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The Series60 Detroit that I had in my Western Star truck was an excellent choice. I do not know the DD13/ perhaps it is a downsized version of the newer Detroit that is in the 15 liter class. There are not as many choices out there in the way of big blocks.

I tried a dorm style refrigerator in one of my trucks and used a non sine wave 1750 watt inverter. It was nice while it lasted, but it didn' t last long. Perhaps the old fashioned inverter did it in? The sine wave units seem to have really dropped in price. Our Dometic is still doing a great job and the ice maker is really nice to have, but if it fails before me, we will probably also do the residential replacement.

I tried to place a smiley face after subtle. It was there when typing the post but it didn' make it . I meant the remarks to be tongue in cheek. I have never used emoticons. Guess I better learn how. No offense intended. Sorry.

My experience with Michelin availability is that they favor their bigger dealers first and why not. Last June everybody on this site said Michelin XRV and XZE tires were back ordered. I was able to get my XZEs in less than a week. however the dealer that I have used for years while in trucking is very large. At least 40 stores or maybe more. Can't imagine somebody that big in Vegas. I used Goodyear tires for years and would not hesitate to use them again. Just went with Michelins because they seemed the tire of choice by many.

I received the Amazon ordered gallon of Extreme Simple Green today. Looks like a 1 to 1 ratio might be in order. I will use a 1 gallon pump sprayer for the application and I think that I have pretty much absorbed all of the helpful info available on this website concerning the need to do this. The pictures supplied by Rich really struck home. Backs up everything Brett has said.

Well!!! So much for subtlety . I kinda thought that I was getting the message across, by sayin that you will be "worn out" if you don't like mountain driving. But the big guns have spoken. I am just a rookie. I do remember quite a bit of two lane on US50. My 2015 altlas still shows it, but Rand McNally can be wrong. The two lane is not difficult though, if it is still there. CA 88 is still a beautiful ride for the experienced driver. As an unimportant aside, thirty years ago I ran with a trucker hauling a special permit load southbound on US95 in Nevada. Just happened on him on my way to Louisiana from Sparks. CDOT had routed him from I-5 to eventually wind up on CA88 over the Sierra to Nevada with a pilot car and a CHP escort. When he entered Nevada he ran by himself. Go figure. He had a special low riding multi axle trailer with a really large and heavy transformer for a load. He was grossing a little over 130,000 pounds. Interesting guy to talk to. I never forgot it and when I decided to run 88 with a normal rig, I never gave it a second thought.

Diesel I assume? With an exhaust brake? I have run that route a number of times in a tractor trailer. I wouldn't hesitate to take our 40 Phaeton that way. It is a pretty ride. Kinda busy down low on the California side. I have traveled that way a time or two in the winter when things weren't bad. It sure will get you to South Lake Tahoe. If you are uncomfortable with mountains you will be worn out when you get there.

South Carolina seems to usually be a good state to fuel in and save some green. I usually stopped at the northern most Flying J on 95 (Latta) . There is a huge parking lot there and I frequently saw RVs parked along the south edge. Quieter over there. Truckers all wanted to be closer to the grease burgers, burritos, and chicken on the other side.

I worked my way back in the engine section to May 19, 2009. Brett started a thread on CAC and radiator cleaning. There were two interesting pages of replies.

Local Home Depot did not have it. On line store delivery is by the case in gallons. I ordered a gallon on Amazon for $17 and change. The reviews tell me that I will want to keep this cleaner closeby for other uses. Do I use it full strength? If diluted/ what ratio? Extreme Simple Green. Thinking about a 1 gallon sprayer for application. Would give a little more reach. Thanks in advance.

Bought the Rigid version today at local Home Depot. Looks like a copy of Ray's AC Delco version. I have a feeling I am going to wish that I had one years ago. $99 and change plus 6% tax

Tax rates for every state and province can be checked at http://iftach.org/ Click on tax rates to open the site at where you wanna be.

I guess this as good a place as any/ PA diesel tax highest in the country by far. 64.2 cents per gallon. Buy your fuel elsewhere if you can. I think that the Feds charge 21 cents per gallon as an excise tax. Add the two and OUCH!

