Classic Winnebagos & Vintage RVs

Topic Boards => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 03, 2019, 08:23 PM

Title: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 03, 2019, 08:23 PM
A new adventure begins!

:)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap

We left Ogden, UT around 11am.  We fueled up and topped off the propane and water and dumped the holding tanks, checked the air pressures and topped off all the tires on the RV to 100psi at the nearby Flying J right after we left camp.

Then we hopped on I-15 North, and meandered our way to a Flying J in Idaho Falls, Idaho...where we are staying for the night.

Tomorrow we'll be driving about 200 miles to Butte, Montana to pick up I-90 East, and then will drive about another 150 miles to a Flying J not far from the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. 

Hopefully, when we pull into Yellowstone bright and early on Wednesday morning, we'll be able to get a campsite for a week at the Mammoth camping area, which is first come first serve.  (A lot of the campgrounds are still closed at Yellowstone, and the three that let you reserve campsites are booked until the Fall).

Yellowstone here we come!  (Fingers crossed for an RV spot!).

:D :D :D :D :D

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 04, 2019, 07:05 PM
Safe touchdown for the night at the Flying J in Belgrade, MT...about 70 miles from the north entrance to Yellowstone.  Everything is running great and we are off of I-90 East, so our meandering journey to upstate New York is already underway.

There will, of course, be a few stops along the way.  Like Yellowstone!!!

Idaho and Montana are GORGEOUS, by the way!

:)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 05, 2019, 09:07 AM
Gotta get a bright and early start this morning, so we are about to hit the road!  (7am here in Montana right now).  Mammoth camping area filled up by 10:30am yesterday, and although there are available sites, we are an hour or so out.  Yikes!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 06, 2019, 10:22 AM
Woohooooooo!!!  We are in Yellowstone, camping for a week at the Mammoth camping area near the North Entrance.

WOW is it beautiful.  We haven't even left the campground yet to explore, and already we saw a small herd of buffalo go through the campground, and some elk!

LOTS of pictures coming soon!  Today we are driving the Jeep down with the pups to see Old Faithful and some of the other geysers.  So much to see in this enormous National Park!  I don't think we could see in all in a MONTH, nevermind six days.  But we are going to see as much as we can!

Our campsite is perfect for solar power.  Full sun directly over the panels all day.  SWEET!

After my coffee I'm going to offload the Jeep into the "bear box" on our campsite, and then off we go to see Old Faithful.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 06, 2019, 08:31 PM
Yellowstone Park is beautiful and amazing...and HUGE!

We are camped at the northern tip of the park.  We drove over 50 miles today just to get to Old Faithful, which is only about the half way mark to the southern tip of the park.  Every corner turned is natural beauty.  Buffalo and elk EVERYwhere...and a lot of the time today was spent waiting for the buffalo to leisurely get out of the road...lol!

Old Faithful was amazing...and its not even the biggest geyser in the park.  We'll be spending all week exploring this beautiful Alpine paradise.  And we still won't even see a fraction of it.  I HIGHLY recommend coming to Yellowstone.  Simply breathtaking!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 07, 2019, 06:41 PM
Well crap.

Its raining and might even snow tonight here at Yellowstone, and get down to 33 degrees tonight, and be in the 40s and rainy all day tomorrow.

But that isn't what I'm saying "well crap" about.

We drove to town this morning to get some more eggs and bacon and sausage...and on the way back, the front passenger side wheel on the Jeep started making some noise...squealing and clacking, just as we made it back to camp.

I parked it and turned the wheel to the left to see what was going on, and the two bolts, BOTH of them, that hold the caliper on the steering knuckle, were gone!  Just freakin' gone! 

So tomorrow or Sunday I'm going to have to take the wheel off and hope I have some bolts that will fit, even as a temporary measure, so we can use the Jeep again to explore!  This is horse hockie!!!

$@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 09, 2019, 05:08 PM
So I didn't have ANY bolts that would work for the Jeep's front passenger side caliper...so I took one bolt out of the driver's side and made sure the holes in the steering knuckle still had good threads, and they do.

No choice though...I had to order 4 new caliper pins from Quadratec and have them overnight shipped, General Delivery, to the Yellowstone National Park Post Office...which fortunately is within walking distance from here (although the trail to get there is STEEP!).

So tomorrow or Tuesday the pins should arrive and we'll be good to go again.  It just sucks having to stick around the campground waiting, when there is so much else to see here in Yellowstone!

