24/7 Chat About Anything

[abnorm]

Really. I was thinking that this is a world of rules obeyed, like every campground membership park that I camped in for the past 20 years. The camping rule etiquette in RV parks is quiet after 10:00pm. Hah! So there is no Ranger Rick stalking the grounds with his Billy Club? Now I know why those people love Quartzite in winter. They thought we were crazy for going to Palm Springs for the winter. All you need is to be self contained. Man, live and learn.
[/q

..............MAKI is yanking your chain !

 

[Freelander]

When I was there last winter, there was somebody they was running there generator at 5:30 in the morning and somebody didn't complain about it.

But as far as rules for the most part the rules where being followed.

 

[wayne49]

2022

5.9% Social Security increase

YAY!!

14.9% Part B Premium increase (to $170.00)

........ 

They giveth and they taketh.

Bad news:

Prices on most everything are up more than 5.9%.

 

[abnorm]

^^ Brian.......B&C.......ran his Roadtrek generator early for COFFEE...........Then he shut it down

The ONLY YARC alumni who qualify for the potential all-nite award are..........GypsyJoker and JimInDenver.....We have the photos !

 

[Freelander]

^^ Brian.......B&C.......ran his Roadtrek generator early for COFFEE...........Then he shut it down

The ONLY YARC alumni who qualify for the potential all-nite award are..........GypsyJoker and JimInDenver.....We have the photos !

Yea he ran it long enough to may 1 pot maybe 10 minutes.

 

[maki2]

Dont worry about B&C waking you up this winter...he can now make his coffee without running his generator!

But I will let him do his own bragging about his new power setup.  Mostly cause I cant remember all the details he told me about and no doubt I would get it all wrong as to the number of hamster hours of his new battery capacitors and such like. 

Brian texted me that he is heading out of Texas for YARC camp shortly after Turkey day.

As far as I know Jimindenver never sleeps at night. He said he is a night owl. If he does sleep then he only gets up because his dog Max makes him. He has to obey Max or else suffer the unpleasant consequences. Max rules!!!

 

[Freelander]

Yea I use a perk pot so it doesnt need electric to run.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

Been bouncing around Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill for a couple days.
Noticed my van making a funny sound.
Turns out my drive shaft coupler (2017 Ford Transit) has a problem and there is a recall.
So I've got an appointment for Thursday at the dealership.
In the meantime, looks like I'm getting a hotel room.
It's dipping in to the 30's the next few days. While I can hack it if I have to with my sleeping bag, it becomes nearly impossible to do my daily hygiene routine when the weather stays chilly.
Guess I'll be paying for the privilege of an indoor shower.

 

[B and C]

OK, guess I have to speakup.  Been reading the forum but not posting...  Hope all are doing well/better.  Updates for what is happening with me.

Got called back to the house From Wyoming middle of August due to a water leak in a kitchen wall   Lower cabinets and sheetrock toast along with the laminate flooring in the dining room.  Got some quotes and really don't like the numbers.  Inflation seems to have really hit hard this year.

While here I made a trip to Iowa with my sister and BIL to visit an aunt turning 98 and an old neighbor turning a 100.  Both almost completely blind from macular degeneration.  Got to visit with two cousins there in two different parts of the state.  Good trip overall.  After I got back, I took another trip to Idaho to visit friends.  Had to get out of the house as I have been cooped up here too long.  Ran into snow in Colorado and leftover snow in Wyoming first part of October.  Pushed a headwind (up to 40 MPH) all the way to Idaho...  Been here at the house for most of November, I am ready to leave.

I got called out on my generator use and for a good reason.  While here, I removed the genny (not an easy task as it is mounted underneath) and did basic maintenance along with setting the voltage and governor.  Not as easy as it sounds but it is not near as loud as it was.

Last Spring I replaced my two 100 pound AGM batteries (they were over 10 years old and still working pretty good) with two 100 Ah Battleborn batteries.  Reset the charge controller to the correct charging parameters.  This allowed me to use my 750 watt MSW inverter to run my 12 cup drip coffee pot.  I drink a full pot every morning.  Now I don't have to worry about the noise bothering others and I can have coffee as early as I want.  A Percolator takes to much water to clean.  I only have a 35 gallon fresh tank and can barely make it last me two weeks as it is.  I do carry a 9 cup one for emergencies as my drip won't last forever.

Yesterday I removed my diode based battery isolator so I could replace it with a Li-BIM-225 isolator.  What a pain.  It is on the frame horn between the K member and the radiator on the passenger side.  It is a tight squeeze there.  Is there anyplace on a van that isn't a tight squeeze? Couldn't get the three screws out that were attaching it so I broke out the trusty prybar and got it off that way.  Broke one screw flush with the frame and the other two came out easily then, go figure.

Todays task is to install the BIM.  The cable from the coach battery will be close in length as the BIM is thinner and a lot closer to the frame.  I'll have to drill two new holes and put the screws in.  Did I mention that it is tight under there?  I also need to run a wire from the BIM to under the dash to mount a push button.  This button will allow me to give myself a jump start from the coach (house) batteries.  The BIM is supposed to also charge the chassis (engine) battery from the coach battery.  Nifty device.  Probably take me all afternoon to put the BIM in...

If all goes well, I am off to my sisters for Thanksgiving next week and the will head to AZ stopping along the way to visit an aunt and two cousins in Tucson.  Still seems a little warm in Q.

