Head West Not So Young Man 2

[daugen]

Not what I was expecting. I was thinking one of those full sized bus type monsters.

criteria was had to be small enough to get in places, so I didn't need to pull a car/towed/toad. Have a bum right arm and hard to grip things, so all the hooking
and unhooking simply is out for me. Also had to get decent fuel mileage, and this one gets 17mpg on the road. My last gas motorhome got 9mpg and the hemi pulling the trailer got between 9 and 11. When you are going as far as I am, that's a lot of fuel to consider.

big diesel pushers, the bus type monsters, are amazing inside. But they all break, even the million dollar ones from Texas and those built on the Prevost
chassis. Prevost is the Mercedes of big bus motorhomes. Even the used ones are expensive.
Since I never could afford, nor did I like the flashinesss that comes along with a million dollar motorhome,
I'll do what most of us do when we go to rv shows, drool.
It's a huge heavily depreciating asset, need deep pockets to enjoy one of those.

However, very different driving experience. Somewhat detached, quieter with engine in rear. The quieter operation would be nice.
MB engine very quiet when running, gentle knock at idle. I'm having problems with severe tinnitus and don't want to make assumptions
on rv when it clearly may be all in my head.

My rv drives more like a nicely performing bread van, not a lux home on wheels. More agile, which is very good,
but not so well insulated from the road. Plus the big rigs have better seats. I think I have MB's standard seat, though it has lots
of manual adjustments including height and lumbar. But the seat bottoms are way too short. Like it was made for smaller people...
And aftermarket seats are nonexistent due to proprietary seat wiring, connected to safety systems, only one I found was 1800 for seat. No.
I do think I'll put a sheepskin seat cover on this one to at least make it cooler to sit on. Get spoiled with heated/ventilated seats...

What I'm not getting on this is a lot of interior storage room, both prior rv's had lots more.
So I have to be creative with nice plastic bins that will store up on small berth above. No one will ever sleep there, so
I'll use it for storage, which is what I was told it was normally used for.
So everything lightweight goes up high, all the heavy stuff in the lower cabinets. So extra clothing, coats, etc will go in bins
up high. Extra tp, can't get much lighter than that...
Might be nice to figure out a way to rig up a curtain that will go across and hide that area. It has a metal end bar that keeps things/people
from rolling out, but otherwise is likely to be a potential messy spot. And I'm a better piler than a filer...

I learned lower center of gravity on a boat and it sure applies to motorhomes.

friend coming over for coffee this morning and taking pity on me, helping me make bed. I'm terrible with sheets, but then everyone always makes the
bottoms too tight and your toes get scrunched over, so I wind up kicking it loose anyway. Sound familiar?...
But I can never get it that nice to begin with. I'm widowed and miss the female help.

thanks Buckeye.

 

[daugen]

some interior pics after bed made

hope to be heading to tire dealer early tomorrow to get tires put on

managed to get both tvs to work on antenna programming, mostly UNC channels.
They are both identical 32 inch Jensen tvs, 12VDC, modest resolution but ok
Now to see if I can get the dvd to work, or if it even exists.
That was another one where trainer said he couldn't find it....

 

[daugen]

new Michelins put on this morning. Immediate improvement in turn in, turn the wheel and immediate response vs delay with oem, maybe rode
a little quieter, hard to tell (dealing with very bad tinnitus that amplifies certain noises, so I can't blame rv for something in my head...)

what I do know is tread is measurably more aggressive, optimized for grip vs long life, and I will thank that grip ten times over if I'm creeping along in a snowstorm
in Colorado or a downpour anywhere.

Finding it very easy to drive rv around our small city/big town. Engine has plenty of torque to get moving, though I think that transmission first gear must be seriously high, you hear the engine wind up right away and you are moving. Then it doesn't bog much in second, V6 diesel
is putting out full torque and it continues to gain speed acceptably.
Leadfoots behind me will be aggravated but I am not going to redline the engine just to keep them happy. Take a chill pill friend.
Now if I needed to, no one waited for the travel trailer with the hemi. My did that engine make a wonderful
bellowing noise, as I unashamedly sucked down vast quantities of petroleum keeping up with traffic.

I've had folks come right up behind the travel trailer and follow me twenty feet behind doing 70. Finally I have to put my four way flashers on to get
them away from me. Are they drafting? I think they would be surprised how much better modern trucks stop, Volvo has a wonderful video on this.
You'd better not tailgate a truck or you will eat their hitch if you aren't paying attention.
So many bad drivers, just nice to get over in right lane and let everyone just go by.
I really enjoy life in the slow lane.
Though as we've mentioned, my slow seems like the autobahn for European rv's.

 

[EddieWalker]

had to get decent fuel mileage, and this one gets 17mpg on the road.

