dougallman

Hi Doug & Trudy, We are glad you replied and seems your bio is just like ours, lets go enjoy this US we live in with a few other like minded travelers. I am going to see what rest of family has in mind for vacations this summer while we are all together over Xmas and that will pretty much get us as to when, 2014 or 2015 we decide to see Alaska. I will keep you posted here. Have a Happy Holiday.

It is now working and holding at 48 degrees.

We have a 2004 Beaver Marquis and also changed to the HID lights. Huge difference as the old headlights and bulbs were like candles but we still are not satisfied as the plastic lenses still cloud up not long after we clean and seal. Changing out totally is on my list but I have yet to come up with a unit that will fit in the existing opening.

In general we are below freezing every night from November thru mid April. Many nights we are in single digits and usually several weeks with below zero. Its is no experiment, as we have everything heated with our wood boiler. Home, workshop, storage for foam insulation products and in floor heat in our foam application trailer. I cannot quote the source, but with the high end finishes and furnishings in a home or a Coach it is always best to keep the temperature level above the freezing mark. Many see 50 degrees as a norm that protects most all items. We have winterized numerous RV's that were not the caliber of our current Coach with little problems. However, they were nowhere close to the 2004 Beaver Marquis that we currently have.

2014 or 2015 and the June July Aug would be the timeframe we would think is best. We were in Wisc last year at the World Lumberjack Championships in Hayward. Then off to Blackhills and Cody.

Looking for anyone interested in going to Alaska either in 2014 or 2015. We have a 2004 Beaver Marquis with 505 Cat, 3 slides and tow a Ford F-150 crew cab (now 2012 but soon to be 2015). We have rv'd since 1971,11.5' Pickup camper, Class A then 1991 Beaver Contessa and now the Marquis. Travel western states every summer. Do almost all the work on our rigs with exception of internal engine or transmission. Just like to see the great outdoors and have a good time doing it. We are not structured so what looks interesting we poke our noses into and what doesn't appeal we just move on. Definitely want to do some fishing out of Homer, charter or shore. Not looking for the big city stops but if it is interesting enough we can take the truck to go see it. Looking for some interested parties to share the road with, maybe not follow front to tail but meet at points along the way or go to areas/sites we like to see in common. I would never say I do not have a need for speed but this trip is not one of those times. This is kind of one of them soak it all in cause we are probably not going back soon. We are going there to see it, not fly by it. I was stationed on Adak and in downtown Anchorage right after the quake in 1964. Probably 6 rigs at most but maybe 8 if all of same interest. Have no exact itinerary. If you are interested please let me know and maybe we could get together for meeting, planning, etc. We would be leaving out to Traverse City Michigan and can pick up those additional travelers anywhere on the byways.

I can only reply to the Aquahot as this is what we have in our 2004 Beaver Marquis. IF you go to the www.aquahot.com website you can download the manual and the parts manual for your units aquahot. The model number is on the front of your unit about halfway back from the compartment opening, you will need a mirror to be able to read. Our model was 103 pages long but well worth the time and reading it made a lot more sense as to how and why it works. Parts manual also has several parts I will have as spares now that I understand why. Numerous pictures if you do not like to read. They look complicated but are actually quite simple once you understand what and how they do it. Wonder why a Coach cost what it does, New Aquahot $10,000.00 refurbished $7,000.00. Trust me you can repair your own with a little help from this forum and a decent mechanic, and the manual. I am currently completing a bypass for the Aquahot so I can heat the Coach while in its bay for winter with our wood fired boiler. It has taken a little ingenuity to understand that you must totally bypass the aquahot and drain the domestic water line around the boiler heat chamber as the diesel burner or electric will not heat the copper lines wrapped around the heat chamber. No residual heat will be there either. ( I have talked to Aquahot service numerous times and with the systems regulated thru a circuit board it is impossible to seperate them to operate the zone pumps without having the diesel burner or electric firing the boiler). The Coach will have its own zone pump off the wood boiler and the coach thermostats will operate as they normally do to regulate the zone heat desired right thru the plate heat exchangers and blowers under the cabinets and bed.

What did you have to do to make the lights work: running, turn, stop? I just bought 2004 Marquis that has the Roadmaster 9000 installed on the coach, air brakes, and I can purchase the 2nd vehicle unit from Roadmaster to get the F-150 brakes working but not sure what I have to do if anything for lights.

What was ever decided on towing this truck. I have always trailered and would like to eliminate the trailer if possible.

Doug Allman USMC L/CPL 1962 - 1965 San Diego - Boot Pendleton 2nd Division Pensacola, Fl. 6 mos Radio Intercept School Top Secret Clrnc Adak, Alaska 364 days Ft. Meade MD National Security Agency SEMPER FI At our Coach we always raise & fly the US and Marine Corps flag. **** proud to be one of the few. Love to associate with other service members - always makes a trip special.

