franco-bolli

If you travel through oregon, the cash price for gas/fuel is always cheaper than the credit price. the good news is that Oregon is considering letting you pump your own gas now!! It has always been OK to pump your own diesel.

OK, i'm leary about the trash bag, too easy for someone "helping clean out" to miss the important bag that was supposed to be kept! Splitting it up makes sense, so as you said, no need to flash a big wad for a small payment. I saw an article in Handyman magazing awhile ago about cutting the drywall in the house and putting a fake air vent grill on an interior wall, held on by small magnets. They used drywall screws in all four corners of the drywall opening for the magnets on the vent to cling to. But there is no real protection from fire there... I just wish my skills with cutting drywall were better! this of course, doesn't work in a RV, unless you cut a new hole in the floor an put a vent over it. I don't know if this is common, but I noticed that the last vent in the floor in my rig, is not the end of the plenum feeding the vent system. It continues for another 2 or 3 feet past that last vent (hiding space??). I ended up putting some plastic sheet in there, just past the vent to hopefully get more air volume from the existing vents. BUT this information doesn't contribute to the OP's question.

the question about where to keep this extra cash while traveling, hasn't come up yet. I was considering suggesting that a hidden panel or a location under a set of steps would be appropriate until I read the post about the whole rig going up in flames. I know that "fire proof" in relation to safe's only applies to the length of time the safe is exposed to temperature above XXX degrees. When you carry large sums, do you mind sharing where it's kept? I don't expect any answers like " taped to the bottom of the 3rd drawer down in the kitchen area". Just general ideas, nothing specific that will identify where YOU keep the cash.. You never know who's monitoring these forums.

here is a source I use at work for Ferrules: www.ferrulesdirect.com That site has a huge selection of many types of terminal ends, ferrules and zip ties. Make sure you use the correct tool to crimp them on, or a poor crimp could result in a poor connection that heats up under high current and melts insulation. Heat is wasted energy and depending on what is near by, could cause a fire.

I stumbled into this a while ago for a different project, maybe it will help with wire sizing. NOTE: this is for DC currents. the source is Engineering toolbox

An old joke went "just because you're not paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't after you!" Whoever they are.. I keep a little "get out of town" cash in the safe, and try not to get to worked up about what Might happen. A run on the bank like the Bailey saving and loan... It could happen, but so could a lot of things I don't have any control over. Solar Flare, earthquake in yellowstone caldera, eruption of Mt Reinier, locusts or dogs and cats living together. Lets say, for discussion, that I have a 1 oz bar of gold and I'd like to barter for bread, milk and some cheese. Would I shave off a couple of slivers of the bar as an exchange and call it even? How big of a sliver is too much? I believe in preparing, but with moderation. Unless you live in a cave with all the rations you need for a year (or more) ain't no one surviving if it comes to using nukes in Ukraine. This too shall pass, if I'm wrong, welp, it was a fun ride.

I spoke to one campground operator in Florida, and his main gripe was not about the occupants but with their dogs. Some breeds aren't even allowed in the parks any more. I travel with two terriers which fortunatly are the smaller breeds that are allowed. Rotwiler, doberman, pit bull and others of that size and demeanor aren't allowed in some camps. He told me its the mess they leave, the barking at passers by, and agressivness toward other dogs that he has to deal with in his camp. While we're traveling and touring Florida this summer, for instance, going to Dry Tortuga's NP for the day while in the keys, we'll have a local doggie day care take treat the dogs during the day. We're using the "Rover" service while visiting Biscayne Bay. Same with the stay at Fort Wilderness on Disney property, the dogs will be in the day care so at least there will be a chance to get fresh water and food and do their business without leaving a mess for us to clean up at the end of the day in the trailer. Some folks respect the camp properties and clean up after their dogs, and some, well, think that it's someone elses job to pick up anything they leave behind.

