Green_Goblin
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Re: Advice for the best printer cartridge.
Laser doesn't dry out over time like ink does if left for a longtime without use. Ive had best luck with Canon for photo printing but HP is just fine. I don't buy aftermarket cartridges. They either are problematic or are recycled and refilled but not all the way. Buy name brand, don't leave it out where it will freeze, don't jostle it (expose it to bumps while driving). Canon is great, HP is a close second. Brother Lasers are just fine, though I have a Samsung.200Views0likes0CommentsRe: Gas Credit Cards
Good point about the Shell card. I am locked into them and not their neighbor who might be competitively lower. I won't do costco because 1. I'm not going to wait in line for an hour with my truck running or drive out of my way. You are right, it seems that yours, and my, generic cards give us the best options universally.430Views0likes0CommentsGas Credit Cards
I have been researching credit cards and gas cards for the last couple years now. One of the cards that has the best returns is a Shell card. What comes in second is Chase. Given that RVing requires a lot of gas and utilities (lp tanks) that get purchased at gas stations. What do you use for a CC? There isn't one universal card for Coast to Coast use because most gas stations are typically grouped into regions. What I have found, for myself, is my REI credit card. The 2% I will get back is used for camping gear replacement every year. I will probably average into the 100s to a 1000 as I already get back about 250$ each year with normal use. So what do you use for coast to coast use?11KViews0likes61CommentsRe: Navigation
rlw999 wrote: I use a Garmin 780RV for general navigation, I really like the routing and the UI to see what's ahead for gas, food, etc. The low bridge warning has warned me off some routes so that seems to be working well. Even though the Garmin does have traffic routing (it gets updates by linking with your phone), I found that Google Maps is much better for traffic, so I use both -- the Garmin GPS for general navigation, and Google Maps on my phone to look for traffic, especially when in/near cities. I was behind a delivery driver, standard box truck, who wasn't paying attention and hit an overpass walk way or street Just WAM!!! at full speed. I also witnessed a similar truck get stuck in an underground delivery dock, shaved off the sheetmetal off the top of the truck like a sardine can. We had to drop his tire pressures down to the rims to get him out. I plan on being very careful.442Views0likes0CommentsRe: Navigation
PawPaw_n_Gram wrote: Navigation starts with a map. Knowing where you plan to go, what route you should take. I use apps like AllStays, RV Trip Wizard (PC Only), RV Parky, and state DOT websites to check for obstructions, construction, etc. Then I put the route I want to take into two different GPS units to monitor while driving. I've been too many places where Google Maps gave up and could not figure out where I was. Well out of cell phone range also. I want a stand alone device. My route is written down on paper, so my wife and look quickly at tell me that we need to turn on County Road 123. No GPS or Google Maps or app had a ROUTE for you to travel. It chooses a route based on waypoints, and the friggin things can change their minds for all kinds of reasons. I use a Rand McNally RV GPS for monitoring my planned route, set to show me what the road looks like for the next mile. It is set to NOT recalculate if I miss a turn. (I also use the Rand for maintenance logs, fuel purchase logs, etc.). I use a Garming RV GPS set to auto-recalculate to monitor traffic, weather, such. Before I leave, I step through the route turn by turn, to make sure I NEVER face an unexpected roadway. I also usually know which places I will refuel. Mostly a specific station, sometimes, just in a particular town. If something forces us to change, or I get a wild hair to go someplace else, DW can reprogram the Garmin for a new waypoint or destination. She is also quite practiced at using RV Parky and AllStays to find new campgrounds or places to stop overnight. Yes, I'm an old fart with no job, so I can play with routes, optimize them for the way my truck and trailer travel. Even without internet. I have a highly customized copy of Streets & Trips 2013. True it doesn't show every roadway or changes. A few times, we got an early start, the drive was easy, and I've stretched my destination a bit. Once all the way from Decatur Texas to Albuquerque, another time from Decatur to Tatum, NM. Mostly I plan for less than 300 miles a day travel. It's about the journey for us, and that leaves us options to stop and smell the bluebonnets. Of course, I've been doing this for seven years, and I pull a TT which is relatively low as far as height compared to many other rigs. But it is a total of 62 feet long, with a very large turn radius, more than a Class A or almost all 5ers. You know PawPaw this is probably the best advice I have received. We forget a lot about these options when we become reliant on a car gps or our phone. I went old school with a 2008 F250 Superduty out of AZ. A retired forestry truck with no frills. Laymen everything. I want to slow down, think, not react. Keep my eyes on the road and surroundings. A paper map can tell us a lot if we stop and look at it. With knowledge of mpg and capabilities I can plan ahead by about 100-150 miles, stop for a break and top off the tank and plan for my next leg. Avoid metropolitan areas and go around them (694-494 loops around Minneapolis/St Paul help a lot to avoid the DT areas that bottle neck), take side roads and visit small towns. I plan on what you said, 300 mi a day. Honestly I don't like doing more than 150 w/o a break. I will heed this advice. Thanks. If you see me and my green machine say hello.442Views0likes0CommentsRe: Navigation
The problem with technology is that it isn't very intuitive. If I want to get North out of town it has me take a few freeways and merges. But because I know the area I know better way that my phone and other navigation doesn't. I don't have to cross 4 lanes of traffic to take a left hand exit within a mile of getting onto a freeway. I can get on and stay in one lane and virtually never have to merge but once for a hundred miles. Navigation devices and apps don't seem to offer that.249Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tires and Wheels
I just added Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar to my F250 Superduty, they are fantastic in snow and ice, a very comfortable ride and very quiet.They are fantastic in snow and ice, a very comfortable ride and very Tested them out in the MN ice and snow and bitter cold temps. I am extremely pleased with the purchase.338Views0likes0CommentsRe: Truck Seat Repair
I have a trusted upholstery repair person here in my town. they often do classics, but I have them redoing my 2008 F250 vinyl seats and repairs on my seat adjustments and flooring. They are surprisingly affordable and often do small repairs on single seats like for tears or wear/fading areas for average every day cars/trucks. You should be able to find someone in your town or close by than can do anything you need at an affordable price.1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Navigation
Thank you Joel. I think UPS only did the no Left Turn (Mythbusters tested this) function, I have not seen or heard of it for anything else. I had delivery by freight and tried giving the trucker easier directions for drop off and leaving, but he took a route through the middle of Downtown and I didn't realize I gave him directions with a lower clearance and he must of had navigation to avoid that. 1. I would like a navigation to tell me "avoiding low clearance bridge, adjusting route" Whenever/where ever I drive I try to avoid certain lane changes, merging etc. Even at home I know where to go and merge that has easier site lines and open merge areas. Im trying to find a navigation that allows for that, and having a lot of trouble finding one that does that.248Views0likes0CommentsRe: 1991 Ford IDI engines/trucks for towing
From my knowledge you have picked a great choice. Yes diesel smells but you want these mid 90's diesel trucks. There is a difference between the 91 and the 97 AFAIK, but you don't want any modern diesel because of the emission controls are terrible. I just bought a 2008 F250 superduty gasser, its a bit underpowered (but I have not put my 2000# camper on it yet to really see what it will do) but the weight hauling/towing capacity when it comes to suspension should be able to handle anything I throw at it. I think you made the right choice. A dually would be able to take weight better but will be harder to drive, especially in bad weather. You should be happy with your single axle. I hope this helps366Views0likes0Comments
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