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Topics - AMW

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1
General Discussion / Weight and Tire Pressure, Good News
« on: March 16, 2015, 11:07:11 am »
I finally got the time to get individual wheel weights on my PC, which I've been wanting to do since I picked it up last July.  I'm happy to report that fully loaded we are under maximum capacity by 3020 lbs total...1700 lbs under on the front and 1420 lbs under on the rear.  The passenger side was slightly heavier on the front by 100 lbs and on the rear by 280 lbs...probably because that is the side with my refrigerator and largest storage compartment under the bed.  I'm really pleased that my custom floorplan on the 158" chassis turned out to be so well balanced.

So that all means that I can lower my tire pressures a bit, since I've been running with the maximum capacity recommendations, not having any idea previously what I might weigh.  I'll start by just reducing 5 lbs per tire, per trip, until I reach midway between the maximums I've been running and the tire chart recommendations (which are a little lower than I feel comfortable with).  It will be interesting to see if it feels and handles differently.

Oh and I guess I would probably be safe to lower the pressures similarly in my E350 extended van, which has never been weighed but certainly weighs much much less than the PC, and has been running maximum recommended pressures for the entire 14 years I've owned it.


2
Tips and Tricks / LED light for under Sharp Microwave/Convection oven
« on: October 13, 2014, 01:04:53 pm »
I love the Sharp Microwave/Convection in my new PC, but don't love the underneath light that is supposed to light the countertop/cooktop below it.  It had two 110V 20W appliance bulbs that generate plenty of heat but not much light.  I've been trying to find an LED replacement for these bulbs, and have been partially successful.  There are no LED bulbs with the E17 base, so I had to get a bulb with the E12 base and use an E17 to E12 adapter.  As you can see from the photo, the bulb is much bigger, so unfortunately I couldn't fit two bulbs into the space.  Still, the one bulb alone gives more light than the two before...800 lumens, using 8W instead of 40W, and giving off no noticeable heat.  So I improved the heat and wattage, and made a small but useful improvement in the amount of light.  I will be on the lookout for a similar bulb with more lumens, should one appear.

3
Adventure Anywhere / Ozark AL KOA
« on: October 01, 2014, 12:43:25 pm »
So I was dreading the quick one-night stop I needed to make on the last night of our trip because it seems like it's not easy to find a campground right off the road that's not seedy, but we were lucky to find the Ozark KOA in Ozark AL on 231 between Montgomery and Dothan.  Easy in/out, right along the road but very quiet.  The sites were paved and clean, the landscaping was beautiful and maintained which made it very foot friendly for the dogs.  The bathhouse and laundry were spotless and I did not see one rundown or broken item in the park.  The staff was very friendly and helpful.  Not a vacation spot, but a perfect place to get off the road, cleanup, rest and regroup.

4
Adventure Anywhere / Oak Mountain State Park AL
« on: October 01, 2014, 12:03:28 pm »
Another lovely state park.  Just on the south edge of Birmingham AL.  Stayed here one night on the way home and wish I could have stayed longer and had time to take nicer pictures.  Quiet, clean, easy paved roads and level site pads. Lots to do at the park...biking and an amazing golf course are only a few items.  There is a lake and beach and lots of activities, but the park is big so you would need a car or bikes to get around.  Only 2 miles off I-65, but get in and parked before dark, as it is five miles from the park gate to the campground.  The road is winding but paved and wide, but it's hard to see the directional signs in the dark.  I will definitely come here again when there is time to stay awhile.

5
Adventure Anywhere / Henry Horton State Park, TN
« on: September 24, 2014, 10:05:47 pm »
Here we are in Henry Horton State Park, near Chapel Hill TN, not very far south of Nashville.  This is our second trip in the new PC, and our first time ever in a state park.  So I have nothing to compare it with, but what a beautiful place. Quiet, immaculate, easy paved roads and site pads, plenty of room between sites.  We have been here three days between last weekend's competition in Huntsville AL and next weekend's competition in Franklin TN.  I will be sad to leave in the morning, it has been lovely.

6
Tips and Tricks / Wax/Protection advice please
« on: September 04, 2014, 05:15:17 pm »
I have read every thread I could find regarding the best way to protect the finish on the PC, but I still have some questions that I'm betting someone can answer here for me.  I have the full body paint, so I assume automotive detailing methods apply in general...but what about the Diamond-Shield.  According to the Diamond-Shield literature, the 303 Protectant goes on after (on top of) the wax, does that sound right?  Is that because it is primarily a UV protectant?  I am pretty capable to give my PC a nice washing myself, but a really nice professional wax job is a bit over my head and I'm pressed for time getting ready for my next trip out...so I've decided to hire a professional detailer that I trust to give it the first nice wax job on Monday.

7
Tips and Tricks / Pet Ramp solution
« on: September 03, 2014, 08:14:53 pm »
I finally found a pet ramp that is a good size for the PC step.  My 4' aluminum ramp from the ClassA was longer than I needed and there was no place near the door that it could stow without being in the way.  My plastic ramp from the van was too thick and created a treacherous tripping hump where it rested on the step...also not easy to stow.  I found this one, 36"x14" (and there is a 12" wide available) on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JLRR3DU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sturdy aluminum but light and thin and easy to stash.  I peeled off the black tread because it was hot as a frying pan in the sun and replaced it with light sand colored aggregate anti-slip tape.  I did the PC step also because my old dog was also having trouble with the visibility issue of the black step.  Even with the kwikstep light, it looks like a hole from above to the dog, instead of a stable surface.  I don't know if the tape will last as well as the original, but we will find out.  So far my old girl likes it very much.

8
Photos / Shade for the new PC
« on: September 02, 2014, 05:42:16 pm »
Finally the shade project is completed.  What an ordeal.  I only semi-regret my choice (was fully regretting it during assembly).  I really wanted to build something nice, but code wouldn't let me put up anything that was not "temporary".  Not sure now temporary 1000 lbs of steel bolted to the concrete is, but ok, it's done.  Now to give the PC a nice bath and back it in...maybe tomorrow.  Right now I'm cooked.

9
Tips and Tricks / Fire extinguishers, suggestions please
« on: August 19, 2014, 11:27:22 pm »
The discussion of hot areas in the cab and passenger area got me wondering about fire hazards with the carpeting and in general. I'm looking for good ideas to secure fire extinguishers in accessible spots without being in the way. I managed to get one into the rear compartment and another behind the driver seat, but I have three more and not many tall spots (about 17") available. In particular I'd like one at each door somehow, reachable from inside and outside. Ideas?

10
Tips and Tricks / Protecting exposed plumbing inside cabinet
« on: August 16, 2014, 01:31:32 am »
The plumbing for my fresh water fill runs along the inside back of the cabinet under my cooktop.  That cabinet has a good tall space and I wanted to store my gallon jugs of drinking water in it, but I didn't want them to slide into the plumbing when we're going down the road.  There are probably better carpentry solutions to this problem, but I had to do something quickly with materials at hand, so I built a guard around the plumbing with some scrap PVC and fittings that I had.  It was quick, easy and it's light and strong. It's not actually attached to anything, but rests securely against the back and sides and doesn't touch the plumbing.  The pieces aren't glued, just pushed together, so I can pop it apart and remove it easily if I need to.  I might put a closetmaid shelf on top of it for something like a roll of trash bags or such.

11
Photos / 2015 2100 special, home in Florida
« on: August 05, 2014, 09:57:17 pm »
We made it home from Indiana and the PC is parked in it's spot in sunny (hot) Florida.  Roof shelter to be built for it in a few weeks. Finally unpacked and cleaned up. Inside photos to come.

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