NDBirdman

Browsing the sale ads, I see (several) with Ford V10 gas engines say it's 362hp. At the moment I'm not committed to a diesel or gas engine, I understand the many differences, power and torque, required maintenance, etc. I can give pro's and con's all day long, worked as a mechanic most my adult life. Saying that, I've been out of the loop for a few years and have never worked on these V10 engines. What experience do y'all have, good/bad, mileage, pull a small 4x4 - 4-down or an enclosed trailer with motorcycles, under-powered or good, durability? We're waiting for the covid crap to slow down and hopefully it does... eventually so we want to look at many options but mostly a set-up with or ability to set up solar and have an on-board generator. (most our outings for now are, or were til we lost our camper, boon-docking away from the crowds) For the weight of this motor-home, would this with a toad be a good combo? How would a rig like this handle a toad going down steep grades? Going up, just drop gears and enjoy the ride, going down, was too easy to have a gasser over-run it's RPMs, I'm getting too old to have white knuckles and smelling hot brakes. I'm used to running commercial trucks and my won ton dully with engine/exhaust brakes. These gas rigs don't have jakes of sorts, or do they? As to our driving, I don't have a need to do speed limits so don't need a rocket ship, like to clip along on say, a hiway limit of 70-75, run around 65. We like to take our time, we have no where to go fast. Terran, we live in the plains states so fairly flat, most folks would call our ... hills... bumps in the road... LOL BUT, we do go west between home (Norf Dakoota) and the suburbs of Seattle, WA, some of those roads have some steep up/down grades and will be traveling at times in the south-west low-lands and mountains. Also, this RV will be for part time living as snow-birds. We have come to the conclusion there's no way we would sell our SnBs. Guess what I'm asking, would y'all feel comfortable with a V10 gasser, any know problems? (have not decided on make/model/floor-plan yet, these are just) For example: https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2014-Tiffin-Motorhomes-Allegro-36-LA-5018377540 https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2019-Entegra-Coach-EMBLEM-36U-5017497621 Thanks y'all!

I just told my son his mom needs a new Mercedes and I need a new Yarcraft boat. After he was done chuckling, I told him all we want is to spend time with our family.

Cash back rates? What is their deposit account interest rates? I have a money market account at our credit union but I would like to find better if it's out there.

#2, I would not recommend getting much because of the weight. A light, small item if left with someone would easily be lost or stolen. I have some, I would not want to try to carry much around because of the amount/weight of what I have. This is one I would highly recommend if you dive into, having a safety deposit box in a bank, not in your/someone's SnB or RV. PM paper stock, never, only physical PM. I do have a couple coin albums I carry along so I can upgrade my coins if I find one nicer to replace an average coin with. That can get pretty expensive depending on what set you wish to collect, I've not had one coin not gain value. Saying that, I'm not a full timer, or any timer now. Might be awhile before we find the one we want after ours was totaled out. Our SnB is an investment but it will never be rental property, family made that mistake, never again.

Tis the season for one hit wonders..... just saying.

lol

More than likely we'll just watch the market til spring/summer, if something pops up we like, we'll get it. In our area, this past year not much has come up for sale we liked. We've been looking but mostly locally, chances are we are going to need to take a few trips to more populated areas of the country. Until then, I'm working on the house and (trying) to learn how to use my lathe without eating bowls... LOL

Yea, we hope so, my problem is, go with a class A and enclosed trailer, or keep the RAM and get a toy hauler. Really need to make sure whichever does a good job of hauling our HD Tri-Glide with us. On the other hand, ability to tow a small vehicle also beckons at us. We are hoping when the virus settles down and ppl get back to normal(?) we could find a good used, 1-2 yr old RV, time will tell.

Welp, a guy from the transportation company came and picked up the camper today. She's gone, now just a fond memory of the joy she gave us. Actually felt pretty sad watching her leave. My place just doesn't look/feel right without a camper sitting here.

