RE: OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY PD4501 now mine
The scope, expense, and work involved with this project is totally MIND NUMBING to me and exponentially beyond anything I could possibly take on myself.
BUT... for the person who would enjoy every step of this effort and who has the time and funds to make it come together, just as it should be... I'd say it's an AMAZING project.
If really done right ($$$$), the final result should be absolutely fantastic. I'm envisioning a completely up-dated motor coach, swathed in the charm and total coolness of a classic two-level Greyhound exterior. A totally renewed RV motor coach which could start fresh and have decades of reliable, up-to-date comfort and travel ahead of it.
I so hope you are able to complete this in a magnificent way and can't wait to see the end result, which I would imagine is years away from now.
Are campground power surges/sags a likely source of damage?
After seeing an ad for the surge guard device, we are considering one for our 2011 HR Endeavor motorhome.
We have spent 8 months or so each year in campgrounds and so far have not experienced any electrical problems due to campground electrical surges or sags, so I'm wondering how much such a device may be needed?
Also, not sure if the standard electrical system in our motorhome may already have some sort of surge/sag device built into the system.
What are your experiences and thoughts on this?
RE: Motorcycle lift '11 Monaco Diplomat/Endeavor, ill-advised?
Will this work for you?
Jet... I'm not sure if that would work with our Avalanche, which is nearly brand new, but it would be an option if we got another truck. Not sure I want to change trucks at this time, however. Thanks for the link.
Motorcycle lift '11 Monaco Diplomat/Endeavor, ill-advised?
We have a 2011 HR Endeavor (twin of Monaco Diplomat) which has a rear radiator.
Monaco docs discourage using a motorcycle lift behind the coach, presumably because of potential air-flow restriction behind the rear radiator.
It doesn't look to me that having a motorcycle on a rear lift would impede air flow enough to be an issue, especially since we rarely - if ever - travel in very high temperature climates. I would really like to put my bike on a hydraulic lift behind the coach but pause, of course, because of the "official" position of Monaco on this issue..
What are your thoughts/experience about this?
RE: Anyone know of higher-end Class A resorts in AZ?
Lazydays in Tucson is a park we know well... Stayed there about a month and a half in the first part of 2012. As an RV "park" it's very good. Great friendly staff, good security, nice clean, level sites, good restaurant on site. We like that place a lot. And we like Tucson as well.
But as an RV "resort", it pales in comparison to places like Motorcoach Country Club, Outdoor Resorts Indio, etc. where each site is relatively private, heavily landscaped, with outdoor kitchens, etc. and each site backs up to stunning lakes, waterfalls, palm trees, and lush landscaping.
The photo shown above of Lazydays is highly crafted, staged, and professionally lit by a skilled photographer for dramatic effect and isn't exactly representative of how the park actually looks. My career as a photographer was built on doing just that! However, it is a very nice park nonetheless, just not as luxurious nor as beautiful as the top Motorcoach resorts are. I guess we've been spoiled now.
We do plan to spend a few weeks at Lazydays in the coming month as we explore Arizona for the winter and look forward to the visit.
RE: Anyone know of higher-end Class A resorts in AZ?
Thanks everyone for the comments. I did find a couple of other options, but I can't tell much about them from their websites. One is a Motorcoach resort located at a much larger golf club/country club. I don't know if you have to be a member of the club to stay at the Motorcoach resort.
The Motorcoach Resort at The Refuge Golf & Country Club
http://www.refugecountryclub.com/motorcoachresort.html
The other is Havasu RV Resort, but it looks like the park is a lot less beautiful than Outdoor Resort Indio.
Does anyone know anything about either of these places?
I don't think the Havasu place comes near the quality of Outdoor Resort Indio, but the Motorcoach Resort at Refuge just might... Outdoor Resort Indio is likely as good as it gets in a location where everything you might want is within a few miles. Palm Springs/Indio area is heavenly in many ways, except that it's in California. :-/
Anyone know of higher-end Class A resorts in AZ?
We are renting a lot at Outdoor Resorts Indio at present, across the street from the Motorcoach Country Club in Indio, CA. These parks are for Class A coaches only and are beautifully landscaped & maintained, safe and secure, offer lots of amenities, and the lots are individually owned (bought, sold, and rented) by individual residents.
Does anyone know of similar Class A resorts in Arizona? I've tried some searches but haven't come up with much.
We are interested in either renting a lot seasonally, or perhaps purchasing one, and really like the beautiful, quiet surroundings that such resorts offer.
Thank you.
