Jackhal49
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Posts posted by Jackhal49
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What helps us is we do volunteer work at state parks so we stay at one place 2 months or more and get a free FHU site with utilities. What we save in campground fees and utilities we later spend on fuel.It is a great way to travel the country and have something interesting and helpful to do as well. I don't intend to change my traveling unless diesel fuel goes to $10 a gallon.
Good Luck, All, and Enjoy!
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My wife learned to drive our 34' Winnebago Journey last spring when I fell off a ladder and broke my right foot. We hired a truck driving instructor and he gave her a four hour lesson and by the time she was through she could drive the MH like a pro. Now when we travel she does half the driving which makes it so easy on the both of us. Check this website out as it has some excellent driving trips http://betterrving.com/Article/RV_Tips/RV_Rear_View_Monitor_High_Quality .
Learning to use your mirrors is so important as the one of the videos on that website tells you. As far as all the systems on the MH read and re-read your owners manuals they will help you out a lot. You could also go to a MH dealer and have them show you how the appliances and other systems work. If you have more questions ask them at this forum and also check out www.rv.com this site also has lots of good information and people who will help you out. Good Luck and hope you husband gets well soon.
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We are volunteer camp host at state parks and unfortunately we find more often than not people do not pickup after their dogs. We have two golden retrievers and we always pickup after our dogs in fact we buy Mutt Mitts, special poop bags, to pick up after our dogs. I don't understand the mind set that they do not have to pickup after their pets, they let them poop right side the road with no thought what so ever. I can understand why so many campground owners do not allow pets. We confront them when we see them let their dog poop and walk away, but unless we follow every dog owner every minute it is pretty hard to catch them in the act. Yes children can be noisy, but kids are and that is part of family camping, however, letting your dog unattended to bark all day or night is not. So if you want to protect your rights to bring your dogs camping be responsible pet owners and pickup after them and make sure they aren't a problem to others. We really love our volunteer lifestyle and meeting all the people and their pets, but there are a few times. Happy RVing All!
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Campgrounds have insurance and insurance companies have reports on incidents of dog attacks, certain dog breeds have high incidents of attacking humans. Yes, some of those restricted breeds are gentle dogs, however, the statics on dog attacks affect the insurance rates, etc. The higher the liability the higher the campgrounds insurance rates are so you can't blame a campground owner from wanting to pay lower rates and protect themselves from law suites. I have two golden retrievers and we have no problems getting into campgrounds. Golden's are known for their friendly temper and statics on dog attacks prove that. Yes, it is unfortunate certain breeds have bad reps and it is not so much the dogs fault as it is the owners and these people buy certain breeds because they are known to be aggressive. Discrimination yes, but with good reason.
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I would suggest the Texas State Campgrounds. Texas does an awesome job keeping their state parks and campgrounds really nice. My wife and I have been camp hosts at Goliad State Park and it is a really nice park. If you Google Texas State Parks you will find their page and it links to all the state parks. I know of two parks right on the coast one is Goose Island State Park and the other is Mustang Island State Park. The rates are really reasonable and some have really nice pull-thru sites that are full-hookup sites. Most are big rig friendly as well. If you are into fishing it is free at the state parks and you do not need a Texas fishing license. Port Lavaca has camping right on the beach which is dry camping there but I am not sure what the fee is for camping there. Hope you get this reply in time to help you out in your travels.
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The Red Cross has some excellent first aid kits at very reasonable prices. If you are in an area with poisonous snakes I would recommend a snake bit extraction kit. Good Luck and Stay Safe!
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These people are blaming Walmart for their own stupidity. One to open the door to someone they observed acting strangely. Two taking out a shotgun and letting the strange person get hold of it. If you are going to pull a gun on someone you had better be prepared to use it. None of this is Walmarts fault. This could have happened anyplace, at a rest area, a campground, etc. You can not blame someone or some business for your own lack of good judgment. People like this sue others to cover their own lack of handling a situation properly. My goodness! It can't possibly be their fault, could it? The minute they took out the gun they changed the whole situation. A gun should only be used as a last resort and when you do you had best be prepared to use it. Pulling out a gun is a last resort move. I am not against someone carry a firearm for protection, but one must know how and when to use it. I support Walmart all the way on this one. I do feel sorry for what the people went through, however, a lot of it was their own making. I hope they do not ruin Walmart's kindness of letting motorhomers and other travelers from using their parking lots for over night stops.
