rsbilledwards

D, As far as the rock goes, I doubt it. It would have slowed it down is about all. Windshield glass is a safety glass with a sheet of high quality plastic in the middle already. Here is what I would do with the cap paint issues. Let it be, for now and let it cure completely. It will sand much easier. If not fully cured it will, as sanded, heat up and then gum up your paper and it will be a much slower process. Prior to sanding the sags do this...you do it, not difficult, take a black magic marker and make a line on each side of the sag full length. This is a wood workers trick. Before you start buy some single edge razor blades. Un-sheath the blade, you are going to use it as a scraper. Use both index fingers and both thumbs to support it until you get the hang of it Hold as vertical as you can while scraping down the length of the sags. The sag is gone when you feather it into the black lines on either side. Trust me you will not mess anything up worse than it is now. It will take a bit but you will be amazed at how quickly it will go as you get the hang of it, be patient . Call me if you wish. What is the name of the ceramic coating which was used on the roof?? OK the other questions, is the dirt in the color coat or the clear coat? If in the color coat a headache, if in the clear maybe not so bad. I have to tell you that I painted the whole lower portion of the Zanzibar coach, about 30 inches tall in the parking lot of my shop on 4 different a breezey days and had virtually no dust particulate!! I only sanded and polished two spots not from dirt but for a feathered edge. There were quite a few amazed people, other owners of the garage units, that it could be so clean. It was every bit as clean as the OEM paint work.. It looked so good that I wheel polished the entire rest of the coach and now it really looks amazing and even better after a coat of wax. Janet says let's keep it, it's so pretty. I must continue with the sale of it as I certainly do not need two of these things...they are not Porsches. Carl, As for ready to roll hardly!! You two will get a kick out of this. The basement is torn apart...old sewer leak, repaired. I had to disassemble the water bay face plate assembly to access. I Chloroxed the rear floor all the way across 3 times, scrapped the glue and now new carpet, all of it. Extensive repositioning of the primary electrical components, transfer switch, inverter, panel with all tank modules, and assorted wiring to clean up a real OEM assembly mess. I put the transfer switch and module board on the ceiling, easy to work on if needed. Discovered none of the cargo doors were sealing. Some of them missing the seal by an 1/8th on an inch, so adjustments made to all but hose on the slide out. All of the stainless sills on the basement floor on which the cargo doors seal across the bottom on, removed. The urethane sealant/adhesive for stainless trim/sill to the frame removed, frame work to be cleaned and painted and then the stainless can go back on. The carpet will go back in after a couple coats of Kilz. I hope to get the first coat on yet tonight. One section of the ply wood floor at edge delaminating so loaded it with tightbond glue and clamped it up. It looks good now. I have the gray water tank out for the sewer cleanup and have repositioned it 6 inches further in toward the back of the water bay. It was actually a piece of cake as none of the fittings are actually permanently glued together so repositioning the piping easy. At the same time I am fitting all of the solar electronics on that back wall in front of the rt rear wheels. I fab'ed a shelf bracket on which to place the new Magnum pure sine wave inverter that positions it up on the outside of the right frame rail above the solar stuff. It hung down into the cargo bay below the frame rails prior to this clean up. I replaced all the vent caps and sealed the piping into the coach since it had never been done. I removed the manual Wineguard antenna and the old in motion dome In favor of a Traveler SK SWM 3 for Direct TV. It is not yet installed. I will position it well to the left of center so as to allow for two solar panels on its right. I will install a total of 6, 4 of which were on the Z at one time not long ago. I also have a WiFi Ranger set up to install. I have done this before to so a quick and easy thing to do now. The first thing I did was scrub the roof white and clean and will give it a quickie before mounting all the goodies. I have to do a coolant change and related filter. The oil and filters and brake fluid flush were done prior to bringing it back to Colorado. I have synthetic for the trans and the diff as well. The wheels need a major polish as I doubt they have ever been done, pretty sorry looking. So really not too much to do for another of the just joined the ranks of officially old guys group, well only 4 months till my second year in the group. Where is Herman when you need him? Tired Bill Edwards

