mptjelgin

I think that the Silver Sneakers program gives you access to a large group of gyms and health clubs. What equipment you use is up to you. From their site: Membership includes access to every participating gym and fitness center in the network. That’s a membership at more than 16,000 locations. We also offer fitness classes for all abilities led by our SilverSneakers trained instructors at gyms and other locations.

We are full-timers but tend to stay in more rural areas, so big national chains like Planet Fitness or Anytime Fitness don't work for us. We have been able to find gyms in pretty much every town we've been near, but they are usually small, locally owned gyms. We have joined a few YMCA's across the country, either as monthly members, or sometimes multi-month if we are volunteering for a longer term.

Emission testing is no big deal if your vehicle is operating correctly. On gasoline engines with OBDII engine controls (1996 and newer), they simply scan the computer for codes or indications of non-functioning systems. if you don't have an illuminated check engine light you will very likely pass. That's it. Diesel powered vehicles are currently exempted from emission testing. So other than a slightly higher inspection charge ($18.50 vs. $7.00) there is no reason to go out of your way to avoid an emission test if your vehicle is operating correctly.

There are three common routes to watching TV. First is to rely strictly on over-the-air broadcasts as described by Noteven. This is pretty hit and miss, as many remote areas have little or no OTA broadcasts, and you are limited to live broadcasts. Satellite TV has been the mainstay of full-time RV'ers for quite some time, and is still a viable way to go. Either DISH or DIRECTV can provide you the service. Contacting a company like TV4RV might be the simplest way to understand the options and equipment necessary. As cellular broadband becomes more widespread and reliable many folks have switched from satellite to streaming as their primary way to watch TV. You mention netflix and obviously this is a streaming service. Beware that without a specific broadband internet package that allows large amounts of data each month this can get very expensive, depending on how much you intend to watch and at what quality. If you are planning to stay in campgrounds you may well find cable TV and/or wireless internet available there, but it can be hit and miss as you travel across the country. The option that you choose will probably come down to how much television you plan to watch and how certain you want to be regarding what you see. With satellite there is also the need to be able to set up and aim the equipment, unless you opt for one of the automatic dish setups which can be quite expensive.

I notice in the manual for the Progressive Dynamics converter I had on my previous trailer the external fuses were listed as "Reverse Battery Fuses" and apparently blow if polarity is reversed. Perhaps they are not intended to fuse the normal output of the converter?

Second this. Bought new hoses when we started full-timing about ten years ago and they are still in like-new condition. Truly lifetime hoses with excellent machined fittings.

In normal usage there is plenty of water being added with the solids. The "poop mountain" occurs when the black water valve is left open, draining the liquids but leaving the solids behind over a period of time. It doesn't form in a day or even a week. Relax about all of this. You really can't go wrong by doing the important thing of keeping the valve closed and not dumping until you're 1/2 to 2/3 full.

There is nothing magic about adding a specific amount of water to the tank after dumping. A little water the keep the valve wet is really all you need. I'd say that a bowl full is plenty. We are fulltimers, and to add to your confusion we add no water at all. Water will be added soon enough!! There is really no danger of the inside of the tank drying out completely in the few hours before the next "addition". I use my flush system to get the tank up to 3/4 full if it isn't already there, and then dump. I'll often close the valve and run the flush until the tank is 3/4 full again, and then dump again. There is no right or wrong answer to any of this. And not being able to use the flush until the final dump is no issue at all. We didn't have a flush system on our first two trailers and we survived just fine. The black water system on a RV is pretty forgiving, as long as you don't live in it with the valve open and dump with at least a 1/2 full tank. Everything beyond that is just personal preference and frankly not all that important...

He wasn't crossing into the US from Mexico. He was traveling from south Texas northbound and there are a couple of CBP checkpoints along major highways (about 60 miles north of the border). So while he wasn't required to present those specific documents, the purpose of those checkpoints is to intercept illegals and contraband, and his circumstances caused him to be detained.

Not according to the article that you cited: Agents then took the brothers and another passenger into custody. They held them at the checkpoint for a day and then moved them to a CBP holding facility... Two days after they were taken into custody, Marlon, who was born in Mexico, decided to voluntarily deport so that he could tell their mother, Sanjuana Galicia, about Francisco’s situation...

Also worth noting: - He was traveling in a vehicle with two other young men who "lacked legal status". - A Visitor's Visa (obtained by his mother when he was younger) tied to his fingerprints showed him as being born in Mexico. - His mother had used a fake name on his birth certificate. Now I'm not saying that his detention shouldn't be reviewed and questioned, but this is hardly an open-and-shut case of a young man with crystal clear status being detained for no reason...

