Flapper
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Re: batteries in the winter
bgum wrote: KD4UPL wrote: Turn off your battety disconnect and just leave the batteries in the MH. No nred for a charger as there is no discharge. If they won't hold a charge all winter disconnected they need replacing. I consider this to be incorrect information as they can loose up to 5% charge per month. Here;s the chart I trot out, from "Battery University" when the subject comes up: https://batteryuniversity.com/img/content/storage-web-corrected.jpg As one can see, the colder the average temp, the longer they can be left before self discharge is a concern. Over the winter in the north, no issue. I'd think hard about long term over the summer in Texas or Arizona, however...1.7KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Gulf coast things to do!
wowens79 wrote: Orange Beach area is a great area. We will be down there in a little over a week. It will be our 4th trip there this year. Gulf State Park is great if you are staying there, lots of walking/biking trails. The beach is great, fishing should be good. On the way from MS, if you go the interstate, you can stop at Battleship park and see the USS Alabama from WW2, and some other military history. Instead of the interstate, there is a Ferry you can take across Mobile Bay from Dauphin Island over to the eastern shore of the bay. On the Dauphin Island side is a Sea Lab with lots of ocean/fish/ecology exibits, on the Eastern shore, is Ft Morgan as civil war fort. Fair Hope is a easy and nice drive up the eastern shore of the bay and is a cute little town if you like those. Oct 13-15 is the Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. Its fun if you like festivals. Its a great area, normally it is not very crazy, the Shrimp Fest will be busy. The Gulf State Park Pier is nice to walk out on even if not fishing, normally you can see fish cruising around, and it is free if you are staying at the state park campground. Ditto on the above. We're leaving in a couple of days for a 3-day stay in the Park. Actually, going to drop the trailer off after for storage there, and then return for a 3 month stay (Jan-March). Gulf State Park is frequently cited as the best State Park in the country. Huge, long undeveloped beach, the pier mentioned, 20+ miles of bike/hike paved trails, free bike share program, huge swimming pool, fresh water lakes for fishing/boating, dog park with dog beach, and more...1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Gulf coast things to do!
When in Orange Beach, a part day side trip to Alligator Alley is fun! https://gatoralleyfarm.com/ Not very far away, doesn't need a major time commitment, and more gators in one spot that you've likely ever seen! Not very expensive, great for everyone, except maybe the dog...1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Best app for spam blocking
What brand/model phone? Who is your cell provider? Some in either category are better at providing spam blocking tech than others. It may be an option you either have to set on the phone, tell your cell provider you want turned on, or both. With the rise in the ease of "spoofing" phone numbers, it no longer works to accept from certain area codes or prefixes. Many times, I get spam calls that are from my own phone number(!). Refusing to answer any call, except from those in your contact list, does seen to, over time, greatly reduce the number received. Can be an irritation if a call comes in from, say, your doctor on an unknown number - and then you have to play phone tag trying to get back in contact with them.1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Diodes between (-) terminals on parallel batteries. Why?
