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RE: WARNING!! Don't Try To Stop At This Walmart
You're likely to see more and more of this "restricted height" entry as Walmart opens new super centers, or modifies others.
There has been conversation for some time as how to get control of the relentless overnight parking by 18-wheelers all over the country.
Sad part is that what started out as a user friendly gesture by Walmart to the RVer's has become an albatross around their neck. Obviously the RVer's will also take a hit in a big way. The 12 ft limit will catch most all of the 5ver's, but will let a major part of the TT (tag-alongs) pass thru.
You can go into almost any WM super center parking lot between 6AM and 10AM and see 18-wheelers, most with their engines running, parked all over the exterior perimeter.
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grey`eagle
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03/20/10 11:31am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Braking: TV or trailer ? How fast can you stop ?
Your question has as many variables as Carter has pills.
Starting with Newtons 2nd Law of Motion and 3rd Law of Motion (Physics).
This is where Force (F)= Mass (M) x Acceleration (A). When all the numbers are plugged in you come up with the amount of force that's is needed from the brakes to stop the unit or combined unit.
The brakes are limited by Kinetic Brake energy in all cases. It doesn't make any difference if the vehicle has eight wheels or 28 wheels. Once Kinetic Brake energy is exceeded you're in a world of hurt, as far as stopping is concerned.
In order to determine the correct answer to your question, it is necessary to have the brake energy limits for both TV and trailer.
The TV is easy enough to calculate since this information comes from the Mfger. The trailer is grossly different due to the effect of the various brake controllers.
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grey`eagle
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03/16/10 07:57pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: CrossRoads Cruiser
We bought our CF28CK new and still have it. It now has about 20K miles.
We also had the alignment problem that showed up about 4000 miles of towing.
This is a well documented problem and effected certain group of serial numbers that are well known and document by Crossroads.
Crossroads took care of the problem and paid for having the axles and all four tires changed out.
The other problem you may want to explore is the fresh water tank which is mounted at the very rear of the unit just forward of the rear bumper.
The problem also comes with a lot of towing where the tank has a tendency to bounce up and down when there's water of any amount in the tank. The brackets securing the tank were insufficient and improperly supported. This was also taken care of under warranty.
In your case, the unit is totally out of warranty and you'd be hard pressed to get any warranty claims paid. This especially true if the unit had or has Lippert axles. Ours come with Ak-Lo axles.
I'd strongly suggest that you take the unit to a truck trailer alignment shop, one that specializes in heavy equipment and have it checked. Also, I'd sure have the mounting brackets checked to see what condition they're in.
Also, with these known and documented issues, you may consider getting a written guarantee that the unit does not have either of the two issues or that they have been addressed and corrected.
If those axles are out of alignment, one of more of the tires won't last much more than about 4k to 5k miles, if that long.
Also, go over to www.crossroadsrv.com/forum for more information.
Send me a PM if you need any more data.
The good part is that there is not a RV mfger that has any better customer service or that stands behind their product like Crossroads.
## for ## and $$ for $$, you can't beat the unit for quality.
These problems were not the fault of Crossroads, but were OEM vendors that sold Crossroads faulty equipment.
Good Luck.
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grey`eagle
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03/16/10 07:28pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: AAA Auto Club with RV towing
Some AAA clubs do not offer RV coverage and if you break down in their territory the RV coverage would not apply. If you travel a lot I would recommend Good Sam towing.
Don
My AAA agent indicates otherwise. Please document your information source.
Thanks.
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grey`eagle
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03/16/10 10:10am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Crossroads Cruiser
We bought our CF28CK new and have utilized the rig quite regularly since. Can't beat the Customer Service, quality of product (best bang for the $$) or warranty.
Crossroads hold the Dealer's feet to the fire with service and warranty in addition to simply getting things right.
Before you buy check around. There's one dealer out there that simply has everyone beat on their prices. Can't mention their name in open forum. Send me a PM if you're interested.
With the market like it is - it's a buyer's ballgame.
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grey`eagle
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03/15/10 01:27pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 3/4 ton diesel limits on fifth wheel
You don't have to rely on one single opinion, just go to the Ford Towing Guide section.
That's straight from the horses mouth.
This page gives you GCWR, GVWR, and all the other information needed to make a logical decision on what your truck will handle.
Just make certain you use 5th wheel towing rather than conventional.
