| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: advise about buying small motorhome
$7K is unlikely to get you any moho in ready-to-run shape that's going to stay that way long. You _may_ be able to find a Toyota or other small C in that price range, but it'll need some work. I think any B at that price would need a lot of TLC (and $$$). Even if you can DIY the coach & mechanical stuff, MH tires are "iffy" after 5-6 years. Most MH's have a vast number of places to leak, and most do sooner or later. Rust and especially wood rot will kill one eventually.
Jim, "I couldn't fix your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
|
Handbasket
|
12/01/09 03:04pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Sloppy steering
How many total miles? What brand & type of tires, and at what pressures? How old are the shocks? Does it have a front and /or rear sway bar?
Sorry to be asking so many questions, but I think you'll get better answers if we know more, and all these things affect wind handling.
Jim, "Hello, Incontinence Hotline. Can you hold, please?"
|
Handbasket
|
12/01/09 02:37pm |
Class C Motorhomes
|
 |
RE: WISE GUYS RESPONDING TO POSTS
I'm wondering if the OP here didn't mean "replies to posts" instead of "PM's". The context of his post makes more sense that way.
One problem here is that some folks need to be reminded that there are no vocal tones or facial expressions on the internet. What's taken as a nasty reply _may_ be intended as a joke, but you can't tell that just from the text. That's why we use 'smilies' / emoticons.
Jim, "Boycott shampoo. Demand REAL poo!"
|
Handbasket
|
12/01/09 07:55am |
General RVing Issues
|
 |
RE: Is the shower heads designed to leak?
AIUI, it's to keep you from getting a sudden blast of hot or cold water when you turn it back on.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
|
Handbasket
|
12/01/09 06:11am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Road Trek step-down design
That's a 'feature' of their dropped floor in all RT's built in Dodge Ram Vans (all, AFAIK), needed to clear a frame member that can't be cut. The '02 & later Chevys have a smooth dropped floor, except for smaller steps up into the cab & rear area.
Jim, "Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7 of your life."
|
Handbasket
|
11/30/09 08:58am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: I watched some idiot dump his trailer off the hitch today.
Consider this. These people vote!
Scarier still, they reproduce. Assuming they live long enough, that is. Some of them Darwinate themselves, but never enough to clear the gene pool.
I live near Home Depot. Their exit is uphill to a light. I've lost track of the number of times I've seen some fool dump a load of lumber off a pickup or flatbed there. In a curve near Lowe's Friday, I saw a couple of shattered concrete blocks and what I think was a busted bag of mortar.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
|
Handbasket
|
11/30/09 04:50am |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Rialta
A few Rialta owners, former owners, and would-have-been owners have posted that there's sometimes difficulty finding shops to work on the chassis. Most VW dealers and indie specialist shop don't have bays or lifts big enough to handle them. Anything less than the V-6 may be sluggish. Aside from that and the smallish tanks, there doesn't seem to be much said that's bad about them. There's a Yahoo auto group for owners at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Rialta/?yguid=179106809 (I hope that link works).
Jim, "I couldn't fix your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
|
Handbasket
|
11/29/09 08:13pm |
Class C Motorhomes
|
|
RE: more newbe help-flats
And usually your ERS only covers mounting _your_ inflated spare in place of the flat. If they have to break down a tire and patch it, or supply a new tire & wheel, that'll extra $$$.
Jim, "Would a wingless fly be called a walk?"
|
Handbasket
|
11/29/09 05:43pm |
Class C Motorhomes
|
|
RE: US 40 in TN and NC
The I-81 / I-26 detour adds 53 miles, according to the NCDOT. At a total guess, it's at least 3 months from being cleared. The guesses were 4 months right after it happened about a month ago.
I-26 is pretty high up at the NC/TN line where it crosses Sams Gap. There were flurries there on T'giving afternoon already. But the NCDOT has assigned extra trucks to clearing that stretch if it does snow, since there's a lot more traffic there with 40 closed.
You can also stay on I-81 into VA and come down
I-77 to return to I-40 at Statesville, NC. It adds more miles, but you avoid I-26 with its curvy climb over the mountains. There's just a long straight downgrade as you approach the NC line from VA.
Jim, "Old age comes at a bad time."
|
Handbasket
|
11/29/09 05:37pm |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: back on the 4x4 topic....
With a 4" lift, you may take a slightly bigger hit on mpg (even more wind resistance). It'll probably drive more 'top-heavy', too. I'd budget for added/bigger sway bars.
Your tranny coolers sound good, but the lines may have to be rerouted to make room for the front driveshaft.
Yep, for sure keep us informed as you go along.
Jim, "Support wildlife... throw a party!"
|
Handbasket
|
11/29/09 01:21pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: back on the 4x4 topic....
I'm fairly sure that the 'earthroamer' term in the Revcon ad is used as an adjective, not a brand name. Personally I'd avoid it. Just too much potential for 'issues' with a chassis modded that way and that much, as well as the coach. No telling what kind of treatment it's had over the years, but I doubt it's been handled gently. That one should go to someone with pretty extensive DIY skills and tools.
I'd keep looking at the idea of converting yours. IIRC, it's a 22' C on an E350? So the conversion is well-understood and pretty standard, using mostly OEM parts. If it has post-conversion driveability issues, they can almost certainly be cured by fairly minor tweaking. I would suggest avoiding lifting it too much, since that can hurt handling.
