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RE: Washington. DC camping - public transportation to the Mall.
From what the Lady Ranger at Greenbelt park told me, any wooded or high grass area on the East Coast likely has the problem, including the city of Rockville where we live. Just be reasonably careful. After taking a short cut through a high grass field on a hike this spring in Pennsylvania we pulled over 20 ticks off our Shih Tsu before bed that night. Since then we have been more careful. We have pulled a few more off him after visiting parks in Pennsylvania and Virginia but nothing like that. Just be reasonably careful, walk on the trails and check your dog when you finish hiking. Or perhaps don't go, but we like to go.
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CJBill
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09/08/10 05:21am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Washington. DC camping - public transportation to the Mall.
Just to answer bobo35, we don't walk our Shih Tsu 3 miles all at once. We do 2 or a little more in the early morning and usually a little less than a mile in the evening. He makes us do it! Unless he is sick he won't poop in his own yard and not usually much closer than a half mile from the house. The walk seems to be his charge for doing his duty. We always clean up after him as I wish all owners would. Been doing this since he was a puppy, nine years now.
This can be a real problem when traveling in the Roadtrek. Some campgrounds don't have a great deal of walking space and sometimes the roads aren't safe. Oh well, the troubles of traveling with a Shih Tsu, but he owns our hearts.
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CJBill
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09/06/10 07:28pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Washington. DC camping - public transportation to the Mall.
We live in Rockville MD but our driveway is taken up by our Roadtrek so we don't have room for another one. However I just called the Ranger station at the National Park at Greenbelt. The Ranger said it is true that there is a tick problem and that covers most of the east coast. She did say their problem has been getting better and that if you stay on the trails and don't get off into the high grass and weeds that you should be OK. She did recommend using insect repellent. We have driven through the campground and think it looked nice. I wold think that if you stick to the roads and main paths in the campground that there wouldn't be much problem. If you do have a dog you will have to be careful.
We have a Shih Tsu and in the spring we got lots of ticks on him in both Pennsylvania and Virginia State parks so I would guess the whole east coast warning is probably true. In our area we walk him about 3 miles a day but try to keep him out of high grass and check him frequently and haven't had too much of a problem.
Hope you find a place you like.
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CJBill
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09/06/10 01:30pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: RV security system
I may have misunderstood but in reading the Viper web site I thought that there was no "trunk unlock" feature on any but the most expensive units. I assume the rear door unlock on my Chevy van is equivalent to the trunk unlock.
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CJBill
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09/05/10 07:53am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Not Friendly to Class B's
How long do you stay in one place? Until now it never occurred to me that anyone would want to hook a class B to the sewer. I would have thought that unless you had a toad that you would move around so much that it would be inconvenient. At least that is our way. With two of us in our RT 190P I know we can go to the 4th day before we need to dump, might but never tried to go to the 5th day and we usually dump on the 3rd day just in case the next day would prove difficult. So it seems to me that hooking up would be more trouble than it is worth. Just one opinion.
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CJBill
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09/04/10 07:39pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: RV security system
I would like to use the original remote because it has a lock and unlock feature for the back doors and DW sometimes likes to enter or leave by that route.
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CJBill
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09/04/10 07:13pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: RV security system
Has anyone tried or knows, if you put the Viper 350HV in "Valet mode" or set it so it is disarmed, can you then use the normal manufacturers key fob?
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CJBill
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09/03/10 07:16pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Mileage: What do you get?
This topic does come up frequently but that doesn't particularly bother me. I'm always kind of interested to read what people say. I have an 05/06 Chevy Roadtrek 190 Popular. At 62.5 mph on I95 between Maryland and Florida I get between 15 and 15.5 mpg on various tanks of gas probably averaging around 15.3 for that trip. Overall with two years of ownership I have gotten 14.3 mpg. Around town between 10 and 12 mpg, probably on the lower side. Last summer on a trip out I70 to Pueblo then Westcliff, Colorado and then north through the mountains to Montana and back on I80 the mileages were all over the ballpark but my overall average didn't seem to change. Maybe the gas is different, maybe the gas pumps shut off sooner sometimes, who knows. I got as high as 17 mpg on Interstate roads that weren't as flat as here to Florida.
