nitehawk

OK, here goes. We had a Ford Explorer Sporttrack. 2004 four wheel drive, electronic selector for the transfer case. Same as a 4x4 Ranger drive train. In order to tow four on the ground there is a $10 (actual value) indicator light you have to buy and have installed by Ford. Ford wanted $180 for the light and wiring. Installation and "flashing" the computer to give you a neutral position in the transfer case will cost you another $200+. All necessary if you have a selector switch that only has 2H, 4H, and 4L on the bezel. Ford's rates undoubtedly have changed since I checked prices six years ago, before getting rid of the Sporttrack.

Maybe we should get the laws changed so the politicians have to run for election every year. Maybe that would keep the prices going down.

We bought a "slightly" used 1989 Foretravel Grand Villa with 63,000 miles on it. It sat in storage for nine years. Now has 78,000 miles on it. Major cost for fixing coach issues was $6 for a new circuit breaker. Well cared for, quality used is a whole bunch better!!

The Valterra valves do dry out while sitting. Leave them open after clean, flush, and rinse. Come spring close the valves, pour a little cooking oil in each tank and then, after sitting for 1/2 a day, work the valves open and closed in order to get some lube in the valves. Subsequent use of the system will keep the valves lubed.

We stayed three weeks at the PD RV park and did some work camping this last spring. Quiet, windy, no showers. They are working on bringing the CG up to speed as it became quite rundown when the previous owner had it. Water supply and electric have been checked and quite a few of the back sites still needed work. Up front, first row behind the right end of the building are the best bet for level and water and electric. Sewer connections are good on some and might still need work on others. Those sites are very level, but are grass and gravel/rock so you might need pads if you use leveling jacks. They have a Zipline open on weekends, otherwise nothing else available. Wi-Fi usually when the owner has it on--up 'til about 11:00PM. PDC park entrance is less than a 1/2 mile down the road. Owner and employees are very friendly and helpful.

Just finished installing the Allure brand vinyl flooring in our 26 year old Foretravel DP. Very easy to work with and it is the floating flooring. Looks great and was very easy to work with--if you have an adequate supply of razor blades. I did the hallway from the kitchen, past the bathroom, and all around the bed in the back. The most difficult part was in the bathroom, as our bathroom is off the hallway on the driver's side. Also did the entire living room area up front. Took 3.5 boxes of tiles (12 tiles of 12x24" per box) at a cost of around $48 +tax per box at Home Depot. Removal of old carpet, pad, staples and nail strips took about 14 hours of crawling around on my hands and knees. Installation of the tile behind the kitchen--took about 17 hours. Up front--about 6 hours as there were fewer corners and changes in elevation. Our carpet was a faded almost powder blue shag. Why anyone in their right mind would put that type of carpet in a coach is beyond me. DW likes the look so much that now she is making new curtains for the entire coach, to go with the new granite look flooring, and to get rid of the crappy looking original curtains and valances.

I initially used the regulator that came on our Weber Q100 and hooked up to our 50 gallon tank with a 25' hose and a quick disconnect on the tank end. The Q100 regulator went "bottoms up" in a very short time. I bought a new assembly at Ace Hardware--right off the shelf--for less than $30. While there looking for fittings I set the old regulator on the floor and yellow liquid ran out the fitting. Apparently it was from our tank, even though I have never had any problems with any other propane appliance--our old grill and Coleman stove. SO, if you encounter a problem with your stock regulator it might be the yellow additive that makes propane smell so appealing to garbage flies.

Blue Ox Aventa tow bar--used--$450 Readybrake brake bar--$430 --I installed Baseplate for 2006 Saturn Vue--$125--Had fabricated because I wanted 18" spacing on tow points--I installed. Towing lights--I made wiring harness from drop cord, added ground wire, two 1157 sockets and bulbs, drilled hole in each taillight assembly and then plugged in the sockets. The Balkamp 7 pin plug and cord, safety cables all came with the tow bar. Total, all pieces including nuts, bolts, washers, Loctite, and several cans of "calming" fluid came to about $975

Test your toilet paper by putting two sheets in a quart jar of water. Wait five minutes then shake for five seconds. If the paper is dissolved into small pieces you are using acceptable paper for a RV system. With an empty tank add 1/2 cup of Calgon water softener dissolved in a gallon of water. Then add 1/2 cup of Dawn dishwashing soap. Put this solution in your black water tank. Then fill the tank with water until you know the water level is on top of the upper level. Drive to your destination, do a dump, then add the solution again, but do not fill all the way with water. The solution, while traveling, will clean your tank and coat the interior of the tank so less "stuff" clings to the tank interior.

Herman, I use a hose from our coach propane tank. Something plugged the Weber regulator on our Q-100 with the yellow stuff soon after I started using the 25' hose. I had used the hose on our fire ring and Coleman stove several times with no problems. I purchased a new regulator at Ace Hardware and now no problems whatsoever. I have heard of others having problems with the stock regulator after converting to the higher pressure(?) coach tank. At least I think the tank is at higher pressure. Don't know for sure, but something caused the failure. I had set my stock regulator on the floor at Ace and the yellow fluid came pouring out. Shaking it caused a lot more to come out. By the way, our coach propane tank is a 50 gallon model and gets used for our four burner coach stove & oven, furnaces (2), outside Coleman stove, Weber grill, coach Onan Emerald III generator, and Fire pit. So we are replenishing the 44 gallons in the tank frequently. Was there too much of "that smelly additive" in our tank? Don't know, but everything worked fine except for the original Q-100 regulator.

