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RE: apps
Just remember the (fake) GPS in your phone only works where there's cell service. Real GPS works anywhere.
Modern phones all have real GPS chips for 911 location information, among other uses. Provided you have the map data the GPS app will be able to work without cell phone service. Whether or not the maps are stored on the phone (or need data via the cell phone system or wi-fi to fetch) is another question; Google maps, at least, lets one download map data for an area for offline usage quite easily.
Drew,
While many of the "upper end" units do have a real GPS, there are still many that do not. So great caution is required here. If you plan to take advantage of the phone's location capability, first look in the setup for the switch to turn the GPS on. Thus far, I have ended up with two different phones that only had "Location Service". This does require at least one tower and when it is working from one tower, the location accuracy is (at best) poor. Both of these made it look better by placing you on a mapped road. This was amusing as we were not on a road at that time.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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09/13/19 06:08am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Looking for Fridge Suggestions
I just had my old Dometic NDR1292 removed and had a Magic Chef installed. I was really happy until I found the User's Manual and read " Now if this wasn't enough it also stated "ambient Temperature below 50"F or above 85 F will hinder the performance of the appliance. Working with dealer for not telling me.
So I'm looking for suggestions as to what residential fridge would work I need to be able to have a counter depth one where I can open the door to a max of 50 inches. Width 32 inches and height not to exceed 62 inches.
For those of you who have residential fridges in your RV can you send me the make and model number. I might be able to work with the height.
My MH is a 2001 National Tradewinds model 7390.
Sgt Joe,
Were I you, I would leave what you have right where it is....
Because: (Let's tackle that first paragraph)
"not designed to be installed in an rv or used with an inverter"
It is not designed to be installed in a RV because 5ers and TT bounce down the road and they never included vibration in their testing. The back of some Cs can get rough, but if your Tradewinds got that rough, you would have to plan to collect the dishes at every stop.
Or used with an inverter....
If you have enough inverter to get the pump (compressor) started as fast as line power, you have no problem. If you are wondering, open the back side panel and have someone shift the temperature control until it starts. If it starts right up, you are good. You probably have enough house bank (2*GC2 is good) and a 1500+VA inverter. You are good there.
The 50° and 85° are another issue that won't matter much. The 50° is probably where the automatic defrost won't work and the 85° just means it will have to work harder and maybe the ice cream will be soft.
Now, there is a little Gotcha here....
RV reefers are all cooled by a rear coil system and outside air that comes in the back panel and goes out the roof vent. No residential is made that way these days. The cooling is done on the sides of the unit, so you can't build it in tight. It will want an inch or more of clear space on both sides that is open to the living space. This also means that the outside air can come around the sides of the installed unit. That, you have to figure out on your own because I can't see what you have there.
You may also have to invent some way to keep the door(s) closed.
I have had good success with three installations (after the first that was not so good, but still worked).
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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09/08/19 05:31pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Replace GENERAC generator in a Gulfstream
I occasionally fantasize about replacing the Onan generator in our rig with a Honda - I've had occasion once or twice to use portable Honda generators, and you can't hear them running when you're standing next to them!
At one time Honda made two great RV generators. 4010 and 6010 were great packages.
Notice I said WERE.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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09/08/19 06:40am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Using My Class C RV
I always urge new owners to camp in the driveway first. You will discover a whole lot real fast and correcting it will not be too inconvenient.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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09/07/19 09:39am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Terrible Trucks
How is this different than those that buy (mortgage) a diesel pusher for 1k$/m for 20 years?
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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09/07/19 09:37am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Henry Ford Museum
We are locals and have been members of the museum for most of the time we have lived here. We have also been volunteers in our younger years.
When we host friends, we advise that they plan a day for the museum, another for the village and if they want to do the Ford Rouge factory tour, that is another. Wear comfortable shoes.....
Parking at the museum is OK for many vehicles and now that summer is over, weekday parking will be pretty good.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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09/02/19 08:24am |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Found a new way to test brake wiring and magnets
My coach is way too old for that.
The brake control Kelsey Hayes and is Teed into the rear brakes and is activated by the brake pressure. I like it because it actually tracks the applied brake pressure.
Maybe I will look for something newer when the flints where out.
-OOPs wrong technology.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/31/19 06:01pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Chassis battery
Kemer,
It didn't used to happen?
What have you added? A CO or LP monitor that should have been on the house bank?
No?
You have probably left on a light in a closed compartment or maybe a small fan somewhere. Just keep looking and you will find it.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/31/19 05:54pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Found a new way to test brake wiring and magnets
I used to get out a compass and have DW hit the brake peddle. When I held the compass near the brake, the needle would swing. If it didn't, I knew I had found a bad brake.
I do hope you found all the chewed wires. I hate that.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/31/19 11:32am |
Tech Issues
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RE: I didn't buy an RV
As a lifelong waterman, a licensed mariner and pathological sailor, I can assure you that those people are every where. I keep having to remind people that the only thing it takes to run a powerboat or motorhome that does not require a special license in the home state is....
A Credit Rating (and a pulse?)
There are some idiots on sailboats too, but they can't get very far and can't go very fast.
Oh, I almost forgot...
There is one BIG difference between an RV and a Boat....
Water can leak OUT of an RV.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/30/19 06:06pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Heading to Dearborn MI from South Jersey...have questions..
Read the above.
Also, for a nicer and way less expensive ride, as soon as you get near Cleveland switch up to RT2 and take that to 280 and north.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/29/19 08:08pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Kiplinger: 13 Reasons You'll Regret An RV In Retirement
I think that the author of that piece is practicing to become a politician. Party is not specific, but the lies and cherry-pick facts are.
