Useful Links

brewer12345 · 03-07-2010, 02:38 PM

I'd say the worst thing about dumping the tanks on the camper is having to wait in line at checkout time on summer weekends. Other than that, it all stays in the hose and I don't see or smell much of anything.

ls99 · 03-07-2010, 02:39 PM

Don' need to tow the car. Just attach a sturdy eyebolt to the rear top of the RV. Then fit a winch to the front of the Prius. Attach winch cable to eye bolt. Kinda like these here fellows.

YouTube - HCHB (qaud up in tree)

Then just clamp the wheels to the the back panel.

NW-Bound · 03-07-2010, 02:40 PM

In researching towing, I thought that the use of a dolly would be better than flat-towing, as it allows towing of any front-wheel drive car. And the dolly also has built-in brakes slaved to the motorhome brakes. That supplemental brake actuator has to be added to the flat-tow car, and is an additional expense.

However, people here, particularly Audrey, pointed out to me that the dolly has its own problems, and that led me to research further. It appears the majority of the people do flat towing. The convenience of a quick hook-up and disconnect makes it worth the expense, particularly if one is a traveller and not a camper.

About the sewer hose, I still have not checked that out on my RV. I have a sewer clean-out in my front yard that I will try to get or make hose adapter for. I still have to check out the total plumbing of this RV, but so far have done the cleaner and more pleasant things, like checking out the electrical system. Already found some mis-wirings there.

RonBoyd · 03-07-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

The secret is not to use any toilet paper...

Actually, any sort of TP works fine as long as you have plenty of water (or other liquid) in your black tank. And we don't "pump" them out, we merely drain them and allow gravity to do its thing.

Actually, the "pump" method works pretty well -- No muss, no fuss. As I said before, you don't even need to wear gloves. I can see the advantages to the "gravity" method, however, if you are staying in one place for awhile.

CuppaJoe · 03-07-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

Great week in Key West... ended up turning into a Mom and Pop gas station.....

Ah, one of my favorite old jokes.

Sorry to hear this, Rich. Have you posted the photos of Key West yet?

That sort of thing happens to us non-RVers also (well, some of us). When parking at a motel, I didn't see a concrete post about that size and backed into it. Not much damage was done except that the motel clerk saw the whole thing.

brewer12345 · 03-07-2010, 02:45 PM

NW Bound, I would suggest you take the camper to the closest campground to you and spend a night in it. Other campers can answer any silly question you might have as a newbie and you will quickly figure out if anything is wrong, how things work, and what items you might want aboard for comfort and convenience. And if it is a disaster, you can just come home.

REWahoo · 03-07-2010, 02:50 PM

What Brewer said...

kcowan · 03-07-2010, 02:51 PM

RIT
Fix the RV right away and buy a car that you can tow. You won't regret it!

NW-Bound · 03-07-2010, 02:53 PM

There is so much on the Internet and I have learned a lot there. There are also particular things about my RV that I need to find out for myself. I have time before our first travel, and I like to do research on the Web. I may still need help later, but I will be more prepared, like bringing my own leveling blocks, knowing to build up some "head pressure" in the black tank before dumping, etc...

Just learn the "ice cubes in the black tank" trick too, but let's not scare RV'er wannabes here :-)

PS. Oh, I forgot to add that despite all the preparations, we will not head out to Alaska on our first trip, but try some places closer to home first. There are places in AZ I have not been to anyway.

Rich_by_the_Bay · 03-07-2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Gotcha - you could use a dolly that many use that have the front wheels lifted, but then maybe the rear bumper would be too low to the ground etc.

A tow dolly is really a nuisance in the RV world, at least to me. It is heavy and cumbersome, requires a separate storage lot (and fee) at many campgrounds, has to be stowed and stored at home. Then you have to attach the dolly to the motorhome, than the TOAD to the dolly.

Dinghy towing (all 4 wheels down) can be done with special lightweight hitches that can be left attached and which take only a few minutes to hook up.

