NDBirdman

We are looking to purchase another RV this year to replace our last one.  It's been a little bit since we've been in a campground so I'm curious.  It was getting harder in alot of areas, even around here to find a place to go without making reservations far out.  Has the *pandemic rush* to campgrounds calmed down, or are the campgrounds still full/booking way out?  From what little looking I've done, it does seem the past 1 -1.5 yrs the price went up considerable so we expect a bigger expense.  We do miss being able to easily call/find a spot to land when in transit mode.  So I guess this leads to my question, is this possible?

What we like to do is boon-dock when staying more than a few days but use campgrounds when in transit.  We're not into the expensive resort type campgrounds, not our cup of tea but we won't stay in a dumpy place either.  During our travels we like to seek out town/city parks with camping sites and look around for a few hours, depending on what's there to do/see.  As to type of RV and size, we are looking.  5th wheel toy hauler (35-40', tow vehicle is still on hand) or class A (32-34') with a 20' cargo trailer to haul motorcycle and other toys.  I understand that length is an issue with some of the older state parks can't accommodate something in the length we will end up being but state parks are usually not where we go.  We are not going to be full timers as we have a perfect for us SnB out in the sticks we love, not willing to part with.  Snow birding for 2-3 months is highly probable with many week long trips during good, warm, motorcycle riding weather.  Well, enough of my babbling, the question above is what I'm curious about.  Thanks for looking!!

On 1/3/2023 at 12:58 PM, Kirk W said:

 keeping his iPhone near whoever was speaking to enable him to hear what was going on. Now I am wondering if he might have been using something like that? 

I wear behind the ear hearing aids connected to my iPhone.  I can hear any media/phone calls over the h/aids, a very nice set-up.  I can also turn on the iPhone mic and hear everything transmitted by blu-tooth through the h/aids and can control the amplification.  Of course, I can also hear through the mic on the aids themselves but in very noisy environments, using the phone mic makes a huge difference.  Probably what that person was doing.  I can play media from my iPhone in noisy areas or conversations I don't wish to participate in and just sit and smile, happily enjoying some music in my h/aids, drowning out most of the conversation going on.

24 minutes ago, Darryl&Rita said:

Given that, then get the facts. That;s a long box truck, as Ram only had the MegaCab as a short box.

The truck in the pic is not a Mega Cab.  I have one.

Rottweiler, German Sheppard, Pitbull, etc.

3 hours ago, lappir said:

Sometimes I wished I had never heard of Google.

I also dislike Google.  The past couple years I have been using DuckDuckGo.  It works as good as Google but doesn't track/sell my info or give me those annoying adds.  Give it a look.

I'm straight 100% VA so really can't say much about other Drs.  I get referred to civilian Drs when I ask but every thing is covered.  I have used civilian hosp. Urgent care a few times, mostly for stitches and VA has always payed.  I can't use Tri-care as they for some reason dropped me when I went on VA health-care.  But, they left my wife alone, she's on Tri-care for life even though she's in the VA system also.  She likes her Drs and would prefer to stay out of the VA clinics/hospitals.

4 hours ago, hemsteadc said:

 I'm finding trying to discontinue their service can be a nightmare.  You have to call, sometimes several times, because when they transfer you to someone who can actually disconnect you, the call is dropped.  And I think every single person they have working the phones is from India,  or they are IN India.  I have a heck of a time understanding them.

I'm very hard of hearing, my hearing aids help but I still can't understand ppl on the phone.  Being from other countries makes it really hard for me.  I had a service guy come out to .... help.... all he did was piss me off.  I was not kind to him as he left about his company.

14 minutes ago, whj469 said:

And they are owned by ATT!

