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RE: Considering buying a Super C
My wife is sensitive to a-lot of motion and dealers keep warning us about the sway of a class C which I feel is likely an overinlated complaint.
You have heard correctly. I own an 07 35GS and from the factory it does sway and wallow, but... with a little help from your dealer and a little investment it can be fixed. I think the 3 slides of the 35GS give it more weight and a little more body flex than some of the other Seneca HD models. Mine now has an SUV feel and is quite stabile.
Here is a link to what I did.
Before I did this my 35GS would give me several white knuckle scares on each trip. Now I just buckle in, sit back, set the cruise, and drive as normal... no skills needed.
The interior sqf of the 35GS with all slides extended make the handling investment worthwhile. We camped for over a week in Orlando this June and had all females, 2-15 year olds, 4-17 year old, plus my wife and I. I doubt any other Class C would have given us the interior room to sleep this many comfortably. Not a fight one :)...
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dcowley
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07/18/08 07:43am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: You SNOWBIRDS have it too good.
I would like to ESCAPE THE HEAT. We live in Florida so do not have to leave during the winter, but the summer months of June-Sept are really hot and we would like to go where it is cool. Where are the SUMMERBIRDS suppose to escape to?
Last time I looked South Fork, Colorado was just custom made for what you describe. The are several campgrounds, and one campground, Fun Valley, has mostly RV'ers working there and I think it has about 800 sites and is busy and fun.
About Labor Day the campgrounds in South Fork fold up and everyone regroups to head south.
If a person did some sightseeing along the way you could arrive back in Florida in mid-October ready for the winter months.
Traffic to Colorado from Florida is a nothing, you can avoid most large cities. Basically not really any mountain passes to negotiate (depending on how you go) I guess La Veta Pass would be your steepest grade and it's not much.. you should check it out next year. I bet you would have a blast.
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dcowley
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07/17/08 09:59am |
Snowbirds
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Thinking about a lot at Outdoor Resorts Chokoloskee Island
I have visited and enjoyed the area. I thought the park was great with nice amenties. The fishing in the area was just what I was looking for.
I was wondering if there were any lot owners out there that could comment about their experiences with Outdoor Resorts at Chokoloskee Island?
I was also wondering if any lot owners were interested in selling if you do own? If so PM me.
All comments good or bad would certainly be appreciated.
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dcowley
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07/15/08 03:37pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Seneca 35GS awning opened going down the interstate-Update
It has developed a squeak when it rotates. Any hint of that in your case?
Snake
Mine didn't squeak and gave no warning until it clicked (made ratcheting sounds) during the extend process. I now know if that idler gear galls and fails there is nothing to keep it in place.
I may be a lucky one to have a factory flaw, as I stated in my original post it never made it off the lot before it failed the first time.
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dcowley
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07/14/08 04:38pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Tips for driving long downhills w/ brake buddy
I understood Speedi to say he 'wanted' the Brake Buddy to help and how could he make that happen.
It's a good question, a person needs all the help they can when going down steep grades. The Brake Buddy obviously doesn't engage on long grades so I can see where not getting help from the toads brakes as being a problem.
I use a Brake Buddy also and hope someone out there has a solution to this problem.
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dcowley
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07/14/08 07:49am |
Class C Motorhomes
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Seneca 35GS awning opened going down the interstate-Update
My 07 Seneca 35GS came with a Carefree of Colorado electric awning, I assume this is standard equipment on most Seneca HD's.
Last August 07 when I picked my unit up at RVdirect in Albany, NY during the dealer prep and walk through the awning was extended and wouldn't retract it just clicked as if gears were stripping. Well they were and when they took it apart a bushing in an idler gear was galled. So they robbed the idler gear of of another unit and let me go. I probably hadn't extended the awning 5 or 6 times over the last year because of the type of camping I was doing.
We took off for South Padre Island from the panhandle on July 5th and pulled into Thousand Trails Lake Medina that evening. As I was setting up everything I decide to let the awning out and as it was about 3/4 extended I heard 2 or 3 clicks like the gears stripping and I let off. I told my girls that there would be no shade this p.m. and immediately retracted the awning with the thought of having it repaired when I got home. It clicked a couple of times during retraction but retracted all the way snug against the coach.
The next morning I left Thousand Trails and was making my way around San Antonio on I-410 head towards South Padre when I heard a racket. I looked out my right mirror and the awning had fully extended and was ripping to shreds. I got pulled over in the rain and finally got it pushed back up, rigged some tarp straps and headed for the next exit. I found a parking lot and called Coachnet. They found someone who would come out on a holiday weekend to either take it totally off the RV or do something.
We ended up rolling what was left of the awning around the tube and then took self tapping screws and fixed it to where it could not come open. Needless to say this was a little frightening in traffic.
