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Date Posted |
Forum
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Advice on windshield sun shade for driving
I am looking for recommendations on a good sunshade for my 1999 newmar Dutch Star DP. I have seen the daynight shade with motorized service and that might bee a great purchase but pricy and they say that need two units to fit across because of TV int eh way. I am looking for a driving shade and don't mind using my existing curtains to close up at night. Presently It has the typical folding visors that are pretty useless.
Thanks
Jim
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shirlock1
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11/15/08 09:48am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Winnebago vs. Newmar - help me decide
I've got the dutch star 1999 with the 300 cat. Coming across country at Christmas this year (unloaded) I got 11 mph. It was an extremely tight coach on the road and did not respond to wind or trucks (very stable). You will however, find that you will have a hard time with documentation from Newmar. I am not sure you will find some of the things like wiring diagrams that are very handy to have. Overall I think the Newmar is a better coach but I would look at extras like an inverter that will cost money to install if you want it. Think about those options.
Good Luck
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shirlock1
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11/10/08 05:25pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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Alaska bears when and where
Hi Folks
Next year we hit the road for about a year. Starting out in May for alaska. I am trying to think about how to spend the summer there. One of the main attractions that I want is Bears. I klnow there are no guarantees on when and where and we are willing to travel to some of the views areas like Katmi. If you were to schedule your summer around visiting locations where bears were likely how would you do it. I would love to get the typical bear (large quanty) and salmon drama. I know that the salmon runs follow a progression on the calander. Can some of you give me the most likely places and times.
Thanks
Jim
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shirlock1
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08/29/08 07:18am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: How my emergency plans went awry
Help me out guys. I have the CW ERS and they have been good in responding to my problems. Coach net was mentioned several times. Do you find that a better service? Next year I leave on a one year trek to Alaska and then down the WC into the SW. Any thoughts between the two services?
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shirlock1
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08/28/08 06:35am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Which of these options should I pay extra for?
One comment on the inverter. My Dutch Star did not have one so the battery charger was not three stage with the trickle feature. I am putting on an inverter that has a three stage charger so it is a double improvement.
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shirlock1
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08/27/08 02:49pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Primer on mail forwarding options for a newbie
Thanks for all the thoughts, but As I stated we will be full timing for only 12 months so I don't really want to get all the addresses changed to a forwarding service. Don't seem to have many options but I will keep on researching.
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shirlock1
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07/02/08 06:48pm |
Full-time RVing
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Primer on mail forwarding options for a newbie
We are newbies to the long haul rving. Next year we will be gone for a year and have no clue how to handle mail. Is there any set of posts on this forum that can sort of take us thru the options and pros and cons. We will not be on a known schedule and going around the country including alaska. How do you make sure the irs does not send you a letter that will cause your to shrivil up and financially die withing a month if you do not respond.
Thanks
Jim
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shirlock1
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06/25/08 04:55pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Inverter Vs No Inverter
I bought my 199 newmar Dutch Star without an inverter. I plan to put in a 2500 and one of the nice things about them is that the zantic that I got has a three phase charger so that charging is safer on the batteries. So you might want to add that to your considerations. Also second the idea of throwing it into the negotiating deal. Just be sure to have them wire it up, that is more than half the battle.
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shirlock1
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06/25/08 03:57pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: questions, questions- Class A diesel / TOAD
For the fellow with the Samurai, do you use a base plate or a bumper with tow bar. I have a rock road outfitters winch bumper with an attached tow bar. looking at the mounting of the bumper it looks like a weak link even tho I added some reinforcement. Wondered how you do yours?
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shirlock1
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06/22/08 03:23pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Top of the World Highway is it narrow
We did the top of the world five years ago. Canadian side was as beautiful as everyone says. The us side was so bad I wanted to linch the commissioner of roads. The dust got into everything and the oncoming water trucks were rolling so fast you felt like they were going to run you off. We had to do a through cleaning in the coach as the dust crept in from the compartments below. The mounties on the canadian side refrained from any comments so that should have been a give away.\
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shirlock1
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06/21/08 08:10pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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Driver training, any recommendations
I am moving up from a 32 ft gasser to a 38ft Dutch Star DP. I have driven cross country so am not a real novice. Yet after reading the chatter on that Wash State fatal accident I feel that before going FT for a year next year we should have a bit of severe conditions driving instruction. We will be going from east coast up to alaska and then down the WC and into the SW for the winter. I anticipate lots of mountain driving. Any thoughts about where we might take a class or do a dvd training or such. Just want to be prepared and not do something (or forget todo something) I will regret.
