wayne77590

I originally used ZIP ties and tied the plate to the back support runners of the ladder. It is still visible and the step is still in use, just a little narrow in depth. UV Light will eventually make the ZIP ties brittle so if you use that method by some that are UV tolerant and in any case change them out on a scheduled basis. The best method is to use the PLATE BRACKET sold by Kiley Mold and if you are ingenious you may be able to make a bracket that will allow the entire step to be used.

"W", The gauge of wire, smaller the number larger the diameter of the wire we have a big determination on the length. I personally used an 8 AWG wire and had about 30 ft from a previous life. Pulled into a "pull-in" site at one CG where the pedestal was at the front of the site. Rail road ties where there to prevent over-roll and Ihad to stop short because when the air dumped I would have hung up. I was 5 feet short of reaching the pedestal with my normal configuration. I used that 30 ft extension without a problem running two AC's and anything else in the course of a normal day on 50amp supply. The Winnebago Electrical Management System must have worked well. As stated, you CANNOT plug into a house dryer receptacle. If your children's house does not have a properly wired RV Outlet, don't plug in. How much extra distance are you talking about?

Agree Joe, but my father was from the Adirondacks and it is beautiful up there. Roads are wonderful. I look at NY like I look at CA. I like to visit some areas but I wouldn't want to live there and my time visiting is short. Several years ago we stayed at Little Wolf campground in Tupper Lake. When I called and asked for reservations for my 40' MH he said he could get me into one spot. We got there got parked and the spot was the very first one you look at coming into the CG and you were looking broadside at the MH. Heard comments like, "Oh my!" or "I've never seen one that big before!" Most of the RV's in there were the TT variety and short. CG was built way back when max lengths may have been 25-30 feet. We took back roads down to US 7 and over to US 2 to get to Central Mass. Only 268 miles to destination. Roads were great. US-2 had a few narrow spots but very doable. Heard Lake Placid had some nice CG's but we did not stop there. I don't have to worry about firearms when traveling as I stated before. We go aboard Federal Reservations and firearms are a No No. Also, we never know if we are going to detour through Canada and that is another area you don't want to take firearms. In all the years of RV traveling - never missed having a firearm. You may be limiting yourself to some wonderful sights by not visiting areas.

Texas is now an LTC (License To Carry). All other acronyms are void and null. Bill, no where on my Texas DL does it have any reference to a carry permit. My DL was just renewed last year and expires in 2027. Another situation that is sure to come up is Federal Law which allows transport through a state. Be wary of the wording as it says "through a state," and if you stop you are not traveling through and State Laws apply. At least that is the way I understand it. Hopefully someone more in the know will straighten me out.

True story from first hand conversations with my local Chief of Police. Place: Massachusetts. Time frame 1960ish. Run-away teenager. Caught in NYC. Chief, in uniform, private car went to the station holding the run-away. Checked his weapon as he entered the police station. Picked up the run-away and upon exit was refused his weapon because he did not have a permit. He had to submit a lot of paper work when he returned to his own station to get them to send him his weapon. I miss traveling with protection when in the RV but being retired military and staying at military campgrounds I leave it home. NO! Not all military campgrounds allow armory check in. I'm sure that there have been instances where someone needed to have their weapon present but in all the years of travel, starting in 1974 I have never, never needed a weapon. Leave it at home, especially if traveling to NY. Why risk it.

Once that smoke escapes the RV parts will have to be sent back to China to get the smoke repacked in.

Stay off the pike and just head West on US-2. Much more scenic and less traffic than the crazies on the Pike.

I have spent 23 years in military communications and 44 years as an advanced class radio amateur operator. Trust me when I say that antenna theory is just that, theory. Don't get me wrong. There are many proven antennas out that that work extremely well, but there are also some untried antennas that would work well and some that will not. My theory, if it works, use it. One watt and a wet string for an antenna can transmit around the world if the conditions are right. Now, with that said, there are still truckers that use CB. I used to carry a hand held CB antenna. Not much it could do but one time when I broke down, not in an RV, I pulled out the CB and started making calls. A trucker answered me and was able to relay information and get me help. I would say that the same thing would work for FRS or GMRS. If you need it, pull it out and use it. Also they would be very good in a convoy of friends Buy the radio you are authorized to operate and stay away from those that need a license, other than GMRS, to stay out of possible Federal trouble. Your chances of being caught are slim, but possible.

I did that once. Don't remember the results but I didn't go there (middle of nowhere) and reverted back to the old way.