In the Blackhills same as in Yellowstone but you have got to take a good look at the roads as there are tunnels and bridges that are not passable with a certain size motorhome. If you tow you always have an out if their is a problem with the motorhome. Trust me, what runs well on the flat land at lower elevations does different things in higher elevations and on steep grades, up and down. The National Park service seems to have done the same as in the box store parking lots - make more spaces for cars within the same sized paved parking area. It does not bode well for RV's over 30' and at times you are gonna have to wait til someone comes and moves.

Been to Yellowstone over 20 times and there is little room for a motorhome over 20' long (parking) and if you are wanting to stop and see the wildlife in Hayden Valley you will have to walk miles to get back there after you park the motorhome. During the evening when wolves, bears, elk and other wildlife is common to view in Hayden Valley there are cars everywhere, including stopped right in the road, trying to park. Most all roads have edge drop offs. Roads in Yellowstone are adequate for most length motorhomes to travel thru the park on but narrow as in most national parks and this but leaves you with few options that you may want to explore when there for a week as parking is a Premium. A tow vehicle or rental would be much more desirable. The comment about Glacier is right on, you are not going over the pass if you are too large, long and over 8' wide including mirrors. In Glacier you are either right on the edge or right up against a granite wall and the guy on the edge has no room to get over for you. Road built by CCC and you will be amazed that there are only granite blocks about 8" high along the edge of a very very long drop off. Last time we went thru in late July they closed the road due to avalanches and we could not get back over the next day. It is a long way around. In Yellowstone most wildlife is seen at Hayden Valley, between Fishing Bridge and Canyon Village from 6pm til dark. North of Canyon up to Tower Junction is where most bears are now seen. At Mammoth the Elk are usually in the front yards of the Hotel and other buildings trying to stay cool on the watered lawns during the summer heat. There is also wildlife seen in the Valley between Tower and the eastgate. There is a lot of wildlife in all other parts of the park but being more heavily forested it is a chance encounter. Last summer in Hayden Valley we spent from 7pm til 9:30 pm watching a pack of 5 wolves cross the entire length of the 7 mile valley as they worked their way to the south end where several elk herds were. It was amazing to see how the wolves hunted and the Elk reacted to their presence. We will be back there this summer again but staying in Cody and taking day trips into the park. Cody night rodeo is always at 8pm every night and is excellent. Your ticket is either for the grandstands or the "Buzzards Roost" (right across the arena from the main grandstands. Watch where the people go and just follow) which is right above the bull and bronc chutes. It is a grand place to see all the action and watch the cowboys. Gates open at 7pm so get there early and get a good seat. Your walk over will take you above all the stock pens so you get to see all the 4 legged participants.

I will look in manual and then use pad to get me codes. I also discussed with local here and they indicated that had same type problem and was fixed by replacing solenoid. THANK YOU All.

Have just had a problem with a 2004 Beaver Marquis Allison 4000 6 speed trans at 42000 mi. When coming to corner of highway and using engine brake noticed that engine brake did not engage. After stopping "check transmission" light came on and transmission stayed in 5th gear. When arriving at destination as few miles later shut Coach off and then restarted, all was OK. On return to home same problem appeared 4 more times, did not use engine brake, so thinking that when down shifting to stop this occurred. Does anyone know what solving this problem involves. Transmission is at fullmark for the Transynd fluid. One other symptom is that when initially engaging transmission to move forward there is a seemingly longer delay than usual for trans to engage and it comes into gear hard. In reverse there is no delay.

Have looked at the Super Steer Motion Control Units sold by Hendersons. Does anyone have any expierence with these units installed on a big rig? We have a 2004 Beaver Marquis with 12 air bags and while it is pretty good it still does the rock and roll when on uneven surface. They say these units have a valve in them that greatly reduces the air loss or input so that it limits this roll when uneven surfaces are encountered. We like a great handling coach so will use aftermarket if it works. Any input would be appreciated.

Does anyone have any expierence on TOTEM OCEAN bringing their RV back from Anchorage to Tacoma? I know it is a 5 day trip and therefore we will take a cruise on Holland America back to Seattle but wanted to hear about anyone using their service.

Where do you find the Michelin Program Coordinator's tel number? I need to purchase either 3 or 5 new 255 80 R 22.5 XRV tires and would like to save what I can. Best price so far is $468.00 each plus tax & shipping. I have also always been able to get new tires within 3 months mfg date as long as you specify that is what you will accept. I have never had a Michelin coach tire that went beyond 6 years before it started side wall cracking. They may look like new on tread but when they go the explosion does a lot of damage. Always check your air brake lines if you ever have a tire blow.

