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subfan1 · 05-27-2017, 07:36 PM

I agree with you Bob. We travel with 50% FW if we have the bikes and about 75% without them.
The weight distribution seems ideal for our setup.
We're home this weekend but, we will head out to San Clemente SB on Monday for the week. Missing the crowds hopefully [emoji3]

CruizinDux · 05-28-2017, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subfan1

I agree with you Bob. We travel with 50% FW if we have the bikes and about 75% without them.
The weight distribution seems ideal for our setup.
We're home this weekend but, we will head out to San Clemente SB on Monday for the week. Missing the crowds hopefully [emoji3]

Have a great time. It looks like a great SP and while Crystal Cove had killer views SCSB looks like it has a lot going on with great beach access.

Happy Trails

Bob

centennialman · 05-29-2017, 10:11 AM

Thanks for all the input guys! She towed great up to the campground with the water tank full and I feel more confident. I am glad I checked before coming up to see if the water had been turned on yet. I brought a couple of extra 6 gallon jugs of water as well and topped off the tanks yesterday. There are three of and two dogs staying in the Airstream this weekend and we have conserved the water and still have 44% to last for today and tomorrow.....not bad! Got out the telescope last night and looked at the craters on the moon....man was that beautiful!

OTRA15 · 05-29-2017, 10:35 AM

Good news, Steve, glad it worked out! Helpful to open up some remote possibilities for camping in your neck of the woods, as being able to boondock for a few days adds many incredible campgrounds to the list of options. We like having the flexibility of just pulling in to an unplanned location.

OTRA15 · 05-29-2017, 03:33 PM

PS Steve -- wondering how your solar charger is working out, and if you have any "current" recommendations for comparable solutions.

Thanks,

Peter

[click on arrow in quote to go to that part of this thread]

Quote:

Originally Posted by centennialman

CruizinDux...The solar charges comes with clips that attach to the batteries. They are about 10 feet long, so, there is some flexibility in being able to move them around during the day to maximize the benefits from the moving sun.

centennialman · 05-29-2017, 03:51 PM

Peter....the solar charger works great and keeps me charged up when I am boondocking. I monitor how it's charging and what I am using at the time and have come to like it more and more as time goes on. It was a great investment at a fraction of the cost of installin panels on the roof. It folds up nicely and stores away in a handy carrying case.....easy to use.

OTRA15 · 05-29-2017, 04:00 PM

Thanks. Yes, that stand-alone unit makes good sense. For everyone's information, the original post was #942 with this link for a 60 watt unit:

https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-...ilpage_o02_s00

subfan1 · 05-29-2017, 06:05 PM

Hi everyone, wanted to share our view for the next week
[ATTACH]286482

subfan1 · 05-29-2017, 06:06 PM

I don't know why I'm showing two images, sorry guys.
I think I fixed it?

OTRA15 · 05-29-2017, 06:40 PM

Lookin' good, and very inspiring to have everyone getting on the road again!

Are those Airstream neighbors?

Have a great week!

Cheers,

Peter

subfan1 · 05-29-2017, 09:22 PM

Thanks Peter and yes we have 3 Airstreams near us. A 05 19 foot and two older, a 1968 International not sure about the other one. Just a coincidence to have 4 in a row. We all said hello. I'll try and take some pictures tomorrow. They look beautiful.

CruizinDux · 05-29-2017, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subfan1

Hi everyone, wanted to share our view for the next week
[ATTACH]286482

OK, I'm jealous. Our pooch is 4 weeks into an 8 week Rx post surgery on her two back legs....no stairs, no run, no jump, no play....no fun! So we're sticking pretty close to the home front. Can't wait for some Blue Highway with the pooches, probably not until August

Subfan1 the 20 is lookin' good at SCSB. I can almost smell the salt air. Have a great time.

Happy Trails

Bob

waldosgone · 05-30-2017, 10:06 PM

Sorry I haven't been on in awhile but moving into a new house, new job, and getting out and enjoying Alaska as much as possible means plenty of "off grid" experiences.

Shrimping season opener. Spent 4 days/3 nights on a buddies ACB (Aluminum Chamber Boat) on Prince William Sound. Plenty of shrimp but not much else was biting.

