On 9/4/2022 at 11:03 PM, Just_incredible42 said:

So my wife and I have been thinking of selling our house and buying an RV to live in with 3 kids and a small dog.

I think as an Electrician and your ability to follow work, you can make it. BUT what your kids. You didn't mention ages. Who will be their friends and what will be there actions when you pull into another job site hundreds of miles from your last job.

Do your have a big job site near-by, are some of the trades traveling & living in RV's, Talk to them and ask the questions about families handling the moves. Don't get me as all negative as I lived in a home and was around of traveling people. The ones that still had family lifes had their families involved in Scouts, Church, occasionally sports, they could blend in. One lady I remember knew where there next site may be and started teaching the history class on that area. Give a trail run.

Think it through, a former boss once told, "Every time you move your children may be finding a different person to marry."

Clay

I was thinking a faucet repair until I saw solder. The water system don't have copper.

After you last hint even your A/C system and Propane could be ruled out  Makes me think you an electrical terminal problem.  But anti-freeze? The misery is what would take 2 days versus 2 hours?

Clay 

13 hours ago, Kirk W said:

I guess that I was unaware that there are green people that hate RVs. Who and where are they?

That is my question also. Most campgrounds I have been in, people are aware of the surrounding and if something liked happened, everyone would soon be aware. If something like happened in a big parking lot ????

Clay

6 hours ago, homelesshartshorns said:

Is your location Swaseys Beach ?

When I saw the horses they where maybe 90 miles east of Swaseys Beach. Alot in change 50 years

Clay

Are you looking for Wild Horses or (private or Company owned) Horse that have been running wild for about 100 years. The later, use to be NE of Grand Jct, CO in the Book Cliffs. My suggestion is call the local BLM offices.

Clay

Thanks for the feedback, You have confirm a lot of suspected problems. I can understand the ease of unhooking & re-hooking the 4 down and similarly the dolly is a dirtier job.

What are the Dolly problems other than the unhooking & re-hooking hassle. Is wheel bearing failing from the side truss from con-stance little weaving by the driver or excessive tire wear?  Kind-of-like towing with 4 down and the steering locked. (friend told me he got about 1500 miles on the front tires)

I would in be favor of a manual transmission but dear wife would not drive it. A smaller pickup is harder to take the ladies to town.

You have made good suggestions on some 4 down vehicles so I will have to keep my eyes open. I did own the prefect vehicle 45 years ago. A Jeep Wagoneer, reconditioned ones are available in Kerrville TX but I would be afraid to chip the paint.

Clay

We are considering down sizing a fit, moving from a 41 foot Fifth-wheel to a Class A. Presently we do extended stays at two location and cars available at each location but 6 other location the truck is the daily driver . As the extended family relocates,we're looking at more locations. As we grow older maybe be Handicap parking may be of benefit thus the car rather than the truck.

Present vehicles can not be towed with 4 down but are FWD so could be Dolly towed. I don't like to trailer haul as using trailer causes a parking problem many place once the car is unloaded. But a box trailer does allow addition covered storage.

A Dolly is often store-able by parking over the tongue, thus using less space than we presently use with truck and FW.

Four down would require a difference vehicle and many vehicles are hard to crawl in and out of. But I can't say I wouldn't trade.

Clay   Summer NW IL and Winter in Central TX

I have had inspections in at least 6 different locations over 8 years. Several have told me it is all about the VIN number. There are looking for stolen vehicles. A business in Fort Stockton, did tell me at accelerate forward about 40 foot and do a panic stop. Others are satisfied if tires are good and break dust appears on the wheels.

I have three different vehicles, one or two are always self-inspected and re-inspected when entering the state.