I'm just REALLY glad nothing was damaged and the only things missing were the two caliper pin bolts!  I'll be using Lock-Tite when I install the new ones...and that will leave me two spares in case they disappear again.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 11, 2019, 10:41 AM
So the tracking numbers say that my bolts for the Jeep made it to Billings, MT, and that the package left Billings around 5am.  But it isn't giving me a time of arrival.  I REALLY hope they make it to the Post Office before they close at 5pm!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 11, 2019, 07:29 PM
The caliper pins came in (albeit late at 3pm), and I walked up the STEEP mountain trail, about a mile but STEEP, to walk to the Post Office, where I was nearly run over by an elk cow running to the cry of her newborn calf...which was on the other side of me.  Yikes!

The hike DOWN the hill was a lot easier than going up...and the repair took less than 10 minutes.  I used blue Loctite on the threads so it won't happen again...and put the two spare pins in my Jeep toolbox just in case!

Then I payed for 2 more nights so we can see more of the park besides what we have seen so far.

So the Jeep is fixed!  YAY!!!!!!!

:)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: HandyDan on June 12, 2019, 11:58 AM
Life is Good!
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 14, 2019, 10:43 AM
We are about to hit the road for the next leg of our journey...destination Mount Rushmore!

Yellowstone was amazing, and we'll definitely be back next year.  We only saw a fraction of the park, so next year I'm thinking we'll explore Grand Tetons and the some of the south side of Yellowstone.

The Jeep is already hooked up, so after a cup of coffee, we'll be back on the road.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 14, 2019, 07:11 PM
We made it as far as a Flying J, in Hardin, MT and fueled up...and decided to stay the night.  And it is a good thing we did!  Not long after we pulled in, with sunny blue skies...dark clouds rolled in with thunder and lightning, and it is now raining cats and dogs with tiny hail stones. 

We are now at around 2900 feet in elevation, and it sure is easier to breathe than it was at almost 7000 feet in Yellowstone!

Tomorrow we'll be driving around 300 miles, which will put us at a Pilot near Rapid City, SD...which is only around 30 miles away from the entrance to the Mount Rushmore  National Memorial in the Black Hills National Forest.  We should be able to get a campsite in the park for a couple of days...I'm going to call the Ranger Station in the morning as see what the camping situation is.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 15, 2019, 10:37 AM
So it looks like we'll be stopping on the way to Mount Rushmore to see the Little Bighorn Battlefield.  Not sure there will be much to see, but it is right off the highway, so why not?

This Flying J in Hardin, MT doesn't have a dump station or water...but there is a Love's Travel Stop off this same exit, so we'll see if they have a dump station there.  If not, hopefully the next Flying J on the way to Mount Rushmore has both.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Froggy1936 on June 15, 2019, 10:45 AM
Well Kevin Since you have been living in your new home for a wile, I think you can give a report on Compost toilets VS Regular plumbing ? What do you have to say   Frank
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 15, 2019, 09:00 PM
Quote from: Froggy1936 on June 15, 2019, 10:45 AM
Well Kevin Since you have been living in your new home for a wile, I think you can give a report on Compost toilets VS Regular plumbing ? What do you have to say   Frank

I'll never go back to a composting toilet again...lol!  TOO much maintenance to keep it from having the "wet compost" gross factor.  Even being careful, you HAVE to empty and change the peat moss (for two people), at LEAST every two weeks...and if you let the pee bottle overfill into the peat moss, you BETTER change it out right away, or GROSSO!!!  And that 2.5 gallon pee bottle fills up surprisingly fast...so you are dumping THAT every other day and sometimes daily.

If I was rich and had a HUGE coach with a big enough bathroom, I would consider an incinerator toilet (which are huge and take up a lot of room)...but I'm not, so I'm sticking with the standard RV toilet forever...lol!  I'm just lucky this coach has VERY large holding tanks.  80 gallon black, 80 gallon grey, and 120 gallon fresh.  (Diesel tank is also 80 gallons).

That said, I WILL keep to the same practices I got into the habit of with the composting toilet, with the standard RV toilet:  Always pee sitting down...and always put the TP in a covered trash can next to the toilet.  THOSE two things right there make the standard RV toilet perfect!  (Our male anatomy doesn't surprise us with a "side spray," and there is no chance of toilet paper sticking to the sides of the black tank or clogging anything up).

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 15, 2019, 09:12 PM
We tried to check out Little Bighorn Battlefield, only to discover that it wasn't a historical site, but a town built around where the battle took place...so that was a wash.

So we just pressed on.  Next year, since we passed the signs for it, we'll check out Devil's Tower...but this year we are running short on time if we want to see Mount Rushmore, visit a friend along the way, see Niagra Falls, and be in camp for the Sterling Renaissance Festival in Sterling, NY by July 1st.

We made it all the way to a Pilot in Rapid City, SD today, and are staying here for the night.  We are SUPER close to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills National Forest...so tomorrow we'll try to get into a campsite in the National Forest for a couple of days, and see Mount Rushmore!

