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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Happy Thanksgiving to Roger and everyone.
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CJBill
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11/26/09 11:38am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Roadtrek - water and sewage
I have a 05/06 RT 190P and the fresh water fill is as you say except inside the door on the drivers side. I cut off 3 feet of my potable water hose and installed a new connection with a brass shutoff valve. So standing at the door I can control the rate of the water flow and shut it off at any time. Listening to the water flow into the tank I can tell when to slow it down and with only slight over flow can shut it off. If I feel it is needed I insert a water filter at this point in the line. I think it works well with out any real problem.
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CJBill
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11/09/09 02:51pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: No longer a Moderator
Hi Roger, You deserve all the thanks posted for a job well done and I would like to add mine. I do respect the job you have done and the resulting quality of the CVC forum.
Bill D
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CJBill
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10/27/09 09:07am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Richmond VA I-95 or I-295
Thanks for the comments. When I used to drive our Volvo I took I295 and didn't mind driving in the high speed lane, which wasn't in as bad shape as the other lanes, as I felt comfortable keeping up with most of the traffic. However in our class B Chevy van I don't really want to maintain the speed most drive in that lane and I felt the holes in the other lanes were too uncomfortable for me in that van. Guess I'll stay with I-95.
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CJBill
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10/20/09 07:16pm |
Roads and Routes
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Richmond VA I-95 or I-295
Lately I have been driving through Richmond VA on I-95 because the potholes are so bad on I-295. Does anyone know if it is still that way?
Also does anyone know how long the route is on I-295? On my last trip north I measured the I-95 route through Richmond to be 38.7 miles from one end of I295 to the other.
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CJBill
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10/20/09 03:05pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Electric shutdown
Thanks for the feedback.
As suggested I did read my inverter manual, which I should have done first. I found it to be worth while reading but didn't see my problem. It did suggest resets for over charged batteries or over used A/C but did not mention any automatic reset.
I can't be 100% sure but don't think my problem was due to the local A/C, mainly because when this happened at my sisters house she was inside at the time and did not notice any power problem in the house.
I do think I have seen some similar problem discussed in one forum or other but can't remember where.
Bill D
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CJBill
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10/15/09 02:11pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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Electric shutdown
While camping at the KOA near Acadia Nat. Pk. last week in our 06 RT 190P we had a brief complete electrical shutdown in our van. It happened twice with a few minutes time in between. I believe the furnace fan was running and perhaps an exhaust fan and some lights. When it happened the only light I could see was the zero on the microwave display, perhaps it would have faded but the shutdown was, I think, less than a minute. On that same morning a couple of times the lights dimmed and the fans slowed down as if electric power was reduced but not shut off. Each time when the electricity came back everything seemed normal.
Having done my morning chores I was sitting in front behind the table and was not quick enough to get up to look at anything.
This is the second occurrence of something like this. Once before while plugged in to a 20 amp circuit at my sisters house in Florida something like this happened. I believe, if I remember right, that that time I was standing and I pushed the test button over the door and saw no lights but on pushing a second time everything seemed to come back. I am not sure I remember that incident completely correctly as it was some time ago.
With many camping days in between these events we have had no problems but it is worrisome. Has anyone had such an experience or have any idea what may be going on. I'd really like to understand or fix the problem before it becomes serious.
Thanks for any feedback.
Bill D
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CJBill
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10/14/09 07:16pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Syracuse NY to Maine
This time of year will it be difficult to get a space in campgrounds with out reservations in that part of the country?
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CJBill
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09/06/09 09:01am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Baltimore MD to Greeley CO
I may try the route Busskipper suggested next time. This summer we used a similar route from Rockville MD out I-70 and I-68 but went south on I-79 to pick up I-64 west to St Louis and I-70 west from there. It is a slight bit longer and the hills are very impressive in that part of WV but it's a very nice drive. In the Rocky mountains winter time can come anytime from now on. In Sept 2000 we were snowed in at Yellowstone park for an extra night but the roads were open the next day.
