Brake Controller Replacement

I suspected this one was about to happen. Since I replaced the brake assemblies at the start of the season, and perhaps even before that, the braking of the Alto just seemed to be a bit off. I first thought the brake shoes needed further adjusting, but that made no difference....

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2018 Trip 9: an Ottawa Valley get away

We were off to a new destination this year for the closing weekend. Our regular spot had decided to convert their overnight sites into seasonal sites, which was not overly surprising and we guessed something was up given the mass cancellation they did in the spring. A little...

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Weboost Cellular Amplifier

Cellular signal boosters are a popular accessory for full timers and those looking to improve the odds of having service, when out in the boonies somewhere. Weboost is a popular choice, and it is the brand I went with. There are three main components, the two antennas and the signal amplifier. Mounting the amplifier and indoor antenna is pretty straight...

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2018 Trip 8: and then the power went out

Dale’s annual girls weekend at Bonnechere, so Barley and I once again are sherpas for her kayak and gear, along with a mountain of food. Cooler temps were forecast, so we switched our site to an electrical...why not be comfortable? ...

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Turn Signal Retrofit

I have always thought the rear stop/turn signals were a little inadequate. One 4 inch LED to perform these functions just did not seem visible enough...especially given the numerous distracted drivers out there now. I'm a big fan of a yellow light for turn signals, as it is...

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2018 Trip 7: just a little road trip

Green Lakes SP, NY Our first foray into the world of post Labour Day mid week retirement camping. When we made our reservations, the site selection was almost absurd...so many to choose from. It was a bit strange heading out late on a Monday afternoon, but the feeling soon...

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2018 Trip 6: back to the The County

Ten days in “The County”, always a treat when that happens. We have been staying here in one manner or another for decades. We have seen the area grow from a quiet rural feeling destination, to one that is now, for better or worse, more vibrant and bustling. Regardless of your...

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2018 Trip 5: sun drenched relaxing

What are those damn flies? Zooming around your ankles at warp speed, they then land and quickly settle in to gnaw away at your flesh with what feels the point of an ice pick. Any attempt to swat or crush them is generally thwarted by their keen eyesight. Incredibly annoying...

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finally...some air

Some readers may recall my first attempt at increasing the screen area in the Alto, but compared to this, the first was a tad lame We were over at our friend Sandra’s place for dinner last summer, and on her back porch she had installed one of those magnetic screen doors, the...

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Not a mover...but it helps

Ever since the Caravan Mover became available as an option, I have been intrigued not only by its capability, but also by the dual jack wheels that comes with it. We have contemplated retrofitting the mover, but decided we did not really want to make this somewhat sizeable investment....

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Maintenance Odds & Sods

So over the past little while, well actually forever, as Dale is quick to tell me, I have been poking around the Alto, thinking about projects and looking for maintenance items to take care. Reviewing my photos, I realized I had a bunch of little odds & sods that I could write up as a post, so here we go...

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2018 Trip 4: Grand Rassemblement

Trip 4: Centre Caztel, Saint-Marie, Quebec Thursday morning found Mark & I huddled at a picnic table, formulating the directions to get a little convoy of Altos to the big rally. The SC instructions suggested that if one wanted to be camped next to a friend, it would be...

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2018 Trip 4: the pre-rally rally

Trip 4: Campsite La Jolie Rochelle, Beauce Region, Quebec Awesome. An appropriate word to start this off.  Why...because that is what happens when you have back-to-back rally’s, starting with a group of Alto friends, and ending with a massive gathering of Altos and fellow...

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2018 Trip 3: a Rideau Lakes getaway

Trip 3: Lower Beverly Lake A new destination this weekend, into the Rideau Lakes area, to a rather large campground nestled between the upper and lower Beverly Lakes. Although we originally thought this was a private campground, it turns out it is owned and operated by the...

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Dometic Fridge Thermistor Replacement

We have been noticing of late that our fridge does not seem to keep things as cool as we think it used to. A few factors could be related to this, such as the really hot summers we now have, and of course, the age of the cooling system. A little research pointed me in the direction of replacing the thermistor, which controls the preset temperature,...

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New Curtains

Never underestimate a job. Akin to that thinking is to never undervalue the effort that goes into something you are paying for. Again, easier said than done, and sort of against an ingrained mindset to find the best value. So when we pondered making new curtains, I did think “how hard can that really be”. The answer...much harder than you think...

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2018 Trip 2: raining caterpillars

Trip 2: Silver Lake A short weekend away, to our favourite site on the lake. As we have said many times over, you just cannot beat a site right on the water. Last time we were here we backed the Alto in, but that ended with us having the door side away from the water. There is a vague pull through route to get out if you drive directly in, so we had...

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Wheel Assembly Replacement...a bit of a job

What started out as a straight forward replacement and repacking of the bearings, soon turned into a far larger job. This became immediately apparent as soon as I laid my eyes on the inside surfaces of the drum. Before I go any further, please take a moment and read my little disclaimer...

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2018 Trip 1: and another season begins...

Trip 1: Bayview Lodge Exciting times...the start of another camping season. We brought the Alto home a couple of weeks ago, slowly put our gear back in, planned some meals, and by the time the weekend rolled along, we were all hyped up to get out there...

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