Honest folks...we have LOTS of pictures that I'll share...eventually.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Elandan2 on June 16, 2019, 06:56 AM
We used to have Incinolet toilets on the locomotives. They were gross too!! Let's just say the advertisments make them sound (and smell) much better than they really are.
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Rickf1985 on June 16, 2019, 10:04 AM
It is really interesting to hear that you are able to get space at the state parks, I have been hearing for years that the parks are always full and it is impossible to get a space in them. That is why I have not made any plans for state parks. That and the fact they have quadrupled the rates.
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 16, 2019, 11:30 AM
Quote from: Rickf1985 on June 16, 2019, 10:04 AM
It is really interesting to hear that you are able to get space at the state parks, I have been hearing for years that the parks are always full and it is impossible to get a space in them. That is why I have not made any plans for state parks. That and the fact they have quadrupled the rates.

If you go to the National Forests and Parks before June 15th (after which all the kids are out of school), chances are good you can get a spot on a first come, first serve basis.  It seems like ALL the spots that you can reserve online or by phone end up being booked solid from May to October.

We are going to try one of the campgrounds near Mount Rushmore...I called, and they said there were 3 "first come first serve" sites available, but I doubt they'll still be there when we arrive in a couple of hours, being Father's Day and all.  Our alternative plan is to just drive to the Memorial, where they have 10.00 RV parking...see Mount Rushmore...and then drive back to I-90 to a Flying J a few exits down the road. 

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 16, 2019, 11:33 AM
We are about 25 miles from Mount Rushmore...but camping in the National Forest doesn't look very promising.

We are going to try one of the campgrounds near Mount Rushmore...I called, and they said there were 3 "first come first serve" sites available, but I doubt they'll still be there when we arrive in a couple of hours, being Father's Day and all.  Our alternative plan is to just drive to the Memorial, where they have 10.00 RV day parking (but you can't stay overnight)...see Mount Rushmore...and then drive back to I-90 to a Flying J a few exits down the road. 

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 16, 2019, 10:11 PM
You simply have to SEE Mount Rushmore to believe it!  The sculptor was SO good, that in person the eyes look lifelike, even with a sparkle in them.  We arrived right after a rain storm (which we drove there in)...and the Presidents looked like they were crying.  (I won't interpret that here politically...lol).  After the rain dried up, that effect went away.  The type of granite they were carved into, according to park rangers, will last at LEAST 10 thousand years, even with weather and erosion.  It was a remarkable and very warming experience to my patriotic heart.

The studio the sculptor used was pretty neat, and we learned a lot about HOW it was done from the park ranger giving a presentation.  Amazing!

It didn't take ALL that long to see...so we drove a couple of hundred miles to a town called Murdo, SD to a Pilot for the night.  Right across the street is the entrance to the Pioneer Auto Show museum...where they have hundreds of vehicles on display, including the original General Lee, and Elvis Presley's Harley.  So we are going to walk across the street tomorrow morning and check it out!

1400 miles or so to go until we get to Sterling, NY for our next Renfaire!  Add around 150 miles to that since I found a route that goes TOTALLY around Chigago.

And our average MPG for this beast since we bought it this winter?  A solid 11.5 MPG.  Sometimes it is 12, and sometimes it is 11...but the average since we have been keeping track (since we bought it) is a solid 11.5mpg.  Outstanding!  Especially since diesel is right around the same price as regular gas now...and even cheaper in some places.  SWEET!

On the way we hope to visit some friends, see Niagra Falls, and arrive in our camp in upstate NY by July 1st.

:)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 16, 2019, 10:18 PM
Quote from: Rickf1985 on June 16, 2019, 10:04 AM
It is really interesting to hear that you are able to get space at the state parks, I have been hearing for years that the parks are always full and it is impossible to get a space in them. That is why I have not made any plans for state parks. That and the fact they have quadrupled the rates.

Also Rick...I'm not sure how old you are, but if you are 65 or older, you can get the Golden Access pass.  When Patti got hers it was only 20.00, but the fee went up to 80.00 recently.  BUT it is a one time fee and lasts you the rest of your life.  What you get for it is FREE entry into ALL National Parks and Forests, and half off the camping at all National Parks and Forests AND BLM land camping areas where they charge you (although most BLM land camping is totally free for everyone).  It only cost us 10 bucks a day to camp at Yellowstone...and when we camped at the BLM land near Safford, AZ called Hot Wells Dunes, it was only 2.00 a day.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Rickf1985 on June 17, 2019, 04:30 AM
Good to know and yes, I qualify. W%
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 17, 2019, 08:46 PM
MINNESOTA ROADS SUCK!!!

$@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@!

Western South Dakota is beautiful...and then the eastern half turns into rolling green hills like the world's largest golf course.

And THEN we hit Minnesota.  GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!  The road is in HORRIBLE repair along I-90, with big bumps every 12 feet or so, like driving over short speed bumps or a giant washboard.

