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Date Posted |
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RE: Fuel Mileage?
'08 30'
7.3 mpg almost no matter what/where (using scangauge too).
Also seems under powered; can't hold 55 mph foot to floor on the gentle upgrades out west.
But it's quiet.
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spotrot
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11/26/09 07:32am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Ford 460 vs V10 1st vs V10 2nd gen
My suggestion is for newer also, especially for the wider track and disc brakes. Before purchasing an 08 V-10, my research said they hold up.
FYI my mileage is 7.3 (30') almost no matter what I do, where I go. I feel the rig is underpowered can't even maintain 55 foot to floor in some of the western gentle grades.
My only comparision is to a 99 Chev 454. Better mileage, more power (but on a 25'), but (disc) brakes and track were not as good.
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spotrot
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11/26/09 07:28am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 4 months too long to let disconnected batteries sit?
Special thanks to
garry1p
DraginRat
Geruka
Sum1
Skipnchar
You provided exactly what I hoped for: actual experience not guesses.
It appears to be a very good chance my batteries will survive over the winter.
Regarding the size of a solar panel, this unit was sold in Camping World and showed its use on a full size battery. The 35 ma was its actual measured output into a fully charged battery, not the ‘claimed’ output. In any case, if it takes over six months for a good battery to self discharge, it certainly doesn’t need 1 amp for a float or maintenance charge. And if a panel did output 1 amp, it would be wise to have it regulated so as to not overcharge the battery.
Thanks to all for your comments - great people on this forum.
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spotrot
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11/24/09 09:49am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: trickle charge batteries
Some critical info is missing to answer this accurately.
If both batteries are 12v (like in our 08 Itasca), they are connected in parallel and you can connect the charger plus lead to either positive terminals and the same for the negative.
If both are 6v, they are connected in series. You need to see which pos and neg battery terminals are cabled connected together, then connect the charger plus lead to the other positive terminal and the charger negative lead to the other negative terminal.
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spotrot
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11/23/09 07:23am |
Class A Motorhomes
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4 months too long to let disconnected batteries sit?
Sure, a battery tender would have been the best thing but the place we stored the RV didn't have power available.
Knowing that beforehand, we drove to a CampingWorld and bought a SUNFORCE 'solar battery maintainer' that mounts inside. Before I purchased it I called the tech line and a rather snooty person told me it did have a blocking diode to prevent discharge The instructions inside later confirmed this.
So I bought it and when we stored our '08 RV, I disconnected the batteries at their terminals and tested the solar panel. It only charged about 35 ma in full sun outdoors (and it needs to be indoors where it would charge less) but drained about 8 ma when not charging. Based on that, I figured it may drain more charge than it replaces. We had to leave for the airport, so I left all 3 12v batteries and the AGM motorcyle battery disconnected.
I'm guessing the AGM might make it, but does anyone have experience with how long fairly new standard batteries hold a decent enough charge not to be harmed?
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spotrot
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11/23/09 07:14am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Short Class A
Our 24' Fleetwood Flair, 1999, with Chevy 454, 4 wheel discs was a great size class A and well laid out. It was not a high-end rig but got us where we wanted to go (and into US park camprgounds where bigger rigs were not allowed.)
In 2000, workhorse chassis went to a wider front track, bigger sway bars and shocks (all very desirable) and a 501 cu in Chev.
'Should be able to find these at a very reasonable price.
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spotrot
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11/16/09 07:56am |
Class A Motorhomes
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Jacks down for temp storage?
Searched but did not find this topic:
Advantages/disadvantages of placing jacks down for temporary (2-4 week) storage.
Here is all I could think of:
Pro:
less likely to permanently flat spot tires (my Goodyear G670 RV 245/70R19 tires have been a problem from the start)
Con:
Jack fluid leaking past the seals
Exposed polished jack surfaces rusting or getting gritty
Thanks,
John
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spotrot
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08/27/09 03:53pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Chevy Workhorse vs Ford V-10
RE: something is wrong with your v10
Maybe, but no error codes, tires inflated, air cleaner clean, new but broken in (18k miles).
More specifics from my notes:
Had to have pedal completely to the floor in a lower gear to maintain 60 mph on 75 mph I 40
Many times (and approaching Flagstaff, it was most of the time) 3.7 mpg in a 15 mph est headwind, even on flat surfaces (checked with gps) could not maintain even 65 in top gear (i.e. it had to downshift to maintain 65 mph on a flat road with a headwind).
