Jinx & Wayne

Chalkie spells better than I do. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Welcome! I'm guessing from your name that you are in northern Texas. The weather map shows temps in the mid to low 20's for the next few nights. Without knowing your rig and how it is heated it is pretty hard to tell if freezing will be an issue, but it certainly will be a possibility at those temperatures. Talk to the tech people at the RV place for more info. I'm from Maine. When I used to winterize it was more than draining. I put antifreeze in the water lines (except the water heater) and in the drains. There is a special antifreeze for water systems. Your dealer will have it. Be sure to get instructions on winterizing your rig. DO NOT use automotive antifreeze. It is extremely toxic. As you note, chocking and leveling are necessary. whj469 is spot on about electrical protection. You can get the kind that plugs in at the power pedestal or is built in. The link is to Progressive which I use. There are others, too. I would make sure I had bulbs, fuses, and tools that fit the RV screws, nuts and bolts -something always needs adjustment. There are some pretty good articles about RV tool kits online. Remember to properly torque the lug nuts at 50 and 100 miles. Tire pressure gauge - ignoring tire pressure is a good way to get tire failure and trailer damage. Waste tank odor can be an issue. Some folks like deodorants with formaldehyde and the like. Some parks do not like you to use those substances as they can affect their septic system operations in sufficient quantity. I prefer RV Digest-It which I use in both gray and black tanks. It handles odors and breaks down the contents. Septic system compatible toilet paper. Unbreakable kitchen things - when you go down the road there is a 8.4 earthquake going on behind you. Glass breaks unless well protected. We use Corel and plastic or metal. 15 and 20 amp adapters for your power connection. Sewer hose. Water hose and pressure regulator. Be sure to check the manual to determine maximum pressure. Spare batteries for remotes and sensors. Duct tape. There are a lot of good apps for RVing. I like AllStays Camp & RV for clearances, rest areas and other travel info; Campendium for campgrounds; Maps for satellite views of stopping areas and complex intersections; and Mountain Directory for grades/road conditions in mountains. When we started I made the mistake of buying a lot of things I thought I would need but didn't. Be sure to watch the weight of the things you bring in and weigh the loaded trailer and vehicle. Weighing is a safety issue. You do not want to be stopping and find the trailer has other ideas. Also measure the height of the rig and write it on your tow vehicle visor. The reason is clear from this video. Safe travels. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

I'm trying to take a pragmatic view of the mask/death numbers/covid arguments. Here's what I've concluded. I'm real sure covid is out there and serious because countries don't just shut down for no reason. This is happening worldwide, not just here. I'm sure it isn't something dreamed up by the democrats to defeat republicans because it is happening everywhere. All countries are scrambling for a vaccine. I'm pretty sure it is causing a lot of death. I say this because: 1) I can read. Again, this is a worldwide issue. When I read English language papers from overseas see they are having lots of deaths too. 2) I've talked to my doctor about it. My doctor is very clear that this is a very serious danger. 2) I know three people who were related to me who have died of covid in the last three months. I'm sufficiently sure it was covid because they all displayed symptoms of it, they were then isolated from the families and in ICU, and they were diagnosed with it. These were otherwise healthy old geezers like me. I know only one other person related to me who died this year of any other cause. There was a lot of conflicting information about masks at the start of this thing so it is hard to be sure whether they work or how well. Despite conflicting information I'm going to wear a mask. Not because it protects me so much. Even the science people don't claim that as a primary purpose. It's because it is reputed to protect me somewhat, but others more. I do this without being certain that masks work. I think they are better than no mask, but I'm not positive. There just isn't any way for me to be sure. So I resolved that issue by weighing the consequences of my actions. If I don't wear a mask and they work, I'm contributing to the deaths of others. If I wear a mask and they don't work, I'm out the cost of the mask and the suffer inconvenience of wearing it. That made the decision pretty easy, at least for me. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

It is the one you read? Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

The calculations are a bit more complex than you set out. Here is a calculator that you can use to get your answer.

Actually, there are three groups. Some of us look at both A and B and wonder how the country will survive them. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Apparently you haven't looked at credit card rates. Many Visa and Mastercard providers are much hgher. Capital One ranges from 8.15% to 26.99%. I've seen cards as high as 29.99% Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Is this at every station or just a single fill? I've found a couple of stations that pump very slowly. I know it wasn't a problem with my tank because it is a truck bed auxiliary tank. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Another vote for Lambright. I'm sitting in one right now. Here is the RV catalog. Dimensions are included in most descriptions. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Make FL reservations some months before you go, the keys in particular. If you stay on property at WDW make those reservations now. Starting Dec 1 FL begins to fill up. WDW RV is always hard to get into. There are a lot of off-property CG near WDW. FL weather varies greatly depending upon where you are on the peninsula. Northern FL is greatly influenced by continental weather patterns. Mid to southern FL weather is moderated by the ocean. We are in Avon Park. The coldest night so far was 39. Today will be 80 and tonight 63. Humidity is not high. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

We bought a 2006 Carriage and upgraded it after being in it for a year and figuring out what we wanted changed. The cost was lower than newer luxury models but we got just what we wanted. We are very happy with it. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Reading between the lines it sounds like the Magistrate is not buying the NPS position. if the Mag agrees and issues an order finding a constitutional violation the next step might be to sue the government for the constitutional violation, damages (if any exist) and attorneys fees. That's a maybe.

