Chassis Maintenance & Oil Change Recommendation

[Chassis Maintenance & Oil Change Recommendation]

One thing I forgot to mention. Pull oil samples from both the engine and transmission and have them analyzed BEFORE you change the oil. You want the report back before you change your oil. You want the ability to double check if you get a odd reading on your report. If the report is good you may only need to change the filters on the transmission.

Heare are a couple of oil sampling labs.

http://www.jglubricantservices.com/

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php

Bill

Good advice. Condition monitoring can save significant cost without any more risk than replacement on a clock or calendar basis. I do it for belts, tires, oil and many other components. Replacing a perfectly functional part with new can also cause an infant mortality situation if/when the new part is defective. Some conditions can't be monitored and, if critical, should be replaced on a clock or calendar schedule or predictively. Components that can be monitored which are replaced this way is just throwing money away.

[Most Trouble Free Toad Braking System For MH w/o Air Brakes]

I have the Ready Brake (Ready Brute) and it has been problem free. Easy initial install and none of that take out/put in stuff. Once it's installed, it's done.

[Installing Double Recliner Chairs]

Reminds me of a cartoon I saw some years ago. The wife tells the husband they can finally afford something they've wanted since 1960... a 1960 Cadillac.

[California To Florida]

If you'll be in the New Orleans area be sure to visit the World War II museum. FYI, there is a lot more to see than Bourbon Street :-)

[Avoiding The Siskiyou Pass- Class A]

We just did a similar thing but in the opposite direction. From Williams on I5 west to 101 and up to Florence, OR. From Florence to Eugene via OR 126 and on up I5 north to Seattle. Not a bad trip. No snow, no ice but enough rain to raise the level in the Pacific a couple of feet :-)

[Winter Route Advice]

Thanks, Manholt.

[Winter Route Advice]

Thanks, all, for the input. I still have a couple months to analyze and decide. A additional input is welcome.

[Winter Route Advice]

I am looking for route advice for a trip in December from Houston to Seattle and back after New Year's. As much as possible, I would like to avoid the snow and ice areas (Siskiyou?). I realize it can't be completely avoided. I will be able to take whatever time is necessary so I can live with some delays. I'm thinking I-10 to California then up I-5 to near Oregon, then hit 101 until north of the Grant's Pass area and back to I-5. Good plan? Bad plan? I've been up that way in the past but always in summer so I'm not sure what to expect this time of year.

Thanks.

[Awning Slow to Retract]

The dealer is quite a distance away. If the fix is something simple, it's a lot less of my time wasted on the road and sitting at a dealership. Of course bringing it in is an option. I have owned many flavors of RV and have made many piddling "warranty" repairs myself over the years. The more significant things the dealer gets.

[Awning Slow to Retract]

I'll have to try that if the rain ever stops.

[Awning Slow to Retract]

Thanks for the replies. I failed to mention that it takes a few back and forth tries before it rolls up. Also, it's a new unit. Taking it in for warranty work is, of course, an option but if an easy solution, I won't have to take the long drive to the dealer, wait all day to then be told they will have to keep it for all eternity until the raw materials are mined, the new part fabricated and it arrives via slow boat from China. As they say, BTDT.

[Awning Slow to Retract]

The electric awning (I think Carefree) on my 2015 Chateau is slow to retract. It extends at what I would consider a normal speed. Any ideas about why?