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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Subliminal message
"please buy more stuff". clever. wonder if it works?
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wtb
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11/20/09 11:37pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: 12 volt night light ( my solution)
dalehelman,
yes, I think that would have worked if I had spotted it. but as I posted earlier, I just couldn't find anything 12v. probably if I had the imagination to search for "map light" and such, it would have done me some good, but I kept typing 12v night light into the search features.
anyway, now I have the problem solved, and can't wait to get the grandkids camping next summer to see if they pass the real world test.
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wtb
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11/06/09 11:57pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 12 volt night light ( my solution)
UnclePokey,
glad to hear confirmation of the low electrical draw. maybe I will give some thought to getting a little help for permanent installation if I find these are being used more often than I expected.
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wtb
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11/06/09 02:58pm |
General RVing Issues
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12 volt night light ( my solution)
have searched unsuccessfully for a couple of years for a 12v night light I could plug into the cigarette lighter type outlets of my trailer when the grandkids are with us.
a search of this forum found several ideas, but they seemed to revolve around three themes, 1. 120 volts. 2. AAA battery power, and 3. hardwiring something (usually led) into existing light fixture.
none of these solutions was a good match for me, but I did finally have an idea for a simple and inexpensive light that others here may find useful if they have small kids, or lack the confidence to tear into the rv's permanent wiring system.
from the local auto parts store, I purchased a 4 led amber side marker light $12 (yeah, like those found on trailers)and a male 12 accessory adaptor, and wired them together.
now, for the price of a handful of AAA batteries I have
-a night light I can use any time without worrying about whether or not I have fresh batteries,
-portability. I left a few feet of wire between the light and adaptor, so it can be placed about anywhere
-a soft amber glow that will not disturb my sleep,
-led technology to insure low battery drain
-no worries about damage to rv from my inept electrical skills from hardwiring lights.
sorry no pictures, but my technical limitations also include that deficiency. nevertheless, I think most of you can picture in your mind an amber side marker light with a couple feet of wire, and then a cigarette plug thingy.
for those of you with the technical skills and confidence I lack, this side marker light would also work pretty slick hardwired next to your regular bathroom fixture, for example, as a permanent night light which could be mounted to look "factory"
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wtb
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11/06/09 02:19pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Canadian flag in Florida?
jambo101,
I enjoyed your Canadian flag link. I think the writer has it exactly right. thank you.
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wtb
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10/16/09 09:17pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: has anyone heard of a kit chateau trailer (1949)?
may or may not be of help, but Kit is now Extreme RV's.(the company was bought out by their employees a few years ago, and they changed the name to differentiate from Kit, which was still going to build manufactured housing.) their web site is www.extremervs.com
I don't have any idea how much help, if any, they will be, but good luck.
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wtb
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10/07/09 12:32am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
well, I drummed up the courage to visit the local rv plant today. no one was in the delivery office, so maybe things are slow enough that they won't be interested, or maybe it's just deer hunting season.:)
anyway, will check back with them from time to time to see what's up.
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wtb
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10/05/09 02:11pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
Dave&Sue,
point taken. meant no offense to anyone trying to make a living, as demonstrated by my posted concern of taking loads from a family. but as I mentioned earlier in the thread, the local drivers I know about are in about the same boat as I , and it was the guy who was co-ordinating deliveries from a local plant that mentioned that they could use help from time to time (this was a couple of years ago, and things might have changed since then.)
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wtb
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10/04/09 11:20pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: snow today- interesting coincidence
thanks for the reply, emzee.
I am fortunate that my family seems flexible enough to always make the best of a situation, which has given me a wealth of great memories.
what really lead me to post about it was how unlikely a coincidence it seemed to have such similar circumstances two years in a row.
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wtb
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10/04/09 09:21pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
I agree that many have not gotten the point. maybe if I had asked about taking up golf, instead of trucking, they would have understood it was for fun. (and understand why I am not looking for employment, of any kind, with any company. you don't get the thrill of shopping for, purchasing, and outfitting, let alone taking the grandkids for a ride in, a truck if you're working for someone else.)
anyway, there is another consideration rattling around my head.
if my original idea succeeded, I would wonder if the 2 or 3 loads a month I was running for fun might be the 2 or 3 loads that a working man or woman might have needed to keep the house, or have Christmas for the kids.
on the other hand, the 2 or 3 RV's I might deliver would probably just give some other local old fart an extra day in the coffee shop telling fish stories.
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wtb
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10/04/09 09:18pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
mssmith,
If I understand correctly, they would not call me for any loads, rather, I would be bidding for loads I wanted, when I wanted, and not bidding for loads at any other time.
Other than that, I agree with your analysis. My #2 son-in-law heard about my ideas this weekend, and expresses an enthusiasm to drive a truck full time , if I purchased one, and then I could take a load whenever I wanted, to give him a couple days off here and there.
It sent chills down my spine, to think that he would have to rely on my half-baked enterprise to make his mortgage, pay bills, etc., vs. my original idea of just playing. pretty much illustrated the major difference in expectations you mention.
