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In 2000 the DSDP came with either a FL chassis and CAT 3126 7.2 L 300 hp or, optionally, a Spartan with Cummins 330, 8.3 L engine Cat has 860 ft lbs torque and the Cummins has 950. In our 2000 DSDP we had the FL chassis and Cat, wanted more torque for the western mountains so we now have a 2002 DSDP with Cummins ISC and Banks kit.

On our 2002 DSDP we had a different situation: Front axle was overloaded when we filled the fuel and propane tanks even before we loaded anything and without us aboard. Newmar had Spartan replace the front 12,000# axle with a 14,600# unit. Used the same 275/70 tires but put them on heavy duty steel wheels (we had steel wheels with liners). They then issued us a letter on Michelin letter head allowing the tire to be rated for it's capacity at 125 psi with only 120 psi in them. The wheels were only rated for 120 psi. When I changed tires after about 8½ years I went with new, wider Alcoa wheels and 305/70's on the front axle. Now running 100 psi in front and 90 rear on the 275/70's there. I had to go with the 305/70's as there was no clearance for the 295/80's or even 275/80's. Even with the 305/70's I have to be sure the air is fully up before I turn the steering wheel or they'll catch the fender flares.

That's one change I'd like to make to our MH. What did it cost?

Peak torque on the ISC is 1400 rpm, on the ISL's it's 1300. We have the Banks kit on our ISC 350 and have 1200 ft lbs from 1400 to 1700 rpm, I still try to run around 1600 rpm even so. I also find that, with the much wider torque band I run in "economy" mode most of the time.

On another forum a former filter rep (Gary Spires) said you should take a some nylon netting and tie it directly over the turbo intake, that will match what a K&N does! The reason a K&N flows more is because it filters less, in fact they let more than twice as much dust in as the standard filter. We have the Banks kit on our ISC, with the standard EcoLite filter I'm getting 15" of restriction with a new filter. To reduce the restriction I'm going to have to upsize my entire intake tract. Not too expensive if I order the new 7" connectors and tubing off the Internet. The last couple trips out I'm seeing 22" on the filter minder so it's getting time to change things.

Well, I'm late to the party but I did it in Sept 2010. Got the wheels from a truck wrecking yard, had them polished by a wheel polishing outfit and then had new tires put on. One of the reasons for going to new rims was going to 305/70 tires from 275/70's on the front to match the axle capacity of 14,600#'s. They do look much better but they also take more care since I didn't get the Durabrite finish.

Brett is right with the generator output. A "true" 50 amp RV circuit has 12,000 watts on two legs (50 amps X 120 volts x 2) = 12,000 watts. A 30 amp circtuit is 3,600 watts (30 amps X 120 volts) = 3,600. Since it's one leg than that's all there is. That's the reason 50 amp circuits can power so much more.

I just replaced my starting batteries Friday before last and my house batteries this weekend. They were the oem's and were 9½ years old. The starting batteries were totally dead (2 hrs on a 60 amp charger) and I still couldn't start the engine. While getting them out I looked closely at the Interstate U-2200's and found they were bulging. Still seemed to work OK but we're headed out and didn't want to stranded somewhere. I bought the CRC cleaner and spray a couple months ago because they were on sale. I used them both. BTW, adding plain old mineral oil to each cell will almost totally eliminate the corrosion. I did it to the house batteries in 2004 and have almost no corrosion in the bay. I used 4 oz per cell on the U-2200's.

I bought a couple brackets from an advertiser (Kiley Molds as I remember). They came with double sided tape, put them on in 2002 and they're still there. On the back I used the rubber lined hose brackets used in cars. Used stainless nuts, bolts and lockwashers and mounted them to the ladder. I also mounted our Good Sam Charter Lifetime (shhh..don't tell anyone) oval the same way.

The insulation properties work both ways, keeps heat in and heat out. The only way it would be different is if they were coated to reflect sunlight, then they would keep heat out better than holding it in.

This is our second DSDP, both have had heat pumps and dual pane windows. Never had a problem with either other than in colder weather the heat pumps don't work so we have to use other sources (some as the sticki house). Won't have an RV without both of them.

Actually it was in 2005 and we ran into it with our 2005 Ody. Honda paid us for the towing gear we had installed and we bought a dolly. Now figuring that there are owners towing their '05 Ody's so we are too. Only towed it a few hundred miles so far but no problems yet. Don't forget to release the parking brake though!!

We joined sometime back using my parents FMCA number. We found that the rallies are great and attended a few. Three years ago my step daughter died, one week after my wife applied for retirement from her company. No choice but to take the grandkids into our home. $6,000 in legal fees later we got legal guardianship. Since then we've been to several FMCA rallies and the kids had a great time. We don't belong to any chapters though. We did join one Good Sam chapter but they held their rallies during the week so we gave up on them. I did try contacting a local FMCA chapter a few months ago but never heard back from anyone.

After I installed the Banks kit I found that my gauge reads 15 even with a new filter. The max boost used to be 24-25 psi, now its 34-35 so more air needed. Wish there was an easy/cheap way to increase the filter and line size but the CAC is expensive to change.

Are they still stopping vehicles that have commercial signs on them? At one time they were checking for LLC registration and hitting people with fines for not having commercial fuel tags.

When we retire our budget will be about $6,000 a month without touching savings or IRA's, we hope that's enough. Actually I retired in '98 but went back to work till my wife can retire. Then my step daughter died and we inherited three cats and two grandkids, now 11 and 19. So that delayed our plans even more!

In WA state they can search your vehicle without any cause during a traffic stop. They say it's for the "safety of the LEO", and yes it did go to the State Supreme Court and was upheld. Also, your RV is treated just like any other motor vehicle UNLESS you are in a campground and hooked up to utilities, then it's your home and requires a search warrant.

And it certainly doesn't take a "certified RV technician" to do an oil change or most other work on an RV although I'd feel better if I was paying if they were.

That's almost the exact same thing I do with our ISC in a Dutch Star. If I leave the oil any higher than about half way between the low and high marks it'll blow oil out. Leave it slightly low and no problem.

Oil and filters are CHEAP compared to a rebuild!! And cheaper yet if you do the work yourself like I do.

We have a Dometic, it died after about 8½ years. Have the new Amish built cooling unit sitting in the front room of the stick house now. Cost was $625 plus $25 shipping for our 1062 unit.

Got ours about 2004 or so. We don't use it much either but when we do it does the job.

Had the same problem, called Fantastic Vent and they sent new gaskets and a packet of 303. I replaced the gaskets and now just spray or wipe a little 303 on the gaskets once a year. Problem solved at almost no expense.

In our Dutch Star the refer is in the slide so no roof vent. Newmar did add a fan as per Dometic requirements. I never noticed any difference in temps between propane and electric. I did notice when the unit quit and ruined the food inside!! I had the infamous ammonia leak so I ordered a new Amish built cooling unit that arrived last week. Now to install it!!

My parents had one in their 1957 KenCraft travel trailer. It was a very special order and worked very well with the exception of some metric two part screws that would break (made to do that) if the unit froze. It was impossible to find replacements. Personally, if I were ordering a new unit I would order one if offered although our Dutch Star has the motor aid option so we have hot water in transit. Wish we could have gotten the Hydo-Hot though!