I believe the older a person becomes, the less risk they should take. We dove in a lot of areas when young, now as mid 60s, everything risky, ie high risk return investments, have been cashed in and placed in low risk investments. Real-estate, will always be worth something (we have enough if chit hit the fan we could grow/raise what we need to survive), I like some precious metals, a couple low risk retirement accounts, some in a money market, some cash and some in fire-arms/ammo. Big thing to do is pay down/off everything. Having good medical so something catastrophic does not drain you, long term care plan, etc. Don't place all your eggs in one basket. Another thing I tell people, don't gamble, or invest any $$ you can't do without. If investments become worthless for what-ever reason, will you/they have what they need to live the same level standard you now live at? Investing is fun, but don't cut your own throat doing so. For specific investment advice, I won't give any more than what I said. Every individual needs to research themselves, not what has worked for others. What worked for me, won't work for you, that I will guarantee you. I average $9k/mo without touching anything saved. IMHO

Insurance decided to give me a decent sum for the RV, a transportation company has been assigned to come pick it up. It's still covered with a tarp which is surprising considering how bad of a wind/snow storm just rolled through. I pulled it up to the driveway before the storm so they could easily connect to it but most the roads/hiways are closed down at the moment. So, I no longer own this camper, other than it sitting here until they can brave the roads to get it, it's gone. Tomorrow the fun begins, shovel snow, blow the driveway clear, and as quick as the county clears our 1.5 miles of gravel road to the hiway, might be able to drive somewhere again. With no kiddies living in our area, we're the last one cleared since no school buses come by. I usually get tired of waiting after a couple days and run the tractor/blower down it but I hate doing that, but o-well, all's fun and games living in the sticks. Now to decide, another 5th wheel, or motor-home. Kinda leaning towards class-a but time will tell. If we go motor-home route, will probably sell the RAM DRW, will no longer need that big a truck. Thanks for all the suggestions/info.

Heard from my insurance yesterday. They deemed it totaled. But they did not say what the $$ will be. I pointed them to the 2 models like mine, only 2 I could find for sale in the US so we will see what they will say. They did not say much else, if they offer to sell it back to me and I refuse, will they send someone to come get it I wonder? I would like to do a cheap fix and use it as a hunting shack but, finding time to do it is nearly impossible for me, have too much to do for quite a while. The tires are fairly new, that's about the only thing I can think of any real value. I was told by a body shop in town that used to do repairs like this it would be north of $8k to repair IF I could find a shop willing to tackle it. It also looks like the first 18 inches of the rubber roof was lifted loose, so I would have to figure out how to re-laminate (?) the front part of the roof so it is not lifting when pulling down the road.

A Cummins 6.7 in a RAM 3500 is your best bet. Yes, that 2500 can pull it, but up/down hills/mountains, heavy cross-winds and emergency stopping even with camper brakes.... I pull a camper that would have been doable with a 2500 but on steep grades... I'm very happy I went overboard and bought a RAM 3500 DRW. And to your question, gas is good if your going to be doing a lot of unloaded driving with it but for torque up said inclines/long distance, diesel is better.

We use a cheapie from WallyWorld. you just pick up the (insert?) inner pan and shake lightly. It lets all the unused litter fall through into the litter box in a matter of seconds. Drop liner back into the 2nd pan (it comes with 2) and pour the litter into it over the strainer. Quick and easy, don't have to scoop and too fast for kitties to jump in when cleaning. This is where we got our 2, most pet stores would have something like this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Skemix-Sifting-Cat-Pan-Litter-Box-With-Frame-Kitty-Van-Ness-Cp5-Easy-Clean-New/134116876

Welp, storm quit so I went out with ladder to take a look. Lots more damage than I originally thought. The front cap is cracked all the way up to roof membrane, all the screws along the top of the cap are pulled out, roof looks to have a couple small rips. Inside, some wires were nailed. There's bracing inside from the front wall to the cap for support, that's knocked out/cracked. Some serious damage to the front of this camper. While I'm sure the cap can probably be replaced or a good fiberglass shop repair it, the roof rips fixed with eternabond, bracing rebuilt and wires repaired... it's not going to be an easy/inexpensive repair I think. NADA on it is only $7k.... is it worth fixing? If they total it, I'll use the $ as a down payment on a newer RV, probably a Class A.

