dogre

Those are waterline drainplugs. If you root around under your sofa near the water pump you will find a couple more drains (for the waterline and the water tank. They are important to know about if you live where you need to winterize your plumbing. I marked mine with bright plastic tape so I can easily see (or feel) them. They drain thru the floor of the motor home.

Welcome! I eagerly anticipate any tips you wish to share. My spouse and I don't like to cook inside our 'Toybox' unless we have to. I have been using a vintage "Kangaroo Kitchen" grill, steamer, griddle from the 70's. What is your grill and how is it mounted? Dave Chelan, WA

Try West Marine. Located at 1601 2nd Ave. W., Vancouver. Their phone # is 604-730-4093.

Is your Toybox clad in aluminum or fiberglass? If fiberglass, then there are many products out there for restoring a gloss to the skin. 3M makes a color restorer that I have successfully used on old sailboats. It takes a bit of buffing. A wax coat afterwards is also helpful. Are your decals shot?

Check for a loose ground on the house battery (which is located just to the left of your coach door).

Good idea on the extra food storage but there is another issue to consider. I doubt that anyone ripping off your vehicle will be looking for rice, noodles, canned beans, etc. I'd worry more about our electronics and money. I've made a couple of hidey-holes but I'm not going to share their locations. Anyone else feel strong on this thought? Suggestions?

Any concern about toxic fumes? What is this stuff made of and will it cause problems in an enclosed area?

I've stumbled across a used Emerson 1350 rooftop air conditioner for a decent price ($75). The seller is a plumbing/HVAC journeyman. He guarantees it will work and will help with installation. It appears that this unit is larger than what I was looking for but what the heck, just reduce the demand for cooling temp. It appears to take 16.7Amps to run on AC. Have any of you out there had any experience with this manufacturer's unit? I've researched the web and spare parts are still available. Would you take a gamble and buy a unit like this one? Thanks, Dave Chelan, WA (where it is 97 degrees F today).

Bill. I was just back in the midwest and while flying on an Alaska Airlines flight to Chicago I saw an ad in the inflight magazine for Ohio State Parks where they are offering a 'frequent camper' rewards system. Geez. Somebody had an idea of how to be positive. California needs to take a lesson from Ohio, but then California is so passe' that it doesn't matter anymore. Dave

How do you folks feel about the wide ranging costs of camping? As an example I cite the way-off-the major road state park in a California State Park that we stayed in one night early this spring. Two campers in 85 sites, uust the camp host and us. $30+ for one night, no hookups, and they charged us $1.75 for the shower, too. Doesn't the state of California realize that most people don't have the money that we used to have? I asked the campsite host about that and he just shrugged his shoulders. In further discussion he suggested that I head up the road to an Army Corp of Engineers campground where the fire wood was free and the overnight charge was $10 (no hookups, but free showers). When is common sense come back into practice? AVOID CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS. Cast your vote by avoiding California State Parks. Dave WA State

Boy oh boy. I can't post a certain word in this forum. Thinking about it raises questions about censorship. Could it be because the forum host has put in a screen? How can we change that? All I was saying that we can yyyy and moan in this forum? Yeah... right. If the previous sentence has a cluster of yyyy s after I push the enter button that means that we are being subjected to some censorship? Your thoughts? Dave

Wrong forum to discuss propane tanks. Please move this to technical areas. This is supposed to be a yyyy and moan area . I'm about to yyyy about the state of California's charges for camping and rave about the state of Ohio's frequent camper plan. Check the next Vent posting. Dave/Dogre

Haqve had to move the Central Washington Toybox Get Together to Osborn Bay SP CG. Steamboat was full. 7 miles north of Steamboat, primitive, $12/night, bring water. 2 Toys so far.Dave509-860-4800

Ken, I like your idea of Toy Boxes in front of the dam. So far we might see three for four. It is a start. We will be camping at Steamboat Rock state park on May 14, 15 and leaving on the 16th (unless we are having too much of a good time and the weather is cooperating). Hope to see you there. I hope to center the Toy Box get together around space 82 in the north loop of the campground. Reservations seem to be out of the question. Suggestions or questions are greatly appreciated. Dave Oglevie Chelan, WA 509-860-4800

