bizsmith@yahoo.com

Seawind. Near Riviera, TX. County Park but nicer than many privates and run like a resort.

I vote for the CRV. Just my preference. There is enough info in the FMCA towing guides to make your own choice.

There are air dryers available for the separate compressor. Adds very little to the space occupied.

I find that a compact contractor air compressor is easier to use than dragging the hose around. And it doesn't take up any more space. Just my preference.

Ask permission. Park in an isolated area. Just summing up what's already been said.

We use FMCA. We have had excellent service for many years.

It varies. Even within one manufacturer. One TST system has owner replaceable batteries another does not.

When WhiteEagle mentions Fredericksburg as being in wine country, my impression was that there is a winery every three miles. The War Museum is a don't miss. There is a seed company near that has every kind of garden seed that you could imagine. Lady Bird Johnson Park is very nice but you must have reservations well in advance.

wolfe10 had excellent aternatives. I can second his suggestions. If you would happen to be in Alpine the last weekend in February, don't miss the Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Also there is an excellent Big Bend Museum at the university in Alpine. Davis Mountain State Park is a stone throw from Alpine with full hookups. Don't miss McDonald Observatory with its Star Parties. Fort Davis is an almost intact historical Army Post. I would caution about strong cross winds in West Texas with a 39 footer. It can be a battle and it tipped over an 18 wheeler at the same time we were there in our 39 footer.

Elkhartjim is right about the wind. It tipped an 18 wheeler over at the same time we were there.

Personally, I would avoid any system that depends on inertia and pushes on the brake pedal and toad seat. I have the advantage of having a coach with air brakes and my toad system has an air line connected to the coach air brakes so that the toad brakes are applied only when I press the brake pedal. There are at least a couple of of good systems and you can find many comments if you research past forums on this subject.

I used slidemaster. Custom sized to your specifications. A bit pricey but I've never regretted spending the extra money. They pull out full length so you can always get to anything on the tray even at the far back. My wife has a bit of trouble with the latch but I can't seem to educate her how to do it. For me it is a snap.

We have used RoadMaster 11 years. No matter which you choose it is advisable to replace the linking bars after about 5 years.

This topic has been addressed a number of times in the past. There are a lot of compressors that will fill your requirements. At the top right of the FMCA Forum page (this page) do a search for COMPRESSOR and I promise you will find more suggestions than you will ever want to know.

A trucker told me there is one downside to smaller stations. Their turnover on diesel is usually lower and their storage tanks can be prone to condensation. They will be slower to make the changeover to the right grade of diesel for the current season. Likely not a problem but something to consider. Sometimes getting in to a small station with a 40 footer and towing can be a problem. I will usually choose the larger stations and use the 18 wheeler pumps.

Replaced the whole light in all cases, not just a bulb. Had to shop around a while to find a small one to replace the mirror lights. It was a couple of years ago so I don't remember where I got them.

The truck drivers that help you change lanes and acknowledge your signals are probably old timers, a vanishing breed. Truck drivers now are just as likely to be young punks that try to drive the 18 wheelers like their sports car. They are no better (or maybe worse) than your average driver. My '99 Monaco Exec has forward and mirror mounted signals and I changed all to LEDs as soon as they were available, much brighter. I also changed the center mounted stop light. They were fairly expensive but worth it to me.

I have to agree with Hermanmullins. Asking who builds them best is like asking who makes the best hamburger, McDonalds, BurgerKing, Wendy's, etc. Ask 10 people and you will get 10 different opinions. You can read all the opinions and you may arrive at a conclusion but when it is all said and done, it becomes your decision. We have a '99 Monaco Executive and it has met our requirements but there are others that I think I would like better. It was a matter of finding a used coach for sale by an owner who was motivated to sell and I was able to negotiate a price that suited me at the time. Again do your research and make a decision.

Have used Roadmaster Guardian 11 years. No rock damage to my CRV.

My suggestion would be to replace the brackets and maybe the rod with stronger brackets. Stronger brackets should be available at any big box store. Beefing up the support with 1x3s as previously suggested might be advisable even with stronger brackets. It is not rocket science.

You may get by with towing the Pilot and probably would. Honda just will not honor a warranty if something goes wrong. It's your gamble.

We have stayed at Collier Seminole State Park near Naples, FL during their Blue Grass Festival. There would be jam sessions thruout the park all the time with all kinds of instruments. I don't play myself but it was great fun walking around the park and listening in.

There are several good systems. I have used TST for over 10 years. I would not move the motor home without the system that monitors coach and toad tire pressures and displays them on the MH dash.

I find the on board air supply to not have sufficient pressure and that the hose connection is not as easy to use as the small contractor air compressor I carry. Just my preference.

I'm not sure there is a "BEST" smart phone. You have to shop around and play with a bunch of them. We have two iPhones and we both like them very much. Asking which is best is like asking, "What is your favorite food?" Ask 20 people and you might get 20 different answers.