Is a travel trailer a stupid idea for TSHTF scenario?

[General of Darkness]

Just kinda been toying with the idea. Right now you can get 30K trailers that are a year old for under 10K and was just think that if I had to bug out and I was buy my home I could already have the majority of stuff I needed packed in it and just hook it up and GOOOOOOOOOO.

Any thoughts?

[Heimdhal]

what kind of SHTF are you talking about? Something localized to your city or state, or something national or global?

Is it total SHTF? Good luck feeding with the gas milage between towing the trailer and all your equipment for sustainability.

Do you have a destination thats sustainable to park it and live or are you goign to mad max it and hope you and your pup will defend it alone, against the world?


It worked well for K-os, but her SHTF might be different that yours. She got an RV and bugged out of the gulf coast when things were (and still are) very uncertain from the oil spill. She had destinations to go to that oculd support her and a network of people to contact, and of course, the whole world isnt going to hell yet.

Ask her how viable she thinks it is to just park to RV somewhere totaly random and try to live solo.


From some of your post recently, it seems like you just REALLY want to burn a hole in your pocket some stuff you THINK youll need. If you're going to burn a hole, spend it stuff you KNOW youll need. 10k will get you a decent amount of firearms and ammo, gold or silver, or even a very respectable hydroponics system so you can produce for yourself.

Hell you could probably find a small plot of land outside of the city, an acre or two, put a very small mobile dwelling on it AND set it up with hydro for the price of a nice trave trailer.

Just some ideas my man.

[General of Darkness]

Thanks Heim, and that's why I asked the question. FYI, I've got a diesel and one of the plans is to get it to also run on cooking oil. But I do agree with what you're saying.

[woodman]

I am looking for a travel trailer but not for shtf puposes. I think it would be nice to travel and stop in places for a few days to relax. A travel trailer or a pick-up camper would fit the bill for me. I think that all in all a pu camper would be the best choice for me. I could use it for work and haul my job trailer too. I don't know about the health effects of living in a newer trailer that is still gassing off the formaldehyde used in it's construction.

[Dogman]

Thanks Heim, and that's why I asked the question. FYI, I've got a diesel and one of the plans is to get it to also run on cooking oil. But I do agree with what you're saying.


Depends on how things would crumble, But if a true shtf, expect gridlock, major and minor
roads, out of large city's. Plus again depending, the possibility of road blocks. So as the Brit's say the smaller your "Kit" the more options you will have to move around.

I could see smaller city's and towns, trying to control who comes in and maybe out.
Ether bunker in , or already have a bol , stocked and locked!

[mick silver]

i feel your right about town an citys stoping people from coming in . i for one would not let people i do not know come on my an the people i know around my place would be in the same state of mind at that time also . i think your best bet would be to get a small place then build ity up with a camper are what ever you come up with

[cedarchopper]

RV's are little houses on wheels. It would be better than living in a car or a tent. There are literally millions of full-time RVers in the US. You can make them somewhat independent from the grid for electricity with solar panels on the roof with an inverter/charger and a good sized battery bank...I've even heard of people with a composting toilet which would eliminate the black water, and also a small wood stoves for heat, but just like a house, you need outside resources for anything extended.

I've had an VW Westphalia, an Airstream, and now a Class A motorhome...all of them have there pluses and minuses.

[Book]

...just hook it up and GOOOOOOOOOO.



http://openformarchitecture.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/freeway-postcard.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DSfDKxojztE/TMhuCKTxbKI/AAAAAAAAFMk/UsxjofokiZo/s1600/la+freeway.jpg

How far do you think you will get pulling a trailer out of LA wtshtf?

:D

[General of Darkness]

Book I'm in Pasadena, north L.A., I'd take the Angeles Crest over the mountains into the high desert. Most people wouldn't even think of that.

[cedarchopper]

If there was a real SHTF moment, like the Chinese lobbing an ICBM on LA...maybe it would be too late then, but in most situations, if you move early and fast, you get out before anyone has time to panic. It is true with hurricanes, anyway.

[Book]

...in most situations, if you move early and fast, you get out before anyone has time to panic. It is true with hurricanes, anyway.


http://media.portland.indymedia.org/images/2005/08/323754.jpg

Katrina disproved that quaint notion.

Back on topic...me and others have been warning GoD to move out of L.A. since GIM1. The OP is less than a serious rational Plan B.

|--0--|

[Dogman]

Book I'm in Pasadena, north L.A., I'd take the Angeles Crest over the mountains into the high desert. Most people wouldn't even think of that.


And out of the millions of people that live in the area, How many do you think , have the same plan as you do? :lol

[General of Darkness]

Book I'm in Pasadena, north L.A., I'd take the Angeles Crest over the mountains into the high desert. Most people wouldn't even think of that.


And out of the millions of people that live in the area, How many do you think , have the same plan as you do? :lol


Again, I live in L.A., how many people do YOU think actually have a fucking plan in L.A.?

[midnight rambler]

I would suggest light and compact.

Casita makes a quality little unit.

http://images.traderonline.com//img/3/dealer/758838//97677079_1thumb_550x410.jpg

http://www.rvtraderonline.com/find/listing/1987-Casita-16-97677079

[Dogman]

Book I'm in Pasadena, north L.A., I'd take the Angeles Crest over the mountains into the high desert. Most people wouldn't even think of that.


And out of the millions of people that live in the area, How many do you think , have the same plan as you do? :lol

Again, I live in L.A., how many people do YOU think actually have a f*cking plan in L.A.?


I would bet that the number is much more larger than "We" think! ;D
With the threat of the big one,(earthquake) and old cold war, types still living.
I feel safe to say all roads , big and tiny , would be gridlocked with in hours or less.

[cedarchopper]

...in most situations, if you move early and fast, you get out before anyone has time to panic. It is true with hurricanes, anyway.


Katrina disproved that quaint notion.

Back on topic...me and others have been warning GoD to move out of L.A. since GIM1. The OP is less than a serious rational Plan B.



Bullsh*t, are you either clueless or disingenuous...tens of thousands of people got out long before there was gridlock. It was known for days that a Cat 5 was heading there way...the smart were gone before there was gridlock. You knew that...Book-keeper :]

[Book]

Book I'm in Pasadena, north L.A., I'd take the Angeles Crest over the mountains into the high desert. Most people wouldn't even think of that.


And out of the millions of people that live in the area, How many do you think , have the same plan as you do? :lol


Again, I live in L.A., how many people do YOU think actually have a f*cking plan in L.A.?



http://www.ahrq.gov/prep/massevac/description/massevapfig5.gif
days not hours

Your arm will get tired dick stabbing your way to a gas pump....lol.

:D

[Book]

I feel safe to say all roads , big and tiny , would be gridlocked with in hours or less.



Yep. A sure bet.

:)

[StackerKen]

General; I agree with the others that say "get a BOL"

i spent 2 min. finding this BOL for you

http://www.desertland.com/Joshua-Tree-Real-Estate/JT_0607-081-07_OffSunkist.html

ACRES: 1.25

PRICE: $12,000.00

http://www.desertland.com/Joshua-Tree-Real-Estate/JT_0607-081-07_OffSunkist/Photo6_OffSunkist.jpg


OR
you could buy a 5 acre lot near me for about 35K to 70K

Here is 3.2 acres for 29K (nice seasonal stream)

http://www.esquaw.com/properties/?A=detail&ListingID=395

http://www.esquaw.com/properties/images/395/395_6.jpg


Many lots already have a Mobile-home, septic and well for not much more money

[Book]

Book-keeper :]



cedardildo :]

[midnight rambler]

Book, I have to wonder what the component is where you feel compelled to mind the business of others. I'm guessing it has to be some sort of neurosis.

[Book]

Just kinda been toying with the idea. Right now you can get 30K trailers that are a year old for under 10K and was just think that if I had to bug out and I was buy my home I could already have the majority of stuff I needed packed in it and just hook it up and GOOOOOOOOOO.

Any thoughts?

[solid]

General; I agree with the others that say "get a BOL"

Many lots already have a Mobile-home, septic and well for not much more money



That's a real nice peace of land near you stackerken!

I think general's mind is in the right place. General, I've been looking at small cabins in the mountains, 2/3 hours away from me. It seems you can get a nice small place for 70-80K, lot's of space, streams, fishing. Not only for a BOL, but also to get out of the city and get back to nature.

The RV is a good idea, but you still need a place to go. A small cabin, imo, is a better idea for me that is.

[midnight rambler]

Just kinda been toying with the idea. Right now you can get 30K trailers that are a year old for under 10K and was just think that if I had to bug out and I was buy my home I could already have the majority of stuff I needed packed in it and just hook it up and GOOOOOOOOOO.

Any thoughts?



You've made over 4 posts on this thread and have yet to add anything beyond your initial obvious point that even an 8 y.o. would grasp on his or her own without your 'help'.

Book, you have a history going back years where you like to browbeat others towards your POV. Bucking the system comes to mind - whenever someone brings up bucking the system you pooh-pooh the notion.

[midnight rambler]

General; I agree with the others that say "get a BOL"

Many lots already have a Mobile-home, septic and well for not much more money



That's a real nice peace of land near you stackerken!

I think general's mind is in the right place. General, I've been looking at small cabins in the mountains, 2/3 hours away from me. It seems you can get a nice small place for 70-80K, lot's of space, streams, fishing. Not only for a BOL, but also to get out of the city and get back to nature.

The RV is a good idea, but you still need a place to go. A small cabin, imo, is a better idea for me that is.


I'm fairly certain GoD has longer range plans which he doesn't want to derail by making in investment of nearly 100k in a piece of expensive dirt.

[StackerKen]

I think general's mind is in the right place. General, I've been looking at small cabins in the mountains, 2/3 hours away from me. It seems you can get a nice small place for 70-80K, lot's of space, streams, fishing. Not only for a BOL, but also to get out of the city and get back to nature.

The RV is a good idea, but you still need a place to go. A small cabin, imo, is a better idea for me that is.


Yep. A+ Excellent idea for anyone that can afford it.

small cabin in the mountains

http://www.rivercrealty.com/H-045%20cabin.jpg

What could be better than that?

[old steel]

I think it's a great idea. We have a thirty footer here of course we use it for camping and such. Right now it's loaded with dry goods and other necessities and i could hook on and be gone in 10 minutes that is if i had 10 minutes 5 would really be pushing it but in a life and death situation a person can be extremely motivated.

We have land 20 to 30 miles away that is surrounded by hutterite colonies and a brother on land about the same distance. If i need to go father i can but i don't own any land out there but it is so desolate less than 1 person per square mile you think you're the last person on earth out there.

No problems getting out of the small city we live in here that i can for see except perhaps some sort of lock down where the military isn't letting anyone in or out of town.

Oh wait, this is Canada we don't have a military up here we're under the US umbrella. ;D

[StackerKen]

I'm fairly certain GoD has longer range plans which he doesn't want to derail by making in investment of nearly 100k in a piece of expensive dirt.


expensive dirt can grow food ;D

And IMO its a good time to be buying Dirt.

I wish I could buy more. I would love to buy the 5 acres next to me

[midnight rambler]

I think general's mind is in the right place. General, I've been looking at small cabins in the mountains, 2/3 hours away from me. It seems you can get a nice small place for 70-80K, lot's of space, streams, fishing. Not only for a BOL, but also to get out of the city and get back to nature.

The RV is a good idea, but you still need a place to go. A small cabin, imo, is a better idea for me that is.


Yep. A+ Excellent idea for anyone that can afford it.

small cabin in the mountains

http://www.rivercrealty.com/H-045%20cabin.jpg

What could be better than that?



A getaway on the Adriatic Sea.

http://croatiapropertydevelopment.com/wp-content/gallery/ljubljeva/House%20with%20sea%20view%20Trogir%201.jpg

[Dogman]

Self contained rv's are nice , tong pulled, goos-neck for the larger ones. Size depends on how
much stuff you want to carry with you. Unless you have a destination that have supplys, you
would have to carry all with you.

I made the commit about gridlock , because that is what will happen to all roads, but with warning and you acting on it, and getting out before the panic sets in, you may not have a
problem. But what I said about other city's and towns and roadblocks still stand! I would avoid the major interstates and highways. All it would take is a few wrecks in the right place and
nothing moves.

Or maybe look into a self contained cab over camper and pulling a supply trailer loaded with
what you need?

[Heimdhal]

General do NOT underestimate that out of the millions of Los Angilinos (???) that you're the only one with an early and expidient escape route. I run into people all the time that you wouldnt ever think would have a clue and they talk about "bugging" out. Not everyone out there is a total retard, in fact it only seems that way because the ones that arent, the ones like us, dont go around making themselves stand out like the dumb asses do.

Theres more out there than you think.

I dont like the idaes of BOL's as a primary plan UNLESS you are known in the area, have some one there thats like minded and can do upkeep on the land in your absences and you know WTF you're doing.

If you've never planted a seed in your life, dont expect to head to your barren high desert BOL with a gardening How-To book and a packet of seeds from wal mart and think you're going to be Davy Crocket. Its unrealistic and the locals probably wont much like you. Use whats are your disposal and keep buggin ing as Plan A unless of course something like a Nuke gets dropped on LA, in which case you'd have to leave due to radiation etc.

I see you're training your pup to be the wonder dog of death, which is good, but how much have you been training yourself? How many rounds to put down range? How many shooters clinics have you been too or instructional schools? How much do you dry fire and practice drills at home? If you're thinking youre going to BO from LA and NOT run into refugees trying to take youre shit, you're dreaming. Worry about these before you worry about everything else.

[cedarchopper]

While you are contemplating, here is a book with some interesting ideas...and the comments at Amazon are interesting as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Trailer-Homesteading-Under-5-000/dp/1559501324

(Great idea to make a mining claim for a place to bugout...from the comments)

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Environmental Engineer endorses Authors' Septic System!!!, March 5, 2002
By
"ky_southernbelle" (KainTuck (Ohio Valley Boat People)) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Travel-Trailer Homesteading Under $5,000 (Paperback)
Any "Full-Timer", (Living full time in a Recreational Vehicle, like my wife and I do), could tell you that Mr. Kelling is right on track. His info is timely, accurate, and most importantly, useful! Since a "Full-Timer" already has a firm grip on the basics of a travel trailer, or motorhome, the author has correctly dispensed with all but the valuable stuff, ergo his title:
". . . HOMESTEADING. . ."

I've seen older travel trailers (30' or less) sell for $300 and last a lifetime. All of the prices noted in Mr. Kelling's book are correct, by my research. Certainly one could spend much more, but that lends itself to the old story of Richard Petty (the racecar driver) asking a famous racecar builder just how much it would cost to build a racecar. The reply was, "Depends on just how fast you want to go."

The idea here is frugality. If people can't do the work themselves, the "Do-it-yourself" book isn't the proper genre.

If, on the other hand, those of us who are self-sufficient pick up this little jewel -we're good to go! It's all here.

We folks living in the country know all about outhouses, septic systems, and cisterns. Suffice it to say that any engineer of Septic systems will endorse Mr. Kelling's plans. A leeching field is the correct place to return the liquefied matter back to mother earth. Lateral lines are what carry the liquefied matter to that leeching field. A separation tank, and liquefying tank are the correct instruments to reduce the matter to liquid.

Well, enough techno prattle.

It just irks my hide when a person pens a flame without doing their homework first. My wife and I have each staked a mining claim -20 acres each- in gorgeous country, beautiful mountains with dynamic and breathtaking views. Cost? Free!! (Well there was a meager filing fee, and we must make $100/yr improvements.) That takes care of the land, notwithstanding millions of acres of wilderness.

$30,000 worth of power & hand tools would make one a professional in the trades, so that's out of the question. A professional is not needed here, if you use Kelling's book. Park your travel trailer, get your pickaxe and shovel out and go to work. There's your excavation for the septic system for sweat equity. OK, so you have a few dollars, hire a backhoe.

Well, I could go on and on. This is such a marvelous book. Small? Well, maybe it isn't War and Peace sized, but there's an old country saying that goes, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the size of the fight in the dog."

This dog has plenty of fight in it and it will sure hunt.
Buy the book and go hunting!!

[Ponce]

Buy trailer, load up.........find friend, drop trailer.......go back home, load up truck, take to to trailer, go back home, load back of truck again, take back to trailer.................................and wait.

SHTF?.........load back of truck with extra gas one week ration of food, dogs, emergency back pack, some one with gun...........go to trailer.........loose truck?, put on back pack and go to trailer.

Go beyond thinking about what could happen and think that it is already happening.........

I just got up from a napy and the dream that I had waesn't very good.......first time I had a dream related to WTSHTF.

[Book]

I don't like the idea of BOL's as a primary plan UNLESS you are known in the area, have some one there that's like minded and can do upkeep on the land in your absences and you know WTF you're doing.



http://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Palestinian_refugees.jpg

I agree. A plan to "bug out" is a plan to intentionally become a REFUGEE.

:)

[Dogman]

Buy trailer, load up.........find friend, drop trailer.......go back home, load up truck, take to to trailer, go back home, load back of truck again, take back to trailer.................................and wait.

SHTF?.........load back of truck with extra gas one week ration of food, dogs, emergency back pack, some one with gun...........go to trailer.........loose truck?, put on back pack and go to trailer.

Go beyond thinking about what could happen and think that it is already happening.........

I just got up from a napy and the dream that I had waesn't very good.......first time I had a dream related to WTSHTF.


Best option so far! Parts or all anyway! ;D

If you know someone you can trust! Plus when things crumble, more and quicker options available to you getting the hell out.

[Goldgonewild]

How bout a small to medium size all wheel drive stealth RV ?

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq300/toyfamily2/IMG_4650.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq300/toyfamily2/IMG_4657.jpg


Just buy a cheap and used box van, modify and insulate to your needs, you can almost sleep in it in major cities for practice. stealth is best IMO.
Easy to get out of dodge as the steering wheel is close by.

Many size available, can be chosen in any color as long as it is white lol !!!
leave it white and when you are in the stick, put a camo tarp over it. done

outfit it with everything necessary to purify water, solar panels mounted on top, ham radio, lots of food, water, etc...can even be outfitted with a small wood stove for boats.
like this one. ( Sardine brand ) thoses pics is not from the box van but taken somewhere else on the net.
http://www.marinestove.com/coreysairstream.jpg
http://www.marinestove.com/Hot%20Chocolate%20Manheimer.jpg

this fella converted his small box van with a 4wd conversion and winch.

Many are for sale, just make sure you buy one that gives instant access to the steering wheel if something bad happens when you are sleeping in the back.

Use it for camping ( to practice and find flaws ) and as a storage place for your preps till you reach SHTF.

[solid]

Here's a nice little log cabin. Near a lake with good fishing. They are asking 71K for it. Prices are pretty good right now.

The advantage of a cabin, is that you can get to know your neighbors, you can stock if full of preps, if it's hidden in the mountains, little to know refugees would be coming through. Plus, since doom is 6 months away. You can have a lot of fun using it as a getaway mountain retreat until doom is 6 months away, in 6 months, again.

[solid]

How bout a small to medium size all wheel drive stealth RV ?


That is bad-ass, I think you've got the winning idea here, GG. Where can you get one of those? I want one. :)

[Goldgonewild]

the thing i don't like with an unattended cabin is thieves and vandals destroying or stealing your assets when you are still in non-shtf mode working and living elsewhere.

[Goldgonewild]

How bout a small to medium size all wheel drive stealth RV ?


That is bad-ass, I think you've got the winning idea here, GG. Where can you get one of those? I want one. :)


Buy a used box van in the classified and go from there to suit your needs.

insulate it,
outfit it to your liking, a window or two. If you buy a larger one, you can even install a shower inside. add solar panels.

keep it stealthy.

[Dogman]

How bout a small to medium size all wheel drive stealth RV ?

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq300/toyfamily2/IMG_4650.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq300/toyfamily2/IMG_4657.jpg


Just buy cheap and used box van, modify and insulate to your needs, you can almost sleep in it in major cities for practice. stealth is best IMO.
Easy to get out of dodge as the steering wheel is close by.

Many size available, can be chosen in any color as long as it is white lol !!!
leave it white and when you are in the stick, put a camo tarp over it. done

outfit it with everything necessary to purify water, solar panels mounted on top, ham radio, lots of food, water, etc...

this fella converted is small box van with a 4wd conversion and winch.

Many are for sale, just make sure you buy one that gives instant access to the steering wheel if something bad happens when you are sleeping in the back.

