bsinmich

Could you raise the right side a little with the levelers? That should get the water running the opposite direction.

We have been RVing since '69 with TTs, popups, Hilo and 4 motorhomes. One of the MHs was a new purchase and it was the one with the most problems. I have never spent $5000. on any of them for anything that would be covered by a warranty. Put the $5000. in the bank and if you do need something you will have the money plus a few cents interest. If nothing happens you will have $5000. If you read on here and RV.net you will find many who have had a lot of problems collecting and a few who have been happy they had the X warranty.

Our first MH was gotten in 1986 from a fellow at Church whose parents wanted to sell theirs. It was a '76 Fireball 21' Class C on a Dodge chassis with the 360 motor. I thought it was great because it started right up after not being used for 2 years and it was a -13F that day. Anything that started that quick at 13 below zero would run anyplace. We were able to park on our driveway. First surprise came when the warm weather came and it began to smell. It may not have been used for 2 years but nobody had emptied the holding tank. I got that done quick. We had TTs popups, Hi-LO previous so dumping was nothing new. The tires were all pretty rotten since they were originals. The PO had always carried 3 extra V belts for everything under the hood in case he had a problem. I decided to just replace all of the old belts and hoses. None of those belts fit anything under that hood. I did find the wet bath a great time saver. You could shave, shower, shampoo & sh@# all at the same time. We traded it in '89 for a new Jamboree Rallye and sure appreciated the difference.

Some people have been very happy with the info they got and others have been disappointed. They mostly sit and look at the spec sheets for a MH and then give it a rating. They do not drive any of them to verify their statements. Handling is based on the ratio of wheelbase to overall length. My personal feeling is it wasted money. You can find out info on here and on RV.net

Cummins makes diesel engines and Allison makes the transmissions for the 8.1L . We have a '03 in a Newmar and think it is a great combo. We have the 5 speed trans., drive 62 mph and always have the toad. Our mpg runs around 8+ on the highway and 6 in cities. You may have the 6 speed trans in an '05 and that give 2 ODs. The automatic grade brake is also on that year.

If you only have $8000 to spend you have to figure in the cost of getting it road ready. If the tires are over 7 years old there is a good chance they need replacing. Tread can be there on an RV tire and it is rotten from just sitting. When you get a blowout on a MH with 80-100# of pressure you will most likely take a part of the MH along with the tire. The DOT code that is stamped into one side of each tire will give the week and year the tire was made. The first 2 numbers are the week and the last 2 are the year of build. 2209 would mean the 22nd. week of 2009. If there are only 3 numbers they are from the last century and should be replaced immediately. I would definitely save some additional money for brake checks and fluid flush, transmission flush, and anti-freeze flush. There are also the other possibilities of age problems. My daughter & SIL just bought a 1982 Wanderlodge so I know what it takes to get one in shape. The first thing they did was the new tires for $2600. Since SIL is a great do it yourselfer he has a lot of new projects for himself. Being able to do things yourself is a great help on an old MH.

There is a company up in Lapeer, MI that still makes Champion buses. These are the smaller buses on the van cutaways. I don't know that they carry anything of the Motorhomes though. I go past it because I have a daughter that lives near there. After giving a little more thought it may be Imlay City and not Lapeer. The 2 are close together.

I personally have no problem with US31. I live a matter feet from the highway in Holland. Fortunately we live on the oppopsite side of the condos from the highway and avoid the noise. Oak Creek is a very nice CG. I would give a call a couple days prior and make sure they have room. They are not real large. Saugatuck is a Toad trip from Holland. The whole Lake Michigan Shore is sand so you will get plenty of opportunity for sand. There are some dune rides in Mears and also Saugatuck that are fun. I can dress in my Dutch costume and give a Tulip Time Tour. Holland is one of the few places where wooden shoes are actually made in town. Dutch Village is a good touris trap that is interesting. VeldHeer Tulip Farms does the delft painting there. The stores on Windill Island are all the same as Dutch Village but the Windmill is there and they grind flour that can be purchased at the windmill. Grand Haven has the Coast Guard Festival in summer, and Muskegon has Silversides, an old navy ship. I can't remember if it is a sub or not. I don't do steps very well so haven't been there. Up around Mears and the State Park you can see the blowing sand dunes are gradually taking over the houses that are there.