rsbilledwards

Speck, I have one of those BFG Safari torsolactic sprung coaches with the installed supplemental air bag system. Honestly it is wonderful. The ride is as close to and air bag suspended coach as you will find.. The system is infinitely simpler than that of an air bag coach. I could go on and on, but having said that I have a Zanzibar for sale with 44,000 miles on it for sale. Please visit safariinternational.org for a full explanation of it and photos. There is not another like it around. I would be glad to elaborate further if you have any interest. I am also negotiable from the stated price. Bill Edwards

Carl, I would concur with that statement...for the most part. As for tires generally. Virtually all of my experience has been with those little ones fitting Porsches and the like. Though I do have many, many, miles on 235 80 16s fitted on Ford 1 ton vans and pickups. For years I ran the Bridgestone V-Steels and believe me they were wonderful. . They wore well and square, great ride and good traction. I started using them when the wholesale house I used for the shop stated that they were 20 dollars a tire less than Michelin and had the same performance. The replacement was terrible in comparison. Bridgestone recently, 4 or so years ago, quit making them and now the only people making an all steel light truck tire is Michelin and a Chinese manufacturer. I had no real choice but to go Michelin with the last set. I can tell you unequivocally that the current Michelin is not the tire in any manner that the Bridgestone was. As for the coach, it was originally equipped with Toyos, a terrific tire and the priced very favorably, and more so than the Michelins. I would have used the Toyos on the Panther but they do not produce a 275 70 22.5 and apparently did not back when this coach was new since it was equipped with the Goodyears of that time. The Goodyears on the coach when I purchased the coach in December looked brand new. Other than just dry looking there was not a check/fracture in the side wall nor in the tread grooves. So I stuck with the tire brand and installed new ones. I spoke with the Tireman about the issues surrounding the Goodyear tires purportedly having problems and concluded it really did not. All of that said with those big tires you use in compared to those little ones I use, I might have to reconsider... ;Bill Edwards

Herman, I was not making a case against them as I am sure they are a good tire. I just did not want to spend another grand until I think I will get my money out of them in terms of mileage. We are not quite ready for the full time route yet. I have to finish this American hand scribed log cabin I have been building and that I would like you to see in the next couple of years. Bill Edwards

Carl, If I recall that is why they were used very little to not at all. The powers the were, did not stand up and make a decision pro or con , so they sit unwanted. No decisions and still they sit at our expense. Bill Edwards

Yes Herman, They were a little rich for my blood and so I am trying another of their round rolling donuts. Are you going to use them again is the big question or are these the ones you just put on? Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow. Bill Edwards

If you go through Santa Fe, New Mexico the Blue Sky RV park is Grrreat. It is just south and on the East side of the freeway, It has very easy access and terrific views of Santa Fe and south toward Albeq. Its facilities are very good. Many attending the festival stay there every year...MAKE YOU RESERVATIONS NOW!!! LIKE YESTERDAY. Bill Edwards

Bruce, You will choke when you find out the coast of the 275 70 22.5 Michelins. Have a look at the Goodyear 761 HSA . They are not RV specific tires and subsequently they do not have the UV protection that the 760s do. I have a Safari Panther I just put them on, they rode great, very smooth. Cost was $500 a corner out the door! My reasoning for these over the 760s was that they will age out before they wear out. I will see... Bill Edwards t

Deadeye, Interestingly enough maybe 30 years ago, Goodyear did a study on rotating tires on front wheel drive cars. It concluded that if the tires were left in their original mounted positions one could see as many as 90 thousand miles from the tires on the rear axel. If rotated 30 to 40 thousand less. This was due to the fact that all they did was roll with no frictional forces from turning and the heavier braking forces applied from being on the front end. At that time however most were solid rear axel units and not independent. I do not know if an independent rear setup would fare as well but I think still better if left alone. I have had all kinds of VW Rabbits and Golfs and never rotated them. I never saw 90K but definitely more than if I had rotated them, just a thought to pass on. Bill Edwards

I will not make that comment again. It was an interesting article. I was told recently to rub my ankles in the stuff for relief of Arthritic pain, huh? Yup I am still trainable. Thanks Bill Edwards