I wish it was different; I'm just reporting the facts.
I'd take it to a Ford dealer but all the 'techs' will do is plug into the OBD and say no error codes - must be OK.
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spotrot
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08/04/09 07:54am |
Class A Motorhomes
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Storage in Las Vegas
Very pleased with Gerke's RV Storage 9-5
Carport $150mo. or Inside Storage $8 lineal ft. x 32 =$256 mo.They will park it and bring out to the gate for pick-up 4755 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103, Phone: ( 702) 364-2515
take Decataur one block south of Flamingo, turn east into driveway
From I-15 exit Flamingo Road West, left on Arville, right on Nevso... between Cameron and Decatur (take 2nd driveway on your right)
I used their inside storage. Note: It's in a fenced area that also has several auto businesses. The area is not showy but the people are good. One shop can do work while it's there too (I did not use them).
John
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spotrot
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08/03/09 01:25pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Chevy Workhorse vs Ford V-10
My experience:
454 (Chev) in a 1999 25' Flair - power very adequate
V-10 (Ford) in a 2008 30' Itasca - very underpowered (with no toad) - often can't maintain 65 mph on 75 mph hiways out west (foot glued to the floor and motor downshifted)
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spotrot
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08/03/09 01:13pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Ford V-10 review after 15k: underpowered and a gas hog
I very much appreciate the feedback that gave specifics. It seems like there is quite a bit of variation in owner experiences, and that alone is useful to know.
My specifics are: 2008 Itasca 30B, 15,000 miles, Ford V-10, motorcycle on a rack (600 lb. total) but the RV was otherwise lightly loaded, tanks under 1/3
"Gas mileage in the low 7's even driving on flat Florida highways at about 63 mph." From the feedback, that sounds like maybe on the low end but not too surprising.
"With a headwind often couldn't maintain 65 mph on basically flat roads (checked with GPS) with the pedal glued to the floor. Going up inclines, the pedal had to be completely to the floor in a lower gear to maintain 60 mph." From the feedback, that sounds like maybe on the low power end but again not too surprising -- and maybe the headwind or its effect was stronger than I thought.
A muffler/converter problem seems unlikely after only 15k. K&N is not my preference because it simplies filters less -- and I may want to keep this RV.
I hesitate to take it again to a Ford dealer because most dealership techs/mechanics just check OBD trouble codes on problems this and there are none.
It was definately not in the Tow/Haul mode (as an aside, one other post suggested using this in the city, but my experience is that it's better left off if the city driving gets up to 45 mph often) but the "relearning" suggestion is interesting, the details of how the learning works are pretty vague.
After more monitoring on the upcoming trip, and if I find anything useful, I'll repost.
Thanks,
John
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spotrot
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06/02/09 08:55am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Only by luck I didn't kill someone: awning popped open
On my previous RV, I drilled one 1/4 hole through both the arm and the rafter (at a convenient-to-reach height) and then installed a stainless steel bolt, washers & nut to secure them together. It only took 15 minutes to do; only a couple minutes to remove and reinstall the bolts when the awning is used. I did this just to stop the rattling when driving, then not knowing of the unfurling issue. However, it seems any arm-lock will not prevent the unfurling which is the most dangerous problem.
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spotrot
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06/02/09 08:11am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Questions on Batteries and Charging
On my 08 Itasca, the alternator charges the house AND engine batteries but the shore power only chares the house bateries (either is easily checked with a volt meter on the respective batteries).
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spotrot
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06/02/09 08:00am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: New to Garmin, ScanGauge & Streets&Trips - like all
Thanks - that sound like it could be the problem.
John
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spotrot
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06/01/09 08:52am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Ford V-10 review after 15k: underpowered and a gas hog
Appreciate the input very much, thanks.
"08 V10 with 362 HP under powered in a 30' MH something wrong"
Yes, that's what I felt too, so the feedback from others is helpful. If I take it to a dealer, the techs will just look for codes and there are none.
In case it's of interest to others, if I tried to use cruise control, it would downshift until the motor was screaming at well over 4000 rpm trying to maintain speed. Without cruise, I could hold the pedal to the floor and it would only downshift one gear keeping rpm more tolerable (in the 3000 range).