That's amazing!!! My F150 with 5.0 gas engine only gets 17 mpg. Before that I had a Powerstroke diesel in 4x4 F250 that got close to 20 mpg, but only if I drove it steady on flat ground on the highway empty.

 

[daugen]

plus this is basically carrying a full load all the time. I'm certainly running with dry tanks if I can, though I always leave a quarter tank, just a little, of water, to wash my hands or flush the toilet. Otherwise I'm on a hose connected to campground water.

stopped in a local carpet shop, ordered a 4 foot by 9 foot piece of carpet bound, met criteria of soft backing so easy to roll up.
Beigey brown with a little grey in it, one of their lighter colors. I should get about three feet leftover, will use that perhaps to line closets.

 

[daugen]

off to slather the new tires with 303, like to do that when they are new, don't like shiny look, and
it seems to work well. Haven't put slides out yet since I came home this morning, intentionally, so I can work in outside storage compartments on slide side
of rv. Otherwise you have to stoop way down, or crawl, to get under the slide to get to the cabinets. Common problem, just made worse by a small rv where you are sitting closer to the ground.

It's pretty hot out and I have the a/c set at 80 in there, and it's running pretty regularly. I'm still packing things away so want to keep it cool.
Problem is it's sitting out in open sun. When stored, it will be under a shed and out of sun, and I'll run a dehumidifier while it's stored.

luck of the draw which way you are parked in a campground but on hot sunny day it really helps to put out the awning and keep 14 feet of that side out of the sun.
Plus I keep all the retractable shades in the cab drawn

 

[daugen]

some additional pics

confirmed today salon stereo defective, won't play CD's or DVD's, can't get past Loading.
Poor quality Jensen unit, not flattering reviews, will have to get it changed out.
This is why I was so disappointed that they checked nothing on this unit before I got it, and shame on me for not taking
a CD and DVD with me to test it then.

Interesting that max psi on tire is 80 psi, door sticker says 61 psi, and I have 60 in there now with zero sidewall flex.
Of course the aftermarket tpms system seems to be faulty also so I can't tell what the pressure is, end of valve now covered with black plastic round sensor and no way to check/add air. I need to figure that out promptly.

 

[B7510HSD]

Drew you mentioned using glue to hold screws that were loose in the walls of the RV what glue do you use??? I hate having to make a new hole and leaving the old one the glue sounds like the ticket!!!

 

[daugen]

Steve, sorry to take so long to come back, actually first attempt at putting in screw unsuccessful, pulled out on me, very chancy putting longer screws in, no idea what's
back there. So I still have two screws to put back in, will use epoxy on them and try not to dribble it on anything...

Successful however upgrading the stereo system today. First, now that everything is put in the right position on various switchers, I actually have picture and sound.
But the sound was awful. The oem Jensens were plastic backed, perhaps to make them water resistant, but they were laughably light in weight.
Best part was I had these 5 1/4 Infinity speakers up on the shelf, never got put in on a prior car. So, while not the better ones I was looking at, glad I used these as
there was a wood obstruction behind the speaker hole and I'm not sure a larger magnet would have cleared.

This model two way speaker has an aimable tweeter, or at least it's mounted on an angle. Since the right speaker is all the way over by the entrance
door, very helpful to be able to aim tweeter back into center of room.

Also ordered a small powered subwoofer because that was easier than replacing lots of other parts with bigger and more expensive. And I thought this thing was quite reasonable, will go between the two front seats, to the rear, lots of room down there, just have to remember not to step on it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073W5PVMP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm taking the rv back to the tire dealer Friday to get the tpms sensors taken off, one won't stop alarming. Plus I think they are messing up the front wheel balance as I have a totally unacceptable shake at 65. No intentions of wrecking these nice new Michelins so that is a priority, even if I have to go to MB dealership in Raleigh.
I'm hoping shake goes away with those two fairly heavy sensors not flying around like big wheel weights.

 

[B7510HSD]

Thanks drew will give some 2 pat epoxy a try see if that helps!!

 

[Jim Nelson]

Hey Drew,you didn't sneak in a quick west coast trip in last weekend did you? We were driving south on I-15 about 45 miles north of San Diego and passed an R.V. that looked a lot like yours, Nice looking rig.

 

[daugen]

thanks Jim. I'll be there mid to late April. Haven't finalized this at all but this map is my first pass.

 

[daugen]

spent a lot of hours sorting out things inside the rv, figuring out the micro/convection oven, making sure the water pump worked.
Put enough water in to just light up 1/3 tank indicator. Just drive around water, for bathroom and maybe kitchen at a rest stop.
I am going to test shower water pressure both ways, by internal pump or campground water. If the campground has low water pressure,
I've turned on the pump in the past. But it does mean throwing a manifold valve, and that valve is very stiff at the moment.

called over a dozen places today trying to find someone with a commercial truck bay big enough to align this rv, hopefully to get rid of front end shimmy.
Did the same with oem tires and with replacement Michelins, so it's not the tires, and I trust the shop who put them on.
Either way, I'm getting it aligned and the wheels rebalanced, and sending the bill, as instructed by dealer, to Dynamax was a warranty claim.