Here is a pretty good case history. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

agesilaus, Have you checked the county websites? I am in Highlands county and they have both web and phone lines for appointments. They put together a list from the appointment requests and then, based on the number of doses they get for the week, they work down the list and notify people by phone or email to come in for a shot. I have my fingers crossed about the second shot. I will be eligible beginning 2/4. The county website says they will be calling us in the order that we got the first shot. Since I was one of the first 270, it should be soon - if there is vaccine. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Until now Florida has been vaccinating anyone 65 or older. Apparently there was a significant number of people from other states coming to FL to get the vaccine. As of now availability will be limited to residents and snowbirds. ID such as a driver's license or proof of extended residence in the state such as rent receipts, utility bills or the like will be required. Tampa Bay Times article. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Mr. Forcenito, I reviewed the survey and have a question before I take it. That question relates to the focus on "camping trips." We don't go camping or take camping trips. Our fifth wheel is my full time home. While we do move that home from place to place, there is no sticks-and-bricks home to which we are returning. If I respond am I creating deceptive data? For example, we travel several thousand miles each year so our fuel consumption/environmental impact in that area is greater. Yet our home is under 400 sq. ft. My heating, cooling and work travel energy consumption is vastly less than when I owned a home in Maine and heated with oil and drove to work sites throughout the state. The survey seems to be directed at evaluating the environmental impact of people who vacation in trailers and have full time homes, rather than those who live in trailers. You've posted this survey on a forum in which a significant number of participants are full time RVers. Guidance?

We can't make this determination. As several people have said, maximum trailer weight is not the only issue. Payload, CGVW and axle capacities also play into this determination. LindaH gave you the correct tools and procedures for determining the answer to this question. Her post is on the first page. Because these numbers are likely to be close we can't answer this question without weighing your truck with everyone and everything in it. If you had a 250 or 350 the answer would be pretty clear. For the trailer I would assume 10% of GVW as the hitch weight.

We sanitize the water system spring and fall, before traveling. I use an Excelpure RV filter attached at the entry point to the RV (not at the spigot before the hose. This is a relatively low cost filter that makes most water palatable. For drinking water I have a Zero Water pitcher. It only holds six cups at a time but it fits in the door of the RV refrigerator quite nicely. Water quality is excellent. There is a tester included with the Zero Water for determining when to change filters - when dissolved solids exceed 6 ppm. I fill the ZW 6-7 times per day. If you keep it in the refrigerator a filter lasts about a month. Filter costs have gone way up this year. I buy the 12-pack from Walmart for $180.00 to keep costs down.

We traveled from Florida to Maine in July, and Maine to Florida in October-November. We went up in 9 days and spent 6+ weeks coming south. The most restrictions were in the northeast. The fewest in the south. NY and CT required us to fill out online forms. If we had been staying we would have had to quarantine on our CG site. MA did not permit campers from southern states. VT required us to quarantine on site for 14 days because we had been in hotspots. Going south VT did not require quarantine because we came directly from Maine with low numbers. You need to keep track of state restrictions. CNN has a master list with links to the individual states. Be sure to use the links to the states through which you are traveling and check before you enter that state. Safety procedures and precautions by other campers vary from campground to campground. Some are good. Some are abysmal. In PA groups of people were going from campsite to campsite for trick-or-treat and Halloween parties. We opted for safety as we are both in vulnerable categories. We masked when needed and isolated. We did not socialize and bought all of our needs curbside (Walmart) or delivery (Instacart or Amazon). RV travel is particularly suited to pandemic travel. You can practice the level of safety that you feel is necessary. Everything you need is right with you, or can be obtained without indoor exposure. There are lots of outdoor activities that you can do - golf, biking, fishing, hunting, hiking. The only thing i would caution is to look at states' vaccination criteria if you plan to get vaccinated elsewhere. Regarding reservations, the usual problem in the more southern areas is site availability. That does not appear to be a problem this year. With the Canadians gone it appears that most parks here in FL have some spaces available. The further north you are there should be even more spaces in the fewer CG's that are open. Open CG's north of MD will likely be rare. I recommend the Campendium for finding campgrounds. There are other good apps for that, too. When we traveled Campendium had an option that allowed you to view only the campgrounds that were not closed due to covid. Stay safe and enjoy the travel. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

OP said they have a 2016 3.5L F-150 with tow package. The specs for that vehicle in its most stripped down configuration show: Dry curb weight of 4049. Payload of 1920. CGVW of 9400. Max towing of 5000. GRAWR of 3300. I'm not sure how you safely tow a 6400 TT with that rig. If the TV has any accessories the numbers are even worse.

There are five of you. The children will be growing. This makes a bigger truck now more important. If you look at the threads in this forum Almost retired couple looking for advise on a travel trailer until we do go full time in a couple of years and Undertrucked? you will find a some pretty good discussions of why this is true. Pick out the RV you think you want first, and then decide on a truck. Jinx grew up in a RVing family. She tells me about her parents, herself, three sisters and a big dog camping in a 18' Mallard. She and her sisters remember those times as "having a blast." Enjoy. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

In defense of the folks in th4 south who see snow and ice occasionally, they don't have the tires for it most of the time. There is nothing quite like good studded tires or studless ice tires to help tame slippery driving. Wayne & Jinx (formerly living in Maine) 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

And don't forget GAWR Gross Axle Weight Rating, the rear axle is a particular problem. Have the rig weighed axle by axle. The GAWR is on the door panel. Don't exceed that number either. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Hahahaha. I can see the first snow at Ft. Devens, 1969. My friend from Alabama had a brand new Chevelle SS 396. His answer to a lack of traction was more gas. He managed to slide sideways into two parked cars. The damage was minimal because he didn't have much forward motion, but he was certainly embarrassed. Oh yes. Remember that 4WD may make you go better, but it does nothing for stopping.

Well, the discussion piqued my curiosity enough to go looking for answers. The clearest answers I found were in a Consumer Reports article from 4/19. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