Appreciate any thoughts on this.
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shirlock1
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06/21/08 07:43pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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gps maps with campgrounds
I bought a magellan 7200 gps for the RV. I have not even used it yet but I am wondering about campgrounds being identified on the maps. Next year DW and I are going from Mid atl across canada to alaska and wc. We hope to stop at campgrounds along the way but wonder if there is enough data in the built in maps to beable to rely on using the "points of interest POI" from the gps along the way. Can anyone recommend a maping software that is best on identifying campgrounds.
Thanks
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shirlock1
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05/07/08 07:43am |
Technology Corner
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When to leave for Alaska
DW and I are heading to alaska next year. We have some flexibility and are leaving from the mid atlantic. We want to be in alaska for the start of the season for salmon runs and other items that are seasonal. I see some late winter storms (snow) in the upper Mid West. Does anyone have any thoughts on when it is probably safe to head across and angle up to alaska thru Banff and lake louise next year. Don't want to leave too early but want to get there for the new season.
Thanks
Jim
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shirlock1
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05/06/08 06:23am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Should Class A drivers require a special license?
Folks
Lots of good comments and some not very realistic one. BUT most longer class A's are quite a jump for the average person and it is quite a dangerous pile of steel coming down the road toward a lot of other innocents. I am really shocked that there is not some review of the capabilities of drivers by state licensing authorities to get permission to subject the rest of us on the road to these dangerous situations.
Now after I read the material about the recent accident in Washington state I realized that I need to have some more driver training for the situations that are somewhat unique to motorhome driving (as well as trucks). I now know a bit more about the need to downshift on cresting a summit where there is a long grade downhill ahead. What else do I not know?
Yes everyone needs better review but the motorhomes coach subset of the driver universe is a group ripe for better licensing regulation
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shirlock1
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05/06/08 06:11am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Pac brake upgrade?
I have a 99 dutch star with the 300 hp cat and an exhaust brake. Is this the same as the Pac Barke that is discussed above. I get some effective braking from it but not what I would like. Do all of the comments apply to this as well or is mine a different animal (kitty CAT)?
Thanks
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shirlock1
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05/04/08 06:34pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: TV Station Investigates Motorhome Accident
Boy
This post got me thinking. I had played with rigs for 20 years but this winter was the first DP and its 38ft. We were scared sh--less the first time out. But by the time coming across country we felt like old hands--false security.
You guys have lots of thoughts about what this guy may have done to get into this situation. Is there some way to sort of bone up on the important points of driving a big rig. sort of a driver training. Back ground. We are taking this beast across country and to alaska next year for 10 months so times awaisting.
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shirlock1
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04/26/08 02:44pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: CAT 3126 MPG
I have a 99 dutch star with the 300 cat 3126. Came across the country at christmas and go just about 11 mpg (my calculation not computer) Ran the gen very little.
don't think the engine has had anything done to it and we were light on the trip no significant stuff.
I thiought about a chip to go to 330 but I think I am going to stay right where I am and tow as light a toad as I can.
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shirlock1
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04/23/08 07:33am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Free Photography Workshop?
Steve and all
My heart sinks as I tell you I will not make it to MV. I was so looking forward to it but as I mentioned to steve several months ago the stars have aligned against me on a number of fronts and I am stuck here. I would love it if there is an email exchange from the group that gets together if you could include me in it. I wish I could get a video or a transscript of the sessions.
JIm Meehan
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shirlock1
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04/23/08 07:24am |
Technology Corner
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RE: diesel prices
I understood (or thought I did) when I drove cross country in Dec that because of the clean diesel rules that the spread over gas had gotten to about 25 cents. I was OK with that, but what is up now. the spread seems to have grown to about 75 cents. Does not seem reasonable. Any thoughts?
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shirlock1
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03/17/08 05:27pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Inverter Installation
Boy
Head is spinning following that one. I have a similar rig as Capt Jeff and need to install inverter. Thanks for that detail.
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shirlock1
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03/17/08 04:51am |
Class A Motorhomes
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