Nice to be able to go on Google Maps and do a streetview of business. I'm hoping those taller doors are 12 footers.
Google Maps

55 miles away, a bit inconvenient for sure

close friend sent me this article:
Why are RVs so poorly made? - Curbed

 

[3930dave]

spent a lot of hours sorting out things inside the rv, figuring out the micro/convection oven, making sure the water pump worked.
Put enough water in to just light up 1/3 tank indicator. Just drive around water, for bathroom and maybe kitchen at a rest stop.
I am going to test shower water pressure both ways, by internal pump or campground water. If the campground has low water pressure,
I've turned on the pump in the past. But it does mean throwing a manifold valve, and that valve is very stiff at the moment.

called over a dozen places today trying to find someone with a commercial truck bay big enough to align this rv, hopefully to get rid of front end shimmy.
Did the same with oem tires and with replacement Michelins, so it's not the tires, and I trust the shop who put them on.
Either way, I'm getting it aligned and the wheels rebalanced, and sending the bill, as instructed by dealer, to Dynamax was a warranty claim.

Nice to be able to go on Google Maps and do a streetview of business. I'm hoping those taller doors are 12 footers.
Google Maps

55 miles away, a bit inconvenient for sure

close friend sent me this article:
Why are RVs so poorly made? - Curbed

Not your first rodeo d, but that article should be required reading for any newbie RV'ers before they sign on the line.....

The comments about handling reminded me of the F250s I used to shuttle for my wrench buddy, back to the RV dealer he had a contract with. A few units had BIG (really BIG) slide-in campers on back. Cg on those (super tall, marble counters.....) slide-ins was crazy ! Just sloooowwwlllllyyyyy driving through a dirt lot with a few minor potholes...... you'd swear you were on a sailboat in gusting wind. Talking with the service Mgr at the RV dealer, I said "What happens if you have to do an emergency lane-change at 70mph ?" - he just rolled his eyes........ so yep, I can understand certain RVs needing out of the box suspension upgrades......

Let us know how goes with the alignment....... can't exactly picture that front end (suspension) in my mind.... does yours have a steering stabilizer ?

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

no idea Dave, I had one installed on my first motorhome, the Ford based one.
I'll find out perhaps tomorrow.

 

[daugen]

What happens if you have to do an emergency lane-change at 70mph ?

just like I would on my 46 Bertram, hard to starboard! Boat leans over, stuff makes lots of crashy noises down below,
wife starts yelling, yup, just like a big boat...one with no stabilizers that is.

You tube rv crash videos are very unsettling. Not only does the entire thing come apart in splinters,
but often it's due to over correcting on an emergency turn.


I hope to never find out but I do know the turn-in on the Michelins I installed is significantly better than the oem Continentals, so there
is a slightly quicker response. Too me it's all about putting heavy stuff down low, keep the CG as low as possible. Otherwise my Sprinter based
rv might handle a little better than the Fords or big pushers. Not like anyone tests them at all.
We need Top Gear to take out a bunch of them, all the letters, and do some handling tests.

Of course that's likely to be dry weight. My last travel trailer had so much storage room inside you could put enough in there to blow the tires
if you wanted to. And folks see a big closet, or bin, and they are going to stuff stuff in there.
Just keep the case of pork and beans in the lower cabinets please... I do wonder how many rv's, particularly family ones, go out on the road
overloaded, which clearly works against safe handling, stopping distances, etc.

carpet shop just called, runner rug is done, bound and ready to be picked up. Headed out to get it.

 

[daugen]

Fixed. No wiggle at all now.
Front end was a little out, but there were unable to balance new Michelins without a small amount of tire shaving, which
they said is not uncommon on truck tires. News to me, but it runs beautifully now, 114 dollar bill going to Dynamax.
Thankfully Kinston Wheel Alignment has a 14 foot door.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Good they were able to get r done.

 

[3930dave]

Fixed. No wiggle at all now.
Front end was a little out, but there were unable to balance new Michelins without a small amount of tire shaving, which
they said is not uncommon on truck tires. News to me, but it runs beautifully now, 114 dollar bill going to Dynamax.
Thankfully Kinston Wheel Alignment has a 14 foot door.

:thumbsup: Rgds, D.

 

[Molalla1]

Fixed. No wiggle at all now.
Front end was a little out, but there were unable to balance new Michelins without a small amount of tire shaving, which
they said is not uncommon on truck tires. News to me, but it runs beautifully now, 114 dollar bill going to Dynamax.
Thankfully Kinston Wheel Alignment has a 14 foot door.

That's great . . . your rig does look very nice. :thumbsup: