VACList Digest Sunday, January 12 2003 Volume 03 : Number 071
When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary Digest text To unsubscribe or change to an e-mail format, please go to http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html Topics in Today's Digest: Re: [VACList] axle replacement/out of the box [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery Re: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery RE: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery [VACList] Military exchanges RE: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery Re: [VACList] Baseball cap was Blue Beret RE: [VACList] Military exchanges RE: [VACList] Military exchanges Re: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery RE: [VACList] Military exchanges Re: [VACList] Military exchanges Re: [VACList] Military exchanges RE: [VACList] Military exchanges Re: [VACList] axle replacement/out of the box ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 10:10:50 -0600 From: "Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] axle replacement/out of the box Sometimes when faced with a monopolistic vendor 2000 miles from home, or when not being paid every hour, one desires to look at alternatives, and to fully understand those alternatives. Gerald J. - -- Entire content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer. Reproduction by permission only. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 12:27:04 -0500 From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery Hey. Got another dead battery, want hold a charge for long, and I'm getting tired of it not lasting at least till the free replacement time is up. That's actually a good thing in that it saves me money, but waste my time by having to baby a weak battery. I went to a Battery Source store yesterday and was checking out the Optima Battery. This is a GEL type battery supposed to be like indestructable and ventless. Has anyone used it or experienced one of these? I would like some feed back before I pay $150.00 for a battery. Makes the hassle with the $80.00 RV battery seem bearable when you consider the price difference, but hassle free RVing is priceless. Thanks Bobby ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 14:03:26 -0500 From: "chyde" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery Bobby, I was doing some work on some prototype electric scooters last year for a client. We tried a variety of batteries in these vehicles and discovered that the optima yellow caps worked the best. They will take a lot of abuse. One of the nice things about them is that they can't be spilled. You can orient them any way you like and they work great. You can even punch a hole through them and they won't leak. I've installed three of them under one of the bunks on my 59 Ambassador International and they haven't given me a bit of grief. If you've got the money, go for it. You won't regret it. The original battery on my trailer is located in an aluminum box riveted onto the front of the trailer. Over the years acid has spilled, leaked and spit all around this area and the aluminum requires a lot of work to look good. This box will be a tool box by spring and I will be glad to get rid of the low amp hour tractor battery that doesn't cut it. Hope this helps you out. PS I also installed two of them in my 87 Suburban 6.2 liter Diesel with a Banks "Sidewinder" Turbo. No problems starting it either. Colin Hyde - ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:27 PM Subject: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery > Hey. Got another dead battery, want hold a charge for long, and I'm getting tired of it not lasting at least till the free replacement time is up. That's actually a good thing in that it saves me money, but waste my time by having to baby a weak battery. I went to a Battery Source store yesterday and was checking out the Optima Battery. This is a GEL type battery supposed to be like indestructable and ventless. Has anyone used it or experienced one of these? I would like some feed back before I pay $150.00 for a battery. Makes the hassle with the $80.00 RV battery seem bearable when you consider the price difference, but hassle free RVing is priceless. > Thanks > Bobby ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 12:34:55 -0700 From: "Pete Ryner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery Bobby, I purchased one this year and am totally sold. I used it while hunting in Utah where it was fairly cold during the nights. The battery ran my heater throughout the night every night! Even when my thermostat screwed up and the fan was on most of the night it worked great. I used a honda EU 2000i generator (which I also highly recommend) for an hour in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening while cooking and running my computer which also charged the battery. I've never found anything like it. Definitely worth the cost. Recommend you check the net for prices though. I've seen them around $129 but couldn't tell you exactly where. Just search on optima and you can probably find a great deal. If you have any military connections, they are available in the base exchange for a great price. Good luck! Pete ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 13:50:06 -0700 From: "Roger Hightower" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] Military exchanges In a previous post it was suggested that you might have someone make a purchase for you at a military exchange. DON"T!!! This can result in severe disciplinary action against the service member, up to and including loss of rank/rate and reduction in pay. It's illegal. Period. Roger Hightower, LCDR, USN (Ret) WBCCI 4165, VAC, TCT 1975 31' Sovereign, '02 F-250 PSD Mesa, AZ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 16:43:04 -0500 From: Bob Patterson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery At the local Sam's Club I saw Optima style car batteries for sale for $99. Has anyone tried one? Can these be used in a non-vented location? Bob Patterson ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 18:58:35 -0500 From: "Conrad & Tricia Holsomback" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Baseball