TXiceman

We have our loved trailer on consignment at PPL in Houston and have reduced the price.

This is the link to the trailer.  Please contact PPL .  This was one of the last true NuWa HitcHikers built in Chanute, KS and has been maintained by Kansas RV Center.

2013 Champagne - Unit F171

Thanks, 

Ken

15 hours ago, Larry Burkett said:

That move by the Class C doesn't surprise me at all. I've had that happen to us more than one time as the weekend warriors that leave too late, have too far to go and leave too late to get back home safely.

I was fussed at a few years back for using the term "weekend warrior" as it offended someone's son-in-law.  I still feel it is an appropriate tag for some of these folks as they attack the weekend with lots of gusto to get in as much as possible in as short of time as possible.  Hopefully, they will learn that the rushing around is just adding stress to their own lives as well as endangering others.

They are on a short timetable to get to a site set up, enjoy, tear down, get home and unpack.  They may learn to slow down, plan shorter drive times and really enjoy the RV and outdoors time.  So until they can learn that there are others on the road and that they are not the most important person on the road, I feel the term just might be the best description.  It is not meant to hurt feelings.  I get referred to as a slow old coot and it does not bother me.  Maybe it should, but I earned the gray hair and the right to enjoy life at my speed.

Ken

The Trailer Saver hitch hear (Holland Binkley) is a very positive latching head, but mistakes can happen.  With my TS3 hitch, after hitching, I lifted the front  trailer legs about 1" off the ground and did a tug test and then I even physically eye-balled the rear of the hitch to make sure the jaws were closed and then confirmed the hitch had latched and set my safety catch.  I am an engineer and tend to like my belt with suspenders.

I have seen folks get in a hurry and all of a sudden ....BANG.  You look over and there they are with the trailer setting on a massed bed and tailgate.

Ken

I have a new in the box evaporator blower wheel and a slightly used (about 2 weeks operating time) evaporator fan motor for a 15K Coleman Mach 8 heat pump.  It is free for the taking, but I will not ship.  We are located in Bryan, TX.  Come and get them before I have to trash them.  We are out of the RV business for now.

Ken                                                                                  

9 hours ago, Chad Heiser said:

I have a regular dish account for my home and a prepaid RV account for my RV.  I get bills for both of them.  The difference being the home account is billing me for the month I just used while the RV account is billing me for the upcoming month.  I have to pay the home account because I have already used the service for the month.  I don’t have to pay the RV account if I don’t intend to use the service for the upcoming month.

Chad, rather than a separate RV account, why not get a mirrored account for the RV.  It costs $7 0r $10 per month to mirror your home account.

Ken

For the insurance coverage across the US, you need to carefully examine the medical plan you intend to use.  Many are not PPO and require you to use their specific in-network providers.  If you go outside their coverage area or providers, coverage is reduced.  

If you are going to travel all over the US, look for insurance that is accepted in all of the states without reducing coverage.  

Ken

The wrench monkeys that are hired to change oil are a lost cause.  I gave up having oil changed for many years and did it myself to have it done properly.  Fighting over tightened drain plugs and filters was not fun.  Now at my advanced age, I no long crawl around under the vehicles and am at the mercy of the oil change clowns.

Ken

We had the Banks system on a 31' class C with the 6.8L V-10.  It was a great improvement.

Ken

Contact the Excapees headquarters for information in setting up in Livingston, TX.  They may have some ideas.

We knew one couple from Denmark that kept a motorhome here and registered in Texas.  They came over and traveled on their visas and then back to Denmark with the motorhome stored in the southern USA awaiting their return.

Ken

The price on the trailer has been reduced to $36,500.  It is a great full time and 4-season trailer that is ready to be enjoyed.  It is 40 feet of beauty and 19,000# GVWR.

Contact Sandy Titman at PPL Motorhomes in Houston, TX.  Unit number F171.

Ken

Lippert builds most of the frames for RVs in the USA.  They should be ashamed of the product they put out.  They claim they build to the RV manufacturers specifications and take no responsibility for their welding and thin metals. 

I feel that they should take responsibility that the frames are built with the proper materials and welded properly.  I am a retired mechanical engineer and would not design or build a substandard product.  Whatever the product was, it had my name on it and it was built right, or I walked from the project.

I'd go back to the trailer manufacturer and Lippert to fix the problem.  In any case whether you get their help or you make the repairs on your nickel, make sure that the repairs are done by a certified welder and the suspension attachments are properly braced and supported.

Ken

SuiteSuccess, it is hard to say.  Prices are all over the map depending on what area you are located.  Part of the issue with ours was it was not an FX4 or 4 x 4.  Seems everyone thinks they have to have a 4 x 4.  

