Jinx & Wayne

No scathing criticism. You are right, the risk of being hacked on an open wifi is small. The results of being hacked can range from annoying to catastrophic. It all comes down to your individual tolerance for risk. Personally, I don't have any bills that that won't wait until I have a secure means to pay them. I am risk averse, at least where the burden of avoiding the risk is not too burdensome. Today I paid the month's bill on my phone in ten minutes. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

That was my reaction to the plan. A 12,000 mile minimum trip in a summer is way beyond our fun travel threshold. 300 miles and spend a week or two is more our model - about 1200-1500 miles per month. And even that gets hectic after a month or two. This year it took us over six weeks to get from Maine to Florida. The plan is 8 to 10 weeks traveling north. Even if you make summer four months long that coast-to-coast-to-coast is still 3000 per month, minimum

Oh yeah, over your own hotspot, too.

Directly over your phone, on your computer using the phone as a tethered hotspot, or over your own encrypted network such as Wifi Ranger. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Many companies offer a discount for automatic payments. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Pretty much what others have said. I don't bank by mail. I do mobile deposits of checks and have SS and other things set on direct deposit. All recurring bills (insurance, subscriptions, etc.) and daily expenses including groceries are paid by credit card so that they generate rewards thereby reducing expenses. I pay the credit card online through my bank's app monthly. Everything can be done on my phone. I've wrote about 10 checks in 2020 - primarily gifts. I'm going to look into SWharton's system of emails when charges are made. I think that will make for better expense tracking. Twotoes is spot on about any business being done over open connections. Don't do it. Right now i am on cable/internet so I have security. We have WiFi Ranger to run CG wifi through and that encrypts transactions.

Escapees has a SmartWeigh program available in Florida, Arizona and Texas. You van get your rig weighed and measured for a reasonable price. I've never used truck scales, but someone here may be able to tell you the process.

Be sure to ask whether thy have checked for the existence of other lien holders. The credit union may have the primary lien, but there may be tax liens, court judgments or attachments, or liens from secondary lenders. Secondary lenders are not likely on a used RV, but you need to be sure that the credit union is the only lien holder. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Thank you. I apologize for a bad suggestion. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

I've seen those results, too. I've not yet been present for a drop. Where or if the damage occurs depends upon the tailgate and jack positions at the time of the drop. If it drops with both the tailgate and jacks up it will hit the tailgate first. If it drops with the tailgate down and the jacks up it will hit the sides, first. If the jacks are retracted only an inch and the hitch is tested by trying to ease forward with the chocks still in place, no damage damage occurs if the hitch connection fails, regardless of tailgate position - it only drops an inch. I dropped mine with the jacks up an inch. The hitch looked fine but it was not quite latched. Raising the jacks an inch and testing with the tailgate down is on my checklist. Written checklist. It gets checked off as things are done. Every time. Checklist, checklist, checklist! Not my truck. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

That is great! Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

There certainly are enough people who could use it! There are two types of 5er owners - those who have dropped their rigs, and those who haven't - yet. Many of the former can be identified by large crush marks on the top of the tailgate. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

The other alternative is to reduce the weight of the RV in a manner that reduces the pin weight. I've not tried that avenue because we are within limits on our rig, and I am not sure just how to go about it other than: 1. Reducing the things you carry; 2. moving things to the rear; or 3. removing things. Remember, however, that moving things backwards shifts the weight to the trailer axles. Stock trailer axles are notoriously low capacity compared to the overall weight of the trailer. When I bought my older 5er it came with two, 7000# axles - 14,000# for a vehicle with a GVW of 16,830#! (When I upgraded to electric over hydraulic disc brakes those axles would not work so I installed two, 8000# axles.) We got rid of the washer/dryer but didn't save any weight there because we converted that closet to Jinx's sewing closet - two machines, tools, fabric and who knows what else. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

At least in Florida this is not going to happen. Jinx is under 65. I am 70. The fact that she lives with me does not make her eligible. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Welcome. After a bit you may discover that RV's are cheaper. This summer we camped next to a locum tenens RN. She spent the summer in Maine and was heading to a job in Texas for much of the winter. She said the thing she liked best was her own bed and things at the end of the day.

