TXiceman

The one thing that many people, both old and new to RVing, is that selecting the right tow vehicle and trailer involves TWO things. One is can the vehicle pull the trailer. And second can the vehicle handle the pin or tongue weight within the vehicles GVWR, payload capacity and rear axle weight limits. Sure, you look at the brochure and it says something like it can tow up to 23,000 LB. There is usually a footnote noting something like..."When properly equipped". Now comes part two of the towing equation. If you are towing a 23,000 LB 5th wheel RV, the pin weight can easily be 4,600LB or more when loaded. If it is a bumper pull trailer, the tongue weight should be 2760 LB. You have to now look at the tow vehicles GVWR, payload capacity and rear axle GAWR. The load to the truck is the hitch or pin weight, PLUS cargo in the vehicle, PLUS passengers beyond the 150 LB Driver, Plus the weight of the hitch. The sum of these items plus the truck load on the rear axle must be below the vehicles rear axle GAWR. The only way to know for sure is to take the tow vehicle to the scales and get a total weight, front axle weight and rear axle weight when loaded. Now subtract the actual axle weights from the axle GAWR per the door jamb sticker. The towing calculator is a good starting point to get you headed in the right direction. The park we are in right now there are two people with 42 FT 5ers and both are using a 3/4 ton truck. All they know is the brochure said that the truck could tow up to 23,000 LB. They have never weighed the truck and trailer, but one has added air bags. And these folks are full-time, so you know the trailer is loaded heavy. Just learn the proper way to match a tow vehicle to a trailer and ignore the sales person and brochure. Ken

Honestly, about the maximum you will want to pull with a Tundra with the towing package is about 8500 LB GVWR, not dry or brochure weight. My son-in-law had a nice Tundra that was rated to tow something like 10,000LB per Toyota. He bought a 30 FT Winnebago Minnie plus that was about 8500 LB GVWR. After one trip, he was out buying an F250 diesel. He did not like the high fuel usage nor the way the truck handled the trailer. The better built trailers are heavier and cost more. They were really disappointed with the Thor and Keystone trailer line up of trailers. Honestly you will do better looking for a nice used higher quality trailer rather than a new one. Ken

I had an Eagle One and was not impressed with the antenna at all, even with ground radials attached. We were in Colorado and the wind got it. I had to tape the joints to keep it from collapsing and the wind split the joint at two sections. It was left in the dumpster in Rifle, Colorado. As for a good set up, you can do well on the Ham Stick dipoles on a push up pole. I carry a Windom 80m OCF dipole for we have trees to utilize. For easy deployment and works well, look at the Alpha HD FMJ antenna. It works great and is up and down in less than 10 minutes. If I want to get on VHF/UHF, I carry an Arrow J-pole that I can stick up on the ladder. We had an Avion (silver) travel trailer (all aluminum) and I rigged a tilt mount and installed a Little Tarheel II which worked great. The only issue was the power converter played havoc with the HF bands. I found I had to disconnect the converter to operate the radio. Our current 5er has a Magnum Inverter/converter and it plays nice with the radio. 73s and good DX, Ken

Another vote for the Viair. Works great and easy to move about. Ken

Let's not corn-fuse folks with math here. Ken

What you need is the actual height of the highest point on your trailer when hooked up to the truck. You will have to get the trailer and truck on a level area and with the help of a friend, a long straight board and a level, measure down from the highest point on your trailer to the ground. I would not begin to rely on the manufacturer's brochure for data. Our trailer shows 13'-2" in the data and we actually measure 13'-4". My GPS and RV Trip Wizard are set for 13'-6". Ken

And many RV parks prohibit outside appliances such as refrigerators. Better check before you set it up.

We are continuing to wear a mask and limit public exposure. When we do eat out, we go at off-peak hours to avoid the crowds. It amazes us that many people do not understand nor listen to science. A fellow from a few spaces down the row from us now has COVID for the 3rd time and he and his family refuse to be vaccinated. Some people never learn. Ken

Foam is like cany to rats and squirrels. The bronze wool will not rust. Ken

Marine supply places often have a bronze wool pad for cleaning boat bottoms. Ken

Flagpole Buddy works great for me as well. Ken

When we had this trailer, we had people knock on the door and ask to see it. We also restored a 1989 Avion (silver) 35-foot trailer. I love seeing these well cared for RVs on the road and being loved. Ken

