TXiceman

A structural consultant will be expensive. You will need to look for a mechanical engineer that has a professional engineering license for your state that is willing the do consulting work. The cost will typically run a couple of hundred dollars per hour with a 4 hour or 8 hour minimum charge. As a retired mechanical engineer with a license, I could not practice or advertise engineering services without a state license. I also carried a liability insurance. As for an RV structural expert, i seriously doubt if any of the manufacturers actually hire engineers. You do know to qualify as an EXPERT, you have to be more than 30 miles from home and have a briefcase. Ken

Dometic and Norcold , both tightly control any service manuals. I was trying to get service info on a Norcold and the main office told me to contact an authorized service center and that they did not release service info due to liability issues. No doubt with the fires and lawsuits that they do not want any technical literature out. I have worked in industrial refrigeration and have designed much larger ammonia absorption systems. I finally figured it out enough to make the repairs. Just do not expect any service info. Ken

Pat, if it does it gets tricky. Both shows have to be on the same satellite. Ken

We just received our absentee ballot by mail and returned it to the clerks office in Polk County Texas. You can fill out a form at the beginning of each year asking fro absentee ballots in Texas. The link Kirk provide above gives the info. Ken

lemnade, with the Walley and a HDD, you an only see one station as it has only one receiver.

We also use Wells Fargo and can get cash at most any ATM and they will refund the transaction fee to our checking account. They do require a certain minimum amount on deposit. Ken

Another thing that does change your insurance rate is your credit score. Ken

rpsinc, you got it backwards. Summer they blow down and winter they blow up... fan direction.

We are running an old VIP 612, 2 receiver DVR and a VIP 211Z with a HDD on a Winegard Traveler. Whe we are under trees, we run the 612 from a Winegard G2. Ken

I have NEVER had Dish ask for a site number. Sometimes all they want is a new zip code. Sometimes they want the complete address. Sometimes I call in and other times I do a chat. With my old home style receivers, I cannot do it myself online. Ken

Look at Mor/Ryde wet bolt kits that come with heavier shackle plates. The wet bolt kit includes bronze bushings and bolts with grease fittings. https://www.amazon.com/MORryde-UO12-016-Shackle-Equaflex-Shackles/dp/B007HRICH2/ref=asc_df_B007HRICH2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312151608179&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14438491916623277995&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026494&hvtargid=pla-493428195275&psc=1 This would also be a great time to upgrade to a better suspension like the CRE system. https://www.rvupgradestore.com/MOR-ryde-Heavy-Duty-Shackle-Kit-p/46-1880.htm https://www.wish.com/product/5e542a90dacdbf2eacd4dfde?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=US&_force_currency_code=USD&pid=googleadwords_int&c={campaignId}&ad_cid=5e542a90dacdbf2eacd4dfde&ad_cc=US&ad_lang=EN&ad_curr=USD&ad_price=189.99&campaign_id=7203534630&gclid=CjwKCAjw26H3BRB2EiwAy32zhQxyTS3l7NGlvTGkmeYTUpsPzOivsE92B5njQaJ9WL8wwJl7ukzW-RoCHcAQAvD_BwE Ken

Sadly, none of the automatic portable antennas will work with the Hopper receivers. To use the Hopper you have to use the Winegard Traveler antenna or a conventional ground mounted antenna.

Be sure and read the adhesion test instructions for the product. The coverage rate is only 1.5 gallons per 100 sq.ft. https://henry.com/fileadmin/pdf/literature/HE887HS_Silicone_Adhesion_Test_0515.pdf

When we were towing a travel trailer, I went to a Reese Dual Cam which uses weight distributing bars, not sway control bars. The Dual Cam is an older style hitch that incorporates sway control and it works very well when set up properly. Many dealers do not like this style hitch as it is more time consuming to install and set up. If I was going back to a TT, I would get a Dual Cam again. Ken