Use it for camping ( to practice and find flaws ) and as a storage place for your preps till SHTF is in your face.


Goldgonewild

For someone that has the basic skills something like what you suggested , pulling an enclosed trailer with , all supply's. would be nice and workable. Basic skills with carpentry and installing all electric/electronic/water/gas , it would be a great project and if care taken would look as good or better than anything bought ready made. And if it had 4x drive even better! In the past I have bought damaged travel trailers, (water mainly hole in roof) and stripped and gutted the interior's but not all at once. section at a time , also removing the skin where needed to replace the rot. There is a major travel trailer manufacture in the next town from me so I can buy new through friends that work there at employee discount, whatever needed to replace the old and broke. and then resell ,Buy 400 $ or so depends on the trailers and sell for a lot more, one several thousand over cost. But one needs the skills to do the job! Unless
you contract it out!

The down side, unless you have other ways to move about , you will be like a turtle , where you go , your house goes with you.

Hi K !!

[solid]

Buy a used box van in the classified and go from there to suit your needs.

insulate it,
outfit it to your liking, a window or two. If you buy a larger one, you can even install a shower inside. add solar panels.

keep it stealthy.


I am really liking this idea! Not only about the stealth, but also a fun project as well. You could have a lot of fun with a vehicle like that. Take it up to the mountains, go explore.

I think for me this would be the best solution. I would have a choice, to bug out by land or sea.

Fantastic idea.

[cedarchopper]

the thing i don't like with an unattended cabin is thieves and vandals destroying or stealing your assets when you are still in non-shtf mode working and living elsewhere.




I was broken into at a place I had in a remote spot...sold it after that. In retrospect, I wish I hadn't, but I was so pissed that I said fuk it. I put an ad in the paper and had a guy the next day wanting to write a contract on the hood of the car for my asking price...it all happened so fast I didn't have a chance to really think it over...but I did put the money into PM's :]

[StackerKen]

I agree. A plan to "bug out" is a plan to intentionally become a REFUGEE.

:)


I agree also. Thats why I am already Bugged out :)


Way out here, Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome son

;D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0sYnro_3Rc

[Book]

keep it stealthy.



This motto is both quote-worthy and Sig-worthy.

:D

[Dogman]

keep it stealthy.



This motto is both quote-worthy and Sig-worthy.

:D


So dam true!

If the van is done right it will blend in and not stand out (bad) pulling a enclosed trailer
with prep's and such!

Plus a sign on the sides, on the doors , sides and trailer! "Goldgonewild" plumbing!! or such!


Perfect!

;D ;D

[Spectrism]

If you have a long distance bug out plan and if you are waiting until the last minute to take all valuables, you really need to think about this. Your vehicle engine is your lifeline... or at least the geography of your stand. If the engine breaks down, can you carry everything you want? Can you defend your property on the highway? If you have no back up engine/vehicle, you will need to be ready to make some very difficult decisions. And these decisions will be very likely during a time of turmoil with savage people around you.

[Goldgonewild]

If you have a long distance bug out plan and if you are waiting until the last minute to take all valuables, you really need to think about this. Your vehicle engine is your lifeline... or at least the geography of your stand. If the engine breaks down, can you carry everything you want? Can you defend your property on the highway? If you have no back up engine/vehicle, you will need to be ready to make some very difficult decisions. And these decisions will be very likely during a time of turmoil with savage people around you.


Best thing is to already have the bug out vehicule in an out of town area but still accessible even if the roads are blocked.

So you can either reach it by car, by bicycle or by foot if the situation requires it.

[gunDriller]

Just kinda been toying with the idea. Right now you can get 30K trailers that are a year old for under 10K and was just think that if I had to bug out and I was buy my home I could already have the majority of stuff I needed packed in it and just hook it up and GOOOOOOOOOO.

Any thoughts?


i think it's a great idea if you get a good deal, outfit it properly, etc.

fuel storage i think is important. to help you make a cross country drive when things are dicey ... some gas cans safely stored somewhere on the rig.

[PatColo]

expensive dirt can grow food ;D

And IMO its a good time to be buying Dirt.

I wish I could buy more. I would love to buy the 5 acres next to me


Iowa farmland prices surge 16% in year, near all-time high (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?source=patrick.net&AID=201012160334#IE6Error)

Mind you this is IA, in the wake of big increases in grain prices.

Also interesting is how they measure the all time high, "inflation adjusted", as 1979, before the 1980s farmland price collapse (bankster-engineered as usual...). Au/Ag were rallying hard in '79, leading up to their 1980 blow-off tops. Might be a historic model to keep in the backs of our minds as we move forward. Different political fundamentals then & now, though.

Any word on how say, Central Valley CA farmland is doing? I'm aware of the Valley's epic residential real estate crash, but farmland may not mirror that, I don't know. Valley farmland may have been hampered by drought (also engineered) past few years, don't know what the future holds for that as CA's been getting hammered with precip this winter. also see,

Agricultural Theft On The Rise (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fi-ag-crimes-20101231%2C0%2C1916476.story?page=1&track=rss)

[Dogman]

Cal if the right areas get the rain may temporarily recover! But they still need long term water to recharge the aquifers, and also above ground irrigation. They have always have been growing in a desert, if irrigation is not used.

Just answering the above post!

Sorry for the temp thread derail attempt! ;D

Back on topic! ;D ;D ;D

[mick silver]

if your not all ready on your place by now it to late . building a place up is not a one week thing . an a hill side is a great place to build a home . the timber on the land can be used for framing up a real nice cave . cool in summer an warm in winter . there alot of stuff on land that can be used to build a home . i bet i could build a place an never go to the store to do it . just look around . you see a rock i see a fireplace

[Goldgonewild]

keep it stealthy.



This motto is both quote-worthy and Sig-worthy.

:D


So dam true!

If the van is done right it will blend in and not stand out (bad) pulling a enclosed trailer
with prep's and such!

Plus a sign on the sides, on the doors , sides and trailer! "Goldgonewild" plumbing!! or such!


Perfect!

;D ;D


Please find something else than " plumbing " ...With the price of copper these days....

Also , no need for a "Percival's ice cream" truck sign...That is also painting yourself as a target. ;D

You can put a sign to make it look like an rental van (most of the time they are empty...)

[Ponce]

About that small truck van............remember that you will probably live there for years to come, so why go small?........like I said before, buy big and have it in place before WTSHTF.

[Dogman]

keep it stealthy.



This motto is both quote-worthy and Sig-worthy.

:D




So dam true!

If the van is done right it will blend in and not stand out (bad) pulling a enclosed trailer
with prep's and such!

Plus a sign on the sides, on the doors , sides and trailer! "Goldgonewild" plumbing!! or such!


Perfect!

;D ;D


Please find something else than " plumbing " ...With the price of copper these days....

Also , no need for a "Percival's ice cream" truck sign...That is also painting yourself as a target. ;D

You can put a sign to make it look like an rental van (most of the time they are empty...)



Ouch! :o

You used that name! I just use plumbing as an example to blend in! A named truck in some ways will blend in more vs a blank one.

Dude that hurt! :lol :whip


|--0--|

[Goldgonewild]

About that small truck van............remember that you will probably live there for years to come, so why go small?........like I said before, buy big and have it in place before WTSHTF.


Bigger is better right ?
How bout a used school bus conversion then ?

http://seanf.smugmug.com/Bus-Conversion/Conversion-Log-2006/Aug-1/DSCF1246/326890464_G9q8t-M.jpg
http://seanf.smugmug.com/Bus-Conversion/Conversion-Log-2006/July-24/DSCF1014/83818189_oUL3S-S.jpg

[mick silver]

how do you hide a camper or bus .... if sh*t get that bad you will have to hunt for my assss . there way to many people in this world dont you think they will be looking for place to make there own .

[gunDriller]

keep it stealthy.


darn ! so that means going without the hopping feature -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiQ-PX-8Sm0

[milehi]

I was looking at both trailers and RV's back in June and couldn't make up my mind. Then I noticed mid sized four wheel drive diesel schoolbuses while dropping off my kids at school.

http://skewly.com/

[Dogman]

how do you hide a camper or bus .... if sh*t get that bad you will have to hurt for my assss . there way to many people in this world dont you think they will be looking for place to make there own .


That school bus , nice , other than water and gas it self contained. And if in a ares where there is enough shit, cows + human or horses. One can make a biogas generator, to have gas to heat and cook with! ;D New to the library is a very good biogas selection! And more will be added as I can get the files transfered!

In a true shtf, anything that moves on the highway will be a target, from the do not haves that will look on taking from the haves. It is the job of the haves to guard , protect, and not be visible from the not-haves! And that can take many forms.

[Goldgonewild]

If you have a long distance bug out plan and if you are waiting until the last minute to take all valuables, you really need to think about this. Your vehicle engine is your lifeline... or at least the geography of your stand. If the engine breaks down, can you carry everything you want? Can you defend your property on the highway? If you have no back up engine/vehicle, you will need to be ready to make some very difficult decisions. And these decisions will be very likely during a time of turmoil with savage people around you.

Very true.

[Ponce]

Get ready "before" it happens and not when it happens or while is happening........everything that I have done is done and ready, all that I need now is for the invaders to come after my rolls of tp.........boy oh boy are they in for a surprised >:(

[bellevuebully]

Personally, I'm not big on the bug out plan, unless you have a definitive destination to achieve where you plan to hunker down and one that can realistically support you.

One thing that I think gets overlooked when anticipating a situation that would warrant a bug out is that the US is already close to a police state. How far do you think one would get in a bona fide emergency. Between the P.D.'s and the military, every major route out of metro areas will be buttoned up by uniforms telling you to go home, everything is fine. :oo-->

I don't know what the right answer is. But for one who is aware of the possibilities, you have to be seriously optimistic to think that if something serious goes down that you will be one of the lucky ones to get out in tact. For me, that would definitely exclude living in any major metropolitan area that has limited escape routes. Now, the edge of town, or removed suburbs, maybe you have a chance.

I like StackerKens odds much better than someone's in Houston or LA.

fwiw

[General of Darkness]

A lot of great ideas which I really appreciate, and I'll be honest, I've been living under the premise that if TSHTF I'll just hunker down and bring my mom and stepdad to my place. Now that he's passed I don't have to fight his stupid ass and his thinking that the guberment would look out for our interests. The plan was basic, destroy anything or anyone that causes a problem for me or my family on my property. Now I'm seeing that, that option is probably VERY unwise in a city as large as LaLa Land.

Here's what I do have.

1 - Lots of guns and lots of ammo
2 - Silver
3 - A 4x4 diesel with the best engine on the market
4 - A desire to live and the ability to survive
5 - Loyal and smart dogs

As was asked, do I spend time at the range? Not lately, however, and not to sound like an arrogant asshole, but I'm a 2 time world champion at paintball and know how to make decisions quickly and move immediately to gain the upper hand in firefight. I've destroyed seal teams and cops, they weren't that impressive.

So back to the topic. I think I might be more inclined to get a camper for the diesel now. Probably give me a reason to get rid of the firestiks and put the Wilson on.

[Spectrism]

Paint a sign on the trailer- or have it ready to tack on later:

Rubbish and Dangerous Waste Removal

Caution: May have hazardous bio-contaminants on board. Keep back 20 feet.

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

Make sure you don't get into a legal issue where the cops will stop you to check your papers.

[Dogman]

one that can fit on your truck, w/trailer.
or drag behind you . lots of good replys , correct.
but if it involves family. convoy or >??

you know if you can defend what you have, where you are at.
Maybe!
But that also stand for all, unless you are part of a group! that can spread
the watch, (all need sleep) .


Travel trailers are ok, but not really known for their insulation , and real durability. Over time.
Good for short time, but for long turm, shtf.. And if this country goes native and crumbles ,
It will take a group effort , to live , by yourself you will be toast.

It will take a group to help each other to watch each others backs, and contribuit skills for the good of all.

Any other way... you will be history.. and maybe not even remembered other than a pile of bones , at this place or that! Your name will be lost!

Fact Jack!

Edit: also my last post in this thread..

bunch of ideals, but for long term survival, be part of a group. lone wolfs , will be eaten.

also , you have to sleep!

Gasp..I am talking collectives, yes for survival..

Fuck politicks.. It is skills that are important!!

Skills to build, to , make, to ,screwyourself!!

Fin

This one!

[Goldgonewild]

A lot of great ideas which I really appreciate, and I'll be honest, I've been living under the premise that if TSHTF I'll just hunker down and bring my mom and stepdad to my place. Now that he's passed I don't have to fight his stupid ass and his thinking that the guberment would look out for our interests. The plan was basic, destroy anything or anyone that causes a problem for me or my family on my property. Now I'm seeing that, that option is probably VERY unwise in a city as large as LaLa Land.

Here's what I do have.

1 - Lots of guns and lots of ammo
2 - Silver
3 - A 4x4 diesel with the best engine on the market
4 - A desire to live and the ability to survive
5 - Loyal and smart dogs

As was asked, do I spend time at the range? Not lately, however, and not to sound like an arrogant asshole, but I'm a 2 time world champion at paintball and know how to make decisions quickly and move immediately to gain the upper hand in firefight. I've destroyed seal teams and cops, they weren't that impressive.

So back to the topic. I think I might be more inclined to get a camper for the diesel now. Probably give me a reason to get rid of the firestiks and put the Wilson on.






The only thing i don't like with a pick up camper is that it is awfully hard to gain access to the steering wheel if you have to get moving quickly in the middle of the night.
But if you already have the truck then why not, make sure you at least have a sliding rear window to gain access to the cab by the inside.



Also, you could buy a large camo tarp or net to cover everything to blend in the sticks
http://www.mdshooters.com/vbclassified/uploaded/w58k0n9o9.jpg

[bellevuebully]

http://www.mdshooters.com/vbclassified/uploaded/w58k0n9o9.jpg


That cat's a camo expert. ;D

[Ponce]

You people talk like if you are going camping over the week end or that what is to come will be only for six months or a year..........WTSHTF has lasted in Cuba for over fifty years, not that it will last here for fifty years here, but get ready the best you can.....................you won't be able to carry everything that you might need or want in one trip (no matter how big your rig or trailer is) and that's why I keep on saying to park your rig and then make a few trips to take all that you might need..........no matter what you have you will always need more.

[Book]

Also, buy the largest camo tarp or net to cover everything to blend in the sticks



http://www.joesarmynavyonline.com/servlet/Detail?no=6885

Excellent idea. I just learned that it comes reversible brown/green.

:)

[Dogman]

one that can fit on your truck, w/trailer.
or drag behind you . lots of good replys , correct.
but if it involves family. convoy or >??

you know if you can defend what you have, where you are at.
Maybe!
But that also stand for all, unless you are part of a group! that can spread
the watch, (all need sleep) .


Travel trailers are ok, but not really known for their insulation , and real durability. Over time.
Good for short time, but for long turm, shtf.. And if this country goes native and crumbles ,
It will take a group effort , to live , by yourself you will be toast.

It will take a group to help each other to watch each others backs, and contribuit skills for the good of all.

Any other way... you will be history.. and maybe not even remembered other than a pile of bones , at this place or that! Your name will be lost!

Fact Jack!



Thinking of a gated community Dogman ? ;D

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll26/psychomargie/redneck-mansion.jpg




Dude ..You are so wrong!

But feel free to toss my way!

I may ever learn something!

The dam thing was I was joking using your name on the sign thingy.

kool, sorry if you took offense,using your avatar name , I apologize truly.!
I offer my viewpoint as all on this forum.

I do not attack.
If I offended you . I apologized to you ..

If not accepted by you I feel sorry for you !

And if you do not accept my appoligy to you , fuck and screw you!

I did my best to make it right! There are more important things to be
concerned than , the me, me ,me. shit..

Again I apoligize if you where offended, to a point!

I am doing my best to build info, into one place and it pains me when I deal
with the ignorant, ..you may not be. but my world view , well!
I just hope john Q opens some of the last files that I uploaded for the good of all
But for the small ,,,,snits.. have fun!

C.!

[Son-of-Liberty]

I have done a fair bit of thinking about doing a school bus conversion but I ended up coming across a place that sold greyhound type buses used by the oil industry to haul employees to their plants in Fort Mcmurray. They would put about 200,000k on them and then just get new ones. Think they were selling for $7-11k and they already have some plumbing and more importantly massive storage underneath the seating area for luggage so you would have room to stash all sorts or preps without taking up space in your living area. I also figured you could use part of the storage area to drop down into to create a 2 tiered living space.

Something I still might look into. I am just pissing money away renting right now and it wouldn't be that bad to live in a big bus like that if you had your own lot to park it on.

Eventually I want to get some property a few hours away from the city and it would be nice to have a portable home you could drive out there with and live in while building a permanent dwelling.

Much easier to just buy a trailer or something but don't know how they would fair over the Alberta winter for comfort. With a conversion you could make sure the insulation was up to the job.

[Son-of-Liberty]

some of you might find this ink helpful

http://www.mrsharkey.com/busbarn/busbarn.htm

[Olmstein]

If you want to see examples of home-built bus conversions, check out Bus Conversions magazine.

http://www.busconversions.com/



I have done a fair bit of thinking about doing a school bus conversion but I ended up coming across a place that sold greyhound type buses used by the oil industry to haul employees to their plants in Fort Mcmurray. They would put about 200,000k on them and then just get new ones. Think they were selling for $7-11k and they already have some plumbing and more importantly massive storage underneath the seating area for luggage so you would have room to stash all sorts or preps without taking up space in your living area. I also figured you could use part of the storage area to drop down into to create a 2 tiered living space.

Something I still might look into. I am just pissing money away renting right now and it wouldn't be that bad to live in a big bus like that if you had your own lot to park it on.

Eventually I want to get some property a few hours away from the city and it would be nice to have a portable home you could drive out there with and live in while building a permanent dwelling.

Much easier to just buy a trailer or something but don't know how they would fair over the Alberta winter for comfort. With a conversion you could make sure the insulation was up to the job.

[Ponce]

I know Dragon, but to my way of thinking is........why buy a trailer and be late and leaving it behind for someone else to use?..........buy it and take it somewhere where it will be ready and waiting for when you are ready TO RUN LIKE HELL........I know that you all should have a safe place where you can park it with a friend who will keep an eye on it for you.

If you don't have a place to park it then get in contack with me and let's talk it over, I can give you water and power.......but the power only for as long as I have it from the city and not from my generators.......you must bring your on food, weapons, security system and so on.

Warning, you will not be allowed into my inner fence, the one that is ten feet and all the way around my home.

[Libertytree]

General, I don't live in LA or any other mega large population center so my needs are different than yours and everybody elses for that matter but this is my plan A, the Libertymobile. I just did the deal with a buddy and it is now mine. Yeah, it's a lil rough on the outside, for now, actually the progress you see in the works was done by me and him when he visited back in Oct. The motor though is a horse! with only 60K on it.

This will pull my 4x4 Cherokee and it will double as a trailer/storage in the process.I'm currently looking and talking with people who live just out of town with a little land, barns, water, elect etc.. and am going to rent from them, parking the RV inside the barn, live in it, work on it while continuing the 9-5 gig. There's quite a few good ol boys around too, so that helps if things were to get ugly. But I'm also working on plan C, which is procuring another BOL even further out into nowhere, near a water supply, fish and game.The exterior will stay white until I make it to plan C, where I will have 2-3 cases of spray paint and it'll get camo'd then. I want it to look like a POS!

I'm doing this on a shoestring budget dude and if I can plan this far out with my measley $'s I think you can get creative too, in a much more luxurious, kick ass way. Get out of Dodge now while it's still easy and then plan on going defcon from there. Dick stab them before they can dick stab you in the dick! ;D

[Goldgonewild]

General, I don't live in LA or any other mega large population center so my needs are different than yours and everybody elses for that matter but this is my plan A, the Libertymobile. I just did the deal with a buddy and it is now mine. Yeah, it's a lil rough on the outside, for now, actually the progress you see in the works was done by me and him when he visited back in Oct. The motor though is a horse! with only 60K on it.

This will pull my 4x4 Cherokee and it will double as a trailer/storage in the process.I'm currently looking and talking with people who live just out of town with a little land, barns, water, elect etc.. and am going to rent from them, parking the RV inside the barn, live in it, work on it while continuing the 9-5 gig. There's quite a few good ol boys around too, so that helps if things were to get ugly. But I'm also working on plan C, which is procuring another BOL even further out into nowhere, near a water supply, fish and game.The exterior will stay white until I make it to plan C, where I will have 2-3 cases of spray paint and it'll get camo'd then. I want it to look like a POS!