cap was Blue Beret Has anyone heard from Pearl since this message? T & C - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pearl Main" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 1:56 PM Subject: Re: [VACList] Baseball cap was Blue Beret > > > Webmaster wrote :help I m too foggy to put messages on vacation going > back in hospital this week Pearl > > > I think this is one of the prime items the "VAC Quartermaster" will be > > looking at later next month. I understand the board is close to finalizing > > approval of an individual to create, obtain & sell VAC stuff. > > -- > > RJ > > > > On 1/2/03 3:09 PM, "john or cindy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Hi fellow VACrs > > > I just can't see myself wearing a Blue Beret. I'm not slamming them & I > > > understand the original reason for their use but I'm just not the beret > > > type. Is there a baseball cap available for the "VAC" interclub? If there > > > is, where can I order a couple? If none exist, is there an interest in > > > creating such a cap using the VAC logo? > > > Thanks > > > John Young > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html - --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.443 / Virus Database: 248 - Release Date: 1/10/2003 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 18:14:15 -0600 From: lefty frizzell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [VACList] Military exchanges Item Lefty Frizzell http://home.earthlink.net/~leftyfrizzell - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Roger Hightower Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 2:50 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [VACList] Military exchanges In a previous post it was suggested that you might have someone make a purchase for you at a military exchange. DON"T!!! This can result in severe disciplinary action against the service member, up to and including loss of rank/rate and reduction in pay. It's illegal. Period. Roger Hightower, LCDR, USN (Ret) WBCCI 4165, VAC, TCT 1975 31' Sovereign, '02 F-250 PSD Mesa, AZ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 18:19:33 -0600 From: lefty frizzell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [VACList] Military exchanges Purchased items from the PX to be used as gifts for others has always been allowed and still is per a call to Ft Sam Houston. Items from the Commissary may not be sold, bartered, or given as gifts. Anything from the Commissary is a No-No. Per the same phone call. Lefty Frizzell, SSG, USA (DV) http://home.earthlink.net/~leftyfrizzell - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Roger Hightower Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 2:50 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [VACList] Military exchanges In a previous post it was suggested that you might have someone make a purchase for you at a military exchange. DON"T!!! This can result in severe disciplinary action against the service member, up to and including loss of rank/rate and reduction in pay. It's illegal. Period. Roger Hightower, LCDR, USN (Ret) WBCCI 4165, VAC, TCT 1975 31' Sovereign, '02 F-250 PSD Mesa, AZ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 19:49:30 -0500 From: "Jim Dunmyer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery Bobby, Those batteries don't like to be over-charged. First and foremost, be sure that your charging system is up to snuff, if you're using a UniVolt, it almost certainly is NOT. A decent lead-acid battery that is treated right should last 4 or 5 years, perhaps more. That means an Inteli-Power converter w/ Charge Wizard or equivilant. <<Jim>> <<http://www.oldengine.org/members/jdunmyer>> <<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> <<lower SE Michigan, USA>> <<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Saturday, January 11, 2003 1:05 PM Subject: [VACList] Optima (GEL) Battery > Hey. Got another dead battery, want hold a charge for long, and I'm getting tired of it not lasting at least till the free replacement time is up. That's actually a good thing in that it saves me money, but waste my time by having to baby a weak battery. I went to a Battery Source store yesterday and was checking out the Optima Battery. This is a GEL type battery supposed to be like indestructable and ventless. Has anyone used it or experienced one of these? I would like some feed back before I pay $150.00 for a battery. Makes the hassle with the $80.00 RV battery seem bearable when you consider the price difference, but hassle free RVing is priceless. > Thanks > Bobby > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > >To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to >http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 20:39:06 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Corbin C Bates) Subject: RE: [VACList] Military exchanges Roger, I was in the Army (83-87) and do not remeber any restrictions on buying stuff for friends or family members from the PX (military exchange). Please let me know what you mean by this. Corbin "Roger Hightower" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >In a previous post it was suggested that you might have someone make a >purchase for you at a military exchange. > >DON"T!!! > >This can result in severe disciplinary action against the service member, up >to and including loss of rank/rate and reduction in pay. > >It's illegal. Period. > >Roger Hightower, LCDR, USN (Ret) >WBCCI 4165, VAC, TCT >1975 31' Sovereign, '02 F-250 PSD >Mesa, AZ >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > >To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to >http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > > - -- Corbin C Bates We are Penguin, Resistance is futile. . ____ ____ . . [ \ / ] . . | GO BLUE! | . . | |\ /| | . . [____]\/[____] . Talk at ya later......... __________________________________________________________________ The NEW Netscape 7.0 browser is now available. Upgrade now! http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 21:04:20 -0600 From: "jrkleven" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Military exchanges I am a carrer officer in the army and still on active duty. I