VC 23RSS

Does it have nitrogen struts?  If so, they assist in keeping the awning extended and one or both might be weak.  My Carefree Compass flaps around excessively but looking at the design I don't see how it couldn't. 

Lemme guess.  They had a VW Microbus.

11 hours ago, Dutch_12078 said:

We were given the option at pickup time to refuse any substitutions before the items were placed in our car.

We would usually receive an email saying something was being substituted but this one slid by us.  I'm glad we were given the option of curbside pickup.

57 minutes ago, Dutch_12078 said:

Yes, we found Walmart's no contact order pickup a great free service during the worst of the pandemic. Occasionally we weren't quite satisfied with their choice of a substitute item, but that just taught us to be more discriminating in which items we allowed substitutions versus not getting the item.

Walmart substitutes.   Couldn't give us 4 normal cans of green beens so they gave us one HUGE one.  Took that to the food pantry.

I like my local Ace.  Good selection and better staff.  The owner told me his sales increased when Walmart came to town.  Walmart purchases much of what they need to maintain their facility from him.

Motorhome manufacturers depend on a chassis built by someone else.  Just because the new motorhomes don't all have 14" touchscreens and 360* camera systems does mean the chip shortages didn't affect them.  Engines, transmissions and body control systems all have semiconductors and the technology improves each year.  My sister's Transit based Class B was severely delayed because of the limited number of chassis available. 

When we looked for a 1/2 ton truck the old, outdated Tundra was still being produced last summer and fall at nearly the same rate as pre pandemic.  One reason is it was the last of that generation and Toyota had a good stock of the required chips.  It's said that the Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami of 2011 severely hobbled Toyota due to their suppliers being damaged  and their  business model of not stocking material.  Rather they depended on a system where as soon as a part was produced it was shipped and installed at the factory within days or weeks.   Toyota changed that way of thinking to revert back to the stockpiling in warehouses.  Many other manufacturers didn't change.  That's one reason the 2021 Tundra was so outdated tech wise.  Which was perfectly fine with me.  The new Gen 3 Tundra is delayed nearly as much as Ford, GM and Ram.  

https://digital.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/submission/the-last-dance-of-just-in-time/

3 hours ago, Kirk W said:

KBB   published 5/23/22

AutoBlog doesn't list a publication date

Fox News  6/17/22

Fox is the most recent it would seem but none of them really indicate a major default problem yet. I am still trying to find anything recent about RV loans. 

I found this site interesting.   Somewhat of an indicator of the industry's employment needs in and around Elkhart. 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/401523059992395/

The trailer was built 01/21/21.  i could check the date code to be more specific.   Trailer has about 5,500 miles and not unusual wear patterns developing.  Currently sitting on limestone for 3 months at home.  I called my local garage and he does have the lug centric adapter but agrees balancing them without putting some miles on them is a waste of time and money.  Just as I thought.

Last winter we were parked for four months and when we left to come home I monitored the rear camera at different speeds in hopes of catching any excessive vibration and saw none.  This year we will be staying 7 months in one spot.  I guess the best way to do it is to stop at a tire shop on my way south and go get lunch while they are being balanced. 

I want to remove my wheels to check the brakes and bearings and figure I'll run the Goodyear Endurance tires side at a time down to the local garage to have them balanced.

Some say it isn't necessary but that's not the question here.  My concern is will I get and accurate balance since the tires haven't moved in 3 months and may have flat spots?

Nice job on both the steps and the video.

10 minutes ago, Kirk W said:

I looked at that story and it doesn't list any dates but it references an NBC article that was published on June 4. While it probably is the case, it is pretty difficult to pin down the data. The same is true for mortage defaults. If you go back a few months the same sort or predictions are there. I tend to suspect that both are true, but still have not found any hard evidence that it is happening. I would think that people would be more likely to default on an RV loan that either an auto loan or a mortgage, but am still looking for evidence to suport my suspicions. Pretty much all of our contacts inside of the lending industry have now retired as we have.  

I read where Tesla is calling it's employees back to the offices.  Closer to home my younger sister got called away from her home office to go back and she just retired.  Youngest sister is an engineer for a major router company and she's still able to work remotely but must make regular trips to Taiwan and India.  Both recently bought new Class Bs.  My purchase last year as well as my two sisters wasn't Covid related but more of it being the right time in our lives.

