Author Archives: Jay
Val’s Haul
While driving through Mississippi towards the Arkansas border, we saw a sign pointing left (down a street the GPS had told us to turn onto) for a “Visitors Center” and Val instructed me to stop so she could pick up … Continue reading
Posted in Dec07 Trip, Misc.
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Extendeding Cellular Communications Range
AT&T Cellular coverage is great near major freeways, but to get coverage as you get farther away from urban areas can sometimes require a larger external antenna. My Motorola V3XX phone has an external antenna jacks. I purchased the following … Continue reading
Posted in Electronics, Projects
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A Bear!
As we were driving up the (dark, twisty) road to Tombigbee state park, I saw something moving along the side of the road. It was big, and black. After Val let out an expletive, I reassured her that it hadn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Dec07 Trip, Travels
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Inside/Outside temperature sensor
After spending a cold night in Alabama, we bought a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer. I installed the “outdoor” unit inside of our “tackle box” mounted on the rear of the van. Although it’s inside of a wooden box, at least it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Projects
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Natural Bridge
The biggest Natural Bridge East of the Mississippi exclaimed the sign! Of course, this is the same part of the country that calls the Appalachians a mountain chain. As a western boy, I know better. Val and I stopped to … Continue reading
Posted in Dec07 Trip, Travels
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New Tires and Shocks
We purchased four new Michelin LTX mud/snow all weather tires (235/75 R15) from tirerack.com that are extra load rated. They replace the original tires on the van, which were in relatively good shape, but did not have quite as much … Continue reading
Converting 12v incadescent lighting to LEDs
Not counting the map lights up front, our campervan has three 12v lights in the cabin that run off the house battery. Each of these lights is an RV Luminaire Model CXL-12 from the Xantech Corporation. These lights have three … Continue reading
Spare Sparkplug
While trying to find the transmission fluid dip-stick, I removed the engine cover (cowling?) that sits between the driver and passenger seat inside the van. I spent a long time looking down at the transmission for a fluid checking or … Continue reading
Posted in Mechanical
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Making a Campertop Bed
Our camper van has a penthouse top which raises to give a full 7’2″ of standing room. It also leaves a long opening in the roof of the van that has a steel reinforcing ridge. This ridge makes a perfect … Continue reading
Transmission Fluid: Also Neccessary!
A few minutes after getting propane, our navigator directed us across the freeway we were supposed to turn onto and into a hilly suburb. Our transmission had been acting a bit squirrelly, but on one of the hills it completely … Continue reading
Posted in Mechanical
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