First camping trip of the year. Ninilchik AK to fish some 'butt (Halibut). Boat limited out and everyone left with ~about 25-30lbs of fish. Good start to the season! Friends of ours took the picture and titled it "sleeping next to the 'cool kids.'" Of note, this photo was taken around 1:00 AM !

Sunset over Mt Redoubt (active volcano) across Cook Inlet from Chinook.

View from our campground for a couple of days. It was on this trip I decided to do the water pump upgrade... Photos on that to follow.

OTRA15 · 05-31-2017, 05:53 AM

Thanks for the inspiring and great photos! Glad the move is working out for you.

Peter

centennialman · 05-31-2017, 05:57 AM

Good morning all....had a great camping trip up in the Sangre de Cristo range in Colorado this weekend.

I got hit by hail Sunday night. About 1 inch in diameter and the storm was quick and lasted about 4 minutes. My truck is ok. The sides and end caps on the Airstream seem to be fine and there is no visual damage from the ground. The roof has dents all over it. The skylights etc....held up fine. I will call the insurance company today and start the process of getting someone out to look at it.

The roof of the Airstream is painted white, or has a membrane of white material on the raised part where the air conditioning ducting runs through. Does anyone know what it's made of? It took the brunt of the storm. I didn't have the heart to get up on a ladder and take a look when I got home yesterday....will get that done in the next couple of nights and report back on the extent of the damage.

OTRA15 · 05-31-2017, 09:44 AM

Sorry to hear, Steve. Hopefully the insurance will work out.

centennialman · 05-31-2017, 07:45 PM

Thanks..... the insurance company said they are hearing that it's a 9-12 month wait for hail repairs in our part of the country right now. The major storm that came through three weeks ago pretty much tied everything up for months. I took a closer look at the Airstream this evening and don't see any visible damage...it's all up on the roof. I want to wash it anyway and will get up and see what it looks like up there. I am contemplating a trip to Jackson Center next year and may wait for repairs there if there are any that need to be done. I may be lucky....cross your fingers....I will report in when I get up on the ladder.

waldosgone · 05-31-2017, 09:45 PM

For those who have modified the pump room/replaced the pump how are your results?

I just put the 1/2'' foam pad you use for garage on all the surfaces, including the underside of the pot and pan drawer, and foam pipe insulation on all the pipes. A ShurFlo Revolution (3 GPM) is on the way for installation this weekend. Any lessons learned for swapping out the pump?

I didn't reattach the pipe tie downs because we don't use the rear cubby for much storage and I figured it would just cause more noise. Any thoughts on that practice?

James

OTRA15 · 06-01-2017, 02:38 AM

I added some vibration dampening under the pump feet, with longer screws not socked down tight, as well as some "blue jeans" acoustic material in the space. See Posts # 301 and 777 -- #359 also.

I think your 3 GPM ShurFlo is a good move, as I recall posting on another pump thread about this option for our smaller FC20's. Please let us know what you think. If one person is showering, however, this smaller pump will have a hard time providing water if the kitchen faucets are opened wide IMO. [A caution, although showering while using the pump is less likely., due to our small water tanks.]

Longer term a ShurFlo accumulator is in the plans also, perhaps back in the rear storage space where the H/C lines go around to the kitchen sink and to the shower and outdoor shower. This rear location will help with installation and winterizing IMO. One or two posters here have done this upgrade, but I am running out of edit time. [If you "Search This Thread" just above for "accumulator," those posts will come up OK IMO.]

Good luck! Looking forward to your report on results.

Thanks again for the great photos. Inspiring to get OTRA again!

Peter

OTRA15 · 06-01-2017, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centennialman

. . .
I am contemplating a trip to Jackson Center next year and may wait for repairs there if there are any that need to be done.
. . .

If you don't have any new leaks due to the hail damage, waiting seems like a good plan. You probably also have some competent AS body shops in the NW or Denver IMO, so you might want to start a new thread about that. We found a great shop about 100 miles away run by the former manager of an AS dealership which went out of business. His business is small and below the radar, but a thread on airforums caught my eye a couple of years ago, and we went there last fall for our annual check-up and brake/bearing inspection. A nearby auto detailer washed and waxed the AS for a reasonable cost. A cost-effective trip all-around.

The main benefit of waiting is being able to get on the road again now . . .

Good luck!

Peter