I noticed after they took over Directtv, the service went to haides.  I waited until we had fiber optic ran to our house, shortly after the DVR took a dump.  They sent a guy to replace it but he showed an attitude and I showed him the door, made him take the broken junk with him.  I've known a few ppl that had AT&T cell phones, they all switched over to another company.  We stream just about everything we watch for free or on the cheap, when WE want to watch it.

well, .. to you too!!  Yea, my fun with the tools, they refused to fix their broken junk, wanted to upsell me and lock me in for 2 more years.  I told them to get their crap off my property and never come back.  I DO NOT miss them on freaking bit!

I hope ND legalizes it this Nov (recreational, medical is legal here now).  I don't nor will I use it but I've know a few that did/does.  Great tax revenue!  Folks that imbibe in alcohol, can get rowdy, loud, just plain stupid.  Anybody I've been around that smokes a joint or bowl gets pretty mellow.  Neither one needs to drive or operate equipment while under the influence, period, especially someone operating a heavy vehicle like the OP mentioned in the first post.  IMHO, someone stoned on pot should be treated just like anyone that has drank alcohol even though the pot smoker is mellowed out.  I also firmly believe, pot/alcohol, 1st offense, loose license for one year.  Second offense, one year prison and loss of license for life.  I don't care who the person is, their right to be stoned/drunk does NOT trump my/wife's or your life/right to live or be maimed for life because of an idiot.

My drug of choice, is beer.  99% of the time it's beer I have brewed myself, don't like commercial swill.  With me, one beer, I'm done driving for the day.  Wife drives if with me, if not, I don't drink, not even one.

15 hours ago, Ray,IN said:

How would they even know the age by looking at an RV?

The place I mentioned, sorta, told us part of checking in for a stay, bring in registration of the RV as proof of age.  No registration, don't bother walking in door.  Made a difference on $1,800/mo, or $600/mo for winter long-stay.  We never went back.  Wasn't going to pay that much for the privilege of walking around on duck/goose poop close to a ... swamp.... full of water fowl, think very messy/green water and enough skeeters to walk on.  Just for the privilege of being in town (Seattle burb).

Should RVrs be called homeless, or house-less?  Many make an RV their home.  Alot of them sell their SnBs, so while not homeless as they make where ever they are their home.  But many sell the SnB, so they are just house-less.  We were never either one as we were not full times and did/still own our SnB.  What would you call us after we lost our RV due to a weather incident?  Stressed out non campers/RVrs?  LOL

Honestly, during our camping days, I can only think of a couple times we saw anyone in a groomed campground or boon-docking we could call homeless.  Drive through, just as an example, Seattle area (and many other city/small towns) if you want to see true homeless.  Saying that, I would not worry much about an RV park, majority of them are well taken care of.  Not all, but most.

While some homeless are that way because of misfortune beyond their control, some are there because they just plain lazy or addicted to drugs.  I've camped in areas even in ND where there was homeless camped out in tents.  Those were some pretty nice folks, working odd jobs trying to make enough to get *back* into the norm of society.  Did not bother us to camp near them.  Then we've seen others that worried us being within a mile of.  Just need to access every situation as it arises.

There's a documentary that is an interesting watch.  On Youtube:  Seattle is Dying.  This documentary is real about the homeless and dangers around them, we have seen this many times, every time we go visit there, it's just plain dangerous.  We feel sorry for the *real* homeless but can you tell the difference when you set up your RV next to them?  That docu is about one city but it is a problem in most areas in every state.  Something is wrong with society that turns a blind eye on the needy.  The real needy, not the druggies/criminals.  Well, those too but that subject could turn me political real quick so I'll leave that alone, for now.

Typical I've seen is 10.  We ran into some snobs, did not prevent us from staying but they went full tilt on nightly charges.  Would have cost half as much if ours was newer than 10yrs.  And ours looked better than alot of the newer ones parked there.... so it does happen.

Is it caused by glue failure, or water leak?  Water leak, any water left untreated will start molding, rot the wood, turn to black mold (very bad), etc.  It could be an easy, inexpensive repair or could cost a fortune.  My suggestion, RUN!  Second suggestion, follow the last couple posters, pay for a good inspection.  IMHO, RUN!

