Petit Jean Mountain State Park

I spent my childhood as well as many of my adult years in the state of Arkansas. Due to some life changing events, I left there in 2002. I now live in the great North West, here in Oregon. It rains a lot during the fall, winter and the spring. It is really wet and yet we do not let it keep us from enjoying life. While I may enjoy living here in Oregon, where I can walk its sandy beaches I have very fond recollections of Arkansas. I can honestly say that Arkansas still runs deep within me, and probably always will. Growing up I developed a huge interest in Photography and Hiking which is a great combination. And like a lot of nature nuts, my favorite singers were John Denver, Michael Martin Murphy, and a few other folk artists. The same as many teen-age boys, I drove my Father crazy, with my semi-long hair, just below my collar. Now I have none to speak of, what's up with that? I even read a few of the books by Euell Gibbons. Once I became old enough to drive, I did a lot of camping on my own, not always by choice mind you, just the way things worked out. My favorite place to camp, hike and photograph was Petit Jean Mountain State Park.

Petit Jean Mountain is located near Morrilton Arkansas. It has an incredibly rich history. There is also a wonderful story for how this oasis of paradise got her name. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you will want to stop at Stouts Point. Located at the east end of the mountain, this is a great place to experience the true beauty of an Arkansas sunrise. It is here that you can find the sign which tells the story for her name. From this point you can also see the Arkansas River valley below.

On a clear day you can watch the eagles soar through blue skies. See the river barges as they make their way up the Arkansas River. The view from Stouts Point, is only one of her many treasures. You will find more of these treasures on Red Bluff Drive and all around her ridges

The Cedar Creek Trail  is another one of my favorite places. This is not a real hard trail, fairly easy and offers a lot to see. Other trails include the Cedar Falls Trail. This trail is a little harder, and well worth taking.  There is also the Canyon Trail . This is part of the Boy Scout trail.  Petit Jean Mountain State park has many trails, for those who have the aspiration and fortitude to take the journey Nevertheless if Hiking is not your image of fun or in the event you are unable to, because of health concerns. Do not lose heart. You can still enjoy her magnificence by visiting the many overlooks throughout the park. Red bluff drive is a must; last time I was there it was a very well maintained gravel road. I remember right there at the intersection, there is a little dairy bar. They were only open about nine months out of the year. I can tell you, they served some really good burgers, milk shakes and orange floats. I have been told by park officials that it is out of business though, hopefully someone will reopen it.

 After a long day of hiking and sightseeing, there is nothing like sitting back and enjoying a nice camp fire. Roasting hotdogs, making S'mores or just gazing at the stars, on more than one occasion I was invited, by my neighbor to join them around their campfire. I have met some of the nicest and most musically talented people while camping at Petit Jean State Park.

  If I tell you everything about her, you would have no reason to make the journey, to see her.  I talk about this place as though it was a person, a lady. Indeed I do, once you make the trip you will too. I made several trips to see her and photograph her. It did not seem to matter what time of the year it was she always gave me some great photographs, and a lot of good memories. Every time, that I was there I would hike down to Cedar Falls. Something about that place that would bring about calmness, it was a place to forget about the world an all of its problems.  Just when I thought, I had seen everything she had to offer. I would discover something new about her. She was always there for me, when I just needed to get away from things.

 Petit Jean has seen her fair share of marriage proposals, weddings, and Honey-mooning couples.

Petit Jean has so many things to offer, to so many people. I have not been there in a few years. I cannot imagine that too many things have changed. The park service is very diligent in preserving the park and keeping it as natural as possible. Although I understand that there has been some major renovations made to Mather Lodge at Petit Jean Mountain State park. This park has camping available for RVs as well as tent camping, boating, fishing. If you live in Arkansas and have not visited Petit Jean you are cheating yourself of a wonderful experience. If you are on the road just passing through the state you need to visit Petit Jean  and create some memories of your own, you will be so glad that you did.

Standing Up For What You Believe In.

We have all heard about the big hullabaloo, over Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-a. Dan Cathy strongly supports  the biblical definition of marriage.  So strongly that Chick-fil-a, has donated several millions of dollars in support of traditional marriage between one man and one woman. As well as for traditional moral family values. Dan Cathy's Stance on this issue could wind up costing Chick-fil-a and its franchisees several millions of dollars worth of future business. This has not kept mister Cathy from standing up for what he believes in. It has come time for all Christians to stand up for what we believe in, in spite of what the cost might be. I see Dan Cathy's actions and views to be an inspiration to all of us, who believe in the teachings of the Holy Bible.

Politicians all over the country have said that they will ban chick-fil-a from opening in their city. While Michael Bloomberg mayor of New York city welcomes the fast food chain to open more restaurants in New York City. At the same time Christine Quinn a New York city council-woman who is currently in a same sex marriage. Supports kicking Chick-fil-a out of town. Mayors in cities such as Boston, San Francisco, and Philadelphia; are in support of keeping the fast food chain out of their cities. They all accuse Chick-fil-a of discrimination. Now look who is calling the kettle black. Is that not what these big cities are doing; discriminating  against Chick-fil-a for their religious beliefs. Even Washington DC has said that they will keep Chick-Fil-a out. Our nation's capitol city is going to discriminate against the fast food chain. The Jim Henson company is pulling its toys out of the kids meals, cutting off all ties to Chick-fil-a. This is totally understandable since Ceo Lisa Henson, is in favor of same sex marriages. Ms Henson has also directed that the payment received from Chick-fil-a will be donated to GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)   Councilman Jim Kenney of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly and sisterly love made a comment that there was no place in their city for that kind of hatred, in Philadelphia. I do not recall Dan Cathy saying that he hated anyone.

I really don't know if these politicians or blind or plain stupid. Chick-fil-a is a franchise company. This means that these restaurants  are owned by individuals. So when you are kicking the Chick-fil-a off of the university campus, you are kicking some poor business owner in the gut. When you ban one from moving into your city you are hindering the creation of new jobs. Now maybe it is just me, I would think that in a down-turned economy that creating jobs would be a good thing. Furthermore  are you not violating first amendment rights. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

There is always this confliction about the separation of church and state. Since this is over the religious values of a man and his company it is not only about discrimination against Chick-Fil-a direct violation of the first amendment. I have not found anywhere or anything that says chick-fil-a is going to ask customers if they are gay; serving them according to what their answer is. So now city governments want to crucify a man and his business for their religious views. I find that funny. The message that I come away with, is that we want separation of church and state when it serves the needs of local government.

Not to worry because Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-a, also have supporters. Former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee is planning a Chick-fil-a appreciation day. As of the moment this article  was posted 410,000 Americans have pledged to eat at their local chick-fil-a, on Wednesday August 1st. These customers support his views on traditional marriages. It seems that a McDonalds restaurant has also jumped on to the support wagon.

 However on the flip side of that a gay and lesbian organizations are planning to have a same sex kiss day in front of selected chick-fil-a restaurants. Don't know about you but I find that rather repulsive. I am interested in what you have to say about this situation. I encourage all Christians to make a firm stand on your beliefs. It is the only way that we can reverse the moral decline of our country. God Bless America.

Rescue Dogs Make Awesome Pets

Rescue Dogs Make Awesome Pets.

Animal shelters across the United States, often suffer from a lack of funding. Too many dogs and not enough loving families who want a mutt or half breed dog for a pet. This creates ongoing problems for the shelters. Many things contribute to the large populations of dogs, such as abandoned puppy mills, and those mills which have been legally shut down, irresponsible owners who just turn the dog lose simply because they no longer want the burden or responsibility.  Disasters, like Forest fires, Tornados, and Earthquakes, dogs get scared wander off and become separated from their owners. 

Fortunately, most of these dogs are eventually reunited with their owner, providing the owner survived the ordeal as well. Sometimes these dogs are in the shelters for a few weeks before they are reunited, they may also require medical attention. If you currently have a dog then you can relate to the expense of feeding just one dog, imagine feeding eighty dogs a day. Then you have the cost of the medical staff who provide proper medical attention to get these dogs healthy again. 

Some dogs who end up in the shelters have more serious health issues caused by neglect and pure evil cruelty, often leading to surgery and weeks of recuperation. These situations cost the shelters a lot of money to maintain the health of these precious dogs. Due to budget cuts and other funding shortages many shelters in bigger cities have been forced to adopt euthanasia policies which forces them to euthanize a dog after he has been in the shelter for 90-120 days without being adopted, these dogs have to be euthanized so that new dogs can be housed and taken care of. All these Dogs really want is a loving family and they deserve at least that much.

Please understand I am not trying to shame anyone who wants a pure-bred dog. If the purpose of getting the dog is for home security or for a work dog. such as search and rescue dog. Or perhaps a certified service dog, then by all means get a pure bred. However, if you are just wanting a pet then please visit your local animal shelter. These are dogs who by no fault of their own, have been turned in for any number of reasons, or perhaps they have been abandoned. Most of these dogs are mixed breeds or mutts. But so often they are the most lovable and appreciative of the second chance you have given them. By being a mixed breed, they often possess the best attributes from both breeds. Many of times they are smarter than some the pure-bred dogs. Most shelters will have already given them all their current vaccines, and they will have been neutered or spayed. They also put a microchip in them in the event they get lost.       

The last two dogs I have adopted came from our local Humane Society's shelter the first one was Heisen he was about two years old when we adopted him. Heisen had already been neutered, had all his vaccines and a data chip. He was a beautiful black and white Beagle and Dachshund mix. The story we got from the Humane Society was that an elderly lady had him since he was a puppy, her health had deteriorated, and her family had to move her into an assisted living home. Since he was already 2 years old, he was already house broke.  Not to mention he actually enjoyed his baths. Heisen was very vocal, which comes in handy when your son or daughter come home after curfew. He was very energetic. He had the long body of the Dachshund and the short legs with the turned-out front paws like Fred Flintstone. I used to joke about the fact that he needed a front-end alignment. He could run so fast with those out turned paws and short legs; just watching him would make you feel exhausted. He had the face, voice, and ears of the beagle. Unfortunately Dachshunds with their long bodies are prone to develop back issues. Heisen had a herniated disk the veterinarian put him on some pain killers and steroids and after about four weeks he was as good as new. But that was to only last about 16 months. I noticed he was walking with some discomfort, took him back to the veterinarian, more pain killers and steroids. 

After that he went downhill fast, after two days he was in such bad shape and in so much pain that we had to euthanize him. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. In the four and a half years that we had Heisen he made a lot of trips  to the beach, Heisen also went to Disney world and Branson Missouri. He loved to travel.

Three months had past after losing Heisen, I was on the animal shelters website and came across a photo of a handsome looking 9 month old dog that was part Beagle and part Whippet he was brown, black, and white. The animal shelter had given him the name of Harley. I went to see Harley the next day and put a hold on him which was on Saturday.

Then on Sunday my wife and I went to see him after church, like me she too fell in love with him. We adopted him, being a John Wayne fan I changed his name to Duke. Now being part Whippet he has hind legs like a kangaroo and can walk around on his hind legs longer than any other dog I have seen. I am about 5’ 9” when he jumps he can look me strait in the eye.  Now Duke’s story is kind of sad, he was born as a street dog in Las Angelos California he had never had a home, he was picked up by animal control when he was about five months old. Since he was at the end of the allotted time of Los Angeles the shelter he was transferred to the Portland Humane Society because they don’t euthanize animals, just to make more room. Portland also has a 98% adoption rate It’s like getting a second chance.  

My Wife and I live in a apartment all the doors have door handles with a single deadbolt above it. As I mentioned we brought Duke home on Sunday afternoon, On Monday night my wife and I stepped out to do some grocery shopping, when we returned we found the front door ajar and no Duke to be found. We set the bags of groceries down and went looking for him. 15 minutes later we found him sitting with a couple of girls on the sidewalk.  The next day we exchanged the door handle for a door knob.

On another occasion I had gone up to the office to send a fax, I was only going to gone for a few minutes At that time our apartment community was much safer so  I didn’t lock the door nor did I take my keys with me, Duke was standing at the door giving me that look, you know the one, the why are you not taking me with you look. I ended up being gone a little longer than I had intended, and when I tried to open the door it was locked. I could hear him on the other side of the door sniffing, or perhaps laughing at me. I have to say that it was good thing nobody was walking through the corridor to hear trying to reason with Duke. One would think that if he could lock the door, that he could also unlock it. Not a chance. We have also found out that Duke does not like a harness of any kind, he either finds a way to pull them off over his ears, or chews through them. He prefers a regular collar, never tries to get out of it. He loves laying in my lap and watching television. He likes Granny Smith apples, pretzel bites, oranges. This little guy has been an awesome companion pet and brought a lot of joy and laughter to our home.