I'm doing this on a shoestring budget dude and if I can plan this far out with my measley $'s I think you can get creative too, in a much more luxurious, kick ass way. Get out of Dodge now while it's still easy and then plan on going defcon from there. Dick stab them before they can dick stab you! ;D




Love it, especially the part of keeping it white till you make it to plan C, no need for now to attract unnecessary attention.
Having a beater RV says to every would be thieves that you are poor and probably have no extra foods. trick is to have a clean and comfortable interior with a beater looking exterior shell.

Make sure that your tires are near new and able to get you out of mud traps that would otherwise stuck your RV if you go over poor unpaved roads. Good mud or all terrain tires are an excellent investment for a BOV like yours.

I love it, great potential and easy on the wallet. Decent size also , not too big + they are easy to repair as they don't have a lot of electronic parts.
PLEASE post more pics when you can.

[SilverMagnet]

The best way to prepare for TSHTF is to live like it has already happened. That means get out of concentrated population centers, buy land or get an RV to put on a relative or friend's land. When there is a catastrophic event or dollar crash, it will be too late.

[mick silver]

i will be renting lots this spring ...........................................

[Heimdhal]

General, I don't live in LA or any other mega large population center so my needs are different than yours and everybody elses for that matter but this is my plan A, the Libertymobile. I just did the deal with a buddy and it is now mine. Yeah, it's a lil rough on the outside, for now, actually the progress you see in the works was done by me and him when he visited back in Oct. The motor though is a horse! with only 60K on it.

This will pull my 4x4 Cherokee and it will double as a trailer/storage in the process.I'm currently looking and talking with people who live just out of town with a little land, barns, water, elect etc.. and am going to rent from them, parking the RV inside the barn, live in it, work on it while continuing the 9-5 gig. There's quite a few good ol boys around too, so that helps if things were to get ugly. But I'm also working on plan C, which is procuring another BOL even further out into nowhere, near a water supply, fish and game.The exterior will stay white until I make it to plan C, where I will have 2-3 cases of spray paint and it'll get camo'd then. I want it to look like a POS!

I'm doing this on a shoestring budget dude and if I can plan this far out with my measley $'s I think you can get creative too, in a much more luxurious, kick ass way. Get out of Dodge now while it's still easy and then plan on going defcon from there. Dick stab them before they can dick stab you in the dick! ;D


Hey kick ass man! If you need any interior work done (cabenetry, metal work, etc) drive 'er on over here and I'd love to help ya for a weekend of RV'ing and Sir Pizza! We can even do some leather work to help you get on your way to your crafting.

[Libertytree]

General, I don't live in LA or any other mega large population center so my needs are different than yours and everybody elses for that matter but this is my plan A, the Libertymobile. I just did the deal with a buddy and it is now mine. Yeah, it's a lil rough on the outside, for now, actually the progress you see in the works was done by me and him when he visited back in Oct. The motor though is a horse! with only 60K on it.

This will pull my 4x4 Cherokee and it will double as a trailer/storage in the process.I'm currently looking and talking with people who live just out of town with a little land, barns, water, elect etc.. and am going to rent from them, parking the RV inside the barn, live in it, work on it while continuing the 9-5 gig. There's quite a few good ol boys around too, so that helps if things were to get ugly. But I'm also working on plan C, which is procuring another BOL even further out into nowhere, near a water supply, fish and game.The exterior will stay white until I make it to plan C, where I will have 2-3 cases of spray paint and it'll get camo'd then. I want it to look like a POS!

I'm doing this on a shoestring budget dude and if I can plan this far out with my measley $'s I think you can get creative too, in a much more luxurious, kick ass way. Get out of Dodge now while it's still easy and then plan on going defcon from there. Dick stab them before they can dick stab you in the dick! ;D


Hey kick ass man! If you need any interior work done (cabenetry, metal work, etc) drive 'er on over here and I'd love to help ya for a weekend of RV'ing and Sir Pizza! We can even do some leather work to help you get on your way to your crafting.




Yeah, the interior needs customized and properly outfitted, right now it's a rough, tough, rolling party machine. I'll have 4 days in April off Heim and don't have any plans yet so that just might work!

[bellevuebully]

General, I don't live in LA or any other mega large population center so my needs are different than yours and everybody elses for that matter but this is my plan A, the Libertymobile. I just did the deal with a buddy and it is now mine. Yeah, it's a lil rough on the outside, for now, actually the progress you see in the works was done by me and him when he visited back in Oct. The motor though is a horse! with only 60K on it.

This will pull my 4x4 Cherokee and it will double as a trailer/storage in the process.I'm currently looking and talking with people who live just out of town with a little land, barns, water, elect etc.. and am going to rent from them, parking the RV inside the barn, live in it, work on it while continuing the 9-5 gig. There's quite a few good ol boys around too, so that helps if things were to get ugly. But I'm also working on plan C, which is procuring another BOL even further out into nowhere, near a water supply, fish and game.The exterior will stay white until I make it to plan C, where I will have 2-3 cases of spray paint and it'll get camo'd then. I want it to look like a POS!

I'm doing this on a shoestring budget dude and if I can plan this far out with my measley $'s I think you can get creative too, in a much more luxurious, kick ass way. Get out of Dodge now while it's still easy and then plan on going defcon from there. Dick stab them before they can dick stab you in the dick! ;D


Mount one of these bad boys on that wagon.......should keep the bandits away.

[solid]

That's awesome Liberty, congrats!

General, you could always get a floating 'RV', ain't no roadblocks at sea. Could bug out by cutting the docklines, a couple of minutes if you needed to. Just thought I'd throw that idea, out there.

[bellevuebully]

That's awesome Liberty, congrats!

General, you could always get a floating 'RV', ain't no roadblocks at sea. Could bug out by cutting the docklines, a couple of minutes if you needed to. Just thought I'd throw that idea, out there.




Thats a good idea solid. Lot's of extra fuel.....at least get you to a rural landing. Maybe that is where General could have a bug out vehical stashed at a farm or something.

[Ponce]

If you were to scape by boat then you better have a pretty big boad and pretty big weapons because there will be guys with big boats and big weapons hunting you down for what you have.........your boat also better be pretty fast.............what you plan on paper and what happens in real life are never the same.

"To be ready is not"... Ponce

[solid]

If you were to scape by boat then you better have a pretty big boat and pretty big weapons because there will be guys with big boats and big weapons hunting you down for what you have.........


Agreed. The US Coast Guard is a concern. ;D

Actually, I'm only half-joking considering a possible martial law scenario. To bug out by boat, means to get out quickly. Also, most folks, especially the ones who will initially target people in a collapse scenario, are very boat ignorant. The bad guys generally don't like boats...yet, that is. Once the easy prey is gone, they will get over their fear of water. By that time, I plan on being long gone..

[PatColo]

If RV lifestyle suits you, it's a good time to buy (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?source=patrick.net&file=/c/a/2011/01/13/SPQV1H7QUH.DTL#divider)

[etc]

Boston T. Party recommended RV / TT living in many of his books, such as "BulletProof Privacy".

Don't register one and keep it at some campground where you don't give them information either. This way you are invisible and very hard to find.

It's a great lifestyle. I full timed in one for 2 years.

The biggest problem is lack of space. Get the very biggest one you can afford and an appropriate tow vehicle. I had a 32' and it was just barely enough. If I do it again, I will get a 38' Fifth Wheel probably as they are much more appealing for full-timing with tons of storage space.

The biggest advantage is you can move anywhere almost instantly.

Some states are not RV-friendly and have very few campgrounds. I work in major metro areas which usually do not have many campgrounds. In general, campgrounds are not the best places to stay at. The lots are tiny, the neighbors are noisy and they are expensive. (500-700/month in DC area). You are better off renting a place on a farm somewhere or even buying your own lot of zoning permits RVs.

[PatColo]

Taking a renewed interest in this thread, as I'm seriously looking at getting an RV, almost surely at this point a motorized/mobile home jobee (as opposed to 5th wheel/trailer)

was looking online @ Class Bs, like a long (24') tall (~9') van but only ~6' wide. These type jobees, for example:
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=563&ei=IGHAXZDwKcnh-gSsjproCg&q=winnebego+ERA+sprinter+24+foot&oq=winnebego+ERA+sprinter+24+foot (https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=563&ei=IGHAXZDwKcnh-gSsjproCg&q=winnebego+ERA+sprinter+24+foot&oq=winnebego+ERA+sprinter+24+foot&gs_l=img.3...13026.27602..28904...0.0..0.275.2955. 22j6j2......0....1..gws-wiz-img.....0..0j0i131j0i10j0i10i24.SwRvJtyUggo&ved=0ahUKEwiQgLTQi9HlAhXJsJ4KHSyHBq0Q4dUDCAY&uact=5)

But going to the big RV center this weekend disabused me of that notion; felt depressingly claustrophobic inside for my tall 6-3 lanky arse! :(

Now I'm more hot on a class-C with at least one pop-out side. Commonly built on Ford F-350 & some other main engine/chasis', was remarkably more comfy inside, when imagining it as a place to potentially live for significant periods of time!!

And the prices between these 2 size classes are... drumroll... about the same, other factors (year/mileage) ~equal! There just seems to be high demand for the small but complete (kitchen/toilet/shower/queen bed+/generator) class-B RVs, as people imagine easier driving & parking as they expect to use it as a part time 'runabout'... & in SF Bay Area$$, often as 'home' which they also drive to/from work!

anyways; any brain dumps on this matter appreciated.

[Jewboo]

...I could already have the majority of stuff I needed packed in it and just hook it up and GOOOOOOOOOO.



GoD's later thread:

"Holy shit guys! Somebody just hooked up my trailer with all my wtshtf stuff and stole it!"

:)

[Jewboo]

...I'm seriously looking at getting an RV, almost surely at this point a motorized/mobile home...any brain dumps on this matter appreciated.




Motorhome Fires (https://www.google.com/search?biw=1920&bih=873&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=bXfAXfG7FMie-gSZra_oBg&q=motor+home+fire&oq=motor+home+fire&gs_l=img.3..0i10i24l4.14454.15150..15665...0.0..0. 93.294.4......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0j0i10j0i10i30j0i8i10i30.Flz2yCdLekY&ved=0ahUKEwixpsDyoNHlAhVIj54KHZnWC20Q4dUDCAY&uact=5)


:(

[PatColo]

Motorhome Fires (https://www.google.com/search?biw=1920&bih=873&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=bXfAXfG7FMie-gSZra_oBg&q=motor+home+fire&oq=motor+home+fire&gs_l=img.3..0i10i24l4.14454.15150..15665...0.0..0. 93.294.4......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0j0i10j0i10i30j0i8i10i30.Flz2yCdLekY&ved=0ahUKEwixpsDyoNHlAhVIj54KHZnWC20Q4dUDCAY&uact=5)


:(



that would certainly be an unfortunate occurrence :( but what sort of fundamental design or maintenance flaws cause them? That is, imagining RV fires are some sort of off the charts epidemic, which I know nothing about at this time.

[Jewboo]

...what sort of fundamental design or maintenance flaws...



A motorhome in 2019 Clown World is simply unsafe. The door and walls are basically thin aluminum and formaldehyde (https://www.google.com/search?biw=1920&bih=873&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=Ga3AXfLyFsTQ-gT0-KHIAw&q=fema+formaldehyde+trailer&oq=fema+formaldehyde+trailer&gs_l=img.12..0i24.89572.91077..92995...0.0..0.83.6 45.9......0....1..gws-wiz-img.c_zUNA0DpKM&ved=0ahUKEwiy46GK1NHlAhVEqJ4KHXR8CDkQ4dUDCAY) paneling. Let's try this one:




Motorhome Robbery (https://www.google.com/search?biw=1920&bih=873&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=v6vAXZ7zDpX--gShxIToDg&q=motorhome+robbery&oq=motorhome+robbery&gs_l=img.12...0.0..17132...0.0..0.0.0.......0..... .gws-wiz-img.r8yxx3gy93o&ved=0ahUKEwjezpvl0tHlAhUVv54KHSEiAe0Q4dUDCAY)


:(?? gringo cracker begging for it in Cali ?

[PatColo]

:(?? gringo cracker begging for it in Cali ?



Yeah I've considered that; didn't bounce it off sales guy Sat when I visited but I'd imagine some kind of car alarm system for RVs, w triggers @ 3 main points of entry & engine kill circuitry. Need to learn more about that; last thing I'd want is false alarms just coz of high winds or whatever when 'living' at a nice/safe mobile park. That "lo-jack" thing is still a thing, right?

& a bolted down gun safe somewhere inside for handgun + any key docs... I imagine somewhere inside the cabinetry?

Part of the motorhome appeal is, slipping out of Cali altogether or migrate somewhere rural/safe within, at a moment's notice. Most of CA measured by its vast square mileage, is red state demographics! It's not all SF/LA/rapefugee santuary cities... but bad shit can happen anywhere...

So fire risk, robbery/burglary risk; these are risks in houses/apts too! Their mere possibilities aren't spoilers versus the RV pluses, thus far.

[Hitch]

I have a class C RV I live in half the time (for work). I've also used it for travelling all over, so I've learned a bit about travelling in "stealth" mode.

Mine is only 19 feet long, will fit in a parking spot. I've had it for over 7 years, and have put 60,000 miles on it.

In my personal opinion, a class B sprinter van is the way to go. I've spent probably $24,000 on fuel for mine, it only gets 10 mpg. I've spent more on fuel for the thing, than I bought it for! lol. Plus, with a sprinter, you can get 500,000 miles out of the engine, while getting better than 20 mpg fuel consumption. If you want to travel, and explore, the sprinter will pay for itself in fuel consumption.

I would not go with Winnebago (nothing against them), but personally like Leisure Travel Vans, or Pleasure Way.

EDIT: PatCo, I am shorter than you, 5'10", so I fit fine in a Class B. Should have caught that in your post before making this one...

[Spun Gold]

I heard prices are coming down fast. Make me very tempted as well.

[PatColo]

I heard prices are coming down fast. Make me very tempted as well.

any sauce on that claim? I haven't 'heard' anything re unusual new/used RV market price movement.



I have a class C RV I live in half the time (for work). I've also used it for travelling all over, so I've learned a bit about travelling in "stealth" mode.

Mine is only 19 feet long, will fit in a parking spot. I've had it for over 7 years, and have put 60,000 miles on it.

In my personal opinion, a class B sprinter van is the way to go. I've spent probably $24,000 on fuel for mine, it only gets 10 mpg. I've spent more on fuel for the thing, than I bought it for! lol. Plus, with a sprinter, you can get 500,000 miles out of the engine, while getting better than 20 mpg fuel consumption. If you want to travel, and explore, the sprinter will pay for itself in fuel consumption.

I would not go with Winnebago (nothing against them), but personally like Leisure Travel Vans, or Pleasure Way.

EDIT: PatCo, I am shorter than you, 5'10", so I fit fine in a Class B. Should have caught that in your post before making this one...

Great informative spiel Hitch, thx for that! :)

RE the two Class-B mercedes sprinters I checked out, one 20' & one 24', it was less about the inside height which is cited as 6-3, but more about the overall lack of roominess. I do like the mileage, w claims of 22 highway, & liked the general driver layout, with big windshield, navigation/etc touchscreen, rear mounted backup camera. Didn't drive it (or any RVs) but can see, & read online reviews, it's a nice drive. But imagining 'living' in it -- bit depressing to consider. The toilet/sink/shower space is scary-small, like an airplane toilet but with hand held shower added; plus the general "living space" etc... nuff said.

Checking out the class-Cs, either without but esp WITH 1+ pop-out side... aaah, all those claustrophobic concerns went away, both in square footage & having a couple+ inches clearance above my head throughout, it felt downright civilized & livable. I'd be most amenable to one designed mainly for max comfort for 2 ppl; not the ones which boast sleeping 4/6/8/whatever, with over the cab double+ bed & convertible beds elsewhere, where they're just mediocre comfort whether as half-baked chairs/sofas AND as beds. Just err on the side of very comfy/attractive primary (exclusive) functions! Ditto the primary full/queen bed!

Was told average RV sees only 6K miles/year, & their used selection seemed to illustrate that, when dividing the X-year-old models by their mileage. Funny to find the occasional 2019 model year with say, ~50K miles, meaning they bought it as early as summer/fall '18 when they hit showrooms, drove the shit out of them for a year, & now want a (generally still rich) resale price coz it's "so new" Lolz.:D

I recall you've said your're in NorCal Hitch, so you're prolly familiar w Cordelia RV (https://www.cordeliarv.com/) in Fairfield. U can search their site by new/used, class, brand, etc; & get a feel for what kind of coin buys how much RV today.

[midnight rambler]

Mercedes Sprinter vans are great...when new. I would avoid buying a used Sprinter van, only the Mercedes shop can work on some aspects of it and EVERYTHING about the Sprinter is expensive to get repaired.

[PatColo]

If RV lifestyle suits you, it's a good time to buy (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?source=patrick.net&file=/c/a/2011/01/13/SPQV1H7QUH.DTL#divider)

I re-read that ^ Jan 2011 SF Chronicle article, & found linked this newer article by same author:

Happy trailers to you - boom in small RVs (https://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/Happy-trailers-to-you-boom-in-small-RVs-7678779.php)
May 19, 2016 | Tom Stienstra

which contains this industry data re total units sold '09 - '15, more than doubling! Recall meltdown was 2nd half of '08; & real estate had turned the corner across most of the country beginning '05; then at least in SFBA, bottomed at New Years '12/'13 & has boomed to new all time highs since.



Sales of RVs — along with kayaks — make up the fastest-growing outdoors industry in America. In the past seven years, sales of all RVs have more than doubled, according to monthly sales figures provided by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. The numbers show how sales have grown since the economic collapse in mid-year 2008:

2009: 1.66 million (units sold).
2010: 2.42 million.
2011: 2.52 million.
2012: 2.86 million.
2013: 3.21 million.
2014: 3.57 million.
2015: 3.72 million.

[woodman]

I re-read that ^ Jan 2011 SF Chronicle article, & found linked this newer article by same author:

Happy trailers to you - boom in small RVs (https://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/Happy-trailers-to-you-boom-in-small-RVs-7678779.php)
May 19, 2016 | Tom Stienstra

which contains this industry data re total units sold '09 - '15, more than doubling! Recall meltdown was 2nd half of '08; & real estate had turned the corner across most of the country beginning '05; then at least in SFBA, bottomed at New Years '12/'13 & has boomed to new all time highs since.



Sales of RVs — along with kayaks — make up the fastest-growing outdoors industry in America. In the past seven years, sales of all RVs have more than doubled, according to monthly sales figures provided by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. The numbers show how sales have grown since the economic collapse in mid-year 2008:

2009: 1.66 million (units sold).
2010: 2.42 million.
2011: 2.52 million.
2012: 2.86 million.
2013: 3.21 million.
2014: 3.57 million.
2015: 3.72 million.


Lots of Boomers starting to retire and looking for a way to spend time and money.

[PatColo]

Mercedes Sprinter vans are great...when new. I would avoid buying a used Sprinter van, only the Mercedes shop can work on some aspects of it and EVERYTHING about the Sprinter is expensive to get repaired.

Yeah they're generally quite likeable, even just having the 3-pointed star on the grill & steering wheel, offsetting the "trailer trash" stigma lol. But they're spendy as fuck; brand new 2020 24' Sprinter RV MSRP around $170 K! Look em up! Couple years old still very high five, lower six figures!

You'd hope to "get a big % of that back" at selling time, esp after the first sucker paid the biggest "BRAND NEW!!" premium where resale drops an instant ~20% after they register & drive it off the lot. :rolleyes:

They'd make a fine weekender & so forth, but what I saw just didn't appear viable as a happy home for indefinite time frame. Not to mention I just don't need to spend that much; can put that $ to work elsewhere (like riding this present PM bull market :cool:).... touring a few newer Class-Cs plus their typical price range made it pretty much no contest.

[PatColo]

Lots of Boomers starting to retire and looking for a way to spend time and money.

You figure we're mid way thru the boomer retirement bulge - if we define them as born 1946-1960, they're 59-73yo now.

