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RE: Sacrifice-able Items In Your 'B'
On our Excel-TD (twin bed model).
Removed the extra cushions so it is just two twin beds, and leave the table up full time. at night we don't have to do anything to change into the sleeping mode.
that small front table and post. never use it.
The Antenna and the TV: Vacation is for doing things that are different. we read books (very old-school!)
The awing:B-vans are for traveling. never stay in one place long enough to bother putting it up.
I wish I could take out the carpet. silliest thing ever put into a B-Van. A constant effort not to get it dirty moving in and out of the van. we have ours covered with throw rugs that never stay in place.
I haven't removed the water heater buy I never fill it - save 50 lbs. of weight riding over that left rear tire that is already near it's limit on the Excel.
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Mtn Hiker
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09/13/09 06:37pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: difference between wheel spacers and stabilizer?
I've had the Safe-T-Plus on my 2005 Excel for 30,000 miles and no pump failures.
never the less, I would not recommend a steering stabilizer (for this particular van at least) as it did not improve handling one iota - and it cost over $500 installed. ouch! it was the dealer's brilliant idea. :-(
Spacers, on the other hand make a lot of sense to me as they do put the track width in alignment, and may very well help with that tracking problem mentioned on heavily grooved roads.
I did not notice a significant improvement in handling - kind of a maybe, maybe not thing - but still they make sense, and the van looks better too.
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Mtn Hiker
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08/25/09 07:08pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Super Track Wheel Spacers
I had spacers mounted on my 2004 Excel by a local tire dealer, and have had no problems with them. I did have them re-torqued with the first tire rotation after that installation.
Sorry to say they did not help the handling much. what really did help handling is your second idea, the Michelin XPS RiBS! you are going to love those!
And BTW, you do not need extra pressure in the front tires with these, as is often recommended on this forum to improve Excel handling. go by the manufactures door sticker pressure.
One other thing that has helped me a great deal, is the Roadmaster Active Suspension. with the XPS tires and the Roadmaster, now even my DW is willing to help with the driving. just finished a 6,700 mile trip out west and the van really drove well.
good luck.
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Mtn Hiker
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08/24/09 07:28pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Pleasure Way Stability
The technical bulletin (available from Pleasure-Way) on front alignment settings recommends not installing steering dampers.
quote: “Note: Do not install steering damper”.
I have the Safe-T-Plus steering damper on my Excel and it has no effect on handling.
I believe the purpose of these devices is to help the driver maintain control of the steering when encountering rough roads, potholes, etc. And during a tire failure.
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Mtn Hiker
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07/13/09 11:14am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Pleasure Way Stability
I also had the Goodyear Wranglers and the sidewalls cracked at only four years old. I replaced them with Michelin XPS RiBS which improved the handling quite a bit, and was the best “fix” that I did of many in an attempt to improve the handling.
I was told the caster and camber could not be changed on the E-350 without replacing the suspension parts. Is this correct? The only thing that was adjustable on my van was the Toe setting.
I would like to hear from someone who has had the caster or camber adjusted without actually replacing the parts. I’ll find a new front end man!
The reports here of some E-350s that handle well and some that don’t is really a mystery. I blame the whole thing on the rather loose, old, and out of date, 1960s designed Ford van front suspension and steering mechanism. Lots of slack in the steering, so steering corrections are constant. BTW, The steering box is as tight as the mechanic said it could be on mine.
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Mtn Hiker
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07/08/09 08:25pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Pleasure Way quality
I have a 2004 Excel TD, and have applied Safe-T-Steer, rear wheel spacers, two front end alignments, steering box adjusted properly, Blistien shocks, Roadmaster Active Suspension, and various tire and airbag pressure experiments, and all-steel belted tires.
Of that group the tires with the steel sidewalls - Michelin XPS RIBS - helped the most, with the Roadmaster Active suspension coming in second. The rest of the group did not impress me as doing much if any good.
Good luck and happy trails,
Mountain hiker
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Mtn Hiker
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07/04/09 07:33pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: New Tires: General Grabbers HTS
quote: "Two years ago after living with bad handling, I replaced the Michelins"
and which model Michelin tire was that?