Shelters only have so much room to house the dogs they have, with limited funds so if your looking for a pet who is going to love you as much as you love them. If you have ever had to see a dog be euthanized it is heart wrenching. Adopt a dog today and save a life.

Hotshot Freight

Making More Money by Cutting Your Cost 

In this business like all businesses, you have fixed expenses and discretionary expenses. Your fixed expenses such as insurance, truck payments, trailer payments, and permits, are going to be the same amount every month. Discretionary expenses are those expenses that you have more control over. These would include food, lodging, fuel, and preventative maintenance.

Lodging

lodging can be a huge expense. However, there are several ways to cut these cost. Depending on the type of truck you have and, of course, the weather, you can obviously sleep in your truck. It is not the most comfortable way to get sleep, and you don’t get a good night’s rest and this can affect your productivity and your driving. Since time is money in this business not getting a good nights rest can be counterproductive. It can also wear you down. So there are a few different ways to handle this. Some hotel chains, such as choice hotels offer rewards. Usually, they will offer a promotion staying two nights and get one night free. And a lot of their hotels come with a free breakfast.

On average, it will cost you between $60-$100 per night. A lot of people frown when I say Motel 6, but I have to tell you that 90% of the ones that I have stayed in are very clean and well kept. They do not have a rewards program, but they are very economical, with a price range of $45-$80 per night based on location.  If you are in this business and over 50 years old, I strongly urge you to become a member of AARP and AAA these will often earn you additional discounts at hotel chains. Obviously the cheaper hotel chains do not offer a free breakfast. So when you do the math, staying at one of the choice hotels and getting a free hot breakfast is somewhat of a no-brainer.

Another option for lodging,  depending on the truck you own is a sleeper for the truck, that is DOT certified. The initial investment for a sleeper will run anywhere from $5,000.00 to 9,500.00. One company that I talked to was Cowtown Sleepers, another source that I tracked down is Welden Manufacturing both of these companies offer a wide variety of options. If you were to purchase a sleeper that was in the middle price range and you averaged your hotel expenses at $50. A night the sleeper will pay for itself in six months or less. The advantage to the sleeper is that you can stop to rest pretty much anywhere you are. And you are able to discourage any vandals or thieves.

Food Cost

The price of eating out every day can be very high. This is especially so when you’re on the road trying to make a living. Nevertheless, you have to eat to stay healthy and be productive. There are several ways that you can control your food cost and still eat well. While I was on the road for about a year doing hotshot freight, a few years before this I spent three years driving a semi. During both of these jobs, I kept an ice chest on board with drinks, cereal, fruit, and supplies to make sandwiches. In the Hotshot freight business, you are not as limited on where you can park to dine as you are driving a semi. Either way If I had stayed at say Motel 6 I would have a bowl of cereal in the morning before leaving, later a snack chips an apple something to keep me going. When I got hungry, I would stop in a rest area to fix a couple of sandwiches. Then the last meal of the day would be a hot meal, usually fast food. Often I would get by with spending $10.00 or less on food each day, in part due to fuel incentives. At least once a week I would treat myself special to a more upscale dinner such as Outback, Red Lobster, Texas Road House, and a variety of others

Fuel

Diesel fuel is another big cost of operating a hotshot freight business. Truck stops are nice because they have a lot of roomsto maneuver. Most of the big truck stop establishments such as Pilot, Loves, Flying J, and the Travel Centers of America all have rewards programs and free showers based on fuel purchases. Although these are some great benefits, it does not mean that they have the best fuel prices. Most of us these days have an IPhone or Smart-Phone if you don't know you will want to obtain one. There are about six different Apps that I found for fuel locators and pricing. This will be very helpful in cutting your cost and increasing profits. When you take into account what the truck stops do offer it is indeed a wash in most cases.  Planning your fuel stops will save you a lot of money.

For example, you have two cars on your trailer, and you are leaving Portland Oregon. You are headed south to Weed California, to pick up another car. The car you pick up in Weed California is going all the way to Chula Vista California. Knowing that fuel in California is outrageous, you want to stop and fill up in Oregon before entering into California. If you fill up in Medford it is approximately eight hundred and twenty miles to Chula Vista California, from there you are going back up to San Diego to pick up another vehicle that you will drop in Phoenix along with one of the other cars on your trailer. Your truck gets about 11.5 miles a gallon loaded. You don't want to fill up in California. However, you will have to purchase some fuel to get you into Yuma Arizona where fuel will be cheaper. Your truck only holds seventy-two gallons yet to make it all the way to Yuma you are going to use almost ninety-two gallons of fuel. To be on the safe side, you will want to purchase about thirty gallons in California. Alternatively you can install another fuel tank on the truck and increase the range.

In any case, you are still going to have to plan your fuel stops to save money. Most truck stops charge the same for cash as they do for credit. That being said a lot of credit card companies offer cards with air miles or cash back, since you are going to be spending a lot of money on fuel and food those air miles or cash rewards will add up quickly allowing you to take a nice vacation at the end of the year.

Performing Preventative Maintenance.

If you are still maintaining a home base, or place of residence, where you come in off the road for a break. This is a good place and time to take the truck to the shop for preventative maintenance. You are more likely to get better deals on service and parts at home rather than out on the road. Especially things like tires and batteries and if they find something critical like a bearing, hubs, or brake issues. It is far more cost effective to work with that shop down the street than it is to fix it on the open road. Furthermore by taking good care of your truck you are less likely to find yourself broke down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

Emergencies

Breaking down is not necessarily an emergency. However breaking down in the middle of the desert, the great plains, or in the mountains, can quickly turn into an emergency. As the weather in these areas can change without a lot of notice, depending on the time of year, you can find yourself in a deadly situation quickly. Whether traveling alone or with your spouse it is always a good idea to let someone close to you know where you are heading and the route you are taking. This is especially true when you are going into desolate areas of the country where cell service is sporadic.

With all the violence in our society today people are far more cautious about stopping to help someone who is broke down. And you have to wonder seriously about those that do stop. Carry two signs that you can store in the cab of the truck. The signs should read " I am broke down, please call the State police and tell them where I am" place one at each end of the vehicle so it can be seen by cars traveling in either direction. Odds are their cell phone has no service either. So it may take them a while before they can make a call on your behalf. If you have food on the truck, you should be alright for a couple of days. Make sure that you have a warm blanket and plenty of water on board as well.