I'm gen-x, early 50s & that 2016 article I just linked above says re what's selling hotly to whom:



"...easier-to-park units as well as fifth-wheel trailers with multiple sliders and luxury interiors, which have met the demand of a new, developing market: those who retire between 55 and 65 years of age."



& that was ~3.5y ago now; adjust demographics accordingly.

[woodman]

You figure we're mid way thru the boomer retirement bulge - if we define them as born 1946-1960, they're 59-73yo now.

I'm gen-x, early 50s & that 2016 article I just linked above says re what's selling hotly to whom:


"...easier-to-park units as well as fifth-wheel trailers with multiple sliders and luxury interiors, which have met the demand of a new, developing market: those who retire between 55 and 65 years of age."



& that was ~3.5y ago now; adjust demographics accordingly.
Been seeing some very nice fifth wheels for sale around here, quite reasonable. The fifth wheel requires adapting the pick-up bed and losing the bed for other purposes. Supposedly more stable to tow.

[PatColo]

Been seeing some very nice fifth wheels for sale around here, quite reasonable. The fifth wheel requires adapting the pick-up bed and losing the bed for other purposes. Supposedly more stable to tow.

yeah that has some advantages; unhitch the 5th wheel & ur truck's freed as ur runabout wherever you are; but that size truck, a newer reliable one of sufficient size & tow capacity, would cost around what a similarly newish class-c motorhome costs.

I'd go with big SUV & trailer before a big pickup & 5th wheel, based on my limited knowledge now. Just have no ongoing use for a big pickup, otherwise,

& newer truck/SUV + newer 5th wheel/trailer could still be had for same/less than a 2yo little class-b mercedes sprinter w >40K miles on it, though!

[monty]

yeah that has some advantages; unhitch the 5th wheel & ur truck's freed as ur runabout wherever you are; but that size truck, a newer reliable one of sufficient size & tow capacity, would cost around what a similarly newish class-c motorhome costs.

I'd go with big SUV & trailer before a big pickup & 5th wheel, based on my limited knowledge now. Just have no ongoing use for a big pickup, otherwise,

& newer truck/SUV + newer 5th wheel/trailer could still be had for same/less than a 2yo little class-b mercedes sprinter w >40K miles on it, though!

A camp trailer with one slideout 30 feet weighs 10,000 pounds. This would require an SUV capable of towing 10,000# and suspension that will support the tongue weight.

[monty]

yeah that has some advantages; unhitch the 5th wheel & ur truck's freed as ur runabout wherever you are; but that size truck, a newer reliable one of sufficient size & tow capacity, would cost around what a similarly newish class-c motorhome costs.

I'd go with big SUV & trailer before a big pickup & 5th wheel, based on my limited knowledge now. Just have no ongoing use for a big pickup, otherwise,

& newer truck/SUV + newer 5th wheel/trailer could still be had for same/less than a 2yo little class-b mercedes sprinter w >40K miles on it, though!

I have a 315 RLS 2005 Mountaineer Montana built by Keystone with one slide out. The 2 things I dont like, the dining table and bench seats convert to a bed are terribly uncomfortable. The bedroom is small and only
accommodates a standard size mattress, not good for a 6’3” man and very limited closet space.

My Norwegian cousin in law, a huge man, has a Montana Mountaineer with 2 slide outs. The bedroom has the second slide out with the bed crossways. It is either a queen or king bed. It has way more closet and drawers for clothes than my single slide out.

It also has a nice dinette with 4 conventional chairs and a nice table.

[PatColo]

A camp trailer with one slideout 30 feet weighs 10,000 pounds. This would require an SUV capable of towing 10,000# and suspension that will support the tongue weight.

30' sounds like a ginormous camper/5th wheel, considering it's all living space without the driver/dash/motor space. Compare to the ~25' motorized jobees I'm interested in, thinking they'd be more than sufficient size for my 'needs'.

Best setup for me would appear to be a C with sufficient beef to tow a compact/midsize car as a runabout.

I've tweeted Greta Thurnberg asking her opinion re the best setup; no reply so far but I keep hope alive! :)

[ziero0]

Best setup for me would appear to be a C with sufficient beef to tow a compact/midsize car as a runabout.


Keep this option in mind

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oaxCDoX7kCABmahiyHjMUNx7Iww=/0x0:6000x4000/1200x800/filters:focal(2520x1520:3480x2480)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56562299/performance_s.0.jpg

[midnight rambler]

Keep this option in mind

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oaxCDoX7kCABmahiyHjMUNx7Iww=/0x0:6000x4000/1200x800/filters:focal(2520x1520:3480x2480)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56562299/performance_s.0.jpg

The dinghy in that photo is much more expensive than just the camper he's considering.

[PatColo]

Keep this option in mind

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oaxCDoX7kCABmahiyHjMUNx7Iww=/0x0:6000x4000/1200x800/filters:focal(2520x1520:3480x2480)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56562299/performance_s.0.jpg


heh, good one! :D Is it real, or photochop? imagining the hydrolics nec for that car platform, then the "living space" displacement once under the bus & raised - seems implausible!

[ziero0]

The dinghy in that photo is much more expensive than just the camper he's considering.
So you would go for the pauper option?

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/l-UPEcXIWk6ldaEcZmCkYiCGAxI=/0x0:1200x525/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:1200x525):format(webp):no_upscal e()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11891707/9_morelo_palace_garage_01.jpg

[PatColo]

My nearby CordeliaRVCenter has a slew of these used 2019 "Coachman Leprechaun" class Cs, all w nearly same mileage of ~36K, same layouts w 1 slider, all around $55K... more than mere coinkeedink, me thinks! Here's but one of like 4 specimens:
https://www.cordeliarv.com/inv/2019-Coachman-Leprechaun-220QB-25358/

I'll be interested to learn the backstory there.

Eyballing this 2006 Class C w 1 slider, only 32K miles, and an agreeable ~$30K pricetag... imagining where I could park all that extra $ vs its ~$55K peers, only 1-3y old but with same or higher mileage!
https://www.cordeliarv.com/inv/2006-Coachman-Freelander-3100-25365

Is it correct to assume tires' life expectancy 40-50K miles? & what's 6 new truck tires gonna cost?

[PatColo]

My nearby CordeliaRVCenter has a slew of these used 2019 "Coachman Leprechaun" class Cs, all w nearly same mileage of ~36K, same layouts w 1 slider, all around $55K... more than mere coinkeedink, me thinks! Here's but one of like 4 specimens:
https://www.cordeliarv.com/inv/2019-Coachman-Leprechaun-220QB-25358/

I'll be interested to learn the backstory there.

Visited again yesterday; all those 24' class-C Leprechauns were rentals, being resold into the private market. So they've been maintained & cleaned like clockwork. They're not "bargains" like the older rigs, but they seem like solid picks which I haven't ruled out.


Eyballing this 2006 Class C w 1 slider, only 32K miles, and an agreeable ~$30K pricetag... imagining where I could park all that extra $ vs its ~$55K peers, only 1-3y old but with same or higher mileage!
https://www.cordeliarv.com/inv/2006-Coachman-Freelander-3100-25365


Took a good look at this ^ one. Notice the listing for it is lacking basic specs, like... MODEL? SIZE?! They're selling on consignment.

Bitch is 31' :o!! 8'4" outer width, 11'2" height at top of aircon unit. Interior height 6'8"

Pics tell the story; everything in decent shape, comfy living space w 8' slider, full king bed in the way back, & bathroom/shower with entrances from both the living side & master bedroom side... which on the one hand is kinda cool giving a 'normal size' feeling bathroom rather than cramped airplane lavatory, & the other hand, anyone in the bedroom can be excluded from leaving if living with a non-intimate partner/guest who's using the bathroom/shower, as it requires passing thru the bathroom to enter/leave the bedroom?! Off hand that wouldn't be any routine problem with the lifestyle I'd have, but still!

Floorplan pic: http://www.rvweb.com/rvimgs/coachmen/fp/1125437080989/2006_freelander_3100so_floorplan.jpg << yes, slider pulled in cuts off access to those cabinets & ~half the double sink... no biggie, I figure.

Ford E-450 chassis w 6.8L V10 gasoline. All the other specs are at http://www.rvweb.com/guides/manufacturers/coachmen/models/2006_freelander-1125437047743 - choose the Specs tab, 3100 SO column.

Mileage again is ~32K, which divided by 14 years = ~2,300/yr. Generator has clocked 205 hours.

This nadaguides.com site which is sort of a Blue Book for RVs site, puts the value from ~$30-35 K. The only variables I entered were mileage & 8' slider.
https://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/2006/Coachmen/M-3100-SO-Ford-__/3043794/Values


SOOO, I basically liked it... very livable; BUUUT, THE 31' SIZE... like, what are the unexpected implications of that? Do some mobile parks charge differently based on RV length? Or, do many parks have a standard/max size limit, which 31' would be excluded from??

Still getting my head around how 1 week ago today, I was calibrated toward getting a 24', 6' wide Class B sardine can; & today after only 2 RV center visits I'm seriously contemplating getting a 31' class C!

But it seems like I'm in the "value zone" here, where the age/depreciation curve's steepest drop is behind it, & it'll hold much stronger through the coming, say 2-5 years. Oh yeah, that nadaguides page says original MSRP on this rig was $74,581.

Thoughts?

[woodman]

Visited again yesterday; all those 24' class-C Leprechauns were rentals, being resold into the private market. So they've been maintained & cleaned like clockwork. They're not "bargains" like the older rigs, but they seem like solid picks which I haven't ruled out.



Took a good look at this ^ one. Notice the listing for it is lacking basic specs, like... MODEL? SIZE?! They're selling on consignment.

Bitch is 31' :o!! 8'4" outer width, 11'2" height at top of aircon unit. Interior height 6'8"

Pics tell the story; everything in decent shape, comfy living space w 8' slider, full king bed in the way back, & bathroom/shower with entrances from both the living side & master bedroom side... which on the one hand is kinda cool giving a 'normal size' feeling bathroom rather than cramped airplane lavatory, & the other hand, anyone in the bedroom can be excluded from leaving if living with a non-intimate partner/guest who's using the bathroom/shower, as it requires passing thru the bathroom to enter/leave the bedroom?! Off hand that wouldn't be any routine problem with the lifestyle I'd have, but still!

Floorplan pic: http://www.rvweb.com/rvimgs/coachmen/fp/1125437080989/2006_freelander_3100so_floorplan.jpg << yes, slider in cuts of access to those cabinets & ~half the double sink... no biggie, I figure.

Ford E45 chassis w 6.8L V10 gasoline. All the other specs are at http://www.rvweb.com/guides/manufacturers/coachmen/models/2006_freelander-1125437047743 - choose the Specs tab, 3100 SO column.

Mileage again is ~32K, which divided by 14 years = ~2,300/yr. Generator has clocked 205 hours.

This nadaguides.com site which is sort of a Blue Book for RVs site, puts the value from ~$30-35 K. The only variables I entered were mileage & 8' slider.
https://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/2006/Coachmen/M-3100-SO-Ford-__/3043794/Values


SOOO, I basically liked it... very livable; BUUUT, THE 31' SIZE... like, what are the unexpected implications of that? Do some mobile parks charge differently based on RV length? Or, do many parks have a standard/max size limit, which 31' would be excluded from??

Still getting my head around how 1 week ago today, I was calibrated toward getting a 24', 6' wide Class B sardine can; & today after only 2 RV center visits I'm seriously contemplating getting a 31' class C!

But it seems like I'm in the "value zone" here, where the age/depreciation curve's steepest drop is behind it, & it'll hold much stronger through the coming, say 2-5 years. Oh yeah, that nadaguides page says original MSRP on this rig was $74,581.

Thoughts?

Looks pretty comfy Pat. I wonder about the wisdom of renting one, perhaps even that one, before buying and getting the feel of it.

[PatColo]

Looks pretty comfy Pat. I wonder about the wisdom of renting one, perhaps even that one, before buying and getting the feel of it.


This place isn't a rental outlet, just sales/service. They're in cahoots with some area rental place (believe he said outdoorsy.com in Napa) whereby they sell the former new/rentals after their prime rental lifespans.

The best I could do with this consignment jobee is a test drive, which I didn't do yest... but that would obv be a prereq b4 making a final decision.

That nadaguides page (https://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/2006/Coachmen/M-3100-SO-Ford-__/3043794/Values) points to some rental options; I see late model 26' & 28' class c's for ~$200/night (min 2 nights), or $1100-1200/wk. Not a bad idea; will consider.

This site was a start in seeing about rents in various parts of CA; click the Rent column to sort
https://mhphoa.com/ca/rent/

[Hitch]

Hi Pat, did you decide on an RV? I've been away from the computer for awhile, but wanted to pass on one piece of advise.

Regarding slide-outs, make sure the RV is functional with the slides IN. If you can't move around, use the head, or make a sandwich with the slides in, it makes travelling more difficult. A lot of RV's don't take that in mind, they make them so they are comfortable while "tied to the dock" so to speak, but useless while on the road travelling.

[PatColo]

Hi Pat, did you decide on an RV? I've been away from the computer for awhile, but wanted to pass on one piece of advise.

Regarding slide-outs, make sure the RV is functional with the slides IN. If you can't move around, use the head, or make a sandwich with the slides in, it makes travelling more difficult. A lot of RV's don't take that in mind, they make them so they are comfortable while "tied to the dock" so to speak, but useless while on the road travelling.

^ just seeing this now, got away from me at the time. yes re the sliders, all I've seen would be functional w slides in.

Get this; now even considering used Class A's... same price & length (30-35') range, which I'd already acclimated to in the Cs I liked.

All appearing more like city busses w their big flat front, they have the nice big windshield, &... still getting up to speed on what the other implications are of A vs C are, of ~same length & basic amenities. I see they're hella-heavier, IE ~20+ K lbs curb weight, owing mostly to bigger/heavier chassis?

Peruse some used jobees here, to get a feel for sizes/ages/amenities/prices
Class A Motorhomes For Sale - RV Trader (https://www.rvtrader.com/Class-A/rvs-for-sale?type=Class%20A%7C198067)


Running over to the RV place again shortly; will know more later :)

[Jewboo]

Thoughts?







You in 2019 priced out of exorbitant San Mateo housing and now actually considering living in an RV on the streets as a White Man?

:o

[C.Martel]

You in 2019 priced out of exorbitant San Mateo housing and now actually considering living in an RV on the streets as a White Man?

:o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0BCAp4buA8

Yang is also pro-freedom of speech including 'hate speech'(C).

Yang is the man on the right:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EGyYSK5XUAAuwMN?format=jpg&name=large

Grew up excelling in education and playing videos games. Yang is one of 'us'.

And the media hates him, like Ron Paul.

[PatColo]

You in 2019 priced out of exorbitant San Mateo housing and now actually considering living in an RV on the streets as a White Man?

:o

& look at me now, a dang motivational speaker?!?!?

Matt Foley: Van Down By The River - SNL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8


but seriously, check out this guy's channel,

CheapRVliving (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAj7O3LCDbkIR54hAn6Zz7A/videos)
353K subscribers

More focus on ultra low cost van/RV living, but vids like these 2 were quite cool; both feature women living nomadically in 24' motorhomes

this woman tows a runabout car
27m https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JNJGDkY-NA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JNJGDkY-NA


this woman pays $360 "rent" per year via state/nat park long term passes.
24m: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRn5xcgLnrI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRn5xcgLnrI

[PatColo]

barring any last min unforeseen, I expect to put a deposit on a 35' 5" Class A today :o :D

'07 Dolphin by National RV with only 9K miles, for just under $40K. Looks great, body/paint, carpet etc, didn't see any flaws

Orig $137K, LOW nadaguides retail est for this rig with full body paint option is $41K, AVERAGE is $49.4K

Ford's 6.8L Triton V10 gasoline
two opposing sliders, 1 does sofa/dinette, other does queen bed + wardrobe
7 KW Onan gen
'basement' aircon (no unit on the roof), so height 11' 9", width 8.5'
GVWR 22K#, GCWR 26K#
hydrolic leveling jacks
brochure http://cmrvs.com/07dolphin/brochure.pdf


10 min vid tour, pub'd by a dealer back in 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO7jDK1etaQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO7jDK1etaQ


weird thing about the class C's vs A's; despite the massive weight diff (near double) of the A's vs C's of same length, is the A's pull about the same mileage! I'm told it's something about how they manage the torque...:(?? I could imagine once up to highway speed, with the momentum thing, it takes about same to very little more energy to maintain that speed... something like that.

& from the driver/(passenger) perspective, sooo much higher visibility & more space in the A's vs C's.

So GSUS brain trust, it's time to throw me ur "last min unforeseens" now b4 I get in there again today to lay deposit, or forever hold ur peace. :)

[Jewboo]

So GSUS brain trust, it's time to throw me ur "last min unforeseens" now b4 I get in there again today to lay deposit, or forever hold ur peace. :)

One final photo (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S0-EoakjsZU/maxresdefault.jpg) to register my discouragement.

:D

[midnight rambler]

Pat, pay no attention to Book as he has zero experience in this field.

[PatColo]

^ tough to even make out what happened there?! other than, some kind of driving accident. Yes those do happen on the roadways... drive safely, everyone! & part of that means staying the F away from RVs whilst ur driving; there's NO size/weight/class RV threshold which triggers a state requirement for any extra license class, training, testing, physical etc. Got ur valid class C driver's license? ur good to hop in & drive off... even BOOK! :o :cool:

[midnight rambler]

^ tough to even make out what happened there?! other than, some kind of driving accident.

Pat, that was the result of one of those infamous LA police chases, it was a stolen RV...why else would the driver keep going after that much damage??

[Jewboo]

Pat, pay no attention to Book as he has zero experience in this field.

I actually lived in a vehicle for two years in Northern California but that was decades ago when a White Man wasn't surrounded by crazy druggies and resentful brown people like PatColo is today in 2019.

Exactly WHERE are you gonna park this thing Pat?

:rolleyes:

[PatColo]

Exactly WHERE are you gonna park this thing Pat?

:rolleyes:

was gonna put it in ur driveway in boise... U can accommodate?

in the shorter term, need to find some kinda M.home park while I get some other projects taken care of. There's also a whole "boondocking" RV scene; name I hear come up most often is, WalMart parking lots; but gather these are one night sleepers, not ongoing residents or they'd get hassle.

So, yes, RV park... I'd go straight for a 55yo+ park but I'm 52 so... have to find an all ages place with plenty of nice Mexican fam's.

[PatColo]

barring any last min unforeseen, I expect to put a deposit on a 35' 5" Class A today :o:D


the (deposit) deed is done... long live my pending RV lifestyle! OR if this ends up being my worstest nightmare, then may it be short lived!! :cool:

little * re length: above is "overall length" as in bumper-to-bumper (or maybe also includes the ladder which is furthest back point??); but for official "max length" purposes this rig counts as 34', which supposedly measures living space.

At this point, they're gonna replace all 6 premium OEM Michelin tires, purely due to age... no cost to me. Still confounding coz they appear good; 9K tread wear, not cracking/etc; but he tells me it's just an age thing -- manufacture date '06/07, with time since then nearly always parked with the rig's weight on them.

Says he can even tell from condition of paint job that it's been garaged IE out of the sun, :)*#* sun which also works it's magic on tires, which again, don't appear to show having sat in the sun all those years.

But he was frank: they'll be replaced with "lesser" tires than these orig Michelins, naming Toyo & some other name I forgot as probable replacements. Said Michelins would cost them around $1500 more...

So any thoughts on this sitch? IE the age/weight thing alone is such that it's worth replacing all 6 premium Michelins, with all new but lower quality Toyos/whatever?

And if they should indeed all be replaced for this reason... would it be worth it to propose I pay the extra $$ to 'upgrade' to Michelins? Are Michelins that much more worth it??

[midnight rambler]

Six years is the max age for tires. After six years tires are subject to separating and a separation above 45 MPH can cost more in body damage than a new set of tires. Even if zero miles showing nominal wear six years is the absolute max.

No need for the premium tires however I would research the brand they are wanting to install. Toyo tires ok for your purposes. Would suggest buying tire covers for when parked. Also some people park on pieces of treated pine 2x lumber to get their tires off the ground.