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grey`eagle
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03/14/10 10:04pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Indianapolis to Shipshewana
If there's any question about snow and/or ice, then US31 would be best.
We were up that same route last year and used I-69 going up from Indy to Shipshewanna, then across.
Coming back we cut across on US20 to South Bend then US31 down.
We were cautioned about heavy traffic in the Kokomo area especially during shift change. Didn't have that problem since we came back on a Sunday AM.
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grey`eagle
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03/14/10 07:35pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Mission to Kerrville
US281 to Alice
TX44 to Freer
TX16 to Jourdanton
TX173 to Kerrville.
This is nice leisure drive that you can make good time.
It completely avoids SAT and all the residual traffic that overloads all the Interstates in SAT coming out of Mexico.
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grey`eagle
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03/10/10 09:49am |
Roads and Routes
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Mexico Travel Advisory
This topic has been moved to another forum.
You can read it here: 23761072
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grey`eagle
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03/10/10 08:41am |
Roads and Routes
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Mexico Travel Advisory
This news article dated today was posted in the
San Antonio Express newspaper.
Be aware, this is not to be taken lightly.
Also, Sunday's Dallas Morning News had a lengthy article about the serious exodus of businesses and property owners from Ciudad Juarez over to the US side.
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grey`eagle
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03/10/10 08:41am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Finding Diesel - Big Spring, TX to Carlsbad, NM
Does anyone really have difficulty finding diesel anywhere in the USA?
Absolutely - without a doubt. It's that all infamous area of SW Texas referred to as Big Bend.
As an example - if your were to travel from Marfa to Candeleria, TX via Ruidoso, TX and then back to Presidio. That's 114 miles, no problem, assuming, they have diesel in Presidio, when you get there.
Now, lets just take the worst case scenario, where they're out of diesel because the delivery truck didn't make it. Then it's another 70 miles over to Study Butte.
Again if the truck didn't make to Presidio and the same problem exist in Study Butte, then it's another 80 miles back to Alpine.
Don't say it can't happen, Ive seen it on several occasions.
If they're out of fuel in Study Butte, they're likely to be out in the park hdqrs.
That's a total of 265/270 miles of driving without topping off. For those folks towing with small OEM tanks of 26/28 gals, they stand a chance of running out. Either that or have to wait for a delivery either at Study Butte, or Park Hdqrs. That could be any where from two to five days.
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grey`eagle
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03/09/10 12:58pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Finding Diesel - Big Spring, TX to Carlsbad, NM
Available in Lamesa, Seminole, Hobbs and about everywhere in between.
That's right in the middle of cattle, oil, farming, ranching, feeder lots, big farm equipment, road machinery and about everything else that requires diesel.
25 gals usable in your main tank plus 10 gals spare for 35 gals, will get you 350 miles. You'll find diesel about every 50 miles or so. South of I-10 is a different story.
There's also an oil refinery at Big Springs. At one time time it was called American Liberty, then American PetroFina, then just Fina and now me thinks it's the French owned Total, or whatever. :)
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grey`eagle
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03/09/10 10:09am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Texas Hwy 83/277/90 to 10
If you're not in a big rush then I'd suggest staying on US90 to Alpine then TX118 up to the Fort Davis State Park. McDonald's Observatory is also in that area.
Upon leaving Ft Davis State park, you have three options for continuing on west. You can take TX 118 up to I-10, which is a scenic route and a little more curvy, or TX 37 up to I-10, or go south out of Ft Davis on TX37 back to US90.
They're all good roads. I've pulled our 5ver thru all these routes at time or another.
If this doesn't meet your needs then I'd stay on US90 up to Sanderson, then turn NW on US285 up to Ft. Stockton. Taking US277 to I-10 adds quite a bit of extra miles and there's nothing out there to see except more jackrabbits, rattlesnakes and tumbleweed.
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grey`eagle
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03/08/10 07:42am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Best route from OKC to Tucson
It's unlikely you'll hit snow and/or ice in OK or TX that time of year.
Northern NM is a different story.
I'd recommend I-44 from OKC to Wichita Falls, TX., thence US277 down to I-20, I-20 to I-10,m thence west to Tucson.
Phoenix is a short haul up I=10 from Tucson.
I believe that coming thru Ft Worth will add unnecessary distance in addition to a lot of heavy traffic.
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grey`eagle
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02/26/10 01:15pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: TX Hwy 6- Navasota or Brenham-Tx 36 to Brownwood TX
Going up, I'd take the following.
