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Forum
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RE: Suggestion for Tow Vehicle and RV
Have you looked at hybrids or pop-ups with tip out bunks at each end? They often have a large bed at each end and sofa or dinette that can be used for a child if necessary. They are light enough to be towed with a class 1 truck or SUV. Your option is to get a class 2 truck or SUV to tow a larger trailer.
We spent a week with another couple in Yellowstone in an AeroCub towed by a 1989 Suburban (Class 1). It worked well for its size and circumstances.
JMHO
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/11/09 02:46pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: New RV
The "rule of thumb" I used when I purchased our last dpmh was that you should be able to negotiate 30% off the msrp. That means the 2008 FR you're looking at with the msrp of $251,000 should have sold new for around $175,000. Now two years older, that mh should be worth less than their $180,000 asking price. If you want it, you could make a lower offer, but you need to know what is still covered under warranty and whether the dealer will stand behind the unit. You can use the "blue book" value for a used 2008 FR to get an idea what it is really worth.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/11/09 12:42pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: FT RVing for seasonal jobs
Rachel,
There are plenty of trail crew jobs with the NPS and that can include firefighting. I had several classmates in college that were smoke jumpers. I worked for the USFS on fire crews myself.
So you want to study bears! Since bears hibernate, you will need something else to do in winter or travel to the warmer places where they don't hibernate (like FL). I wouldn't consider rving in AK in winter. I spent enough time in AK to know how cold it really gets.
I grew up in western MT and have had plenty of bear encounters over the years. Our best friends were rangers in Glacier NP for many years and also have many bear stories. They are amazingly intelligent critters, and also very strong and unpredictable. We had three bears living around our cg in CO last month - one even wandered into a neighbor's trailer.
Its good you are asking questions and doing research on this. When you look back in 10 years, you'll be surprised how much has changed in that time. You'll likely be doing something completely different than you expect now.
Do what you enjoy and be happy!
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/10/09 07:54pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Do I need a dually for this trailer?
These folks have given you some great answers! I agree with going dually when you go over around 12,000# trailer weight. I speak from experience when I say you can't have too much truck.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/10/09 07:25pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: TPMS 4 XMAS
There are several great systems available. The better ones provide both high and low pressure warnings and even temperature. I wouldn't pay extra for the temp because high temp shows itself as high pressure. I have a Pressure Pro system and am quite happy with it. I monitor 14 tires (6 on truck and 8 on fiver). I just had a sensor go bad and PP is replacing it no charge. I wasn't happy with my old Tire Sentry system, but that was 4-5 year ago and technology has vastly improved.
If you decide on a Pressure Pro system, I strongly recommend Mike and Pat McFall (Escapees members). They have helped me several times even though I didn't buy my system from them. It is nice to deal with honest, caring folks like them.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/10/09 07:13pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: What to set acumulator tank pressure to?
I recently installed a new ShurFLow 5.7. I kept the existing accumulator tank at 30psi (factory set) because it worked well with my old SureFlow 2.8. The new pump has variable speed with 65psi max. The old pump was single speed with 50psi max.
The tank smoothed out the pulsations and reduced pump run time and cycling. While it may not be optimum, it works so well that I tend to think there is an acceptable range - maybe 20 to 40psi.
If you change the tank pressure be sure it is done with no water pressure on the tank.
JMHO
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/10/09 03:25pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: MH very slow going up hills
Lots of good comments so far! Vail Pass is high country and a normally aspirated engine won't perform well. Eisenhower Tunnel is around 11,000' elevation, so the air is pretty thin. That section of I-70 is tough for any engine, but 12mph is pretty slow.
I would have the transmission looked over. The torque convertor and/or clutches may be slipping or the ATF is low. That would cause excessive heat and rapidly lead to failure, but you didn't indicate there was an overheat problem. Do you have a tranny temp gauge or light?
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/10/09 03:14pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: US-6 in Utah
Been that way several times with no problems. Nice road, mostly two lane. I might check on the weather over Soldier Summit in winter.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/09/09 08:10pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Have U driven your class A through 20 degree weather?
We've driven and overnighted in sub-zero temps in a 1991 Foretravel dpmh (dead of winter in MT). The old DD6V92 didn't like the start in the morning and fogged the cg until warmed up. We couldn't hook up any hoses, but the holding tanks were fine, and we stayed toasty.
Our truck (in sig below) starts readily in 0* mornings, but it sure runs rough for a few minutes. Our fiver has seen 0* with no problems.
If your rig is built for it and you travel prepared, you shouldn't have any problems.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/09/09 08:06pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: New Gasser HD trucks-Horsepower Wars are On! (soon)
I can't see these high hp gassers lasting like a diesel, and they still can't produce the torque needed for heavy hauling. I wonder what the mpg ratings are. JMHO!!