RE: Bakersfield to Indio - is the Barstow route good at present?
That route is fine. There are a couple of section of two-lane before you get to Barstow. At Tehachapi the pass is approx 4300 ft so need to watch forecasts (than about the same as the Grapevine). We use that route all the time to Las Vegas, OK and points east.
You might want to consider Bkf to Kramer's Corner (traffic light just east of Boron) then south on 395 to 15. 395 is two-lane but about 38 miles shorter than going to Barstow (lots of up and down and some idiots trying to pass, of course.
Hi John.... thank you!
We traveled Bakersfield via 58 to Kramer's Corner, 395 south to 15, then 15 to 10 into Indio today and it was a great route! We were happy to avoid the Grape Vine and the typical cluster __ that is the LA basin area. While the route was a bit longer in time, of course, it was easy, enjoyable, stress-free, and I thank you for your suggestion! Happy trails, my friend.
RE: I-5 or 99 better road surface? Stockton to Bakersfield.
Fastest route is 99/5/210/10 mid day but then the Grapevine is a very rough section.
Next would be 58/395 with some traffic as you approach 15/15/210/10.
But a really great route is 58/247/62/10. Good 2 lane roads and divert to Josha Tree if you haven't been there. We've also taken 62 East to the Colorado River sites.
OK, cool! Thank you.
The 58>247>62>10 route sounds very interesting. We're not in a great hurry, but would appreciate a beautiful and interesting route, weather and road-surface permitting. We will be going this coming Monday.
RE: I-5 or 99 better road surface? Stockton to Bakersfield.
CA Traveler,
That last route you mentioned near Josha Tree: are there any issues weatherwise in traveling during February. We're headed to the Phoenix area and then east, starting in Portland.
The toughest part of heading south from Oregon/Washington between November and springtime is I-5 over Siskiyou Summit, which is just south of Ashland, OR. You will want to get to Grant's Pass or Ashland area and, possibly, hang there until you get a clear weather day to cross over the pass. Depending on your rig and your adventurousness, needing to "chain up" for the summit may well be a complete deal breaker.
RE: I-5 or 99 better road surface? Stockton to Bakersfield.
We took 99 from Lodi to Bakersfield today and for the most part, the road surface seemed better than I-5 was LAST year this time. There were a couple of rough patches, but mostly, pretty smooth and nice. Road construction has been going on for sure and continues to be underway. I would imagine next year this time 99 would be quite nice.
That said, if I-5 has been improved since Nov 2011, then that might be good or better then 99. 99 was good today, though. Next year, perhaps we'll try I-5 again.
Thanks again for the comments, folks! :-)
Any thoughts on going from Bakersfield to Barstow, then south on 15 to Indio? We'd like to avoid the LA area if possible. But if that route is sketchy weather-wise or road surface-wise, I guess we would go through the LA basin area.
Bakersfield to Indio - is the Barstow route good at present?
Thinking we might try to avoid the LA basin, we're considering Bakersfield to Indio via 58 to Barstow, then down 15 to Indio.
Does anyone know how the route would be with our current weather? And any advice as to road surface conditions? We're driving a 43' motorhome pulling a pick-up.
OR, would it be best to go through the LA Basin?
Thanks, in advance, for your help.
RE: I-5 or 99 better road surface? Stockton to Bakersfield.
Wow... it sounds like both 99 and I-5 have had repaving and are smoother this year.
I agree the transitions from concrete to asphalt and back again can be abrupt and not so easy on coach and toad. I pretty much stick to 55-58mph through California, anyway. Neither the coach and toad nor, especially, the wife takes kindly to a lot of rough pavement. The shaking and noises these things make over rough pavement and potholes can be a bit disconcerting indeed. Hope to see some of you in Arizona this winter! :-)
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp59/zmonki/HR%20Endeavor/P4080863.jpg
RE: I-5 or 99 better road surface? Stockton to Bakersfield.
Perhaps "hell on the coach" is overly strong... We just remember a heck of a lot of roughness on the ride down I-5 south of Stockton compared to I-5 in northern Calif., OR, and WA. It was among the worst road surface stretches of any interstate we've driven across the country.
Tsetsaf...would you say that the road surface on 99 is now better than on I-5?
I-5 or 99 better road surface? Stockton to Bakersfield.
Last year, driving on I-5 from Stockton to Bakersfield was hell on our coach! What a pathetic stretch of road.
Are the road surfaces any better going on 99 from Stockton to Bakersfield?
We're not in a hurry, just don't like getting so beat up by the road conditions.
thanks for your input.
