RE: is this safe to use in a rv?
I have a clogged pipe in one of the turns, I have used chemicals, I bought a reverse flush valve and that didn't work,(maybe I didn't try long enough?) I have tried the swivel stick, but the toilet quickly fills up with water. I believe the clog is not far from the toilet and near the closest gate/valve? Does every motorhome have 2 gates for the sewer? I beleive that is where we got into trouble, we took a trip to Fl and used the shower daily, I had to open 1 sewer gate and the gray tank valve when the shower was being used so not to fill the tub with shower water while taking a shower. but left the main sewer gate closed until I wanted to dump it. Thanks for any help!
I used one to snag an especially stubborn piece of Preparation-H wipe on my Expedition which DOES NOT have a straight drop into the black water tank.
RE: Diesel Service in SoCal
This is probably too far for ordinary service, but if you are in the mood for a road trip with a pit stop ...
Santa Maria Diesel Service
365 W. Betteravia Road
Santa Maria, CA
I used them this year just before New Years while visiting a cousin over Christmas. Their prices were a little cheaper than LA Freightliner in Colton for a standard oil change for the engine and generator, but they were very reasonable for the additional battery maintenance charge. Also it was same day service, whereas LA Freightliner is always "leave it & we'll call you."
RE: Head light switch HOT
I had this problem 35 years ago on a Willys Jeep. The ground for your headlamps is bad. This divides the voltage between the lamp filament and the bad ground which causes the lamp to draw even more current. (I know that sounds backwards; but, trust me, lamps have an inverse resistance curve.) That overcurrent exceeds the rating on the switch and eventually burns it out.
BTW the dimmer doesn't actually "dim" the lamps. It switches between one filament placed in the lamp assembly to point in a "higher" direction (hence the name high beam) and another filament placed in the lamp to point in a lower, more right-ward direction (the low beam).
Rich
BSEE UMR '78
'08 Expedition with '06 Mariner Hybrid toad
RE: Anyone familiar with US-421 thorough Harlan, KY
Hi Merrykalia,
Mostly for my 91 year old mom to see where her dad grew up. My grandfather left Harlan county in 1905 after selling out to a coal company. Corbin was just the closest spot with known campgrounds.
Too bad the Middlesboro tunnel is out of our way since it sounds like fun to me. I wish I had more time to poke around the area. Maybe next year.
Thanks for the tip though, that is what this forum is all about.
Rich (still working to pay for diesel)
'08 Expedition with '06 Mariner Hybrid toad
RE: Sailing the Chesapeake in a Class A Motorhome - 2 problems
If your door switch is the normally open kind (circuit open when door open), then a broken wire will do this. If it is the normally closed kind, then water intrusion in the wire harness or connector could cause a short that would open the step. BTW even a little salt in the water increases the conductivity tremendously. Why don't they put a manual gear rachet on steps? / :)
Also you might want to look into some strapping to secure the awning on a regular basis. I found some 1" ballistic nylon utility strap with an infinitely adjustable buckle that works nicely on my awning.
Good Luck.
Rich
RE: Anyone familiar with US-421 thorough Harlan, KY
Thanks, Gale. I can remember the times in Missouri where the grass grew right up to the pavement on US-63 with no shoulder. :) Looks like I'll be glad the Expedition has power steering.
I see you're from Murray, KY. You didn't by any chance use the Cumberland Parkway to get over to the Somerset area? We are headed from Philadelphia to southern Missouri, and thought we might stop by my great-grandfather's stomping grounds in Harlan and use the Cumberland Pkwy to get over to the western part of the state for the crossing at Cairo. From your comments, I'd guess you would recommend staying on the most major highways even if they "take you the long way?"
Cheers,
Rich
Anyone familiar with US-421 thorough Harlan, KY
Thinking about traveling from Bristol, TN to Corbin, KY via Harlan, KY. Any known problems with this route in a 34', 102", 12.5' DP with toad?
Thanks,
Rich
'08 Expedition with '06 Mariner Hybrid toad
RE: New here
Best thing you can do for any engine (chassis or generator) is to running it up to operating temperature once a month or so. That being said, put some fuel stabilizer in the tank. If you can drive it somewhere, so much the better because that flexes the tires.
Clean the battery posts and top off with distilled water every month.
Cheers,
Rich
'08 Expedition with '06 Mariner Hybrid toad
'93 Southwind backyard ornament
RE: Air brakes in Canada
For those of us with Freightliner Custom Chassis, here is a URL to a general presentation on our chassis which was updated in January of this year, http://www.freightlinerchassis.com/pdf/mh/KnowingYourChassis.pdf. There is information on the automatic slack adjusters, the automatic moisture ejector system, and manual drain lanyards (3 of them) which need to be pulled regularly. (I'll let you dig out just how often ;) .)
As usual reading this forum gets me to dig in and learn something new.
Cheers,
Rich
'08 Expedition & '06 Mariner Hybrid toad
RE: 92 Southwind Generator DC fuse location?
if you mean the main power cable to the solenoid has NO power, i would look up front at the connections. also check for a loose dirty or corroded ground at the genny grd/neg cable. this is the usual cause of a NO 12v power reading
ALSO any chance you pulled the batteries out while it was sitting ?
i would look for a cable that dropped out of sight and did not get connected
1) What I mean is the main power cable to the genset which looks to be approximately 6 AWG has no voltage with respect to either the genset or the MH chassis (which eliminates any genset ground connection or corrosion issues). That said, I re-iterate that I am looking for where "up-front" the 6 AWG cable terminates either at a fuse, a fusable link, or a circuit breaker since there is no "small" cable terminating at either the chassis or the house battery. Since the generator will draw 60-100A during cranking, this isn't a tiny fuse in the house 12V distribution panel; but since the wire looks to be 6 AWG, it is extremely unlikely that the wire is connected after the main disconnect switch without short circuit protection.