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/09/09 07:55pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: FT RVing for seasonal jobs
We met a young family while hiking in Yellowstone this September. They worked for the National Park Service for the summer in Yellowstone and stayed in their fifth wheel. They had two kids around age 8-10 and a father-in-law lived with them. They were leaving when Yellowstone shut down for the season and heading to jobs in the Everglades for the winter.
After talking with them for awhile, we realized there were quite a few folks who did that type of thing. With your degrees, I'd expect the best jobs would be park ranger or similar - lots of time outdoors and wildlife interactions. You make me almost wish I were younger and starting over - but not quite.
GBY
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/09/09 02:36pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: desiel fuel injectors
Ah- there is no lube in OptiLube. Check the MSDS on it. It has all solvents in it.
Then it does a good job of lubricating for all solvents. Look at the Diesel Place lubricity additive study results (www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177728). It is ranked second only to 2% biodiesel and sure beat many of the more popular additives.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/09/09 12:15pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: "Push" effect
How much push you feel depends on the size difference between the passing vehicles and how close they are. The passing truck is being pushed in the opposite direction but is so much larger that the effect is barely felt. It is caused by the increased air pressure between the closing vehicles. The greater the speed difference and the closer the proximity, the greater the push.
My truck weighs over 16,000# and fiver weighs 20,000#, and I still occasionally feel a little push. I'm sure I push a few folks around, so I try to stay as far away as possible while passing.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/09/09 07:38am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: desiel fuel injectors
That is a much debated issue, especially on this forum. Some swear by additives and others swear at them.
The fuel industry claims that sufficient lubricity additives are already put in the fuel. Some older diesel engines have experienced lift pump and injector pump failures while using ULSD, but it can't be positively correlated to the ULSD use. There haven't been enough problems to prove the ULSD was the cause.
I occasionally add OptiLube for several reasons, one being to provide extra lubricity for the fuel system, but that's just my personal choice. It would cost around $20,000 to replace my engine, so it seems reasonble to add something cheap to possibly reduce the risk; although most types of fuel system failures would not destroy the engine unless ignored.
You can search this forum for many discussions on this topic.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/09/09 07:22am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Propane Itself
You'll just have to pay a lot more to refill the tank than five years ago. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is mostly propane with smaller amounts of other flamable gasses like butane and ethane. When stored in a suitable container, LPG doesn't react with anything, separate, get contaminated, or "age".
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/08/09 07:34pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Medium to high end travel trailer
Friends bought a lightly used Carriage Royals 40' fiver with all one level interior and slide outs (including porch slide). I've seen other fivers with all one level. I think SpaceCraft makes both fivers and TTs, but they tend to be quite heavy and expensive, although you could get almost anything you want.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/08/09 02:22pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Do you stay at the same park every winter, or???
We go to Sigsbee (NAS Key West) every winter because of the location and price. We also have many friends who do the same, so we always have plenty to do all winter.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/08/09 02:14pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Do U use cruise control with the exhaust brake switch ON?
Yes, I do it with my volvo truck & fiver, and I did the same in four previous dpmhs. It keeps me from going downhill too fast, although I can go up to 5 mph faster than the cruise is set before the jake comes on fully. I control road speed and vehicle spacing using cruise control on/off mixed with jake on/off. Although my truck and dpmhs use engine brakes, I had an exhaust brake on a F550 w/7.3PSD and used it the same way.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/08/09 02:09pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Class B vs. Big Rigs
We started with a B in 1979, traded for a C in 1983 (easier to take the kids along). We then got a small A (23' diesel) in 1995. As empty nesters, we went through four big dpmhs (36' to 42') between 1997 and 2005, the last five years fulltiming. Since 2005 we've been quite happy in our fiver. Our rigs changed as our lifestyle changed.
Every rig we owned suited us best for its time and circumstances in our lives. Each had features and capabilities the others didn't. All provided wonderful memories!!
Be grateful and appreciate what you have without disparaging comments on others' choices.
As someone on this forum once said: Don't criticize anyone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. That way you are a mile away and have their shoes.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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11/01/09 08:01pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Is your RV a toy?
I've never met fulltimers, or even most serious part timers, that considered their rv a toy. We have learned through experience that a dpmh costs more to buy, to maintain, and to depreciate than a trailer. We also know some who consider their toy hauler or other rv as a toy just like the boat or atv they haul/drive around.
The difference in perspective can be explained many ways but usually doesn't need to be. We each have our perspective and understand it.
To answer your question: NO! It is home. We love sleeping in our own bed and having our familiar surroundings no matter when we are. I would never recommend fulltiming to anyone, but for those of us that like it, it is hard to explain to others. I guess it just gets in your blood or something like that.
Marv
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marvmarcy
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10/31/09 09:53pm |
Full-time RVing
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