Thanks for the invite!, I'll give it some consideration if we are in town. If you need tips or hints for shopping or restaurants, let me know. after having a look at the ameneties at the Ambassador , I'm not certain that the other locations I mentioned can handle rigs that long. I can stop by and take pictures to post here if there is need to see what it looks like. Cheers!

Thanks for the information! It turns out, I live less than 5 miles from the Ambassador. There are several other camp facilities close by (mostly) abundant Life RV Park 4924 Laster Ln. Caldwell, ID 83607 208-714-0667 I've driven through 2 times and they have been quite full, but I think it depends on the time of year... Some spots are quite tight, it would be good to verify parking sites when registering.. ------------------------ Leahs Landing Campground 1606 N Irene Dr Nampa, ID 208-867-7393 Haven't' been in this one, but there are a lot of full timer rigs as seen from Highway 84 East bound ___________________________________ Caldwell Campground and RV Park 21830 Town Cir Caldwell, ID 208-454-0279 Haven't driven into this one in a while, I think they were expanding last I was in there many years ago. Many semi permanent folks in there. -------------------------------------------- This is a very new campground that isn't on any of the aps yet, and I haven't driven through there yet. Center Point RV Park 1530 N Ann Street, Nampa, ID 83687 (208) 953-7205 ---------------------------------- Cheapest fuel in town, MUCH cheaper than the flying J and Sinclair stations next to the Ambassador. Big rig friendly and has DEF, racing fuel, kerosene and all gas is non-methanol. Conrad and Bishoff 9250 Cherry Ln, Nampa 83687 Its probably about 2 miles off the freeway. These folks are the supplier of fuels to many of the other stations. ------------------------------- I don't think I'll be attending, I'm not driving an HDT. Best of luck, FB

I hate to ask this... But when and where is the West Coast Rally in 2022? I've look on the events calendar at the Escapees website and did a search on the same website for Idaho and West coast and Rally, but I only get past events. I'll keep looking but if you have a moment, point me in the right direction. Thanks!!

Very enlightening topic. I'm planning on travelling to Southern Florida in May. So far, the reservations are OK, but not great. After reading through 4 pages of experiences here, I may be too late to make any reservations near the Great Smokey Mtns Nat Park at the end of May. I'll have to search a little farther out from the park, if there isn't anything close. The Oregon State parks are using Reserve America for thier guests. 6 months to the day you can make a reservation. I was able to get 10 days just outside of Brookings Oregon near the end of August 2022, but I think it was just luck..The sites went fast! I'm hoping that there won't be any fuel shortages along with the higher prices!!. It's a mess, using RV Wizard, Harvest hosts, Allstays, and Allstays military while planning a route. Almost sucks the joy out of going..

For a recap of what I've read in the replies: (in no particular order of preference) * Dryer sheets (used and wet) * wet towels on the surface for a bit to loosen the guts then water and a brush * Blue Beacon truck wash ( but not following a stock truck !) * Reliable 1 Spray All purpose cleaner * Bug Slide Spray * Superzilla Spray * Slick Mist Spray * The Solution waterless wash * Bug Scrubber Sponge * Microfiber rags / towels * Driving Backward or get a Taller Truck! All but the last on the list, are possibilities. Thanks for your contributions. From the write ups I've seen on Amazon for a few of those sprays, I'm going to try one of them on the trip. Thanks again for sharing. FB

Well said! I tend to speed up when I pass stock trucks, I've seen unmentionable things come out of the holes in the side. 😉

Great ideas here ! Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'll investigate how the dryer sheets work on our trip. Thanks for the confirmation that using them wasn't just a tik tok bologna trend. The waterless "the solution" has my interest too. Has anyone heard of using Hydrogen peroxide on the bugs? Depending on the % of peroxide it seems it would be more expensive per wash than almost anything else, if much of it was required. I'm not sure where my wife saw this mentioned. For those that use a chemical product, do you recoat the front of the rig with anything right after? Wax? 303 protectant? A Rain-X product? It would seem to me that a chemical bug remover would also remove the underlying protections as well. Thanks again for the replies, they really help.

this is great! Some of the camprounds I've stayed in, won't have their image improved by my washing the trailer though. I've not heard of Blue Beacon. I see them on google for locations, but don't see the "how it's done" in the description. Is it and automated wash, like a car wash or is it just a huge building with a couple of well meaning kids using high pressure guns and soap? Any ideas what they would charge for a pick-up with trailer?