Drawbacks? Expect to lose 1-2 mpg to added weight and wind & mechanical resistance. If you really off-road it, expect more leaks and plumbing problems due to racking stresses on the frame; these won't be near as bad on a short C as a longer unit, tho'. Likely to end up with a stiffer ride, which may not be all bad. A few more maintenance items, maybe more grease fittings.
The big advantage is that it's affordable....
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
|
Handbasket
|
11/29/09 05:38am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Using the truck camper in the winter
.....
Somebody posted on another thread thats it much cheaper to use windshield washer fluid in toilet. No personal experience here - just passing it on, but it does makes sense.
There was some discussion about this on the Class B forum 2-3 winters ago. Someone posted "what if" concerns about WS washer fluid's compatibility with the material used in the toilet seals & dump valve seals. IIRC. someone else was worried about dumping it into their home septic system. I don't think there was ever any conclusive argument presented either way. Just something more to worry about.... ;)
(Yes, I've done it with no apparent damage.)
Jim, "Will an exhaust brake make my generator run quieter?"
|
Handbasket
|
11/28/09 07:18am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Any feedback about Advanced 4x4 in SLC?
This is the first I've heard of them. I started to post a link to the Vans forum on Expedition Portal, but I see you've already found it. I think I'd try asking there, too.
Also, ExPo member 'ujoint' (Chris, I think) sells 4x4 conversion kits for E-Fords for DIY / local shop installation. AIUI, he reconditions & beefs up used F-series front drive axles & transfer cases, and adds some needed components. There was a thread where he was mentioned over on the Class C forum within the past 2 weeks. Should be 3-4 pages back if you want to look for it. It included some of his prices for an E-350, IIRC.
Good luck with it!
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
(On edit: My bad. I think the thread above was in Tech, and started as a question about mounting a travel trailer on a 4x4 medium-duty truck. As much activity as that forum gets, it's probably impossible to find, and I don't recall the OP's name.)
|
Handbasket
|
11/28/09 06:26am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: locked keys in lesharo
.....Volkswagen chassis?
Yes. The V-6 is pretty peppy,according to a friend who's worked on one. I followed one up US 441 on the NC side the GSMNP, and it never slowed down.
Of course, yes, they & the LeSharo are C's. W'bago started with a VW or Renault FWD van cab-only. Dunno whose back axle & suspension were used.
Jim, "Will an exhaust brake make my generator quieter?"
|
Handbasket
|
11/27/09 06:20pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Replacing Onan Microlite 2800 Spark Plug
Tom, it's been about 5 years since I changed the plug on my previous 2.8, but I don't recall any memorable problem with the process once I found the hole. This was an underfloor mount on a Roadtrek. I think I used a 4" extension and a small plug socket for the plug. I _may_ have used needle-nose pliers to R&R the plug wire. The fact that I can't recall says that it probably wasn't a problem on mine, I think. I clearly recall struggling with and cussing the lower hose clamp on the fuel filter.... But I do dread changing the plug in the current one, since it sits atop the grey tank.
Jim, "The last law of product design... If you can't fix it, it's a 'feature'."
|
Handbasket
|
11/27/09 12:10pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: locked keys in lesharo
Not sure, but I think the twin sister to the W'bago LeSharo was the Itasca Pulsar, which John may have been thinking about. Slightly different front-end styling.... and the very first RV I found in a local classified paper when I started looking for a "small RV" 'way back when. Fortunately they didn't answer the phone when I called, so I took time to do some web research....
Jim, "Caution! Do not look into laser beam with remaining eye!"
|
Handbasket
|
11/27/09 11:25am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Signs of the times
The 'loop' on US 441 on the TN side of the Smokies....
http://i48.tinypic.com/2meb8qt.jpg
Jim, "Speed on, Fool. He** ain't half-full yet."
|
Handbasket
|
11/27/09 08:01am |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: Van conversion rental
Here's a link to Roadtrek's site for locating rentals... http://www.roadtrek.com/rental_locator.aspx.
I suspect the other major mfg'rs may have similar info on their sites.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
|
Handbasket
|
11/27/09 07:42am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: High Mileage Sprinter RV's
Have you seen Vulcanman's post in this thread? http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23269152/page/4.cfm I'm pretty sure the last paragraph is in reference to Sprinters in hi-mileage commercial service, tho' of course I've no idea of its accuracy.
I do know from years-back personal experience that businesses with multiple drivers keeping vehicles on the road 20+ hours a day 6-7 days a week can run odometers up _really_ quickly. They also accumulate a lot of experience with a particular model's strengths & weaknesses very fast, without emotional bias.
You might try a PM to member 'Patster', specifying I-5 or V-6 if he doesn't chime in on this thread.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
|
Handbasket
|
11/27/09 06:45am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Replacing Onan Microlite 2800 Spark Plug
IIRC, it requires thinking outside the box, quite literally in this case. There's an access hole in the bottom of the black metal pan. Go in from outside, underneath. There may be a plug in the hole that has to be popped out.
Sorry, I'm no help on the plug #.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
|
Handbasket
|
11/27/09 05:28am |
Tech Issues
|
