VACList Digest Sunday, March 30 2003 Volume 03 : Number 147
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] Re: VACList Digest V3 #145 [VACList] Ohio Power and Light [VACList] Hail storm options Re: [VACList] Condensation Re: [VACList] Voyager vs 19' Globetrotter? Re: [VACList] Dim Tail lights Re: [VACList] Dim Tail lights ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 07:52:39 -0500 From: "Edward Emerick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [VACList] Re: VACList Digest V3 #145 Hello, To add my 2 cents to the discussion, I pull a 30 foot Sovereign with a 98 1/2 ton Suburban. The units together with the 2 kids and 2 dogs and all the stuff they need to survive (bikes, CD players, video games, books, books and did I say books!) weigh 13,010 going down the road. That includes full propane, water and truck fuel tanks. The Suburban with the 350 struggles with hills but will hold it's own on flat ground. I've only been through 1 transmission so far. Next time I'll go 3/4 ton with a bigger block. >From my trucking experiences, stay in front of the towed vehicle and let the power unit control the package. Go bigger and you will be much happier in the long run. Ed WBCCI/VAC 4425 68 Sovereign 59 Traveler - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 7:27 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [VACList] Re: VACList Digest V3 #145 In a message dated 3/28/2003 11:22:36 AM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Hiya- I've been grappling with the prospect of towing a 2700 lb > trailer with > > a Chrysler Voyager or trading it against a Cherokee/Dakota/Tacoma or > such. > Several folks I've spoken with assure me that with the right hitch, big > exhaust, tranny cooler etc the 3.3 liter minivan will do just fine; others > suggest I won't 'run with the big dogs' and must have a turbo diesel pickup > > or such. If you can get your hands on or have an owners manual, you will find info on weight verses horsepower to figure out what you need. My 1st manual for my 79 ambassador suggested a basic 350/350 GM setup to be perfect for towing it. In my experience anything less will be frustrating up hills not to mention ruining a tranny not built for that kind of weight. Also I would think a Voyager would be pushed all over the place by a 2700lb trailer. The idea is for the tow vehicle to be in charge of the "towee" not the other way around. You don't need a powestroke although mine was a dream for pulling my ambassador. my current 460 ford does a great job too! I would still suggest a V-8 not less than 350 and what ever holds that size motor is sure to be heavy enough for the counter weight. This great land of ours has many changing terrain's from coast to coast and IM my experience the bigger the beast the less stress on the driver ...hence a better overall RV experience. Cheer and good luck! AlanT Px Az 74 safari...gettin ready for my 1st rocky point trip next month! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 29 Mar 2003 16:11:17 -0500 From: Terry Tyler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] Ohio Power and Light on 03/25/03 2:41 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Also, if you haven't asked the Federal Government's Superintendent of > Documents for data on campgrounds operated by Electric Power Companies in > Ohio, you might want to do that, too. The publication covers other states > adjacent to Ohio. The exact address for that document is at home on my desk, > otherwise I'd include it here. A few days ago, I offered the above reply to a question asked by Okeydokey. Since then, I found specific information while browsing at a campground library. This is a good example of how unexpectedly information can be found just by skimming brochures. This map's title is "Ohio Power Recreation Land Map." There are 30,000 acres of lakes, forests, rolling hills and meadows with hundreds of places for RVs in nine campground areas. The above tract of land is located between McConnelsville and Caldwell, south of New Concord, Ohio and Interstate 70. A free camping permit may be obtained at any Ohio Power Company office or by writing directly to Ohio Power Company, P.O. Box 328, McConnelsville, Ohio 43756 or the Publication Center, Department of Natural Resources, Fountain Square, Building B, Coilumbis, Ohio 43224-1327. This map is different from the booklet I mentioned before which can be obtained through the Superintendent of Documents. That publication is more like a large booklet of several dozen pages of many states identifying where power companies have campgrounds. In it, the campgrounds are listed with directions, facilities and maps showing their exact locations. Uncovering solutions and finding answers is the name of the game, Terry PS - Next week (the first week in April), will see us doting on two baby grand daughters and probably not checking email very often. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 16:11:17 -0500 From: Terry Tyler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] Hail storm options on 03/27/03 3:21 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Right now I'm in the path of a big thunderstorm which has produced hail up to > 2 inches deep west of here..... <sigh> > > I'm trying to think of what I can do to protect the new skins on my trailer, > new because of the last hail storm I was in. > > I don't have any place to drive it into.... such as a barn. > > Maybe it won't hail............. Hi Hunter, 1 - On more than one occasion, we've pulled into a high top car wash place to avoid hail. We learned about the high top feature after trying to get into a low top car wash place and found our air conditioner wouldn't fit. 2 - One time, we snuggled up against a wall on the lee side of a shopping mall building to avoid hail coming down at an angle. There was so much wind the hail couldn't come straight down. But, at least, we could avoid the brunt of it. 3 - We never tried stopping under a bridge on the Interstate to avoid hail, although I thought about it and decided it could be more risky than the hail. In my book, stopping under a bridge is a "no no." 4 - You may remember my writing about packing up and leaving a campground in Illinois when we learned a tornado with damaging hail was an hour away and barreling directly toward us at 40 mph. That time, we drove away from it and 400 miles later, the storm had accelerated and caught up to us with intense gusting winds and torrential rain, but no hail. Later, when we called the campground, they told us we were the only RV to leave and everyone who stayed had severe damage to their rigs. The families huddled around each other in the laundry room while the hail and wind pounded the building. 