Clay towing a Fifth Wheel

Ditto to the above. Last Nov, Kyle did my Truck and FW that had out of State for an extended time due to Covid and other medical problems. No problems

Clay    2016 Freightliner M2 106 and 2016 DRV MS 38PS3/Dallas

Local owned or private ownership Hardware like ACE, Farm supply and RV dealers. Most of the time I looking a repair part rather a complete new Item. I'm finding with the availability of parts some RV dealers will only install their parts

For RV parts the best I found is; TX RV Supply San Antonio .https://texasrvsupply.com/

Clay

I will add, I always advertise for business that treat me right. Those I don't do business with any more also. That would be a long list on Ebay and Amazon, but not all.

www.etrailer.com should be able give you a number for the bearing and seal as a package or individual items as you desire. I have had good luck with them on more than brakes and bearing.

Clay with MorRyde IS and 8K axles

2 hours ago, TXiceman said:

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 

Ditto.

Rather than give things to resale shops, I have offered items to people of need. Before Covid we were parked in a RV park for a week or so and observed a fellow cleaning Class from the top down to the ground. I gave him some of my clothes I had out grown (at the waist).. He accepted with gratitude  and he was cleaned up the next day wearing clean clothes. I remember his smile.

Clay

THANKS, Lots of good info.

Clay

Under the Topic of Fuel Prices Dutch_12078 made a good comment and I have questions.

His statement was: Probably the biggest safety advantages full level 5 self-driving vehicles would have is that the specialized AI's don't get distracted and can make decisions many times faster than humans. Ideally, in a fully self-driving world, the AI's will be able to communicate their intentions to each other. At least when not distracted by planning to take over the world.

My questions surrounds the safety advantage during inclement weather. All the camera's would need a clear view. I can see multi camera's backing up primary cameras thus bugs and bird dropping should not affect the operation. How would heavy rain or snow affect the operation. Others such Dust, Smoke, Heavy dew and fog. I do believe the AI would handle Hydro-planeing, if the  cameras can see, better than many drivers. The condition of the cameras being of most importance, could demand that all cameras be cleaned before moving? Can the vehicle dodge pot holes and trash on the road? How does the vehicle handle passing on a 2-lane road. I understand a plane's auto-pilot system somewhat but Air-traffic Controllers aid in the planes safety.

I do bet the AI would help find a recharge or fuel. Any Discussion.

Clay

1 hour ago, Mark Noakes said:

We have been experiencing lost inbound 1st class mail to both our SD and TX Escapees mailboxes over the past year. Has anyone else been experiencing this issue? If yes, is lost mail becoming more or less frequent over time?

I see your question as saying some of your mail never makes to Livingston or your SD address. 

I have that problem known once to me. That occurred in October 2016. My Absentee Ballot never made from Zip code 77351 to 77399. I was never able to find and definite happening but supposedly 25 -300 ballots left the County Clerks office and never made to the Escapee's office or to other intended addressees in Texas. 

After the mail has reached the Livingston office, No problems with the USPS as long as I use Priority Mail. USPS First Class sucks.

Clay,  A user 8 plus years

14 hours ago, bruce t said:

Mother Nature has been changing the landscape for millions of years. Humans just want it to stay the same forever!

True on the landscape but Humans are changing their fashions all the time.

9 hours ago, Dutch_12078 said:

True, but she usually works a lot slower changing it, giving humans more time to react. It's these rapid changes that are the most disrupting.

1975, the Big Thompson River flooded at Estes Park,Co  creating a similar event taking lives. 2018, the South Llano River flooded at Junction, TX taking lives. Both heavy rain down pours. Many other down pours have a occurred over the years with out the media highlighting

We always grieve, the sudden lost of life.

Clay

3 hours ago, pjstough said:

Here is a chart that shows how drastic oil drilling dropped between November 2018 and August 2020, and how drilling recovering, albeit slowly.

Do you suppose that the drillers have a labor shortage like everyone is experiencing.

No I haven't backed away from driving but have slowed to the speed limits. On the other side, I do drive more because I drive to a Deli to find closed early due lack of help. Or just go for a drive while the streets are absent of drivers.

In NW Illinois, you can find  gas87 under $5 or as high as $5.43

Diesel is generally is 20 to 40 cents higher than regular.

Clay

22 hours ago, NeverEasy said:

You might need to force it to run to get enough in the system to start the upload.  Remove the two pronged connector on the compressor.  Jumper the pins.  The compressor should engage.