I think Kurt mentioned this before, that the cabinets, at least ALL of the cabinets I've seen at RV shows, are particle board with a vinyl wrap. If you'd like to test this theory, feel the back side of any upright support between two doors and see if you can feel an edge of the vinyl wrap. It's my opinion that the better manufacturers, use a thicker version of the wrap. The doors on the other hand, at least on my Arctic fox, are solid wood. The Solid bead welt you see between the cabinet and the wall, hides a myriad of sins in cabinet installation. The rigs in my price range all have it. I don't know about the high end. When I bought my 25W Arctic Fox used, I'm certain that the paint on the frame had been sand blasted (meaning road sand and grit got kicked up) during it's previous owners travels and left steel exposed. I spend a day or so under the rig sanding themetal frame surfaces facing front, taping off items I didn't want painted and then sprayed the frame members with rustoleum rust reformer. and then a coat of Cold galvanizing compound spray. Particularly the area right at the front of the trailer where the hitch meets the frame and the areas between the wheels where the slide out mechanism occupies the uninsultated (or covered) areas of the frame. I had to recoat over the silver of the galvanizing compound on the front frame, because the silver didn't go well with the paint scheme. I'm not convinced that painting the frame is all that important to some manufacturers, beyond making it look black long enough to get the rig off the lot. I have seen pictures of the axle spring hanger brackets that were not welded sufficiently and broke free during a turning event, like backing into a site or a tight turn into a fuel stop. I'm always on the lookout for how those are attached when I'm looking for a rig. Shock absorbers are more prevalent on the higher end units as well. They help keep you goods in the cupboards!!

Hmmmm, even though I've been RV'ing for more than 30 years, I keep forgetting to bring along a ladder. I'll need to add that to the "bring along" list this time! This month long trip will be the longest one we've done. It will start 25 days after I retire... I admit that I'm not from the "show me" state, but I'll need to ask the wife to save a few bounce sheets to try this for myself. Do you use them soaked in water or something else, or just with the trailer wet, or ???

Interesting thing about the blue tooth as an identifier of the location. I've tried to remember to turn my bluetooth off on my phone when I enter a store or mall. Not that I'm paranoid, but the store doesn't need to know how long I spend at a given location while I'm there.. There is a fabrication shop near by, maybe I'll stop by to see if he can dream something up to secure the batteries in place, once I get the lithium batteries that is.. I just bought a hitch lever lock from PACLOCK and is seems to fit well. I've heard they (PACLOCK) are working on the hitch lock, similar to what Masterlock and "california immobilizer" have. Thanks for the comments.

I have a month long trip coming up, and know that bugs are a sure thing I'm going to have to deal with, especially in Florida. I'm not a full timer, and usually have access to a pressure washer and some good soap (bug and tar remover) at the end of my travels at home. I've treated the front of the trailer with the 303 protectant which seems to help a lot when it comes to clean up. BUT, in my experience on the road, most campgrounds frown upon trailer washing. I've not heard of anyone using the automated semi-truck washes with a pick-up / travel trailer combination. I'd like to try to stay ahead of the 3 day, caked on bug carcasses that may leave red or green ooze on the front of the trailer. Some seem to be more persistant than others. I've searched these forums for ideas, but using terms like "rv washing" and "bugs off" or similar terms don't come up with any suggestions. My wife said she read somewhere that using Hydrogen Peroxide on the trailer front, works for some folks, but have not tried it yet. If you have any tricks or tips, you'd like to share, I'd sure appreciate it. I did find this in the interweb and it has some ideas but still would like to hear what works for you. I'm sceptical about the dryer sheet suggestion. https://www.rvtravel.com/buggywindshield1561/ As a side note, if you've used a product like a screen or extra grill to keep the bugs out of your radiator, I'd like to hear about that as well. Thanks for your time replying, FB

