Jinx & Wayne

I've been through three ladders before I found this Gorilla ladder. It is great. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

I'm pretty partial to Dust Off guys. I'm not sure it is possible to denigrate that service by later actions. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

We migrate north in the spring and south in the fall. This year the travel portions will take a bit over 20 weeks. My PCP is in FL where we winter. Like you, I tried to do a tele medicine visit with my PCP from another state and was told that they will only consult with me if I am in-state. They said it was licensing/insurance issues. I am not VA eligible so that wouldn't help. Back in my old home state (where we spend two months each year) my old PCP is not available and primary care docs are not establishing relationships with out-of-state clients. I've been relegated to walk-in care for acute conditions, and for chronic ones I have exams before leaving FL and after returning. For a skin condition it may depend upon the state you are in to determine whether you need a referral. I was surprised to learn that dermatologists in FL do not require (and ordinarily don't get) referrals. When I had a skin condition my PCP told me to find a dermatologist. I a called dermatologist and had an appointment the next day. I am not sure where you are, but that may be an option. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

This is the coming thing for busy places in National Parks. As of two days ago Acadia NP instituted a permit system for Cadillac Mountain. The cost is $4 per vehicle plus a $2 reservation fee. We were there last summer. They were building the booth and changing the traffic pattern at the base of the entrance road. As much as I hate to see these limits, I think they are needed. Acadia is often a zoo. In years past it was busy from July 4 through Labor Day. Now it is just jammed from mid-May through the end of foliage in October. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

I realize replacing the vent is probably anathema, but that is what I did with the kitchen fan. It took about three hours to take out the old one and put in the new. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Having seen these threads I decided to check rather than worry. It seems things might be a bit tighter. We are leaving on a 12 week trip to Maine and our travel model is to travel no more than two days in a row and then stay for at least a week. I made the holiday reservations first - Memorial Day and the Fourth. For Memorial Day there were three 50 amp FHU sites in Branson, MO (16 days). For the Fourth we got the last site in Manistee, MI. I made a few others with similar results. I'm making the last of the reservations today. I hate doing it that far ahead because I don't like the schedule to be that rigid. Other places were still open but had fewer sites than I expected. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

If I'm not mistaken he is a former Dust Off pilot. Medics ride in the back. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Thank you. I didn't know there was one. Found it. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

I've seen a federal judge in Maine issue an order to show cause to several prospective jurors who had repeatedly failed to appear. It was served by US Marshals and ordered the people to appear before a federal magistrate and explain their absence. The magistrate didn't lock anyone up, but those with lame excuses were in court for the next selection. There is nothing quite like marshals at the door to motivate people. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Is "there" UP or Bushnell? Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Part of this year's travel will be from Vicksburg, MS, to Hollister, MO. The tentative plan is to take US-65 north from I-20. Any have ideas for avoiding urban traffic, particularly Little Rock? Are there any clearance or other issues that I should be aware of? We are 13' 2". Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

We did a remodel in 2019. Upgraded suspension, added awning, changed appliances, new furniture, new flooring, bike rack, updated entertainment center, new kitchen sink and faucets, structural reinforcement in two areas, and more. Had a SmartWeigh done as soon as back in FL. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

I'm not sure that we can infer what any other Escapees members think or will do based upon what a single member did while on jury duty. Also, I wouldn't be so quick to assume that Texas has the highest jury verdicts. Other areas get pretty high verdicts. At least one court commentator didn't even include them in the top ten for 2019 (2020 doesn't count due to the lack of trials). Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

My tank sits on frame, not straps. When it was installed the tank was pushed into a compartment flush with braced plywood walls. It is relatively tall and narrow, so there is not a lot of room for sloshing. It isn't going anywhere. But then, Carriage made pretty solid rigs. I'm pretty sure the Carriage manufacturers accounted for the fresh water tank being full when moved, if desired. The specs sheet showing the net carrying capacity clearly subtracts a full, 80 gallon tank from the GVW. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

I suspect most states have similar procedures for jurors who have problems attending. I read the juror books in several Maine counties most months for 32 years (retired trial lawyer). We had a lot of snowbirds who would write to the court saying they would not be back until summer. I cannot recall a case where they were not excused until the summer term. The caveat here is that they were not permanently excused, but were only excused for a period of months until they returned. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Unless we are boondocking we only carry about 30 gallons in the 80 gal fresh tank. It is enough to flush and drink, with a safety margin if we have to stop somewhere unexpectedly. The black and gray tanks are empty unless we are cleaning them with a soap/borax/water solution. It isn't a question of fuel mileage, it is just that minimizing weight is ingrained in me. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

JimK - SRW or DRW? I've considered a truck camper for hunting. I have DRW Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

We opted for a fifth wheel. It was my first RV. My wife grew up with RV's. Financially, the feds were giving a light truck tax credit which made a f350 diesel dually affordable. We bought a good quality older 5er and fixed it up after a year in it to figure out the good, bad and ugly Very little ugly. Quite a bit less expensive than the MH's we saw and felt would serve our purposes. Aesthetically, my wife says the 5er is less like a bowling alley than a MH. Here parents full timed in a Prevost for 12 years. She hated the layout. Visitors described the inside of our rig as more "homey" than expected. Work wise, I think a 5er is more work if you travel more than two consecutive days, and for setting up and tearing down, generally. I base that on seeing others with MH's. A lot of the newer 5ers have systems that cut down on this work. For two day runs in the 5er we just park relatively level and stay hooked up. In the morning we move in slides, disconnect electric, run through checklist and go Travel wise, I expect the MH contents take far less of a beating than goes on in a 5er. 7.5 earthquake comes to mind. You learn to pack well. Also I expect the MH cruises faster than I do. Normal travel involves winter in one or two places in FL, travel 12 weeks or so in the spring/early summer seeing grandkids on the way, a couple of months or so in ME with visits from grandkids, and 6-8 weeks back down to FL (and see grandkids on the way). All told the 5er was cheaper, travels well for those of us who never travel more than two days in a row, and is for us more comfortable. It has been home for three years. It feels like home. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

