bugeyedriver

While EVs may be coming and ICE engines going, it cannot be accomplished on an arbitrary date. Population density and relatively shorter distances in the northeastern corridor of the nation are not the same conditions as west of the Mississippi. A reliable and well spaced charging station infrastructure must exist before mandating the end of ICE vehicles. And then, we will need a reliable 24hr energy infrastructure, capable of supplying the enormous amount of energy to replace all of the BTUs found in the gasoline and diesel in all the vehicles plying our nations's roads. We do not live in ' Fifteen Minute Cities'. We hit the roads and explore . . .

What? Where? Was it parked in a driveway (If so, on what street, (so I can conduct a drive-by) Or was it possibly just passing through our neighborhood

One of the concerns about installing a microwave / convection oven is the ability to allow any extra heat between the hulls to dissipate. Many hulls did not come with adequate vent holes in the cabinet walls to enable the heat to escape. While the oven does vent heat out of the front, there is a concern about any extra heat trapped between the hulls. Fortunately, The Wonder Egg - Hull #14, has extra vents in the side walls behind the oven, so I have gone to the micro/conv. option. The unit is deeper than the oven it replaced, so a plenum was added to accommodate the extra depth, resulting in a minor loss of space on the "chopping block" in front. It cooked a fine, crispy chicken once. Woohooo! Should you go with that option and your trailer does not have cross ventilation behind the oven, you may consider adding some before making that modification. How many, and how large, is up to you. I would think the more, the merrier.

Steve, you failed to take into account the angle of the dangle of the Dooflamadger as its HF radio waves strike the ionosphere and reflects back to earth for the next bounce around the world. (ref: question #174 on the FCC examination for your ham radio license) de K2PLM

KN4NBV, Fortunately, my truck's tonneau cover is a stout aluminum structure, by Diamondback, in PA. Mounting the antennas directly to it already gave me a nice ground plane. I ran cables between all three sections, so it was effective. By placing brass straps between the tonneau and the truck bed, the truck bed to the frame and cab, the cab to the engine, the hood to the cab, hood to frame, and numerous straps along the muffler system connecting to the frame . . . One in front of the Cat converter and one behind it, one in front of the muffler and one behind it, one near the tailpipe. So effectively, everything acts together as a unified, reflecting ground plane, much like radials in the ground do for a vertical antenna. Full disclosure, I did not personally attach all of these straps, but my trusted mechanic, Fernando, who has the tools and a lift did it after I showed him where to place them. Fred, AB1OC, has a nice article on how and why he grounded his truck: https://stationproject.blog/2013/08/19/mobile-hf-installation-part-24-bonding-and-choking/ You may need a screwdriver style antenna mounted between the fiberglass cap and the metal of the truck bed or at the left rear bumper. There are various pics for those setups to be found on the web. Are you a member of your local ham radio club? You could get lots of help from the membership. It's fun to cruise down a long highway in the middle of nowhere, tune the radio dial, and strike up a conversation with someone in Europe or South America. With your General ticket, you have plenty of bandwidth in the HF spectrum to play around. Go for it! Even with your HT, you can connect it to a Zumspot which is connected via USB to your computer and talk around the world on WiresX. 73 de K2PLM P.S. The antenna I was using in New Mexico is the TW2010-P, from DX Engineering. It is only 8.5 ft tall and the dipoles only extend 2.5 ft either side of the vertical pole. If you have any sort of back yard in your HOA it would not be noticed. Put a cotton hat on top and a pair of gloves at the end of the top dipole and tell anyone who asks that it's a scarecrow to protect your flower garden. Also, it does not require ground radials at all, which makes it my go to portable HF antenna.

In addition to using the Rhino Extreme hose, I never lay it across the ground, where a gravel rock or some other sharp object could puncture the stinky slinky. instead, I cradle it in one of those gradually descending support structures, such as the Camco Sidewinder 20-Ft Camper/RV Sewer Hose Support which can also be useful for routing around obstacles.

If we're not having fun, we're not doing it right.

The Wonder Egg is enjoying a week camping at Seadawg’s secret mountainside retreat in the Appalachians of North Carolina. Scrumptious breakfast, lunch and dinners prepared with panache over the open campfire. Life is goood on the mountain.

