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ramblinboy

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Posts posted by ramblinboy

  1. Posted · Report reply

    We have had two traveling families disappear in Western Canada within the last year. Our kids suggested we get one while on the road. We purchased one for $149CAD with a $50 rebate. There are two versions one for sending out your current location via satellite to your list of people - Spot GPS Messenger. The other allows GPS, plus short text messages where no cellular service exists and is connected through Bluetooth to your smartphone - Spot Connect.

    The Spot GPS we bought allows 3 types of message to be sent out to your personal contact list. One is a GPS coordinate just letting your people know where you are, the second is more urgent perhaps a mechanical breakdown, and the third is an SOS to your people and to a private rescue service - not 911 - but to the GEOS International Emergency Response Center. Its cheap insurance we believe in case of emergency or to just let people know where on earth you are! There is a yearly activation fee of $100USD that, unless you stop payment ahead of time, bills automatically yearly! It works worldwide too with very few exceptions.

    Here's the link:

    http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=102

    FAQ for the GEOS group:

    http://www.geosalliance.com/faqs.html

    Safe travels! rB

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Great advice Brett! Thanks for clearing up the risk issue. Ill have a look at my fridge manual too - a little maintenance goes a long way especially when there's flame involved! rB

    "This has been the subject of discussion for decades.

    First, all will agree that when refueling, that all spark-producing or flame-producing appliances should be OFF. This includes turning off the appliances, not just turning off the gas supply to them. A spark ignitor from a propane appliance left on, propane turned off can also ignite a gasoline spill by you or someone else. This includes the refrigerator, water heater, furnaces, aqua-hots, etc.

    As far as operating the refrigerator on propane at other times when not around flammables, no clear answer.

    Is there a risk-- sure. Is there a risk in operating the main engine on gasoline-- sure. Most consider the risk minimal and acceptable.

    As you brought up, are you at greater risk of food poisoning if you turn off the refrigerator while driving-- yes. The relative risks have to be weighed by each of us.

    I will suggest that proper propane system and refrigerator maintenance is important to lower the risk factor. No just the risk while driving, but also in using appliances when stopped. This includes pressure testing the propane system at least annually and doing the "burner area tune-up" on the refrigerator annually as called for in your refrigerator owners manual. Are you at more risk in a system that has not been maintained-- yes.

    OK, enough facts. My personal opinion, the risk of operating PROPERLY MAINTAINED (which mine are) propane powered appliances in our coach while driving is an acceptable risk to me."

    Brett

  3. Posted · Report reply

    How many people drive with their propane tank shutoff? Excellent article on fire prevention for RV'ers in current FMC magazine.

    One warning - don't drive with the propane tank on.

    I checked and I don't have a three way fridge.

    So.... options? Make ice and use a cooler for perishables while traveling and only use propane when parked?

  11. Posted · Report reply

    We just got home from a Pacific NW tour. We ended up in Safeway gas stations a lot because of our saver card. I found that I had a lot of rattle from the Ford V10 engine with their regular gas.

    The last fill I had was COSTCO gas and the rattle is completely gone.

    Anyone notice this too?

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for the heads-up on the LNB issue. I should be good with the single LNB - omni-type antenna vs the dish. There's really nothing worth watching anyway but news is always good to stay current. We do appreciate the advice gentlemen - thank you muchly!

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Exactly what we needed to know. Thanks to all!

    We drink filtered water at home to eliminate the chlorine taste. We don't want to drink small portion bottled water on the road as mentioned.

    We see plenty o' folk who filter at the campground source before it gets into your MH tank. I have an under-sink filter for the kitchen tap.

  20. Posted · Report reply

    I believe the sunbelt'd be Arizona, Texas and Florida and I'd be parked under the shade of a big old oak tree with 50A service. I see your point - not many oaks in Arizona. Perhaps those in a Northern climate might make a similar arrangement for Sunbirds when they come up in summer to escape the heat.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Interesting article on adding 30 or 50A to outside service for parking a motorhome with visiting relatives in mind:

    http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/parking-motor-homes-in-my-driveway-75236.html

    Let's run this up the flagpole and see who salutes, shall we?

    Needed - one wide driveway (shaded) with a plug-in 30A in the sunbelt.

    Will pay a weekly/daily/monthly fee for the parking spot with a separate charge for the juice metered and fused.

    No house access requested or required.

    An application form would refine compatibility and deal with oil leaks prevention/noise etc.

    So rig plus toad, toad could park in the street.

    Anybody? Anybody?

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Excellent advice from a user! Thank you very much Chuck! Rb

    For the price they are a bargain. Particularly with the addition of the NOAA channels. Granted, you may not use them but again for the price the radios have all the amenities of more expensive units. Keep some things in mind for these units or any similar on the market:

    1. They won't do anything close to 23 miles unless you are on a mountain top talking to someone via line-of-sight in the valley. And then, more often than not it will not work. There are just too many factors in radio engineering to get it to work. They just don't have the power output and optimized antenna. They say that in their marketing because they performed a test with all the environmental and engineering factors optimized to the max, and got an audible signal. For practical use, figure a mile or two at best, most of the time.

    2. The "privacy code" element of these models is the same as most. But most people don't realize so-called privacy codes keep you from hearing someone else's transmissions on the same frequency. It does not keep your transmissions "private" from someone listening with a scanner radio.

    3. iVOX is only usable in an environment with little or no background noise, unless you have a high quality noise canceling microphone -- which none of this class of radio has.

    For the use they were designed for, and the available functions, they are about half the price I paid three years ago. And the reviews are favorable, one of the most important factors in buying anything today.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Let's run this up the flagpole and see who salutes, shall we?

    Needed - one wide driveway (shaded) with a plug-in 30A in the sunbelt.

    Will pay a weekly/daily/monthly fee for the parking spot with a separate charge for the juice metered and fused.

    No house access requested or required.

    An application form would refine compatibility and deal with oil leaks prevention/noise etc.

    So rig plus toad, toad could park in the street.

    Anybody? Anybody?

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Excellent advice thank you! We have made inquiries at all of the ones mentioned and thank you all for your input! As mentioned in other posts, http://rvparkreviews.com is very helpful as well.

    rB

    We just stayed at Pelican Lake. Beautiful motorcoach resort, and paid $90 per night. Does not have laundry, but it is the nicest place we have ever stayed at. We have also stayed at Paradise Point and Neopolitan Cove. Both are much cheaper, with concrete pads and are nice. Check out all three. Good luck! ...........Gary

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