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CJBill
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09/06/09 08:56am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Dometic Refrigerator RM2354 in RT190P
Thanks for the quick reply Roger. I did read the reference you gave. They say a clean burner is the most important. I'm not an expert by mine looks reasonably clean to me. So far so good.
Your article does recommend removing the burner and blowing out the flue with low pressure compressed air. I would be hesitant to do that. Is it a reasonable thing for an owner to do?
Bill D
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CJBill
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07/05/09 03:07pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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A hole in the floor of my RT190P, OK?
While looking around under my 05/06 RT190P just to see what's there, I thought I noticed that there was an opening where the plumbing for the outside shower goes through the floor. So I got DW to go inside and look into the compartment with the hot water heater where the pipes go out to the outside world. I went outside and underneath and shined my light up and sure enough there is a clear opening into the van from under the van. This troubles me as normally one doesn't want exhaust fumes to be able to get in the van and this is on the side with the Onan exhaust. Now I am kind of nervous as I don't have a lift and can't get to check all the holes Roadtrek made in the bottom of the van.
Is this a real problem? How should I seal it? With what? Isn't this something Roadtrek should have done?
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CJBill
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07/05/09 02:55pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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Dometic Refrigerator RM2354 in RT190P
Checking a few things before a trip Maryland to Colorado week after next. I would like my refrigerator to work the whole time and have read that people sometimes "blow it out" to keep it working good. I don't exactly see what I could do.
I did remove a "protective cover" over the burner and things look reasonably clean there. I did not see how to inspect the flue with out more major disassembly. Also the manual says that blowing out the flue with compressed air will not clean it adequately.
So is there anything I can or should do to care for the refrigerator?
The manual also says a certified gas technician should inspect the refrigerator "once or twice a year". I have had my previously owned RT190P for a year now and have not had that done and don't know if it was ever done. I would think that might be expensive to do it that often. So is it important? How often should I have it checked, assuming it works OK which it seems to?
Note, we normally drive with the refrigerator on gas. We originally started using the battery while driving but found we could forget to change over when we stopped for lunch or something. We have established the habit of turning the refrigerator off before filling the van with gas and then turn it back on when done. I would guess this is an OK practice, true?
Bill D
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CJBill
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07/05/09 02:43pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Towing a small car
Just a note of caution. Many do not consider it safe to rely on the generator to keep the AC running to protect a pet. I know the one in my RT190P is not that reliable.
"Like a couple of other folks we have a small dog. Should we do anything, sightsee, etc, we would have to park the RT and run the generator in order for our little Pasco (part yorkie) to survive the heat. Hopefully we won't have any problems."
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CJBill
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06/23/09 08:16am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Towing a small car
With a trip to B6, 5 trips Maryland to Florida down I95, not all just for fun as I have obligations there, in the last year I have seen at least 3 B's with toads in tow. Don't know if it was their usual thing but they were doing it.
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CJBill
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06/20/09 01:20pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Tire safe to drive on ??
Thanks for all the responses. I think I now have a better understanding of tire valve stems and in particular that there are "three" possibilities not two. Next time I talk with a tire professional I will have better questions to ask.
I did check the tires on my van and 3 of the 4 tires have 3/4" of metal beyond the end of the rubber. If one measured from the "base" one might get the 1 1/4" that Roger mentioned. I wasn't 100% sure where to measure from so didn't. I am inclined to believe these are the "high pressure" type. I did say 3 of the 4, so what is the 4th? It has 3/8" of metal sticking out of the rubber and it is a lot more flexible to the touch than the other three which are quite stiff. It has only enough metal for the cap to go on.
This is a pre-owned 05/06 RT190P and the tire dates on what I take to be the original tires are 1505 and 1905 where as the one with a different valve stem is 3105. So maybe something happened and it is a replacement tire. I don't check my tire pressure every day but do before, after and during any longer trip as well as now and then if just driving around town which I sometimes do. I thought my tires were holding air reasonably well though I have added a couple lbs of air occasionally but with out taking a great deal of notice of which tire and how often. I'll pay more attention now as after a 1700 mile trip I notice that the back tire with the different tire stem is down 3 lbs more than it's partner on the other side. I may take it to someone with more experience than I to see if I should change the valve stem. Four weeks from now I hope to be on the road to the Colorado mountains.
