RE: Xplorer Dual Wheels
Dunno for sure, but until someone who does replies.... the '99 Dodge SRW 1-ton Ram Van my Roadtrek was on used a big semi-floating axle, which surprised me. I expected a full-floater like is pretty much standard on GM & Ford. I think it was a pickup axle, used to save money. That's the one that was famously narrower in the rear than the front. AFAIK, there never was a true DRW axle for that iteration of the Dodge van, since there was no cutaway version.
I _think_ someone has posted that Xplorer and Am Cruiser both added DRW adapters, rather than changing the axle. I guess it's remotely possible that they adapted a full-floating DRW 1-ton pickup axle, but I'd be surprised if they did... it'd be multi-bucks, and there would be an issue with the OEM wheels & spare not fitting both ends, I think.
No one in my memory has posted here about problems with the adapters, or about wheel bearing failures on the Dodge's rear axle with SRW, SRW with spacers, or adapted DRW's. I think there were a very few posts about ring & pinion failures (?) years back; maybe 2 cases?
HTH at least some.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
RE: Winterize Everything!!
So far, knock on wood, I've kept canned carbonated drinks and canned soup & cat food in my 3 RV's overwinter without problem, and in temps as low as +10*F. I keep the drinks in the reefer, so that may insulate things a bit.
One winter I picked up a trick here that may help some folks who like to keep their RV stocked and ready to go... Put the freeze-ables in ziploc bags. For carbonated drinks, set the bags upright, and don't quite close the top completely. This way, if something bursts, the spill is contained, but the carbonation volume can vent.
Jim, "Crowded elevators smell different to midgets."
RE: Mid Atlantic Area to get a Major Snow Storm
My dad is near Franklin/Highlands area. Anyone know what the snow looks like out that way?
TV weather just said 6-8", I think. There's a few more inches coming this evening, but I dunno if it'll extend out that far. I did see a SC weather report this AM that was predicting a high of 36 in Franklin, so there won't be much melting.
Jim, "Mo' coffee."
RE: Exercise the Generator?
So, with a diesel gen set the reason the run the unit is to do what? I don't run the diesel engine all winter and it starts fine with no leaks or noises. Why do I have to run the gen set? What will fail if this is not done on a diesel unit?
If you're in a really dry climate, there's probably not one. But if it's at all wet there, condensation in the electrical part of the generator can be a problem. At the worst, I've read one posting on a usenet RV group by a guy who had a small Onan that seized up solid because the iron laminations of the rotor & stator rusted & swelled up. IIRC, he'd let it sit for a couple of years, tho', and didn't say what climate he was in.
Also keeping the slip rings and brushes polished and free.
I'd suggest checking the manual and following whatever it recommends.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
RE: Mid Atlantic Area to get a Major Snow Storm
10"-12" in Asheville now, may get a little more today. It snowed all day yesterday. Power outages, streets closed, trees down, abandoned cars. I-26 WB south of town was a parking lot last night at 6:30 due to a jack-knifed & stuck semi; they didn't expect to clear until midnight. I-40 closed east of town at Old Fort grade. 500+ wrecks reported last evening, with more by the minute. This is a very, very, wet, heavy, greasy snow that even 4x4's have trouble with.
Jim, "Be the coffee!"
RE: Onan Generator Problems
You may want to go to the Onan web site & order a service manual. Check that and see if yours has a spark arrestor screen in the exhaust. It may need cleaning.
Jim, "Mo'coffee!"
RE: Onan Generator Problems
If it's a still-dirty carb, you _may_ have good results by mixing a ~50/50 mix of gas and a good fuel system cleaner like Seafoam or Techron. Put the fuel line that feeds the Onan's fuel pump into this. Run it for a while, until the cleaner if thoroughly in the carb. Then shut it down and let the solvents work overnight. Run it briefly the next day to refresh the solvents, and stop it again. Repeat each day for a while. This is pretty much what worked for my two used Onan 2800 Microlite's.
You might also ask the moderator to move this to the tech forum, where the real generator experts hang out. They'll want the full nameplate data, tho'.
Jim, "With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine."
RE: Get out the BIG checkbook, guys! ;-)
Well, in fairness to him, remember that this thing sold for somewhere in the $200-$225K range when new, not many were ever built, they don't make 'em any more, and there's no real competition for them in the US market. Yep, it's a very specialized market, but there are a few folks willing to pay the big bucks for that capability or image. But yeah, it's priced.... uhhh, .... 'optimistically'..... ;)
Jim, "Money will buy a fine dog, but it won't make him wag his tail."
RE: RV sidewall
As Booster commented, if it's unibody construction, you're very likely going to have serious problems,up to and including having it 'fold up' on the road. The unibody is a modified monocoque ("stressed skin"). These designs avoid the weight penalty of a frame by transmitting the stress loads thru the sidewalls & roof as well as the floor. The floor and small structural members under it can't do this without the integrated factory roof and sidewalls. Attaching a home-built structure to carry these loads is far beyond most folks' ability. The boxy class C's use a factory cutaway that already has a full frame from the auto maker.
The Transit's competititor, the M-B Sprinter 1500 & 2500, has _very_ strict limitations placed by M-B on how large and where converters can cut holes in the unibody. The 3500's you see as C's or with a big cargo box are factory-designed as cutaways, with a real frame underneath.