I took the tree down enough today so I could pull it out of the yard. Finally got a hold of the insurance company but that's going to be a slow process. Being Saturday, nuttins open around here so I'll try Monday. Before I could do anything about the hole, is started snowing like crazy and still is. I'm thinking I am going to have to find a barn or someplace I can put this in and take a shop-vac to the inside and remove as much snow as possible. I'll make a few calls looking for a fiberglass repair shop but I've never heard of one in my area. I do have a roll of eterna-bond, might have to resort to that for now for protection. I think I would be just as happy for the insur. co to total this out but, doubt it. I don't think the camper's book value makes it worth them paying for a repair job, it is a 2002 but we will see.

AND, as soon as I got a person, they (?) hung up on me.... grrrrrr..... hate dealing with insurance companies!!!! Here we go again....

I now get to enjoy the fun of dealing with my insurance company. On hold now for 2 hours... yea, fast... LOL I need to file a claim on our camper. First storm of the year, high wind filled with ice/snow, joy-joy. Snapped a tree in half and of course it had to bounce off the front cap of our camper ripping a nice, maybe 1ft by 3ft hole. I picked up the chunk from the front yard but, I doubt they can glue it back in.. LOL The limb did not break through the interior wall, inside of the closet. Do they make replacement caps for a 2002 Dutchman RK I wonder? Probably cost more to replace than campers worth but..... insurance will let me know I'm sure. Glad we have full coverage on this.

I agree, more than likely has some merit but... and there's always a but... we will have to wait to see what becomes of this. I would not do an IPO but will wait and see where it bounces after a bit. I'll patiently wait/see, got nuttin but time. I'm still in the train of thought that something has to happen, maybe this year or spring, I think the bubble is going to pop, we are printing too many green-backs with nothing to back it. Inflation is rising... it will hit a brick wall and bounce eventually, just where it bounces to.... time, time I have to wait.... Doubled $200 yesterday on a craps table, maybe I should.... naaaa, joking, once every few blue moons is fun but would never finance a new motor-home... LOL

Have to watch and see what happens. Is she just a disgruntled employee mad because she did not get what *she* wanted, or did it actually happen? It's too easy for one person to make false claims. Perhaps this will drive the price down making it a steal to buy? Without proof, I never believe what I hear/read.

2 years use only going to cost you $700, IF I was ending my camping, I would jump on it. BUT, If I were selling to upgrade to a newer camper, I'd have to think hard about it. New camper won't be cheap.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. I have several mutual funds with different companies. Only recently I've started playing with stocks on E-Trade but used mostly play money. Bought on the drop and made quite a bundle when I sold. Waiting on another drop I think is coming before spring but only with money I can afford to lose. But, will never have all my eggs in the same basket! 4 different bank accounts/2 different banks that's not touched. Long term at my age is not done, did that when I was young. Our retirement is here today, not 20-30 yrs from now.

What type driving, type surface? Go off-road any, sand, lots of snow or rain driving? Big range of tire types/prices dependent on your type of use. I use an all terrain but I do a lot of gravel roads, some mud, lots of winter snow, etc.. I use Nitto Terra Grappler, they cover about all I do but not inexpensive.

Need one of those *like* buttons for this! Just because someone can afford a huge rig or an HDT does not mean they can handle one, especially in an emergency situation. I have a CDL class A, some ppl I see driving big rigs untrained make me shiver!

I use Sirius for $5/mo. Have it on my truck and cell phone. I just connect my cell phone to the car I'm in, or I just stream it to my blue tooth connected hearing aids. I have it on my phone calendar to remind me every 11.5 months. I call to cancel, tell them too damn expensive and they always offer me another year for $5. I would not pay $10/mo, their service is nice but not worth paying more for. Too many free radio apps out there although you do have to put up with commercials. Same with the TV. As far as compressed, or audio quality, 20 years of working on jets with my now bad hearing and tinnitus, it does not make a difference to me.