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Hi All, I'm with you all I can't wait to leave the stress of teaching behind me especially in these times. To get up in the morning with just thoughts of that day and the wonderful adventures awaiting. Looking forward to see just what is over that hill or around the corner and to meeting new people who share the same life style. One of the most enjoyable things to MHing is meeting all the nice people at rallies and campgrounds. Also look forward to doing new and interesting things volunteering and helping out. Have a great day all and a great year ahead!
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Hi TButler and all. Well we made it through the winter here in Maine and it was a mild one for once. We decided to rent of house to our son and his family at least for a year or more. We will wait for the housing market to recover a bit here before we sell. This August we will head out on our great adventure going to Winnebago Industries to have a few issues looked at on the Journey then head to Sioux Falls, SD to establish our residency and get our drivers licenses. Then it down to southwestern Colorado to see our daughter and family. Oct & Nov we will be in Goliad, Texas where we will be workamping at the state park. Dec thru Apr we will be at Buescher State Park workamping. We are really excited and can't wait to get started! We are still going through our stuff and the closer the time comes to retirement the easier it is to get rid of stuff. It is amazing how much stuff one can accumulate and most of it is just stuff that you just for some unknown reason hang on too. I really feel it is liberating to get rid of most of it and only keep the things you will really need and use. Some hobby stuff like fishing gear, tools, my wife's hobby things, etc. So we are lighting our load and plan to travel as light a possible. Hope to see you all on the road! Jack, Peg, and Annie our golden girl.
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I have a 05 Journey with a 350 Cat. To start mine you turn the key to accessory a light on the dash will light saying "wait to start engine" when that goes out you can turn the key to start the engine. Mine also says not to idle the engine in low idle for more than 10 minutes, however, you can set the cruise control to 1000 rpms to idle longer. I have not had any problems with putting the trans in D and driving off, however, I have never driven it in very cold weather either. May want to check your Allison transmission manual, I do not remember seeing anything about cold weather operation. This is my first diesel as well and have had the Journey just over a year. I think you will love it! Quiet driving, the engine brake is awesome going down steep grades, and the ride is awesome. Congrats on your new DP! Good Luck and Happy RVing!!!
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Egads! Jarheads, Bubbleheads, Black Shoes and Doggies! Whats a Brown Shoe to do!!! Happy Holidays All! Thank You All for Your Service to this great Country of ours! Chief Halpin!
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You can count me in too. I also won't able to join any meets until summers. We are retiring and going full-timing next summer, but we are looking to volunteer/workamp some place in the southwest next winter. We don't know where yet but we are working on it. My name is Jack and my wife is Peggy. I am retired Navy 21 years service. FMCA #403927. Let us know what happens at the meet. Thanks, Jack
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Thanks, GreenBeaver. Yes, I meant to say volunteering at AZ State Parks. I will contact him. Thanks Again. Jack
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Has anyone workamped at an Arizona state park? What were your experiences like -- good, bad or whatever? We are interested in workamping there next winter when we go full-timing. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Jack and Peg
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Hi TBUTLER, We are not sure right now if we are going to sell the home right away or rent it out to our son and his better half. Wish I knew you were here in Maine as you could of stopped by as we have plenty of room for you and your MH. We live near Bath, Maine. I hope you had a nice visit here, it is really pretty in the summer and fall when the blackflies aren't around nor the mosquitoes. We have this last one winter to make it through then we both retire in July to full-time it. We are so ready! Our plans are to winter either in Texas, Az, or NM, where ever we can get a nice workamping position and the winter is mild. In fact we plan to start sending out our applications pretty soon for the winter of 2010/2011. We have been going through lots of stuff and just plain getting rid of things. Important items like paintings my mother and grandfather did we are dividing up within the family. Most of it we discovered is just stuff collected over the years and just haven't used just pack ratted it away. It is amazing the stuff we gather for no apparent reason. We started out with "if we haven't used it in the past year get rid of it", now we are at the point if we haven't really needed it in the past week, get rid of it". Hopefully, by spring we will be cleaned out and by summer ready to head out on the road. I have the feeling it is going to be a very long winter! After this winter I plan not seeing snow at all if I can help it! Peg is just plain tired of the cold winters too, she wants a place that is warm! Oh, my father-in-law winters in Texas at Alamo Palms in the extreme southeast of Texas right on the Mexican border. Hope all is well with you and the misses and you are have an awesome time RVing! Jack
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I have a Winnebago 05 Journey with a 350 Cat C7 engine. Does this engine have one or two fuel filters??
