Powerstroke2000
Explorer
Joined Mar 30, 2002
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: Helpful Ideas for Alaskan Travels
Grit dog wrote: swind wrote: I am planning to take a RV trip to Alaska via Canada Yukon in 2017 summer and fall starting from VA. I am going to be there for a over 9 months. Any advise on the tow behind vehicle? How useful it is or not? Thank you. If you want to get off the beaten path on wheels I'd say it would be very useful. Not a lot differnet than anywhere else you go though. Much depends on what you can afford, and where you might possibly want to go! A car with 'all wheel drive' may be good if the areas you go are not too bad, but a Jeep or similar vehicle with 4 wheels drive (plus Jeeps can be towed 4 wheels down behind a motorhome) would work best in all conditions. There are many vehicles that 'can't' be towed, so do your homework on which will work for you, and you should be good to go! I'd also add some kind of device to keep the rocks, dust/dirt/rain from consuming your tow vehicle as well.1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Good Sam issue...
garyemunson wrote: You should look into joining Passport America. Nowhere near as many campgrounds as in the Good Sam book BUT they are 50% off. Most of us who have joined make the <$50 investment back on the first camping trip. Many do not join thinking there is a 'catch'. Other than some blackout days and stay limits there is not. Yes, we did just that, joined Passport America (as well as Good Sam), and found that during the 'high' season (basically winter time) the 50% doesn't allow for the saving. So, it seems to be more of a seasonal thing, but we'll try it for a few years and see if it pays to have it. Have read there is an 'Escapee's' membership as well for savings....but so far have just joined their forum, and no membership as of yet. There is also 'Thousand Trails' memberships, of which you'd have to use it on a more 'full-time' basis to make it pay I think. I'm sure there are many others, some I may not have even heard of yet, but 'discounts' of any kind are most welcomed, especially since we're AAA members as well as 'seniors'...so any and all discounts are favourable. Apparently you can't daisy chain all these hoped for discounts either! :) Dale1View0likes0CommentsRe: Never owned a dually
Currently have our F450 '09 Ford CC King Ranch 4X4 dually, and it has impressed me from day one, and still does! There again I take good care of my vehicles, but the F450 has a very impressive front wheel turning radius, compared to the 3/4 ton trucks. The OEM sound system is wonderful, as are the components in the truck. I've added a programmer, even though I'm now a senior citizen, any hill can be climbed at whatever speed I choose. I've added air bags, as I pile on an Arctic Fox 990 (with slide) camper in the bed, then attach an 18' enclosed trailer behind and it's never complained. I do have the 'Torklift Superhitch & truss extension, as I have an added custom set of stairs on the camper. I park in the far reaches of parking lots, giving me plenty of room, and fold the mirrors in when parking (push of a button). I've never had a cracked fender....so I'm not sure where that comes from on some trucks other than bad drivers perhaps?462Views0likes0CommentsGood Sam issue...
We joined Good Sam as of last month (February 2018) earlier in the month, and our cards came yesterday thankfully, but we also paid additionally for the Good Sam Directory, and it didn't come, so I'm unsure if it was sent out or not? We just purchase our 'new to us' motorhome, and we're looking forward to this new to us lifestyle in the years to come. We obviously have a LOT to learn, with regard to getting the best deal for the $$ spent, the many issues on being prudent while on the road or in an RV resort/park, on top of all one needs to know on the motorhome itself! We're hoping 'Good Sam' will be kind to us over these years, and have the ability to make use of it's services! Unsure if I need to call Good Sam on whether my directory has been sent out, or wait a few more weeks...just in case?1.5KViews0likes8CommentsRe: Need some battery advice!
OldSmokey wrote: Powerstroke2000 wrote: I'm currently having had an issue with my Interstate 12V (dual) batteries in my Arctic Fox camper, in that after 3 days of boon docking, my fridge stopped working, thus realizing I must be below 6 volts of power (was told the fridge needs 6V to run while on propane). After the 3 days we where back on the road, so the truck charged the batteries to the point where the fridge would run fine, and after that we stopped where we would have shore power for the few nights prior to heading home. I did pull my batteries and put them in my garage on a piece of carpet and my 4 stage charger started out showing 25% power in the battery, and within a half hour it was up to 100%. I'm unsure if this is a true 100%, or if the charger has been fooled in some way, as it didn't take long to get to where it should have been. I say this, as I put this same charger on my wife's car, where she was having no battery issue, but when I put it on it showed her battery at 50% and it took overnight and into the late morning before 100% showed. My charger breaks down the sulfation process, but whether the battery is at a true 100% I don't know on this camper battery. I have another 12V interstate (currently in the camper which I'll change out with the charged one) and see how long that one takes as well. I think these batteries are about 5+ years old, but we're thinking of perhaps going to a motorhome, so I don't know if it's worth spending the $$ to change them out, or if a full charge and maintenance through the winter (if it didn't sell) is worth it? the clue here is "within a half hour it was up to 100%" your batteries are sulphated and now boat anchors. buy two 6 volt batteries of the desired capacity. don't parallel FLA's I don't believe the battery area will allow 6V batteries, as they are a fair bit higher than my current 12volts, or I would! There is a battery sliding tray the batteries sit on, and a total of 8" maximum unfortunately.296Views0likes0CommentsNeed some battery advice!
