TXiceman

On larger bolts and nuts and higher torques nuts and bolts, 6-point sockets and wrenches do better in my opinion.  The 12-point sockets are thinner walled and more prone to slipping with high torque.  I have a decent set of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive sockets from Kobalt that have both 6-point and 12-point sockets.  For the impact, I have a old set of unknown origin 6-point sockets.

My Dad was a mechanic and taught me to use 6-point wherever possible and 12-point where you needed the thinner wall sockets due to placement of the bolt or nut.  To break bolts and nuts loose, I was taught to use a break-over bar and not put such stress on the rachet heads.  My brother has all of his Proto and Bonney tools.

Ken

Your best solution is to fill your freshwater tank and use your pump to operate off the tank.

Ken

When we were full time travelers, based out of Livingston, we seldom voted on any local issues for Polk County.  We did exercise our right to vote in all of the state and local elections.  We felt like we did not know enough about the local issues and left that up to the locals.

Ken

Whoops, fat finger on the keyboard.....since 1984....

Ken

Personally, I would not have an outdoor kitchen.  It eats into valuable storage space as well as carrying capacity.  I guess if you are a weekend user it might be of some benefit.  But I carry a small portable gas grill and a small folding table.  This has worked since 1884 as well as 10 years full time living.

Ken

 We have moved the HitchHiker to PPL Motorhomes in Houston, Texas for consignment.

Contact PPL at 1-800-755-4775 for information. Unit number F171

HitchHiker at PPL  

This is a beautiful full time rated trailer.  The very last of the true HitchHIkers built by NuWa in Chanute, KS.

-dual pane frameless windows

-Sleep Number bed

-La-Z-Boy powered recliners

-Splindide 2100XC washer-drier

-Vesta dishwasher

-Big Foot automatic hydraulic levelers

-Residential refrigerator

-Inverter with solar panel and foru 6-volt batteries

-Three axle Mor/Ryde suspension

-Demco Glide ride pin box

-Winegard Traveler satellite antenna for Dish

-Carpet replaced

-Alpha WiFi Booster

-WeBoost cell phone booster

-All manual and instruction

-A/C and heat pumps replaced

-Goodyear G614 G rated tires

A true four-season and full-time trailer that is ready to go.  The minimum truck to pull this beauty is a diesel one-ton dual rear wheel truck.

Ken

After seeing some reports on recent car thefts on cars with the RFID key fobs, I got my wife and I the RFID shields for the key fobs.  They are not convenient to use, but they do shield the key fob.

The crooks are getting smarter as the technology gets smarter.  You have to stay a step ahead of them.

The new truck has a catalytic converter as well, so the crooks have something else to steal.  But after picking it up, next stop was to get a Cat-Shield installed.  Also keep my credit cards in an RFID shield and shred anything with out name of address on it.

Ken

I guess Elon has to pay for all that usage from the Ukrainian military that he has now taken away, plus his big losses on Twitter.

Ken 

This was enacted Jan 1, 2022.  Biden was President, not tRump.

Ken

packnrat, the people are reacting to the radical extreme groups form both ends, never mind the folks in the middle.

If you are using the SD address, speak up and flood them with correspondence.  As an amateur radio operator, the FCC was trying to reallocate some amateur frequencies to the telecommunications providers a few years back.  there was a correspondence campaign from the radio operators and the FCC decided to leave things as they were for now after being blanketed in correspondence.

Just speak up.

Ken

6 hours ago, rickeieio said:

A friend owns an appliance repair company in Cincinnati, OH.  He was the authorized repair/warranty center for all the major brands, until he dropped both Samsung and LG, citing lack of service support and parts availability.

Strange, I have a Samsung fridge and had parts in 2 days.

Ken

!0 years ago, I tried to sell my 35mm Canon AE1 with multiple lenses and flashes with zero luck.  I finally donated it to a local high school photography class that was still teaching with film cameras.

Good luck.

Ken

We domiciled in Texas and never had any issue with driver's license, banks, brokerage firms, carry permit or insurance using the Livingston address.  We just gave them the address change and it was done.  We found a few services that we had to let them enter it as an apartment or a lot to get it to be accepted.

Ken

When we had the class C, we used leveling blocks if we were very far off level.  I have never liked lifting any tire completely off the ground.  When you use leveling blocks under some of the wheels, you will probably need to use some blocks under the jacks as they have a limited stroke or extension and will not have enough lift to get you level.

