0likes0Comments
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