Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - Capt J-rod

#1
Trailer Maintenance / Re: Sheer terror
May 14, 2018, 06:44:31 PM
I still pump mine full of the stinky pinky antifreeze. The compressed air guys swear it it all good, but I've had great success with antifreeze. We don't drink the water out of the tanks, so other than brushing teeth, or washing hands and dishes it really isn't that big of a deal for the first trip. I throw a little bleach in and its good to go.
#2
Used trailers are no big deal for us. The previous owner had bought a new toy hauler and already upgraded the mattress, he gave us the brand new one that came with his new trailer. In a camplite there is no carpet, or anything else to stay dirty. Had it been smoked in I may have had an issue.
#3
I use the diver Steve valve. We don't drink the water from the tank anyways. It washes hands, bodies, dishes, and flushes the toilet. After a week or so the taste is gone. I throw a little bleach in the first tank for good measure. We buy the 2.5 gallon jugs for drinking and coffee. As long as you use propylene glycol it is considered food grade. Sadly it is found in some of our food and the cinnamon whiskey fireball. I wouldn't be drinking it straight, but it won't kill you. Knock on wood, between all my boat motors, campers, vacant rentals, power washers etc I've never had a problem.
#4
After changing diapers for my two daughters for years I am pretty tough when it comes to handling the poo. I still wear gloves and keep the hose separate though. My favorite is the guy who doesn't put the lid down or place a rock on it when he cuts it loose. I also pour three or four 5gallon buckets of water through to rinse out any residual in the tank. I can only imagine the stench inside the trailers we describe.
#5
I am with pin striper, most warranties aren't worth the paper they are written on. When Tuttle owned the company and his name was the reputation he went above and beyond to prove his product. Dan Miller fought to keep that going through the merger(s). Our campers design and materials are the warranty. Now as for the components like appliances and such? That is usually handled through the item's mfg. I was seriously going to build my next trailer until I discovered camplite. They did a way better job and I was impressed. Is it exactly what I would have done? No. Did they think of a lot of things that I never would have? yes. Every trailer is give and take. I think they gave us way more than any other mfg would have in the industry. Back to the warranty, In my 2015, everything is accessible through raceways as far as wiring goes. Plumbing is accessible, hell even the marker lights are reachable. Other builders put these things in the wall and when they are dead then you are screwed. Also remember the warranty is as good as the dealer you buy from. As these trailers become more scarce you will have to go further to buy one. The further you go the less access you have to the dealer.
#6
Trailers for Sale / Re: 2015 21
February 22, 2018, 05:53:57 PM
I kinda like that idea. The closet between the twins would kinda be weird. It would be better for trips with the guys because you would be easier to sleep 3. That dealer has some really nice units including Lance. I think the price is reasonable, but $20k would be a little more reasonable.
#7
News and Announcement / Re: Livin'Lite closing down
February 22, 2018, 12:43:03 PM
Camplite was a real innovator in an industry that differentiates itself with different stickers and couches. I have said it before, but killing the name and shutting it down was the best for everyone. The platinum fiberglass model was a full roundhouse kick to the face of the original mission.
#8
Livin Lite General Discussion / 21rbs tires...
February 21, 2018, 11:13:50 AM
This spring the camper is due for new shoes. The 21rbs came with 14" rims that really limits the tire selection. Has anyone moved to 15" rims? I've seen trailers with the BFG tires and the off road package. Is that a 14" Light Truck tire? I can only source 1 mfg that offers a 14" LT tire. Option B is the new good year endurance radials. I think this is the most likely cost effective solution. The clearances are pretty tight with the 14" which leads me to believe that there were some modifications done to the trailers to accept the off road tires. I have learned that no matter what I will have them balanced. I also kinda like the idea of buying them through sam's club for availability when out on the road. Any thoughts guys?
#9
Member Introductions / Re: New member
February 20, 2018, 08:42:55 PM
I have a 2015 RBS and really like it. Intech is an innovative company with a proven leader. What I fear is that the toy hauler market is where everyone is headed. I guess if your 16 is doing everything you ask then keep running it. If a 21 is what you want, then start searching. I think that the guys that know what they are will be keeping them. I won't be selling mine anytime soon. Eventually someone will make one, but I fear the price will be significantly higher than what we are paying for our current trailers. On a positive note, if you stay in the 2015 model year, the 21 only weighs #350 more than the 16, and I think the tongue weight was only #50 more. We looked at both, I was leaning toward the 16, but I found a clean used 21 and I'm glad I grabbed it. If it were me I'd buy the new one before I sold my old one! The weights on the new ones have gone up a bit.
#10
Trailer Maintenance / Re: Fridge Follow-Up
February 16, 2018, 04:33:54 PM
There is a thermostat that determines when the outdoor fan comes on. I don't remember the temperature ranges off hand, but they make a stat that makes it come on sooner. FWIW it looks like someone's solution tho the fridge not cooling was to just wire the fan on 100% of the time thus the melt down. It is now wire through the stat like it was from the factory. Be sure to keep an eye on the box temps this summer as the temps creep up and the fridge is in the sun. My trailer is black which doesn't help. if the temps creep up then switch to propane.
#11
Trailer Maintenance / Re: Fridge Follow-Up
February 13, 2018, 07:43:45 PM
If you read up on our fridge it struggles to keep up on the hotter days running on electricity. I do HVAC for a living and understand refrigeration better than most. Our fridge uses heat and fire to make refrigeration. It is confusing as hell, but it really does work. These units work well on propane due to the higher Btu's. the electric element is rather small for the application. Installation is very key to these units working well. Many of us, myself included added a second fan behind the fridge and I also built an air scoop to help with the airflow. I also have a secondary switch that I can make the fans run continuous. It works OK at best. When it is hot outside I just let it run on propane. When it is cooler out below 70, or night time when the sun is off the trailer, then I let electric run.
#12
General Towing Discussions / Re: Tow Vehicles....
February 12, 2018, 02:34:39 PM
The sales business makes me puke. It is always based on a payment. When you ask to speak about the real numbers they get really squirrelly. I too looked at a Kubota backhoe for the company. We rented one quite a bit last year, but once the job is done it sits until another underground job comes along. The toy factor was pretty high, but the investment side failed the numbers test. I will ultimately end up with a Tundra Crew max, my tacoma, and an outback, but it is a challenge of timing and doing it on my terms. I am very unconventional in my finances. I save and invest over 50% of our family's income annually. I have done this for 7 years now and it has set a path for early retirement. Don't think that we are going without anything, we live a very comfortable conservative life. How I got here was and continues to be hard work and discipline. The third vehicle will be in the group and I will use the tacoma to shelter the miles off of the tundra. The only way to get a good return on the investment of cars is to run them a minimum of 150K. Now that these vehicles are costing $40-60K, a third vehicle is needed. In Michigan you get some nice tax incentives to run electric vehicles. Ohio has essentially nothing. The Subaru is an awesome balance of utility, AWD, durability and price. Hands down one of the best $30k vehicles. The truck is going to be bought through the company and live in the shop with the camper and other toys. I usually get 10 years out of the trucks. The tacoma is only 3, so it will stick around for a while. Like I joked earlier, these are all great problems to have in life. If I find a dealer that makes me a deal I can't refuse, then I will jump. The 0% Subaru is pretty tempting.
#13
General Towing Discussions / Re: Tow Vehicles....
February 12, 2018, 12:08:48 PM
@Steve Sanders... I agree the window is about to close with interest and depreciation. This is why I am looking at new vehicles. I'm weighing the pros and cons with the costs of new vehicles. There is plenty of life left in both the vehicles I own, but the costs of their replacements is creeping up every year. Add higher interest in and it starts to add up. By owning a camper I am committed to a tow vehicle. Now enter my savings... I mostly invest in rentals, my own company, and vanguard. There is NO incentive to have money in the bank or checking accounts. I can lock in now and run on other peoples money and give up $5-600/month. I can easily do this with my current finances, but with all debt comes the monthly liabilities. Small debt is what enables my freedom to pick and choose work and travel when time is available. As of now I am considering just adding a new Tundra to the company and keeping the sequoia for a while. The Tundra will be the first vehicle to rise in cost. The reason to hold onto the cash is hopefully bank cd's and other investments will start to actually generate some revenue. No matter what I will be fine, it's just timing and maximizing my resources. I minored in economics in school, it literally changes all perspectives for life. Thanks for you're input.
#14
General Towing Discussions / Re: Tow Vehicles....
February 10, 2018, 12:57:27 PM
Quote from: DavidM on February 10, 2018, 12:33:58 PM
Enterprise Truck Rentals has 3/4 ton pickups and they are set up for towing with a hitch receiver. In my area, NW Connecticut, they are $75/day including 300 miles per day, 60 cents per mile after that. Not particularly cheap, but I doubt if anyone is.