sign my extended family and friends into the PX quite often. It's not really a big deal as long as you don't abuse it. Nobody is going to lose rank or anything as there is not UCMJ rules against the service member, just that the exchange is not supposed to sell to the public. Randy From: "Roger Hightower" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 2:50 PM Subject: [VACList] Military exchanges > In a previous post it was suggested that you might have someone make a > purchase for you at a military exchange. > > DON"T!!! > > This can result in severe disciplinary action against the service member, up > to and including loss of rank/rate and reduction in pay. > > It's illegal. Period. > > Roger Hightower, LCDR, USN (Ret) > WBCCI 4165, VAC, TCT > 1975 31' Sovereign, '02 F-250 PSD > Mesa, AZ > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 20:03:27 -0700 From: "Roger Hightower" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Military exchanges - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Corbin C Bates" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 6:39 PM Subject: RE: [VACList] Military exchanges > Roger, > > I was in the Army (83-87) and do not remeber any restrictions on buying stuff for friends or family members from the PX (military exchange). Please let me know what you mean by this. > > Corbin > The regulations are quite specific. A service member may purchase for friends or family members if the item is a legitimate gift, not for reimbursement. If the service member is reimbursed, it is a violation of regulations and subject to punishment. In 22 years of service, I saw two instances of punishment where a sailor violated that rule. Roger Hightower WBCCI 4165, VAC, TCT 1975 31' Sovereign, '02 F-250 PSD Mesa, AZ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 20:54:26 -0700 From: "Pete Ryner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [VACList] Military exchanges Sorry, Didn't mean to suggest that anyone should use the military exchange system to illegally purchase items. My point was that if you have legitimate access to the BX system, that the item was sold there at a decent price. Pete ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 18:46:18 -0500 From: "Mr. Joy H. Hansen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] axle replacement/out of the box Hi Paul, I'm home for a short period, but won't be able to do much with the axle situation for either my Safari, or Argosy. It's appropriate that those not skilled in making small modifications allow a professional to do the axle replacement. The fellow at Southwest Wheel claims that he has changed out many Henchen axles that he feels are inferior to his product. There's only two bolts on each frame mount and changing out an axle shouldn't be much of a problem. The cut-out for the axle tube is in the right position to install the axle. Just a matter of drilling a couple new holes and installing the proper rated bolts as indicated by the axle supplier. I doubt that alignment will be a serious issue as the notch and original bolt holes will serve as reference points. Southwest Wheel torsion arm is shorter than Dexter or Henchen, like 4-1/2 inches vs 5-1/2 or 6 inches. To keep the weight distribution per the original specification, it would be necessary to move the axle tube. As I mentioned previously, the only problem in using Dexter or Southwest Wheel is the shock installation. I'm aware that other Airstreamers installing Henchen replacement axles had to modify the shock bracket and everything worked out just great. More later when I get more time, Regards, '69 Safari, Joy - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul P. Waddell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:16 AM Subject: Re: [VACList] axle replacement/out of the box > I'm sure many people that play with Airstreams like myself love > to color outside of the lines, think there is always a better/ > cheaper way, etc... But, I also think in today's world that time > is money. My question to every one that is doing an axle replacement > is how much is your time worth? At a rate of $35.00 an hour, how > long will it take with phone calls/emails/making/cutting/welding/ > etc... to make up the difference in the price between > all the above and just bolting a new axle up in place? There is > something to be said for "out of the box". Maybe I just have more > money than time (coming from a person that has three jobs!) I need > things, that when needed to be replaced, can be done fast and easy. > I know for myself when I have to do the replacement, I'll buy the > axle that is the fastest and easiest to replace. And no, one of my > jobs is not working for Andy (Inlandrv) or Henchen. > > Paul Waddell > WBCCI/VAC 1270 > 66 Overlander > 70 LY23' single > > > > > > > Dick Parins wrote: > > > > Gerald J wrote: > > > > It would be better for the trailer for the spring rate to > > match the load actually applied and that effective spring rate will > > depend on the arm angle. > > ----- > > > > This makes sense to me. Can anyone tell me how to determine the correct > > arm angle? The axles are available with different angles. I know that I have > > read that 15 degrees down is good but is that about where I want a new > > axle to start? Or is there a way to calculate the spring rate at different > > angles and different weights based on information the manufacturer > > should have if only I knew enough to ask. > > > > Joy I'm still hoping to get an update on your axle replacement project if your > > out there. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Dick > > '62 Bambi > > -- > > __________________________________________________________ > > Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com > > http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup > > > > Meet Singles > > http://corp.mail.com/lavalife > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > ------------------------------ End of VACList Digest V3 #71 **************************** When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary Digest text To unsubscribe or change to an e-mail format, please go to http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html
