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garykd

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Everything posted by garykd

  1. Hi kalynzoo, Why do you say the ERS would not mount your spare on the side of the road? Best I know, mounting a tire at the side of the road is standard operating procedure.
  2. Hi wintersden, Welcome to the FMCA forum. Like Bill posted, the GS discount is offered at many more CGs than the FMCA discount. That is the macro view. If you happen to camp where the FMCA discount is offered just as much as the GS discount; for that benefit there would be no difference. However, both organizations offer many more benefits than just the CG discount. Consider looking at all the benefits each organization has to offer. Determine the value of these benefits to you. Then make your decision. For me, I belong to both organizations.
  3. Hi Brett, You are correct. My post has the definition correct, but my engine has an exhaust brake. My selective memory is getting smaller every day.
  4. Hi mandalay07, The answer to your question will be unique by state. What state might you be considering finally registering the coach in?
  5. Hi Pat, The short answer is it all depends on the route taken to G'burg. If you go up I95 to D.C. and then over to G'burg it is a pretty flat route. There are hills, but no mountains. If you are going to take I81, there will be a 7 mile, 7% climb starting on I77 at the VA border. After that, I81 is one hill after another. That being said, I'll take the I81 route over the people congested I95 route any day. Hills are an inconvenience, people on congested roads are dangerous. From G'burg, you'll most likely take I81 to Binghamton then RT 17 west to I390 and then I90 west to NF. I81 through PA is a continuation of one hill after another. Northbound, there is a long decent (7% for 5 miles) into the Wilkes-Berre/Scranton area. Once in the valley, you guessed it, one needs to climb out. It is a long gradual ascent. Once on Rt 17 from Binghamton to NF the road is mainly one hill after another, but no long grades.
  6. Hi sancat11, Best I know, the Cummins ISC does not have an exhaust brake. It has an engine brake. An Engine brake is a compression release brake. It works by opening the exhaust valves at the top of the compression stroke, releasing the compressed air in; then immediately closing the valves to create an extreme vacuum in the cylinder and providing immense amounts of braking force. An exhaust brake works by causing a restriction in the exhaust much like the intake throttle causes in a gasoline engine. Nearly all of these brakes are butterfly valves mounted downstream of the turbocharger. Before doing anything, try: 1. not turning off the engine brake. Just before the bottom of the decent, start to feather the accelerator to remove the engine brake from holding the coach back. Then at the bottom of the hill gradually step on the accelerator to maintain the proper speed. 2. If you do not expect to use the engine brake again for some time, then turn it off. If you expect to use it again, shortly, leave it on for the next decent.
  7. garykd

    H2O in Fuel

    Hi JimK, Thanks for the update. I'm glad you got the problem closed. Brett's post provides the solution for water proofing the connector.
  8. Hi kellyds, There is no help for a tornado. For a hurricane, everything in Brett's post is good to do. If the coach is to ride out the storm, you really need to know where the center of the storm will go in relation to the coach. Hurricanes turn counter clockwise. If the center will travel over the coach, it matters not which direction the coach is parked. It will be hit with the strongest winds from both directions. If the coach will be on one side of the storm center, you can then follow Brett's instructions. If you have a 4 jack leveling system, my recommendation is that the jacks be put on the ground. The following applies only to south Florida. Living in other Hurricane prone areas will require one to understand how storms act in your area. After being in south Florida for 20+ years, my recommendation is to leave town well before the roads clogged with cars. When I was in South Florida during Hurricane season, there was a procedure we followed based on a storm's projected path. It was like NASA launch criteria. Once the criteria was met, it took a day to get ready and we left town. This meant we left town 5 days before the storm was projected to strike. Consider making a similar plan. Our coach(s) have never had to ride out a storm. We consider the coach our lifeboat. The questions now becomes where does one go? Atlantic hurricanes go straight or turn right. Depending on the projected path, I always go to the south or west of the projected path. Caribbean hurricanes are a bit trickier. They will wobble or continue straight. For these storms I will always go south. Living in south Florida, this means I will evacuate toward Key West if the storm is to come to West Palm Beach (home base). With either an Atlantic or Caribbean Hurricane, if I evacuate north, the storm will chase me, for several days. With a hurricane, one does not need to evacuate very far. Usually 100-150 miles will do nicely. There are always exceptions. I try to evacuate only far enough to where I feel I can fill my fuel tank and the fuel cans I have brought with me.
  9. garykd

    H2O in Fuel

    If JimK is replacing the fuel/water separator with factory equivalent, there is no glass to see into. JimK, Brett's post made a light bulb turn on. The connector, for the sensor on the fuel/water separator can get water in it. Consider unplugging the connector and drying (hair dryer?) it our really well. After reconnecting the plug ends, consider water proofing the connector. This has not happened to me, but other owners of the same coach/engine we have have reported this.
  10. Hi Harry, I doubt new air bags will make your coach ride smoother. The PSI in the bags along with the ability of air to move out of and into the bags as you travel can have a lot to do with the smooth ride. Shocks also play a large part in the smooth ride. For me, I'd get some advice on a shock that will provide a softer ride. I do not mention tires as the OP did not mention vibration, which could be a tire problem.
  11. garykd