We pulled into a truck stop for the night in Blue Earth, Minnesota...after over a hundred miles of horrible roads...only to discover the Onan Generator is almost falling out!

No kidding!  The welds snapped on the rear bracket and on the rear side, it is almost touching the ground...only being held in place by the wiring harness and the propane line!  (Good thing the liquid LP valve was closed and it wasn't running!).  The front is still holding though.

I have no other option tomorrow morning than to unbolt the good side and somehow lower it to the ground (after removing the exhaust pipe)...and then removing the propane line...and the wiring from the junction box...and lower THAT side to the pavement.

And then if it isn't too tall, I'll have to slide it out from under the RV skirt.  If it IS too tall, I'll have to jack up the RV to slide it out.

And THEN I'll have to figure out how to lift it into the back of the Jeep!  The specs on this thing say it weights 279 lbs...YIKES! 

These things sell for over 4500.00 new, and it only has around 100 hours on it...so I'm not going to just jettison the thing.  Once we get to upstate NY and have an income coming in again, I'll have the bracket welded back in (properly this time!  It looks like it was just tack welded in place and they forgot to lay a full bead like they did with the front of the bracket)...and reinstall the genny with a new control board.

But yeah...Minnesota roads SUCK!!!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Berlin-Tioga on June 18, 2019, 03:03 AM
 :D


[size=78%]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHPXGd0rcMU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHPXGd0rcMU)[/size]
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 18, 2019, 09:51 AM
Quote from: Berlin-Tioga on June 18, 2019, 03:03 AM
:D
[size=78%]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHPXGd0rcMU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHPXGd0rcMU)[/size]

LOL!  Not gonna happen.  I'm just going to take it out, load it in the Jeep...and get someone to properly weld in the bracket that actually knows what they are doing. 

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 18, 2019, 06:42 PM
So I got the generator out safely, all wires removed and propane lines removed and safety tied out of the way...and thanks to a young couple at the truck stop this morning, we managed to get it into the Jeep no problem!  It doesn't look like anything was damaged, except the tiny spot welds...and the frame bent downward under the weight of the generator.  I tied the frame that holds the generator mounts up in place with paracord (I always have some in the tool box)...and we were on the road by noon!

We are safely at a Love's Travel Stop, in Oakdale, Wisconsin for the night.
The following pictures show what we found when we pulled into the Minnesota truck stop...to it all loaded up in the Jeep...to the frame that holds it tied in place with paracord.  Note the TINY little tack welds in the photos!   Someone at Winnebago back in 1994 skipped a step or two!  This COULD have been tragic!

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003201451?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003209496?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003216143?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003231837?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003239814?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003245574?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003251561?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003263153?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003271854?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003279708?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003287999?profile=RESIZE_710x)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3003297060?profile=RESIZE_710x)

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: HandyDan on June 18, 2019, 08:37 PM
Been across that stretch of I-90 many times and you are right, it sucks!
Dan
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Froggy1936 on June 18, 2019, 10:04 PM
Had that snagged the pavement Your plans would be a lot different . It would have caused major damage ! Good luck on future repairs Safety chains are an option ! Till you are confident of the repair !  Frank
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 20, 2019, 09:21 AM
We made it safely through Wisconsin and Illinois, and stayed at a rest stop on I-80/I-90, about 60 miles away from Elkhart, Indiana.  So guess where we are going today?

You guessed it!  The RV Hall of Fame!!!  We are going to visit the museum and take lots of pictures (of course), and then stay the night in their dry camping area (you can stay there free for 2 nights, but we are only staying one).

And then we should be on our way tomorrow morning, making it most of the way through Ohio.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Rickf1985 on June 20, 2019, 02:38 PM
Go in the truck stop and look on the board where all the business cards are and you are sure to find a mobile welder that will come out and weld it up good as new. Truckers depend on these guys for their livelihood. Those roads are brutal on trucks that drive all day every day on them and they do not have the luxury of finding a welding a fab shop.
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: tmsnyder on June 20, 2019, 03:29 PM
I have a friend at a machine shop / fab shop on NY104 outside of lockport ny, Empro-niagara,  Give Nick a call, he might be willing to help you on your way through to the Ren fair.  They have a forklift to make things easier .He's just down the road from my distillery and he works weekends with me. Depending on the day I might be able to lend a hand too. When are you coming through buffalo?
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 21, 2019, 08:06 AM
Quote from: tmsnyder on June 20, 2019, 03:29 PM
I have a friend at a machine shop / fab shop on NY104 outside of lockport ny, Empro-niagara,  Give Nick a call, he might be willing to help you on your way through to the Ren fair.  They have a forklift to make things easier .He's just down the road from my distillery and he works weekends with me. Depending on the day I might be able to lend a hand too. When are you coming through buffalo?

