Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather

Far Out!

 

Tour, are you sure you're not running that through software...amazing...

I'm getting my oil and tires replaced today --- I was hoping to bring my Jeep up, but its developed a little problem.

Not 100% sure what it is, but its developed a annoying tick --- not a knock just loud enough that it drives me crazy. My mechanic isn't expressing too much concern, but he can't isolate what it is. He can tell me it is, but it isn't anything obvious -- he used a stethoscope and poked at it for about 15 minutes at all the points he could....So we're nearly at a "load thea prts cannon"

I just had the main seal replaced, as well as the valve cover and oil pan -- so I don't think its one of the 3 most common sources. The flywheel bolts backing out. The other 2 options that are left are the lifters (which requires head removal to replace) or the Oil Pump Delivery Assembly (ODPA)

Until we get this figured out, I'm not planning on long trips. Its really strange because even when it is 'acting up' its only after its warm....cold -- sounds perfect. If I were a betting man -- ODPA. I hope --- its probably the easiest and cheapest repair....

REGARDLESS....we're T-22 for departure and the weather in Necedah is looking really good!!! Lets hope it holds, and we don't experience "light showers" like we did last year...

View attachment upload_2023-9-26_9-2-34.png

 

In the old days we did it in the darkroom. A dye transfer would take a full day and cost $100 just to do one 8x10 print.

 

Thanks, Cary.
"He is towing a CampInn" is the money quote here for me.

I'm interested in hearing more, on that.

Any EV drivers now towing or have towed a CI with one, pls feel free to chime in here:
Informal Poll Cico 2023

I'm guessing there are a lot of interested readers looking for actual proven use vs hypotheticals, in shopping for next tow vehicle, or do-it-all one vehicle upgrade.

PS: I took your interest in regen braking to be related to tow vehicles, not the CampInn itself...
Am I correct?

 

I'm the person in Cary's post above, and I just joined the Forum here. Cary suggested to me that I might chime in with more details, which I am happy to do.

We chose our car first (a Kia EV6 AWD) in part for its modest towing capability (rated for 2300 lb in the US) that is well matched to a lightweight camp trailer. We added the tow hardware and the electrical harness a month in advance of acquiring our 550 Ultra. The car itself is fun to drive. Towing the Camp-Inn is very easy -- the EV has plenty of power and the road handling is always stable and sure-footed.

Returning home on a recent trip I had the luxury of being able to gather some efficiency data at highway speeds, where the aerodynamics penalty is larger. This was facilitated by relatively open roads, and an overpowered EV with cruise control. This is in-use data, so I had to accept the influences of other traffic, weather, road conditions, and my desire to get home before dark.

At 55-60 mph, I measured -38% in mi/kW
At 60-65 mph, I measured -41% in mi/kW
At 70-75 mph, I measured -44% in mi/kW (less data here, greater uncertainty)

No great surprises there -- other than that the teardrop shape is actually not so bad, at least when following the profile of the EV6. The practical range when towing our loaded teardrop is around 150 mi (about 40% down from 260 mi). Theoretically it could be a bit higher but I rarely top off the battery -- doing that comes with some battery degradation issues (which if occasional, I don't mind) and a significant time penalty (which I do).

YMMV (literally)

Perhaps I'll comment on other tradeoffs of towing and camping with an EV, but I'll probably do that in individual threads/posts

Doug

 

It just so happens that our brake controller is an AutowBrake system, which operates wirelessly with the tow vehicle but does not have a disable/kill switch. I chatted with one of their engineers, and suggested that a disable switch might be a useful feature if/when EVs become more prevalent as tow vehicles, and people might want to tweak their braking vs regeneration. They did not dismiss this idea out of hand.

 

I know that tech well! I, for years, worked in a medium "higher" end lab running the enlarger(s). We did mostly 1 hour work, but for special customers, we did a lot more. Reprints and enlargement always got kid-glove treatment. We did a little airbrushing of prints, and maybe a little dye work. But this was not my skill, we had a girl that worked with me who was truly an artist and could do magic with a little dye.

I just printed high-quality 5x7 to poster-size prints from film of various sizes up to 36 inch or so. Film was mostly 35mm and a bit of medium format. I had a really good eye, and knew my machine well. 9 times out of 10 I'd get the color correction on the first print. I loved those Noritsu and Fuji machines! Noritsu was definitely the volume equipment. Fuji had the "large" prints locked in....

The only real bad days was when the owner was in. He would get all kind of @#$ over bad prints based on HIS eye...he had to be color blind.

I never made much money, but, in retrospect, it was a good job I'd probably still enjoy today. But there's no way to make a living wage as an artist, especially now that everything is digital.

The only rolls I hated doing were the ones that required us to....how do I say this tactfully... install additional privacy measures as the prints came off the machine. There are things I don't want to see, even in photo negative.