    H2O in Fuel

    Hi JimK, Congratulations on your good taste in choosing a coach. You did exactly what I would have done. With a 100 gallon fuel tank, it will take quite a bit of the moisture removal additive to get to the concentration needed. Look on the product and determine how much you need. I would: 1. Add the correct additive and fill the tank with fuel. 2. Drain some additional cups out of the fuel water separator. 3. Take the coach out for a 50 mile test run. 4. If no problems occur, fill the tank again. 5. Keep the fuel tank really full when the coach will be parked for any amount of time (over a week).
  12. Hi elisowski@sbcglobal.net, I too am from the Selectric era. I'd do the following: 1. Call Tiffin and see if your coach is wired for a chest freezer in the basement. 2. Ask them what they install. 3. Go to http://www.rvupgradestore.com/search.jsp?searchTerm=freezer and http://familymotorcoachrvmarketplace.com/r...y=&heading= and take a look at some of the choices. 4. Now you know if you want what Tiffin installs or one of the after market units. The freezer will require installation of a pull out tray. Don't forget this when you take your measurements. If your coach is not prewired for a basement freezer, post here. That is another set of tasks.
  13. I've made reservations at the CG for later this year. If you had it to do again, how would you get to the CG? I will be northbound on I77. thanks,
  14. Hi Wanda, I also recommend the Truckers Atlas. I get the large print edition. The pages are easier to read and the atlas is bound with plastic coated pages. I think this edition is about $75 now. I purchased mine at the J. Don't forget to use your J card when paying for the atlas. It may help increase the fuel discount you get for the next month. I can not help with the routes mentioned in your post.
  15. Hi Wanda, You are welcome. We will arrive in the Acadia area on July 6. We will be staying at Timberland CG. We leave on July 10. We will have the Gkids with us. Our time is fully booked. We have four more years with the Gkids. Then we can travel at a much slower pace.
  16. Hi johntelling, I carry a mounted spare tire. It is in the most forward basement bay, in the center of the coach. My coach takes 275X70X22.5 tire size. This is not the most common size and can be difficult to find. For additional choices, I also carry the air wrench, torque wrench, compressor, pry bar, etc. so if needed, as a back up plan, I could change a tire myself. The primary plan is to call Coach-Net. For those wondering, I have changed two tires on this coach (different long story(s).
  17. Hi Wanda, Welcome to the FMCA forum. We will be going from south Florida to the top of Maine this summer. Our route is: 1. South Florida to Concord, NC. via Interstate highways 2. Concord, NC to Niagara Falls, NY via interstate highways (I77, I79 to I90) 3. Niagara Falls to Binghamton, NY via I90, I 390, RT 17. 4. Binghamton to Essex Junction, VT. Interstates I88 and I87. I have not decided if I will take the ferry or drive around Lake Champlain. 5. Essex Junction to Ft. Jefferson, NH via I89 and US Route 2. 6. Ft. Jefferson to Presque, Maine via US Route 2, I95 and US Route 1. 7. Presque to Acadia Nat Park via US route 1, I95 and ALT US Route 1 8. Acadia Nat Park to Boston, MA via ALT US Route 1 and I95 9. Boston to Newburgh, NY via I95, CT Route 9, I91, I691, I84, 10. Newburgh to Shartlesville, PA via I84, I380 and I78 11. Shartlesville to Gettysburg, PA via I78, I81 and US Route 15 12. Gettysburg to points south, via I81 Post here or email me with any questions.
  18. Hi BKatMarks, Welcome to the FMCA forum. Before making a purchase, look in the vehicle's owner's manual. This is the only place, where towing instruction/limitations are stated, in writing. The owner's manual should also state the process to successfully tow.
  19. I know you mentioned you replaced the screw on vent. However, it is a cheap plastic part. Consider making sure it is working correctly. All other things being equal and no disasters (i.e., cracked drain pipe) waiting to be discovered that is about all I can suggest. As a long shot, there should be another drain vent in another sink. The aroma you are sensing is most likely coming from the grey tank. The grey tank can smell almost as bad as the black tank. If you find another drain vent, try swapping it with the vent in the kitchen drain.
  20. Hi Flyboy, Welcome to the FMCA forum. Is the trap in the sink drain full of water?
  21. Hi Pat, We will be taking the same trip this summer, with the Gkids. For Gettysburg: 1. Go to the visitors center first. One can spend almost the entire first day there. 2. I try to do the battle field in the same order of when the historical events happened. 3. For Picket's charge, walk from the Confederates line across the field toward the union line. You'll get a Confederate soldier's view of the charge. It will change your view of history. 4. Start at Devi's den and climb up Little Round Top. This is what a Confederate soldier had to do. Once again, you may leave with a different view of the battle and what the soldiers went through.
  22. Hi donvardell, The dates mentioned in the OP are for free entrance to the National Parks. Check the NPS web site. I know of no days when free camping is offered above and beyond what may be normally be free camping (primitive sites).
  23. I guess every manufacturer wires their coaches differently. My coach will always extend the stairs (when the door is open) regardless of where the chassis or coach disconnect switches are positioned. When the door is closed, the steps retract, if I have positioned the auto step switch to "on". The steps are on a separate fused circuit to the chassis batteries.
  24. Hi JerryPeggy, Welcome to the FMCA forum. For me, the HWH brand systems are the best choice. They are hydraulic systems. There are manual and automatic system choices. Go to http://www.hwhcorp.com/coachsystems3.html to see what they have to offer. Their telephone number is at the top of the page. HWH has an air leveling system, but I do not recommend this. My recommendation comes from a combination of personal use and being "Mr. Fix It" for a couple of different RVing clubs. The bottom line is HWH makes really good systems with heavy duty parts. Lastly, push come to shove, one can always get a hydraulic jack to raise. There are times when nothing will get an electric jack to raise and you need a shovel to dig out from under the jack so one can take the jack off the coach.
  25. Hi ajcarpenter, I also have the Howard system. Unfortunately, there is no hope of spare parts. When mine no longer works, I will have the Blue Ox True Center installed on my coach. Being able to adjust the centering from the driver seat is a must have feature.
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