Credit cards, credit cards, credit cards. Gives you a record of what you bought and (most cards) a warranty.

Have never heard of any RVer having to use a handgun. Keep a fire extinguisher handy. After discharging the fire retardant the tank makes a darn good club. Also, in the kitchen drawer you probably have some pretty sharp knives. The long fork one uses for grilling gives you an extended reach. If you feel you absolutely MUST have a gun then take a shotgun along with buckshot and deer slugs for loads. It can be registered at the border, is legal, and will scare the living **** out of whatever you point it at.

Last fall, on the way to Texas, we couldn't get over 40 MPH. Limped into a city RV park. Turns out our primary filter was almost totally plugged with algae. Changed both filters, added an Algae eater called Starbrite diesel treatment from NAPA. About $18 for 8 ounce bottle that treats around 200 gallons. It seemed to do the job. I added another bottle about 250 gallons later and haven't had any problems. Was it changing the filters or the additive? Don't know, but all I do know is we haven't had any problems since. Also, the tank fuel sender unit did not work before I added the additive. The additive must have cleaned the unit as now the dash gage is reading and moving when the fuel sloshes in the tank. I guess the POs parked our coach without filling the tank all the way and algae formed.

Mall of America is like about 150 shoe stores!! If you go into Canada make sure NO GUNS, pets' health records up to date along with the proper documentation. Not sure about taking fruits into Canada. Also passports?

Maybe I am wrong, but isn't he talking about the "spinner" rinse mounted on the side of the tank to help clean the tank? If so I don't think any cleaner will help if the spinner is worn out. I replaced ours three years ago and this spring took the "new" one out and it seems to be kind of worn out already. The parts are all plastic and wear quite rapidly until they quit spinning. Also, his rinser might be clogged with paper. Easiest solution might be to just take it out and replace it, as only three screws hold it in. If it is where the hose is connected, there might also be a anti-back drain valve that is blocking the water.

Easiest to use Peroxide. It sanitizes your system, then breaks down to water and leaves no taste or odor. Try running some vinegar thru your system to neutralize any bleach or other stuff in your lines. Sometimes your lines just need to be flushed for quite awhile to remove most of the taste. Suggest you drink bottled water until your system has had time to clean itself with frequent use.

Quick way to test drains when on the move: put the plugs in the drains, run about an inch of water in each sink and then ascertain if you still have the odor. If so then the odor is coming from some other source. Is it possible the smell is actually propane?

Yolanda, your English is very good. A whole lot better spelling than some of us can do. Stay with it. You have a very nice way of telling things, and I think everyone here will be following your posts closely.

If you don't have it, there is a "spinner" that can be purchased at Camping World (less than $30) It is easy to install, spins/runs off tap water's pressure and does a very good job. Just need enough time at the dump station to get the tank "clean". It does help to have a see thru/clear connection where the effluent exits the tanks. This will enable you to see when you have done a thorough job. Also, the TP used can be detrimental to clean tanks. Test your TP by putting two sheets in a jar of water and then shake. Let set. If the TP dissolves in a few minutes you are good to go.

A "little" bit closer might be Nacogdoches, Texas, as MOT (Motorhomes of Texas) and Foretravel are located there and they both do superb work on all brands of coaches.

You might want to check if your power supply for the antenna is on and working. Connection to the antenna is good---not corroded or loose. Inexpensive alternative is the Jack antenna. Available at most RV dealers for around $50 and it is a straight forward bolt-on change. Remove two circlips, pull the two pins, unscrew the co-ax, remove Winguard antenna, replace with Jack antenna, replace two pins and circlips and attach co-ax. Back down and inside and enjoy the improved reception..

Our HWH leveling jacks are the swing down type. When swung down I then can locate my plywood pads directly under the jack pads. I made my pads from one 1/4 sheet of 3/4" thick plywood. This makes 8 approximately 12"x12" squares. I glued and then deck screwed them together in pairs--four pads total as we have four leveling jacks. I drilled a 1/2" hole near each corner-thru- so I could place and retrieve the pads using my awning rod. Works great. Been using them for four years now.

If you ever get to Berlin, Wisconsin, go to Eskimo Outerwear on the main street. They carry sheepskins dyed in almost every color you can imagine, and in an assortment of sizes. All at reasonable prices. We have two gray sheepskins in our Vue that we have had for around 15 years and they still are in great condition. Love the comfort.

Are you using the coach now? Nesting season is relatively short. If not in use why not "tarp" the AC units until nesting season is over?

Propane "sniffer" turned off will prevent any propane from being dispersed in some coaches. It could be bad or off or just plain shot. Wire to solenoid off? Gen won't work if it taps off main fuel tank that is down to about 1/4 tank. This is a safety feature so one doesn't get stranded from being out of fuel.