I forgot about the probationary status of employees that was negotiated many contracts back. Haven't been a Teamster since 1983. I do not remember the length of the probationary status. Maybe 30 days, maybe more. The employee can be discharged without cause during that period. If he is a new hire, he may be oughta there. If not, I remember the third chargeable accident within 2 years and you were gone. Serious with obvious driver negligence a different case. I guess I am just an old softie because when people do stupid stuff behind the wheel, especially if it could affect me, I tend to think what an a_ _ _ _ _ _ and try to help them grudgingly. He could have gotten off and figured out a way to get back on. Either way, the guy was a jerk.

Most old timers like me call channel 19 Sesame Street. I have had a CB since 1977 and seldom use it. They do come in handy at times though. Just gotta sound like a trucker when you use it/ helps to keep the morons in the group off of your back.

I use an iPad 2 to surf the net. I do not know how to post a hyperlink. Check out renegaderv.com and click on the XL style. The Cascadia version would be my pick. Maybe aluminum framed laminate walls would hold up? Just dreaming. If I had the dough I would have to at least test drive one.

As a follow up/ I never liked a fellow trucker coming back into the lane right after clearing my tractor on multi lane highways. When they did it to me if the lane next me was clear and traffic was light I jumped over there. Hopefully I sent a message. Never said anything on the CB. It is unnecessary on 4 lanes or more highways and it forced me into a tailgating position. The tradition started many years ago when trucks were really underpowered and the Interstate system did not exist. When someone was having a hard time getting around me I let off of the fuel or knocked the cruise off in later years. I have pulled doubles in my career, and I never felt the need to do what happened to Ray or anybody else. The driver turnover rate in the industry is very high and while I am not excusing it, I think that carriers sometimes just want a fanny for the seat. The union carriers usually don't have high turnover except at the margins, but I have seen the big boys advertise for drivers. They once had them standing in line for a job. The standards have been lowered by many. I have seen job postings requiring only six months experience. Many guys my age did it because we loved it. To many, now it is just a job.

Perhaps it is just the toll roads. We live about 4 miles above the MD line, have run thru the state MANY TIMES, and have never observed an RV being weighed.

I feel your pain a little. We have a neutered male brown tabby that has threaded a little of the upholstery. I think a pair of dog clippers might make it go away. We leave mid August with him and a recently adopted female. I am going to try to avoid further damage. Maybe thumb tacking additional material to favorite areas. Could find an upholstery in your area to perhaps help you. Our dinette booth cushions were covered with removable vinyl covers and it was not expensive.

I have several fluorescent fixtures that cause problems. Can I just replace the innards with the new and improved or have to replace the entire fixture? I used a lot of LED fixtures in and on my Star Car, and I really liked the improvement.

Joe There are several manufacturers of very large aftermarket sleepers. They are expensive and seem to last for years. Bolted to a stretched out W900, Pete, or the T600 series (up to 660 now) they sure look sharp and they are used harder than a recreational SuperC. Perhaps the manufacturers of RVs should visit some of them to see how they do it? I was close to buying one that was mounted behind a Western Star (used) , but the price was above what I wanted to pay. Couldn't find a flaw though.

Sounds like a good deal to me. In that price range new the radiator is probably side mounted. So far I haven't heard a down side. I bet you buy it.

ABF is a Teamster carrier. Likely nothing will be done. He will eventually get his due. Just hope that he doesn't hurt anyone in the process.

Good advice. When I have treated the CAC with suggested cleaner, am I supposed to try to wash downward or through the cooler into the gap before radiator? Just using garden hose pressure?

As indicated earlier in this thread, I have very good access to the top of the engine after trashing the carpet next to the rear facing side of the bed. Valve cover, turbo, manifold heater exhaust brake are all there. I can see very little of the front of the engine. No power problems or overheating on hard pulls as yet, and I do love mountains. It doesn't look like cleaning the CAC from my view of the engine would be effective. Brett, I have seen some of your suggestions on cleaning there. Perhaps getting some cleaner on the CAC and the pushing back from the rear with a power washer? Would have to pull back to keep from closing up fins. Tiffin was wrong when they told me how to get to my access panel. Nothing about removing carpet. I have exchanged emails including pictures with another '03 Phaeton owner.His access was right where I was told mine would be and the securing screws were visible. They are a very busy outfit and callbacks take a while. Pushing back through the radiator and CAC would put a lot of gunk on the new belts. Maybe I should have spent the dough on removal. Lot of $$$$$ I guess. My fault for buying the first nice looking 40 that we looked at. It really is gorgeous inside, but I would settle for a little less glitz and a side radiator. I will have to look for your posts on the subject. Maybe I can make it work.