We had a 1997, 2002 and a 2012 F350 and none were 4 x 4's.  Two were daily drivers and we lived in northeastern Oklahoma.  We saw some snow and ice and I never felt the need for 4-wheel drive.  

Just shop, shop and shop.

Ken

Kirk is spot on with the drug schedule.  The pharmacies have been pushed to this dispensing protocol due to the abuse of pain killers by many people.  It makes it hard for someone that truly needs the medication.

Ken

Fulltimer, good luck getting that, I could not get near that number for my 2012 F350 DRW at the end of last year.  It had good tires (75%) and 116,000 mile, Trailer Saver TS3 hitch and air springs.  Seems the truck and RV markets have gone a bit soft.

Ken

You might want to tell us if the 6.0L has been "Bullet Proofed" and di you run a tuner.

Ken

3 hours ago, hemsteadc said:

Where is Starlink not available?  It sure is nice to never have to worry about cell service, or lug around and set up a heavy satellite dish.  It doesn't cost much more than Directv, and with the RV version you can suspend service anytime you wish.

Look at the coverage maps and see where coverage is spotty.  There also may not be a slot open for you to join the network at a given location when you travel.  As for cost, when you are on Star Link you do have to still subscribe to various streaming services.  You cannot make a direct comparison to Dish or Direct unless you add the streaming fees.

Ken

Streaming is fine as long as you have enough and a decent internet connection.  We have been too many places with no or limited cell service.  Campgrounds seldom have enough bandwidth to stream.  Star Link is expensive and not available everywhere.  We used DISH on the road and decided to keep it in the house due to poor internet service at the house.

Ken

In the past 10 years, we have had suspicious activity on our credit cards, ie hacked, on three occassions.  We have set our cards to send us a text message on any charge of $1.00 or more.  One charge came from a place in Alaska, and we were in PA.  The last one was in the UK and we were in Houston, TX.  Both times, I got the text alert before the card carrier contacted me.

Ken

I personally do not like the Anderson hitch.  I have helped several folks get them unhitched when the ball gets jammed in the socket on the trailer.  Two cases, we had to pull the whole pin assembly and bar from the frame in the truck.  his meant, blocking the jacks on the front of the trailer and lifting the front of the trailer well over a foot to clear the hitch frame.  Then he had to take the socket adapter off the trailer and pry the ball out.  

Go with a good B&W hitch.  18 wheels use a 5th wheel hitch for a reason.  They are sturdy and work.

Ken

When we were traveling and hosting, I cannot recount all of the 250/2500 series trucks pulling 40 foot plus, 3 axle toy haulers.  The RVers were blissfully happy and had not a clue as to their weight.  If asked, they quoted the advertising number in the brochure and never the limitation posted...."when properly equipped".    It was no sense in insulting their purchase.  Hopefully they learn before they or someone else is injured.

I had a few ask me why I was using a 1 ton dually of my 40 foot, 3 axle trailer...well it weighed 19,300 lb and 4200 lb on the pin.

Ken

53 minutes ago, Chalkie said:

It is real. I went to the US Patent office and found it there. It is a 13 page PDF file if you want to download it.

You can patent pretty much anything.  Whether it is worthwhile or of use is another story.

Ken

3 hours ago, Blues said:

What color was the LEO?  For that matter, what color are you?  Your wife? 

The PERP was black the LEO was a female Hispanic and I am white (with a trace of Native American) for the curious.   Wife is white with Dutch Irish ancestry.  I do not know what that has to do with it.

My firearm was not on me but on the console as I was sitting in the driver's seat and could not reach the holster when seated.   I have since found and ordered a Kangaroo concealed carry under the arm holster.  Take a look at those.  A neighbor that is a former LEO recommended them and that is what he uses to carry 90% of the time.

Ken

As noted, the Palomino is an entry level, weekend, and vacation trailer suitable for 3-season use.  The Grand Design is a few steps above it....that is why it cost more.

Ken

2 hours ago, Ray,IN said:

And just when I was getting used to going into a bank wearing a mask and a baseball cap.

The problem is outside the bank, not inside the bank.......

Ken

5 hours ago, Kirk W said:

Your experience makes me wonder if it happens but doesn't make the TV news? I get most of my news from TV and internet nowadays so possibly that is why I've not heard of it before. 

Kirk, when I got my concealed carry license many years back, one of the instructors was a retired LEO and he said in the Houston area, the drug and gang problem was much worse than what we saw reported on the tV and newsprint.  He said they only showed the tip of the iceberg.

You need to be very vigilant when you go to a bank, and ATM, the grocery store, etc. to make sure you are not being watched and/or followed.   These crooks especially prey on the elderly.

Ken