ThumperPaul wrote on 06/06/24 at 11:48:30:


If it ever leaks as much as a boat can... fix it or move to higher ground.  

ThumperPaul wrote on 06/07/24 at 10:32:11:


I was distracted..........

Someone has come up with a solution - FlexArmor.  They are a national chain and they have created a product similar to bedliner - however it is more flexible which allows it to move with the flexing of the camper/RV.  I have an appointment for July 22nd in Chattanooga - they are booking out about 2 months, so evidently they are busy!  They have a lifetime guarantee.

I worked on the RV all this week, and I am likely still a week from being done.  Tomorrow I will be installing the new and improved rubber seal I built for the cab roof to bunk connection.  The original installation had self drilling screws that went through the steel cab roof and into the aluminum tubing of the bunk.  Needless to say the screws back out as you travel down the road and the RV flexes.  The new system has aluminum plates under the thin steel roof, a rubber seal made from a 1" wide x 1/4" thick rubber strip with a 1/2" x 1/4" foam weatherseal, and it will be attached with #10/24 screws that have nylon lock nuts so they don't loosen.  The seal will get a bead of caulking after it is installed.

Paul , your Grandson will probably retell that story a thousand times over the next 50 years !  

Good Job !  
...........

I'm still waiting on my son to finish his degree and settle into the lifetime job before starting a family.    My wife plans everything out way ahead of time too , so he does get it honestly !  

Us retired guys don't have to do weekends.........we can ride during the week and avoid the crowds.

I might be able to do something the 2nd week in July....after the holiday folks have gone home.

I won't be able to make a ride the 2nd week of July - Deb is going to visit her mom and I need to stay home and take care of the animals.

I could leave anytime this week - I am not sure the 4th of July week is a great time to be riding in the mountains....there is likely going to be a lot of tourists in the area.   But - riding is always better than not riding.  Tent camping at the Iron Horse or Kickstand Lodge doesn't require any advance reservations - so we could just pick up and go with no advance notice.  The weather this week looks promising until next weekend - rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday.

I could possibly go sometime after July 25th.  My RV is scheduled to get work done on the roof July 22-25th and I will be in Chattanooga with the RV.....I could leave right after that and go to Robbinsville.

It would be great if we could go when we could see one of the Fiddies 4 Life races at Deals Gap - Stew and I went last year and it was really fun to watch.

The weather for August in that area is 80 degree days and 60 degree nights.....very pleasant.

Staying at the Iron Horse has some great advantages - they have really good breakfast and dinners, a nice lodge and campfire area, clean bath house and covered motorcycle parking on pavement.  The price has gone up significantly this year - a campsite is $35.99 for a tent wit 1 person and $8 additional for every person.  Still - it is a very nice place and likely worth the cost.
https://ironhorsenc.com/

The Kickstand Lodge is $25 a night for each person in a tent, and each snuggle buddy is an additional $5.  The last time I stayed at the Kickstand the bathrooms were still clean - but the pavilion area was very dirty, the kitchen no longer had a working oven/stove, there was no food available, the picnic tables in the campground were so moldy that you could not sit on them without getting a green slime on your clothing.  I don;t know if any of that has improved.
https://kickstandlodge.com/

Stewmills and I are tentatively planning on going for the August 3rd races at Deals Gap.  I hope to arrive late Wednesday July 31st for riding on August 1, 2, 3 and will leave on the 4th to go home.  If the weather turns out crappy we can postpone a week or more.  The next round of races is 3 weeks later - I might go back to see them if I miss the races on the 3rd.

Your always welcome to bunk at my house Paul (any of you fellers) .

  I’m dealing with some of that going between the Shadow and S40.  

I'd think it would be close to the same with the Meteor's I've got :

They both sit very similar

350-J Meteor turns on a dime , weighs 410# , short wheel base , feels just like a LS-650 with a 72mmX86mm two valve power supply.

650 S-Meteor needs 3/4 of a dual lane road to turn around , weighs 530#., long wheel base.

They both have strong points .  

Dave where ya'll staying Aug 3rd. ?