davehultin
Explorer III
Joined 21 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: In search of perfect Class C camper for a stroke survivor
Just in case this thread catches the attention of anyone else in a similar situation, my brother-in-law's wife found a perfect rig for their needs: a 2018 Winnebago Fuse. Here's why it's a good fit for them: A flat floor plan: no steps to navigate once my brother-in-law is inside. No carpet: Nothing to catch his feet as he moves. (One leg will always drag.) Twin beds, one on each side: No awkward crawling over my brother-in-law once he's in bed for the night. Low entry from the outside: Easy to get in to the vehicle Those are the biggies; I'm sure I'm missing some of the smaller nuances. It's not very long, but it's surprisingly roomy and it drives really nice for them.227Views1like0CommentsIn search of perfect Class C camper for a stroke survivor
Last year about this time my brother-in-law had a stroke, it changed everything. He's lost a lot of function on one side of his body. He's no longer able to drive and requires a small walker to move around. He and his wife were avid campers, pulling a small fifth-wheeler. We're hoping they can camp again, but it won't be the same as before. We think a Class C will be the most practical for them, and we're helping my in-laws build a list for their next version of a perfect camper: It needs to be on the smaller side to make it comfortable for his wife to drive. It needs to have a floor plan that will accommodate his movement. It needs to not have any carpeted areas, his feet can't get caught up in any carpet/floor transitions. I'm looking for advice from anyone else that has had to navigate a change like this. What features were important to include? What should be avoided? Any specific brands/models that worked well? After trading in their fifth wheel they'll have a budget of about $90,000, so they expect they'll be looking for a used camper.450Views0likes2CommentsRe: Trying to find a replacement window: 8505-2 (maybe?)
Thanks for the good info, it’s SUPER helpful! I ended up ordering the window I mentioned in the link (before the feedback came in because they have a 30 day return policy. Now I have a better idea of what to expect. I’m most unsure about the wall thickness, I’ll have to hunt for a place to measure before I pop the old window out. >> Now sure what you mean you want the same screw holes to line up. I thought the window would arrive with predrilled holes and I wanted those holes to line up with the existing screw holes in the wall. But I think you’re saying that I’ll be making my own new holes. If that’s the case then I’ll soon be ready to give it a try.1.2KViews0likes0CommentsTrying to find a replacement window: 8505-2 (maybe?)
I've been trying to find a replacement window for our trailer with very limited luck. My preference is to be able to find an exact replacement so I can use the same screw holes, but a "close enough" replacement is OK too. I found a label hiding under the valance, here are all the different codes on the label: B50199 2438721 10/09/17 RING-2 8505-2; 30.0x22.0; BLK RPO QTY 60 From my searching it appears the 8505-2 code is what gets me closest to a match, but the dimensions, 30.0x22.0, would be pretty important too (of course!). I've found a number of exit windows, but I don't need an exit window. I'd prefer something that would give me a little more control over how much the window is open (or not open). The only non-exit window I've found so far is this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/266295582241 It would work, I guess, but the latch mechanism seems kinda hokey to me. (You can see it in the second photo, near the top on the edges.) Any ideas on where to get an exact replacement, or a pretty darned close replacement?1.7KViews0likes6CommentsRe: Slide won't retract: 2004 Imperial Holiday Rambler
Rick Jay wrote: If yours is wired similarly, it's possible the front two slides are on one control unit and the third slide is on a separate unit. Since your rear slide works, that controller is functional. ... Here's more information that didn't make the original post (because my father-in-law decided to head home with us by that time): The rear slide stopped working too. Hmm. :h But I think you're on to something. One of the last panels he opened revealed what I believe to be the control units you mentioned. I noticed them and thought I'd give each one a solid push to make sure it was seated properly. When I did, I heard a gentle "crackling" sound. I never once thought anything was breaking, but I thought that perhaps it was the sound of something loose (like several pins that I didn't see) clicking into place. I don't remember if that was