 The DOT requires you to have a first aid kit in the vehicle, may I also suggest that you purchase a snakebite kit and something that you can use as a tourniquet. Because I have known drivers who just stopped to check a tire or just wanted to take a photo and wound up with a snakebite. You also will want to add some four by fours for larger scrapes and cuts. This is a very fun business to get into, but it can also be dangerous. You are dealing with machines that weigh several thousands of pounds. Accidents can and will happen, how severe they are and how badly you get hurt depends on you, how cautious you are, and you're aware of your surroundings 

Making a living Haulings Cars Part 2

Where to find loads, And Staying Busy.

While on the road in 2014, hauling cars across the country I used a company called Uship; to assist me in finding my loads. You may have heard of them; they are featured on a television show called Shipping Wars. EBay with whom we are all familiar with, owns Uship. Even though I am not a big fan of EBay, I foundstyle="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"> Uship to be a very helpful resource. Uship does have excellent customer service and are willing to help their transporters. Like EBay, it is an auction site. Here is how it works. Mister Carter in Seattle has a 1955 Chevy truck that he purchased from Mister Johnson in Dallas Texas. Therefore, Mister Carter needs someone to bring this truck to Seattle. He lists the transport job on Uship. You as a transporter bids on the job. I will tell you that the lowest bidder does not always get the job. However, in most cases he does. Sometimes the shipper will look at what your satisfaction rating is, or what kind of equipment you are using.

That being said you want to use a picture of your truck and trailer for your profile picture. A lot of people use an image of themselves as a profile picture. You can be the best-looking guy in town but if you have equipment that appears run-down, your smile and your pearly white teeth are not going to convince me that you are the man for the job. I have even seen people put a photo of the Dog or Cat on their profile, bad idea. Make sure that your profile is complete and update it frequently. By having a full profile, you will have fewer questions about charges and fees. Uship is fee-based, once the person accepts your bid he has to pay UShip. If this is your only shipment on the board, you cannot even take a cash draw. You have to have two or more loads.

 Then you can draw up to twenty-five percent of your total amount due to you. They also charge you a booking fee. If you are willing to wait up to four days for your money there is no charge if you want it sooner they suggest that you sign up for their Payoneer card. Once you pick up the vehicle in Dallas, you visit the website to let them know you have the vehicle. Then when you deliver the car to Seattle and the customer takes possession of the vehicle he gives you a payment code. They do have an APP for this, which streamlines the whole process. Enter the payment code and the money becomes available to you. If you put it on their Payoneer card (Mastercard), you have it within two hours, and it cost you two dollars. It does not cost anything to use the card for purchases. However, if you make a withdraw, there is a two dollar charge in addition to the ATM charge.

The trick is that it is hard to watch the auction and drive. You place a bid on a vehicle in Seattle going to Los Angeles, and the auction ends in two hours, you are still eight hours away. Now you can set a minimum bid. And when another transporter gets close to it your lowest bid will pop up. Another carrier comes in and underbids you by five dollars and gets the bid. A couple ways to short circuit the other transporters is by contacting the person and letting him know that you are close to the area. The shipper that has been trying to underbid you is still over a thousand miles away. Even though he might be lower, you will more than likely get the job. It works a lot better if you have a person at home that can watch the board for you while you focus on driving. Or if you have a spouse and work as a team, using their smartphone to make deals. 

As I had mentioned in the previous article if you are using a flat over-deck gooseneck or fifth wheel you can haul almost anything. Uship has people shipping cars, airplane parts, Boats, Campers, You name it you can find it on Uship. However, Uship is not the only source for loads. There are what is known as load boards. Most of them have a monthly fee, and you can contact the shipper directly by phone to make the deal. Keep in mind these are the same load boards that a lot of your trucking companies and independent truckers use.  

A couple of load boards that I found to be helpful are Direct Freight, and GetLoaded,  Whether you are using Uship or load boards once you have hauled a few loads for a particular company and they are satisfied with your services. It is likely that they call you the next time they have a load to be hauled. This allows you to build a book of clients thus avoiding Uship and the fees associated with booking the load. The downside is that you don't have the payment guarantee that you have with Uship. At one point, I had ten loads scheduled only being able to transport one vehicle at a time it was enough work to keep me busy for three weeks.At least three of those were customers I had hauled for in the past. 
This is an awesome business with some real income potential. At the same time, you can help others, Visit your family and friends, see the country, and have fun. It is especially nice if you are doing it as a husband and wife team and both of you drive,  this will allow you to cover a lot of ground and still have time to enjoy the scenery. Visit us often as we are creating new articles weekly. In our next article, we are going to talk about ways to decrease expenses and increase profits,

 

Making a Living Hauling Cars.

Equipment, Permits, and Insurance

Can you make money hauling cars, and other things on wheels? The answer is yes. however, it is a business and you have to treat it like a business. In this article, we are going to talk about what you need to make it work. Like any business and job, you need the correct tools. Having the correct tools will save you time, money, and make the job more enjoyable. I did this for a year and really enjoyed it. Not having the right truck will limit your income potential and cause you a lot of headaches and costly repairs. Some trucks just will not withstand the workload. So I am telling you this from personal experiences in hopes of helping anyone who is considering this business.

The first thing that you need is the right truck. Anything less will sabotage your efforts. The Dodge 5500 with a diesel engine dual alternators and the heavy-duty front suspension is a great vehicle. The Dodge 3500 one ton is another good choice. You have to be able to haul more than one car at a time to make a profit in this business. Either truck can tow between27, 000 to 30,000 pounds it has the torque and the power that you need when you need it. If you purchase the truck new, you will spend between $42,000.00 and $48,000.00 you can find these trucks in auctions around the country for $23,000.00 or less you just have to shop around, there are some good deals out there. Adding a brush guard to the front of the truck is a smart idea. As much driving as you will be doing, the chances of you hitting a deer or an elk is severely increased. Hitting a large animal can cause you a lot of down time having a brush guard can help minimize the damage. You will also need safety triangles, fire extinguisher, and a first Aid kit.

The next thing you need is a good trailer. You will definitely want a Fifth Wheel or a gooseneck. Personally, I like the fifth wheel I find that it is easier to hook up. There is a wide selection of designs and layouts if you purchase a car hauler that is all you are going to haul so you limit your income potential drastically. However, if you purchase a deck over then you can haul between two or three cars on the deck. A few of the trailer manufacturers will build a platform over the king pin. This allows you to haul three Motorcycles, or two ATV’s, or a couple of Golf Carts increasing income potential.

