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RE: macerator stopped working
We had that kind of thing happen on our trip to NY. One of the campgrounds had a honey wagon. He decided to try to vaccuum it out and it worked. We then filled it half way with water until the next campground and found it worked a lot better.
We did have to replace it due to some damage that happened later and found out that it had been wired incorrectly at the factory.
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fullmoonoversalem
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10/14/21 02:36am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Class B folks, how far North and South?
Alaska to NY, NH, MA. Planned to go south but had some problems and had to cut that part of the trip out. The van was the perfect way to travel. Much better than our Class A.
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fullmoonoversalem
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10/14/21 02:31am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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Free Immunizations to Tourists
I don't know if you have heard about this, but Alaska is planning to offer free immunizations to tourists. News article
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fullmoonoversalem
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04/27/21 10:31pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Evacuation Insurance
We are lower 48 U.S. residents looking to travel by RV to Alaska starting May 2022. This is planned to be a slow pleasure trip including driving to the artic ocean. I’m interested if folks have secured evacuation insurance to offset evacuation costs in the event of an accident that would require an evacuation. Have you purchased evacuation insurance and from what company? Have you ever had to use evacuation insurance and what was your experience?
For medical evacuation insurance we purchase insurance from LifeMed. If I remember correctly it costs $49. There is another group from whom you can purchase also but I don't remember the name or the cost. I believe it costs about $200. There are places here in AK where it would take an ambulance more than an hour to get to you (I worked EMS here for a while). It would be one of these groups coming to take care of you.
You might want to consider renting/purchasing a Sat phone too.
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fullmoonoversalem
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04/27/21 10:28pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Resuming Rving... ideas dealing with Covid.
The State of Alaska is offering free immunizations for tourists. This is to support tourism in the state.
Check the news article here.
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fullmoonoversalem
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04/27/21 10:20pm |
Family Camping
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RE: Resuming Rving... ideas dealing with Covid.
Cracks me up seeing people driving in their cars alone with masks on. The dimwits don't seem to understand that these cloth masks really on provide a modicum of protection for others around the mask wearer. The dishrag over your nose and mouth does ZERO to keep you from inhaling the virus.
Other than wearing masks when entering a public area (store etc), and working from home still, my routine and actions have been largely unchanged. We still go out to eat with friends of ours on the weekend, we still go RVing. I have sanitizer with me I use after pumping gas and after being in the restaurant. But, other than that, life is pretty much unaffected.
Mike
I can't understand why it it of any concern if someone is wearing a mask in another vehicle. You have no idea why they are doing so. I did last winter when we had -24 degree F. I did when I rented a car. I did when I drove someone's car to have it repaired. Perhaps they are ill and don't want to risk contamination of their vehicle. Instead of mocking them, perhaps showing a little concern for other individuals would make more sense.
To be so concerned about such a thing is so useless.
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fullmoonoversalem
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04/26/21 08:34pm |
Family Camping
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RE: Resuming Rving... ideas dealing with Covid.
I read your messages earlier tonight, and as I was checking out some of my other interests I came across this video. I have been following this COVID series since it started and found it very helpful and informative. I hope it can answer some questions for you.
Some information for traveling during COVID.
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fullmoonoversalem
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03/04/21 04:33am |
Family Camping
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RE: Resuming Rving... ideas dealing with Covid.
I'll start by addressing "immunity". I'm really not sure immunity from this virus can be accomplished. Many people have contracted it numerous times. Maybe, over time, we can build anti-bodies to ward it off, but, for the time being..... The vaccine is only to reduce the effects of the virus. It does not contain the virus itself. Lastly, i, like millions of others, want my back to normal. I have received both doses of the Phizer vaccine. I am now willing to venture beyond my doorstep.
Same here. We had our immunizations. However, a friend of the family who lives in another state is on his second bout of COVID. He and his wife had it about 6 months ago. They had their immunizations and about 2 weeks after the second shot went camping and dined in a restaurant or two. He came down with it, and she is showing symptoms. He is having a some of those "male" problems still from the first episode and is worse now from what his son tells us.
I was all set to resume my normal life (depending on what you might perceive as normal), but I am going to remain cautious.
Last year, we travelled in state. I doubt if we could have travelled in our camper through Canada. We found the campgrounds crowded, people not social distancing or wearing masks. I think it was worse than during full tourist season in other years.
We intend to travel the state again, doing another area of Alaska. We will still social distance and probably cook our own food, wear masks, and thank goodness we don't have to use public restrooms. Being older, and my DH with disabilities we don't feel we can do otherwise until there is a little more safety in public places.
Alaska is apparently open to tourism this year. I hope that people realize that if they do become ill while they are here that our resources for care is limited. This may also be the case in other areas where you might travel. Check on the hospital status, the number of cases, and decide where it is safest to travel. Hopefully the summer will see a fall in the caseloads and we can all breathe easier and enjoy some beautiful scenery and friendly company.
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fullmoonoversalem
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03/04/21 12:23am |
Family Camping
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RE: Out with the old in with the new
With the covid-19 we only did two camping trips and a few day trips last year ( 2020 ), we went camping New Years Eve ( 20 20 ) and New Years Day( 2021 ) ! So Out with the old in with the new!
We hope to do a lot more camping this year, we have a few winter places to go too.
Do any of you B or Camper van people have any winter or springs camping plans ?
Here are a few pictures of the State Park campground with elect and water and only 40 miles from home .
https://i.imgur.com/TQC5mhxl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rtkrwwMl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yvUT3BOl.jpg
Have Good New Year with lots of camping, Jay
We spent our summer in different places in Alaska seeing sights while social distancing. We live here so it was easy to just hop in and decide we were going to spend the night somewhere.