The inside of the driverside rear tire was wearing a lot faster than the others. Not significant, but enough to notice. There is a shop I've used in the past in Boise that does semi trailer alignments and other larger vehicle. The shop "reformed" the axle to bring them more into alignment. I don't recall the exact amount of adjustment. Yes the pump is a demand pump, no upgrade from OEM install. With the pressure tank installed I noticed a lot less cycling. Additionally, at night when you don't want to hear it running, the system provides 2 to 3 flushes before the pump comes on. I put a shut off valve on the tank so that when I winterize, none or the pink juice gets into the tank itself. In this model of trailer, the pump is under one of the dinette bench seats and there was sufficient room to secure the tank down next to the pump. It's one of the small tanks that are typically used on top of a water heater outlet. Cheers, FB

I'm suspecting that there will be a plethora of used, relatively new rigs on the market in a year or two, when some newbies get frustrated with their storage costs or lack of use. I plan to get some miles on my rig this year, and the next year and so on.... I've owned a Arctic Fox 5th wheel (24 5N) for 5 years and sold it to buy the 2017 25W Arctic Fox I've had now for almost 3 years. Good insulation for 4 seasons, solid build quality and reliable components. Was it perfect, No. I improved several things on it, like axle/wheel alignment, extra pocket screws for the drawer supports, felt tabs between the doors and cabinets, LED lights inside below the kitchen sink cabinet, pressure tank for the water pump, reseal the roof and several more things. But some of that is just maintenance... I hope you can find a floorplan that fits your lifestyle.

I visited the local VA hosp and asked about treatment for any ailments while traveling. I was told to contact the VA central phone number and tell them I was travelling and where I had been treated. I'm referring to emergency types of treatment, not standard health related issues being treated at the home VA. The person I spoke with hadn't heard of PACT, but said that with my rating, getting treatment for emergencies would be covered. He did say that I may need to follow up with the VA to be sure that the bill is actually paid if I were to get a bill. What I didn't ask but should have is, what if I'm in Bumtruck Oklahoma and need to be airlifted to a hospital, is that covered. I imagine mercy flight expense is on me....

Interstingly, as you probably already know. DRV and Keystone (and Jayco) are both a division of Thor Industries. Probably not built on the same MFG line though. I Have no idea how they have changed since 2019. Outdoors RV Titanium may be worth a look as well. Same parent company as the Arctic Fox.

In addition to the other things I've had happen, it seems to me, (could be wrong about this) that when I prep a route in RV road wizard, and transfer it to the garmin basecamp, that only the stopping points are transferred and not ALL of the route, so basecamp plots it's own set of highways. IF I want to follow exactly what RV road wizard wants, I need to compare the route in basecamp to RVRW side by side to be sure they agree. THEN when I am satisfied that the basecamp is happy and transfer it to the GPS itself, I THINK (again no proof yet) that only the stopping points are transferred to the GPS and the GPS itself again calculates the best route. Otherwise, I wouldn't have entertaining excursions to a side road for 2 miles and then back to the main road that I didn't find while checking the route in basecamp. Will I continue to use RVRW, YES. Wil I continue to transfer the information from RVRW to Garmin Basecamp; YES and then on to the GPS; YES. Will I use an road Atlas to see what else may be worth seeing along the way to the destination, You Bet! It seems the the GPS units are something we love to hate, but also hate to love. Earlier, a poster mentioned that he uses both RVRW on the phone and a GPS at the same time and they mostly agree. I think I'll try this with my trip to Key West from SW Idaho. Thanks again for the comments, I'm always learning something new.

Great information! I'll be on the phone with the VA on Monday to ask about the VA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). Thanks for sharing your experiences and doing a little research for me! Cheers FB