 Most deck over trailers have what they call a dovetail. This is about a three-foot section at the rear of the trailer bed that is tapered so that you have a lower ground clearance at the rear. This is great for hauling cars. However, it can cause some problems in hauling pallets of product. A few manufacturers offer what is called a pop-up dovetail, which rises once you are loaded so that the deck is flat. This option is well worth the investment

There are many small moms and pop businesses that cannot afford to purchase an entire truckload of product for their inventory, so they purchase a smaller quantity. Most trucking companies like to deal in full truckloads so they charge exorbitant rates for smaller loads. This has made it easier for the small transporter to make money on these deals.

A few pieces of equipment that you are going to want on your trailer, includes a generator, Air Compressor, Marine battery, and a power winch. Other equipment includes air hose an impact wrench, air nozzle for inflating tires. I have picked up cars from insurance salvage yards and they will usually load them for you. Nevertheless, when you get to the receiver and one of the vehicles has a flat tire it is a challenge to unload. Other equipment includes several short pieces of chain two feet long. I always used a threaded chain link to attach the chain to the rub rails of the trailer. I would then hook the end of the ratchet strap to the chain. Attach the other end of the to the ratchet strap to the frame of the car. If your trailer is equipped with floor mounted D rings, you can hook the ratchet strap to it, and avoid using the rub rail. A couple of long chains at least twenty-five feet with hooks on each end. You can never have too much chain or secure a vehicle too much. I always used ratchet straps to tie the vehicle down. Some drivers use chain binders either of these will get the job done. I have seen some drivers use a combination of both. There are many good trailer manufacturers out there that will custom build you a trailer when you tell them what you are using it for they will know what you need. Flat tires on your trailer or truck will happen. Depending on where you are, it could be hours for roadside assistance to reach you. With a generator and air compressor, you can have the tire changed and back on the road in thirty minutes or less. In this business, time is money.

Most of your auto shippers are going to be car enthusiasts who have purchased the car from other individuals and they are restoring them. Sometimes the car does not run. Alternatively, it will be in a place that is hard to get into. This is where the winch and the chain come in handy. Especially when you have to unload one vehicle, so you can load another car because of the delivery locations.

Along with the right equipment, you have to have the right insurance and permits, it is just good business and it is ethical. Insurance is going to be one of your biggest expenses. You want to have at least a million dollars in liability. Depending on the types of vehicles that you are, hauling it is suggested that you carry at least five hundred thousand dollars in cargo insurance. You can save some money here by choosing a higher deductible however you need to have the deductible amount in a separate bank account in the event of a loss.

For example, you have a five thousand dollar deductible for cargo insurance. Loaded on the trailer; you have a 1969 Mustang, a 1976 VW Beatle, and a 1980 Corvette. Somehow or another the Corvette comes loose the back end of the Corvette hits the pavement before you can get stopped. You can see that there is some serious damage done to the undercarriage. The total value of the Corvette is valued at eighteen thousand dollars. You find out that you have seven thousand dollars in damages and you only have three thousand in your bank account. Your insurance company is only going to pay your customer two thousand dollars, you give the customer the three thousand that you have, and this still leaves you two thousand dollars short. This could be very devastating; you have to either to take out another loan, deplete your operating account, or risk a lawsuit by the customer. In addition to the bad word of mouth that you are getting. 

You can also save money on your comprehensive and uninsured motorist insurance by having the higher deductibles again you will want to have the money in the bank to cover the deductible. Otherwise, it could easily put you out of service if you were to hit an elk, a deer, or if someone hit your truck that was uninsured, the repairs could be costly. Check with your insurance carrier, sometimes it makes more sense to pay a little more for the insurance for a lower deductible until so you save up the money to set aside.

To operate a truck and trailer of this size, you will be required to have a commercial driver's license. Many people cringe at the idea of obtaining this. However, it is not that hard to do, and it is well worth it. It is the only way that you can haul enough freight at one time to make a good living. Should you choose to risk it as some drivers do. Keep in mind that a single violation from the department of transportation could put you out of business quickly. Not to mention the possibility of jail time, it just is not worth the risk. You will also need a DOT number and an MC number. I contacted a company by the name of Foley Carrier Services they will be happy to help you set everything up and they stand behind their work. If you do it yourself and make a mistake, it can be costly. One driver I knew was stopped in Indiana he filed his own paperwork and had the wrong GVWR on his permit he received a ticket for over three thousand dollars. It just is not worth it. Foley Carrier Services also offers a wide variety of others services that you will be interested in. You will also be required to keep a logbook, this really is not as hard as it seems and often drivers make a bigger issue than they need to. As I mentioned I did this for a year, I did not have the correct truck, which cost me a lot of money in repairs. I also had a trailer that would only haul one vehicle; on occasion, I would have a motorcycle in the bed of the truck. I could not afford the cargo Insurance. That being said there were a lot of tense moments and the stress was just unbearable. Fortunately, I never lost anybody's vehicle. I was below the weight rating so I never had to enter the DOT scales nor did I keep a log book. Be sure to visit my blog often as I will be posting additional articles about the hotshot freight business. 

About the Author of this blog.

 My name is Ronald Kenneth Downing. I currently live in Beaverton Oregon with my wife Brandi Downing and daughter Jasmine. One house cat named Shadow and a much energized dog named  Heisen, who is part Beagle and Dachshund. I might add that he is a rescue dog that we adopted almost two years ago. Heisen has brought our family a lot of joy. We have lived here for about twelve years and liked the area. We attend worship services at the Church of the Nazarene in Hillsboro. Just an hours drive to the west, you have the Beach. To get to the beach, you pass through the Tillamook Forest where you can hike, go off-roading, camping, and fishing. To the east, we have Portland their signature slogan "Is keep Portland weird" and Portlanders do a good job of that and they are proud of the weirdness. Award winning Vineyards and Micro Breweries surround us, anyone who visits the area is sure to find a wine or beer that excites their taste buds.
Most of what I write is fiction. I never have been able to write short stories, because there just never seems to be a good place to quit. I would have to say that my interests for telling stories and creative writing started in second grade at Crestwood Elementary School, Located in North Little Rock Arkansas. Our teacher misses Rice was an older woman very friendly yet stern. She was a grandmotherly type of teacher. One day when I was supposed to be writing my spelling words, she caught me working on a story that I had started during recess the day before. I tried to hide it, but she had already noticed that it was not my spelling words. Misses Rice took my story from me and asked me to work on my spelling. She returned to her desk and read all ten pages before she looked up and smiled at me. Later that morning she escorted me to my special education teacher Beth Parker, who also read it. They decided that it would be best for me to work on it in her class. I had a good friend back then, named John Hopkins with whom I had shared the story. John also liked to write and asked me if he could participate, so the two of us wrote our first short novel together. It was the total length of a legal pad all 40 plus pages. Misses Parker was kind enough to edit it and type the manuscript for us, and this was years before teachers had computers in the classrooms.