We did the (maybe fly) car/restaurant/motel thing when between RVs. I can tell you (as an engineer that lives on the bottom right corner of a spreadsheet) that what we are doing is both more convenient and less costly. Have a cool antique coach is just icing.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/29/19 08:15am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Personal experience with having slides and no slides?
Cheryl,
Yes, I bet you didn't find this discussion before and I am so glad you asked the question.
This comes down to the "How are you going to use the unit" question. I am not going to try to answer it, but I will hopefully provide some thinking direction.
Slides do add "free" floor space. Friends have one that is very nice. They have never had trouble with it, but as Dutchman noted, they do require additional maintenance. In my opinion, this cannot be overstated.
Another issue that stopped us from acquiring a unit with slide(s) is that with one unit we looked at the galley and/or head (I really don't recall what) access was made difficult with the slide(s) in travel position. This may be less of an issue to a solo. This is a very unit dependent issue.
If you are a big time traveler, the beauty of slides is diminished. Only diminished and not eliminated.
The slide mechanism is all a purchased part not unlike the chassis of most coaches. So, if you are considering a specific unit, get to the group for that unit and see how common difficulties are with the slides. I do know of some that have been flawless for a very long time. They are not all that way.
Our current coach was on the road about two decades before slides came it the general market. (The earliest I have seen were part of the GMC Futurliner (c.1939) We just live with it, but we also had a small sailboat for a while and that was good practice.
So, there is a great big non-answer that (I hope) may help your consideration.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/27/19 08:44am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Pennsylvania Turnpike
If you are an infrequent EZ-PASS user, make sure you get your account set up in a state that doesn't charge monthly fees so that your deposit doesn't get gradually depleted with monthly fees.
OK, good idea, but does anybody know where that is?
I keep hearing this and quite honestly, the tolls are what have stopped us from doing much in the east. Taxes are one (just one) of the reasons I left the megopolis so many years ago.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/26/19 08:22am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Phone numbers on important things
Our dogs have travel harnesses with tags that have my cell number and a description of our coach. It has paid off.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/25/19 09:14am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Traveling michigan coast
Rick,
Michigan is not rife with huge vistas as it is flat....
The shore roads are usually good, but you can run US 23 most of the Huron shore and not see water. If you have the time to take a run around the thumb and the peninsulas around Traverse City, they are good.
There are multiple Dark Sky Parks along the Huron shore and up by the straight.
Mackinac Island is a tourist trap and will be about closed after Labor Day. Both Beaver and Bois Blanc islands are not much interest without a native guide. Both require a ferry ride.
I almost forgot to mention Sleeping Bear Dunes. That is a great ride. There is a lot to see there. Try to get in to see the Ghost Forest, it is strange.
I can't begin to suggest where to camp, we don't we just blacktop or boondock where we can.
If you are any kind of a car-guy, look up the Gilmore Collection in Hickory Corners.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/23/19 10:55am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Steering Wheel cocked. I fixed it!!
Our old GMCs (TZE) have a lot of trouble this way such that we can't trust any alignment shop that does not know about them. We have a special steering box that has an actual interference at straight ahead. If that is not set to be straight ahead, the coach is very difficult to keep in a lane. Most do not have an adjustable drag link. First, you have to set the column and all its pieces to be at dead-ahead with the box actually centered. Then, if when you drive it is not centered, you fix that be trading turns on the tie rods.
If you get it right she will be a dream to drive. If not, you will know.
The real winner this way has to be the old VW Bug. The steering box had two tierods - one to each front wheel and only one was adjustable. The MM actually said to remove and recenter the steering wheel to get straight ahead at the wheel.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/23/19 07:50am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Coach net vs FMCA road side assist
There is value that I can add here....
Coachnet, FMCA, Good Sam and even AAA RVplus all work the same. I suggest that you read (aka study) about what they offer. This is where the difference is.
None of the above own any hardware. They all negotiate services with local suppliers. If they can find a right one, you are in luck.
Matt - Rarely used any ever.
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Matt_Colie
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08/22/19 07:40am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Pros and Cons of owning a class A RV
We have done some of everything. I won't go down the list but, when you are going to a place to stay a while, the disconnectable wins. That can be just about anything. If you are traveling more than stopping, the motorhome wins.
You don't really have to decide right away, if you buy good used and take care of it, you can probably turn it over even. If you buy new, get ready for the drive-off depreciation.
We now have a very small A. Yes, if we need to go to the store, we have to break camp. That usually involves disconnecting shore power. Then again, if you take any kind of care it is pretty easy to take of all of that during the day's run. If you have a monster A, a towed is pretty much required.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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08/21/19 08:28am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Pulling the trigger...
David,
Do you know what the big difference is be RV and a Boat???
Water can leak out of an RV......
Anchoring out becomes dry camping.
Gunkholing is call Boondocking
A slip is called a space and is still expensive.
Your holding tank is now a Black and/or Gray tank.
Pump out is now a dump, find them were you can.
Potable water is still a serious issue.
Shore power comes in 23,30 & 50 and the plugs are not twist lock.
If you were sailors, fuel will now be a lot more, but if you just sold a power boat, the fuel will be less.
Keep paper maps for the same reason you used to keep real charts.
You should still maintain written maintenance and voyage logs.
Matt - an East coast watermen now a refugee of the megopolis
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Matt_Colie
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08/20/19 08:18am |
Beginning RVing
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