On the other hand, if yours is maybe an older model 'Tragic' with a real frame under it, ignore my above and go to it!!! If you've got access to aluminum welding skills, maybe frame the box with 15-20 mmm square AL tubing, making a good solid extension of the upper front of that frame for the overcab bunk. For a homebuilt, skin it with flat AL or FRP sheets, and fasten them with adhesive backed up with screws. Cover the interior with thin wood paneling, and insulate between with spun fiberglass or foam.
Jim, "No one ever says 'It's only a game' when their team is winning."
RE: Get out the BIG checkbook, guys! ;-)
Considering they are out of business, that vehicle could be considered an 8,000lb paper weight.
FWIW, I _think_ I saw some talk that maybe the guy who owned EarthRoamer would open a new business after the bankruptcy to provide service & support to the general 'expedition vehicle' community. So it _might_ be possible to get the comparatively complicated RV systems on an ER cared for by someone with actual knowledge of how they work. I have a feeling that most of the folks who can & would buy one of these aren't the kind with the skill set & willingness to spend their time on DIY repairs.... :)
I think it's more like 12-13,000+ lbs, BTW... ;)
Not my cuppa tea either, but I figured the auction was interesting, anyway.
Jim, "Be careful reading the fine print. There's no way you're going to like it."
RE: Worlds LARGEST truck . . . a Dodge Power Wagon?
Neat! Thanks for the link.
BTW, that's a younger Jeremy Clarkson, now one of the hosts of BBC's Top Gear program. Among many others, they did the oval-track RV race. If you're any kind of gearhead with a sense of humor, you should tune it in... BBC America, Monday nights @ 8 & 9, and some other times later in the week. I think I've also seen it listed on DirecTV's 101.
Fond memories.... Dad drove one (a 1:1 version) at work in the winters. They had to use it to get up to the cable railway going up the mountain to the TV transmitter. Even with chains on all four, it'd occasionally get stuck in the deep white stuff, and take the little 'dozer to pull it out. And I _almost bought a used one with a 392 hemi in about '75. But it was $800, which was a big nut for a struggling college student on the GI bill.
Jim, "Gimme coffee!"
RE: Exercise the Generator?
......
Heres another question. Do the coach batteries need to be in or can the generator start off the engine battery?
......
Hard to say for certain. Of my three RV's, two have started the Onan off the house batteries. But the current one starts it off the engine battery. I think that's kinda rare, since it's usually a longer wiring run.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
RE: Headboard reading lamp
I dunno about RV'ers, but it only takes one lawyer to change it from 'your' lightbulb to 'her' lightbulb.
Jim, "Gimme coffee!"
Get out the BIG checkbook, guys! ;-)
For somebody who just has to be the tallest dog around the campfire.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Earthroamer-Ultimate-RV-Motorhome-F450-F550-4X4-Camper_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50059QQitemZ300377820026#ht_500wt_1182.
Jim, "I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong."
RE: RV sidewall
I had that same thought, but figured it was too late since he says that the chassis is already modified... But I'm reminded of a old Toyota Tercel 4wd wagon ('Leatherneck' model) that someone at my school turned into a impromptu pickup... Yes, it eventually sagged so much that the back doors had to be held shut with rope, and soon after the front ones were the same way. Didn't see it around after that.
Jim, "Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people the company can operate without."
RE: Roadtrek 210: Any Made Before 2004?
They've used the 210 designation twice. Once was in the 90's for a van that came as a super-long from Chevy, the other time for the current 19' Express that RT lengthens & re-bodies.
The extra seats can be replaced with cabinets if desired. But I found the third seat in my 190 Pop very convenient for setting stuff on when getting in or out thru the side door, and even used it as a seat while pulling that door shut from inside. Pretty much the same for that seat in my earlier 190 Versatile.... sit, lean out, and pull the door closed. And my previous cat liked it as a sleeping spot... ;)
Jim, "Crowded elevators smell different to midgets."
RE: FYI I-40 Asheville NC to Knoxville KY
As I posted yesterday, it's expected to re-open in late March. At least NCDOT is using the closure time to also do some work on the tunnels and bridges in the closed section.
Jim, "Be careful reading the fine print. There's no way you're going to like it."
RE: RV sidewall
I'm not sure I've read between the lines correctly. But it sounds like you've cut the back body off behind the driver's compartment, and want to build up from the frame rails? If so, this website may be of interest: http://www.tigermotorhomes.com/construction.htm . In the top left photo, you're seeing it from the left rear corner. On this model, the aluminum framing extends up about 5 feet above the coach floor, with the rest of the height being in the fiberglass 'tub' that forms the roof. But it shows one way of building walls & floor. BTW, the pictured coach frame is sitting on a roll-around dolly used to move it around until it's married to the truck; that's the thick wood structure below the coach floor.
The Tiger uses thin paneling inside and a sheet aluminum outer skin with this frame and fiberglass insulation between.
HTH!
Jim, "Gimme coffee!"
RE: Free WiFi at McDonalds starting Jan 2010
.....
I suppose, there MUST be those who would enjoy sitting on the hard plastic seats in a McD's for a while to get on the internet.
but, not me...
Me neither. But there are a _lot_ of folks who either don't have internet access at home, or only have slow dial-up, or want to access the 'net during the day. I hang out in a coffee shop / bookstore with wifi several afternoons a week, and see a lot of folks there using their laptops, quite often the same ones.
Jim, "There are worse things than getting a wrong number call at 4 AM. It could be a right number."