It sure has a nice shine, lucky you, nice. Bill Edwards

Herman, You opened the door, Yes you are a good sport for taking all the Super High Intensity Training. Last time we spoke about the saw, you had it under license for development, now it is sick? I for one will be a happy guy when I finally get to meet you. I will be a happy guy when I meet a lot of you on this forum. I am not on the list either and too am developing a spot so those invited can stop for a day or two high it the Rocky Mtn foothills for a cup of coffee and a few good laughs. Blake, sorry the weather and the crummy roads slowed you down and couldn't make it. Evening and Friday night traffic in Denver is not easy to deal with and it is a slow slog going North. Have a great time at the get together. Bill Edwards

Roger, I read all five articles, sad but true. It is amazing how these folks expect to survive and how many others are willing to put up with these attitudes and lack of service. Thanks for posting this. Bill Edwards

I do not have one, but a couple things to check. First the ground, wiggle it and make sure it has a contact, same with power. Second tap the gage to see if it just over ran its arc a bit. This is what happened to mine, works fine now. Bill Edwards

It looks terrific, What size/dimensions of the tile, look to be about 16 X 16 or maybe 18 X 18 and it does not look to big for the space. Bill Edwards

Blake I doubt WD would degrade anything as it is mainly fish oil. I have used the stuff for every imagined purpose conceivable and never a problem. Bill Edwards

I wonder if you placed a piece of foam rubber up there so the when you shut the door it would apply pressure to the hinge and quiet it down. You would forget it was there until opening the door and out it falls. Worth a try. I will have a piece for when we meet up. Bill Edwards

The secret to keeping these critters out, is Oil Of Peppermint. In a small container place a wad of cotton and in the top make a small hole. Put a bit of the Peppermint in the cotton and install the lid. Place these around the coach behind cabinets and where these four legged critters hide, in the basement and so forth. No more unwanted friends visiting unexpectedly. The oil is available from Amazon.com Bill Edwards

J, Be sure the speed rating is a J and not an L 75VRS 65 MPH

Hey Tom, Is Herman one of those generous folks cause if he is I'm commin... for a look at that "recuperating Saw" Bill Edwards

DickandLois, Can you elaborate a bit more on this. I would like to install LEDs in the turn, brake and running and I have a friend that tried and thru his hands in the air when nothing worked. Info like the type (blocking), size and where to acquire them would be helpful. I remember this from A school in the military. Every Boy Does Fine... as the color code for them but the rest is goggly gook... Thanks, Bill Edwards

Great, I do have the manual and now this as a quick and dirty page in the coach manual folder. Thank you, Bill Edwards

How many burners on these induction units. I currently have a Gagganau two burner. Would it be worth the change? Bill Edwards

I am late into this discussion as usual and here is my two bits. I have used primarily WIX Gold filters for every thing, rarely any other. Now I use for the C12 Cat, CAT's secondary 2 micron final fuel filer. I did that because Dave Atherton (here CAT Master Mechanic, retired) said of all the filters that is the most critical. I too oil sample every change. Years ago our local NAPA owner had ten filters cut apart on a table, all the same cross referenced number and there was/ is a huge difference in the quality of filters, it was unbelievable! The standard for me was established then and there. The WIX Gold filters had the most filter element material and it appeared to be of a better quality than the others. This was a subjective opinion. I also drive AUDIs and use only Audi filters for similar reasons and that is the level of QC for their filters is different than after market filters. On my 356 Porsche I have run WIX for decades with no issues both stock and in racing configurations. As for anti-freeze and like fluids, I believe manufacturers have like fuels, different blends that are proprietary for what ever reasons and this allows them a way out if you try to blame them for a failure. Do the others work, generally yes. Am I using an approved Transynd in the Allison in front of the C12, NO, I am using an industry look-a like and un-approved with similar properties used by dozens of large corporate users. I am quite sure it is different, will it work, probably. It is a toss up based on dollars and cents and the odds and mechanical knowledge. Bill Edwards

Carl, Is home in NM? Yes I hope so as well. A few years back, 10 maybe, I fainted about 15 seconds after getting up to take a pee in the middle of the night. To make a long story short I ended up with two implants, wonderful solution to a real problem. To bad the insurance companies don't take care of them. Bill Edwards

Based upon all the horror stories I have heard from folks that bought new coaches over the last few years I would not buy a new one on a bet. There are so many good used ones out there that have been disassembled and reassembled to solve all the problems. I would buy used only. Bill Edwards