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I was born in Landstuhl, Germany, October 12, 1960. Although I was not old enough to remember it, I have also lived in Rantoul, Illinois.

Our Family then moved to Moses Lake Washington. We lived there from 1961-1965.

In 1965, we moved to Jacksonville Arkansas. My father was in the United States Air Force. He retired in 1973, so I grew up in the Little Rock metropolitan area. I attended school from the first grade through the twelfth grade and graduated in 1980 from North Little Rock Northeast High school. I will say that I probably would never have graduated from High-school if it had not been for the love and compassion of an outstanding High-school Principal and a few teachers, and my parents that went above and beyond their duties. As well as some awesome friends. School subjects were never easy for me because I have a learning disability, My mother had recognized that I had trouble learning certain subjects early on. She and my father advocated for me every step of the way as well as other kids and parents. They did this through an organization that they volunteered with often.

I was married to my first wife in November 1982 we have three great kids who all now live in Missouri. I also have two grandsons who live in Missouri.

For two years, I worked as a long haul truck driver where I traveled through all forty-eight states and parts of Canada.

Even though fiction is what I enjoy writing the most, I have several years’ experience working in sales and marketing. I spent the better part of twenty years in the Recreational Vehicle industry. I still manage to keep up with what is going on in this industry through family members who continue working with Recreational Vehicles. In addition to that, I read a lot about it, visit local dealerships and attend local shows. My wife and I own a travel trailer so we camp from time to time this gives me the ability to write about various aspects of the industry. As well as camping and traveling. I enjoy a variety of things, which I will often write about here in my blog. In my blog, you will also find recipes because cooking happens to be another passion of mine. I will assure you that any recipe you find in my blog is something that I have indeed cooked myself, so it is tested before it is published.

I have done a fair amount of research on Human Trafficking; it is an ill in our society that I feel very strongly about, and our society has not done enough to reduce this horrific problem. I am a firm believer that we will never get rid of it entirely it is just like the war on drugs it is lucrative to the criminals who are trafficking people. Until it becomes less profitable and until the consequences are significantly higher than the profit the criminals can make, we will be plagued with this problem. I often write about this issue and others like it to create public awareness.

You will also find that I do not have a lot of patience for political correctness. I do believe in human rights. I believe in God, I also believe in the Constitution as well. What I do not agree with and have little or no tolerance for are issues of national or local customs and traditions. People expect Americans to change our traditions and customs because it offends people of other nationalities. The United States does not mail out gold leaf invitations to residents of foreign countries to invite them to move to the United States. These people are either here illegally; they have pleaded with the United States government to allow them to live here to avoid death or persecution in their country of origin. Alternatively, maybe they are here on a Student Visa or work Visa. Regardless of why they are here if they do not like our customs and traditions it is their problem, I  suggest that they pack up their crap and go back to the place where they came. I make no apologies for my views, and I know that may make people mad but for each that despises my views there will five who applaud them.

Along with writing, I am working on building a Non-Profit Organization called the Hillsboro Creative Writing Center. The Writing Center is to be a place where all writers twelve years of age and older will be able to work on their writing projects. To find out more about the Hillsboro Creative Writing Center, please visit us at www.hillsborocwc.org.

Ron's Barbecue Meatloaf

Ron's Barbecue Meatloaf

2LB. Ground beef (Leaner is Better)

1LB. Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage

3. Eggs

1 Tube of Ritz Crackers

2/3s  Of a Medium Purple Onion or Sweet Onion

1-2. Carrots Shredded.

1. Cup shredded mild or sharp Cheddar Cheese.

2.  Cups of your favorite Barbecue Sauce.

In a large mixing bowl combine the Eggs, Ritz Crackers (crushed) Carrots, Onion. 1 Cup Barbecue Sauce and 1/2 cup Shredded Cheese. Mix well. Stand mixer works great for this.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Add the pork sausage and continue mixing then add the ground beef until all the ingredients are well mixed.

Using two meat loaf pans that allow the grease to drain away from the meatloaf is Ideal and will yield better results. Divide the mixture in half and place in pan. bake for 1hour and 10 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over each loaf. Then pour the remaining Barbeque sauce over each loaf. return to oven for another ten minutes.

Ladies Behind The Wheel Of A Motor-Home!

Ladies if you are reading this article, please note it is for the husbands. When it comes to driving a motor-home in at least 85% of couples traveling in a Motor-Home, the husband is the sole driver. I strongly urge you to talk to your husband and ask him about teaching you how to drive the coach now, instead of waiting until you have to drive your RV because of an urgent situation

Does your Spouse do any of the driving while you are on the road with your Recreational Vehicle?  If you answered no, you are doing yourself and your spouse a disservice, by doing all the driving yourself. I am a supporter of men teaching their wives how to drive and park the Recreational Vehicle It does not matter if she drives every day or not. The fact is that your wife needs to know how to handle your motor-home. There are a couple of reasons for this task, and both of you will benefit from this. Sharing the driving will allow you to feel more relaxed when the two of you arrive at your destination. Another reason that your wife should know how to drive your motorhome is in the case of an emergency. 

For example lets say that you live in Alabama, you and your wife are on your way to Yellowstone and then to the Oregon Coast. No real hurry to get there since the two of you is retired. Then about the time you reach Cheyenne Wyoming, you start feeling a lot worse than you did a month ago. When you and your wife were still planning this trip, which at that time you convinced yourself that it was all the excitement of making the trip. So you decide to visit the Emergency room, only to find out five hours later that your condition is serious and that you are going to need surgery and soon. You are also told that you will not be able to travel for three weeks, and you cannot drive for at least six weeks. The travel plans that you made did not include six weeks in Cheyenne, which is about 1450 miles from home, yet almost 1600 miles from your final destination. If you had just taken a few hours and taught your wife how to drive the Motor-home, this situation would not be such a big deal.