The vehicles with the most capacity are those with the fewest add-ons. 4ED, diesel, extended cabs, longer beds, larger fuel tanks and accessories like better seats all add weight. You don't remove weight unless you remove excess things from the truck. Removing or drilling holes in essential things is not a good idea. Maybe you could remove the bed if the 5er if you could be mount the hitch straight to the frame. The louvered tailgates I've seen would reduce weight. Maybe a gooseneck instead of a 5th wheel hitch would weight. Taking out seats and upholstery might work. Lose the sound system, GPS and any other accessories. Things that you carry in the truck can go in the trailer where they will only add about 20-25% to hitch weight/payload reduction instead of 100%. Oh yeah, since it's the new year, a diet and losing weight will help if you are in my BMI category. 😉 Airbags do nothing to increase axle capacity; I don't believe they increase payload, either. Realistically, buying a bigger truck is probably the cheaper road, plus you get a few conveniences that make riding in the truck for a day or two much more comfortable. I like my 10-position heated/cooled seats and good sound system. Putting on heftier axles and beefing up suspension during assembly is probably cheaper than after-market. The 2021 Ford price point for a bare bones, gas engine 250 LB is about 4$k less than a 350 DRW gas LB - $35k versus $39K. Special towing packages, interior upgrades and diesel cost extra in either configuration. All of it is cheaper than an emergency resulting in an accident. And I will tell you that towing with the right truck is a joy. I have a 350 diesel dually. If I had it to do over again I would get the 450 diesel dually.

Oh yeah, and my sales people were saying it was OK with another 50 gal of diesel and tank - that 125 for the tank and 350 for the diesel.

The 250 diesel wasn't going to work on that 5er regardless of axle ratio. It isn't just about pulling/horizontal forces. It is also about vertical forces on the structure of the vehicle and how that affects emergency handling. For the 2017 250 2wd LB diesel, the net payload is 3,880. Subtract 3450 pin weight (loaded), 300 for two people (we are heavier than 150 each so its more, but you are probably thinner), and 238 for 34 gal of diesel, 100 for the hitch. At that point you are 208# over payload and we haven't counted the DW's purse, your gear, the dog and the two cups of coffee in the cup holders. If you have anything else (maps, coolers, traffic emergency kit, lunch, windshield washer fluid, etc., all of that adds to the payload excess. Something in the bed - add it in. Problems with inadequate axle capacity are similar. And that was for the lowest weight long bed. If you go to 4WD or crew cab, things get even worse. If you have the crew cab 4wd, that puts you another 650 overweight because the net payload is 3,280 plus another 98 or diesel for the 48 gal tank. That's right around half a ton beyond payload on a truck that only had a ton and a half to begin with. I talked to a guy yesterday who upgraded from a 2500 to a 3500 dually on a 38' 5er. His comment was that he no longer felt like the rv was driving him down the road. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Unfortunately Florida is a long way away. Florida has taken the position that since the vaccine is provide by the federal government any US citizen is eligible. In my case it didn't matter because I am a Florida resident. The first day our county vaccinated 270 of us.

Illinois does what?

I had the first shot of the Moderna vaccine today in Florida. Next one in four weeks. No one asked for any insurance or payment. The form included a section for insurance, but that section was x-ed out. So far I am feeling OK Wayne Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

GIGO Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ

Florida is opening vaccine up today to any U.S. citizen 65 or older. The Florida Department of Health issued a statement that since the vaccine is being provided by the federal government, any U.S. citizen can get the vaccine. The appointment enrollment opens at 8:00 am today. I will let you know how it goes.

May be a troll, but it generated interesting discussions.

I'm sure glad this isn't political. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