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phespe

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Posts posted by phespe

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Officially (per BMW) the MINI is not RV towable. Having said that, I would say that any MINI is "4 down towable", assuming you are towing a "Stick Shift".

    I have Towed a 2005 MINI Cooper /S and a 2010 MINI Cooper Clubman /S -- Both 6 speed manual transmission -- for thousands of miles -- tens of thousands of miles --- without any trouble. BMW even provides a TOWING Adapter with each vehicle that is referenced in the Owner’s Manual and described as being used for "Recovery Towing". I guess that means it is OK to tow a MINI if it is broken down. It seems if you can tow a disabled MINI one should be able to tow a working one.

    As to Warranty being voided - never happens, what happens is if a Transmission is damaged (or other failure that can be shown to be caused by towing), the warranty for the transmission will not provide for the correction of that fault but there is no general VOIDing of the WARRANTY, every thing else remains under the Warranty. And yes that means that if the transmission fails because of towing you’re on the hook to fix it. But, in my long experience, and the experience of many others, I believe that the chance of that happening is slight to non-existence.

    As to not having t many places to fix a MINI – I have yet to have any work done on my MINI. other than annual LOF (Lube, Oil and Filter). Oh, I did have the towing brackets installed and the windows tinted – but that kind of work is not done at the dealer.

    phespe

  2. Posted · Report reply

    My name is Nick. I work on the new 6T30/40/45/50 fwd 6 speeds at General Motors within transmission development. In particular, I'm in charge of validation for dinghy towing.

    I'm after some feedback, regardless of vehicle make, about the vehicle you currently dinghy tow (or have towed in the past).

    1. How many miles do you typically dinghy tow your vehicle yearly? ~10,000 miles

    2. What is the total tow mileage you have on your vehicle now? ~15,000miles

    3. What is the total tow mileage you expect to put on the vehicle before you upgrade to a new vehicle? Trade every 5 years without regard to milage

    4. When towing, what is the average amount of time between stops? (be it restroom or fuel) 2 to 4 hours

    5. How often do you stop for a period of 10 min or more? (be it restroom, stretch, eat, fuel) 2 to 4 hours

    6. What is your preferred cruising speed? 62 mph

    7. Do you use a rock shield? no

    8. Where does the rock shield mount? (bumper,towbar,dinghy, or... so what type) NA

    Your feedback would be greatly appreciated, which will help me better tune our internal testing requirements to better meet and exceed actual customer usage.

    PHE

    Mini Cooper Clubman TOAD

    Itasca Medirian V Class 34' - 2010

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Don't know about your state but in NC

    "Sensors in the roadway are connected to the red light camera and the traffic light controller. The camera is activated only when a vehicle enters the intersection after the light turns red.

    http://www.hsrc.unc.edu/safety_info/traffic_operations/red_light_cameras.cfm

    So in NC it makes no difference how long the Yellow" is.

    phespe

    [/left]

  5. Posted · Report reply

    UHhhhhh

    "I am one who has always heard, and believed that cars are gounded due to their rubber tires."

    I think you got it backwards -- Rubber (and Rubber Tires) are far better insulators than conductors, i.e. as on Autos, the tires insulate the vehicle rather than ground it. Or as you said "I am reasonably assured that the tires are not grounding the MH." but because they are made of insulating materials - not because they are not in contact with the ground.

    The leveling Jacks do ground your Motor Home

    phespe

    .

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Sorry PHE, you are the one that is wrong.

    If you read the law, you must also read the state law. Most states will only let you pass though their State to go to an event like a shooting contest and not just any. Must be put on by a group like the N.R.A.. Most of us are not going to a shooting contest. Also if you read here, http://www.nraila.or...Read.aspx?id=59 you will see that it states: "Travelers should be aware that some state and local governments treat this federal provision as an “affirmative defense” that may only be raised after an arrest"

    That means, you could be arrested and have to go though the system possibly up to a trial to use the federal law as an affirmative defense. That Defense in many states could only be if you were going to the contest to compete, not just pass though the state. Example: If you are going though N.J. to a friends house in another state with a handgun in a lock box, you will be going time in jail.

    Don't just look at one federal law and think you are OK. You need to read the State law and most of all, the case law!

    Jon796 said

    "For the most part, you can possess a shotgun and/or rifle. You can't have a handgun unless you are in the state where you would be licensed. Only licensed law enforcement or retired law enforcement with a federal license can carry a handgun across state lines."

    Nothing you said supports this statement - in fact your warnings - quoted from the NRA - show just the opposite of what this statement says.

    So I repeat that the statement is completely wrong.

    PHE

  7. Posted · Report reply

    The lists cited are a good source but beware thare may be errors in them; for example the Towing World list says that North carolina has no requiremants on towing autos - is completely untrue as NC Law is; (as quoted in the Brake Buddy list):

    North Carolina

    Every semitrailer, trailer, or separate vehicle attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle of at least 4,000 lbs, and every house trailer weighing at least 1,000 lbs, shall be equipped with brake controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle.