Thanks!  And thanks Rick!  My buddy that I am visiting in Ohio for a few days is a top notch welder and has all the tools to do the repair, so we're all set.  We were going to visit him for a few days anyway, and when he found out what happened with the genny, he offered to weld it up for me and help me reinstall the genny.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 21, 2019, 08:11 AM
The RV Hall of Fame was pretty awesome!  May West's House Car was there, as well as Lindburgh's personal travel trailer...and a whole lot more!  SO COOL!  They even had my dream car there, with a 1930s tear drop trailer in tow (A Ford Model A  :D :D :D :D :D ). 

We have to get on the road shortly, but I'll post the pics when I get a chance.

Speaking of which...are there any FREE picture hosting websites out there?  I'm thinking about paying for storage on Photobucket...but they want 8 bucks a month, and my "free" storage there is full.  It would be a lot easier to just upload ALL my pictures from this trip to a host, and put up a link so anyone that wants to see them can just click on the link.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Elandan2 on June 21, 2019, 08:13 AM
Yes, but tmsnyder has a DISTILLERY  :)
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 21, 2019, 08:17 AM
Quote from: Elandan2 on June 21, 2019, 08:13 AM
Yes, but tmsnyder has a DISTILLERY  :)

LOL!  I sure do love a good whiskey!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Rickf1985 on June 21, 2019, 01:37 PM
Quote from: ClydesdaleKevin on June 21, 2019, 08:11 AM
T
Speaking of which...are there any FREE picture hosting websites out there?  I'm thinking about paying for storage on Photobucket...but they want 8 bucks a month, and my "free" storage there is full.  It would be a lot easier to just upload ALL my pictures from this trip to a host, and put up a link so anyone that wants to see them can just click on the link.

Kev
I use postimage. They are fantastic for transferring pics over also. click and paste.
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 21, 2019, 06:06 PM
Quote from: Rickf1985 on June 21, 2019, 01:37 PM
I use postimage. They are fantastic for transferring pics over also. click and paste.

Thanks Rick!  I'll check them out!  Stupid Photobucket not only changed their limits on how much you can store, but also how much "bandwidth" images you currently have on the web hosted by them can use.  They just informed me that I am "over limit" and locked my account!  I have to pay them for at least one month, 8 bucks, to unlock my account, just so I can download my images to my own gosh-darn computer!  They are holding my images hostage, so after I give them the 8 bucks ransom and download all my images, I'll never do business with them again.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 21, 2019, 06:11 PM
The high tolls in Indiana are HIGHWAY ROBBERY!!!  I-80/I-90 is only around 150 miles through Indiana...and by the time we got to Ohio, it was over 40 bucks!  For CRAPPY roads!  Roads ALMOST as bad as Minnesota, but at least Minnesota didn't charge a toll!  Tolls are taxation without representation!  And taxation is theft!   $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! .

We had another 28.00 in tolls in Ohio for nearly 200 miles...but at least the roads were smooth, even in the construction areas.  STILL way too high though!  Highway robbery!

Okay...rant over.

$@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@! $@!#@!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 21, 2019, 06:20 PM
Except for the extremely crappy roads in Indiana, and the extortionist HIGHWAY ROBBERY of over 70.00 in tolls on I-80/I-90 going through Indiana and part of Ohio...the trip is still going well so far.

We made it safely to a Flying J in Ashtabula, Ohio for the night, where we dumped our holding tanks, filled the fresh water tank, and topped off the diesel.  We got 12mpg on this last leg of the journey!

We are going to visit a friend nearby as we planned for a few days (and fix the genny issue while there)...and then off we'll go to Niagra Falls on the way to our next Renfaire in Sterling, NY!

Door to door from our friend's house to Sterling, NY is only 289 miles...so most of the driving is done for a while.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: BamBam on June 21, 2019, 07:26 PM
You should've taken Hwy 20 through IN. and saved some coin, slower but still.
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 21, 2019, 09:02 PM
Quote from: BamBam on June 21, 2019, 07:26 PM
You should've taken Hwy 20 through IN. and saved some coin, slower but still.

Next year we will.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 22, 2019, 08:55 PM
We are safely arrived at our friend's property in Ohio, and enjoyed our visit today...and will no doubt enjoy the next couple of days as well.  Tomorrow we will be welding the genny mount in property, and reinstalling the generator.  Sure is a lot quieter here than the truck stops we have been staying at the last 2400 miles!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: tmsnyder on June 23, 2019, 07:31 AM
If you think the roads were bad and tolls were high in Ohio and Indiana, just wait until you hit NY!   Especially that section down near Irving NY where I90 crosses native american land.  You'll be wishing you were back in Ohio  :D


But they do have good prices on fuel at Irving btw


Beep at me when you drive by Exit 5 for Millersport on the I290 b/c that's real close to my house.