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CJBill
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08/30/10 07:48pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: RV security system
I did consider the Best Buy $199 model 350 Viper but I have some questions. Does anyone have one.
Can you turn it off and then use your normal Chevy keyless entry?
Can you turn off the siren.
It would be important to turn it off when we are in or around because our DK9 would panic and never want to go in the van again if it went off while he was around. For some unknown reason as he has gotten older electronic alarms cause him to panic.
Also DW really likes the back door opening option. At home our Van back door is close to our kitchen door so she likes to load and unload through that door and being small and flexible she often goes in and out that way.
I would pay the difference for remote notification if I had the option to turn off the siren. That way I could leave the system on with DK9 inside.
When I went to Best Buy I couldn't really find s knowledgeable person to ask. Anyone know?
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CJBill
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08/30/10 08:21am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Wish Lists for Class B Campers
Well, I have to say, I think our 05/06 Roadtrek 190 Popular is really fine when everything works like it should. So I just wish the generator was always reliable even in the heat and that the refrigerator would light on propane every time and maybe didn't need to be quite so level.
It would be nice if the generator were quieter for the benefit of our neighbors where ever we are. We find we can adjust to the other noises including the propane heater which has worked for us a few times. The isle shower is a plus for us. After a day of hiking or driving DW would not allow me to sleep in the same van with her unless I took a shower. If the weather out is not nice or the campground showers are not attractive or not available then I use it. There is a little extra clean up after you are done but overall I think it is a good choice for such a small RV. At some point I think we have used everything that came on the RV and were glad to have it.
Extra wishes;
Some solar boost for the engine battery so we can use the van radio when camping a few days without power and not have to worry.
Backup camera,
power surge and circuit protector,
detachable power cord,
some LED lights,
given some recent reports perhaps an alarm system,
a detachable awning for the back of the van so we can open the back doors put the screen in and enjoy the scenery even when the sun is out or there is a light sprinkle,
an inverter switch so I don't have to crawl under the bed to change it,
a macerator hose a little easier to get out and put back,
30 MPG with the same power I already have.
Maybe I'll think of something else. Some of these I'll add myself and I'm still a guy who thinks his van is pretty darn good as it is.
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CJBill
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08/27/10 07:57pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: RV Camping in or near Yellowstone NP
Do the campgrounds inside the park have water and dump stations?
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CJBill
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08/19/10 06:50pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Don't run as Admin
OK, I believe you. However I didn't start out that way so when I set up a new Admin account and then try to give it a password Win7 tells me
"If you do this, Admin will loose all EFS-encrypted files, personal certificates and stored passwords for Web sites or network resources."
So, what's it mean, is it important?
I wanted to set up a seperate Admin account than make myself a standard user. Can I do that?
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CJBill
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08/11/10 07:38pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Heat loss/ Gain design critera for van conversion
For example: I have a 05/06 Roadtrek Popular with a Dometic heat pump rated at 11,500 btu. We have been having some really warm weather here in Rockville MD and I wanted to test my generator which won't always carry the AC in hot conditions especially when driving or afterward.
So with the temp. at 98-99F I drove for an hour plus to a nearby Orchard then pulled in at home. The Chevy AC was running but not the motorhome AC. At home with the outside temp. at 99F I started the Gen. then AC which ran fine for an hour and 45 minutes. Because I wanted to know if the Gen. failed I lay down in the back and took a nap after closing off the front of the van with the bathroom door to try and keep myself cooler. When I stopped my test the temp. on the kitchen counter top just aft of the bathroom door was 87.5F. The Chevy van mirror told me the outside temp. was 100F. When I closed the bathroom door and went forward I noticed it was quite a bit warmer in that part of the van but I did not have a thermometer up there to record the difference.
So while 13000 btu would sure be nice the 11,500 btu I have seems adequate for me. However, DW did not nap with me and I am pretty sure she would have wanted to be cooler.
We have noted that the heat pump works good for heat down to the 40F where it is supposed to shut itself off. DW likes it much better than the furnace and will push the limit so hopefully it will take care of itself, as the manual says, because my authority is inversely proportional to how uncomfortable she is. So I think "we" are pleased we have a heat pump not just an AC.
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CJBill
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07/25/10 08:44am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: 2011 Rally site deadline
Too bad the discussion can't go on here in this forum where more people would read it and get interested!