I just spent a day at the Mothership and Anita is back at the office, doing her usual great job helping folks find their forever trailer. It was good to see her again.

🎶 On the Road Again 🎶

My 2018 F150 SuperCab, 6.5 ft bed, Coyote 5.0L V8 has pulled up over the Rocky Mts several times without having to lose any speed at all. The RPMs may rev high in the 3500-4000 range for a brief time, but that is well under the red line. While towing my 2008 Elite, I always put the drive train in the "Tow-Haul" mode, which locks out the 9th and 10th gears on the 10 speed transmission. "Tow-Haul" mode greatly reduces transmission gear hunting and reduces stress on the transmission. Non towing MPG is around 23 at posted highway speeds and 14.0 while towing at 65MPH. (My truck is short enough to fit inside my garage)

KN4NBV, There are numerous radios out there today, small enough to be hidden somewhere in your vehicle with a remote control head you can mount up front for easy access while driving. Your antenna selection and mounting is critical. You must ensure the best ground plane possible. My F150 is bonded throughout with 15 fat braided brass straps to make one solid bonded structure. Here's what my operating position looks like, going down the road . . . Left to right, Yaesu FTM400DXR with APRS; Uniden SDS100 scanner with GPS frequency update; Yaesu FT857D - HF/VHF/UHF. 73, K2PLM

I always have APRS running and monitor 146.52 with my FTM400 and can usually score some HF contacts using my FT 857D and an ATAS 120A screwdriver antenna. Sometime last year,ARRL put out a call for field day operation pictures. I obliged the request and totally forgot about the photograph, until I learned it would be the cover shot Serendipity happens

You have a way with words, John. Ha!

ScubaRx, is absolutely correct about devices that increase stability and ride performance not raising towing capacity. Steve Morris' reference to his permission to modify his Land Cruiser in Australia (if he wanted to) for increased capacity is interesting. But let's not stray afield from the OP's original posting about devices which can enhance ride stability while towing our trailers. Read your individual tow vehicle's manual. Stay within your limits. Safe equipment for the best towing experience is what we are about here.

Reducing vehicle sag and jouncing reduces stress on the vehicle, trailer and driver. I'm on my second tow vehicle since 2008 and on both my Tacoma and F150, I added an easily installed helper spring, by Roadmaster, which smooths out the ride and limits overall sagging. It can be adjusted during the setup for your particular needs.

I believe that as long as OTT maintains its high quality of manufacturing Ollies, without cutting any workmanship corners, being able to partner with well vetted, quality dealers who value excellence in service and customer satisfaction, this new chapter of Oliver Travel Trailers lifecycle will benefit both the Oliver company and future owners. Having new trailers on site at different locations throughout the country will expose the Ollie to campers who may otherwise not have had a chance to see one in person. Best of luck to OTT in this new chapter of their business!

his fast feet

@topgun2's prize trout

Don't go away. You ARE family.

I'm able to run my Coleman Polar Club , 9.3KW fine on a home 20 Amp system. But I cannot simultaneously heat my water heater with A/C running. Anytime I forget the hot water heater is on A/C, it immediately trips the CB and I have my "DOH!" moment. After placing the water heater on propane only, I'm fine.

Beautiful setting. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Two weeks ago, I saw one of the F150 Lightnings in-the-wild in Burlington, VT. It was from Quebec and pulled about a 4000 pound "stick built" trailer behind it. It was a very nice looking truck, (even with the electric cord from the camp pedestal running to the plug in the front left fender - Haha) I spoke with the owner and asked him how well it towed and he said "Effortlessly". Then I asked him what his range was while pulling his trailer, the response was "One hundred sixtly kilometers" That's 100 miles, folks.

I towed my 2008 single axle Elite 70,000+ miles without an issue with my Toyota Tacoma 2WD . . . THEN . . . going up a steep gravel slope in the northern tip of Nova Scotia, I thought I wouldn't make it to the top. Not. A. Good. Feeling. When I got home, i had my local mechanic replace the rear end differential with an Eaton Industry limited slip version. Next best thing to actual 4 wheel drive. It helped me several times over the next 40,000 miles. My current TV is an F150 with 4WD. I will not go back to 2WD.

Did your "Inner Viking" come out when you were there? The docents told me I could try on some of the items in that room. Soooooo. . .