The 8500# for the SUV is the maximum and that is based on a base model SUV and one skinny driver usually. You will need to deduct from the 8500# additional cargo and passengers as well as the weight of the hitch. The dry or brochure weight of the trailer does not include options or dealer add ons. The 6500# can easily be 500 to 1000# heavier with added items like microwave, batteries, awning, full propane bottles, etc. As Kirk noted, 300# plus per person for clothes, food and other supplies like lawn chairs, charcoal, fresh water. Remember that water weighs 8.33 #/gallon. So 40 gallons of water will add 333#. There are a number of online weight calculators to determine if you are within your vehicles weight capacity. Ken

There are no hard and fast rules for how long you can go on the resources you have. How will you handle battery recharging? The fridge uses 12 volt battery power for the controls as do the lights. How big is your battery bank? It might be doable, but you will need to be really watchful of the water supply. You can use bottle water to drink and paper plates to minimize washing dishes. Ken

It is simple enough to simply block any person or group that offends you. My blocked list keeps growing. Ken

Like one pointed out above, stop looking at the trailer dry weight for a trailer selection. Take the dry weight and add the cargo capacity or look on the trailer sticker for the GVWR, gross vehicle weight rating. The dry weight from the brochure does not include any options, such as batteries, full propane tanks, awning and so on. A optioned trailer can easily be 500 to 1000 lb more than the dry weight. Then you add your supplies, and clothes and up goes the weight. The fully loaded trailer can weigh 9720 lb when loaded. the 10,500 lb rating on the Ram, is reduced by additions to the truck, like passengers, hitch, any supplies in the back, etc. Plus I would not want to pull a 35 ft trailer with a 1/2 ton truck for any distances. One Eco-diesel owner I spoke to said the rear coil suspension was too weak and soft to really work well towing much weight. He had already added heavier springs for towing. Ken

We had a 31' Minnie Winnie DL and had to have Winnebago step in to get warranty which Winnebago wound up paying for. Winnebago extends the chassis and driveline according to Ford specs. The center carrier bearing on the drive line was misaligned and ruined a U-joint. In any case Winnebago paid Ford to fix the problem. Ken

The corner bed is referred to as the First-timers bed. Had one and never again. Getting into bed is a chore and never mind trying to put sheets on. Ken

Will B., The Flat Rate by FedEx was suggested by Escapees. For $6.99 it is a 2 day delivery for as much as will fit in the one envelope. If it is over the size for the envelope, It is a lot more $$$$. Shirley at the mail center just scheduled our next FedEx shipment for next week. It works great. Ken

Escapees Mail Service always does a great job. The problem is USPS. Priority Mail, only provides a tracking number and not much else. The USPS can still screw it up. To guarantee decent service I use the FedEx $6,99, 2 day envelope. Works great. Ken

Some of the mechanical compressor refrigerators will require PS, some will run on MSW. The heater on an RV fridge does not matter. Ken

Corrie, you have to come to the realization of just what your truck can tow may not give you the size trailer you want and have to either down size or up size the truck. I would not want to try full timing in a $10000 trailer and smaller tow vehicle. However, we have found people full timing in a class B and also an A-frame trailer. Have yo looked for a used Avion from the 1980's? These are affordable, but will require some TLC to get then up to travel and full time. We sold our restored 1989 35' Avion 7 years ago fro $16500. Last time we saw it, 2 years ago, they had paid the same for it and it was not nearly as good of shape as when we sold it. Good luck, Ken

I cannot believe the number of people wanting to bury their heads in the sand and go back to life as usual. I think we will be seeing a prime example of Darwin's Theory. The weak and stupid will be the first to go and thin the herd. Why do these people think nothing will happen to them? I sure don't want their sickness and I sure do not want to be responsible for getting some one else sick. Use some common sense and social distance. My wife and I will be wearing the mask, keeping our distance, forgoing any travel and wash our hands a lot. We are over 70 and reasonably good health and want to stay that way. Ken