I'm currently having had an issue with my Interstate 12V (dual) batteries in my Arctic Fox camper, in that after 3 days of boon docking, my fridge stopped working, thus realizing I must be below 6 volts of power (was told the fridge needs 6V to run while on propane). After the 3 days we where back on the road, so the truck charged the batteries to the point where the fridge would run fine, and after that we stopped where we would have shore power for the few nights prior to heading home. I did pull my batteries and put them in my garage on a piece of carpet and my 4 stage charger started out showing 25% power in the battery, and within a half hour it was up to 100%. I'm unsure if this is a true 100%, or if the charger has been fooled in some way, as it didn't take long to get to where it should have been. I say this, as I put this same charger on my wife's car, where she was having no battery issue, but when I put it on it showed her battery at 50% and it took overnight and into the late morning before 100% showed. My charger breaks down the sulfation process, but whether the battery is at a true 100% I don't know on this camper battery. I have another 12V interstate (currently in the camper which I'll change out with the charged one) and see how long that one takes as well. I think these batteries are about 5+ years old, but we're thinking of perhaps going to a motorhome, so I don't know if it's worth spending the $$ to change them out, or if a full charge and maintenance through the winter (if it didn't sell) is worth it?5.1KViews0likes34CommentsRe: Onan Generator in 996 Arctic Fox...how to?
Just checked and my Onan runs great, but it's not showing the 'hours' on the meter, which happens to be close to the 'on' switch inside my camper? Not sure if it's not sending a signal, or whether there is a connection I might need to check for? Thought I'd see if anyone else has ran into this?1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Legalities regarding firearms for bear safety in wilderness?
Thanks everyone for their replies. We chose to not take any firearms, and all went well. Saw no bears, other than on the side of the highway occasionally. Had a good trip, and hope to do it again one day! Thank you!576Views0likes0CommentsRe: Is there a 'I wouldn't buy a ? Motorhome' - and why?
gonesouth wrote: there are a couple of rigs you should consider in the houston area....ppl has a 2006 Beaver with 4 slides at $95000 that has most of the features you were asking about, while Foretravel Texas has a 2001 Foretravel U320 at $89 and a 2004 U270 at $116. Any of those three fit your budget and IMHO are better than the Tiffins and Newmars of your dreams. Thanks...the kind of info in these last two post I'm looking for, which will give me the opportunity to look these particular brands/models to see how they might fit the lifestyle my wife & I are looking for. With regard to Tiffin & Newmar brands, as most will know, there are many 'models' within these brand names as well. I've heard/read that these two in particular are very good companies (without the ability necessarily to fold as some have in the past) as well as give superb quality service, and the ability to go to the manufacturer and have updates done to your coach. Of course there are private companies with the ability to do much of it as well, but having employees that work on these unit's daily, I would think they truly know the 'little things' on getting a job right, whether big or small. Not sure on whether certain brands/models have more problems getting 'parts' though? I'd hope to get a unit that doesn't 'nickel & dime' me, but that may be an oxymoron, especially buying in the years I'm looking at? One thing I prefer, and this may have something to do with purchasing a specific year/model, when entering a coach, I tend to prefer to see tile of some kind, over carpet. We've always been the type to take our shoes off....but still, it may be a small thing, but a quirk in us where we'd probably pick one without carpet, than one that has it. Thanks again for the advice/suggestions folks!361Views0likes0CommentsRe: Is there a 'I wouldn't buy a ? Motorhome' - and why?
Thanks for the comments/advice up to this point. I've been watching the Tiffin Phaeton & Allegro Bus unit's, as well as Newmars. Those in the $85K to $125K, which usually puts me in the '06 - '08 area....so far. There tends to be quite a range in pricing, even with the same year/engine/length in my research. It's not something I plan on rushing in to, but when the right one comes up, I may just jump in to it. There are some options I tend to like of course, others that are 'definitely' wanted, so I have a long list, and I'll see if I find something within the range of that list! It may take a bit of flying, to get out and see some unit's, but that will come after I finish with my research, so I'm up to date on what I'm looking at. Thanks again folks, much appreciated, and feel free or comment on anything that comes to mind.361Views0likes0Comments
Groups
Bucket List Trips
Bucketlist destinations you just can't miss. Which spots stick with you?Aug 08, 201613,488 Posts Motorhome Group
Join in here to discuss all things motorhomes.Jan 10, 202638,766 Posts Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Jan 19, 202544,056 Posts
