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Forum
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RE: Can I keep my 2002 Malibu as a Toad?
We usually get a pull through space: we use a tow dolly and unhitching is a nuisance.
If you tow 4 down, unhitching is pretty easy. Also, you plan on using your toad, so you'll be unhitching anyway.
Unless the park is small, you'll probably be able to drive the RV with the toad to your site and the unhitch when you're ready to. In a smaller park, you may have to unhitch as you turn to enter your site. If you can't get a pull through space, you'll have to unhitch to back in.
The key is that if you're towing 4 down, unhitching is easy.
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wgander
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12/20/09 11:43pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Tow Vehicles
Towing four down is the way to go if your car can do it. You'll need a tow bar, mounts on the car, a brake in the car and wiring for the car lights. If you have to add a transmission pump the cost goes way up.
Towing on a dolly with brakes means only adding a trailer hitch and brake controller to the motor home. It's a little more work to hook up and disconnect, but not too bad.
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wgander
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10/30/09 10:25pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Tire suggestions
Be sure to get at least a Load Rating E. I don't have a tire brand preference. I have Maxiis on now, because that's what was available when I needed 4 tires while traveling through nowhere, Tennessee. They seem to be OK. Michelins XPs seem to get high ratings on this Forum. Just be sure to have metal valve stems installed. I also had valve extensions installed. The caps are mounted to the wheel hub, so checking tire pressure is very easy for me now. I check the tire pressure every morning as part of my disconnecting procedure.
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wgander
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10/26/09 11:48pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: “Maiden Voyage” Tips Please! :D
Since you plan on driving other than Interstates you will be driving through the corner of many small villages and sometimes down the main street. Remember that the motorhome will not stop as quickly as a car so you have to really watch the traffic ahead. Also, if there is a sign for Truck Route, it's a good idea to follow it. Sometimes it will help you avoid the most congested streets, sometimes it will avoid low overpasses. Find out how tall the motor home is and be sure to look for warning signs of low bridges: there should always be at least one exit after the warning, so you can bypass it.
Don't plan on traveling anymore than 400 miles a day.
Relax and enjoy.
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wgander
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10/26/09 09:24am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Carrying spare tire
I've had to call ERS several times for tire failures. I was always asked what size tire I'd need.
For my tow dolly, they changed one on the road and then I followed the truck back to his shop and had him install the same brand tire on the other side.
For the motor home, I had a spare, so they checked the inflation and installed it for me. They would have brought one if I needed a new one.
I don't remember the last time I had a tire fail on a car.
So, if I were you I wouldn't worry about it.
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wgander
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10/19/09 10:23pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Winegard ant/. add on?
I was parked next to a couple who had the add on and they said that they received many more stations with it than without it.
It's something I'll have before our next trip.
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wgander
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10/16/09 10:52pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Front suspension/alignment in San Diego
Thanks for the replies. I went to East County a couple of years ago and wasn't satisfied - maybe I should try again. Rosecrans 20 years ago (!) I'll check but don't know if Beeline is still around.
The vibration is at any speed without regard to braking, so I never thought of a rotor. I did have a warped rotor a couple of years ago and that really made stopping exciting.
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wgander
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10/09/09 05:25pm |
Tech Issues
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Front suspension/alignment in San Diego
Can anyone recommend a place to go, based on personal experience?
My steering wheel has an annoying vibration. It doesn't pull to either side, and will continue to go straight if I let go of the wheel. My tires seem to be wearing evenly.
I don't know if I should suspect wheel alignment, balance, or whatever.
I'm driving a 1999 Chevy 3500 with 63,000 miles on it.(Four Winds 5000, 28' C)
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wgander
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10/08/09 07:34pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: How did your first rv trip go?
Our first trip went great: we purposely went to a place within an hours drive, just in case. We kept a pad and pencil handy and made a note everytime we thought of something that would be nice to have with us.
It took me over an hour (of checking everything electrical and reading the manuals) to find out that the external power cord had to be plugged into an outlet in the electrical compartment to use the generator as a power source when not plugged into the RV power. (We were dry camping.)