[Tumbleweed]

If you get down in Tennessee Pat don't camp in the Land Between the Lakes or if you do be sure and don't camp in the north end. :o

I've got a friend that comes hunting on my ranch from Tennessee and he says there's "boogers" in the woods there.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnRxX-qCUtY

[PatColo]

^ thx for that verification MR. He also threw out that 6 year nominal life number, & we figure these would be ~13y+. We didn't check the tires' date stamps together but he/dealer presumably had before & knew these are well beyond their replace-no-matter-what date.

am told another trick with a rig with hydrolic leveling jacks like this is, when parking for indefinite times, even already level... drop the 4 jacks & raise the whole thing a bit... don't even know how much we're talking, couple inches/whatever, just to take the weight off the tires - let the jacks share the weight. I'll learn more about that when I take possession, & get the new owners' lesson about everything.

This guy's 37m vid below spends the last ~10m on the down low, all about the tires, chassis, etc. Interesting lesson!

RV Dolphin full Tour Inside & out, Top 2 Bottom (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FjVdSLuHkg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FjVdSLuHkg

[Amanda]

I don't know anything about this, but wanted to wish you good luck with your purchase. Hope it all works out for you.

[Hitch]

Congrats Pat! Welcome to the RV life. :)

I watched one of the videos, and you seem to have gotten a really good deal. Several things impressed me, the fit and finish of the interior, the 7kw gen (wow), and the in the foor ac unit. Also, the seller was honest about the dates on the tires. That's a big overlooked safety issue.

I would recommend checking the dates on the batteries though. Being a 2007, they may or may not have been replaced.

[PatColo]

thx for the happy wishes Amanda & Hitch. :) Looks like I'll pick it up Mon or Tue, expect to live in beginning same night.

RE the tires & the "honest seller"; it's a dealer, & you figure it's their liability on the line. BTW, learned Michelins come with a 10y warranty, so you figure that's built into their loftier price. But I'm gonna get the lower price tires they put on, anticipating 6 year max life independent of mileage.

I also just bought a newer (2016) Honda Fit a month ago, and I learned of one potential little 'mistake' with that already -- it's not "Flat towable", which I wasn't even familiar with before, but it means some kind of connection to the rig, where the car rolls behind on its own 4 wheels, with the car's steering somehow neutralized such that the front wheels just turn with the rig.

20 years ago when I moved from CA to CO, I drove a Ryder (UHaul?) truck; don't remember the length anymore (30' bumper/bumper maybe?) but recall I had to bump up to a bigger truck with more 'box' than I needed just to have the min beef to tow my Honda Civic behind on a "car dolly" which caries only the tow car's 2 front wheels off the ground, while rear wheels roll on the ground.

This was trouble-free; took maybe 5 mins to take the car on or off the dolly. This car dolly setup was all I ever imagined for this new RV + car setup anyways... but open question was/is, do they make a car dolly which "disassembles" such that it'll store in the rig's outside storage bays, for when I find a place I'll expect to stay awhile? We'd be talking commercial RV park places, where I'm still unclear on whether the 35' rig + whatever the (empty) car dolly overall length is, would make the diff between being able to stay at many places or not. So that'll need more research!

Re scouting for an RV park to initially move into, question came up, do I need a 30 or 50 amp power connection? Well the rig only has a 50 amp port... it's a different prong layout between the 2 amp levels. Learned the only thing it would actually NEED that 50 amp for was running the aircon; but not needing that, the 30a connection would suffice for all lights, fans, TV/theater, convection-microwave, fridge on electric mode etc. So they sell a simple 50/30 amp adapter which will allow me to connect a 30a line; I just couldn't run the aircon. So that's good at least! & the 7000 watt generator puts out nearly 60 amps, which can more than handle the aircon+. It's just that diff parks have diff rules re times generators can run, thanks to noise. Rig's Cummins Onan generator has 120 hours use, btw.

The jootube "RV life" genre is pretty big, guessing not only among peeps living the life, but those researching & imagining?

Besides the "very low/modest means" oriented CheapRVliving (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAj7O3LCDbkIR54hAn6Zz7A/videos) channel I pointed to above, there's these popular "modest-to-upscale" channels, for each of which I've watched 3-4 vids:

Carolyn's RV Life
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfqr5I-0RKK8Ha1PeKi0_ig/videos) 114K subscribers
^ 54yo bay area tech yuppie woman dropped the conventional home anchored life 6 years ago for nomad RV life, in a 24' & 29' class C. Very practical oriented vids, + sort of a life vlog. She still works remotely.

Keep Your Daydream
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEhJLsShZt8McryMf_DHLZQ/videos)240K subscribers
^ 40-something couple w kids, practical Class C (& A?) stuff

[Jewboo]

...Re scouting for an RV park to initially move into,... It's just that diff parks have diff rules re times generators can run, thanks to noise.

Colorado RV Park with Hookups Listed by Towns & Areas (https://www.coloradodirectory.com/RV/)

[PatColo]

Colorado RV Park with Hookups Listed by Towns & Areas (https://www.coloradodirectory.com/RV/)



call me a wuss but I want nothing to do with freezing snow/ice driving!

When I moved BACK from CO to CA in '08, twas top of Feb... picked up I-80 beginning in Cheyenne then all the way to SF, & it was full winter condition; was 'between' winter storm/blizzards but there was off/on light snow day/night. Hair raising! Worst stretch was western WY through the descent into Salt Lake City; passed multiple trucks on their sides in the center divide. IIRC most didn't look like multi vehicle accidents; just drivers who lost control, and yes most were amateur-driven rental trucks... though there was at least one commercial. This was the morning after I'd bedded down at a motel in W. WY, & drove that stretch into SLC, so these accidents had probably happened overnight. That was white-knuckle driving, & I stuck to daytime only!

So I'll stick with the Southwest & Gulf states, the "snowbird states" through winter, thank you! :) Safe to say though, I don't think I'd've got this kind of deal if I were buying in Spring/Summer!

[Jewboo]

When I moved BACK from CO to CA in '08...



Oh. PatColo has actually been PatCa since 2008.

:rolleyes:

See...this is why I asked you to tell us WHERE you are planning to park this motor home. If in California where Whitey is now only 35% of the population, your own thread title question obviously answers itself.

Show us any place in California where a White Man can safely live in a thin aluminum-walled vehicle during what your own thread title describes as a "TSHTF Scenario". Just give us the county so you don't doxx yourself.

:)



So I'll stick with the Southwest & Gulf states (https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=64), the "snowbird states" through winter, thank you!

[old steel]

All major highways will be impassable around cities from abandoned vehicles.

Sourcing fuel will be next to impossible.

Find a good spot away from the panic stricken masses and stay put.

[monty]

call me a wuss but I want nothing to do with freezing snow/ice driving!

When I moved BACK from CO to CA in '08, twas top of Feb... picked up I-80 beginning in Cheyenne then all the way to SF, & it was full winter condition; no winter storm/blizzards but off/on light snow day/night. Hair raising! Worst stretch was western WY through the descent into Salt Lake City; passed multiple trucks on their sides in the center divide. IIRC most didn't look like multi vehicle accidents; just drivers who lost control, and yes most were amateur-driven rental trucks... though there was at least one commercial. This was the morning after I'd bedded down at a motel in W. WY, & drove that stretch into SLC, so these accidents had probably happened overnight. That was white-knuckle driving, & I stuck to daytime only!

So I'll stick with the Southwest & Gulf states, the "snowbird states" through winter, thank you! :) Safe to say though, I don't think I'd've got this kind of deal if I were buying in Spring/Summer!

PatColo, your story reminded me of the winter of 1979 when the economy crashed. I was working for Southwest Kenworth Inc. in Reno at the time. One of the customers was behind on his payments of the Kenworth tractor he had bought at the dealership. I was not privy to all the details but apparently Nevada National Bank had contacted the sales dept. and asked then to get the truck repossessed and back to Reno on the Kenworth lot.

The salesman volunteered me to go to Greeley, Colorado and bring the truck back to Reno. This was in the dead of winter. They bought me a plane ticket to Denver where I got my ex wife and kids who were living in Lakewood, Colorado to pick me up at the airport and drive my up to Greeley.

We found the truck from the directions the salesman had given me. There were no keys but the doors weren’t locked. I was told that an attorney in Greeley had the keys, but no way in hell was I going to go asking for keys from a stranger when I was about to repossess his client’s vehicle.

I put the fuel pump on manual and jumped across the stater relay terminals and got the engine started. I headed for I-80. It was about 8:00 pm, the weather was cold and windy blowing snow.
Because I didn’t have keys to turn the ignition switch on I couldn’t run the heater blower. The windshield iced up to the point I had an area about the size of a dinner plate directly in front of me that I could see through. When I got to Rock Springs, Wyoming I stopped for fuel. The sign at the fuel station indicated the current temperature was -34°. While the fuel tank was filling I checked the tool compartment below the sleeper. There was a fishing tackle box with some hand tools. I removed the ignition switch from the dash and put the accessory wire on the battery terminal. I had the heater blower and radio!.

when I got into Utah just before you drop down into Salt Lake City it was considerably warmer. I pulled over in a parking area, crawled into the bunk turned the bunk heater on and slept about 12 hours.

Some time later after I had gotten back to the dealership with the truck one of the office personnel told me that the bank had jumped the gun on the repossession and if the owner had decided to press charges I could be charged with transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines. The guy voluntarily surrendered the truck to the bank so nothing came of that.

[Jewboo]

...They bought me a plane ticket to Denver where I got my ex wife and kids who were living in Lakewood, Colorado to pick me up at the airport and drive my up to Greeley...I put the fuel pump on manual and jumped across the stater relay terminals and got the engine started. I headed for I-80..... There was a fishing tackle box with some hand tools. I removed the ignition switch from the dash and put the accessory wire on the battery terminal. I had the heater blower and radio!...when I got into Utah just before you drop down into Salt Lake City it was considerably warmer. I pulled over in a parking area, crawled into the bunk turned the bunk heater on and slept about 12 hours...Some time later after I had gotten back to the dealership with the truck one of the office personnel told me that the bank had jumped the gun on the repossession and if the owner had decided to press charges I could be charged with transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines.

:o

This is why INSTINCTIVELY I never once ever challenged Monty here at GSUS.

After I graduated 1969 from CSM (https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/) (where PatColo's dad taught) at age 21...I parked my new wife at my parent's home and drove to Colorado Springs thinking to settle there. Nope. Drove I-80 and eventually settled in Salt Lake City then returned to Cali for my new wife. Years later I drove from Manitoba down through the Dakotas with my second wife in her Toyota Corolla to I-80 in January and froze my balls off with the heater going full blas (http://www.drewblood.com/fark/images/stopice2.jpg)t...the cold came from the floorboards up my numb legs. This is why I also have huge respect for Tumbleweed who lives in South Dakota. I ain't man enough to hang out with you two guys.

:D

[Hitch]

See...this is why I asked you to tell us [SIZE=5]WHERE you are planning to park this motor home.

He should park it in your driveway.

Don't ask a question when you don't want that question answered.

If you were a kind host, you'd set up a 50 amp connection.

[Cebu_4_2]

:o

This is why INSTINCTIVELY I never once ever challenged Monty here at GSUS.

After I graduated 1969 from CSM (https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/) (where PatColo's dad taught) at age 21...I parked my new wife at my parent's home and drove to Colorado Springs thinking to settle there. Nope. Drove I-80 and eventually settled in Salt Lake City then returned to Cali for my new wife. Years later I drove from Manitoba down through the Dakotas with my second wife in her Toyota Corolla to I-80 in January and froze my balls off with the heater going full blas (http://www.drewblood.com/fark/images/stopice2.jpg)t...the cold came from the floorboards up my numb legs. This is why I also have huge respect for Tumbleweed who lives in South Dakota. I ain't man enough to hang out with you two guys...Ditto Woodman...lol.

:D

How many wives you on?

[PatColo]

Oh. PatColo has actually been PatCa since 2008.

:rolleyes:

See...this is why I asked you to tell us WHERE you are planning to park this motor home. If in California where Whitey is now only 35% of the population, your own thread title question obviously answers itself.

Show us any place in California where a White Man can safely live in a thin aluminum-walled vehicle during what your own thread title describes as a "TSHTF Scenario". Just give us the county so you don't doxx yourself.

:)



- it's GoD's thread started 1/2/11 (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?41256-Is-a-travel-trailer-a-stupid-idea-for-TSHTF-scenario&p=347730&viewfull=1#post347730)

- surely you're mixing up the rig's walls, with its big lovely polished Alcoa aluminum WHEELS! :)*#*

Outer coach body is all fiberglass, foam insulation, 2x pane safety glass windows. All those windows you see, except the front driver/passenger windows & windshield? Their bottom sides are nearly 7' above the ground.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=2007+National+RV+Dolphin&t=brave&iax=images&ia=images

^ note, the bottom of the side view mirrors are 7' high; compare to the coach windows.

Interestingly, there's only one 'proper' entrance to the rig, namely the 30" door a few feet behind the passenger seat. There are no driver/passenger doors!

If some misguided badees want to try to break in while I'm "home", they'll duly meet the business end of my 9mm or 12ga, & if they're so tweaked out I need to drop them, then that is what shall be.

Anyways Book, U've consistently sounded like a newly half-woke AJ fan, having nightmares & busily hoarding infowars' tangy tangerine koolaid & penis pills for when TSHTF which will of course strike like lightning & it'll be Mad Max within minutes. And, most of the sudden-doom scenarios you're preoccupied with, you're also vulnerable to in your brick/mortar home in Boise, though with more 'favorable' race/demographic numbers as you're so keenly attuned to. Don't underestimate the threat posed by the White tweekers & opioid heads out for their next fix!

I've long since accepted, & seen play out, C.A.Fitts' SLOW BURN prognostication. And I've been back on the ground in Cali, between bay area & Sac, for >3 years now, after 5.5 years in SE Asia. Cali's not the powder keg U & others, esp outside the state & marinating in race war doomer propaganda, :o are so convinced it is. Biggest recent "GTFO NOW!" threat has been... you guessed it, the deep state with their agenda 2030 fires.

[woodman]

I've long since accepted, & seen play out, C.A.Fitts' SLOW BURN prognostication. And I've been back on the ground in Cali, between bay area & Sac, for >3 years now, after 5.5 years in SE Asia. Cali's not the powder keg U & others, esp outside the state & marinating in race war doomer propaganda, :o are so convinced it is. Biggest recent "GTFO NOW!" threat has been... you guessed it, the deep state with their agenda 2030 fires.

She sure nailed it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yLRtjaoSTY


Who knows, it could go hot. Look at what happened in Spain during the run up to WWII; they say that 10% of the population died fighting it out over socialism and that a homogeneous society.

Anyway Pat, that is a sweet rig. I think you will be very comfortable.

[Jewboo]

...I've been back on the ground in Cali, between bay area & Sac, for >3 years now...Cali's not the powder keg U & others, esp outside the state & marinating in race war doomer propaganda, :o are so convinced it is.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZdKIpOR_iY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCaOeyjHgaE

Oh. Okay. Tool around CALIFORNIA (https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=853&ei=2DPzXe_4F8nA0PEPs8-fuAU&q=california+homeless&oq=california+homeless&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1751.7195..7540...0.0..0.113.1274 .18j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i131.KFUXiooncmU&ved=0ahUKEwjvxOLOg7LmAhVJIDQIHbPnB1cQ4dUDCAU&uact=5) in your luxury White Privilege motor home wearing a red MAGA hat. Don't forget the Trump bumper sticker.

:) don't mind my negativity bro...you'll be fine:

"Thousands of people live in RVs across San Francisco and the broader Bay Area because they can’t afford to rent or buy homes."

https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2019/05/09/mobilizing-to-fight-the-california-housing-crisis/ (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-05-21/silicon-valley-s-shame-living-in-a-van-in-google-s-backyard)

[Tumbleweed]

When I was driving truck into and out of California it was damned hard to find a place to park an eighteen wheeler. It was especially difficult between Sacramento and the Bay Area. What I ran into a lot of times was RV's taking up space in the truck stops and there was no place to park an eighteen wheeler. Big box stores are hostile when they catch you in their parking lots and will run you off. Cops will run you off if you're parked anywhere else. I don't know what it's like now but it used to piss me off when I'd see RV's taking up space in truck parking lots.

[Jewboo]

When I was driving truck into and out of California it was damned hard to find a place to park an eighteen wheeler. It was especially difficult between Sacramento and the Bay Area. What I ran into a lot of times was RV's taking up space in the truck stops and there was no place to park an eighteen wheeler. Big box stores are hostile when they catch you in their parking lots and will run you off. Cops will run you off if you're parked anywhere else. I don't know what it's like now but it used to piss me off when I'd see RV's taking up space in truck parking lots.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlS-YcRTCSs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us3ovTOLLJA

Exactly. PatCa will be another parasite homeless neighborhood street nuisance pissing off the tax-paying homeowners and business owners. This is why he was playing coy when I kept asking him (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?41256-Is-a-travel-trailer-a-stupid-idea-for-TSHTF-scenario&p=958073&viewfull=1#post958073)WHERE was he gonna park this thing.

https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2019/05/09/mobilizing-to-fight-the-california-housing-crisis/

--H H--

[Hitch]

Hang on a second Book. Motorhome folks are not "homeless", the motorhome is actually their home. They are just traveling people. They value their freedoms a lot more than those who are a slave to a mortgage. The people that park them on the street annoying others do no represent most RV'ers, like you seem to want to paint a picture of.

Yes, the housing crisis in CA is bad. I keep hearing how many folks are leaving CA, but we have a housing crisis? Makes no sense at all.

[Jewboo]

Hang on a second Book...The people that park them on the street annoying others do no represent most RV'ers... Makes no sense at all.



Exactly. That's why PatCa so far makes no sense at all in this thread. Legitimate RV'ers park on their own driveways, in RV Parks, and in Federal-State Parks. God bless 'em!

HOMELESS parasites illegally park their vehicles on public streets and trespass on business parking lots.

Scroll up. PatCa has been very coy about WHERE exactly he intends on parking his vehicle.

:rolleyes:

[Hitch]

As long as Pat parks his rig so as to not offend others, he's free to do as he likes. I think you might be assuming the worst, Book, but I do get your point. People that feel trapped in life, often envy and assume the worst in those that remain free.

You can't fault a guy for being "vague" in his living, or in this case....parking, conditions. After all, this forum does attract folks who might feel more comfortable being coy and sly about their choices in life.

[Jewboo]

You can't fault a guy for being "vague" in his living, or in this case....parking, conditions. After all, this forum does attract folks who might feel more comfortable being coy and sly about their choices in life.



Yeah...a shame that PatCa can't today be mentored and inspired by THIS (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?58534-My-day-today&p=512493&viewfull=1#post512493) manly example of humble honesty. Sad that GSUS lost this member...unlike us he is out there somewhere bravely sailing his dream of Freedom.

"Just be free" he advised us. An actual quote...

:rolleyes:

[midnight rambler]

Book, exactly WHAT IS IT that compels you to mind other people's business??

[Hitch]

Yeah...a shame that PatCa can't today be mentored and inspired by THIS (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?58534-My-day-today&p=512493&viewfull=1#post512493) manly example of humble honesty. Sad that GSUS lost this member...unlike us he is out there somewhere bravely sailing his dream of Freedom.

"Just be free" he advised us. An actual quote...

:rolleyes:

That was me, 8 years ago. :) Man, I've changed and got the sea stories to boot.

However, the true shame is you. It's a shame you can't get inspired by life and experience some of these things yourself....or can you? :(??

[Jewboo]

Book, exactly WHAT IS IT that compels you to mind other people's business??



Scroll up. :rolleyes: Pat is pondering to finance $40,000 and He specifically ASKED us to mind his business.

Bottom Line: If he plans on parking this on the street my "advice" is Nope. If he plans on parking this in his driveway, RV Park, or Federal/State Parks....sure...go for it!




Taking a renewed interest in this thread, as I'm seriously looking at getting an RV...anyways; any brain dumps on this matter appreciated.

[Hitch]

Bottom Line: If he plans on parking this on the street my "advice" is Nope. If he plans on parking this in his driveway, RV Park, or Federal/State Parks....sure...go for it!

You do realize he doesn't need your approval. Also, your "advise" is coming from someone who's never lived the life. You are an armchair RVer.

You are as bad as the leftists. "Let's force our agenda on PatCO".

Let the guy at least move into the RV and learn from there.

[Jewboo]

You do realize he doesn't need your approval. Also, your "advise" is coming from someone who's never lived the life. You are an armchair RVer.

You are as bad as the leftists. "Let's force our agenda on PatCO". Let the guy at least move into the RV and learn from there.