I have never used the plastic Lego style blocks on anything other than a hard surface.  On soft ground, they will collapse and crack.  

Ken

That is a tall order.  Not knowing anything about income, finances, health, or numerous other things specific to your needs, it is hard to answer very many of your requests.

Best of luck with your adventures.  We have just come off the road after 10 years full time with a Livingston, TX domisle.

Ken

Words I lived by, "Work to live, NOT live to work"

I told a boss that once and I was laid-off the following week claiming I was not a team player.  That was fine, I found a better team to work for.

Ken

7 hours ago, bruce t said:

What about the beer? How do you keep it cold if you turn your fridge off? 🤗

If it is that cold, just set the beer outside for a bit.

Ken

RV, I am a retired mechanical engineer and worked some off to the side of the energy industry.  The problem with pushing so many EVs onto the roads is that nationwide we do not have the infrastructure to support all the EV demand for recharging.  We barely have the infrastructure to support the extreme summer and winter power demand now.  We need to get the power grid up to handle the added capacity of the folks coming on from work, cranking up the A/C, turning on the tv, and other appliances to fix dinner and also recharge the EV so that they can go to work the next day.

Also, consider that most of the power generation in this country is from fossil fueled plants (coal or natural gas).  We need to get more wind, solar, wave action, etc. power generation plants online to handle the demand and then start phasing out the fossil fuel plants.

EVs still have too many shortcomings for me to consider one.   The travel range is too short and replacement battery cost is out of sight.  Also, we need to address the total carbon footprint created by making the EV and the batteries, as well as battery recycling and disposal.

It appears that not enough foresight is being used in implementing the EV.  Yes, we will need to go in that direction, but for the realistic near future, we are getting ahead of the energy curve and fossil fuel is still needed and will be here for a bit longer.

As far as I can predict the future, my next and first EV will most likely be an electric wheelchair.

Ken

It sounds like the Texas dealer did not do what was correct for your registration.  We have bought out of state while living in Texas and did not pay any sales tax and had a temporary tag on the trailer and got our registration and tag from Texas and paid out sales tax in Texas on registration.  Pretty sure it works the other way as well.  

Are you sure he did not make the tax collection for SD?

Ken

20 hours ago, jules2go said:

Mom and pop is good enough for me, too  

We found a great little campground outside of Sealy, TX.....Kathy's Kampground.  60 sites, all concrete, back-in, Wi-Fi, ethernet (hardwired) to each site, most back up to a wetlands lake, fantastic staff, rules are enforced, good laundry and showers, not far out of Katy/Houston area....last year $600 per month with all utilities included.  They stay full so reservations are needed.

https://www.kkampandstorage.com/

Ken

Chalkie, I wonder the same about RV and nothing but praises for Musk and Tesla.

Ken

4 hours ago, Chalkie said:

Just curious, how did it not work well with ADT?

Too slow and appears to ADT as a hot spot which they do not like for service.

Ken

As you can see, the rate will vary widely depending on where and when you stay.  Monthly and weekly always cheaper than daily rates.  What discount programs and type park you are looking for.  Are you looking for full amenity luxury parks or very basic parks or even boondocking?  What area of the country do you plan to travel and are you hitting the tourist areas?

We have RVed since 1984 and full timed for the past 10 years.  We are now off the road and selling the rig.  But in the last few years, the cost of a campsite has gone up drastically.

Monthly sites with water and electricity can run from $700 per month to as high $2000.  Daily sites can run from $10 or $15 per night to over $100 per night.

Ken

We tried the T-Mobile Home Internet and it did not play well with our ADT security system and took it back 4 days later.  Then they started auto debiting my credit card....twice and some BS usage fee for the 4 days.  Fter a lot of discussions, I finally got it off my card...I hope.  We will see on the next billing cycle.

If you take it back, make sure they get it cancelled as well as you credit card on file and get a copy of any and all paperwork.

Teh device actually worked pretty well for internet and even streamed from it.

Ken

Believe me, you do not want a corner bed.  First, if there are two people, one has to crawl out over the other one to get out or the outside person move.  The other problem is you have to be a contortionist to make the bed.  If it often referred to as the "first-timer RV bed"/

Ken