Have any of you Seneca owners had this happen?
After seeing how the mechanism works, this style awning appears very susceptible to opening while going down the road if the idler gear fails. Once the wind catches it, it unfolds quickly.
I have contacted Jayco and have received no replies but I wanted to get this forums input to see if this has happened to anyone else or if I just happened to be a lucky one with a faulty awning.
UPDATE 8-6-08 Jayco contacted me and are reimbursing me for the temp. repairs I had done in San Antonio plus paying for a brand new awning and installation. Once again Jayco comes through with excellent customer service.
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dcowley
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07/12/08 08:53pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Windows locks for RV ??
Has anyone come across any type of window lock that works on an RV window?
I'd like to be able to leave a window open a couple of inches for ventilation when parked at home.
2007 Winnebago Access 31c
(2006 Ford E450 chassis)
Ken,
Check out this link, maybe this would work
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dcowley
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07/03/08 10:16am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Roadside Assistance
I have a new 2008 Jayco Seneca Kodiak. Does anyone know who would pay for the towing or who to call if I have a breakdown while on the road? Getting ready for a trip buthaven't received anything from Jayco or GM yet. I know with all my previous MH's I got a card from Coachnet for a free year. Anyone know how Jayco does this? Tex
Tex,
My 2007 Seneca 35GS came with Coachnet and I did have to use them. About 4 months back I had the exhaust repaired for the second time. During the repair, the chassis batteries weren't unhooked while welding on the frame and it destroyd my ECM where the engine wouldn't even turn over. I called Coachnet, they had it towed to a shop 125 miles away that was an authorized medium duty GM dealer and it didn't cost me a dime for the tow and GM didn't charge me a thing for the ECM.
Come to find out they cover my wife and daughter (17 yrs) with roadside service when they are in their personal vehicles at no extra charge so I had them send me two more cards. My daughter locked her keys in her car and she called Coachnet... guess what? No charge.
I think all new Jaycos come with the first year Coachnet.
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dcowley
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07/02/08 05:18pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Hats off to Michelin Tires
What caused the blow out. I want a tire that doesn't blow out from a manufacturer rather than one that takes care of it's blow outs.
Amen Brother. No truer words ever spoken.
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dcowley
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06/30/08 11:38am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: "Slideout Tubes" on Granite Ridge
Next question, exactly where do these things go? I am guessing at the top on the corners?
Jayco should have the wall marked on where to put them. If you put them in non-supported section of the wall you could do serious damage.
I have had several rigs with slides and have yet to use a slide lock, call me lucky but to each his own.
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dcowley
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06/25/08 06:47pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: So I really had nothing to do today...
...so I took my '06 Seneca 35GS over to Truck and Trailer USA in West Palm Beach and they installed front and rear Trac Bars, front and rear sway bars and a Reflex Steering Stabilizer. In at 0800 and done by 1600.
All I can say is WOW...what a difference...
Beave
Beave,
I had all the above done plus Konis and SUPERSPRINGS. I just got back from a 3400 mile round trip to Orlando with a few detours in between from the Texas panhandle. I got into a horrible rain storm between Melbourne Beach and Orlando with so much water the onan quit running and the a/c belt started slipping... but the handling,,, you wouldn't even have known I was in a bad thunderstorm.
When I left Florida headed back to the Texas Panhandle I set the cruise on 70 and it handled better than most suv's I've owned. I was able to drive about 700 miles each day and it really wasn't tiring, not one white knuckle experience the whole trip.
You will be glad you did it and it is worth every penny if you log lots of road time.
I did not have one failure the whole trip, everything worked fine and I didn't even lose one screw, the tool box stayed closed the entire trip. I am more than pleased with my 35GS now that the handling issues are behind me.
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dcowley
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06/24/08 10:40pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Kodiak diesel fuel filter change interval
I am not very happy with Chevy. I hope I am getting to the end of the issues, or I'll be looking for another rig.
John, I can't help think that this is not Chevy's problem but a problem with the tank or a fuel vendor. A pre-filter such as one made by Racor would seem a cheaper alternative than buying another motorhome.
I had a motorhome in 1989 on an Oshkosh chassis (John Deere) that had to have the tank replaced at it had basically rusted from the factory
The filter plugged on the first trip and kept plugging.
A Racor installation should be relatively inexpensive and should help the main filter if the problem continues
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dcowley
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05/27/08 04:33pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: 1000 Trails, my worst camping mistake!
DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE I MADE! DON'T GET INTO A CONTRACT WITH THIS COMPANY! I FEEL THAT THE WAY THIS COMPANY DOES BUSINESS, THEY DESERVE TO GO BANKRUPT AND BE SHUT DOWN.