Most women are intimidated by the size of these vehicles, and rightfully so they are pretty big. The first part of the challenge is to get them behind the wheel. If you have a motor-home, this can make it a little harder to do. And most of it has to do with the height and the width of the coach. After all, are used to driving their car most of the time, and this is something different and significantly bigger than anything you have ever driven. First you will want your wife to become familiar with the layout of the dashboard. Just as you had to do when you first bought the coach. Once she becomes familiar with the dash and you are confident that she knows where everything is located. Next go through your basic setup procedures to make sure that she is comfortable and able to reach all of the controls with ease. Now she is ready to drive. I suggest that you start off in an empty parking lot somewhere, only because this will feel less threatening. Most large parking lots have a street that goes around the parking lot. This street is usually out of the main flow of traffic. Yet it is still marked off as a street with center line.

The driving forward is only part of being able to handle the recreational vehicle. Being able to backup is just as important as driving; you never know when you might get into a tight spot that you have to back out of. Also to having to park your RV in the campsite. For this part of the procedure, you will need seven markers, flags road cones whatever you can find to mark off an area. Make sure that they are big enough that they can be easily seen by the driver. In this first exercise, we will only use six of the markers. As shown in this diagram. You will want to place two markers on each side of the vehicle. The two cones on the right and left should be set about 20 feet apart, and 3 feet from the edge of the vehicle. Take the last two cones and set them up in the back to resemble a fence or curb. Once you have done this, drive the motor home around and set it up for a right-hand turn to park as if you were parking in a campground.

You want to start with a right-hand turn also known as a blindside turn because they are more difficult. Once she has mastered, this left-hand exercise turn will be easy. Repeat the exercise until she is comfortable. Then move the cones one-foot closer on each side, and try it again. Most motorhomes today are equipped with backup cameras and monitors so you can see objects behind you; these are extremely helpful for all of us.

We have all been there, we pull into the park, stop at the ranger station to register and get our site assignment. When we find our designated site we can see that parked directly across from us is a huge Fifth Wheel. The truck is sitting in the street a little, and of course we cannot leave out the tree. The trucks owner is out on a bike ride with his wife, it's unlikely that they will be back anytime soon. So for this exercise we have created some obstacles she will need to maneuver around.

This last backing exercise is entirely optional; the chances are that you may never use it. However, it is a fun activity. Also to that you can take pride in knowing that you can do it when most people would have a lot of trouble on their hands if they ever had to use it. It goes by a lot of different names, I call it the weave. Set the markers in a straight line at or about 30 feet from each other. Position the coach so that the first marker is on the right, and it is even with the rear wheels. Then start backing up and in between the markers. This is a maneuver that they teach in most truck driving schools. I can tell you from experience it is much easier with a motor-home than with a tractor and trailer.

When you are practicing with markers, there is really no need for a spotter. However, spotters are needed when backing into a campsite, a driveway, or any other place where there are fixed objects that can cause damage. You need to be able to see the spotter at all times. There is one other backing maneuver called the 1,2,3 method this only works in ideal situations where you have plenty of space. This method is probably the easiest. Find the center of the rear wheel, measure eight feet toward the front of the vehicle. Place a small piece of stripe tape on the coach as a marker.

 Pull the coach forward until the stripe tape, is even with your spotter on the left. At that point, turn the wheel all the way to the right until your spotter is even with the rear wheel. Then turn all the way to the left as you are backing in. Not too shocking that most of the body work that is done on motor-homes were caused from backing into an object, trees, buildings or cars. This is why you should have a spotter when ever it is possible.

Now that we have all the backing up and parking out of the way, let's hit the road. Before you begin repeat the basic set up procedures, seat position, mirrors, steering wheel all need to be in a comfortable place  Start out with roads that are less traveled, this will reduce her tension and feel less intimidating. Show her how to make some turns so that she can learn about things like where to start the turn while remaining in the proper lane. Maintaining safe distances from the vehicle in front of you.  If you cannot see the tires of the car in front of you, then you are too close.It is always best to pass freight trucks and buses on the left. When you pass on the right you are at risk of being in the drivers blind spot. if the other driver can not see you, he may attempt a lane change thus causing an accident. When both of you become at ease with the progress that has been made, then you are ready for the highway. Out on the highway it drives like any other vehicle and you would take the same precautions. Remember guys keep calm; be patient, build the driver's confidence by letting her know that she is doing a great job. There is one danger that you have to worry about. After she has learned how to drive your coach and she has become comfortable; she may not want to give it back. Until next time happy travels!

Things You Need To Know Before Buying A Cab-Over Camper

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Cab-over campers, truck campers, or slide in campers as some folk's call them all started back in the early 1950's. The pioneer of this camping phenomena Was Merle D McNamee After world war two the pickup truck rapidly gained popularity amongst the general population. Prior to the war, pickup trucks were primarily used for businesses and farms. Merle was an avid camping enthusiast, who knew that there had to be a better way to go camping. So he designed the first slide in truck camper, which was not much more than just a box with a couple of cots thrown in to sleep on.  We can thank Merle for many of the features that cab-over camper manufacturer's use today. These features include the stand-up height, the bed over the cab, corner mounted jacks, indoor appliances, and more. From Merle's truck camper design, the Class C or mini motor home was born.  

There are just a few companies, that are still manufacturing cab-over campers in the United States today. These Cab-over Camper manufactures  are at the top of the RV marketplace. Part of this has to do with the roller-coaster economy over the last 20 years, which has  put some of the smaller manufacturers out of business; leaving the older and stronger companies to grow and prosper. Cab-over campers seem to be more popular in the Western, one-third, of the United States. This is also a contributor to the decline in the popularity in this segment of the RV industry across much of the nation. The popularity of these campers in the west has to do with ruggedness terrain which we enjoy. It is not uncommon to see a truck with a Cab-over camper pulling a  boat, horse trailer, or a utility trailer loaded with ATV’s. 