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1. Jack Halpin
2. Navy
3. 21 years, 1970 - 1991
4. AGC/AC
5. Weather Forcaster/Weather & Ice Recon.
6. Lakehurst NJ, Fleet Weather Central Guam, NAS Brunswick, ME, NSFA Port Huneme, CA, McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Fleat Weather Central Rota Spain, Naples, Italy, USS Saipan LHA-2 Med & Africa
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I always add biocide to my fuel tank every time I fill-up and use a diesel additive as well. It doesn't cost that much and I know my tank will be free of alge, etc. I have found Walmart in my area sells both biocide and diesel additives. It is worth every penny for just the peace of mind to know I'm protected. It is a lot easier to keep a tank clean than it is to get one cleaned. Happy RVing All!!
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Thanks all for sharing! We are planning to go full-timing next summer when both of us will retire. We have already started downsizing and getting rid of just stuff we have collected over the years. Some of the harder items to deal with is lots of slides and pictures we have taken over a lifetime. I am currently digitizing all our sides and pictures and saving them on CDs and flash drives making several copies of each plus giving my grown children copies as well. We started thinking about full-timing 4 years ago and have been researching and talking to every full-timer as well. We are going to sell our stick and brick house, hopefully the market is better next spring/summer. We hope to find volunteer work someplace in Texas for the winter of 2010. Looking forward to traveling and getting away from the long winters and short summers of Maine. Hope to meet you all on the road in the future.
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Big No on this one! I have a 350 hp Cat diesel, large oil capacity so have a shop do it. I do all types of other work on the MH but engines and transmissions I leave up to the professionals. I believe there was a thread earlier on this topic. Happy RVing, all!
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I was surprized to see a non-hybrid escape automatic could be towed four wheels down. I did look up in the FMCA towing guide for 2009 and it said it could be towed four down, however, earlier models stated regular automatics could not be towed 4 down. I know the hybrid can be towed 4 down as it has a special transmission. I wondering if there was a misprint on the regular auto trans? Something doesn't sound right here. I have the 2008 escape hybrid and it is an excellent tow car and well built as well, we love the car. Good Luck & Happy RVing!!!
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GPS units are great, however, there is nothing like having the right set of paper maps to plan a route. I agree with others having a Rand McNally large scale motor carriers road atlas is very important as it lists heights of bridges and overpasses so you do not take a route that will make your MH a convertable. I just bought a Magellan RoadMate 1470 which I like as it has a larger screen than most. I do wish they would come out with a GPS unit like boat chart plotters which have a real map with you position overlayed on the real map but I have yet to see one. The beauty of GPS systems is you most always know exactly where you are at and you can always reference a road map to make sure the GPS unit is giving you the best route to you destination. Just remember they are not flawless. The best way to check out the GPS units is to go to a store that has a good display where you can check out each unit and see how you like its map presentations and if is user friendly or not. Good Luck and Happy RVing!
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Just in case you are still checking this forum, you will need a 30 amp surge protector seeing you have a 30 amp service. You can either purchase one that plugs into the end of your electrical cord and then into the campground service or you can buy one that is hard wired into your electrical system. They are pretty easy to install and usually have good directions and you only have four wires on each side of the surge protector to hook up. If you have room in your electrical bay to install a hard wired unit I would susgest you go with that. I have heard of the temporary units disappearing but if it is hard wired in your electrical bay you can lock it. Good Luck! It is a small price to pay for the protection it provides. I have heard of cases where a surge has knocked out lots of electronics in rigs. Very expensive to replace that stuff! Happy RVing! Jack
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You may have had a defective belt or when it was first put on someone nicked the belt thus weakening it. If the mechanics couldn't find a problem I wouldn't worry about it, but keep a close eye on it for a while just in case. Happy RVing!
An Atrocity Is About To Take Place
in Veterans Corner
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I served 21 yrs in the Navy starting in 1970. One thing about Jane Fonda's trip to Hanoi Hilton during the war was she brought back with her several prisoners one was an American seaman that was captured after he had fallen off the back of a ship in the Gulf of Tonkin. This seaman memorized the name of every prisoner in the POW camp so when he returned to the US he recited the list of names which saved the lives of the prisoners in the camp because the North could not deny these POWs were being held. This seaman was also brought to the Paris Peace Talks to confront the North of they inhuman treatment of the POWs. What I wonder to this day if Jane was not a ploy in this whole thing and her anti-American stance was not just an act to get information about the treatment of POWs in the North. Has anyone ever thought of this? But at any rate whether her act was on purpose or not the fact that the seaman was brought back to the US did save countless lives and no I do not really care for her or her stand during the war, but is there more to the story than we really know? Just food for thought. Thank You All for Your Service to Our Country!