Have fun in Niagara Falls, you are heading to the Sterling Ren Fest?


As for whiskey  :)  we make ours from scratch, using local corn and locally grown and malted barley.  We make corn whiskey (white lightning) and bourbon and also a whiskey which is aged in our barrels after the bourbon finishes.  I just ran a batch of cherry and peat smoked whiskey yesterday which will be aged in our bourbon barrels but the one we have on hand now is a whiskey made from distilling beer from a local brewery that had almonds and cherrys in it.  After aging it we blended it with some of our bourbon and the result is some really tasty whiskey, I just bottled it yesterday actually. If you're in the Niagara region next weekend stop by and check it out:  www.niagaracraftspirits.com  We're open Sat 12-6 & Sun 12-5 
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 23, 2019, 09:02 AM
Quote from: tmsnyder on June 23, 2019, 07:31 AM
If you think the roads were bad and tolls were high in Ohio and Indiana, just wait until you hit NY!   Especially that section down near Irving NY where I90 crosses native american land.  You'll be wishing you were back in Ohio  :D


But they do have good prices on fuel at Irving btw


Beep at me when you drive by Exit 5 for Millersport on the I290 b/c that's real close to my house.

Have fun in Niagara Falls, you are heading to the Sterling Ren Fest?


As for whiskey  :)  we make ours from scratch, using local corn and locally grown and malted barley.  We make corn whiskey (white lightning) and bourbon and also a whiskey which is aged in our barrels after the bourbon finishes.  I just ran a batch of cherry and peat smoked whiskey yesterday which will be aged in our bourbon barrels but the one we have on hand now is a whiskey made from distilling beer from a local brewery that had almonds and cherrys in it.  After aging it we blended it with some of our bourbon and the result is some really tasty whiskey, I just bottled it yesterday actually. If you're in the Niagara region next weekend stop by and check it out:  www.niagaracraftspirits.com  We're open Sat 12-6 & Sun 12-5 


Yep!  After visiting the Falls, we'll be heading up to an RV park near the Sterling Renaissance Faire.  It is our best money show of the entire year.

One of these days I'll have to try a bottle of your whiskey!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 23, 2019, 09:22 PM
The generator mounts are re-welded back in place...WAY better than the factory setup, thanks to my buddy who is an expert welder.

And we got the generator back up in place and bolted in no problem...and after hooking up the propane lines and checking them for leaks, and hooking up all the wires, it starts and runs perfect!  And it sure as heck isn't going to fall out again!

:)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap :)clap

It still doesn't put out AC voltage because of the bad control board...but I'll replace the control board when we get up to Sterling Renfaire and start making some money again. 

Pictures coming eventually...lol!  Just gotta set up a Postimage account and get all my pictures over there!

Another day or two visiting in this quiet idyllic paradise...and then we'll be back on the road to Niagra Falls, and then Sterling, NY!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 23, 2019, 10:02 PM
So here are some pics to keep you going of the genny frame repair and install.

Here is me, inside the compartment cleaning the sealant away from areas that need to be welded. 

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3076909893?profile=RESIZE_710x&width=640)

And me inside the compartment, still doing more prep work...with the genny on a dolly ready to install:

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3076909995?profile=RESIZE_710x&width=640)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3076910108?profile=RESIZE_710x&width=640)

Here are the perfect welds laid by my friend.  Outstanding job, and WAY stronger than the horrible factory setup.

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3076910020?profile=RESIZE_710x&width=640)

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3076910065?profile=RESIZE_710x&width=640)

Up up it goes!  Slowly but surely!!!  Little by little with jack stands...safety first!

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3076909849?profile=RESIZE_710x&width=640)

And its in!  This is me tightening the last bolts!

(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3076909989?profile=RESIZE_710x&width=640)

I checked the propane lines for leaks, and its all good!  I rewired it all in, and it started right up.  Still doesn't put out AC voltage, but that is because of a bad control board, which will be replaced soon when we get to Sterling Renfaire and have an income coming in again.

That's it for now!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Froggy1936 on June 24, 2019, 12:58 PM
Hi Kev , Congratulation,s on a repair well done, On your no AC output , There is a possability of a kaput voltage regulator , Make double sure of your diagnosis , The R/V hall of Fame is a really neat place. Did you register as a member ? Frank
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 24, 2019, 06:36 PM
Quote from: Froggy1936 on June 24, 2019, 12:58 PM
Hi Kev , Congratulation,s on a repair well done, On your no AC output , There is a possability of a kaput voltage regulator , Make double sure of your diagnosis , The R/V hall of Fame is a really neat place. Did you register as a member ? Frank

Thanks Frank!  I did the troubleshooting per the book, and it seems to be the control board, which field flashes the genny to produce AC voltage.  I will double check of course before shelling out 300 bucks for an aftermarket control board. 