That is an interesting pricing strategy. I imagine that every site got the $20 per month charge, so why not include it in the monthly fee? I suppose that $995 for 4 months sounds better than $1075...

I understand electric not being included, as that is the norm with discounted monthly rates at RV parks, but I've never seen sewer and trash excluded. I wonder if that is a simple add-on monthly fee or if it is somehow charged based on usage?

Most (if not all) of the truck brands publish a "towing guide" for each model year. If you google "2016 Ford Towing Guide" (for instance) you should be able to find that document. From there you still have work to do, as you'll need to locate your specific truck based on such things as Model (F-150, 250, 350), Cab Configuration (Standard, Extended, Crew Cab), Bed Length (6.5' or 8'), Engine type and size, 2 or 4 wheel drive, etc. You'll probably also need to know the rear end ratio of the truck in order to really drill down and find the capacities. You can determine this from the VIN number. If you'd like to give us the specifics on your truck perhaps we can jump start the process.

It looks like her son has posted on her blog. Travels with Emma - RIP Judy

I like the voice command on ours as well, except for the occasional times that something on the radio or in our conversation randomly triggers the "Say A Command" prompt. It always catches us off guard! One more vote for Garmin. We've had our 760RV for five years now and it has been a solid unit.

Absolutely. Like all human interactions you run the risk of someone being completely unreasonable or aggressive. But I've found that most people, when their disruptive behavior is brought to their attention, will make an effort to be a bit more courteous.

I think that "How noisy?" is a fair question. Even though quiet hours are stated, there is a reasonable expectation that folks try to keep noise to a decent level. I've been places where open-framed contractor generators were so loud that being even 100' away was painful. We were camped in a relatively unregulated park where a young man decided to roll all of his car windows down and play his stereo at full volume. I was camped next to him and didn't hesitate to walk over and ask him (firmly) to turn it off. Common sense matters...

You need to look up the "Pure 3" system that they mentioned with regard to the Winnebago. It has a huge 48 volt lithium battery pack and is specifically designed to be able to run the A/C off of the batteries. It also features a 6 kW alternator and an auto-start feature on the engine to recharge that battery when needed. Things change...

We just returned from a one-week trip to the Maritime Provinces and used our credit cards every time to pump gas. No issues at all.

I towed large fifth wheels with two different Ford V-10 superduty trucks over 20 years. Last year I made the jump to a 6.7L diesel Superduty and will say that they drive totally differently. The V-10 needs rpm to make its power, so a lot of shifting in hilly terrain is par for the course. It will definitely get the job done, but in a completely different manner than a diesel engine. My advice is to not be afraid to let it shift and rev in order to maintain speed on grades. Trying to re-program shift points in order to minimize shifting isn't really what that motor is about.

I volunteered at a fish hatchery where they had a few barrels of highly concentrated H2O2 for disinfecting purposes. It had to be kept in a separate secured building with some sort of Department of Homeland Security paperwork involved (according to the hatchery manager). Found this: Hydrogen Peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide in concentrations of 35% or greater is listed as a chemical of interest under Appendix A of CFATS. DHS listed hydrogen peroxide (35% or greater) not because the agency believes it poses an inherent risk to human health and safety by itself, but due to its potential for theft by someone who wishes to use it in preparation of an “improvised explosive device precursor” (IEDP).

IH-70 west out of Denver to SH 91 south into Leadville is the most direct route and the roads are very good. As you can imagine there will be a lot of climbing as you are going to gain about 5000 feet of elevation. We spent a summer in Leadville and took that drive several times. The 285/24 route suggested above will get you there but is longer, and in my opinion the roads aren't as good. The National Fish Hatchery in Leadville is a wonderful place with many miles of trails. Completely dog friendly. Can't help you on campground advice as we were volunteering at the Hatchery and had a site there. There are a lot of USFS campgrounds in the area, but relatively few commercial campgrounds with hook-ups if that is what you are looking for.

That is an outstanding outcome to a "sticky: situation. Glad it worked out.

I think that this is key. If you see someone that you think needs help, offer it. If they accept then you are in business. Martin gives a great example of such an interaction a couple of posts up. But if they choose to wave you off, accept it and move on. For whatever reason they don't want your help, and that should be the end of that interaction. If you decide to take it personally or decide to never speak to that person again, that's on you.