1) Your reading comprehension remains as retarded as your reasoning ability. Always has been. He ASKED us for our advice:




Taking a renewed interest in this thread, as I'm seriously looking at getting an RV...anyways; any brain dumps on this matter appreciated.



2) As I already mentioned above, I lived in a vehicle for two years in the same Sacramento area (https://img.bestplaces.net/images/city/0622020_CA_Elk_Grove.png) he mentions...so I actually did live that Life.

3) Ironic that you call anyone a Leftist while you yourself are a commie UNION worker. What are your monthly commie UNION dues lefty? Tell us more about your commie UNION job lefty.

:D

[Hitch]

Book, you can't fool us. You are totally the leftist here. You think you have a right to dictate how PatCO lives his life. Bottom line.

Communist? Look in the mirror!!

[Jewboo]

You are totally the leftist here.



Tell us more about your lefty UNION job Hitch (https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000089109171-locts2-t500x500.jpg).

:D

[Hitch]

Tell us more about your lefty UNION job Hitch (https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000089109171-locts2-t500x500.jpg).

:D

Do you want to know the truth? I'll tell ya the truth.

I think though, you just want to hear what you want to hear. That is the reason I think you are a leftist. You just want to hear whatever enforces your belief system.

This thread is about RV's. You've established you don't know jack shit about them.

We should be discussing solar, batteries, generators, fixing water leaks, tires, engines, filters, maintenance.....yet, we are discussing Book and Parking concerns. Useless drama, that doesn't help anyone else out, including PatCo.

[Jewboo]

Parking concerns...that doesn't help anyone else out, including PatCo.

We should be discussing batteries, generators, fixing water leaks, tires, engines, filters, maintenance...



Oh. You think it is a good idea to finance $40,000 then park it on the street.

Okay. Your advice. Park it on the street. Got it Hitch. Thanks.

I dunno. I guess your trailer park allows you to constantly perform all those repairs but could PatCa do them parked on the street?

:)

[Hitch]

[SIZE=3]Oh. You think it is a good idea to finance $40,000 then park it on the street.

Okay. Your advice. Park it on the street. Got it Hitch. Thanks.


I never once advised to park it on the street. For the record, in my opinion, that's a terrible idea. If you have to do that for a night or two on occasion, that's one thing, but living in it that way can be a stressful existence.

There's RV parks all over the country that have communities, are safe, and provide power, hookups, etc.

[Jewboo]

Hang on a second Book. Motorhome folks are not "homeless", the motorhome is actually their home. They are just traveling people. They value their freedoms a lot more than those who are a slave to a mortgage. The people that park them on the street annoying others do no represent most RV'ers...






I never once advised to park it on the street. For the record, in my opinion, that's a terrible idea. If you have to do that for a night or two on occasion, that's one thing, but living in it that way can be a stressful existence. There's RV parks all over the country that have communities, are safe, and provide power, hookups, etc.



Oh. Now it seems to finally matter to Hitch if PatCa illegally parks his Financed $40,000 vehicle on the street. Duh.

We were never talking about Recreational Vehicles that decent retired people travel in on holidays. We are talking about the Mobile Homeless Shelters that stationary losers like you bought and regularly live in because you can't afford real housing. Your so-called "home" has wheels and is therefore actually, by definition, a vehicle. Your trailer park is just a lot full of sad Mobile Homeless Shelter vehicles.

:rolleyes:

[Hitch]

We were never talking about Recreational Vehicles that decent retired people travel in on holidays. We are talking about the Mobile Homeless Shelters that stationary losers like you bought and regularly live in because you can't afford real housing.

:rolleyes:
[/SIZE]

Like me huh? Nope, I've never been good at being stationary. I've put over 60,000 miles on my RV traveling all over and have had a great time doing it. I hope PatCO enjoys a future of the same type of adventures. Maybe you'd be a little less miserable if you'd try it out yourself? Each new day is a blessing from God, and should be embraced.

[Hitch]

Pat, look into an RV club to join. I decided on Good Sam. Their roadside assistance includes unlimited towing, tire repair, jumpstarts, etc. whatever you hopefully will never need. They also give a discount at Camping World. Also, you can stay overnight at Camping World if you need to while on the road.

https://mobilerving.com/blog/5-best-rv-clubs-to-join-for-new-rvers

[Jewboo]

Like me huh? Nope...



You previously said you live in that stationary trailer-parked vehicle and work a regular hourly UNION job. How free and adventurous!

:rolleyes:

[Hitch]

[SIZE=3]
You previously said you live in that stationary trailer-parked vehicle

I never said that, and that's simply not true. More proof you are a leftist. You don't discuss facts, but use your emotions to create delusions.

I'll repeat myself. I've traveled over 60,000 miles in my RV. My advise, is to actually use the RV and travel.

[Jewboo]

I never said that, and that's simply not true.



There is a thread here wherein you lamented about your UNION JOB medical insurance coverage and how bothersome that paperwork was.

:o

[PatColo]

Scroll up. :rolleyes: Pat is pondering to finance $40,000

Not even sure when/why you single handedly decided I'm financing the rig, repeating your baseless belief over & over in bold/red... when I haven't said a single word about cash vs financing!

Also a mystery how you got fixated on the idea I'll be doing mostly street parking & other boondocking, when I already "coyly" addressed ur question above,


was gonna put it in ur driveway in boise... U can accommodate?

in the shorter term, need to find some kinda M.home park while I get some other projects taken care of. There's also a whole "boondocking" RV scene; name I hear come up most often is, WalMart parking lots; but gather these are one night sleepers, not ongoing residents or they'd get hassle.

So, yes, RV park... I'd go straight for a 55yo+ park but I'm 52 so... have to find an all ages place with plenty of nice Mexican fam's.

^ with further elaboration in a later comment re parks with 30 vs 50 amp hookups! :rolleyes: I have no desire to boondock, laying awake worrying about "the knock."

There's plenty of safe quiet parks with full hookups, power water wifi cable & waste drop, plus laundry, a shop, club house with "socials", even dog parks! And no, I have no immediate plans for a dog! I like dogs plenty, & they're popular with RV'ers but I'd see how some other variables come into focus before even considering a dog! For now, the idea sounds like one big logistics worry, doubling down on all my already worries/unknowns re RV life! And I imagine some parks are opposite of "pet friendly", IE they're no pets (or just dogs?) allowed... limiting my options that much more!

[Jewboo]

Pat, look into an RV club to join. I decided on Good Sam. Their roadside assistance includes unlimited towing, tire repair, jumpstarts, etc.






We should be discussing solar, batteries, generators, fixing water leaks, tires, engines, filters, maintenance...




:rolleyes: Dude. Don't be a downer.

[Tumbleweed]

I used to park at the 49er Truck Stop just off of I-80 at Sacramento. Seemed to be a pretty nice place with plenty of parking and they have parking for RV's too.

https://www.sacramento49er.com/parking.html

https://www.sacramento49er.com/index.html

[Hitch]

I used to park at the 49er Truck Stop just off of I-80 at Sacramento. Seemed to be a pretty nice place with plenty of parking and they have parking for RV's too.

https://www.sacramento49er.com/parking.html

https://www.sacramento49er.com/index.html

Thanks for sharing. That looks like a good place to stop overnight while on the road. They even have a dump station for RV's. It is a good idea to log places like this in a travel book/app.

I've been using an app on my phone called Free Roam to find campsites. It lists paid, and free, campsite with maps, reviews, etc.

[Hitch]

:rolleyes: Dude. Don't be a downer.


Just trying to help out. You name it, it's probably happened to me, and a lot of things could have just been avoided to begin with. But, they make good campfire stories. :)

[Jewboo]

Looks like I'll pick it up Mon or Tue, expect to live in beginning same night. (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?41256-Is-a-travel-trailer-a-stupid-idea-for-TSHTF-scenario&p=958121&viewfull=1#post958121)



This is already Monday. Live in WHERE exactly?




Pat, look into an RV club to join. I decided on Good Sam. Their roadside assistance includes unlimited towing, tire repair, jumpstarts, etc.






We should be discussing solar, batteries, generators, fixing water leaks, tires, engines, filters, maintenance...






Just trying to help out. You name it, it's probably happened to me, and a lot of things could have just been avoided to begin with.



Oh. Okay. Try now helping out PatCa by warning him about just the worst three mechanical failures he can expect on his thirteen year-old RV.


:)

[Hitch]

This is already Monday. Live in WHERE exactly?







Oh. Okay. Try now helping out PatCa by warning him about just the worst three mechanical failures he can expect on his thirteen year-old RV.


:)


How about preventing failures from happening? Worst three I could have prevented....keep constant check on the date codes, and air pressure, in the tires. A blowout in an RV like Pat's can cause a lot of damage. Run the generator every month, even if you are not needing to use it. Run it under load after it's warmed up. Thirdly, get up on the roof and inspect it. To prevent leaks. A small unnoticed leak can reek havoc on a roof, and the interior of the RV.

It's not about expecting failures, it's about preventing them.

[Hitch]

Book, you are actually helping Pat out, and others, in this thread. Even if that's not your intention.

There's two types of people in life, people that criticize, and people that go out and do things. You are a critic. Pat's going out and doing something (buying and starting the RV life). Critics do what they do best, sit there and criticize others. People that do things often don't listen, they are too busy doing things.

Sometimes it's good for folks to stop and listen to the critics on occasion, even if those critics know nothing about the topic themselves. Critics assume the worst, folks that do stuff often hope and expect the best. Both can be faults.

[Jewboo]

Just trying to help out. You name it, it's probably happened to me, and a lot of things could have just been avoided to begin with.



Oh. you now REFUSE to even admit one that actually HAPPENED. I simply invited you to warn PatCa about just your worst three RV mechanical failures...lol.

His V10 gasoline engine gets only 9 miles per gallon (https://www.reference.com/world-view/gas-mileage-can-expected-ford-6-8-liter-triton-v10-engine-f19e790ffe0febe) and you boast about 65k miles in your RV...lol

[Hitch]

Oh. you now REFUSE to even describe one that actually HAPPENED. I simply invited you to warn PatCa about just your worst three RV mechanical failures...lol.






Well, the worst I experienced was the transmission failure. Pat probably doesn't have to worry about that, with the allison transmission. The second worst was the generator. That's why I shared running the damn thing every month. Gens don't like to sit, you got to run them.

I'll share advise, because shared advise has helped me out tremendously in the past. We all learn from each other, as we should. The third, was a roof leak I caught early and fixed. It sure could have caused a lot of damage if I didn't catch it though. Get up on the damn roof and inspect things, when you own an RV.

Hope that answers your question.

[Jewboo]

Well, the worst I experienced was the transmission failure.




:rolleyes:


Boom!

PatCa needed to hear about this before he plonked down $40k Cash on a thirteen year-old RV (https://www.reference.com/world-view/gas-mileage-can-expected-ford-6-8-liter-triton-v10-engine-f19e790ffe0febe). Here we are on Monday after he bought it finally hearing your honest real-world Reality.

[Hitch]

:rolleyes:


Boom!

PatCa needed to hear about this before he plonked down $40k Cash on a thirteen year-old RV (https://www.reference.com/world-view/gas-mileage-can-expected-ford-6-8-liter-triton-v10-engine-f19e790ffe0febe). Here we are on Monday after he bought it finally hearing your honest real-world Reality.



My real world reality....I wouldn't change any of it. Too many great experiences RVing. You can sit there on your ass and criticize all you want, but life's about going out and doing things.

You are going to have failures, roadblocks, things in life that get in the way. It's all bout how you choose to face that challenge. Or...sit there and criticize and do nothing at all. Your choice. Pat'll be fine, you on the other hand, are missing out on life. That, is a damn shame.

[Hitch]

His V10 gasoline engine gets only 9 miles per gallon (https://www.reference.com/world-view/gas-mileage-can-expected-ford-6-8-liter-triton-v10-engine-f19e790ffe0febe) and you boast about 65k miles in your RV...lol...you dumb fuck.


At least you are being optimistic here. I don't think he's going to get 9 miles to the gallon, probably 5-7 mpg.

Also, calling me a dumb fuck is against the forum rules, and at over 70 years old, years apparently wasted....you, are to old to say that to people in person. You'd get your ass kicked talking to folks that way in person. Stick to posting insults online, you'll live at least a little longer.

[Jewboo]

At least you are being optimistic here. I don't think he's going to get 9 miles to the gallon, probably 5-7 mpg.



You finally tell PatCa this bad reality after a week of happy talk only after he plonked down $40,000 Cash for this thirteen year-old RV ? ? ?

:o

[Hitch]

You finally tell PatCa this bad reality after a week of happy talk only after he plonked down $40,000 Cash for this thirteen year-old RV.

:o

;) It's a pretty sweet RV though!

Even with the bad gas millage, he's going to save a bunch more money than you spend each winter holing up in Idaho freezing your ass off....lol. Plus, he can see and experience new places.

If you actually do the math, the bad gas mileage pays for itself in other ways.

[Hitch]

I think I'm going to take a break from the internet for a bit. I'll see you folks later.

Pat, congrats on the lifestyle change. I think you got a nice rig there. All the best. See you on the road. :)

[PatColo]

paid this afternoon; will pick up tomorrow.

Got a Progressive ins policy, comprehensive as in, it'll be considered a primary residence so it resembles a homeowners' policy with break in & outright theft, plus the liability & collision, + some roadside & other items I forget now. 1 year, $1,400-some-odd.

The "closer" gave me the obligatory pitch for extended warrantee with $50 or even no deductible, but sticker shock at the price -- nearly $4,500 for 5y/50K miles, transferable... then the shorter time spans were much more per year, IE the same 1y/10K warrantee would've been more like $3,300! :o

So I passed on that racket... he reco'd Good Sams, but advised it'd be much more, saying likely $8-10K for a like warrantee! Offered to pull up their quote at their site, but the skeptic in me feared he could pull up a fake Sams site with a fake quote... I didn't tell him this; just said I'd decline the dealer warranty, & find the best fit with minimal overlap with the Progressive policy.


This is already Monday. Live in WHERE exactly?


Is it a park name, address & slot # you're querying about so aggressively?! I've called multiple parks who had multiple open slots for my rig, 30 & 50 amp. Just waiting to quit playing phone tag with a certain nearby good sounding park, then will either be there or one of the fallback parks beginning tomorrow night.

Y'all remember GSUS member "KOS" from the first ~couple years of GSUS? IIRC she did some kind of RV life thing, at least for a season... to bad she disappeared! :|~ Did Book drive her off? I don't recall any more but her name doesn't come up at all in the advanced search/username, like she deleted all her posts! :(

[Jewboo]

paid this afternoon; will pick up tomorrow. ...I've called multiple parks who had multiple open slots for my rig, 30 & 50 amp. Just waiting to quit playing phone tag with a certain nearby good sounding park, then will either be there or one of the fallback parks beginning tomorrow night.



Great! You can start a new thread about this lifestyle. You posted this in an old thread that has "stupid idea" and question mark in the title and requested opinions.

:)

[Ares]

Jewboo was given a 2 day timeout for name calling. This isn't a new rule, you know that. Take it to the thunder dome if you want to call each other names. Want to call me names for banning you when you get back go for it, just do it in the thunder dome. :)

@PatColo

Looks like K-os hasn't posted since 2015. Her profile shows the last activity of: 25th February 2015 02:56 AM

The site I believe archives old posts, since it's been more than 4 years since she's posted, her posts have likely been archived and no longer searchable.

[midnight rambler]

Got a Progressive ins policy

Now THAT was a mistake. Do you know who owns Progressive Insurance? Why do you think they named it 'Progressive'??

[midnight rambler]

WTF is up with this obsession with SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE CHOICES?? ???

[Tumbleweed]

Looks like K-os hasn't posted since 2015. Her profile shows the last activity of: 25th February 2015 02:56 AM

The site I believe archives old posts, since it's been more than 4 years since she's posted, her posts have likely been archived and no longer searchable.


The link to The Mystery Tour.

http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?33667-The-Mystery-Tour&highlight=Mystery+Tour

K-os had a few problems at the beginning and there were other problems showed up when she got back to Florida. It's a long but interesting thread with a lot of things she did along the way and the people she met but the photos are all gone. We had a lot of fun when she was here. :)

[Jewboo]

Also, calling me a dumb fuck is against the forum rules...







Jewboo was given a 2 day timeout for name calling...Want to call me names for banning you when you get back go for it...






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWkDOS4073Q


Gosh no Your Honor. Hitch The Sworn Witness testified by clicking the Report (http://gold-silver.us/forum/report.php?p=958430) button and you had to do this Your Honor. Indeed...Hitch should continue uninterrupted regaling us about his inspiring blown transmission, 5mpg, roof leaks, towing, and flat tire experiences as PatCa now spent $40,000 cash and rents space in a Sacramento, California RV park. Let's not even notice the actual title question of this thread.

BTW...did you ever ask your boss JQP why we can no longer post any images in this GSUS forum? (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?101051-Hey-JQP-Why-can-t-we-post-IMAGES-here-anymore&p=953899&viewfull=1#post953899)

:)

[Cebu_4_2]

about his inspiring blown transmission


I remember that thread, I thought it was a simple trans line leak or similar that cost him 5K? Repair facilities see em coming I guess. I'm too nice to my customers to do anything like that.

[Jewboo]

I remember that thread, I thought it was a simple trans line leak or similar that cost him 5K?.



Gosh...please don't remind us of Hitch's previous real-world Reality posts here at GSUS while he now encouraged PatCa to spend $40,000 cash on a 13 year-old motor "home" vehicle.

:)

[midnight rambler]

It appears Book suffers from anosognosia, i.e. he doesn't know what he doesn't know (in this case about RVs). Classic Dunning Kruger effect.

[Jewboo]

http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?41256-Is-a-travel-trailer-a-stupid-idea-for-TSHTF-scenario&p=347765&viewfull=1#post347765 (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?41256-Is-a-travel-trailer-a-stupid-idea-for-TSHTF-scenario&p=347765&viewfull=1#post347765)

:rolleyes: Psychologist Poser Midnight Rambler, PhD. already posted in this very thread this same psychobabble (https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQE5bLuKqWsRIfDx6ekTpvuxJRriqmlZ oVIushuh5rpBwgGrXx7FA&s) way back in January 2011.

[midnight rambler]

Book's favorite song, it's his theme song. lol


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8mzZun5wo

[Cebu_4_2]

Gosh...please don't remind us of Hitch's previous real-world Reality posts here at GSUS while he now encouraged PatCa to spend $40,000 cash on a 13 year-old motor "home" vehicle.

:)

I am in no way friends or anything of either book or Pete / hitch but I tried to help Pete with his trans line which he chose the 5 thousand dollar fix. Book is a computer / memory genius I learned to not fuck with early in the game.

40K for a rolling trailer or powered place to me is just ridiculous especially 13 years old. I got a 1100 ft house with finished basement 1996 (add 1100 addl ft) plus garage and .5 acres 21K after all the BS charges. No I cant travel the US or anywhere but my family can hang out in a home that won't be stolen from us by the banks. Cruising the countryside is cool and all but not in my cards with a 5 year old. Stability is king right now.

[Jewboo]

Book's favorite song...

More Ad Hom (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/f2/e0/b4f2e0760ffd13718fce691a79a9f927.jpg) from MR only to distract us. Instead...tell us more about the $5,000 repair expense of a common failed RV transmission that Cebu_4_2 mentioned on topic above.

:rolleyes:

[Jewboo]

I am in no way friends or anything of either book or Pete / hitch but I tried to help Pete with his trans line which he chose the 5 thousand dollar fix. Book is a computer / memory genius I learned to not fuck with early in the game.

40K for a rolling trailer or powered place to me is just ridiculous especially 13 years old. I got a 1100 ft house with finished basement 1996 (add 1100 addl ft) plus garage and .5 acres 21K after all the BS charges. No I cant travel the US or anywhere but my family can hang out in a home that won't be stolen from us by the banks. Cruising the countryside is cool and all but not in my cards with a 5 year old. Stability is king right now.



Cebu_4_2 and me have seldom agreed on anything at GSUS but here we are in this thread LOGICALLY agreeing on just the known Reality. Who knew?


Cebu_4_2 just makes absolute common sense in this post and is very on topic with this thread's title. Read it.