Several things you can do if you want to eliminate the intrusive red light cameras. A. Cover your license plate with a clear cover that you can read when standing or in a car directly behind your vehicle but that will not allow reading it when at any angle such as an overhead camera. Found it online and we have on all our vehicles for over a year now. Have had a State Trooper, Sherriff (twice) and a city cop directly behind us and never been stopped. If you do get stopped you may get a ticket for having you license covered but no points. Better than a speeding ticket. B. Leave the license plate off your vehicle OR use one that is registered to someone else. They can only give you a ticket for not having the correct plate attached - no points, or not having the vehicle licensed, again no points. I know of some that do not even license their RV's and use an outdated plate. Rare to get an RV stopped unless in an accident and then can only be ticket for unlicensed vehicle. It is not required that a vehicle be licensed to be insured. (in most all jurisdictions). Kind of making the law abiding citizen do things that we would under normal conditions never think of doing to protect themselves but then you gotta do what you gotta do if you are going to exist in this police state.

We have traveled Wyoming with 60 - 65' lengths and driven every road with about 140 miles of exceptions that we have not been down numerous times. Just went over these exceptions with my niece and her husband in Cheyenne in February. Been in Yellowstone NP 19 times so far and from every direction including on snowmoblie in winter. The only route that will take your breath away if you do not have a Jake and are towing is going west from Dayton on Hwy 14/alt 14. It seems like it goes down forever and around every curve it still goes down when you are sure it has to be leveling out. , We did go by an older motorcoach, 36' approx, pulling a car on top at a pullout. Did not think anything of it, but we did note that there was a lot of activity around the car by the occupants. We decided to leave the pickup truck on the trailer and proceed down the mountain on our journey. All was going well until I felt the brakes getting spongy. Air brakes should not do this....... so I looked for a spot to get over. Being none for a ways - 2 miles to next truck run off ramp, I kept gaining a little speed. Did finally get stopped at the run off ramp, still on the asphalt, but had to walk in the stone in front of the coach. My wife was not impressed! Let the brakes cool for an hour or so and on down the mountain we went AFTER we took off the truck and trailer. Only 6 miles yet to go. Passing another truck run off ramp we noted that the motorcoach and car, we had seen on top, was 7/8 of the way into the gravel on this ramp. No tires were visible as they had buried it in the pea stone. They were not more than 120 feet from being back onto the mountain in very rocky terrain. (this ramp is on a downhill decline as you are on the total downslope at this section, so I am sure it helped them get this far. I cannot imagine what the towing bill would be). I did discover that the right rear air line had been almost severed when we had a blowout in Omaha area and is why the brakes felt spongy. At any rate, if you do not have a jake, go slow. There is a reason that the signs you read along the way indicate that Hwy 16 over the Big Horns has the least elevation change. I do not believe there is a road in Wyoming that a Big Rig cannot travel with quite ease. If you have to turn around, unless you are in a populated area, it is going to be a challenge. You are going to drive miles, many miles in most areas to find a spot. Best unhook and get turned around as you will most likely save time and frustration. If you are in Cody the Night Rodeo is very good. All tickets are the same price and you can set in the "Buzzards Roost" or the grandstands. The "Buzzards Roost" is right above the Bull and Bronc chutes on the north side of the arena. It is the place to see the action and watch the Cowboys get ready to ride. Have a great time. We will again be in Cody and Yellowstone end of July.

Recently purchased a 2004 Beaver Marquis in California with original Goodyears on. Had the broker take to Michelin dealer and replaced all with Michelins, and, installed balance masters on all 3 axles. We have owned motorhomes and coach's since 1969 and keeping tires smooth and true has been a lifelong task. Story told to me in regards to "balancing" the Coach tires indicated that at a Rally's Michelin demonstrated how a Coach, with the weight mass it has, can actually move the tire on the wheel during us RV'rs driving habits. They demonstrated this by taking a coach with newly mounted tires and going from the rally on a drive where they reenacted the driving we RV'rs do with curbs, hard braking, potholes etc. Seems they wanted us to know they do not make bad tires. Prior to leaving they marked the wheels and the tires position on them. When they returned, as I was told, some tires had moved almost 180 degrees from their original positions. The point Michelin was making was that you can get your tires balanced with wheel weights and the next trip it seems like they are square again. (I do believe they also noted that you cannot put anything in the tire or it voids the warranty) I have even had the tires balanced on the motorhomes and Coach, when I could find a shop that did this. Almost impossible to find one now. Nevertheless, if you are balancing a tire/wheel that are not staying as a consistent assembly it is an exercise in futility. Trust me I know. I take a lot of pride in having my stuff right and poor handling or cupped tires does not fit this picture. We have now driven 6000 miles with the balance masters, and in Oklahoma and New Mexico we hit some dandy chuck holes at night on our way home from LA, and I could not be happier on how the smoothness of the ride is.