GMRS requires a license and is a $70 fee good for 10 years. GMRS power can be up to 50 watts but typically is .5 to 5 watts. FRS has a power is restriction of 2 watts unless they have changed that. The frequency, of both, is just outside the amateur radio band. The UV-5R is an amateur radio capable of 136-174 Mhz and 420-450 Mhz legally. Operating it at anything other than the FRS/GMRS frequency and power limits can get one in trouble. With all that said the UV-5R needs to be programmed and uses a special cable and computer software. it is said that it is a stinker to program. I disagree with many of the principles of SWR and have operated radios continuously with an SWR of 2:1 and in some case 3:1. Efficiency is diminished extensively but no damage to the radio. The finals being burned out go back to the vacuum tube days, but even then the vacuum tubes were very robust. Just remember that it is called "Antenna Theory," and as such theoretical applications have been tried with very good results. A higher SWR also affects reception, believe it or not. KE5QG p.s., you can buy a 5 pack of UV-5R's on amazon for $124.

Winnebago is notorious for draining the chassis batteyr and most of the time it is related to the steps. With the steps in the "on" position there is a constant demand on current. When I was having your problem I talked to Winnebago and the best advice they gave me was to turn the step switch to the "off" position. I was fortunate that I could close the screen door on the 2008 Winni Destination and reach in with a 12 inch stick and turn the step off. Once I started turning the step off I had no more problems with chassis battery drain. What could it hurt to give that a try for a couple weeks? My 2008 had a Trik-L-Charge but the demand on the steps could not keep up with the trickle charge. (I was plugged in all the time to 110v) My 2015, I just leave the steps in the "off" position and yes, they remain in the out position but I'm not encroaching on anyone's space. As for the TOAD. In my specific case on both a Saturn Vue and now my Lincoln MKX, I would also have the "dead" battery when arriving at my destination. The manual said to start the engine and run it for 5 minutes every 4-5 hours. No way did that work. So since we needed to stop for the pupper and stretch our lets I started stoppiing about every 2 hours. We would stretch the legs, walk the dog and I'd run the engine on the TOAD for 5 minutes. That helped on most trips but I found out that in real hilly or mountainous country the problem was worse. I deduced it was related to the braking system on the TOAD. I have Air Force One and that is proportional breaking when the brake pedal in the MH is depressed. However, with the jake brake on the TOAD brake lights are activated every time the foot is let up on the accelerator. In Hilly and mountainous country this can be quite a bit. The only way I know to remedy this is to install a "charge line" to keep the TOAD batteries charged going down the highway. I also carry a lithium jump system with me. Works well. That is my experience. Others may have different experiences. You'll have to weed through them all and see if there is a solution to your problem. Good luck.

One has to watch on how many leds to the inch/foot are on the strip. Few leds will render a dimmer light.

Wow, so sorry to hear about Miller Creek. That was a good location. I'm not sure when we will be traveling. Had a knee replacement and presently undergoing PT. Doctor's final say is beginning of March. I'm sure I'll be okay to travel, just going to make sure. Semper Fi!

MIke, we use MIller's Creek. Even set up a rally there last year and the folks loved it. Might do it again. RVMutant Rally. Yep, my wife's idea of roughing it is no Walmart nearby. We also choose RV parks that have good spaces. For an overnighter it is not a big deal, but if staying for a little while we like it "nice" and clean. Besides, with two macerator toilets that use gallons of water we cannot boon-dock. If more than one night I prefer pull through unless it is a really good site. I don't mind backing in, just don't like unhooking for a one night stay. BTW Mike, there is a new RV park near Ellington Field called Jetstream RV Resort. Only thing they don't have is a rally room. The pull through sites will hold a 45' MH towing a tandem axle long trailer with a car on it and still able to park a vehicle next to in the the car parking specific spot. There price is in keeping with all the other high prices in the area at $64 a night but if you have Passport America you can stay for a week for $32 a night. It's 34 miles to Galveston, 18 miles to downtown Houston, and 25 miles to our house. One of these times we'll stay at the Elk's Lodge in Katy and give you a holler when we are passing through.

I'd rather stay around Johnson City. From there it is about 60 miles in any direction to any sight seeing one wishes to do.

Don't forget that the TSC (TransConnect Services) fuel card and the TSD (TSD Logistics) fuel card are different companies and may not offer the same discounts. I use the TSD (Their EFS Card - confusing eh?) and on my last trip save approximately 40 cents a gallon at Love's.

Do they honor any discount cards? I could call them and ask, but I'm lazy. Edited: I just checked the web site and weekly rate is $340 and averages out to about $48 a night - that is if you can drink that much wine.

The TSD app is much more intuitive.

Oh boy! I need to get out and stock up.

Youngsters! 58 years and still counting. Belated chocolate day to all the men and Happy Valentine's Day to the ladies.

Yep! Waiting for the review.

My cabin fever is associated with my total knee replacement on January 21st. I'm down with pt until sometime in march

The math comes out to $10 and some change a month. Not bad.

Congratulations. The very nice thing about grandchildren is that when the grandparents are through spoiling them they can hand them back to the parents. Is that called "Payback!"

Yep, smarter wheel than me technology. Just about everything is smarter than me technology. I wondered for a year or more how the LED lights came on in the outside front of the motor-home. Accidentally pushed the AUX switch on the dash and voila, LED lights.