TXiceman

Kirk has some very valid points. I have never bought cheap and glitz. The engineering training in me looks for a quality well built unit for a decent price. I will pay more to get more quality. Problem is that has become a harder thing to accompolish. As for Lippert frames, I have seen several frames that exhibited poor quality welds. I have not welded in 40 years and I feel that I could do a better job on the welding. Some were obviously runn too hot and others too cold. You cannot get the proper penetration with a low current or cold weld. Too hot and the weld zone metal is effected. Some of the welds look worse than beginers. Lippert needs to address the QC issue and keep a closer eye on the quality of the welding. Ken

NuWa went to Lippert frames and started having frame problems. They went back to Young;s Welding for the frames and the problems went away. Lippert as a supplier should make sure that the frames they supply are suited for the application, because if they don't, it will come back to bite them. I have seen some really poor welding on Lippert frames and there is not excuse for such poor welding. Ken

3 axle trailers do not mean tire problems. I don't know what clown came up with that urban myth. Personally on a large trailer, I'd prefer 3 axles over two. You distribute the load over the length of the frame better....You have more brakes and have more tire surface on the ground. Yes, there is a bit more tire scrubbing when you turn sharply, but how much of the time do you turn that sharply? The scrubbing will not have you wearing out the tires and replacing them any sooner. With any tire, you need to maintain tire pressure in the proper range to insure the longevity of the tire and to carry the load. ken

The 3 - 7000# will be more than adequate with 16" G rated tires. If you can, get the disc brakes and Mor/Ryde IS suspension. If no disc brakes, get the 3-1/8" wide heavy duty drum brakes instead of the 2" wide brake shoes. Our 19,000# GVWR HitchHiker has the 3 - 7000# Mor/Ryde IS with 3-1/8" wide brakes and tows well. We have G rated Hankook tires on it. I would be concerned about a 12" frame on a 42' long trailer. Our HitchHiker has a 14" frame. Ken

One place I have had mine inspected near Cypress, TX had me pull forward and hit the brakes so he could hear the brakes click. No one else has done that' Ken

Texas requires ALL trailers over 4500# GVWR to have a yearly safety inspection. As for the lazy sales person a Dumbmontron, there are lots of places that can inspect a large 5er. http://milsteadautomotive.com/ MIlstead is one place in the Spring Conroe area. Be sure to call ahead and make sure a location has a large enough parking lot to get a 5er close to the building and that they have the appropriate sticker. You can also go to the DPS site and look up other places in your area. Ken

Yep, might seem too much like work. Ken

I am not sure that many of the lower level state workers are capable of reading anything with words of more than one syllable. They have to have a higher up read it and explain it to them. Ken

A lot of speculation and complaining, but nothing will be done here. Get on a writing spree and let your representatives know how you feel. Ken

I doubt if you will be the only one. I sure hate to see Escapees get dropped for mail service. Ken

You should have seen the BS I had to put up with to get my diesel truck inspected in Longview. They did not want to inspect it since it had a Harris county sticker (original 2 year sticker) and a Harris county license sticker. We have not received the license since the change of address to Livingston. We had to do the license on line and are awaiting the new sticker. I called the district office in charge of inspections and he said, any station n Texas would do the diesel truck since it was not smogged and only got the safety inspection. I went back with phone number in hand and a copy of the internet receipt showing the Livingston address. Finally got the truck inspected. I wanted to get it done before we headed out of state. The whole system is a mess as best I can tell. Ken

It is amazing at all of the manure bills that get added to a necessary piece of legislation. To many people make deals to vote for something, but you have to add on my pet project. Best thing we could see done, the elected officials simply disappear and never heard from again. Ken

And it makes you wonder how long it will be before SD comes up with a squirrely law to mess with RVers. Ken

I had a call from a nice young lady from the DMW. I had emailed them about the issue of inspections and license registration that is coming up next year. She said that they are aware of the issue created for a Texas based RVer and being out of state much of the year. The state is addressing the issue and working on a solution for the RV folks. So all is not lost and don;t start bailing out for South Dakota. Info from the state and how to get updates on the issue: Thank you for contacting the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. I hope you are doing well today. Our website contains general information regarding our single sticker initiative at http://txdmv.gov/motorists/register-your-vehicle/two-steps-one-sticker. We are currently working on finalizing our business requirements and you can subscribe to receive future updates either by email or text by clicking on the red and white envelope located at the bottom of the above website link under ‘Join the Conversation.’ Also, as Delia advised, you may contact the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is responsible for the Texas Vehicle Inspection program, at (512) 424-7293 or visit their website at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/ for additional information. I hope this information is helpful to you. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance. Take care and have a great day! Sincerely, Terry

I have often laughed at the states that banned the Quaker parrot. Sure they stop the ones in cages that come through, but what do they do about the birds in the wild? I am quiet sure that these wild birds can read and make sure they stay out of the states that have outlawed them. Ken

Thanks for the update James. Hopefully all will be straight by march 2015 and all of the DVM folks will have an understanding of this. We will be a couple of thousand miles from Polk county when our tags are due next year. Ken

Wilhelmina, I doubt if the Texas folks were not hospitable. But if you come on to them in a pushy manner, they will not put up with that kind of attitude. We have lived in several sates and everyone of them had some different and sometimes strange requirements compared to what we were used to in Texas. Texas born and Texas proud, Ken

I got my class A non CDL renewed today at the Richmond DPS office and it took a bit of time as the fellow kept trying to get me to fill out a CDL paper. They finally got their act together and found the right forms and collected $25.00 and I got the receipt. The problem is the DMV and the DPS personnel have so many rules and regulations to keep tract of, I can see how they provide mis-information to the public. But in any case, if they do not know the answer, they need to find the person that does know the answer. These folks are not paid enough to get people that really care. Ken

The Temneh Gray is a smallparrot and his travel cage is actually a cockatiel cage. depending on the road, Duncan hold to the perch or sometimes 1 foot on the bars and one on the perch. Food and water cups are less then 1/2 full. He settles in and down the road we go. Ken

Most of the newer RVs do not present a fume problem for birds. Some of the older ones were a real hazard to birds due to the fumes. If you are concerned, leave a window cracked open and a roof vent to make sure the fumes never build up. Also, you can open a window or two and run a vent fan a couple of time each day. We have travel with parrots for about 20 years now and no problems. Currently traveling with a Timneh African Gray that is about 17 years old. Keep them out of direct sun and drafts. Also when cooking with Teflon pans, be sure and not overheat them and run the vent fan in the kitchen. Also be careful spraying anyting in the smaller space of the RV. Duncan has a travel cage for the back seat of the truck...he shares the seat with two schnauzers. He has a larger cage that is in the trailer. We sometimes take him outside in the travel cage. Ken