Go To Benchmark Capital Investigation

In order to direct comments the right direction, we're closing down the comment feature on our RV Travel blog.  Please feel free to visit us on Benchmark Capital Investigation Blog . Thanks and looking forward to hearing every soon!

New Blog for Benchmark Capital

After some feedback, we decided to create a separate blog for comments, information, etc concerning the apparently fraudulent Benchmark Capital investment scheme.  Please feel free to follow and comment.

Benchmark Capital Investigation Blog

Tragic Event in Our Lives - Charles D. Candler Ponzi Scheme

It appears that our Travel Trailer / RV days are over for a season of our lives. 

During the past week we found that our Home Equity Annuity (a portion of our equity receiving dividend) and Investment Annuity (our retirement), all through Benchmark Capital, was a Ponzi scheme.  Apparently orchestrated by Charles D. Candler from his Knoxville, TN office and somewhat ending for him in his death in Greenwood Cemetery on March 1, 2012. 

It is our understanding that in February 2012 some investors in the Home Equity Annuity did not receive their dividend checks which prompted at least one person to call the Knoxville Police Department to inquire.  After Candler was found dead at the cemetery from a self inflicted gun shot wound, Federal agents entered his Knoxville office. 

On a more personal note, we received a letter in the mail on Thursday, March 22th stating that Benchmark Capital, Inc., Benchmark Capital Investments, LLC., Charles D. Candler, and others were under a joint investigation by the IRD-Criminal Investigation Division, US Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI.

Here's a few links which can provide more information than I am able to at this time.

knoxsnews.com

wbir.com

wyff4.com

With all this said, it appears our retirement is gone but our house is safe (less some equity).  God willing, we'll find a job to start again on our retirement funds.  Keep us in your prayers and all those involved in this tragic event.  In the meantime, we may begin a blog concerning the Candler Ponzi scheme - time permitting.

Cindy & Mike

Hitch Installed and Funfinder X Video

I finished the installation of the electrical connection and brake controller yesterday.  Looks pretty good if I say so myself.  The most difficult aspect of finishing up the installation didn't have anything to do with the install - although making the mounting bracket was a little tricky.  With that said, my most difficult part of the day was laying on my back so long on the garage floor and then getting up.  Getting off the floor wasn't the problem, staying on my feet was the problem.  I developed vertigo a couple of weeks ago and the work on the truck almost got me.  I was adjusting to having 10-15 seconds of vertigo each time I crawled out from underneath the truck but my last time under the truck nearly made me believe I'd have vertigo permanently.  It lasted nearly 10 minutes but thank God it finally cleared up.  Okay, enough about me.

I found a nice video on the Funfinder X travel trailer that we're thinking of getting sometime later in the year.  I couldn't resist posting the video!

Installing Trailer Connection On the Sportrac

Last Thursday I got started on installing the electrical trailer connection (from etrailer.com) on the Sportrac and everything is finished except actually mounting the electrical plug.  It turned out that the job took most of the day since I not only had to install the wiring for the tow connection but also I had to install the brake controller also.  ....this while fighting vertigo that hasn't given up on me since it set in about a week ago.  Fortunately I had saved the Prodigy brake controller from my last truck, so that was one less thing I had to buy.  The most difficult part of the brake controller installation was making sure I had the proper tie-in point between the controller and Sportrac brake switch.  With a little help from my wiring diagram book for the truck and the instructions from Prodigy, everything seems good.  Ironically the only other time consuming tasks were running the two conductors from the back of the truck to the front and then finding a penetration through the firewall in order to get two conductors from the engine compartment to the interior. 

Now I 'simply' have to make a bracket to mount the electrical connector next to the receiver under the bumper.  I'm going to use a stock piece of 1/8" metal for that purpose and with any luck I should be finished up with the complete job by next week!

I finished installing a receiver on the Sport Trac today and now simply have to install the brake controller.  I ordered the receiver off of Amazon.com and love the install and fit of it.  It is manufactured by Curt and I really wasn't that familiar with them. But, based on the other reviews on Amazon, I decided to take a chance and it was a wise choice.  Great price also!  I didn't even know it until I was installing it that it is rated for 6000lb towing / 600lb tongue with Weight Distributing hitch.  Of course that really does nothing to change my maximum tow rating but it certainly didn't cause a 'weak point' in the towing capacity of the truck.  Did I mention it was a easy install?  Hugs the rear bumper also.

Next, the install of the brake controller (already owned) and associated wiring.  I sure wish they'd have put a plug connector under the dash for a brake controller but no such luck.  I'll now have to find the correct wire for brake control.  Done it before on other vehicles with a little help from Internet wiring diagrams.  One plus is that the truck already has a transmission cooler installed.  I'm giving some consideration to installing another cooler in series with the factory installed one.  So much for today.  Didn't really like doing the work on Sunday but I got too anxious to resist the install.

The RVCruiser FunFinder X's

We haven't decided on which travel trailer yet but we're pretty set on the FunFinderX by RVCruiser.  That is, unless we find out something that moves us another direction.  But based on the ultra-lite construction, quality, and the front window for the 'furry kids', this seems to be the one.  We're limited to approximately 5010 lbs and more with a Weight Distributing hitch (which we plan to use).  To allow for no more than approximately 80% loading, we're trying to limit the total trailer weight to about 4000 lbs.

We're down to four models.  First the lightest is the X-210WBS which we like b/c of the sofa; however, we would like to have more of a 'divided' area for the bedroom area.  That's a remnant from our Class A days.  The X-210WBS has a good layout in our opinion considering the weight / quality.

The second and third unit weigh about the same but that's a few hundred pounds more than the 210.  However, with that weight comes an extra 2 to 3 feet of length. The X-214WSD has a dinette/booth in place of the sofa in the 210 plus a 1/2 wall with a swivel TV.  Another nicety of the 214 is the slightly curved countertop which ads space and a bit more of a home feel.

The X-215WSK has the sofa/table of the 210 but it is again 2 to 3 feet longer (and heavier) with the 1/2 wall and swivel TV.  Another difference is the outside kitchen.

And finally there's the X-244RBS which has both a sofa and a dinette/booth, not to mention additional length and weight.  We're somewhat leaning away from this one simply due to the fact that although it may be within the tow limit of the Sport Trac, it leaves much less margin.

Past experience towing a Jayco with a Jeep Wagoneer (years ago) has left us with little tolerance for 'pushing' a vehicle.  That one experience cost us a new transmission.  The 'funny' thing about it was that the Jayco was a very short travel trailer and the Wagoneer was a tank!

So, that's where we stand.  Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!