For me "common sense" says learn about driving and towing several tons of metal at high speeds BEFORE you do it. Perhaps I should have said "uncommon sense" because daily observations tell me that it is less common than I would like to believe. The OP clearly has sense, common or otherwise, because she was here asking questions and learning. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

My step-father ran what in Maine are called "sporting camps" - cabins back in the woods with dining facilities, and fishing and hunting. (For those of you who know Maine we had Tim Pond Camps in Eustis and Chairback Mountain Camps in T7R9 NWP - the latter is now Appalachian Mountain Club's Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins. I spent several years working in those camps. One year I wintered over and ran a trap line up in the Hundred Mile Wilderness. There were lots of bears. Bears will do a lot of things to get food, especially when it is in short supply in the wild or it is something they particularly like. The more familiar they are with people, the more they are likely to invade people space. If you leave food out they will come to it. If it is inside it depends upon how hungry they are and how familiar they are with people in that area. During a particularly bad drought year I remember a bear trying to get into a neighbor's cabin (read neighbor as being six air miles away on the far side of Barren Mountain.) The occupant shot the bear as it was climbing through a window. That sort of invasion is rare but not unheard of. So, yes, they will invade structures. The more substantial the structure the less likely they are to do so. I had one night on the AT in NH in a tent with a bear sniffing about. It can be scary. When in bear country practice bear safety. Various people here listed steps to take to avoid bear problems. That is good advice. Bears are lazy and will seek the food supply with the most calories for the least work. Don't feed the bears or they will be around forever. Secure your food. Remember that garbage is food. Trash in which food was contained (empty cans, candy wrappers, cough drops, breath mints etc.) is food. Crumbs from eating outside is food. Oh yeah, as noted above, black bears are found in PA. Brown bears are bigger and more aggressive than black bears. Grizzly bears area subspecies of brown bear. Grizzly/Brown bears are found in the northern Rockies, western Canada and Alaska. Really big ones are found where salmon are readily available such as in the the nearer Aleutians. Hikers attach bells to their packs in grizzly country. The joke is you can tell grizzly poop from black bear poop because the former contains bells. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Don't let them scare you. You should be fine if you use common sense. The manufacturers skimp on the tires, axles and wheels in the sense that you are left with 710# of load capacity because they used minimums capacity parts for the suspension and put the rest into interior bling to get buyers. Be sure you have enough truck (which is why you started this whole deal.) Use the calculator. Stay within weight limits, preferably with a safety margin. Weigh your vehicles as loaded for the road with kids, dogs and bikes included. There should be truck scales in your area. Look at your tires. Check their age (they have a four digit code on each tire showing the week (first two digits) and year (last two digits) of manufacture. Then check the manufacturer's information on tire life. Check the load and speed ratings of the tires. (My fifth wheel came with tires rated for 56 MPH. And that was from a top end manufacturer! I upgraded to 75 mph ratings with better load capacity) Do NOT think that you can tow at the speeds what you would drive without a trailer. Slower is better. I travel at 58-62 max. I will pass a bit faster, conditions permitting. That range is also my sweet spot for fuel use. Check tire pressures and follow the manufacturer's pressure charts. Check tires and axle hubs at stops for temperature signs of problems (bulging, flat, loss of tread.) Be sure to torque and re-torque the lug nuts at start, 50 and 100 miles with aluminum wheels. Have fun. My wife camped for years with her parents, three sisters (five years from oldest to youngest) and a very large dog in an 18' Mallard. She and her sisters all remember it fondly. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

My first step would be to contact Justrite (the actual seller). I had a problem with a fan i bought on Amazon. I contacted the manufacturer directly and they took care of it immediately. 1-800-798-9250 - Fax 1-800-488-5877 - custserv@justrite.com Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

In Florida many parks have high and low season rates. Off season rates can be much lower as can seasonal packages. Some parks have packages for people who want to snowbird and not haul their rigs. Those packages usually have a limit on the number of months a you can actually stay (usually six or seven) and prohibit subletting. Where the rig stays during the off season depends upon the park. We have Canadian friends who stay in Kissimmee. In that park the rig is put in a storage area freeing up the site for Disney rentals through the summer. Other parks leave may them on the site or store them depending on location. If I were going toad/tent camping in the Glades area I would not look at the Miami and north coastal areas. Land is more valuable in those areas and storage will be more expensive. There are a lot of parks in the central area along US 27 and FL 80 that are within two to three hours of the Glades. I drove by some last week going from Avon Park to Ft. Myers and saw storage advertised on some. A google search should put you on the right track. I would be less worried about storage in one of these parks as their business depends to some extent on the customers not being victims. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

DO NOT trust what the truck or RV sales staff tells you. They will look at the towing weight number and say its fine. Maybe they won't even do that and still say it is fine. Wheelbase-to-length ratios, max payload, axle capacities and gross vehicle weight capacities never enter their minds. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

And exciting is not something to strive for with your kids on board. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