WOW... exactly the opposite in my TT experience. Bought the membership on e-bay and have not regretted one minute. The southwestern places I have visited are in excellent shape and find them very enjoyable.
Very good value if a person plans on RV'ing a lot. Sorry to hear about your expereince and please keep us posted on how things turn out.
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dcowley
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05/27/08 10:24am |
Family Camping
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RE: Generator and TV question
We have a 31 foot Minnie Winnie... Was wondering do I have to have the generator on for my kids to watch a DVD while driving? I might be missing something but not sure.
If I do need the generator, can my wife start it while I'm driving or do I need to pull over to start it?
Thanks for helping with my ignorance!! I did try the internal batteries and they didn't power the tv, etc.
I owned a 2003 31 foot Minnie Winnie and the generator has to be going to power the TV/DVD system. There is no inverter. Starting the generator while going down the road is very common. I carry lots of kids so we needed A/C, TV,, the whole deal.
My 5th grader was very good at starting the generator, cranking on the A/C, microwaving some popcorn (for the movie) while going down the road.... I also taught my kids to turn the A/C off before stopping the generator and to turn off the water pump after using the restroom.
I always kept that rear view mirror aimed at my control panel and had to remind them about turning things off when not using it i.e. generator when not needed and water pump... ( many years ago I busted a water line while going down the road and had no fresh water at destination, so now the water pump is always off when not in use)
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dcowley
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05/23/08 09:09pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Watts regulator...where to buy?
Got that exact one off e-bay brand new, works like a champ.
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dcowley
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05/22/08 01:04pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Pyrometers
I have yet to see one documented case of a pre turbo probe failing and causing turbo damage.
I don't know about documentation but over the years I have personally replaced in excess of a dozen turbo's due to thermocoupler probe failure destroying the exhaust turbine. These were all on Class 8 truck engines and very common in the earlier days until they all figured it out and placed the thermocoupler behind the turbo (cold side).
Maybe these little pickup engines don't run the miles and therefore don't fatigue the probe. All the larger diesel engine manufactuers place the thermocoupler probe after the turbo, there must be a reason.
Why take the chance? Learning to read the cold side will allow for the same results which is; Not to damage an overfueled engine.
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dcowley
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05/22/08 06:47am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Pyrometers
Best place is after turbo,reason being if the pyrometer probe should break off ,say good bye to your turbo. Only difference will be the reading showing couple hundred degrees less whenplaced inthe exhaust pipe right behind turbo.The older engines used to have them at the turbo but most all semis are after nowadays if equipped.
Jased is correct. In larger diesel engines burned probes haved ruined many exhaust fins on a turbo.
He is also correct to know that reading the 'cold side' (exhaust gas after the turbo) is approximately 200 degrees cooler than when in the exhaust manifold. Cummins, CAT and Mack figured this out in the 70's as more pyrometer thermocouplers failed and went shooting through the exhaust fins of the turbo which also is the most expensive part because it is made on the turbo shaft. Most intake fins are replaceable wheels but exhaust fin damage is always fatal.
If it was mine she'd be on the cold side and read accordingly.
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dcowley
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05/21/08 09:21pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Kodiak diesel fuel filter change interval
John,
Basically it depand on the fuel vendoir you are buying from. Some guys have lots of water and trash in their fuel. Running close to empty before fueling will allow your filter to collect more trash also. The fuel filters on the Duramax should have a water indicator built in so if the water indicator light doesn't come on then one has to assume it's just trash and not water.
A good rule of thumb would be to change the filter at the first notice of any power loss. You may go 15K miles and never need to change and you may go 5K miles and need to change but you do know now you have some trash floating around in your tank that your filters (onan included) will be cleaning out. It only takes one bad tank of fuel to deal this type of misery for several thouand miles.
The euro deal is crap. It's about the fuel vendor and who hauled it to the vendor. Our pipe lines in this country are fairly clean.
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dcowley
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05/20/08 10:11am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Seneca shocks?
Thanks guys. Does anyone have any part numbers for the Koni shocks?
Thanks,
Beave
Some Kodiak chassis has eye-to-eye and some have bolt-to-bolt on the rear. You will need to see which type rear shocks you have before anyone can help. Might as well crawl under and see what kind you have.
I ordered mine from Hendersons Lineup but some on this forum have found them considerably less than the $170.00 apiece that I paid. Koni has a web-site that gives a listing of dealers.
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dcowley
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05/20/08 08:11am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Seneca shocks?
Hi Guys,
I am pondering changing the shocks on my '06 35GS. Any thoughts on which ones work the best?
Thanks,
Beave
I put Koni's on my 35 GS and they were a definite improvement over the OEM shocks. Did not try Bilsteins after researching the RV.net forums as it seemed Koni's rose to the top of the list.
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dcowley
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05/19/08 08:51am |
Class C Motorhomes
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