    BTW I have sent a email to Towing World several time but they have not corrected their chart

    Michican and Texas are also listed as "no requirements" and I belive that it is not correct.

    phespe

  8. Posted · Report reply

    If there is better handling because of the length over 33' I sure can't see it/feel it or experience it.

    I owned a Alpine 32, a Journey 39f (40') and currently own an Itasca Medirian V Class 34'

    The Medrian handles as well as the 40 Journey, The Alpine 32 foot handled better than any other MH I ever owned - and that's 9 of them since 1972

    There many factors that play into it other than addition to length. The OP asked about length - I think an appropriate reply would have mentioned that length alone is not a good measure.

    PHSPE

  10. Posted · Report reply

    I'm a bit confused - but that's nothing new --

    You say

    the lockup incident happened a couple of hours ago right before a railroad track and she barely made it across the track.

    Later on you say

    I am wondering if this brake work could have somehow bothered the brake buddy or Blue Ox system and caused the malfunction.

    I'm wondering if your daughter drives the vehicle with the Brake Buddy installed? Would not that be a bit awkward?

    phespe

  11. Posted · Report reply

    This is likely a well known problem - and since it surfaced after you changed shower head/parts, the likely cause is the anti-siphon valve valve for the hand-held shower head and is leaking from the shower fixture - dripping on to the floor under the shower pan.

    WOLFE10 suggested this and is most likely correct. Ask me how I know!

    phespe

  15. Posted · Report reply

    "Many States require braking for any trailer over 1,500# and I think all require braking if the trailer if over 3,000#."

    And the California Highway Patrol considers a towed vehicle to be a trailer. It is logical that most other State's patrol services hold the same conclusion about "towing a trailer".

    Well not all states NC requires towed vehicle brakes at "2 Tons" ie 4000lbs

    PHE

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Not sure if it is applicable for RVs, but check with your dealer and your finance company to see if they offer gap insurance. I have purchased it for the last two cars I bought. If your car is totaled, the gap insurance pays the difference between the insurance settlement and your loan balance. It may not be available for RVs or it may only be available if taken out at the time the loan is made (when the vehicle was purchased or refinanced). I am way upside down on my minivan loan, but if it is totaled, the loan would be paid off between the insurance check and the gap insurance. The car is financed through Toyota and I believe the gap insurance was from the same source, but not sure. The dealer arranged everything.

    Worth checking into. :)

    Jack

    GAP Insurance: Safe-Guard

    They have a brochure that I got my dealer's that shows "SAFE_GAP Total Loss Protection". When I looked at their We Site I didn't see that product

    They also list a # 800 742-7896 so maybe a call to them will provide info

    PHE

  17. Posted · Report reply

    There is an error in the copy that you posted. The Winegard Trav'ler can receive 110, 119 and 129 simultaneously but it cannot do the hybrid 61.5. It could be pointed to 61.5 only but it cannot receive 110, 119 and 61.5 as the term hybrid would indicate.

    The Winegard Trav'ler is an excellent antenna and the 110, 119, 129 satellite combination will give you excellent service everywhere in the US except the extreme NE and SE where the 129 satellite is not available.

    --------------------

    Bill Adams

    Yes that's true but maybe that is what the OR meant "* DISH Satellites: 110°, 119°, 129° OR Hybrid 61.5°

    PHE

  18. Posted · Report reply

    As I visit campgrounds, I see more and more multi LNB portable antennas similar to the Dish Slimline. I am still successfully using the older style oval sat dish, but was wondering if there is a benefit to going with the newer parabolic type dish with three seperate LNBs.

    I do know that the new dishes provide HD signals, but that doesn't matter to me. When I need to use the portable dish in place of the King-Dome

    I've perfected my hunt for the signal time to just a few minutes using a high end signal generator. If the newer dishes make it easier than that, I'm all for it, but if not I'll stick with the present system.

    I have Dish Network. Please give me some opinions pro or con on this issue. Thanks.

    Take a look at this one

    Satellite RV Winegard Travler Dish

    * Multiple satellite viewing.

    * Approved and certified reflectors.

    * DISH Satellites: 110°, 119°, 129° or Hybrid 61.5°

    * Bell TV Satellites: 82°, 91°

    Here http://winegard.com/travler/index.php

    PHE

  19. Posted · Report reply

    For the most part, you can possess a shotgun and/or rifle. You can't have a handgun unless you are in the state where you would be licensed. Only licensed law enforcement or retired law enforcement with a federal license can carry a handgun across state lines. Also, some campgrounds do not allow guns.

    As a retired law enforcement officer, who has the right to carry a hand gun, I must tell you, leave it home. I never needed it and do not carry when camping. Too many things could go wrong. Like a kid getting hold of one's guns.

    Jon

    This is so wrong , completely wrong, incorrect , and just plane wrong.

    Please, as some other poster suggested, check The Firearm Owners' Protection Act (FOPA), Public Law No. 99-308, 100 Stat. 449 (May 19, 1986), codified at 18 U.S.C. § 921

    PHE

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