I must have looked confused opening the awning, because a neighbor came over and showed me how to open it and set the support arms on the ground as legs or return them to the normal position as arms. Too bad he didn't know about the power cord, I was really getting frustrated trying to figure that out. I now keep the cord plugged in unless we're using park power, so all I have to do is start the generator if we want AC power.
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wgander
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09/15/09 08:29pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Can my 30 amp RV use 50 amp service?
I stopped in a brand new park that had only 50 amp service at the sites and they loaned me an adapter to plug my 30 amp cord into for the night.
I now have my own adapter, just in case.
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wgander
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08/19/09 08:14pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Four Winds Dinette Window
I called Four Winds when I needed a replacement for the rear (bedroom) window. They told me how to find the part number on the frame and i had the window in a few days. I think the only reason it would take several weeks is if they didn't have any in stock and had to get it from the manufacturer.
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wgander
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08/04/09 10:31pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Run Dash A/C vs generator and House A/C while traveling ?
I have never seen the use of the air conditioner have a measurable effect on MPG.
Most generators use less than 1 GPH.
It's only two of us traveling, and the dash air conditioner has always been sufficient, even in 114 degree heat, for us in the cab.
On those really hot days, I start the generator and turn on the motor home air conditioner when we stop for groceries before pulling into an RV Park, or when pulling into the park to register, to start cooling off the rest of the interior.
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wgander
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07/21/09 11:19am |
Class C Motorhomes
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How to prevent delamination?
Any ideas?
I've got a delamination bubble at the rear corner of the bedroom window that just became noticeable. I'm waiting for nice weather to attempt a repair but wonder how it could have been prevented.
What can you look for when buying a new motorhome to know you won't have a delamination problem.
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wgander
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07/10/09 09:19pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: older motor home and cable tv
My motorhome has a terminal to connect the TV antenna and cable, coax to two TVs, and an antenna amplifier switch. The amplifier is for the antenna and has to be off when using the cable signal.
I have to use the TV menu to select cable or antenna for each of the TVs.
I had to install the cable coax. It was pretty easy to do; I probably spent more time deciding how to do it. I ran the cable next to the dinette window and out of the coach under one of the bench seats. I ran it along the frame to the electric hookup compartment. I carry a connector and an extra 25' of cable for places where the connection isn't near the rear of the site or to lon to a neighbor who needs it.
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wgander
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07/08/09 07:27pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Need help from those who traveled Oregon and Northern Cali
If by Toy you mean Toyota, don't plan on towing anything, do plan on crawling up long hills.
My friend owned one and still laughs about it not having enough power to get out of it's own way - and it was just him and his wife and not many possessions.
But, it was reliable and cheap to own and run.
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wgander
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06/25/09 06:06pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Skylight leak / insurance question
The wood might have dry rot: you'll know when it just doesn't dry out. In that case replace what you can get to. If you can't get it all out, there's a product called Git Rot that you can treat it with.
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wgander
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06/06/09 07:45pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: QUIETING THE RIDE
I've never had a cupboard door open while driving.
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wgander
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05/30/09 09:45pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Anyone tow a Scion Xb?
Follow up:
The Scion xB fits on the dolly OK; the front bumper clears the ramp while loading and there's enough clearance behind the front wheels for the ramps that tilt to level when the car is loaded, and the rear bumper clears the ground.
Towed from CA to PA with no problems.
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wgander
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05/14/09 08:40pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: dolly towing vs toading
I went with a dolly because my TOAD at time was front wheel drive, automatic transmission Chevy minivan and we didn't know how long we'd be keeping it. The tow dolly was the least expensive way to tow. The only hassle is releasing the ratchets on the tire straps: I just haven't figured that out and it takes a few minutes for each one.
I've always been able to get a pull through space so I haven't had to unload the toad to park. While its clumsy to move the dolly by hand, the tongue can be placed under the rear of the motor home so that only the wheels and ramps of the dolly protrude.
When we get our new class A and new toad, we'll tow four down for the convenience.
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wgander
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05/03/09 09:31pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: no power to cig lighter/outlet
A similar problem on my Chevy was due to the wire being disconnected at the utility outlet. It was a slide on connector and wasn't a snug enough fit. I replaced it and crimped it with a pair of pliers 5 years ago and haven't had a problem since.
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wgander
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04/22/09 08:34pm |
Tech Issues
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