Thanks again for all responses. I was somewhat pleased that some others seemed to be learning as well. Big lesson, there are three types of valve stems not just two.
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CJBill
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06/18/09 07:50pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Tire safe to drive on ??
Well Roger, It's dark now but I will look tomorrow. Since I don't know what I am looking for it may be difficult but I will try. Now I do want to understand what the difference is. Perhaps the mechanic was wrong about the valve stem leaking perhaps it was the seal around the rim as my road racing friend suspected.
I can well believe that metal valve stems would give more reliability. I was simply reporting that one individual who should have been a knowledgeable pro said that they were not needed.
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CJBill
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06/17/09 06:26pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Tire safe to drive on ??
I have an 05/06 RT190P with the original tires. Near as I can tell it does not have metal valve stems. I wonder why?
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CJBill
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06/17/09 01:13pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Tire safe to drive on ??
Well Jim, I respect your opinions but when I recently bought a new tire I asked about metal stems when buying the tire. The people I talked to seemed pretty competent and helpful and I was told they were not needed. I was told that as long as I would be driving on the road the normal rubber ones were fine. He told me that off roaders and mud racers need metal stems. It was not his tire stem that failed but the original from GM that was on the previously unused spare tire.
I was ready to pay for metal stems but the gentleman I talked with seemed competent and confident in the face of my questions so I went with his advice. I will be glad to learn from your and others opinions and experience.
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CJBill
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06/17/09 07:57am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Tire safe to drive on ??
Thanks for the responses. I did try a couple of the suggestions but was not successful in finding the problem myself. I did drive to Florida on it to no tragic consequences. I did previous to going have a long discussion with a good friend who builds and road races his own Volvo. We decided that it was not likely to fail catastrophically and I needed to go. I planed on watching it carefully on the road. The first hundred miles was on pretty smooth road and I didn't loose much if any air, thought I was OK. The next few hundred miles were different. The Carolina's have some rough road on I95 and I lost some air but filled it up and made it OK.
It turned to be a slow leak in the valve stem. I had tried both windex which I think was suggested and half and half dishsoap and water. I saw no bubbles and also checked the whole tread with a good flash light. My friend thought it might be leaking at the seal around the rim when I hit a pothole. Maybe, when I put 60 lbs rather than 50 lbs in on the way down it seemed to loose air more slowly. Took it to the family mechanic in Florida and he said it was a leaking valve stem. He remounted the tire with a new valve stem. When I asked about the possibility it could have leaked at the seal around the rim he said "well it won't now".
I always appreciate the info I get here. I always learn something.
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CJBill
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06/15/09 02:31pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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Tire safe to drive on ??
I was planning to drive my RT 190P to Florida tomorrow, 825 miles. Loaded my fresh water tank and checked my tires. I found the right front was down to 30 lbs. I blew it back up to 50 lbs with my air compressor and I'll check it in the morning. Now I'm kind of wondering if it is safe to drive on it?
If I go I'll take my air compressor and check the tire every couple hundred miles. I recently went to B6 which was a round trip of a little over 700 miles and did not notice any problem in the steering. In fact I even showed off to DW that it tracked real well after a recent alignment.
Recently I posted a thread about some bad tire wear on the front end and a probable need for alignment. I finally bought one new matching tire and had my spare which had never been used mounted on the front so I had essentially two new tires. It turns out that the one that has lost pressure is the older spare. At the time I had the alignment done and it did improve the steering. Afterward I did check the tire pressure several times on the tires and did not notice any significant loss of tire pressure but the only real trip since the work was to B6. So is it safe to go??
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CJBill
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06/06/09 01:35pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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