I like my Prius but not that much

. I'll look at the Fit and similar cars, and even take a look at a mini-coopers which would be more expensive but also more fun to drive, esp with a stick shift (my Prius is my first car ever without a stick).

audreyh1 · 03-07-2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound

About the sewer hose, I still have not checked that out on my RV. I have a sewer clean-out in my front yard that I will try to get or make hose adapter for.

Our sewer clean-out at our previous house was pretty much the same as the sewer connections at many campgrounds, so we were able to use it with the standard hose and connectors we used with our trailer.

Audrey

bbbamI · 03-07-2010, 03:02 PM

Oh...I'm sorry you've got a boo boo....

...I know you must have a Bandaid somewhere...

Rich_by_the_Bay · 03-07-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBoyd

So which campground did you stay at? (I believe I misunderstood your other thread -- I was thinking something completely different when you said "Resort.")

Anyway, I come down on the side of those advising you to ignore the damage -- unless rust is a concern. I would repair it only if it improves the resale value and, even then, only at the time you decide to dispose of it.

We stayed at Blue Water Key, mm 15 on the Oversea. Beautiful landscaping, on the water, and 21 of 80 owned sites were for sale, in the $300k to $900k range. I drove around your namesake park, Boyds, and found it to be very well maintained, a bit crowded, but maybe more fun and energetic than BWK. Certainly close to down town.

Re: the repair, I'll probably let the insurance company take care of it. Some day we'll sell or trade it, and I don't even want it coming up as an issue.

audreyh1 · 03-07-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

We stayed at Blue Water Key, mm 15 on the Oversea. Beautiful landscaping, on the water, and 21 of 80 owned sites were for sale, in the $300k to $900k range.

Holy cow! Makes me feel like I got a bargain down here - with a house included in our price!

OK - well, we're not in the Florida keys...... But I can be in South Padre Island in 80 miles on the expressway!

Audrey

RonBoyd · 03-07-2010, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound

Just learn the "ice cube in the black tank" trick too

What you really need to learn about is the GEO method:

The Geo Method / Black and Gray Water Holding Tank Maintenance - iRV2 Forums

The Geo Method

RV Waste Water Treatment

NW-Bound · 03-07-2010, 03:11 PM

That much for a place to park! Just like some places in Palm Springs I have seen on TV and chuckled at.

Rich_by_the_Bay · 03-07-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345

NW Bound, I would suggest you take the camper to the closest campground to you and spend a night in it. Other campers can answer any silly question you might have as a newbie and you will quickly figure out if anything is wrong, how things work, and what items you might want aboard for comfort and convenience. And if it is a disaster, you can just come home.

Agree, a shakedown cruise is absolutely the way to go. And I'd stay two nights if possible. Cook in at least two meals, run the air, and the heat, stoves, everything. And take a few hours to hike, swim or something else fun -- it feels great to come back to the RV after recreating.

We did our last one at Lazy Days' own campground. Made 3 runs to the Camping World next door for various odds and ends we'd forgotten or didn't know we needed (like plastic brush-type welcome mats). And to top it off we had brunch at Cracker Barrel, a known RV-friendly restaurant where you will often find over-nighters in oversized lots in the back.

NW-Bound · 03-07-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1

Our sewer clean-out at our previous house was pretty much the same as the sewer connections at many campgrounds, so we were able to use it with the stander hose and connectors we used with our trailer.

Mine might be the same. I simply have not gotten around to it, preferring to checkout the power converter, tracing through the wirings, messing with the generator first. Yep, at some point, just have to put gloves on and deal with it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBoyd

What you really need to learn about is the GEO method:

The Geo Method / Black and Gray Water Holding Tank Maintenance - iRV2 Forums

The Geo Method

RV Waste Water Treatment

I have never bought water softener additives to use for laundry, but it makes sense. Thanks.

audreyh1 · 03-07-2010, 03:28 PM

I just make sure to buy "septic tank friendly" TP - usually Angelsoft. Put it in a closed glass jar with some water and shake and see it come apart - it's quite reassuring.

Occasionally I put some Calgon water softener in the black tank - it's supposed to help "clean" the walls. Our RV comes with a tank rinse system for flushing both black and gray tanks. DH uses it every time he dumps.

Audrey