2) Neither the chassis nor the house batteries were ever disconnected since last use; and, as I said in the original post, both are well charged.
Rich
WB0NRE
92 Southwind Generator DC fuse location?
Anyone know the location of the fuse, fusable-link, or circuit breaker supplying the DC to the generator?
I am trying to get my old coach ready to sell and the generator won't run. There is no 12V present at the genset. Both the chassis and house batteries are fine. (It will start nicely if I supply external 12V to the genset, but it will stop when I remove the jump.)
Thanks,
Rich-who-doesn't-like-to-crawl-around-under-coaches-on-the-ground :)
WB0NRE
RE: Freightliner Video
Our 2004 See Ya Owners Manual mentions a video by freightliner. Where can we get one
My 2008 Fleetwood Expedition came with one. It was several years old in 2007 when I picked-up the coach, and it was NOT brand specific.
You might stop by your dealer and see if he has any new Freightliner pushers on his lot. If he does, he might be willing to let you view the video.
Otherwise, give the folks in Gaffney a call.
Cheers,
Rich
WB0NRE
'08 Expedition w/ '06 Merc Mariner toad
RE: Your longest trip...
~5000mi SoCal to Washington, D.C in 2004; 7134mi SoCal to Cape Canaveral, FL in 2008; and ~8000mi SoCal to Maine this year.
I spend many enjoyable evenings planning alternate routes over the course of 6-9 months; but after the first trip, I wing it on reservations. There is just too much chance of change for very little return. I might be convinced to make reservations for especially busy times (like the Russian River area of CA over the Memorial Day weekend this year!); but for the most part I haven't needed them.
Cheers,
Rich
RE: Ford Escape as a toad
The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner are essentially the same car. Both go down the same assembly line with the Mercury getting different badging (the identification markings) and a slightly different front nose. The hybrid models should be inherently capable of towing 4 down, but check the owner's manual to be sure ... look for "Recreational towing" in the index.
My 2006 Merc Hybrid uses a hydro boost system in place of a vaccuum boost, so there are some differences in hooking up supplemental braking. I use the US Gear Unified Tow Brake who have specific instructions for the hydro boost systems.
My 2006 is listed as 33 City/28 Hwy; and I get those numbers when I drive in slow and go traffic to downtown LA. Mine will always start the engine and run it until the water comes up to operating temperature. Unfortunately, I'm just getting to work when that happens! So I don't get the 33mpg on my "commute". Oh, well: I'll just have to live with the 10 minute drive. :)
Cheers,
Rich
RE: Best Under 32 Foot Class A
Two reasons for the 32 foot or less, I only have available space to park it at my home for no longer than 32 feet. Also, it's just the two of us and we are currently getting by with a 22 foot Class C which is really only 17 feet of living space when you subtract the cab area.
Don't forget the length of the wheel base makes a difference. I had a 31 ft Southwind which I could quite easily get in and out of my back yard and driveway by myself. I decided a 35 ft coach would fit in the driveway. I ended up with a 34 ft Expedition DP which has a much longer wheel base. And now I must have help because the longer wheel base eats up all of the sharper wheel cut advantage of the DP chassis. The street is just not wide enough to square it up, at 3 ft my storm channel curbs are too high to "bump" over, and at 12.5 ft the driveway entrance is to narrow to easily "angle" in. I need to bite the bullet and widen the driveway.
Good luck,
Rich
'08 Expedition 34H w/ '06 Mercury Mariner toad
RE: Do you need a passport to go to Canada?
Just applied for the passport cards today. We'll see how long it takes for a first-time application.
Any idea if they object to ham radio gear? I guess this will be as good an excuse as any to dump the junk out of the toad and get down to the bare minimums. Or should I rent a car in Niagra?
All this because my 90 year old mom wants to see Niagra (really Horseshoe) Falls from the Canadian side.
Cheers,
Rich
WB0NRE
'08 Expedition w/ '06 Merc Mariner Hybrid toad festooned with antennae :)
RE: High Winds, Bumpy Roads, Steps Out, Finally Great Campground
I am dreading the drive on I-10 from Phoenix to Los Angeles (if I remember correctly sometime after you pass Palm Springs into LA).
It’s been awhile but, I guess it is still bad. I wish there was an alternative route, man, I am just not looking forward to it.
Pops
I was across I-10 from Tucson, AZ to Ontario, CA (I-10 & I-15 intersection) several times last year, and it was OK until you start down the grade at Yukipa into San Bernardino.
From there on traffic densities increase; therefore, road conditions decrease. The further you go west the worse it gets. Traffic is so bad there is just no time of the day that CalTrans can work on the roads even if we had the money.
Cheers,
Rich
WB0NRE
'08 Expedition w/ '06 Merc Mariner Hybrid toad
RE: Does Anyone Have a Link to a Mileage Reimbursement for RV?
I have used my Class A for business use (to go to a conference in Orlando) and my company would only pay me the cost of an equivalent airline ticket. Company rules stated I should have flown because it was over a set number of miles. I then saved them more money because the cost of a campground (even Ft. Wilderness) was cheaper than a hotel. I then saved them money because I did not have to rent a car, but I charged them mileage while in Orlando. I did get to take along the DW at no additional cost.
We should encourage more employers to have special provisions for RVers. In the long run, they save money. And, we have our own bed to sleep in.
Special provisions shouldn't be needed. My employer's travel department gave me the same "only equivalent airline ticket cost" grief until I did a line-by-line cost accounting against my actual expenses (with receipts!) against another employee's expenses who flew to the same meeting. Their hot button issue is the perception of abuse: things get a whole lot nicer when you change the perception (i.e. don't drive to a meeting, stay with a friend, & pocket the difference).