These campers come in various sizes, as small as six foot, and as large as thirteen foot, Since the popularity of Cab-over campers has grown, they are becoming more luxurious with slide+outs, side entrance doors. Which makes it easier to get in to the camper. Most of the campers contain the same amenities as full size travel trailers, such as refrigerator, stove, oven, water heater, bathroom, microwave and more. Obviously the bigger the camper the more it weighs. This could be a problem, for you the buyer. If you already have a truck it is crucial to pick the right camper that will not overload the truck. Just an example, the Palomino Backpack HS800 weighs in at 1675 pounds. This camper will be fine on your Ford F150, Dodge 1500, or the Chevrolet 1500 series. If you have an F150 or the 1500 series trucks you can push the envelope slightly by adding overload springs to your truck. You have to understand that when they made that truck; the engine and drive train were designed to move a specific amount of mass down the road. The brake system was also designed to stop a specific amount of mass. You should visit your owner's manual for more specific information. One of my favorite trucks for hauling a cab-over camper is the Ford F350 or the F450 with dual wheels. This truck will accommodate just about any cab-over you choose.  If you are looking for both the truck and the camper you should purchase a truck, slightly bigger than what you need. The advantage to this is that you have a truck that will handle the load. Also in the event that you decide, that you want a bigger camper at a later date, you have enough truck to handle it. This also goes well if you are towing a trailer or boat.

Cab-over campers appear to be very expensive. When you think about the size of it compared to the price of a travel trailer or fifths-wheel,  The reality of it is this, Cab-over campers have all the same amenities that a travel trailer or fifth-wheel will have; in a more condensed space. Because of this, a cab-over camper can seem quite costly you have to look beyond the price tag, and at what you are getting for the price

 Since these campers are somewhat condensed it can feel cramped with five people in it on a rainy day, or at night when you are getting ready for bed. For a family of three or four it is very comfortable. Most all of these campers have a place for a television DVD player with theater sound. Most of the luxuries that you have at home  

Back in the late 90's Manufacturers of cab-over campers solved the space issues by adding floor plans with slide-outs. This feature added eighteen square feet or more to the livability of the camper This also makes the cab-over camper weigh more Northwood's Arctic Fox model 1140 weighs in at 3465 pounds. If you are trying to keep the weight down the Bigfoot 25C10.6E weighs in at 2600 pounds dry weight and has no slide out.  Another option is the CLTC10 Camplite it comes in at 2190 pounds dry weight

Structural technology has come a long way. Back in the early 70's cab-over campers were all made of 2X2 wood construction and tin metal skin. Now, most of the high line cab-over campers are built using a 2X2 aluminum structure for the floor joist topped with one and one quarter inch plywood. Walls are made with 1X1 inch aluminum studs welded in a jig. The vacant areas are packed with foam insulation. Afterward, both sides are sprayed with a very strong adhesive; this is then overlaid with a fiberglass skin, on one side, and interior paneling on the other side. This structure is then run through a set of pinch rollers. When the structure is done it is three times stronger with half of the weight, of the old stick a Tin construction. This type of construction has allowed manufacturers to build larger campers that weigh less than those of days gone by.

Space has to be used wisely. In the smaller Campers gray and black holding tanks are significantly smaller. The bathroom is another area which space is condensed. Smaller cab-over campers have what they call a wet bath. When you step into the bathroom it is a one piece shower pan with a curtain that goes across the door, keeping it as dry as possible. The toilet is also located in this small cubicle. On the larger campers, the holding tanks are larger. And depending on the floorplan you could have a dry bath or a wet bath.

Storage can be an issue. Obviously you lose the use of the bed of your truck. Most cab-over do not have a lot of outside storage. Therefore, you have to use the floor space in the camper for larger items. This means that you have to be very frugal about the amount of camping gear that you pack; the way you pack it is just as important. With my experience in the RV industry, I can offer you a few tips. Lay a carpet runner down on the floor that has a rubber backing. Place cardboard on both sides of the floor area leaning it against the paneling to protect it from scratches. You can also wrap any sharp objects with a cloth and duct tape.

These campers are a unique unit within the Recreational Vehicle industry. If you use your truck for work as well as play, the cab-over camper is a good way to go. Simply remove the camper from your truck, for work. Then reload it for the weekend trip. This camper also allows you to pull a trailer hauling your other toys. You are not limited to the places that you can camp; the cab-over camper will go where ever your truck will go, so if you have a favorite fishing spot that is off road, then go. Cab-over campers can actually save you money. If you owned a motorhome and still had to have the truck for work now you have two vehicles that you have to perform preventive maintenance on Two vehicles to purchase gas, tires, and oil for, just to mention a few.

Cab-overs are great for dry camping, especially if you do live, or travel in the Great Northwest. In most places, here in the northwest you can get by without an Air-conditioner. Therefore, the only electric power you really need is to charge the batteries in the camper. With the modern technological advances that they have made in solar power, more camping enthusiast are turning to solar power each year. It is little pricey to get started with solar power. You will find that the investment is well worth it. You can purchase an 85-watt solar panel with everything you need to install it safely and correctly for less than a thousand dollars. Some solar panels are mounted on the roof of the camper. There are pros and cons to this. Pros include, that it is always working. One of the cons are that to secure it you have drill holes in your roof; this can lead to a potential leak   When dry camping you will only have 12-volt power. If you have the desire to have 110-volt power you can purchase a portable generator, there are several of them on the market. Keep in mind you want a 4000 watts or larger, this will carry most of your appliances plus your air-conditioner.  You will also want to make sure that it has a 30 amp outlet on the face panel. Depending on where you are going you will want to carry a good supply of water.

There are several ways to install your Cab-over camper onto your truck. The most common for smaller comb-over's; use mounting brackets which fit into the four corner stake pockets Turnbuckles are connected to the brackets the other end is attached to the cab-over then tightened. The Belly Bar is another method this is recommended for heavier and larger campers. If you are purchasing the camper, new ask the dealer for his recommendation. You can also ask him about the Happijac system or the Torklift tie downs both of these seem to be safe and very durable.  

Cab-over campers have a natural tendency to feel top heavy when going around corners or in windy conditions.  This is one of the reasons that I prefer the Ford F350 with dual rear wheels; the wider footprint in the rear gives it more stability at corners and in windy conditions. If you don't have the luxury of owning one of these one-ton trucks, there are other options. Camper struts; these are like shock absorbers which will help to absorb most of the side to side motion. The upper end connects to the bottom side of the cab-over. The other end connects to brackets mounted to the truck at the lower corners of the windshield.

I hope that I have provided you with some helpful information about truck-mounted campers. There is a great wealth of information out there concerning this segment of the Recreational Vehicle Industry. In my next article, we will talk about truck campers for the smaller trucks.  Below is a list of Cab-over Camper manufacturers that you should check out.

·       Lance

·       Real-lite

·       Maverick by Palomino

·       Bigfoot

·       Eagle Cap

·       Arctic Fox