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Old 01-17-2011, 09:03 PM   #21
1996 34' Classic
 
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Relied on GPS (EmmyLou) to get us from the Smokies to Breaks Interstate Campground on the VA/KY border.

1st adventure:
GPS told us to turn down a paved county road to get to the CG entrance. The further we traveled, the narrower the road got until we reached the end of the road where the sign on the gate indicated that this was an overflow CG, not the main CG. Exciting times trying to turn the long wheel based truck and the trailer around but we did it.

2nd adventure (same trip after getting back to main VA highway.
GPS told us to turn down another paved road to get to the main CG. Again the road got narrower and narrower and eventually delivered us to a hairpin turn to the left where the truck and trailer seemed to be each facing in opposite directions. Added to that, the elevation rose probably 15 feet from the time we entered the turn to it's exit. Scared to death I was going to snap a driveshaft under the load.

Did get around the bend. WWHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEWWWWWWWWWw !!!
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Old 01-18-2011, 03:58 PM   #22
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1995 30' Excella
Bowie , Maryland
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masseyfarm View Post

ARC - - Airstream Road Camera

This is simple enough to do, but it took me a bit of time for planning and more time to fabricate the camera holder to work with what I had.

Theory - - I wanted some type of backup to witness any accident that might happen.
Plan - - Researched all video options, but the storage and power options were hard to satisfy and involved more equipment, dollar$ and maintenance than I wanted.
Result - - My BH had abandoned an HP C500 camera that was extremely hard on the small capacity of 3 batteries. It would lock up after about 10 pictures.
I tend to keep stuff for ever, so I was trying to come up with an idea to use this camera.
The camera could be powered externally and worked great when testing on AC power.
I then purchased a "stop idle solenoid" off eBay that looked like it would work.(need push style rather than pull)
I then fabricated an aluminum camera retainer to mount on the upper right side of center ws post. This holds the camera and the solenoid, and allows the camera to pivot so to have access to the SD card.
I had already installed a third battery bank up front in the Clipper to run the other electronics through an added 1000w inverter.(I have since downgraded this to 400W as the 1000W was overkill for the demand.
I hardwired the camera to the inverter, and the solenoid to the brake light circuit.
Result - - Over 10000 pictures on our cross Canada and back thru mid America 10550 miles in 60 days in 2009. (averages about a picture a mile) When approaching a town or info sign, I just tap the brake and capture a picture. Makes it easy to pinpoint later if looking for something specific.
I have 10 SD cards, but generally use only 2. I like to download the card twice a day to the laptop while travelling, so that I can tag the images for later reference.
I'll try to load some pictures.
You can see the camera mounted thru the WS in the frontal shot of my images if you go there.
As you can see, it is hidden behind the TV so is not in the sight line.
Fascinating. I'll have to give this some thought. Like you, the evidence in case of an accident would be great; I was in an accident a couple months ago with my B190 after a guy stopped on the road at the end of a curve...of course, he claimed he was completely out of the lane. A picture (or even better, video) of the incident would've been nice. Thanks.
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Old 01-18-2011, 05:48 PM   #23
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Arc

The problem with video is that if you have good quality, the storage capacity gets used up very quickly. If you don't have the quality, you don't even get the street name signs. Although good for witness purpose's, others would be reluctant to view much of the video. I attached a lengthy video that I found interesting, but, when you get to the road footage at the end, the focas is not comparable to a good digital camera.
I use my ARC snaps for a screen saver on my computer at home and get continued enjoyment from my trip inve$tment.

Look at Bob's post above and the quality of his digital camera. No guess as to what the name or number is on that unit.

We are a bit off the intent of this thead. There must be more good stories to be told? Why wait on the campfire?????????

Dave



Thanks to Andy for posting the followning on another thread. Nice show!
Airstream Classic Motorhome 345 on Vimeo
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Old 01-18-2011, 06:50 PM   #24
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1995 30' Excella
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masseyfarm View Post
The problem with video is that if you have good quality, the storage capacity gets used up very quickly. If you don't have the quality, you don't even get the street name signs. Although good for witness purpose's, others would be reluctant to view much of the video. I attached a lengthy video that I found interesting, but, when you get to the road footage at the end, the focas is not comparable to a good digital camera.
I use my ARC snaps for a screen saver on my computer at home and get continued enjoyment from my trip inve$tment.
Sorry for the continued off-topic-ness - my thought was a DVR-type setup that would be continuously recording to a hard drive, then when you hit a button it just saves the last 30 seconds; otherwise it would be dropped.

Quote:
We are a bit off the intent of this thead. There must be more good stories to be told? Why wait on the campfire?????????
Unfortunately my last close call was actually an accident. After that the "close calls" tended to go by the wayside.
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Old 01-20-2011, 08:31 AM   #25
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Your Location

Quote:
Originally Posted by Airtandem View Post
Just a thought, but would one of those "trail cams" that they use for hunting work ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Airtandem View Post
There is one advertised that is supose to record for a month and canbe accesed through ones computer. $$$ ??
Airtandem
Noted you are from Davenport. We did not stop there but I did touch the brake and take a couple pics of your signs. Lots of corn in that country.
Dave
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Old 02-01-2011, 11:32 AM   #26
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Video vs Digital Camera

No doubt that video gives the best thrill!


