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RE: Locking Differential
Read about the different types of diferentials and how they work here: Differentials 101
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12/20/09 08:30am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Locking Differential
Any competent mechanic can install a limited slip differential, the cost should be about $500 for the diff and 2-3 hours of shop time to install. There are electric or air operated full lockers for most truck differentials, they run $800-1000, and labor is a couple more hours because of the controls installation.
Check with any off road specialty shops in your area, they will sell and install the manual locking diffs. Personally, I prefer the manual (electric) ones to limited slips because of the driving in good weather. The full lockers only engage when you tell it to, the rest of the time it operates like an open diff, making it much easier driving and no extra wear & tear on the rest of the suspension.
Limited slip diffs wear out, leaving them as an open diff needing to be rebuilt. By their design, they are supposed to drive both rear wheels evenly, when accelerating. Around corners this wears the diff and puts the rear suspension in a bind; either spinning the inside tire or causing wheel hop. I've broken U-bolts and leaf springs in trucks with limited slips.
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12/19/09 09:15am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: 2007 Gulfstream Vista Cruiser Rear 4 speakers
If your van is like my '04 the speakers are wired into the the TV/DVD/Radio. Mine is made by Audiovox. If it's been a while since the speakers were used, you'll have to turn them on manually in the Audiovox. I don't know why that is, but it's in the Audiovox, not the van.
On mine, the power to the Audiovox is off, you hit the set button 5 times(I think) to get to the speaker output, then hit another button and it turns on the external speakers. You should have an owners manual for the TV/DVD/Radio if not go here and enter your model number to print one out.
Audiovox owner manual lookup
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12/16/09 03:00pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: While Searching For A Parking Spot
Sanford maybe, but where does the son ride?
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12/11/09 11:20am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: advise about buying small motorhome
while still considering my chances I found this one:
1987 LeSharo Windcruiser P2 Winnebago Minnie Motorhome
the owner says it makes 14-20 mpg (60.000 miles on it)
should I look into newer ones, 90's maybe?
thank you!
Be aware that a LaSharo is based on a Renault chassis. I saw one when I first got interested in a B, but after finding out that there is few mechanics and even few parts for the chassis, I ran away. The size is right and the prices are cheap, but if you need work on it, you will regret buying it.
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12/02/09 03:07pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: High Mileage Sprinter RV's
OK I have a big question: Just bought a new 2009 Sprinter Winnebago ERA in October.
What is the approximate cost of a 10,000 mile oil change/lube service? Approximate cost of 80,000 mile transmission fluid change?
By the way I am told that you need to (get underneath) and remove a pipe plug to check fluid level?
Does Sprinter require engine oil changes done by a dealership, or can one do their own or have a favorite local shop change it using the approved products and documenting that work to have been performed?
If so, are there Manuals available relating to lubrication zerks and other maintenace?
Am I on the correct thread? THANKS
You will find a lot more information about your Sprinter chassis here: http://sprinter-source.com/forum/index.php
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11/28/09 07:58am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: A stiff suspension and a soft ride
First, why is your suspension stiff?
Shocks are usually the culprit. Quality shocks can soften the ride, yet keep handling. A mistake many people make, is to buy shocks that are so stiff that they don't really dampen movement, they almost stop it. The secret to suspension is pretty simple. You need springs with enough carrying capability for your load, anti-roll bars large enough to to control body roll and shocks that dampen spring oscillation and proper tires with proper inflation. Get any one of those wrong and your ride will be.
Springs first: assuming your B is built on a 3/4-1 ton chassis and the GVW is within limits. Those are probably good, however if your springs are rated for a lot more weight than you carry, (not usually a problem in a B) a stiff jarring ride can result.
Tires should be load range E or better, inflation is already recommended by conversion company. Different brands of tires with the same ratings do have different ride qualities. Stiffer sidewalls and stiffer tread will affect ride and handling.
Shocks are probably the most misunderstood part of the suspension. Too stiff of a shock can just ruin the ride of any vehicle. Being Americans, we tend to think bigger is better, so when the salesman says, factory replacement or heavy duty, we go for the heavy duty. Personally, I prefer Bilstein Shocks. I have never had them on a vehicle and been unhappy with the ride and control. I have installed many other brands and sometimes I like them other times I'm replacing them in a week because I hate the way they ride.
Anti-roll bars are usually good from the factory, I always replace the factory rubber end links with urethane, because the soft rubber takes away about half of the control by flexing too much.
Beware of air adjustable shocks for 2 reasons, first: they must be installed with independent fill valves. If you "T" them into 1 valve, you will kill your handling. Body role will compress one which will force air through the "T" into the other shock, effectively jacking up the outside shock, making worse body lean. Second, by raising the vehicle with air shocks, you are taking load off your springs and placing it on the shock mounts. Which in many cases is a single bolt through the frame. Shocks function in a suspension is to dampen spring movement, not carry loads. I've seen air shocks rip the bolt right out of the frame.