The funniest were fake ID makers, the sickest were pervs. We had only a few of those, but we always called the cops....yuck.

 

Welcome Doug!

 

hi Kevin,

I'm approaching what it sounds like you want ("actual proven use") but my personal experience has been limited so far.
I can say that the EV6 is a serviceable tow vehicle for a lightweight camp trailer, such as a CampInn. There are some big plusses (I have safety and peace of mind when towing, and I don't worry about needing an electrical hookup) and some big minuses (range anxiety is real and more of a problem in remote areas).

Yes to your PS -- It was a general question about the physics, rather than the specific tow vehicle or the trailer. I have the trailer brakes and it is good to know that they are there and operating properly.

 

Good looking car!

 

CICO 2023 is drawing to a close. Little bit of a rocky start to the trip, but it ended well.

We arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and everything was fine until around 9 pm when our neighbor's dog(s) started barking...little dog barks. There were only 4 of us in the northern most road at that point. I know there were problems thenight before as well. I was awakened at about 2AM and saw that the cars were all gone....I had enough and called the sheriff.

I am not sure if they came or not, but I turned the fan up a notch and fell back asleep. I notified the park office on Thursday. I was told they were asked to quiet the dogs, or they'd be asked to leave. Fortunately, I never head a peep the rest of the weekend. The camper visited me briefly, and told me how he was evicted from his home. My suspicion was correct, they were living in the tent while they prepared to move into a new place today (Sunday)

I feel a little bad for them but worse for the dogs. You can't leave dogs alone like that in a situation with strangers around. You're setting them up for failure. The good news is, that after that they turned out to be better camping neighbors.

Thursday, people started showing up -- the park was getting quite full. By Friday, there were many more of us than there were last year, at least that is my impression. I don't have the numbers...I'm hoping these get published in the CICO 2023 thread.

Friday, we FINALLY made it to "House on the Rock" --- that was interesting. Its best described as a collection of collections, or, the worlds largest rummage sale Most of the exhibits were really cool -- especially the carousels, and the music machines. I have a love for street organs - These were impressive.

If you have 3 hours to kill (+1.5 each way from Necedah) its time well spent.

Friday of course Joe was here with his pizza oven and just knocked it out of the park as always.

The pitch in! It always amazes me how a group of delightful miscreants and make such a variety and somehow at the end, there's always seconds available, or even thirds

One of these days I'm going to pick up muffin tins --- I'm told THAT is the best way to take a taste of this, and a taste of that...

On the food subject, Shipwreck Bay is really good -- well worth the trip if you're in the area.


Monday, we head home. I'm both looking forward to it, and dreading it. The "pack out" is the problem --- somehow it all never quite goes back into the car as easily as it came out.


Things of note....


As a special treat, I got to see my old 518 --- I was able to give its new owner an orientation -- not as thorough as the factory, but since she received none from the person who sold it, they needed some help. I hope it lives up to her expectations and treats her as well as it did us. A trip to the nest, and a little TLC will make it all pretty again. I suppose that is where the new adventures really begin.

It was great to see everyone and put faces to the names. Of course there are days I forget the name of the face in the mirror I sincerely apologize to any names I have, am about too, or will forget in the future.


Questions:

Does anyone know who had the "blue cottonwood" tent, it was Just on the right as you entered the encampment. It looked new - I'd love to know if you bought it recently and from where.

 

Their names were Ron and Missy with the Cottonwood awning.

 

Hard to believe but on the first day of October it reached an official 88 degrees here in Ogema,WI. At my house it was 92.

 

Was mid 80's in necedah. I hear that by mid week it will be "normal" again in the mid 50's....

Missed ya, was hoping you'd be at CICO.....

 

They on the forum? Love to know where they got it, its the best tent I ever had....

I'm a little nervous about used or old because of 'dry rot' --- but I really want a "new one"!!!!

 

It hit 91° at the campground by mid afternoon Sunday.

Yes, Ron is on the forum. He goes by hiadventurer

Betsey

 

Did it get that high!? When I checked my watch (apple) the highest I ever saw was 86. Which is certainly warmer, but for us southern flatlanders isn't too out of the question -- though maybe ocbober it is a little uncommon. There's been a couple times this year that we've had to run the furnace and the AC on the same day....

@Ken & Peggy, thanks for the contact.

BTW --- my house is in the middle of the eclipse path --- I don't think I have to go anywhere to see it. Lake Monroe State Park is probably your best bet unless you get on the RV pads near the entrance at brown. It looks like MAYBE summit lake may be a good spot too, its over near New Castle. Not a bad park, but in the 'tree lined' part of the campground it tends to be moist....

Do you know where there is a better map that may be interactive or where you plot a lat/long to see the percentage and duration?

 

it’s the same week as the Ogema Christmas Tree Festival. Next year I’m going to CICO.