 

[B and C]

I forgot to add that I will have a free pile in YARC camp.  I have a Dish Tailgater and Dish box with the DVR function activated (no HDD included).  I also have a couple of NIB Shurflo water pumps.  There will be other assorted items, PWM dimmers anyone?

I will put out a blue tarp.  Come by for a visit and a beer.  I have Yuengling!

 

[nature lover]

Brian, I wondered where you were glad to hear from you. I am almost tempted to head West to get one of those Yingling’s from you. But considering where I’m camping now in Brooks County Pennsylvania I’m about 30 miles to the home office and largest Rory of Yingling I think I’ll have plenty. There is nothing like a Yingling laugher.

Do you know what the Mennonite dilemma is? Free beer, “it’s free we like everything free but it’s beer we don’t drink but it’s beer, but it’s free “

How many Mennonites do you take fishing with you.? You always take two or more. Never take just one coat just one will drink all your beer. But if there’s another Mennonite there they won’t drink any beer there because they don’t want to be caught.

 

[B and C]

They say the same thing about the Morman's! LOL

 

[maki2]

Dont worry B&C, i will make sure to grab some of that 122 cup coffee bonaza..if there is any left wwhen I finally roll ot of bed. You make pretty fair coffee for a guy from Texas. Unfortunately not up to Seattle standards where a regular espresso will remove the hair from a man's chest instead of growing it.

 

[B and C]

Not a fan a expresso. Regular coffee for me!

 

[B and C]

Just finished the BIM install. Not quite as bad as I thought it would be but still took plenty of time.

 

[maki2]

B&C way to go..one more, not so fun of a chore, out of the way before departure day.

 

[Freelander]

Yesterday I removed my diode based battery isolator so I could replace it with a Li-BIM-225 isolator.  What a pain.  It is on the frame horn between the K member and the radiator on the passenger side.  It is a tight squeeze there.  Is there anyplace on a van that isn't a tight squeeze? Couldn't get the three screws out that were attaching it so I broke out the trusty prybar and got it off that way.  Broke one screw flush with the frame and the other two came out easily then, go figure.

Todays task is to install the BIM.  The cable from the coach battery will be close in length as the BIM is thinner and a lot closer to the frame.  I'll have to drill two new holes and put the screws in.  Did I mention that it is tight under there?  I also need to run a wire from the BIM to under the dash to mount a push button.  This button will allow me to give myself a jump start from the coach (house) batteries.  The BIM is supposed to also charge the chassis (engine) battery from the coach battery.  Nifty device.  Probably take me all afternoon to put the BIM in...

I didn't install the extra push Button on mine, and yes it will charge both ways, that's what I like the most about it.

 

[NctryBen]

I do not know how many in the caravan as I have not done a count. Plus people come and go, some were people who are motbfull time and jst came out for a few days of social time. Some stopped by on their way to other destinations. There are some women who were in the women only caravan but that location was too cold and windy so apparently some of them haved moved to this mixed gender group. But Ibthink they have decided to move that group over close by to this group so that is in flux right now. That was precipitated by a major wind storm which will generate around 53 mph gust this Monday, (Columbus Day) afternoon. So between 25 to 30 or so vehicles at a guess? It is earlly in the season so that seems about the right kind of numbers. I do not know whatbthe count is for the mens caravan or the womens. But I suspect it is more of a merging into one location happening as there locations were rather still too cold as well as much  windier.
.
I was not out and about a lot today, just going out for a few breaks from work now and then. A nice mix of work plus some play breaks. That feels like a very good balance for my head right now. Not too much of one thing or the other. Better than too much reading or internet time.

As to how many new to the life versus people who have been on the road for a while. I suspect it  is a pretty even spllit. I know Imhave been able to help out some new to the road persons with this, that and.the other issues. 

I think the main thing to realize about this caravan is you are the person on cvontrol of how you spend your time. You can spend most of the day socializing or none of the day doing that.  No one is pushing on anyone but you will be made to feel that you are welcome. Some people are parked way out in the distance, others are parked close by. I am parked very close to someone else by invitation. But as I am in a lower clearance rig I do not have a lot of choice as this area was the only entrance off the main road into the camping section  where in not going to bottom out. But I do not mind being that close at the moment. Sometimes for sure that close of neighbors might well bug me. Maybe this fall I am just  more of a Chameleon and finding it easy to adapt my  to my surroundings.

Of course being shallow about such things it really  does not matter to me if you would love it or hate it or fall somewhere in between. I am just being open to new experiences and not prejudging things without checking them out. After just a few days I can't even begin to fully understand the "culture" of the tribe or if there even is such a thing as a tribe with a culture of iits own.

This is a family-friendly site. Kids may not be posting on here but they can read it so no.

Boy, I don’t post for a few days and it’s “kids may not be posting”. Well, made it to Quartzite for a few days. Gotta run time my daughters soon for a week or two then back I come. And believe you me... if to cold I may not make it through Thanksgiving. Thanks for keeping this kid friendly for us “kids”. 
So who’s all in Quartzsite? Like I say, been on the road after a miserable time getting outta Minne-snowta.

 

[NctryBen]

So Brian, are you the Roadtrek guy I met last year at YARC right after Christmas? I had (well, still have) the homemade truck camper on the dually truck. Man I’m bad with names.

 

[B and C]

^^^ That's me and me too with names. I'll be heading somewhat toward Q right after Thanksgiving. It still seems a little warm there... Can't get outta here fast enough.