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Mtn Hiker
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06/18/09 07:17pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: New Tires: General Grabbers HTS
May I suggest that you do a search for these tires on the entire RV.NET site, not just the Class B site.
I have not used the General Grabbers, but did upgrade to Michelin XPS RIBS, which are also have a stiffer sidewall. I am very happy with those over the factory issue tire.
good luck
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Mtn Hiker
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06/15/09 11:19am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Roadmaster Active Suspension System user feedback
The Roadmaster Active Suspension is the latest handling aid that I have installed on my 2004 Excel.
I would say it helped but did not "cure" the "problem". but it was the second most helpful of all I have done.
The most helpful, and the what made a biggest difference and an improved driving experience, was replacing the stock, synthetic cord, soft-sidewall tires, with tires that are All-steel belted. that is all steel cord in the sidewall tires.
I went with LT245 / 75R16 Michelin XPS RIB RADIAL. $1,122 / mounted and balanced.
excellent choice. immediately I noticed the van tracked straighter cornered better and resisted side-to-side swaying more. Also a smoother and quieter ride, and improved gas mileage too.(I'm hitting trip average mpg numbers I never hit before.)
with these tires you will not need to go beyond the tire pressure listed on the door panel for the front tires - 55 psi, now works fine and the ride is better.
the "fixes" in the order I tried them and the results:
#1. Safe-T-Steer. the P-Way dealer's bright idea...did nothing, cost $550
#2 Front end alignment. (the toe was all that was out). could not detect an improvement.
#2 Wheel spacers. $402 installed. Maybe slight improvement in sway and cornering. very slight.
#3 Another alignment - different shop - same thing - no improvement.
#4. Blistein Shock absorbers. Did not notice much, if any difference. A little less bouncy is all. $532 installed.
#5 The Michelin tires mentioned above. immediate improvement.
#6 The Roadmaster. I could feel a difference, but I had to call the company, and have him call my installer, to authorize more preload adjustment on the springs. they opened up the preload from the standard 2 mm to 3 mm. Sway and handling are both improved.
With the all-steel tires and Roadmaster I do not have to over inflate my airbags and front tires. the stock factory recommended pressures will work well, and the ride will be smoother the Roadmaster only slightly lifts the rear ride height. you will still need pressure in the airbags.
Caveat: when the flags are blowing straight out, and that wind is crossing the highway, you will still get kicked around.... I'm afraid it's just the nature of the beast ... but it's temper will be moderated with the items I listed above as helpful.
Good Luck.
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Mtn Hiker
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06/14/09 03:46pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: low-point drain on PleasureWay Excel
thanks for info on that elbow. the 2004 manual was mute on the subject.
I drain the fresh water tank, then run the pump with all the sink valves open until it spits nothing but air, and then put pink anti-freeze into the traps. that works in Northern Florida where low rarely exceeds -0.7 C, (20 F) -- but may not in Calgary!
now that I discovered those low point drains that process should be quicker.
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Mtn Hiker
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06/14/09 02:27pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Different tire pressures front & rear?
the documentation you seek is located at the tire manufactures web site. At Michelin for instance you can find a chart for your specific tire model listing load versus pressure.
but as stated earlier, on a B-van, the rear most likely needs to taken to the max on stated on the sidewall, just as the sticker on the door panel states. as an example, my B-van carries 62% of its weight on the rear axle and only 38% on the front. It needs the full 80 psi to carry its load at the rear.
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Mtn Hiker
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06/08/09 07:13pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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low-point drain on PleasureWay Excel
I discovered two values under my 2004 Excel - left rear, just aft of the propane tank and forward of water heater.
Is this a low-point drain that will empty the entire water plumbing system?
My 2004 owners manual makes no reference to these values, like they are not even there!
And can they be used for winterizing. so as to eliminate the need for RV anti-freeze in the water lines?
I understand that the P-traps still will need anti-freeze, but this will sure make it a lot easier to winterize since P-Way did not provide a suction hose and value like i have on my Sunnybrook trailer, that I can just stick into a jug of anti-freeze, turn a value, and pump it into the whole system.
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Mtn Hiker
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06/05/09 01:04pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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