Sorry, again the video did not load. I'll work on it.
Dave
Try it now!

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Old 02-01-2011, 01:13 PM   #27
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A bit off topic - but a facebook friend just posted this pic. I'd say this 5th wheel owner might share this as a close call of sorts.

I'd love to know the story with this. Looks like things in the galley area got pretty hot.
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Old 02-01-2011, 01:40 PM   #28
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^ I just noticed the name of model/mfg of the trailer.
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Old 02-01-2011, 01:45 PM   #29
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I think the most memorable of mine was on my way out of Myrtle Beach, SC in early morning traffic. An elderly gentleman (who's driver's license had apparently outlived his ability to make rational decisions) in a Jeep Grand Cherokee looked me dead in the face, made eye contact, and pulled right out in front of me. This is when I discovered the ABS sensor on my truck had gone bad and disabled the ABS. The warning light had burned out. In spite of my best efforts to keep from locking up the brakes, the left rear locked down hard and flat spotted both of the tires on that corner. I had to drive all the way back to Columbia with the left rear tires on the dually thumping along as a reminder of that little incident. I uttered a few expletives and thanked my lucky stars that two tires were the only casualty.
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Old 03-02-2011, 11:06 AM   #30
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Broken Glass

Another post reminds me of an incident a number of years ago that happend on old highway BC#19, now called the West Island Hwy, near Parksville, BC.



49.309064,-124.266765 - Google Maps

Google Maps

Was driving a GMC4104 overload for the north sched. for VICL, when a kid thru a small drug size bottle out from the rear seat of an oncoming vehicle. The bottle struck my windshield just below eyelevel and expoded onto my chest and face. Luckily, I was wearing sunglasses and my eyes were protected. Did suffer many cuts to the hands and chin. I was within 2 miles of the Parksville depot, where I reported the incident with no resuts.
Wearing glasses while driving may be a good idea at all times.
Dave
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Old 03-02-2011, 08:30 PM   #31
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I almost ran into this dude near Cave Creek, AZ. Talk about overload.

Pap
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Old 05-08-2011, 10:55 AM   #32
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Air Spring Assist

Do you think a set of air spring assists would help?
Dave

Quote:
Originally Posted by pappy19 View Post
I almost ran into this dude near Cave Creek, AZ. Talk about overload.

Pap
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Old 07-03-2011, 09:18 AM   #33
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Love's

Another campfire tale. To Close to Call.
We were trying to make some time coming out of Florida heading for the mid west in 08.
Weather was great for travelling, and the sun had set a couple hours past, but I now needed a stop. It was one of those hot and humid late spring nights.
Gently guided the Clipper into a busy, busy Love's
in TN and backed into the only remaining slot between two moving vans. I was able to back right to the fence, under the light, and back clear of the big rigs idling.
Walked to the restaurant and had a late snack and returned and hit the sheets.
About an hour later my GW notes that there is some hot and heavy grunting happening to the left side of our Clipper. And the air quality has deteriorated somewhat!

One of the moving vans had left and the spot taken by a hog hauler. The noise, heat and aroma were unbearable, so I pulled out, bought fuel and coffee and off we went into the night.
She has never again wanted to take the chance of overnighting at any truck stop.
Now its KOA before dark or else!
Hard to get any miles on when you stop early and leave late.
Dave
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Old 07-24-2011, 08:57 PM   #34
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This sure wakes you up when your on those long drives.
Caught it on the ARK
Dave
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Old 07-24-2011, 11:43 PM   #35
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Oh my gosh!
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Old 07-25-2011, 12:21 AM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masseyfarm View Post
One of the moving vans had left and the spot taken by a hog hauler. The noise, heat and aroma were unbearable,
This reminds me of a trip when I was a child.
We were on the way for our annual summer beach vacation when the odor inside the car suddenly changed for the worse. We were all blaming my baby sister, who was recently potty trained. Just as she started those big tears and saying "it's not me", we notice we were following a hog hauler. That was over 50 years ago, and we still laugh over that one.
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Old 07-25-2011, 12:38 AM   #37
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I tried to edit the above with a big grin but was unable to. It is sitting on the post, but does catch your attention.(being ex RCAF)
Dave
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Old 09-11-2011, 10:26 PM   #38
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Right Time to use Air Horns

We were just west of McBride, BC on Yellowhead Rt. 16, 105 kph, and had to make an emergency stop to avoid the second of this pair. The Air Horns startled him enough that he fell trying to stop.

It does not look that close in the picture, but at that speed, the distance diminishes quickly.
This shot from the ARC, was the only close call so far on this current tour of the belt line between the 40th and 55 Parallel.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...tml#post938938

The Clipper did leave some rubber on the road!
Dave
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Old 10-11-2011, 06:43 PM   #39
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Do you think I could have made it?

The CLIPPER is 12' and a little bit on dead level.



45.423516,-76.253357 - Google Maps

Dave
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Old 10-16-2011, 04:36 PM   #40
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Nope , a meter is only 39 inches
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