It's an attempt to prevent a stronger battery from charging a weaker battery. Sometimes used when the batteries are of two different capacities, or wide age difference. Best to always have both batteries be the same type and age. Then one doesn't need a "patch", they keep each other in balance. Your diagram doesn't show, but depending on where the load comes off, or the charger connects, there could be issues with getting full use, or full charge, out of one or the other. Get two matching batteries, and get rid of the diodes.902Views0likes0CommentsRe: Gulf State Park
We wintered there for the first time this past Jan-March. Going again this next winter. Have been there for short stays a few times before. It is a very large CG. Sites range from large to very large, all with full hookups. Not packed in like many private campgrounds. While some may be better, there really isn't a bad spot anywhere. About 20 miles of paved walking/biking paths. Small lakes for "fresh water" (well brackish) fishing/boating. This past winter, the coldest was about 40 at night, and 55-60 during the day. But many days trended warmer, especially as the winter progressed. From the CG, it is about a 1/2 mile to 2 mile walk to the beach (it IS a huge campground). Large dog park, with dog swimming access to one of the lakes. You also get free parking at the beach pavilions if you drive there. Nothing between the CG and the beach except natural land, and dunes (no condos, etc.). They have a great fishing pier, free access with a campground pass. There is a fee to actually fish, though. Pier was damaged in a past hurricane, but due to be repaired this fall/winter. Huge swimming pool, heated and open all year. Very close to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach for stores and dining - can bike if you don't want to drive. On site free bike share program, or several nearby bike rental places. Ranks at the very top of being one of the best state parks in the Country, and deserves it. Can be hard to get into, so plan well ahead. They have a one day period in November when you can go on line to rent monthly spots from Dec-March the next year.(ie in 2023 you reserve for winter months in 2024-2025) Last year we were there for the first week of Nov., and it was routinely in the high 70's to 80 each day.1.6KViews0likes0CommentsRe: GPS for eBike
Your desires are mutually exclusive. A phone (or watch) needs to be within cell service. So there is the device cost, and the monthly service cost. "Trails" can mean poor or no cell service. So that means a full GPS that can see many satellites as well as have off-road maps loaded. Likely a Garmin self contained unit, that runs about $300. I can't speak to the ability to "route to home" using trails (vs streets and bike paths), that will require some more research. But my guess is that even the best only show long established well-known trails, and not recent smaller ones that spring up. Which at best may still have him in a situation of "go south" - but which way to avoid that big hill, canyon, or other...155Views0likes0CommentsRe: De-winterizng an RV
About sanitizing - It is something you should do at least once a year, when first dewinterizing. And perhaps again after any period of a couple of months or more of not using. Nothing that grows in the system will make you sick, but can produce "musty" tasting water, or give a rotten egg smell to it. Traditional is to use 1/4 cup of bleach to each 15 gal of water your fresh tank can hold. Use only plain bleach - no color laundry or smell enhancers, or other additives. Premix the bleach in a gallon of water to weaken it, before adding to your tank. How to depends on your trailer - some have an outside port that you can just pour it in (and then use a hose to fill the tank). Use the water pump to have the bleach water come out of every fixture and faucet. Make sure to also do the same for outside shower/water spigots, the toilet, shower, as well as the low point drains. Yes, you should fill your hot water heater with the bleach water too. Some will warn about corrosion of the aluminum tank, but the concentration is very low AND it won't be in there all that long. But the heater is one of the best places to grow things. Let it all sit for 4-6 hrs. Drain your fresh tank, and pull the plug on the heater to drain it. Open your low point drains to drain all the piping. Yes, it is safe to just dump on the lawn, it will not hurt grass/plants at all, and dissipates rapidly. Fill your fresh tank again, and run clean water through everything to flush any remainder out.682Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cades Cove Campground in a 40ft 5th Wheel?
Can't advise on the length issue. Others are correct about walking, as the traffic on the loop road is horrendous...unless..you stay in the campground on a Tues and Wed night. Wednesdays for the summer they shut down the road, and it becomes walk/bike only. THAT is the best way. The ride isn't all that long, and the hills are pretty manageable even for occasional bike riders. Lots of stops to take breaks, see the historic sites. And the views are so much better at a slower pace.519Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grand Design 2670MK
MStat wrote: My wife and I are looking at a Grand Design Imagine 2670MK. One thing we noticed was fairly large gap, 1 in. between the floor and kichen (curb side) slide. It appears that this gap is to prevent the slide from rubbing on the floor. Has anybody else seen this? or Has anybody had problems with this? Thank you Sitting in mine now, and never really noticed it. Dark out, so didn't look from the underside outside. Inside, that appears about right, although trim molding hides it from being obvious. In the 6 years I've owned it, it has never been an issue of any kind. Nothing getting in, and the rare kitchen spill has not gotten out. Even a few days ago when we were getting hit with 50 mph gusts all day directly on that side, no air leakage felt. Junk? Hardly. Yes, built to a price point. Far, far better than any Forest River I have compared to. About the same as the Jayco I used to have, with some items better thought out/designed. Since the one making that comment has a Newmar, his budget is exceedingly higher than mine, so obviously can afford a Cadillac where I only could get a Chevy!682Views0likes0Comments
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