Here is another two bits, we have the Traveler for Direct SK SWM3. One button and up it goes, does it's thing and one button down. We take the receiver from the house. I leave the genie and have one in the coach permanently so TV in the bedroom as well. Bought it at TV for your RV.com as a returning customer, great deal, great folks. Also bought articulating mount. Bill Edwards

Herman, Are you still going up to Wyoming if you are please send me a PM I tried to send you a note but system says you cannot receive. Bill Edwards

Very interesting, wish you were going north next year as that is when we are planning to go. Gotta get this Panther together first. Bill

Carl, Did they find a place for you to serve? When we were in Iceland last year we were in a restaurant that had a dry aging cooler facing the main dining room full of well aged American grown beef . It was surrounded by wines of all countries and ages and both were breath taking expensive. Yes Thank you, When we came home from service during Nam years it was not pleasant so you kept your mouth shut, different now. Closest I got was Japan and that was wonderful. Bill Edwards

This would be another interested party in where did you find it Carl? Why do all these folks bait us and the wait to see if we will ask Where????. I'm surprised Herman isn't here looking too. Bill Edwards

If it is 18 inches deep you need a lawn mower and a rake, not new carpet. Just think how crisp it will look. Bill

It was a very interesting and informative article, who would thought of those without the technical expertise. Thanks for the post Bill Edwardsj

He says he has only one inverter, but that many have two. Bill

Actually I rather enjoyed the "rant" or the dissertation as I learned something, very interesting. Bill Edwards

I will concur with most of this thread and about Camping World. Here is the rub, is the finish oxidized, dull and not shiny? If it is no amount of washing is going to help it! It needs a wheel polish to bring the finish back to life. No amount of wax is going to help it either. Depending upon what the finish is, fiberglass or paint, it will be a couple of days worth of work at a minimum for a small crew to bring back the beauty to the finish. Then the coach owner has to do their part to maintain it. Bill Edwards

Manholt, I really liked 7 as well but and I have a friend that is a real guru and not a youngster that convinced me that he could and would set 10 up to look like and respond like 7. I commented about auto updates and the inherent dangers. I also had an article that I believe was published in the FMCA mag a few months back explaining some of this stuff. He indicated that he was aware of the described issues. He also had me wait until after April 2016 to do the install. I cautiously said ok and I am better of now than before. It is wonderful, it is faster, it looks just like 7 on the PC and he has controls on what is updated automatically. I can tell you I would have no hair if it had been me setting it all up. My PC is a Dell760 monster and nearly 10 years old, There have been no issues and he was doubtful that it would be a good idea to install it, but worth the chance. He is a pro and I can not offer enough accolades to his abilities. He was amazed at how well this thing runs. I bought it new and was running what ever it was before XP. Bill Edwards

Yup you are right, I forgot all about that Park. Yes they are pretty uppity, I have purchase propane there in the past and decided not again but I have forgotten why. Maybe general attitude. I think they maybe the way they are is because the park appears full most of the time and they are weedin out the "shady characters". No seriously, it is too bad as it is a great location. There are limited spaces on the west end of town to boot. Bill Edwards

That park is close by us and I think run by a concessionaire for Jefferson County as it is located on county fair grounds property. Just for the heck of it I will check this issue out. Bill Edwards

I would agree with Brett, We live in Colorado, west of Denver and our power comes from a 330 CAT and have made it up every mtn we have tried. Sometimes it has been a slow go but it has never failed to get us home. Our weight is similar. If the load seems too heavy going up a pass, unhook and drive the Jeep, short distance, no big deal. Have a great time. Bill Edwards

My two bits is that the rubber is smooth and the fiberglass is textured at least on my two Safari coaches. I am sure that if you are pulling up the old caulk the rubber would give quite a bit, the fiberglass is not very flexible at all. You should use the etherbond, very sticky tape over the joint and then the Dicor self leveling caulk. Bill