5 - One July at the International Rally in Bismarck, a hail storm came up so fast we couldn't do anything but hunker down. All three of our metal roof vents had a plastic square in the center for light. The plastic in all three roof vents was smashed. A lot of rain and hail came in through the holes. Within 10 minutes, I was in the convention center standing in line at the Lindeen Vent Cover dealer - buying three of them ($50 each). An hour later, I was on the roof of our Airstream bolting them in place while the rain was still coming down. The next day when more rain came, we stayed dry. 6 - Although we've never stayed under the high roof at most gas stations, that location is on our list of options, including closed stations. Hunter, perhaps one of these ideas will provide another perspective for finding options. I'm looking forward to replies on this question. One of them might make the difference between skin damage or just another ho-hum hail storm. Terry ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 16:11:17 -0500 From: Terry Tyler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Condensation on 03/26/03 9:47 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Were you able to compare the low pressure hose that connects the regulator to > the hard lines under the coach you would note that the original hose that > Airstream uses is roughly 3 times the diameter of others. It should also have > a dip in it not unlike a P trap. Over the years this has been done because > while on caravan's to the wilds of the world there was no telling when your > propane would come with extra scent oil or other contaminants. The large hose > would allow gas to pass through the junk. The clue was if a stove burner > started to sputter you needed to drain the stuff out of that low pressure > hose. At least that's the story I heard. Charlie > Hi Charlie, Thanks for the comeback. The original hose is in fact, a larger diameter hose than the others, but it doesn't have a large dip as you describe. Now that you mention the "clue," I'll add that to my "attention to detail" list. Also, today, I added a new item to our "ready to roll list." It's called "check all window latches." Yup, the window was closed when we left the campground, but it opened when a truck went by us. That got my attention fast and prompted an immediate "get off" at the next exit. Fortunately, no harm was done. The windows on this "new to us" Airstream are very easy to close from the outside. I had been closing them that way all week long - just before dusk when the gnats and mosquitos join us for their supper. As we left this morning, my visual inspection showed all windows closed. My mistake was in not remembering I had closed them from the outside and hadn't latched them. I hate it when I do dumb things, Terry PS - Today, we continued along to New Orleans for a visit with #1 son (F-15 pilot) and family. I suspect he'll be in his "non-commital mode" about where his next "vacation" will take him. Maybe it'll be someplace different from 10 years ago when he went to Saudi Arabia and flew in Desert Storm. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 17:49:01 -0500 From: Terry Tyler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Voyager vs 19' Globetrotter? on 03/27/03 10:51 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> Hiya- I've been grappling with the prospect of towing a 2700 lb trailer >> with a Chrysler Voyager or trading it against a Cherokee/Dakota/Tacoma >> or such. Several folks I've spoken with assure me that with the right >> hitch, big exhaust, tranny cooler etc the 3.3 liter minivan will do just >> fine; others suggest I won't 'run with the big dogs' and must have a >> turbo diesel pickup or such. Any takes on this? We already have the >> (paid for) Voyager and I don't want to burn more fuel daily just for the >> 'thrill' of driving a huge vehicle! CB Rollins South Amherst Massachusetts >> >> Hi CB, You live in South Amherst so why don't you load that minivan with yourself and four 200 pound friends for a total of a thousand pounds or 1/4 of the weight you will probably be towing with your 2,700 lb trailer plus 1,000 lb of "stuff"). Next, pack enough food and drink for the day and take it for a spin over to Pittsfield and up October Mountain to the campground? After you've had your picnic lunch, turn around and go back down the mountain and head for home. By the end of that day's run, I'll wager you'll know the answer to your question. Keep in mind this experience will only be 1/4th of a reality check If it was me and I liked the minivan, I'd keep it for running around town and enjoying "no car payments." Then, I'd go find myself a slightly used big van or pickup or suburban for strong towing and serious safety considerations. When winter comes, you can always put the truck in the garage, take the plates and insurance off it and plug your battery charger into a timer for an hour a day to keep the truck battery(ies) fully charged. If you get cabin fever during the winter, go sit in the truck, look at maps and dream of adventures yet to come. Terry ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 20:09:04 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [VACList] Dim Tail lights Reflective "Window film might work as well. Martin and Rachel Hughey WBCCI & VAC #10212 27', 69 International & 16', 61 Bambi ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 22:31:14 -0600 From: schuetzen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Dim Tail lights On Sat, 29 Mar 2003 20:09:04 EST, you wrote: >Reflective "Window film might work as well. or stainless steel or aluminum metal tape chas ------------------------------ End of VACList Digest V3 #147 ***************************** 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