It you completed the above and the compressor run, my suggestion may help.

I have a factory installed pressure plumbed into the high side that failed, It takes pressure to close the contacts allowing the compressor to run. If you have low freon or a bad switch the compressor would not run. I had a bad switch which is presently jumped out.

Clay 2015 FL M2

Westbound is the easier than as Eastbound  traffic is closer the drop-off.  I see you are from the Ozark's and real difference is the time your going up hill watching engine and transmission temps and then the time maintaining a slower speed so your brakes cool incase you have to stop for rocks in the road or??. Maybe the curve in the road is tight. Let your engine do the work.

About half way between Gunison and Montrose there is a major road rebuilt but there an alternate route.  See https://www.us50info.com/ for detail and open times

Clay

This morning the discussion got around to parting with our stuff and who should take it. How do find a younger person that will treasure (use/ expand/ share) rather than just put away or store files.  Young blood needed.

The STUFF is written material whether digital or hard copy, Family bibles are easy to pass on and all personal information is recorded elsewhere. A local person has some writing about the Covid happening. Things like how local restaurants changed their operation to need Covid guidelines and labor availability. It was mentioned the last local History book was 25 years ago. Who can tie some of history together without the obituaries ( replaced with a death notice followed by celebration of life), So many facts are on social media and lost. Items of recent history (Less than 50 years) is when a business changed hands and moved next door. Both business owners were Paul. who was the first Paul. Just trivia, but part of another story.

I have bit of that Trivia that is stored in TN and TX and one daughter is scanning pictures. Another is continuing my family tree branch. My Obituary may tell of me going to one-room country schools. My grandchildren can't imagine being in that small room. The local library keeps some todays history that may be will connect the dots.

How do you find a person who may appreciate your files and share. The local historians are getting older. Young blood needed.

Clay

46 minutes ago, Steve Bergkamp said:

I'm stalling cause I don't know how to find a certified dealer that can handle the fixes while I stay in the rig.

Steve B.

What do you mean by staying in the rig. I don't know of anyone who will let you stay in your rig while the unit is in the service bay. But I stayed at both MORryde and DRV Factory RV parking lots with electric.

Clay

If your truck sits for a year, that will be next summer, no need to protect the fuel from gelling. But you might need to check radiator anti-freeze.

On fuel the worst thing is Bio-diesel. Bio-diesel will drawn moisture and grow in the tank. Depending on how long the moisture sets in the tank can be the difference in one or two fuel filter changes.  If you have a concern after the truck sits for a year, put a dip stick (a dowel rod or whatever is clean) in the tank for a few moments. It should come back clean. I personally like to leave a tank half full.

Clay

2 hours ago, solo318 said:

We are towing the jeep and thinking of doing the mining roads.  We also grabbed a site at the campground that the train runs through. (I'm a huge steam train nut)

 

Looking at your picture, I see your Jeep. Years ago when I lived in the area I did have a Jeep Wagoner that was to wide for at else one road. Also the Wagoner having an automatic transmission, it was better to run some roads one direction.

Clay

Read this Post on the forum and watch the video to explain to your wife why you run the tow vehicle bigger than required. So really the Million Miles is nothing if the frame and running is worthy. I was in one of cases that required the double whip safely with no contact.

Clay

By Chad Heiser,

1 hour ago, LindaH said:

I've been using Quicken for over 20 years and have always been happy with it.  A couple of years ago they changed to requiring an annual fee to use it (prior to that time, I could use the software for several years before upgrading).  

Well, I just got an email from them saying that the price is increasing to ~$60 per year!  So I'm looking for something else that does what Quicken does.  I do not use Quicken's online features like being able to download information from bank accounts or credit cards, so that is not an important feature for me.

I do not want an app on my phone -- I use Quicken strictly on the computer, no Internet access required.

Any suggestions?

Linda, what you had written, appears as I had written the same, except what I had underlined.

The difference is I purchased new Quicken 2017 software. Also I do not connect from the internet when using Quicken and several other owned software. I also restart the computer before going back to the internet.

I have not been troubled with updates

Clay