Chris, Toy Box get together, May 14,15,16 2010, Steamboat Rock State Park, north loop. Dave

There will be a get together of any interested Toy Box folks on the weekend of May 14,15,16 2010 at Steamboat Rock State Park, just south of Electric City, WA. This beautiful state park is located on the shores of Banks Lake. Local attractions are the second largest cement structure in the world (Grand Coulee Dam), the incredible Dry Falls left over from the last ice age, very interesting basalt coulees, beautiful scenery and lots of great hiking, biking and boating. The reservation system for the state parks is not working so this is going to need you to be flexible. I intend to camp in the north loop, specifically space 82. I hope to see you there. We have had interest from 3 or 4 others. This is a good start. For more information Google search Steamboat Rock State Park, WA. Questions? Please call or e-mail. Dave Oglevie dorgre@hotmail.com 509-860-4800

Dennis, Can you give me some help in how I stage a rally in the area of Sisters, OR in Octoburrrr? I have attended one of Tika's events so I have some idea of what to expect to do. I am looking at the weekend of October 9 & 10. I hope to find some BLM land so costs are minimal. This is the weekend of the annual Sisters Harvest Faire. How do I post this on the calendar? Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Dave Chelan, WA

I was talking with the owner of an RV shop in Wenatchee, WA yesterday and explained that I needed a butt lift of about 3". He told me to head to a junk yard, find a pair of used leaf springs of the same dimensions of my second leaf and then bring them to his shop and they would install them. He said he had done the same with a small GM RV and that it actually improved his handling. Could it be that easy, just find a pair of secondary leafs (leaves?) in a junkyard (preferrably from a one ton Toyota)? The nearest serious spring shop is 180 miles away. I'm willing to look at anything (already have airbag assist).

Canada allows you to take a shotgun thru their country? Dave

How are you going to get "Gun" across the border? Does he have all of his first shots as well as proof of good health? We hope to see you at the freelance get together at Steamboat Rock State Park, just south of Electric City, WA on May 15th. Best Wishes, Dave

Bernard, Please let me know when you come up with a price as I might be interested. My '91 Itasca Spirit is nice but I would like to get further out in the boonies. I have been very careful so far but the horizon continues to challenge me. Dave Oglevie 509-860-4800

May 15th, 2010, Steamboat Rock State Park, a few miles south of Electric City, Washington. $25 or so full for full hookups the one night. I have options for other less expensive sites for earlier or later dates. Potluck. Be there or be square! Info at 509-860-4800 or e-mail at dogre@hotmail.com

Ken, I suggested Steamboat Rock State Park as it is centrally located, 90 miles east of Spokane, 100 miles south of the Canadian border, and about 90 miles east of Wenatchee. The laser show doesn't start until Memorial Day weekend. Darn! I know of a couple of "free" sites near Electric City but they really aren't free as they are on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife parking lots, which requires an annual $10.95 parking permit. For a get together for one night I think it would be reasonable to use the state park. To get this event rolling I am willing to coordinate or assist by contacting the state park to see what is involved. I figure if just three vehicles can get together that is worth pursuing. Thoughts? Dave Oglevie Chelan, WA

How about getting together at the Steamboat Rock State Park located south of Electric City and North of Grand Coulee in May 8th or 15th? Nearby tourist attractions are Banks Lake, Grand Coulee Dam, Dry Falls. Steamboat has full hookups and last years overnight fee was about $25. Your thoughts?

Howdy, We did just about the opposite of what you will be doing. We drove from Chelan, WA, up into B.C. on Hwy 97 to TCH 1 and headed east. We eventually (lots of smaller roads at times) ended up in the upper peninsula of Michigan We did this in July, and we, too, were driving an Itasca Spirit (1990) with the V-6. We took a different route (northern US) to return to Chelan. I will gladly be more specific if you wish to call or e-mail. This area is very limited in how much test I can post. It was our first major road trip. You'll have a hoot! One of our stops was in "Dog River", aka Rouleau, SAS. Oh, yeah, I would consider selling my present toybox if your deal in Wisconsin falls thru. I have my eyes on a Sunrader. Best Wishes, Dave Oglevie Chelan, WA dogre@hotmail.com 509-860-4800