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11/25/09 06:24am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Sleeping in Camper Vans Could Be Deadly
I don't know about the nightmare thing, but I have been awakened suddenly, sometimes violently (swatted with a pillow), for snoring. Fortunately, my wife would rather wake me than kill me. (I really hope that restraint continues).
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11/21/09 07:11am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Hair On My Pillow Pain In My Feet
I'm not actually, technically losing my hair. It's just growing in a whole bunch of new, different places!
I hear ya, mine's decided to move south.
The barber trims my head and cuts the nose and ear hair.What happened?
I think it's gravity and moon phases. Too many moon phases and the hair goes south to retire.
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11/18/09 05:47am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Hair On My Pillow Pain In My Feet
I'm not actually, technically losing my hair. It's just growing in a whole bunch of new, different places!
I hear ya, mine's decided to move south.
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11/17/09 01:01pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Hair On My Pillow Pain In My Feet
Let's just say, 30 years ago, the word "frisky" would have been a lot more fun in a B like this one. It seems a lot more like work than it used to.
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11/17/09 10:45am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Freightliner emblem lost
I lost both the front a rear Freightliner emblems. I called the nearest Freightliner Sprinter Dealer and they had them in stock, I think I paid about $15.00 each and had them the next day. I've never installed them, I cleaned the glue dots off and decided I didn't care if they were on, so I put them in the glove box. If and when I ever sell the van, I'll install them.
Here's a list, but it hasn't been updated since 2007.
Freightliner Sprinter Dealers
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11/16/09 05:56am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Spare Key for used Gulfstream Vista Sprinter Freightliner
:) Too funny! Thanks for all of the help...we ended up getting in touch with the Chrysler dealer who took the VIN and is going to charge us about $300 for one key that will start the engine and a second key that will open the doors. We looked on ebay and the keys were about $10 cheaper but still needed to be programmed. Man, the dealers really have you "between a rock and a hard place" don't they?!
Yes they do. These are Mecedes Benz underneath and anything dealer is going to cost plenty.
Note to those buying a used Sprinter, check on the keys, if one is missing, knock $300 off the purchase price.
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11/12/09 02:04pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Spare Key for used Gulfstream Vista Sprinter Freightliner
You need to join this forum: http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum/index.php
There is a lot more information there than here about the chassis.
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11/11/09 04:04pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Buying an RV over the Internet . . . Concerns?
I bought my B off e-bay. I called and talked with the dealer, he faxed a copy of the title to me that I took to my banker. My banker called the dealer as well, giving them the check number of the certified check that I was taking to them. I put a $500 deposit on a credit card for the dealer to hold the vehicle until I could get there. I had to travel about 600 miles. The dealer arraigned to pick me up at the local airport (I ended up driving a rental car one way, so they picked me up at the airport car rental). I knew I could get my deposit back because of the credit card, and I had a check for the balance that let me walk away if the van wasn't what it was supposed to be.
If it hadn't worked out, I would just rent a car and drive home.
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11/06/09 10:01am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Worry about discrimination because of little "B"
http://wichitaracing.com/forums/images/smilies/catfight.gif
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11/05/09 09:12am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Worry about discrimination because of little "B"
I worry since so many people including our neighbors have class A big fancy rigs will we get the stink eye at campgrounds because we arrive in a small unit??
I enjoy my B way too much to care what anybody else thinks. Try parking a big fancy rig in a shopping mall, restaurant or store front street parking. Let me know how that works.
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11/03/09 12:38pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Cost of New Class B's-Why do you want them?
And nobody has even mentioned the convenience of having a bathroom along on those long shopping trips...
Just this morning, pulled out of Golden, Co, once we were out of town, the wife started the genset, dried her hair and used the curling iron, put on her makeup,(it was dark out too) made a fresh cup of coffee, used the bathroom before settling in the passenger seat for the next 3 hours. Try that in a "normal" vehicle. (before anyone too gets excited, we have seat belts at the dinette table.) 535miles later, we're home and I'm back at work. whoopie
but my wife can do the same in my A.
bumpy
Not on less than 26 gallons of fuel.
Besides, I didn't say a rv, I said a normal vehicle, meaning a car, truck or van.
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11/02/09 03:44pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Cost of New Class B's-Why do you want them?
And nobody has even mentioned the convenience of having a bathroom along on those long shopping trips...
Just this morning, pulled out of Golden, Co, once we were out of town, the wife started the genset, dried her hair and used the curling iron, put on her makeup,(it was dark out too) made a fresh cup of coffee, used the bathroom before settling in the passenger seat for the next 3 hours. Try that in a "normal" vehicle. (before anyone too gets excited, we have seat belts at the dinette table.) 535miles later, we're home and I'm back at work. whoopie
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11/02/09 02:24pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Class B vs. Big Rigs
I'm still working on the space - time continuum so I can fit the space of a 40 ft class A in my 22 ft B.
Everything is a compromise; interior room, storing the rig, parking & access, etc. Everyone has to decide exactly which features are most important and which they can do without. Even then situations change and so the do importance of the features.
I can tell you 2 things for sure, I do not want to tent camp again and if that ever changes, my wife will stop going with me.
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11/02/09 02:13pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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