Hey Byron, I am glad you agree and I agree with you as well. I sent you a note, PM some time ago about going your way this fall and looking for a load of qtr sawn white oak. You mentioned in a Post that there was a mill close by. rsbilledwards@q.com so I do not high jack this thread. Thanks a lot, Bill Edwards

jgcupp The way ObedBsuggested is a good very direct route, no fussin around and he is correct that the drive on 84 through Idaho and Oregon is nice all the way to Portland. If you would like a similar route but 2 lane nice wide but infinitely more interesting, look at a map for this. When you arrive in Pendleton look just a bit north and 25 miles west for Hermiston. Take that 395 HWY up to Washington 14 west. It is the Lewis and Clark Hwy route and it is spectacular and along the river all the way over to Portland and avoid the freeway which it is pretty but it is still a freeway. There are however many very interesting towns and history one can see and visit on the 84 side. On 14 there is not much traffic either way, mostly locals. The speed limit is higher too. In Oregon the speed limit for coaches is 55, period, just like California. 20 miles an hour over and it is a felony!! There are many portions of 14 where you will not do 55 either but the environment...wonderful. If you have some time I have an extra ordinary drive that we just did last October and again part of it returning from north eastern Oregon returning with our newly acquired 42.5 foot Safari 455 Panther towing a Featherlite trailer and an S4 Audi aboard. In any event you will end up at the same intersection of 84 and the 14 turn off. If you are interested I will be glad to elaborate. I will also offer that I grew up in the state of Oregon. There are numerous spectacularly great routes depending what you flavor is. PM me if you would like to have a meet and have a cup of coffee, I will bring the map. Bill Edwards Evergreen, Colorado

Beings that I was in the automotive restoration business for 35+ years Jleamont and Blake's answer hits it on the nose. Clean it first with a solution including TSP, rinse well and dry well. Mask of what you do not want to color and spray with a vinyl oriented spray paint. Another paint you could use since it is a plastic is SEM bumper coater. It comes in a wide variety of colors. Available at any store selling auto body supplies that the professionals use, Finishmaster comes to mind. Bill Edwards

Yeh, those little buggers love Peanut Butter in placed in those traps and so often they lick the stick clean. I've tried the Irish Spring and had them eat it right up, just to smile in our faces as the left their little black traces. Try a bit of cheese stuffed tight into the crevasse of the trigger and you'll get'um every time. But I like the idea of the peppermint oil and never seeing hide nor little black traces from the little devils. Bill Edwards

Better than 50% of Morrison's budget comes from that curvy section of S bound 285. I drive it daily. There are frequently 2 cars there. the real deal is that he cars look like Christmas trees when they hit the lights, pretty intimidating. It is a training ground for beginner cops to develop their attitudes. Then They go to Denver. Bill Edwards

If you do go to the AERO I have one I bought for my coach that was incorrect, it is 4 in 4 out. I needed a 5 in and 5 out. I It was a newbie mistake, I will make you a great deal. It is new in the box. PM me I live in Evergreen, Colorado Bill Edwards

Huffy I passed the storage idea on to a friend that does not follow any of the FMCA stuff and he just installed it and sent pictures, he's lovin it. Mine is next! Bill Edwards

I would concur that the writing is terrific. I am also that not all of the Older guys are writing checks to have their repairs made, that some are in the do it yourself mode. I would also agree with Louise! Great quote. Bill Edwards

J, Thanks for the vote of confidence and the plug For BASF the worlds largest chemical company. All of the paint manufacturers have increased material costs markedly over the last 10 years in part thanks to the EPA. BASF's Diamont is currently about $130 a quart shop cost. When I closed the shop in 2000 I had a serious inventory of the primers, catalysts, and hardeners. I bough most of it years earlier, which I am still using here and there for projects such as mine and yours. In the case of Safari, the paint codes were never formulated into other manufacturer lines. Thus even if one has the formula codes they are not mixable in anything other than Diamont or possibly BASF's Glasso line which is even more expensive. Todays water borne finishes are infinitely more difficult to shoot and require longer dry times and ever more expensive paint booths creating more sophisticated environments. They are harder to match and the list goes on and on. Bill Edwards