mptjelgin

So more people visit Tall Grass Prairie than Rocky Mountain or Acadia National Parks?? I doubt it. But if it's on the Internet it must be true!!

Miller Insurance specializes in coverage for full-time RV'ers and can definitely help you out. In addition to full-timers coverage they write umbrella policies if you need additional liability coverage. Miller Insurance

On my slides the hydraulic ram is attached to one of the beams supporting the slide, with the other beam actuated through the geared shaft. So the end with the ram is always the end that moves. If either of the bolts is sheared on the connecting shaft the other end does not. So on my setup at least, the end that is not moving does not indicate which bolt is sheared.

When you do the work make sure that the slide is square in the opening. What I do is extend the slide just a couple of inches and measure both sides relative to the outside wall. Get it as even as you can. Once you figure out which bolt is sheared, you will likely need someone to bump the switch to move the working side in or out a tiny bit to get the shear bolt holes lined up. Once the bolt is in run the slide in and out a couple of times to be certain that it is tracking correctly. Depending on what slack you have in the system you could end up removing the bolt and adding (or subtracting) half a turn or more to get it running squarely. It's best to do the checking and adjusting before you button the bottom back up!!

The 2016 Ford Towing Guide shows an F-350 with the 6.2L gasoline engine and the 3.73 rear end as being rated to tow between 12,000 and 12,900 pounds, depending on the configuration of the truck. Simpler trucks (Standard cab, 2WD) are lighter so you'll be able to tow slightly more than a heavier crew cab, 4x4 (for instance).

Danandfreda hit the nail on the head. There is very likely a single hydraulic jack or electric motor, and a geared shaft with a shear bolt. There are often two shear bolts, one near each end of the geared shaft. You'll need to open the belly to figure out which one (or rarely both) has sheared. A very simple repair once you've gained access to the shaft. I've had to replace a couple on my Hitchhiker. Luckily Hitchhiker made it easy to drop the plastic belly pan to get to the bolts and then re-attach it. Some trailers will require cutting the bottom open and then trying to figure out how to close it back up.

When I replaced my big awning motor the spring was wound with the slide retracted. Looking at the AE Topper instructions it appears that all work is done with the slide room in the retracted position. In fact, in the instruction sheet the assumption is that the topper is off of the slide and wound on a bench, pinned, and then installed onto the slide room. So if the topper is not removed I would still wind the prescribed number of turns with the slide in. AE Topper Instructions

Nothing new there. AFAIK the Honda 3000 watt gens have always had that 30 amp receptacle.

Did you look at the 30 amp outlet on the 3000 watt Honda generator? I did...

A very simple and inexpensive adapter is all that you need. Not even a "dog bone". 30 amp Twist lock to RV Adapter

I believe that this is correct only for A/C current at high voltages. For our DC systems in the 12V - 48V range there is no so-called "skin effect". However, lots of small wires does make for good flexibility, so there is that...

Is this that new math where 100 - 30 = 80??

The max inflation pressure shown on the side of an LT or ST tire corresponds to the maximum load the tire is rated for. As the load decreases below the maximum load, the recommended tire pressure also decreases. So if you choose to run max. pressure (which is the safe default if you don't know the weight) but your weight is actually well below max, the center of the tire will wear more quickly. So the tire is over-inflated for that load.

Nada. Typical thread drift. Not a new thing on the internet...😀

We've seen those convoys of junkers headed south to Mexico for twenty years. I agree that it is highly unlikely that they had braking systems on the towed cars. Even the tow vehicles themselves often look like they barely run...

I agree with Smitty. Most coaches and RV's have slides for a reason. Livability. They make a big difference when you are in the RV for months/years at a time. That is what folks want, and that is what manufacturers are reacting to. I know that you stated it as your opinion, but the statement that "When you weight all of the pros and cons of slides, it's my opinion that the con's out weigh the pros by a long ways. (emphasis mine)" is a head-scratcher to me. A well-constructed RV with properly sized slide mechanisms is about as worry free as any other part of the RV. We're entering our tenth year of full timing, and we've had slide issues twice, both fixed by myself in less than an hour. One was a simple cleaning/lubrication issue and the other was a broken shear bolt. And this past year I replaced the bulb seal around the perimeter of the slide that has been on the "sunny side" for several summers as it was beginning to look brittle to me. That job took about 2 hours. Prior to going full time we had a different fifth wheel for about ten years and never had an issue with the slide on that one. The notion that slides are a significant or ongoing source of problems may have been accurate at one time, but I don't think it is accurate now, at least with quality RV's.

Federal Background Checks are computerized and "instant" and take about 30 seconds.

You would be right about this. I also don't have anything identifying myself as a member of the Good Sam Club, ("The Nation's Largest RV Club"), Passport America ("The Original 50% Discount Camping Club"), or other RV related "clubs" that I utilize for the various services that they provide. Each of these is also a primarily a for-profit business rather than a club.

I find the entire concept of Escapees "Club Spirit" to be a bit odd. In my mind Escapees is first and foremost a for-profit business. The fact that they use "club" in the name doesn't change that. They run an efficient mail service that we have used throughout our full-timing and offer other products (Rallies, Boot Camp, Road Service) that we don't utilize. As long as they take care of the business side of things and provide worthwhile services, they should continue to thrive. How many folks use the bulletin board or avoiding the use of "unflattering terms" like weekend warrior will likely have very little impact on the success or longevity of Escapees as a business.

I like the receptacle that DesertMiner posted better than the Amazon link that I posted. I just didn't find that one... The stainless steel one is the same as on our Hitchhiker.

If you are looking for a forward location to attach your current 50 amp, twist-lock cord I think you'll need something like this: 50 Amp Power Inlet Hitchiker offered both front and back connectors on their fifth-wheels as an option. To do this safely you'll need to incorporate a power-transfer relay so that the prongs on the unused connector are not hot when the other connector is being used. Similar to the switch used between a shore-power source and an on-board generator.

Each Nev-R-Lube bearing assembly runs about $150, and you'll need a pretty beefy hydraulic press to do the work. So not a cheap change-out. From the e-trailer website: What is the life expectancy of these never Lube bearings. asked by: Mark Helpful Expert Reply: Dexter Nev-R-Lube Bearings such as the 50MM # 31-71-3 do not have a specific maintenance or replacement schedule. These are pre-lubricated at the factory, which will make it resistant to contamination, and sealed for life so there is typically no bearing maintenance needed. In nearly all cases they last the life of the trailer. Now I can't vouch for the "expert" here or that your 18-year old bearings are still good to go, but you might want to follow the check procedure on the "Fact Sheet" I linked above and see what you think. FWIW I ran them for over ten years on my past fifth-wheel before I sold it with the original bearings still in it, and am at 8 years on my current trailer.

Nev-R-Lube bearings are not user serviceable. They are a sealed bearing system. You are supposed to check them annually for End Play. Nev-R-Lube Bearings Info

I think that the Silver Sneakers program exists primarily to give qualifying people access to a large network of gyms and health clubs. And apparently the program also endorses some particular exercise classes. I imagine it is up to the individual provider of the classes to restrict (or more likely not) access to those classes with regard to their "regular" members. Most clubs that we've been associated with offer a wide variety of "affiliated" classes like PTX, Zumba, etc. and I suppose that Silver Sneakers would fall into that category.

Silver Sneakers is associated with some Medicare supplements so the minimum age requirement is 65.