And the museum WAS awesome!  I didn't realize I could sign up as a member at the museum.  And they had my dream car, a Ford Model A!  Didn't you say you used to have one?  I LOVE those things!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Froggy1936 on June 24, 2019, 07:36 PM
Yep i bought a 1930 Flat bed Pu Truck w No bed and a locked up engine , @ age 11 For $1.00  Hah Ha started me down the road to where i am today, (That and rebuilding coaster brakes on many bicycles )  When i took it apart it had a bad piston w lots of rust on the cly walls so i took the piston and rtod out went to the junk yard (this was approx 1949) The guy said that from a model A  I said yea He said good day today i have an engine sitting by the shop door, To which he took a sledge to get the piston out with out removing the pan the head was already off . I installed the piston and rod no checking clearances etc sande all the clys till it would turn over smoothly , Changed the oil and put it back together  I had i set of 1/2 in sockets my uncle gave me a 10 in crescent wrench .  Fired it up Varoom ! Used to race the earthmovers building the Parkway  Got scary at times some of those guys were evil !  Eventually the police confiscated it as i was stating to wander around the streets No Drivers lic and no plates/state Inspection !
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 24, 2019, 08:16 PM
Quote from: Froggy1936 on June 24, 2019, 07:36 PM
Yep i bought a 1930 Flat bed Pu Truck w No bed and a locked up engine , @ age 11 For $1.00  Hah Ha started me down the road to where i am today, (That and rebuilding coaster brakes on many bicycles )  When i took it apart it had a bad piston w lots of rust on the cly walls so i took the piston and rtod out went to the junk yard (this was approx 1949) The guy said that from a model A  I said yea He said good day today i have an engine sitting by the shop door, To which he took a sledge to get the piston out with out removing the pan the head was already off . I installed the piston and rod no checking clearances etc sande all the clys till it would turn over smoothly , Changed the oil and put it back together  I had i set of 1/2 in sockets my uncle gave me a 10 in crescent wrench .  Fired it up Varoom ! Used to race the earthmovers building the Parkway  Got scary at times some of those guys were evil !  Eventually the police confiscated it as i was stating to wander around the streets No Drivers lic and no plates/state Inspection !

LOL!  You should write your memoirs Frank!  I love hearing about your history!  You are an awesome man, my friend!  I hope Louie is doing well!  And I'm not joking about a Model A being my dream car.  I like to drive slow anyway, and aside from the cool factor, it would give me an excuse to do so!  If I got my hands on an electric start Model A, I would be an even happier man than I am now (if that is even possible), and trailer that thing all over the country as my daily driver to get stuff at the stores when in camp with the RV.  I would definitely want the car version though...with a convertible buggy top!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Rickf1985 on June 25, 2019, 10:42 AM
Damn rebel kids! :D  Where was this at Frank? I remember my Dad telling me stories about how how he and his friends would terrorize Philadelphia with cars right off of the showroom floor from a Studebaker dealership. One of those kids dads owned the place. Apparently there was a huge train wreck on the elevated in the 40's and all the cops were there and him and his friends were racing all over Philly with nobody to bother them. Between the dealership and the fact that half of them were farmers they had access to cars, gas and tires which most people at that time did not.
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: Froggy1936 on June 25, 2019, 02:05 PM
Hi Rick Yea we used to get away with a lot of stuff back in the 40,s   That was in Edgewood a suburb of Pittsburgh , When they were building the Penn Lincoln Parkway !  Frank
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 26, 2019, 06:38 PM
We had a great visit with our friends, and are now back on the road!  We are staying the night at a Flying J in Ashtabula, OH...and will get an early start tomorrow taking back roads to Niagra Falls! 

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: tmsnyder on June 26, 2019, 10:50 PM



Niagra Falls, is that an ED medicine?  Or are you headed to Niagara Falls?


Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 27, 2019, 08:07 AM
Quote from: tmsnyder on June 26, 2019, 10:50 PM


Niagra Falls, is that an ED medicine?  Or are you headed to Niagara Falls?




LOL!  Niagara it is!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 27, 2019, 10:16 PM
WOW what a long day!  We saw Niagara Falls...and MAN was it busy...and it was a weekday!  Then we were going to drive part way to Sterling, NY, but there was no where to stop for the night along the way we took.  The only Walmart said "no overnight parking", there were NO truck stops or pull offs along NY-104 East...and by the time we saw ANY signs for campgrounds, we were only 20 miles away from the campground we had a reservation at for the duration of the Sterling Renaissance Faire. 