before or after the back slide stopped working. Another thing that happened (before the back slide stopped working, I think) is that my father-in-law pulled out the tray with all the batteries to check connections there, and one of the wires simply fell apart when it was moved, looking as if a knife sliced all the way through it. (Battery acid burned through it, I suspect?) We fixed that with some crimp connectors, but that didn't seem to change anything. By that time, we didn't test things as completely as we normally would have, because there were two wives that were approaching the end of their "patience allotment". As it stands now, the mobile tech is scheduled to arrive on Monday. I bet he'll find it has something to do with those control units you mentioned.1.2KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Slide won't retract: 2004 Imperial Holiday Rambler
Thanks for the suggestions. We're in the middle part of the story now and my father-in-law is waiting for a tech to come to the campground to check it out (hopefully in the next day or so), so we'll see what happens after the tech takes a look at it. I feel so bad for him. He's 80 years old but has never let age (or mechanical problems!) keep him from joining us on trips. This time, though, he seemed pretty defeated and I'm sure it's really bugging him. The first part of the story is that on the way to the campground we pulled over on an exit to grab some sandwiches, which is where he discovered a fuel line had wiggled off. Thank goodness we "just happened" to stop before it became a much bigger issue. He tried calling Roadside Assistance but they couldn't line up a mobile tech or a tow on the weekend so they stayed in their motorhome on the exit ramp overnight, about an hour away from the campground. Like I said in the original post, he can fix anything, so by morning he had done enough tinkering to get it running again and they joined us in the campground. So with the slide still stuck in the extended position, yesterday ended with them coming back home with us in our tow vehicle and another family member meeting them at our home to get them the rest of the wait to their home, and with a call in to a tech in the area where the camper is at to take it from there. When they get the all-clear they'll make the 400-mile journey to retrieve their motorhome. There are many family conversations of "updated smaller motorhome" starting up, I have a feeling this story has a ways to go before the final chapter is written. :-|1.2KViews0likes0CommentsSlide won't retract: 2004 Imperial Holiday Rambler
Hi all, real-time help needed! We're camping with my father-in-law and he can't get on the road because the slide on his 2004 Imperial Holiday Rambler won't retract. I'm looking for real-time help so he can get on the road. Here's what I know so far: The slide on the back works but neither of the front slides work. (One on each side, the passenger side is retracted and won't extend, and the one on the driver side is extended but won't retract.) The relevant fuses appear to be good. We manually held all of the switches on the storage bay doors on the drivers side to make sure they weren't interrupting the circuit. The generator and the vehicle itself started so the batteries seem to be OK. And the slides didn't behave any differently when the vehicle was running. My father-in-law has lots of "farmer smarts" and can fix anything, but so far we haven't been able to figure this one out. Any ideas?4.7KViews0likes12CommentsRe: Belle Fourche River Campground - Devils Tower Wyoming
Well as it turned out, 12:30 was too late. The sign at the gate said so and so did several park rangers. We had to drive through the campground to turn around and I could l swear a few were open yet, but what do I know? Anyways, on to the KOA, plenty of space there. Time to watch Close Encounters! That is, until the rain clouds opened up about halfway through. I guess you never quite know what adventure is in store. All is good!750Views1like0CommentsRe: Belle Fourche River Campground - Devils Tower Wyoming
enblethen wrote: The NPS campground is nice. We were there a month or so ago. It was full every night! I would personally not take a chance on getting first come site. I don't like high priced campgrounds such as KOA, when have little choice have to spend the bucks. In your estimation, what time will the campground start to get full during a weekday?751Views0likes0Comments
Groups
Bucket List Trips
Bucketlist destinations you just can't miss. Which spots stick with you?Jan 18, 202513,487 Posts Motorhome Group
Join in here to discuss all things motorhomes.Jan 27, 202538,705 Posts Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Jan 28, 202544,029 Posts