David

Well as expensive as that sounds, 10 days would be $750.... A truck payment is a minimum of $650/month. I usually take one big trip out into the wild a year, the other are within a few hours of the house for a long weekend. The taco will handle the short trips, but if needed this would buy me some time. Not driving a 12mpg gas guzzler as a daily driver is another perk. I also hate the idea of owning two vehicles the same age... They tend to wear equally and it sets up a cycle where I would be faced with the same problem in 6-8 years. Yes I over-think all of this crap... How do you think I ended up with an all aluminum camper that will last 4x the life of a stick build?
#15
General Towing Discussions / Re: Tow Vehicles....
February 10, 2018, 12:49:51 PM
Already done Pinstriper. I'm not in a rush to do anything, and the sequoia has easily another 50k or two years left. I always buy vehicles based on the difference between the two. I don't care what you want for the new one, I don't care what you are giving me on trade, I really don't care about your super fancy financing offer. I care about how much money you need the check to say after I give you my vehicle and drive off in yours. Dealerships hate me. I am ruthless and I really could care less. I run my own business of HVAC, plumbing, Mechanical Eng. consulting, and 5 rental properties. Everything other than my home is paid off. I do exactly what you said about saving the payment. My OCD is so bad that I have a vehicle account that the money goes into. Rentals have their own, Business has it's own, Retirement has it's own... I squeak when I walk. If it don't make money I usually don't do it lol. At age 39, I am all alone in this thinking. My friends all go out on Friday for dinner and drinks. I grill a steak or shrimp on my grill. There is an old saying that one of my very successful older friends beat into my brain ten years ago... "live like no one else does now and you will be able to live like no one else does later" At first it seemed like B.S. but then the snowball caught some traction.
Einstein quoted : "Compound interest. Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it ... he who doesn't ... pays it." Some of my best friends are age 60-80. I help them all the time with their projects and their guidance has set me up for life. Hence why I bought my camper... Once the debt is gone I will need it more and more!!! The truck dilemma is just me complaining that I will have to spend some of my moldy money lol!