So yeah...we got an early start this morning, drove on mostly byways to avoid the tolls, arrived at Niagara Falls parking lot 3 only to be told we had to disco the Jeep if we wanted to park there (which we did), we saw the falls and took some pictures...and then drove ALL the way to Sterling, NY to the Sterling Creek Campground, and since we were early, they put us in a temporary site for a day or two until they finish laying down the gravel in our site.  It was dark by the time we were settled in.

LONG day!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 28, 2019, 10:10 PM
We had a TOTAL do nothing day today!  Aside from taking the doggos out 5 times, we did ZIP!  Zero!  Nada!  A blissful day of total rest and relaxation!  We watched a John Wayne movie, and a couple of other movies...and that was it.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: c farmer on June 29, 2019, 10:25 PM
Quote from: ClydesdaleKevin on June 28, 2019, 10:10 PM
We had a TOTAL do nothing day today!  Aside from taking the doggos out 5 times, we did ZIP!  Zero!  Nada!  A blissful day of total rest and relaxation!  We watched a John Wayne movie, and a couple of other movies...and that was it.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Kev


Any adult beverages?     Sounds like a nice day.   I am enjoying reading your adventures.
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on June 30, 2019, 08:55 AM
There might have been a few adult beverages.   :angel:

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on July 01, 2019, 07:24 PM
If anyone lives in Upstate New York and wants to come to the Sterling Renaissance Festival, they gave us a BUNCH of comp tickets to hand out.  They are only good for the first three weekends though.  The Festival starts this coming weekend!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: tmsnyder on July 04, 2019, 04:31 PM

Dang you should have pulled into my distillery on Rt 104 just outside Lockport, could have stayed there in parking lot.





Quote from: ClydesdaleKevin on June 27, 2019, 10:16 PM
WOW what a long day!  We saw Niagara Falls...and MAN was it busy...and it was a weekday!  Then we were going to drive part way to Sterling, NY, but there was no where to stop for the night along the way we took.  The only Walmart said "no overnight parking", there were NO truck stops or pull offs along NY-104 East...and by the time we saw ANY signs for campgrounds, we were only 20 miles away from the campground we had a reservation at for the duration of the Sterling Renaissance Faire. 

So yeah...we got an early start this morning, drove on mostly byways to avoid the tolls, arrived at Niagara Falls parking lot 3 only to be told we had to disco the Jeep if we wanted to park there (which we did), we saw the falls and took some pictures...and then drove ALL the way to Sterling, NY to the Sterling Creek Campground, and since we were early, they put us in a temporary site for a day or two until they finish laying down the gravel in our site.  It was dark by the time we were settled in.

LONG day!




Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on July 04, 2019, 05:37 PM
Quote from: tmsnyder on July 04, 2019, 04:31 PM
Dang you should have pulled into my distillery on Rt 104 just outside Lockport, could have stayed there in parking lot.






I just might take you up on that next year!  Happy Independence Day!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on July 08, 2019, 10:53 AM
Since this weekend was the opening weekend of the Sterling Renaissance Festival in upstate New York, thus endeth this chapter!

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: tmsnyder on July 09, 2019, 10:24 AM
Thanks for the offer of the tix to the Ren Faire, I don't think we'll be able to do any of those weekends, just too busy.   Thanks though!
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on July 09, 2019, 06:17 PM
Quote from: tmsnyder on July 09, 2019, 10:24 AM
Thanks for the offer of the tix to the Ren Faire, I don't think we'll be able to do any of those weekends, just too busy.   Thanks though!

No problem!  Maybe next year.

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: tmsnyder on July 10, 2019, 05:15 PM
Yes and plan on boondocking at my distillery, Niagara Craft Spirits at 4408 Ridge Rd, Lockport, NY, ... Let me know in advance and I'll let the neighbors know, they are the best security system around.   I could even leave on the hose bib and a 20A electric receptacle for you.



Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on July 10, 2019, 06:49 PM
Quote from: tmsnyder on July 10, 2019, 05:15 PM
Yes and plan on boondocking at my distillery, Niagara Craft Spirits at 4408 Ridge Rd, Lockport, NY, ... Let me know in advance and I'll let the neighbors know, they are the best security system around.   I could even leave on the hose bib and a 20A electric receptacle for you.





You are awesome!  I'll take you up on that, and purchase a couple of bottles of your finest to stock the bar. 

Kev
Title: Re: Utah to New York, 2019
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on July 10, 2019, 06:52 PM
Quote from: tmsnyder on July 10, 2019, 05:15 PM
Yes and plan on boondocking at my distillery, Niagara Craft Spirits at 4408 Ridge Rd, Lockport, NY, ... Let me know in advance and I'll let the neighbors know, they are the best security system around.   I could even leave on the hose bib and a 20A electric receptacle for you.





Also, if you can come visit the faire ANY of the 7 weekends this year, the office informed us that we could get you comp passes...so let us know if you are as busy later in the season.

Kev