:D

[midnight rambler]

Pat's awesome MH has the awesome Allison automatic transmission, it's HIGHLY UNLIKELY to fail. For the uninformed Allison transmissions don't *commonly fail*...that's someone talking out their ass. The engine if Ford's vaunted 6.8 liter V10 which is a great engine that has frequently racked up more than 300k miles in Ford trucks, vans, and Excursions.

And it really is true Book DESPITE your denials...your posting genuinely indicates YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS.

[Jewboo]

And it really is true Book DESPITE your denials...your posting genuinely indicates YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS.


midnight rambler (http://gold-silver.us/forum/member.php?3833-midnight-rambler)

Join Date Sep 2010
Posts 20,329

[Cebu_4_2]

I gree with everything but it's now time for the biggest fail on earth folks: https://www.bing.com/search?q=democratic%20debate&form=MXB003&pc=MXBR

[Ares]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWkDOS4073Q


Gosh no Your Honor. Hitch The Sworn Witness testified by clicking the Report (http://gold-silver.us/forum/report.php?p=958430) button and you had to do this Your Honor. Indeed...Hitch should continue uninterrupted regaling us about his inspiring blown transmission, 5mpg, roof leaks, towing, and flat tire experiences as PatCa now spent $40,000 cash and rents space in a Sacramento, California RV park. Let's not even notice the actual title question of this thread.

BTW...did you ever ask your boss JQP why we can no longer post any images in this GSUS forum? (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?101051-Hey-JQP-Why-can-t-we-post-IMAGES-here-anymore&p=953899&viewfull=1#post953899)

:)

Indeed I have and the question is still unanswered in the admin section.... :(

[Tumbleweed]

The only time I've been around an RV is when K-os was here so I don't know much about them. Like anything else plenty can go wrong with things like that. I always have problems with pickups and machinery and I'd expect the same is true if you have an RV.

Before K-os left here she wanted me to duct tape her rearview mirror because it wouldn't stay in place so I taped the hell out of it but I doubt it lasted. We stayed at three different trailer parks with it when she was here and it was interesting to me and I got an inside look at what RV'ers do and how they live.

[PatColo]

Still on my to-do list to write a nice update on my now 4 weeks living in... drumroll...... CHAD (https://i.redd.it/qa72y7y2bumz.jpg).:cool:

But more immediate priority is a tow-dolly purchase, & a couple related questions which I'd expect mainly Rambler &/or Hitch to know about, but others don't be shy!

main Q is re trailer, which tow dollies are considered, braking systems. The two main, & only afaik, types are 1) "electronic" activated requiring a controller installed at the towing vehicle's dash; and 2) "surge" activated dolly brakes where the dolly's tongue bar detects whether it's being pulled by the rig, or if it's pushing into the rig, in which case it applies hydrolic pressure to the dolly wheels' brakes with like intensity.

Far as I can tell, surge brakes are the closer-to-perfect design -- just hook up & go, they do all the work hands off incl when & how hard they apply dolly's brakes... except... if/when you have any (unforeseen...) need to back-up the rig. Imagining flat ground, backing up causes that surge detector to apply dolly's brakes, resisting the backing up. WHY some designer apparently hasn't thought of installing a manual surge brake disengage option on these type of tow dollies is beyond me! :|~

The electronic activated trailer/dolly brakes give the driver the option to turn them off entirely right from the dash controller, allowing backing up w/o resistance from trailer's brakes. BUT* with electronic brakes, the intensity which the trailer brakes apply is set by the driver via 1 - 10 setting on his controller... trailer brakes only 'know' that the driver is applying the brakes via the same brake pedal signal which triggers the rig's (& trailer's) brake lights. So if driver has controller set to say, '5', trailer will always brake with that same '5' intensity no matter if driver is lightly tapping, or slamming on his brakes! And in that "emergency brakes slam" sitch, where driver doesn't have time to reach down & manually adjust trailer's braking intensity... that trailer becomes his enemy, applying its brake with only a '5' intensity & thus pushing into the rig, which is trying to slow with a '10' urgency! :'(

I say BUT*... above, as some newer model brake controllers, spendy both for the item (~$300?) & greater still for pro installation, have some kind computerized system which DOES automatically/instantly account for the intensity the driver is hitting the brakes, & signals the trailer brakes accordingly... so this youtuber for example, apparently has best of both surge & electronic trailer brake worlds: (15m vid, begin @ 13m):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZGP4gVGvI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZGP4gVGvI


So my dilemma/Q is... all considered, I'd opt for dolly w surge braking system. IF they were both magically ~same end price, I'd go with electronic, soley for that EZ backing up function. BUT from the pricing I've done, namely Camping World's one/only tow dolly offering (https://www.campingworld.com/roadmaster-universal-tow-dolly-with-electric-brakes-42252.html?cgid=tow-dollies-accessories#start=2&cgid=hitch-tow%2Fvehicle-towing%2Ftow-dollies-accessories%2Ftow-dollies) + controller ($90, cheaper model w manual control trailer brake intensity) + pro installation of said controller ($400:o), that's ~$500 just to make CHAD:cool: electric-brake-trailer ready!

I'm still holding the "cost of tow dolly" component separate, coz I'm still actively trawling the local used market for something... so that dolly co$t question is still in play; try to get an F'n email/callback from these flakes!?! :'( So I've been forced to price around brand new dollies @ local dealers, just so I can finally gidderdone & move forward with some certainty!

Here's the thing: my Honda Fit is only 2,600#, & we'll estimate (future) tow dolly = 600#, for 3,200# tow load. CHAD:cool: is 22K# dry weight, 26K# max, with 5K# tow capacity. So it's truly a case of a cruise liner pulling, or rarely but inevitably pushing backwards, a dinghy. This aint a 3 ton pickup towing an 8 ton trailer load, where obv trailer's own separate braking power becomes critically more important!!

So let's say I find my surge-braked tow dolly, whether new or used. Do yawl think I can back up with it, in spite of dolly's brakes' protests? Just push through that shit? I can even imagine having a humanoid helper or two, who push backwards on the car, or dolly's axle assembly somewhere (anywhere but the tongue bar which senses pushing vs pulling), greatly weakening if not cancelling dolly's applying its brakes, as I back up very slowly this way. Viable? :|~

[midnight rambler]

Suggest you post your questions on a RV forum.

I personally don't like tow dollies because they are so wide, if it were me I would get a driveshaft disconnect or whatever that enables you to tow your dinghy without a tow dolly. Most RVs I see pulling a dinghy don't use a tow dolly.

[PatColo]

^ yes that towing U describe is called "flat towing" or "4-down" ref'ing all 4 of towed vehicle's wheels on the ground rolling/braking. Only a minority of vehicles even qualify to have the nec preps for it, which incl a "base plate" mounting + wiring + steering bypass work, costing ~$4-6K alone...:o My honda doesn't qualify, arguably a 'mistake' I made in choosing it before motorhome shopping/learning. U'll notice the 4-down vehicles many RVers tow are Jeeps, which all come standard with some special features anticipating being flat towed. But there are many other flat towable vehicle options as well.

and yes I think every tow dolly I've seen has been 100-102" (8.5') wide! That's same width as my rig & guessing class-As generally, but much wider than the biggest of pickup trucks! :( I didn't even get into the "tow dolly steering" options in my 'braking systems' post above. Some dollies have wheels which 'steer' just a bit themselves; on others the belly plate where the car's (locked) front wheels rest, that belly plate swivels just a bit... 9 degrees in the case of at least one Demco model I looked at. Others have no such steering assistance on the dolly itself, & reco/require car's steering wheel be UNlocked allowing car's front wheels to turn a bit as car is being pulled around turns.

I'm still too nooby at this point to appreciate the significance of these features... like, if in a turn, my rig's rear inside/pivot wheel is able to clear a corner/obstacle, does that mean the 8.5' wide dolly's same wheel will clear it too?! :|~

this RV-vlogging couple shares their experience leading to "divorcing their dolly" & getting a flat towable jeep as their dinghy, 15m:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb9VkVTfuT8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb9VkVTfuT8

[Jewboo]

Suggest you post your questions on a RV forum.



https://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/board,6.0.html (https://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/board,6.0.html)

:)

[PatColo]

https://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/board,6.0.html (https://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/board,6.0.html)

:)


thx. Ludite Simple Machines Forum (https://www.simplemachines.org/) software, vs our super-deluxe vBulletin setup here:cool: - but I gave em a pass on that & joined anyways, posting my 'brakes' q in an appropriate thread.
http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,111471.msg1148953.html#msg1148953

I dropped most of the "surge vs electric trailer brakes 101" stuff, assuming they'd mostly already be hip. :)

[Cebu_4_2]

The electric controller I had ~20 years ago when I used to haul my race car had the 1-10 adjustment and also a pendulum mechanism. So the harder you brake the harder the trailer would also. The 1-10 was pretty much a baseline for weight when the brake lights came on and the pendulum took over above that. I seriously doubt I spent more than 50 bucks but do remember I was supposed to mount the unit as level as possible.

[PatColo]

The electric controller I had ~20 years ago when I used to haul my race car had the 1-10 adjustment and also a pendulum mechanism. So the harder you brake the harder the trailer would also. The 1-10 was pretty much a baseline for weight when the brake lights came on and the pendulum took over above that. I seriously doubt I spent more than 50 bucks but do remember I was supposed to mount the unit as level as possible.

thx cebu, that's helpful - I surely didn't pay enough attention to the "pendulum mechanism" biz wrt electric brakes. I think this guy's vid I posted above, he covers the pendulum but disparagingly, saying his old one was a PITA, didn't swing back right relieving the brake when he was trying to take off again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZGP4gVGvI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZGP4gVGvI

I suppose if that pendulum biz works right & moderates how how intensely the trailer brakes, that would be a better system than I gave it credit for b4... still leaves me confused though re what the brake controller's 1 - 10 setting does, separate from what the pendulum does?!

I've driven I-10 thru TX; long, straight, flat as a pancake. Reminds of the I-80 salt flats thru UT, approaching SLC. Makes a great "baseline" test for ur MPG, etc. :)

[Cebu_4_2]

1-10 is a baseline braking, IE: 1 for empty trailer and 10 being a heavy ass vehicle.

The pendulum can compare to the "surge" activated setup. Adding more braking as it senses slowing down than just the 1-10 setting.

My first electric brake box only had 1-10 (or min to max) and if I needed to stop faster than casual could become disastrous. That's when I looked more into them and discovered the pendulum thing. Thinking back the simple one might have been 40 or 50 bux and the deluxxe with added pendulum might have been more like 79 or 89 IIRC. I learned about the pendulum deluxxe when I stopped at a horse bording place and spoke with the owner. I explained what was going on and he laughed that the trailer place didn't even offer anything different. He actually sold them in the flower shop connected to the stables. I used that unit in a few vehicles over about 15 years.

[Cebu_4_2]

saying his old one was a PITA, didn't swing back right relieving the brake when he was trying to take off again.


Shitty unit or more than likely not set level.

[PatColo]

This forum mod Gary appears to be like the heavy there, >69K posts. Says, among other things, pendulum is old-tech nowdaze.


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Re: New to & Looking to Buy a Used Tow Dolly Could use Some Help on Price and Model (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,111471.msg1148976.html#msg1148976)

« Reply #11 on: Today at 07:39:12 AM »




Quote (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?action=post;quote=1148976;topic=111471.0 ;last_msg=1149051)


Backing up any tow dolly is problematic at best. You can probably manage 4-6 feet straight back, though. Not sure how a surge brake model would react - they do tend to lock the dolly brakes if you push backwards. On pavement where it rolls easily the backing is probably do-able, but on a softer surface (more drag) or a slight uphill, the surge brake will engage to some degree. I don't think you can manually overcome it, plus you don't want people between the coach and the towed car anyway. Too much risk if somebody slips.

Surge systems used to get unreliable after a year or two, largely due to road dirt & corrosion of the moving parts (it's strictly a mechanical device). That no longer seems to be much problem, perhaps due to better materials. It's still smart to clean and lube the mechanism from time to time.

You can get a electric controller adequate for a dolly for as little as $45, but installation cost is a killer if you have to hire it out. Probably $250 at least and more like $500 at an RV place. Check around at a U-Haul or other hitch shop, or any independent auto shop. It's not rocket science or RV-specific.


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Re: New to & Looking to Buy a Used Tow Dolly Could use Some Help on Price and Model (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,111471.msg1149014.html#msg1149014)

« Reply #12 on: Today at 11:54:26 AM »




Quote (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?action=post;quote=1149014;topic=111471.0 ;last_msg=1149051)
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Thx Crow & Gary. http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif

part of my confusion is re how electric brakes moderate the intensity with which the trailer brakes apply, IE driver tapping brakes for light/gradual speed reduction, vs slamming brakes in emergency, all the while the brake controller is set at say, '5'. So I gather (all?) electric brakes also have a mechanical pendulum jobee, which... what? Does it 'override' the 1 - 10 brake controller setting when nec? Or is it always the main mechanism deciding trailer braking intensity, like how surge brakes work? In which case, what's the 1 - 10 setting on the controller left to do?! http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/Smileys/default/undecided.gif

in this 15 min vid from 2014, whiteboard dude explains electric brakes & towards the end, tells how his old setup w pendulum was a PITA, as pendulum didn't swing back right, or not quick enough or some such, so trailer was still braking as he was trying to take off again

"What's a Trailer Brake Controller???"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZGP4gVGvI

...and he goes on to boast of his new truck & fancy/spendy new trailer braking system which is somehow computerized in how it moderates trailer braking intensity. Jump to around 12/13 min mark to skip all the electric brakes 101 stuff. http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/Smileys/default/cool.gif

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Re: New to & Looking to Buy a Used Tow Dolly Could use Some Help on Price and Model (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,111471.msg1149018.html#msg1149018)

« Reply #13 on: Today at 12:07:03 PM »




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RE the "backing up w tow dolly = problematic even w/o surge-braking issue", I tend to dismiss this. In a modern rig w rear view cam looking down at full tow-car picture++, driver would need to be retarded to still allow a jackknifing to happen. Plus I anticipate, any (categorically 'unforeseen') needs to back up would near-always mean a matter of a few feet, likely at a gas station, or maybe u find urself too close behind a stopped vehicle, which u only then learn is stalled/broken down, & u need a few extra feet in front to clear a turn past them...

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Re: New to & Looking to Buy a Used Tow Dolly Could use Some Help on Price and Model (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,111471.msg1149051.html#msg1149051)

« Reply #14 on: Today at 03:47:01 PM »




Quote (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?action=post;quote=1149051;topic=111471.0 ;last_msg=1149051)


Mechanical pendulums are old tech - most every electric brake controller uses a solid state device (an accelerometer) to measure the rate of change of speed. There are various degrees of sophistication of the proportion control and of course the pricey ones do the better job.

The simplest controllers are time delayed and increase braking (amps to the brakes) as time passes. The longer you push on the brake pedal, the greater the amps to the trailer brakes. If you ride the brake pedal, braking of the trailer increases whether you are pushing hard of easy. More expensive ones use an accelerometer to apply braking amps in proportion to the rate of deceleration. Proportional braking is of significant value on heavy trailers, but not a big deal when you have a large vehicle towing a modest load (like a light car on a dolly). Proportional is still better than time delay, but [in my opinion] the difference in performance is not as important.

The gain and aggressiveness settings on any controllers gives you some manual control on the amount of braking. Think of it as a volume knob on a sound system. The pre-recorded music still defines the basic volume, but you can scale it up or down using the volume knob. A control for aggressiveness or sensitivity provides some additional control on how quickly the braking increases. Reducing aggressiveness slows down the braking "attack". Again, valuable controls for big rigs, but not hugely important for 3000-4000 lb trailers behind a 15k-20k tow vehicle.


By all means install the best brake controller you can afford, but budget seemed to be a concern here.

[Cebu_4_2]

Mechanical pendulums are old tech - most every electric brake controller uses a solid state device (an accelerometer) to measure the rate of change of speed. There are various degrees of sophistication of the proportion control and of course the pricey ones do the better job.

Proportional braking is of significant value on heavy trailers, but not a big deal when you have a large vehicle towing a modest load (like a light car on a dolly). Proportional is still better than time delay, but [in my opinion] the difference in performance is not as important.

Proportional is the pendulum brake box. I am sure they have come a long way in 25 years but the basics are the same. This is what I suggested vs a surge or plain 1-10 black box. Sounds like a very knowledgeable forum there with a lot of experience.

[PatColo]

RE: Thread: Soooo anyways... got my car nicked (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?101863-Soooo-anyways-got-my-car-nicked&highlight=trailer+motorhome).

Remember how my former Fit brought the "not flat towable" dilemma?



^ yes that towing U describe is called "flat towing" or "4-down" ref'ing all 4 of towed vehicle's wheels on the ground rolling/braking. Only a minority of vehicles even qualify to have the nec preps for it, which incl a "base plate" mounting + wiring + steering bypass work, costing ~$4-6K alone...:o My honda doesn't qualify, arguably a 'mistake' I made in choosing it before motorhome shopping/learning. U'll notice the 4-down vehicles many RVers tow are Jeeps, which all come standard with some special features anticipating being flat towed. But there are many other flat towable vehicle options as well.

and yes I think every tow dolly I've seen has been 100-102" (8.5') wide! That's same width as my rig & guessing class-As generally, but much wider than the biggest of pickup trucks! :( I didn't even get into the "tow dolly steering" options in my 'braking systems' post above. Some dollies have wheels which 'steer' just a bit themselves; on others the belly plate where the car's (locked) front wheels rest, that belly plate swivels just a bit... 9 degrees in the case of at least one Demco model I looked at. Others have no such steering assistance on the dolly itself, & reco/require car's steering wheel be UNlocked allowing car's front wheels to turn a bit as car is being pulled around turns.

I'm still too nooby at this point to appreciate the significance of these features... like, if in a turn, my rig's rear inside/pivot wheel is able to clear a corner/obstacle, does that mean the 8.5' wide dolly's same wheel will clear it too?! :|~

this RV-vlogging couple shares their experience leading to "divorcing their dolly" & getting a flat towable jeep as their dinghy, 15m:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb9VkVTfuT8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb9VkVTfuT8


So the latest direction my thinking has been blowing is, buy a new-to-me dinghy which is already flat-tow outfitted! :D

YES!! eliminates the whole dolly dilemma IE choosing which one, maybe needing elec brake controller installed, expense, how/where to store the wretched beast during the 99.x% of time it's not in use; & then there's the whole conveeeeniece of ~2 min connect/disconnect!!

AND, with just me & Chad until further notice, I'm free to travel a ways to pick up said dinghy... surrounding states perhaps, given the unlikelihood of finding an ideal specimen right in/near Sac. This would also mark my 'Virgin Real-RV-Journey' -- as of today, ~2.5 months after buying Chad, I've personally driven it, I figure about 20 miles!

Why didn't one of yous knuckleheads think of that already?! :|~ Some GSUS Brain Trust yawl turned out to be, sheesh! :rolleyes:

Only small thing is, I figure I'm almost surely going above the initial <$20K area I was set on -- I'll still have to dive into this niche used-market & find out for sure.

Need to even figure out where to tap said market, "browse inventory" etc. I went to autotrader.com & entered keywords 'flat tow*' & a bunch of new big trucks came up coz the search engine zeros in on the word tow*.

Off hand atm, I'm thinking like, a Jeep Liberty (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=jeep+liberty&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images), year/mileage/etc to be determined.


edit: Topic: ISO: Marketplace for already flat-tow outfitted dinghys (http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,126399.msg1155082.html#msg1155082)
complete guide to flat towable dinghys
https://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/

[ziero0]

A friend with a mechanical engineering degree,a motorhome and some spare time figured out how to circulate the motorhomes atf oil thru the transmission of the towed vehicle so he didn't need a dolly.

[PatColo]

this RV-vlogging couple shares their experience leading to "divorcing their dolly" & getting a flat towable jeep as their dinghy, 15m:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb9VkVTfuT8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb9VkVTfuT8

^ watched that again, very helpful, & noticed their bang-on helpful followup vid, 13m:

Flat Tow Follow Up - Your Questions Answered - Full Time RV (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ--YdWtDPE)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ--YdWtDPE


^ recall my "need to find a woman who can drive our dinghy +++" (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?101863-Soooo-anyways-got-my-car-nicked&p=961193&viewfull=1#post961193) soliloquy in my nicked Fit thread?