Many parks have the 10-year rule and use it to keep junkie rigs out. Most will accept you if you send a photo and the rig is kept in good shape. We have been turned away from one park north of Houston when we had a beautifully restored 1978 Silver Steak that looked better than many of the newer rigs in the park. Saw one place that had a 6-year-old rule and some are class A rigs only. It is my money and I'll just take it elsewhere. Some of these places seem to think that an older rig will pass on some disease to a fancy newer rig. Ken

Clay, last year a older lady (younger than me) was moved into an older travel trailer on the row behind us. She had recently lost her husband and was really having a hard time financially. She had some plants that my wife would talk to her about, and she always came over to pet our dog. She was lonesome and hardly anyone spoke to her. She dressed in old worn clothes and was always pleasant. Not long before we left, my wife was going through things to take up to the assistance ministries store and remembered how the woman dressed. When she had the clothes gathered, she took them over to her and she gladly accepted them. Next day she was dressed better. I had helped her repair a couple of minor things on the trailer. We left a week later, but she brought over a nice birthday card for our dog with a really sweet note about how she really appreciated all the kindness we had shown her. Make you feel kind of good. Ken

With the worsening economy, more people will be strapped for money, and I fear we will see more homeless folks. Most of these folks are decent people and just down on their luck. But as in all sections of society, there are the bad elements that will prey on others. We try to be tolerant of everyone, but I cannot be giving out money and lunches to every unfortunate person we encounter. Like others, we have met some of the nicest people in older, not so shiny RVs and we have met some real a$$e$ in really fancy motorhomes. Be kind to others that need some help, even some empathy is appreciated by many. Ken

Clean the knobs with alcohol and then coat them with a clear acrylic spray finish. Ken

All of the road services contract to pretty much the same base of providers and they are going to go with the cheapest. The providers will always pick a better paying call than the cheap one. Afterall, they are in the business to make a profit. You are also subject to the amount of traffic the call centers are getting. On a holiday weekend with lots of travelers on the road, they will have more calls to respond to, so there will be longer waits for a response. I have had quick responses from GS ERS and slow and poor from them as well. When we had Coachnet, they were usually pretty good. GS ERS tends to get generally poor overall ratings, due to poor operator response and long wait times. So it is just pick your poison and run with it. Ken

For all of the latest info on the slides on the Carriage trailer, you can visit the Lifestyle/Carriage forum. These folks have already had and resolved the slide issues son these RVs. https://www.carriage-lifestyle-owners-club.com/ Ken

Two of the things I tell new RVers to get and learn how to use are a volt-Ohm meter and a simple clamp-on amp meter. With these two instruments, you can quickly solve a lot of problems or at least provide some meaningful information to people that are trying to diagnose your problem. You do not need to spend lots of money on these two items. You can get two separate instruments or just one combination unit as below. Meter Ken

The exact reason, we file online and also pay our quarterly estimated payments online. USPS is generally bad and if the mail goes to the Houston North Central distribution, all hope is lost. Filing a complaint with the USPS in like putting it directly in the trash can. Ken

ERCOT and the Texas PUC is a "good old boys" club controlled by the energy companies. So do not expect much change here until these clowns fail and are kicked out. Ken

As an individual using Star Link, you can write the FCC and complain. Amateur radio operators and the ARRL are constantly monitoring the cell carriers and their power grab for frequencies previously designated for amateur use. Starlink needs to help put together a basic letter which outlines the issues and refutes the claims by Dish for the use of these frequencies. If the FCC starts getting thousands of letters from citizens, they will launch a deeper inquiry into the issue. You will have to fight to win. Ken

I think you need to be complaining to the USPS about this issue. Escapees Mial has done a fantastic job for the past 9 plus years. While the mail is in Fed Ex, UPS, or USPS hands, Escapees is helpless. For our mail forwarded from Escapees, we stopped using USPS 3 or 4 years ago, due to the totally undependable USPS service even with their Priority mail. We have Escapees use the Fed Ex flat rate 2 day service. Ken

Like Kirk, we have been using the mail ballot since we turned 65. Work very well as the mail service will alert us when our ballots hit the mailbox wanting us to confirm where to send them. Just be sure to get your annual application in as soon as you can. And renew it yearly. On the application, and the ballot, be sure and read the form and fully complete the forms. They will reject it for any missing info. Ken

If the fridge is on the sunny side (south and west) you need to get it shaded without blocking air flow. As noted, due to age, it may be on its way to the RV graveyard. Look on the outside of the unit for any signs of a yellow powder on the piping, especially at the joints. If you have the slightest hint of ammonia smell it is leaking. You can also add a 12-volt 4" computer fan in the outside compartment blowing up toward the top to aid in cooling the unit. Ken