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wtb
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10/04/09 08:19pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: How do I convince a friend NOT to do this?
Keith99rs,
I think he stated that the trailers have surge brakes.
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wtb
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10/04/09 03:17pm |
Tow Vehicles
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snow today- interesting coincidence
the first Sunday of October last year, both our girls happened to be home (#1 daughter lives 45 min away, #2 lives 2.5hrs away, and work schedules, their husbands nat. guard drill schedules, etc., keep them from being here together very often) with their families so my sons-in-law could deer hunt together, and we got 18" of snow, knockiing out the power, so we ended up having a wonderful candlelight Sunday dinner with the whole family.
So today, the first Sunday of October, both girls are home so their husbands could sight in rifles for their deer hunt weekend next weekend, when we get heavy snow knocking out the power for a little while.
anyway, started a fire, played "go fish" with the grandkids by candlelight, took them out in my diesel f-250 to spin cookies in an empty parking lot, and am now sitting here now with an amaretto coffee.
as much as I have dreaded this season coming (just took the pontoon boat in yesterday for winterization, travel trailer and pop-up are next, after deer hunting next week) I guess there are still some great memories to be made, even if unplanned.
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wtb
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10/04/09 03:11pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
most of the machinery I see moving in comes by rail.
I have also seen the car trailers you mention,but in looking at some of the hot shot web sites, it seems they want you to have a dually,( which I don't have) and for you to purchase your own trailer, so I imagine the car transport deal would be similar.
on the other hand, the travel trailers manufactured locally are 18-22 footers, which my powerstroke diesel would make light work of.
I think I will make some calls monday about transporting the trailers and see where that gets me.
all in all, this has been and interesting exercise in "what if" and I appreciate everyone playing along.
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wtb
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10/03/09 11:38pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
once again, I think I am being taken too seriously as to the career potential.
the main idea here was to avoid having to take up golf, or remodel the kitchen. these are my other alternatives.
the reasons the big rig looks less attractive vs. rv delivery:
-start up. I already have a diesel pickup.
-opportunity. a local fellow delivering for dutchman invited me a couple of years ago to come help them out if I wanted.
-easier to say no. if I invest in a semi, I will probably guilt myself into driving more than I intended to cover the expenses.
re: hotshots, I enjoy seeing how much time I can (legally) make when I pull my trailer now. (for example, keeping meal and fuel stops as short as possible, driving at night so I don't have to slow down for traffic, making unkind remarks about left lane squatters, etc.) it's kind of a game for me, and annoying for my wife.
hence her approval for me to get on the road alone, and my feeling that this may be right up my alley.
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wtb
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10/03/09 06:39pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
engineer9860,
thanks for the warning, although I propably wouldn't approach strangers when I know a few truckers already.
as for the companies looking for casual drivers, this is what I investigated to begin with, but the "casual drivers" I've talked to warned that their companies are so short of drivers that they are constantly pressured into driving full time, which would interfere with my ability to stay on top of my other businesses.
so far, the hot shot driving or rv delivery seems the most promising, so I will check into these a little further.
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wtb
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10/03/09 05:24pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
thanks seadog,
many truckers here do well also.
local quarries have stone shipping out daily, huge amounts of local potatoes and sugar beets are being moved this time of year, and with the explosive growth of dairy in our valley, milk hauling is in high demand.
expiditing sounds like a great alternative, might look into this.
as for tour buses, one of my goals was to deal less with the public than I always have, and the solitude of a cab was part of the appeal.
anyway, if this doesn't pan out, I'm thinking I could always start a snowmobile touring company for yellowstone park....:B
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wtb
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10/03/09 03:18pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
thanks again for your replies
Beagle RC Air, I think you have a great point. the amount of do-it-yourselfness that I have been able to contribute to my other businesses over the years is a decisive factor in their sucsess, but mechanical skills are a weak point for me.
I knew there was more than just driving around to trucking, but I am also very confident in my ability to learn and dedicate myself to something, just like I did with my other businesses.(which many people claim are impossible to make money from)
anyway,, maybe I can go a different way. A friend of mine has a son who has been successful with his five trucks (new home, new atv's, new boat,new cars for his girlfriend, new trucks, etc) and over the years offered me a ride-a-long. maybe I'll see if he will let me take a load from time to time to cure my itch. just have always hating to work for the other guy when I could be building something for myself.
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wtb
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10/03/09 09:03am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
colliehauler,
just what i was thinking, plus getting me out of the house.
also thought i could make a few bucks, but am going to pretty much give up on the idea for now, since other reading I have been doing on the internet this evening indicates that insurance would be difficult to get without trucking for a company for a couple of years first.
still, its fun to kick around an idea from time to time and i appreciate everyone's thoughts on the matter.
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wtb
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10/03/09 01:01am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: thinking of trucking part time, need reality check
I think I haven't been clear about my intentions. A hobby is exactly what i'm looking for. just thought making a few bucks along the way wouldn't hurt either, and wondered if it was realistic. (probably isn't)
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wtb
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10/03/09 12:10am |
Around the Campfire
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