RE: Driving lessons for Class A
Get in the habit of pre tripping. Start your coach, turn on headlights, flashers, grab a flashlight and walk around it. Your looking at everything, getting used to what "normal" looks like. Make sure lights are working, peek into wheel wells to see if anything is leaking, dripping, hanging. Notice the lug nuts, wheels, tires/tread, look between rear wheels to ensure they are inflated and nothing between them. Look under to ensure nothing wrapped around drive shaft, no leaks in exhaust. Look under engine area for drips, puddles anything hanging. Check fluids once a week or so.
Once driving note where all the gauges are, amps, volts, temps etc.
When you stop after driving set the parking brake and walk around your coach again. Your looking, smelling and listening. Many things that can go wrong often give clues. If you are familiar with your coach you will spot when something is different.
One of the biggest expenses is a tow. Many times one can spot a failing water pump, alternator, belt etc, by knowing something is different, a drip, puddle, different reading on the gauges, a smell or sound.
This will give you peace of mind knowing you did all you could to ensure your safety by getting to know your coach.
Best of luck on this adventure!!
RE: Driving lessons for Class A
I drive & train school bus drivers. Biggest thing are getting to know your mirrors. They will keep you clear of most obstacles IF you have them positioned correctly. You need to be able to see the sides of your vehicle as well as low for tire/curb clearance and high for sign tree etc clearance.
You will have some kind of tail swing on tight turns, first look opposite mirror of direction turning to see what you could swing into then check mirror on side your turning to ensure you are clear of curb or anything else that could sneak in. Big thing is to remember its not a race, keep your eyes moving from mirror, front to mirror while you accelerate slowly.
Get out and drive, the more miles/experiences, the more comfortable you will become. Do not fear the size, just know what you have and how it responds. On all turns remember to use all the real estate that's yours, drive up as far as you can before turning sharply, its called squaring your turns. It gives the dually's the room necessary to get around the corners rather than cutting too short and hitting something, which if your watching the mirrors you can let go of the wheel and take the corner a bit wider.
Go live your dream and enjoy!!!
RE: Ham radio.
Good to see a few Hams. Got mine for our trips with teens into the BWCA, no cell towers there, but a two meter could reach Ely should we have an emergency.
Had our son, also a ham install it in the truck, antenna opposite side of radio antenna and radio sits nicely in console. Use it to volunteer for city fun runs, parades, and fireworks. Works nice when traveling with Venture Crew to winter camp where they set up a big radio with a generator and let the kids talk to hams all over the world. Found out the girls make far more contacts than the boys.:B
KD0MZZ
RE: Whitehawk by Jayco
We have the 27 DSRL, so far very pleased. Bought it to live in as we rebuild our house. Gross vehicle weight rating is about 8000 pounds and the F 150 can tow 9500, well within the specs. Had very nice road manners on the 4 hr drive home from Iowa. Plenty of room for hubby, myself and 2 med sized dogs.
It's 31 ft long, light weight for its size so it's limited in carrying capacity, however the F 150 tows it well and that was more important at this stage. There are some trade offs for the lighter weight. It has comfy dinette, love seat and 2 chairs, bed is all we need, but no more, closet space is limited, but has a nice sized shower/bath area. The kitchen is nicely laid out and the tank size it respectable. Jayco did their homework here. Overall happy, glad we bought it and would do it again.
New TT, great experience with RV Direct
We are now the proud owners of a Jayco WhiteHawk 27 DSRL. Our home for 3 to 4 months as we demolish our moldy house and rebuild.
Went thru RV direct, price and delivery date were key. Needed it by June and Kristine from RV direct came thru, definite "Hero Status" for her hard work to make this happen. Took delivery in Des Moines, Randy was great, low keyed and yet I think if we needed, he would have spent the day answering questions. Very service oriented.
The Ford 150 did well towing home, did run 65 to 70 mph running below 3000 rpms, managed 8.5 mpg, respectable.
Got home, had a plan for where to put it, felt I could back it where we wanted it. Then the cold, callous hand of reality kicked in as soon as I put it in R. LOL, ok, a 45' bus is much easier to back than a truck and 31' trailer, after a few attempts we did get it into the space we agreed upon. Though, not perfect, practice hopefully will bring improvement.
The trailer is all we expected and more. Love that Jayco is looking for the things that matter, a bunch of nice touches. Would like to have gone bigger but wanted to make sure we were well within the trucks towing limits. This will do us well, pictures to come.
