rsbilledwards

Joe, how much space does it take up, dimensions please, power requirements? B

I looked at the information in the preceding email. There is a lot there and a lot that does not pertain to us in the RV world. There is plenty to clutter your perception. Some of the gear there and recommended, is questionable in terms of the charging cycle according to Bob's site. Bob is a retired electrical engineer that sells little with no fiducary interest and gives away the information so we can make an informed decision. This site is selling componetry and subsequenly steers the conversation in a benificial direction. The first part of the equasion is to read and understand the "charging puzzle". Then you can move on from there.

The first thing you should have done is visit https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/ for your lessons on solar 101/ 102/103 for what really works and what does not. For how to run you system efficiently and to get the maximum from it. A meter is vital to you knowing what is in you batteries for use and what is going into them during recharging for starters. You need to know almost as much as the installers do because many of them are selling no charge systems because they do not know as much as they think they do. B

REV 877 466 5226 or 800 435 7345

I am sorry I did not think it went b

I have never owned a 5th wheel but have towed heavy trailers with all kinds of pickups and vans. I had a Ford Powerstroke 3/4 ton dually, nice truck. I was towing a 24 foot trailer with approxamately 6,000 pounds of rock in pallets, wire wrapped. It was all tied tight untill I hit the brakes pretty hard and the load shifted enough that it stood the pickup on its tail, litterally! I learned something from that incident and replaced it with a Ford Factory built 1 ton dually long bed and Powerstroke. I was moving rock from a private quarry in the mountains of Colorado to a home I was building. I stopped at the weigh station to see what I had put in the bed just for grins as the truck did not look all that loaded. Well surprise surprise, ther was 6,800 pounds in the bed. The truck weighed in over 13,000 pounds. It did not act like it either. Point being a 3/4 may pull it but if you have to do something evasive or out of the ordinary, that second set of rubber, and the heavier springs on the back of a 1 ton or greater will save your butt and keep the load behind you. The 3/4 ton is not adequate and the 1 ton marginally. Now the 450s have much better and larger brakes may be smarter yet. It is not all about pulling it...stopping is the bigger issue.

Been there done that Byron...be good to yourself for a little while It has been 8 years since mine. Happy now with a stent. I too have been eating those little delicacies on saltines for decades, since I was a little kid.

I would not buy another Rand McNally product other than a map certainly not a GPS! The one I have is about 3 years old and unfriendly to use, buy a Garmin! Find one that you can speak to...like your phone...I am going to look and then hit this Rand McNally with a axe, besides the battery has never been good, short life.

WE were just through the town of Big Bend, Texas off of US 90 in March as Brett suggested last Fall when I was looking for a route. At Big Bend we went North 20 some miles to Fort Davis, interesting stop and history. Then back south the same way the 20 odd miles and continued south 118 miles to Big Bend National Park. What a beautiful ride, magnificant vistas and a starkness that make how people survived out here. Either make reservations well ahead of time or plan to arrive by 10 AM at the Camp Ground at the end of the road as it is first come first served beyond reservations. We had no reservations and were inspite of out late arrival, lucky to find a spot, but had to move once as the original space was reserved for the second night we were there. Take what you need as there is little in terms of services. There is a fuel stop but quite expensive. If you are a reader and like American History look up the book The Empire of the Southern Moon. It is a comprehensive history of the kidnapping of Cynthia Ann Parker and Quanha Parker the last Comanche Indian chief. The Texas history written about will help you geographically and is a fascinating accouting of the time, a Pulitzer Prize Finalist. I believe I found it at the Park Service headquarters of Big Bend. Hill Country was beautiful, the roads perfect. Visit Fredricksburg, The Museum of the Pacific War and the Nimitz Museum. Allow plenty of time, one could easily spend 2 days in these museums and offers unparalleled clarity to the war. I found some great walnut fudge in town. There is a restored PT boat also there. I did not realize the size they were nor the power supply, more than a little impressd. If you have time make a loop around El Paso from the East up 54 to Guadalupe National Park and over to Carlsbad Caverns . By taking this route you miss nearly all the El Paso traffic. We did something similar but went through the oil fields, never again. On our way east and to Texas and US 90 south we went through El Paso on 10...it was terrible. we were fore warned, and true it was and not during the rush.

20 across the state was very flat and the section was about 300 miles long could have been favorable wind? I do not recall any hills large or small on 20 running west but it was pretty and green. I did not expect that border to border. I did just finish reading a book Empire of the Southern Sun about the comanche Indians and their rein of terror across Texas during the settlement of the West., fascinating and now I understand. It was a pulitzer Prize finalist and well documented. Yes there was a difference and the exhaust much cleane when you but the foot down.

Late to the party but now back home after 9,000 miles of pure unadulterated freedom of being on the road since the first of January. Typical mileage towing the Chevy Tracker 3,300 pounds, rolling between 62 and 65, RPMs in the 1325 + - range, C12 425 HP CAT, Allison 4060, weight under 31,000 pounds, so 34,300 + - pounds equalled 8.5 MPG average. One 300 mile section across Texas on I 20 we saw double digits as high as 15 MPG. Add in the propane and we averaged 9.6 with the 1 gallon per 100 miles as advertised when I had it on. Some what of a guess as the frige was useing it too and for a while it used more than it should have. I filled the tank 3 times, about 100 gallons.