If I learn anything useful to others out of this, I'll repost.
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spotrot
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05/31/09 09:40pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Wax the Roof
Question: Why wax it?
If you go up on it for cleaning the roof, cleaning debris off the slide out awning, or other reasons, you're far more likely to slip and hurt yourself - perhaps seriously.
I'd weigh this against the small or maybe nonexistent chance waxing will prevent any serious roof or coating failure.
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spotrot
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05/31/09 09:29pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: equal tire performance
Just me being cynical perhaps, but
1. I can see no scientific explanation that makes sense how Equal or Dyna beads could work
2. I've not seen any objective test results that show statistically significant results that either of these work. Vibration is easy to measure - why is there no proof?
All I've heard is anecdotal. I want to believe but just can't. Look at the Brown gas foolishness. So many people say it works but it doesn't - not a single person has ever proved it does.
Yours, crumudgeonly,
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spotrot
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05/31/09 09:19pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Only by luck I didn't kill someone: awning popped open
Thanks for all the posts; I'm checking them out.
From my limited experience, I'll agree that locking the arms is not sufficient.
When I get back to my RV I'll check John's solution.
And it is sad that the manufacturer's instructions did not say boo about making sure the ratchet lock/pawl is locked - or what the result could be. It would be so simple for the manufacturer to design a fool-proof safety lock.
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spotrot
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05/31/09 09:05pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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New to Garmin, ScanGauge & Streets&Trips - like all
Seraching posts before choosing the above as really helpful so I thought I'd share a newbies first impression of them. S&T first:
Pros:
Much better for trip planning than small screen Garmin GPS
Cons:
Need to zoom in far in to display street names – and often can’t see street names because they are way off screen
Often can’t find well known attractions (e.g. airport, Las Vegas, NV or Lost Creek Winery, TX; Prairie Dog Town, Skyline Drive, Lubbock, TX) but often finds obscure ones too (and shows businesses that no longer exist)
Often plots indirect, silly routes when you could/should stay on one road (e.g. will take you off and back on an interstate - when it is neither quickest nor shortest)
Have to add in way points to get route to go the way you want (or use the 'snap' feature I just learned)
Touch the wrong thing and it changes the screen view -- then you have to figure how to get back (click car icon works sometimes)
City names not always shown - strangely they appear, disappear and then reappear depending on the zoom level
Tip: to zoom in on a particular location in a planned route, click on route list number (e.g. 13) for the desired location to bring right screen to that location, then click on right screen (directions) number to zoom to that location (otherwise it’s zooms way out to display the full map of trip)
Here's the 'snap' "To quickly add stops to a calculated route, select the route on the map (the route's highlighted color changes to blue-green), and then drag the route to the location you want to add. The route is snapped to include the new stop and the directions are automatically updated."
Summary: I'm glad I bought it. There are a lot of irritating things and it is FAR from perfect.
Advice: I'd pay the little extra and get the GPS to connect to your computer even if you have a separate GPS.
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spotrot
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05/31/09 02:30pm |
Technology Corner
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Only by luck I didn't kill someone: awning popped open
My apologies for bringing up a subject that apparantly is well-known to the old pros -- but it was an eye-opener for me. I've owned and driven Class A's since 1999, as have several friends, and never knew this potential deadly hazard existed.
Last week, I was happily driving at highway speed when my 2008 30' got instantly slammed almost 10 feet into the left (passing) lane. I thought a semi had hit me. If any motorcylists had been passing me, they would have been killed or maimed for sure. Any car, SUV or light truck would have been knocked off the road.
The cause: the awning instantly unfurled into a big sail. When I pulled off the road, I expected to see ripped canvas, twisted arms, and brackets and sidewalls torn off. Unbelievably nothing was damaged.
I pulled the awning all the way out (that was a fight in the wind), reeled it back in and them climbed up on the roof. The ratched lock wasn't engaging very well. After I was sure it was locked (i.e. the spool wouldn't rotate), I secured it in place with a metal coat hanger.
Although previously I've driven over 70,000 miles in a RV without this happening, I will never drive a RV without a positive lock on the awning again. Even if the chance of this happening is fairly small (searching the posts suggests it happens to a lot of RV'ers though)the outcome, killing innocent people, is way too much to risk.
PSA over. Still can't believe nothing broke.
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spotrot
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05/31/09 02:11pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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