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CJBill
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07/24/10 08:07am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Brand New RVer questions - Roadtrek
I have great respect for the postings of MyRoadtrek and have often noted that his postings are the final authoritative answer on any subject. Therefore I was very surprised to read his note that there were no electric water heaters after 2004 as I believed I had one in my 2006 190 Popular. I finally went out and checked this morning.
My Roadtrek manual says "The Roadtrek is equipped with a dual mode water heater. The water heater may be operated by 110V power or L.P.G. Please refer to the Suburban owner's manual". The Roadtrek manual says I have Suburban model SW6DE. The Suburban manual shows a picture of an electrical switch which I do see on my water heater. The switch on mine has a cotter pin which prevents it from being turned on. I always thought this was to prevent it from being accidentally turned on. It is possible that the electrical is not wired but why then would the Roadtrek manual have that statement.
It is probably poor to address two subjects in the same mail but in reading my Suburban manual it says I should exercise the pressure relief valve once per year. I did not know that. How and when should I do it?
Bill D
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CJBill
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07/03/10 09:16am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Leveling checking gadget idea
I think Handbasket has the right idea and I wish they would do it. I also like the gadget Topless pointed out but don't want to carry something that big in my van with all the other stuff. So I found a cheap plastic protractor around the house and an heavy rusty washer I probably picked up off the street and a piece of dental floss. I tied the dental floss to the washer and to the center of the protractor and now I can measure angles, good enough. Now I only need to find or mark a line in the van that is level when the fridge floor is level and I can tell if I am off less than 6 degrees. However the Good Sam hint on the side of this thread says 3 degrees max. I wish Dometic would give us an official number.
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CJBill
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06/18/10 07:36am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Dealer's Got Me Confused about need to Level RT
OK, Now how do I measure 6 degrees or 3 degrees? My small levels and my carpenters levels only go to about 2 degrees before they hit the end.
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CJBill
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06/15/10 02:34pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Need Info
ennajean made me do it. I went to the sticky at the top of the class B forum.
I don't think it is very helpful. To find the most recent info about the 2010 Annual Spring Rally posted by Roger I would have to click through 30 pages to get to the new stuff.
The link setup by ADMIN to the Class B Spring Rally does not work although the Trailerlife link does.
From the Minnesota North Shore Class B BSG Social posting I did learn about the Facebook info for the BSG. It seemed really interesting. However I never wanted to learn about Facebook and never wanted them to have my personal information.
How would new people ever find out about this stuff? Why can't the threads be available here in this forum where I actually look at stuff because I like to read the info that people post here?
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CJBill
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06/07/10 07:53pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Need Info
We hope to do a western trip at the end of summer and if we are nearby DW and I would like to drop in at the last minute as we won't know before that.
This is the first I knew about such a gathering and I was interested to read the thread that Davydd made reference to. I think it is very unfortunate that RV.net does not allow things like that to be posted here as I don't read the Rally thread. It would seem that if they insist they be posted there that they could also have a link and show up in this forum as well, then people like me could know what is happening. Are there more gatherings like this?
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CJBill
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06/07/10 03:21pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Winterizing Water Heater
I have found on my 06 Roadtrek 190P that I can get 3 to 4 gallons of water out of my hot water heater by using the outside shower as the drain. I leave the sink and inside shower faucets with the hot water ON to allow air into the system. It is a slow process and usually continues after the main fresh water tank has completed draining as I start with both the main drain and the outside shower on. Once it quits draining I find that turning the water pump on for 10 seconds will restart the drain which I usually do for few times. If I am truly winterizing I will then pull the anode rod and get another couple of gallons of water.
If it is not winter and the van is just going to be sitting for a few weeks before another trip I do this process and drain the fresh water tanks so I can refill with true fresh water before the next trip. I was told when I bought the van that this would keep the water system "sweeter". I don't know how much that is really true or if leaving a few gallons in the hot water heater would work against that or not but maybe it helps.
Looking at the plumbing in my van I can see that the cold water input to the water heater connects directly to the cold water supply to the outside shower. Any other vans that are connected similarly should be able to drain at least some of the water from the hot water heater.
Bill D
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CJBill
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05/16/10 01:39pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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