Yes it is Tom and I’m on the road sitting in Lake Havasu city Arizona 71° today coach purring like a kitten likes that propane too

It is amazing what day light can do for one searching for a problem. Fired the coach up this morning and went looking for that elusive silent air leak i thought I could hear over the engine noise and almost immediately found a dislodged 3/8 in line disconnected during the installation of a new style Racor priming pump. Thank you Kay it was your tip that saved the day. I was going to do the same with another compressor to look for a silent issue. On the road in an hour. Thanks all B

Rich, That must be quite a "couch" to have an air compressor. Is it comfortable? Yes I have braided lines as well and no chaffing and all are tight. I will check the purge valve on the drier at ten pounds it would not make much noise. It is close to the rear of the coach and very accessible since I installed it. I moved the coach a couple months ago to the new pad and no issues then. B

No nothing from the drier side. Drier is only a year old not many miles. I would lean toward the compressor. dad gumit Well at least I am at home on the pad. Wonder Wonder what it looks like inside...gona find out in the spring. I have a spare compressor from a previous project I did not do on the Zanzibar...now I look pretty smart just for keeping it. Problem solver, me Thanks for the input B

Could the drier be a culprit in this since it is next in line after the Pump? it is only a year old

No leaks per Brett smacked the governor to no avail. Changed it out, new one from the spare box...conclusion pump has quit. Out put pressure is not real strong.

Brett, fired the coach about 30 minutes ago no building air pressure. Pump is producing air...only 10 pounds at cockpit gauge Regulator?

MWeiner The question you asked was about hybrid electric and gas in a coach. I commented that it would not be feasible or maybe practical is more reasonable in big rigs.Your next post articulated about your trip, how long it was and about all the diesel rigs about in the mountains. "As for big rigs in the mountains...I'd just like to tell you that a few weeks ago I returned from an 11,000 miles journey all across the USA..... went through the Northwest across to the East coast down to Florida and back through Route 66.." "Let me tell you... there's plenty of big rig diesels, motorhomes and yes, I even saw some Mercedes Benz Sprinters like mine and Class C Winnebago coaches out there along with plenty of other RVs... Even saw some Audi's..... " We were talking about ELECTRIC not big rig current diesels, of coures you will see lots of them it is the current technology and you will see them for a long time to come. In another post your argument shifts to safety. You keep shifting the thread from one point to another away from your original. What gives? My point and the issue is what happened in your PRIUS. Battery/electric will not work in the west's big mountains, others as well. The technology will be used on the flats where vertical climb resistance is lower and the distances are shorter. As for Europe's diesel being cleaner and the older technologies here versus there. I have been in the automotive arena for a long time. I was indirectly party to test work done by Audi through a couple of test/evaluator driver engineers that put corporate test cars through their paces prior to the ,model year releases. There were a lot of very interesting data points that were not common knowledge. Believe me some of the test cars were pretty amazing, shipped back to Germany or just plain crushed to death.

RainEx helps

The answer would be not a chance! I would rather have the load being stuff to live with rather than hauling around a bunch of batteries. Same kind of No on the second part of the question, not enough power and can you imagine the cost. Every one of these kinds of units are subsidized, imagine that bill. On the diesel side the Audis and MBs we see here, diesel powered, are several generations old compared to what is available in Europe. Our fuel is dirty by comparison in spite of the refining changes made here over the last decade or so. Their diesel is water clear. The current Audi cars will not run on the fuel we have here. I am willing to bet you do not see the big rigs in the mountains, on the flats and short haul applications sure.

Thanks for the confirmation as we plan to be there in April and have a visit with Kay...looking forward to it!I Want to see a cabinet makers custom build, maybe I can learn something.

See Level is a Canadian company and yes their stuff is very good and accurate if you follow directions...just ask me how I know the last two words were the important ones.

This is not rocket science but will take a little effort to get the correct rotor. First the wheel needs to be off. Measure the diameter of the rotor and the thickness. Measure the height of the hat from the base face of the rotor. measure the diameter of the hat and the number of studs. Go to a real parts supply house not NAPA or ORileys. Withthose dimensions they can find it from Centrix. Do not buy standard rotors, buy cryoed rotors, cryogenicly treated rotors, frozen in nitrogen, they will last far longer and dissipate heat much better than the standard rotors for not a lot more money. Another place that used to be very good is Ott's friction in Oregon 503 283 4165. It has changed hands a while back and is now owned by Fleet Pride. Word has it that it is not a knowledgeable as before. Another source would be Kaiser Brake and alignment in Eugene Oregon, 541 344 5887 These folks are also old time been around a long time. Pads and calipers from the same sources

Last year we stayed at the High Jolly camp ground just a bit north of town right side of the highway. It was great and only about 3 or four miles out. Rode the ATV to town numerous times, a bicycle would be no problem either BLM and free with lots of space.