Our local campgrounds were very busy all summer. With our Class B we could fit in various locations. We have two local stores which allow overnighters. If we could not find a camping spot which allowed for a safe distance, we spent the night at one of these places after hitting the beach or a trail. We don't plan much, but this summer we will head north as far as possible.
I doubt that the Canadian border will be open except for through travel, so we will stay in AK if it is not. If things with COVID look better we will do a social distancing/isolating trip to see our son in NY.
Happy camping everyone!
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fullmoonoversalem
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01/12/21 07:57pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Comparing 3 Class Bs
magicbus,
I agree on the huge price difference between B and C. Having a beer budget I can't justify a B vs C. Certainly if the OP wishes to full time a C may be a better choice.
We looked at small class C RVs (View and similar), but we needed something that we could use as a second vehicle, and can park in our apartment complex. This fit the bill. We would prefer the storage and space of the View but could not keep in the lot at our apartment, and the B that we got drives like a car.
Having this B was a blessing this summer with the social distancing. We could go places, get out of the apartment (campgrounds here were crowded) and park overnight easily. We now note it as our rolling restroom that we miss in the winter.
We could use it in the winter and have done so until the roads get bad. Our fifth wheel had delamination problems, so we like the metal body on our van.
The View would be our first choice is we were full time, but after an extended trip we think we could stay sane and still speak if we were to full time in our B.
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fullmoonoversalem
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01/12/21 07:49pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Comparing 3 Class Bs
Take off your list any that don’t meet your bathroom needs including fresh water and waste tank capacities. Water is the limiting factor with RVs. Have a pro inspect the unit but even then all those you mentioned are 20+ years old.
Absolutely agree! Especially with the bathroom. Bs have minimum facilities usually, but we found ours to be sufficient. Getting used of any age needs a professional inspection. Most, I think, trade in or sell because of size needs, but I have seen it used as an excuse for a plethora of problems.
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fullmoonoversalem
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01/12/21 06:35pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: I am now "terricited"
Weather on that part of Alaska can be a problem - I seem to remember seeing that Ketchikan has around 270 days of rain per year. We did a very similar cruise with a company called UnCruise in a boat that held 80 guests and another cruise in the Hawaii Islands in a boat that carried 36. Both were great and I highly recommend them.
They have all kinds of cruises ranging from the Galapagos Islands to inland river trips. The crews on these boats are great but we found that the passengers were almost all very interesting people that shared our love for the
same things that interested us.
I'm well aware of the weather. They actually do have some sunny days. I'm not there to soak up the sun in my bikini (good thing for everyone on board!) and I have good rain gear. We were in Alaska in 2019 during the heat wave. I would have preferred the rain. I've done remote travel where there's only been 6-8 people at the lodges and I agree-they are the best part.
Even a rainy day in Alaska is better than a sunny day anywhere else. ;)
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fullmoonoversalem
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11/04/20 07:15pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: I am now "terricited"
I would love to do that Alaska Cruise. I live here but have not seen the southeastern part. How do you deal with the hoards of people? I want to do this but I cringe thinking about being on a ship with thousands of people.
There are other cruises I would like to do also. My dream at one time was to cruise to the Antarctic.
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fullmoonoversalem
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11/04/20 04:13am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: On the road breakdown stories..
July 3,2019 in 98 degree heat, 90% humidity, 5,000+ miles from our home in AK we had a major breakdown in NY state. We were driving happily along climbing a long hill when suddenly the dashboard lit up including the CEL. We were able to get to a safe place at the top of the hill to pull over.
We were able to get a tow with a wait time of 1.5 hours, someone who really did not know how to handle towing our class B Galleria. This happened just before close of business on the day before a holiday so getting the tow and a rental meant a lot of coordination and rushing around. Thank goodness for generators and air conditioning that work well.
We were towed to the Sprinter/Mercedes dealer in Albany, NY about an hour's drive away who let us know after a wait of a few days that we had a major oil leak due to our "free" oil change that we did not ask for. Apparently Midas in Soldotna, AK used an aftermarket filter which had a gasket that leaked and caused deterioration of the belts. As a result, the belt was caught up in the engine and fan parts.
After almost 2 weeks, we got the Galleria back. The service people were really great, but because Midas did the oil change there was no warranty for this episode.
The guys there took the engine apart 3 (I think) times before they were able to get all the debris out of the engine. We still had a lot of oil in the engine so we were lucky there, but we drove more than 5,000 miles with that incorrect oil filter and gasket.
This could have been a financial disaster. As it was it used up a lot of our "vacationing" budget for our trip and we did not get to do all the things we got to do.
The thing is, we did NOT need - or want an oil change. We took our rig to Midas to have the brakes and tires checked on our trailer for the trip. They threw in the oil change. Up till this time they were very good with all of our vehicles, but they were in the middle of a change in management, I guess.
We normally do not let anyone but Sprinter service touch our van.
I was going to tell about the time my husband had me drive our 5th wheel through a cornfield to park it in our yard, but he didn't think it was a good idea. Sure, the ground was solid, no mud. Right? We had to wait 3 hours for GSC to send us a tow, but our son got us out.
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fullmoonoversalem
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11/04/20 04:06am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: What Did You Do To Your Class B Today ?
Did some social distancing looking out at the Cook Inlet. Pretty even if it is cloudy. Yesterday I took my loom out to sit in the parking lot and weave while listening to an audiobook.
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fullmoonoversalem
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10/27/20 07:49pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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