4 hours ago, Kirk W said:

I searched via Google and could find nothing to indicate that auto loan defaults are increasing but most of what I did find was at least several months old. Would you share your source?

There's a few on google.  I first heard about it on NPR IIRC.

https://www.automoblog.net/auto-loan-default-rates/

A perfect day for the RV industry turned into the perfect storm two years later.   Very low fuel prices, Remote working and learning with low interest rates and stimulus checks for a down payment made it possible and easy for many families to get out and travel.

Two years later all that changed.  High fuel prices, higher interest rates, getting called back to the office and classroom and inflation with a possible recession. 

I predict there will be more RV loan defaults just like there are with auto loans.  Since the value of the auto/RV has dropped considerably borrowers will walk away leaving the bank holding the assets.   Just like the housing markets in the mid 2000's

How this will affect RV park density levels is what I'm wondering.   The RV parks will need to raise rates to offset the rising overhead costs but will the consumer pay it or stay home.

Watch the wire wheels.  They tend to burnish the base metal with dirt and other nasties.   I get as much rust of as I can by scraping or grinding then coat it with a rust converter.  Once dried, hit it with the grinder again.  Clean with mineral spirts and dry.  My all time favorite primer is NAPA Martin Senour self etching primer.  Couple of coats of primer then once good and dry a light scuff with 320 paper.  Another damp rag with mineral spirits and Rustoleum gloss when the mineral spirits have gassed off.  Three coats should be enough. 

For small, tight areas such as inside corners use a dremel to remove as much rust as you can.

I'm getting anywhere from low 9s to mid 12s when towing.  Keeping it at 65+ in headwinds drains the tank.  Staying on the lesser traveled 55 MPH roads gives the best MPG.  I tow in tow/haul mode and put the transmission in S4 to lock out the two overdrive gears.  Keeping the transmission temps within a reasonable range is important since Toyota omitted the external cooler on the 19-21 model years.

I have a 21 Tundra 4x4 Crewmax and tow a 6,000# GVWR 23' trailer in safety and comfort.   I have to be very careful to prevent overloading the Tundra.  Even after removing 114# of rear seats.  Just my wife, myself and our Yellow Lab.  

On 7/8/2022 at 10:08 AM, TXiceman said:

And many RV parks prohibit outside appliances such as refrigerators.  Better check before you set it up. 

Where we spend the winter allows outside fridges.   I did wire in a 12 VDC power supply fan to help with air circulation over the coils.

Maybe Google Earth street view to see if the bridge is either arched or on an incline.  I have seen arched bridges with lowest point above the far right side past the solid white line at the extreme edge of the pavement.   The normal traveled lanes were somewhat above that measurement. 

Simple tricks I've learned.   Use a thick foam cooler to put your cold foods in while transporting from the grocery store to camp.  Plan your moves before you open the fridge to minimize time the door is open.  Like having a bottle of water ready to go back in to replace to cold one you are taking out.

Our first trip out we realized how handy a small dorm type 120VAC fridge would be to keep outside.   Next trip our lasted 4 months and we took our tiny dorm fridge.   This fall we go for 7 months and are taking a 4.3 cu ft mini fridge.

Makes one wonder if these appliances are tested to the same safety standards as those in our homes.

If you do the 3M adhesive trick, put a layer of saran warp on the area before your roll the awning back up.  To prevent a sticky situation. 

On 6/30/2022 at 10:36 AM, TXiceman said:

Clean the knobs with alcohol and then coat them with a clear acrylic spray finish.

Ken

This is what I did using a matte clear acrylic spray.  Has to hold up better than a light silkscreen job.

Surging is caused by a lean mixture which would happen until the engine warms sufficiently.   Glad to hear all is well.

4 hours ago, Pat & Pete said:

Maybe simply Google 'replacement Atwood ( or who yours is made by ) cooktop knobs' .

Unfortunately Google isn't what it used to be trying to sell me something that may or may not fit my needs.  That's why I posted the question here.  Usually when I run across a problem there's always many others facing the same issue.

My wife posted on a Vintage Cruiser FB group and few have used the cooktop enough to notice a problem. 

One of my thoughts is to clear coat them but will it stick and are these knobs designed to be heat resistant that close to the flame.  I now have some spares to experiment with.