From Brenham TX 36 to Milano
190 to Lampasas
183 to Brownwood.
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grey`eagle
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02/24/10 01:12pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Route to Big Bend Nat'l Park
FYI - I know you didn't ask, but may find this info helpful.
From Marathon to the park entrance on US385 is approx 42 miles, on down to Park Hdqs is 70 miles total.
From Park Hdqs to Rio Grande village approx 25 miles. From Rio Grande Village over to Study Butte is about 55 miles. Study Butte is about three or four miles from Terlingua.
There are two campgrounds in Rio Village. The one at the store has full hookups and is basically a parking lot with trees on either side.
It's on a first come, first served basis, try to get there around 10AM if possible. You may want to call ahead from Marathon, just to ensure they have a vacancy.
The other is about a 1/2 mile down the road and it's a standard National Park CG, with water spigots around in various places with a rest room facility. There are NO, water or electrical connections for RV's. It's basically for boon-docking or dry camping.
The only other place to park a RV is in the Terlingua area, or at Stillwell's Crossing RV which is southeast of the east-side park entrance. So you pretty well need to know in advance where you're going. Otherwise you could be driving a lot of miles out of the way.
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grey`eagle
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02/23/10 09:21am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Tx. hwy. 77, Waco to Port A
As soon as I exit at Waco onto hwy 7 then onto 77.
It's not necessary to go all the way down to TX 7 to get on US77.
You can exit at MM333, which is also the same exit for TX396 and Robinson Dr.
Going all the way down to TX 7 adds about 12 miles.
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grey`eagle
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02/22/10 11:14am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Route to Big Bend Nat'l Park
Nothing wrong with your routing of 83/277/90, the roads are good.
Best fuel prices will be in Del Rio. Suggest topping off there, then again in Marathon. Fuel in the park will be super expensive.
Take US385 from Marathon down to the park entrance. From there to any of the campgrounds will be another 60 miles, unless you're going to Stillwell's Crossing and RV park which will be right before the park entrance on the east side.
You can exit the park on the west side into Study Butte, and then TX 118 up to Alpine which is good road.
Depending on how long you intend to stay in BBNP, suggest getting your groceries and fuel at Wally's on the west side of Del Rio.
In addition, the water in BBNP is a little harsh with iron and lime deposits. Although it doesn't bother me in the least, some folks have an issue with the water. You may consider two or three gallons of bottled water for coffee etc.
Make sure your tire pressures are up. Compressed air is a very scarce commodity in the park. Just remember it's 30 miles to anywhere from park hdqs at Panther Junction, BBNP is a very big place.
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grey`eagle
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02/22/10 09:34am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: How long can you use water from fresh water tank?
Unless we're going to some place like a national park that doesn't have water hookups available, I'll only carry about 10 gals of water mainly for slosh purposes to keep any bacteria off the walls of the tank.
I drain the tanks completely once I get home and put about a 1/4 cup of household bleach, premixed with a gal of fresh water, and refill the tanks to about 1/2 capacity.
I have a large household type filter installed between the shore water supply and the intake filler port to the fresh water tank.
We keep two or three milk jugs full of water from home. We only use these in case there is a lot of natural chemicals in the local water supply such as iron and or excessive calcium.
FYI - Water weighs 8.35#s/gal or 25#s in three gallons.
From experience, carrying a full boat of water in a fresh water tank that is mounted at the rear of a RV will cause a serious change in the weight and balance effect.
Some of this change is for the good and others not for the best effect on towing. I find that on my towing setup, 10 gals of water in the fresh water tank keeps the rig from bucking and or porpoising. This in turn keeps my hitch weight in proper perspective.
So far we've never had a problem with water in over 30 years of camping. But - I've had a lot of training with the do's and dont's of water consumption, starting with the Boys Scouts back in the late 40's and especially in the Military in the 60's and 70's.
One thing I won't do, is put water in my fresh water tank that comes from an untrusted source.
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grey`eagle
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02/19/10 11:58am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Rough Roads in North Texas
Where exactly are you referring to. Sure won't dispute your word but I've been all over north, northeast north central TX since the 1st of the year and haven't seen a lot of damage.
I have noticed some substantial damage to the county roads, but they are made up of oil sand and not asphalt and rock like the FM/RM roads or the state hi-ways.
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grey`eagle
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02/17/10 08:12am |
Roads and Routes
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