I've always wondered why that Biff/Buffy TX couple didn't just do that, IE, SHE DRIVE THEIR DAMN DINGHY & dispense with all the tow equipment/$$ hassle?!! Plus this'd give the man, at least, some much needed "cave time" now & then AWAY from the b*tch for awhile?! Right, "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" guy?!

Guessing they're just trad that way. They (read: SHE) want the "proper/romantic" RV life, IE he commanding the rig, while she's in the passenger seat navigating & otherwise yapping about the view/whatever.

Meh, that'd often be nice, no doubt. I'm burdened by seeing the world through my frugal, always-seeking-best-value eyes! Plus, imagining my own much-needed cave time; & juggling that with a woman/GF/travel-mate both 'living' in Chad scenario?! :(??

[PatColo]

Aircon question...

Sacratomato has hit 100+ the past 3 days, & 80s-90s have been routine daily highs for past ~2 months. So lots of aircon usage.

Some basics I don't properly understand about aircon... cutting to the chase: does it make sense, or is it sacreligious, to have one of the ceiling skylight/vents popped open in an aircon'd space like an RV let alone a bricks & sticks structure?

Coz muh heat rises, right? So this would seem to give it an escape route... plus the inside & outside air have a place to exchange, letting inside impurities escape, & any O2/CO2 imbalances 'correct', if only by osmosis... so I'd imagine the inside air could be kept "fresher", less "canned."

Is this misguided? IE will the aircon need to work harder, or less.... vs all windows/skylights closed? Thus far I've been keeping everything buttoned up, thinking for the same reason we don't keep our fridge door ajar... but today, expecting a more agreeable high of 84 (https://darksky.net/forecast/38.5787,-121.4668/us12/en), I'm trying out keeping a ceiling port popped open, with the climate thermostat set at its usual 77.

thoughts?

[midnight rambler]

You increase your heat load by opening a vent like that in really hot weather, so your A/C is working harder. Not by much, but it does increase the heat load somewhat.

[osoab]

Park under a tree if possible.

[Hitch]

Pat, I've got a small RV. 19 feet, with a small AC as well. Do you have a digital thermostat? If not install one. Generally what I do is keep all the windows and vents closed, as suggested to minimize power consumption. With the digital thermo I can set the temp just how I like it, and when the RV cools down to that level I may open a window for fresh air as long as it's not too hot outside. If it's 100 plus, like you are at, I'd keep all vents and windows closed up. Even with a small RV, I've never felt like I had bad air. Heck people drive for hours in the desert in small cars, with the AC on and no windows open, with no problems.

[PatColo]

Park under a tree if possible.

yeppers, in my current space it's mostly shady... but when it's 100 out, it's bloody hot in the shade too. & I don't expect to be here much longer anywho... looking at bugging out to some rural family property in AZ soon.

Another RV life story - until 4 days ago, I'd had a little uninvited RV-mate for prior few weeks -- yep, a RAT got on board, guessing through the water service bay where I can see, it would be possible. Looking to sew that port-of-rodent-entry up presently. Rat decided to make itself comfy & stay awhile...

Finally nailed the destructive, noisy @night little fecker with a basic Victor rat trap last Mon night. Baited it with a hunk of kielbasa beef sausage, dribbled with a few drops of honey... MMMMM :D Skewered the sausage onto the bait tray, so no easy grab&run.

Looked like it nearly got away; the kill bar nailed it right on the eyes, crushing them & its shnoz -- it was bloody. Still remarkable though that it was able to move back from the bait tray as far as it did, after triggering the kill bar, coz that thing moves like lightning... designed to nail the rodent's neck... "humanely" killing it instantly, & most likely bloodlessly. This quick & clever rat met it's match Mon night though - & all it's confident/cocky speed did was get it nailed most painfully/bloodily & death was presumably not instant. Too bad so sad good riddance. :)

[Tumbleweed]

I'd had a little uninvited RV-mate for prior few weeks -- yep, a RAT got on board, guessing through the water service bay where I can see, it would be possible. Looking to sew that port-of-rodent-entry up presently. Rat decided to make itself comfy & stay awhile...

Finally nailed the destructive, noisy @night little fecker with a basic Victor rat trap last Mon night. Baited it with a hunk of kielbasa beef sausage, dribbled with a few drops of honey... MMMMM :D Skewered the sausage onto the bait tray, so no easy grab&run.

Looked like it nearly got away; the kill bar nailed it right on the eyes, crushing them & its shnoz -- it was bloody. Still remarkable though that it was able to move back from the bait tray as far as it did, after triggering the kill bar, coz that thing moves like lightning... designed to nail the rodent's neck... "humanely" killing it instantly, & most likely bloodlessly. This quick & clever rat met it's match Mon night though - & all it's confident/cocky speed did was get it nailed most painfully/bloodily & death was presumably not instant. Too bad so sad good riddance. :)

The gun I use to get rid of rodents in the house and snakes outside is the one in this video loaded with .22 magnum birdshot. :)






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju0ojO1v_hE

[PatColo]

^ I had a chance to shoot one of those, into a paper target just to see what it does... interesting, pretty much no kick, hardly even much of a BANG; showered the paper with pinhole size shot holes. :)

I wouldn't wanna shoot it inside the rig though, messy; 'sides, try to get a nocturnal rodent in ur sites long enough to actually hit it... not happening!

[Tumbleweed]

^ I had a chance to shoot one of those, into a paper target just to see what it does... interesting, pretty much no kick, showered the paper with pinhole size shot holes. :)

I really like the one I have. I put a rubber grip on it and that works even better.

Thought I'd add the guy in the video says he uses his for social work with the birdshot so I guess he uses it for "social distancing".:)

[PatColo]

Pat, I've got a small RV. 19 feet, with a small AC as well. Do you have a digital thermostat? If not install one. Generally what I do is keep all the windows and vents closed, as suggested to minimize power consumption. With the digital thermo I can set the temp just how I like it, and when the RV cools down to that level I may open a window for fresh air as long as it's not too hot outside. If it's 100 plus, like you are at, I'd keep all vents and windows closed up. Even with a small RV, I've never felt like I had bad air. Heck people drive for hours in the desert in small cars, with the AC on and no windows open, with no problems.

yep digital thermo. What U describe is what I was doing until yest... when I experimented with AC + 1 ceiling vent open. Didn't seem the AC was working very hard; but outside high hit 83 & thermo was set to 77, so not nearly the diff vs that 100+ heat wave this week. Even cooler expected today, 79 (https://darksky.net/forecast/38.5787,-121.4668/us12/en). :) Those 100+ days, the AC was working non stop to maintain 77, & when I'd check it was 78/79 so it was always chasing that 77 number...

This rig has 3 ceiling skylight/vents, in living space, bedroom & bathroom. The living space vent has a Fan-Tastic™ Fan (https://www.fantasticvent.net/), basically a "smart fan" - motorized vent lid open/closing, adjustable/temp sensitive, set to blow upward/downward, rain guard -- yep, detects rain, & auto stops & closes lid, re-starts when rain stops! It's da bomb, I'd say an RV essential.

here's their AMZN shop (https://www.amazon.com/fantastic-fan-rv-Parts-Accessories-Automotive/s?k=fantastic+fan+rv&rh=n%3A2258019011), get a sense of models/prices/etc.

[midnight rambler]

it was always chasing that 77 number

Suggest you look into the possibility of setting up a misting system to envelope your RV to reduce heat load on the hottest days when your A/C isn't able to cycle. Also suggest you find a small fan to circulate your 77-79 degree air to improve comfort.

[PatColo]

another "RV/boat thing" that's come up: first "improvement" I made when I "moved in" last Dec was... replace orig queen spring-mattress with a Casper memory foam one from costco.

RV/boat mattresses sit on a flat ply/wood platform. Enter: the moisture problem. Lift mattress & inspect underside to find... general moisture/mold/mildew spots... coz the inability for the underside to MUH BREATHE... I cringe to think if I were in the hot/humid/muggy Southeast! :o

Solution is: something allowing MUH AIR CIRCULATION between mattress & flat wood platform. Here's at least one product offering a 'cure' - HYPERVENT AIRE-FLOW™ MOISTURE BARRIER (https://www.mattressinsider.com/mattress-condensation-prevention.html)

looks like it would be ~$150 for my queen shit... seems kinda spendy, no? But it certainly appears like a smart design; adds a modest 3/4" height, doesn't compress at all, good indy reviews.

any alt ideas, for a cheaper Home Depot DIY solution? I'd prefer said cure raises the overall mattress height as minimally as possible.

[osoab]

Air conditioner under the bed?

[PatColo]

...a misting system to envelope your RV to reduce heat load on the hottest days when your A/C isn't able to cycle.

do expand -- does it have to be 'mist', or can it be something like an evaporative humidifier? I had a Vornado evap humidifier at muh house in CO ~20y ago; I didn't get it for the 'cooling' but more just adding some moisture to the bone-dry winter air there, meant getting static elec "shocked" constantly. IIRC it worked well, though I was annoyed at how fast the moisture-wicks calcified & became useless, needing replacing maybe monthly? Also IIRC, it'd blow through it's 3 gallons/water tank every... ~36 hrs?

also, does higher-humidity air "hold the cold" better, taking some load off the AC? or is it purely a matter of the add'l cooling at the point of the humidifier/mist'er contraption, augmenting the AC's task?

Coz if I understand correctly, AC not only cools the air; it also DRIES it, no? Important in muggy swamps like FL? If true, wouldn't the humidifier/mist'er & the AC be working at odds? ???

[PatColo]

Air conditioner under the bed?

funny you should 'joke' that... as you'll find in my posts above from last Dec, this RV model features a "basement" AC unit, rather than the more common rooftop ACs in most RVs. Meaning, the unit is in the chassis below the floor... and it just so happens, it IS "under the bed." :D

[Hitch]

another "RV/boat thing" that's come up: first "improvement" I made when I "moved in" last Dec was... replace orig queen spring-mattress with a Casper memory foam one from costco.

RV/boat mattresses sit on a flat ply/wood platform. Enter: the moisture problem. Lift mattress & inspect underside to find... general moisture/mold/mildew spots... coz the inability for the underside to MUH BREATHE... I cringe to think if I were in the hot/humid/muggy Southeast! .

Pat, there shouldn't be moisture under the bed like that. I've lived on two boats for the past 15 years, on the ocean where humidity is very high. Plus, the RV as well. I've never had that problem with moisture under any of those beds. You live in a dry climate. I think you must have leak somewhere causing the moisture problem. It could be getting in the walls from somewhere and pooling up under the bed. Normal condensation shouldn't be getting under the bed.

There's two purchases for boats, and RV's I suppose, that help with a lot with maintenance and comfort. I would never do without them. A pressure washer and a dehumidifier. Condensation and humidity you deal with a lot on boats, and RV's. A $150 dehumidifier from home depot will help a lot with having good air and keeping moisture issues from coming up. Last thing you want is to breathing mold and mildew near your bed as you sleep.

[PatColo]

^ Hitch, were those spring-mattresses in ur boat/rv? Coz this prob appears "unique" to memory/foam mattresses, which are thick/dense foam throughout.

A spring-mattress has the airiness in the main core springs area, + those round metallic air vents built into the sides, which seems to solve internal moisture issue which pure foam mattresses suffer.

lots of articles on this foam mattresses atop flat platforms prob: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=RV+foam+mattress+moisture+problem

[Hitch]

I don't think any of the mattresses were old spring types. The new boat has a real comfy normal house queen mattress. The old boat I had cut out foam and covered it in a water proof casing and put memory foam on top. The RV has a bed above the cab (yes that unfortunate type class C), and I put a memory foam topping on it. It's quite comfy.

I just want you to make sure there's no leaks causing the problem. There might be. I knew of one guy who put in a system to allow air underneath his mattress, mostly for comfort, and it worked out well for him.

[osoab]

funny you should 'joke' that... as you'll find in my posts above from last Dec, this RV model features a "basement" AC unit, rather than the more common rooftop ACs in most RVs. Meaning, the unit is in the chassis below the floor... and it just so happens, it IS "under the bed." :D

Seems like the heat would give the mold issue. What about some sort of absorbent pad or just a blanket underneath?

[PatColo]

Solution is: something allowing MUH AIR CIRCULATION between mattress & flat wood platform. Here's at least one product offering a 'cure' - HYPERVENT AIRE-FLOW™ MOISTURE BARRIER (https://www.mattressinsider.com/mattress-condensation-prevention.html)

looks like it would be ~$150 for my queen shit... seems kinda spendy, no? But it certainly appears like a smart design; adds a modest 3/4" height, doesn't compress at all, good indy reviews.

any alt ideas, for a cheaper Home Depot DIY solution? I'd prefer said cure raises the overall mattress height as minimally as possible.

^ ordered that HYPERVENT AIRE-FLOW™ MOISTURE BARRIER (https://www.mattressinsider.com/mattress-condensation-prevention.html) shite, 10 linear feet of the 39" wide roll, "on sale" @ $9.99 per linear foot... so $107.xx after tax, free shipping. 10' will cover my standard 60x80" queen. My wood platform is actually 58x78", making 1" of mattress overhang on all sides, or coz the head side is pressed to the headboard, 2" overhang at the feet side of the mattress. But the wood platform being 78" long, that's the 39" wide Hypervent shite times 2... perfect. :)

Gonna take the zip cover off the mattress & launder it, & meanwhile turn the bare foam mattress on it's side on the wood platform, & just let it cook for ~2 days in the big heat expected again this week in Sac - 103 expected Wed (https://darksky.net/forecast/38.5787,-121.4668/us12/en)... so I'll close the bedroom AC ducts & close the door, & only AC-cool the living area where I'll spend that time (yes the thermo is in the living area!). And I'll sleep on the sofa bed, which I haven't tried yet! Imagining it sucks, I'll appreciate muh cleaned/sterilized & improved (hypervent'ed) main bed setup that much more, when it's all put back together. :cool:

Mo beta would be if I could drag the bare foam mattress outside & lean it against the rig, for the raw heat + sun's authentic disinfecting UV rays, but I suspect that'd be frowned upon at this 'nice' RV park. :rolleyes: So I'll settle for it cooking on its side in the bedroom, with portable fan + windows/roof vent open. With no AC, & with roof vents open, I've found it runs about 5 degrees WARMER inside the rig, than the ambient temp outside... IE bedroom should be approaching 110 in mid/late afternoon on Wed! Then expect to receive hypervent shite Thurs.

[PatColo]

with the JooCootie-19 social distancing, air travel dead, RV rentals/sales soaring.... lessee how this plays out? some duckduckgo results



Chattanooga area RV travel on the rise amid coronavirus (https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2020/jun/12/chattanoogarerv-travel-rise-amid-coronavirus/525171/)

Times Free Press (https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2020/jun/12/chattanoogarerv-travel-rise-amid-coronavirus/525171/)|1 day ago

Contributed photo by Brianne Lee / The Lee family's RV is seen at Harrison Bay State Park. As people look for ways to get out of town this summer while maintaining social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chattanooga area recreational ... used to." RVs are typically rented through online platforms similar to those used to rent vacation ...


RV rentals spike, signaling socially distanced summer (https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/RV-rentals-spike-signaling-socially-distanced-15319966.php)

San Francisco Chronicle (https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/RV-rentals-spike-signaling-socially-distanced-15319966.php)|8 days ago

Californians are turning to RV rentals — or dusting off their long-parked "driveway queens" — for summer trips to RV parks and national forests.


'Off the rails': RV sales booming as Bay Area residents hit the road to escape COVID-19 woes (https://abc7news.com/vacation-coronavirus-rv-sales-covid-19-where-to-buy-an-trailer-living/6243671/)

ABC7 San Francisco (https://abc7news.com/vacation-coronavirus-rv-sales-covid-19-where-to-buy-an-trailer-living/6243671/)|2 days ago

Every day it seems, we report another way in which COVID-19 is changing our lives. This week, we add vacations to the list. "Got a bathroom here, a sink, the toilet," said Frederic Neema, as he toured his new,


RV sales and rentals skyrocket in San Diego (https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/rv-sales-and-rentals-skyrocket-in-san-diego/ar-BB15qgad)

KFMB San Diego on MSN.com (https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/rv-sales-and-rentals-skyrocket-in-san-diego/ar-BB15qgad)|22 hours ago

Driveable destinations are the new summer vacation this year during the coronavirus pandemic. RV sales and rentals have spiked across the nation including San Diego. The online RV rental site RVshare reports rentals in the San Diego area for the last week,


Time to hit the road in an RV? (https://www.stltoday.com/travel/time-to-hit-the-road-in-an-rv/article_1c7769bf-6915-5ea1-a390-2e7516cd6c6e.html)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (https://www.stltoday.com/travel/time-to-hit-the-road-in-an-rv/article_1c7769bf-6915-5ea1-a390-2e7516cd6c6e.html)|16 days ago

M.B. Thomas RV Sales in St. Louis also offers numerous RVs for rent. Each is "locked down ... overlooking Johnson Bay. Area attractions include Campobello Island four miles north, where ...


Traveling and social distancing this summer? Rent (or buy) an RV (https://www.omaha.com/lifestyles/traveling-and-social-distancing-this-summer-rent-or-buy-an-rv/article_3b73a230-9f95-570a-9603-0d601ddde798.html)

Omaha.com (https://www.omaha.com/lifestyles/traveling-and-social-distancing-this-summer-rent-or-buy-an-rv/article_3b73a230-9f95-570a-9603-0d601ddde798.html)|2 days ago

Brett and Chris Naber camp with their dog in the RV campgrounds at Summit Lake State Recreation Area near Tekamah. RV sales are soaring. Jim Swenson knows exactly why recreational vehicles are so popular.


Trading square footage for freedom: What tiny home vanlife is like during quarantine (https://mynorthwest.com/1911752/tiny-home-vanlife-quarantine/)

MyNorthwest.com (https://mynorthwest.com/1911752/tiny-home-vanlife-quarantine/)|11 days ago

"I knew that I didn't want to pay rent anymore in the San Francisco Bay Area." Hanes had worked ... "I cover everything from camper-vans to RVs, to boating to tiny homes, and ways for ...


RV travel soars for summer trips as air travel stalls (https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/RV-travel-soars-for-summer-trips-as-air-travel-15298332.php)

SFGate (https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/RV-travel-soars-for-summer-trips-as-air-travel-15298332.php)|13 days ago

Summer travel via recreational vehicle or RV could hit record levels this summer. Hitting the road in a self-contained cocoon, which travelers can sanitize to their liking, is on roll as gasoline prices tumble and Americans seek ways to express their pent up demand to get out of the house.


RVs are in high demand for Wisconsin vacationers looking for a break from COVID-19 (https://www.wearegreenbay.com/coronavirus/rvs-are-in-high-demand-for-wisconsin-vacationers-looking-for-a-break-from-covid-19/)

We Are Green Bay (https://www.wearegreenbay.com/coronavirus/rvs-are-in-high-demand-for-wisconsin-vacationers-looking-for-a-break-from-covid-19/)|3 days ago

With many people fearful of traveling in the age of COVID-19, campgrounds and RVs are becoming very popular. Local 5 discovered that social distancing is driving the camping

[PatColo]

NZ story, almost completely behind paywall, but headline telling... I haven't paid attention to whether USA RV sales/rental demand has stayed strong w jooflu19 or if it's weakened now we're at the cusp of winter -- but I expect NZ's RV rentals are nearly all foreign tourist based, while USA's is heavily domestic customers? So, very diff markets.

Oh yeah, & NZ is on the cusp of Southern Hemisphere Summer...


Tourism Holdings, Vodafone and Tourism New Zealand in work from motorhome campaign
(https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/tourism-holdings-vodafone-and-tourism-new-zealand-in-work-from-motorhome-campaign/AXEJXZVMJGW6XXSQBZY7G3XR7E/)
1 Dec, 2020 03:00 PM

Tourism Holdings hopes to boost soft demand with discounts for Work from Anywhere rentals.

By: Grant Bradley (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/grant-bradley/)
Aviation, tourism and energy writer for the NZ Herald
grant.bradley@nzherald.co.nz@gbradleynz (https://www.twitter.com/@gbradleynz)


Tourism Holdings has slashed motorhome rates by up to 40 per cent in a ''Work from Anywhere'' campaign.

It is aimed at boosting demand during what threatens to be a soft summer for motorhome rentals...

rest behind paywall... https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/tourism-holdings-vodafone-and-tourism-new-zealand-in-work-from-motorhome-campaign/AXEJXZVMJGW6XXSQBZY7G3XR7E/