They joined, posted for 5 days and have not been back.  Doubt you get a reply.

Picked up some fuel for the tractor other day.  Spent $100, got 18 gallons.  My truck is going to sit for quite a while.  Never had problems with old diesel, fired up a tractor last year with 20 yr old fuel in it, ran just fine.  I drop some anti-gel in when temps get to 30f but otherwise, I don't worry about it.

If you venture through North Dakota on hiway 94, stop at a rest stop north of Madora.  Some fantastic views of the painted hills, well worth stopping for.  A little more time if you wish to tour the hills is always a visual delight!

On 11/29/2019 at 12:00 PM, NDBirdman said:

Look at Country Smokers wood pellet grill/smoker on Amazon.  It's identical to the Traeger.  I have seen it on amyzon for $199, just have to watch the pricing.  I plan on getting this one if/when it goes back down.  I bet it's made by the same company as the Traeger one.  I've heard nothing but good reports about it.

Otayy, got one, have used a couple of years.  The one I picked up is cantankerous at the very least.  Temps float +/- 20 degrees, digital controller will often give error notice and not work.  I can/do use it but I would not buy it again nor would I recommend it to anyone.  Get a Traeger and don't look back.  Well, the only thing I can say good about it is while it is heavy, it's easy to move around.

For me, counting cards on decks is fairly easy but on more than one deck, being in your favor is not always garnered a win.  I started with 1k and in 3 years, paid cash for a Harley-Davidson with my gambling fund, never had to add to it.  I always figured I was/am lucky.  Saying that, yea, I've played tables and watched where several thousands would leave an arrogant (meaning pretty stupid) player chasing the dream (mostly on craps tables, it's very easy to loose quite a bit in the role of the dice).  My thing was, take a little out of the gamble jar, only gamble with that amount and the second I doubled it, get up and leave.  A couple times I got greedy and wanted just a little more... I donated back.  Got's to know your limits and when to run, win or loose.

In the end, ya have to remember, your only doing it for fun/entertainment.  Don't let the gambling  bug bite, I've seen that too many times on folks.  Also helps to visit several different casinos, don't fund the same one every time.  I only hit them now, maybe twice a year.

We've stayed in RV at casinos.  Wife always limits/looses $20 on the one arm bandits.  Very rarely have I lost, I usually pay for the dinner and nights camping fees plus gain back what wife looses.  Usually double or more what I take in to play with.  My game of choice is craps or blackjack.  Blackjack, a single player on the table can screw everyone so I always observe and move on if there's a bad player.  Craps is easy, usually if you don't get greedy and play stupid *spots*.  Get greedy, may as well throw $$ on the ground and walk away.

Around me in ND, alot of parks have signs that state no ATV/UTVs.  But, you can drive them on any gravel road with 50mph speed limit; some towns allow them on the street, some don't.  But, from what I've read, UTVs, if you can put a car license on them if they have proper lights/turn signals/brake lights, ie street legal.  Private CGs, it's a crap-shoot, need to ask each one individually.  Here in ND, if you don't have the (tax) sticker on it from your home state, you will get a ticket. 

10 hours ago, franco-bolli said:

the question about where to keep this extra cash while traveling,

My old RV had a factory built in lockbox, solid metal, well hidden.  I doubt it was fire rated but was a great place to store cash with pistol on top.  That camper is now gone.... 😞

We're not preppers either but we could last a few years here.  Lots of chickens, fried/grilled, lots of eggs, cattle/hog nearby, plenty of field rats (deer) walking about my place, large garden to can from, a few fruit trees.  Plenty of ammo/guns to protect or acquire sustenance.

Filled truck yesterday, diesel @ $4.70/gallon, $206.  I'm going to let sit awhile and drive my gas truck but, that's going crazy too.  Can't wait for warmer weather, at-least my motorcycle is inexpensive to operate.