harrysusa

HI, I would also like to find a Class B group that will accept off brand "B". In June of 2012 I purchased a 2008 Krystall MH on a 2500 Sprinter chassis. The manufacturer is out of business and I would like to be able to exchange information. I live in Southern California and it would be nice to get together 3 or 4 times a year with other Class B owners. Harry Salit

Hey Beemerdude, Thank you for the detailed reply. No significant changes in coach weight from last year. I did notice a drop of about 1/2 mpg this year. I was attributing it to head winds but looks like the tires were the culprit. So it does not pay to get new tires unless absolutely neccesary. Are you saying if I warm up my tires like race cars do I wont have to wait for 7000 miles???? Anyway I do have 5000 miles on them now & happily the squirming has diminshed, but not completely yet. There is always something!!! Harry

Hi Richard, The coach is a 1997 Discovery, 37' total weight 22,150 lbs, in 2011 RVSEF, no tag. LF 3800, RF 3900, RR 7300. LF 7150 Air pressure front: 95 psi, rear 85 psi, I also have a TPM. I tow a 2006 Scion xB, weights about 2600 lbs. The coach was loaded for this years travels similar to 2011. I have recent schocks, track bars (last year) & bell crank. Harry

I replaced my 8 year old Michelin XRV with new tires of the same size, 235/80 22.5, earlier this year. I am running the same air pressure, based on the actual wight of the coach. Nothing changed except the tires. My old tires drove just fine, no skipping around, affected very little by wind. The new tires act like I am being blown around by sidewinds, trucks & cars passing by, and I have to continuously drive the coach in a straight line. At Indianapolis I asked the Michelin rep in the booth what is going on? He said "squirming" and it should go away in about 7000 miles! I have never heard of this. Is this common with all new tires? Or are these Michelins defective? Do I really have to continue driving an unsafe coach for 7000 miles? Harry Salit

Hey Marty, I have been using your bathroom door system for years, also. I get it close with the bubble level, then check the door for final adjustment. I have a 3 jack manual Power /gear on a 1997 Discovery. No entry door issues. Harry Salit

Thank you Tireman, The Michelin dealer I go to has been in the tire business for 35 years, selling mostly truck tires, has a recapping plant on the premises, so I would not refer to him as "Bubba". I asked Michelin how an inspections should be done & they said the tires have to be dismounted & inspected from the inside. I told this to the dealer & he said "I still cant see the inside of the casing". I guess I am back to age of tires for replacement. How do I find a Michelin dealer that is trained by the factory? Harry Salit

Hi Brett, When I ask my Michelin dealer to inspect my tires, he walks around, sees very little cracking in sidewalls, then looks at the dates & sees that they are over 5 years old & recommends that I replace them. I have ignored him so far but my tires now are over 8 years old! How is a "profesional inspection" of tires performed? Thanks, Harry Salit

Ken, I believe Redlands Truck & RV has the scales. 888-249-0124 Henderson RV & Redlands should be at Quartzsite, AZ in Jan with their scales. When CHP sets up the temorary truck check spots, & they are not busy, they may weight all corners for you. The CHP truck station in Castaic may also weight you, if not busy, but not all 4 corners. Harry Salit 97 Discovery

HI, My fridge is a Dometic and about 15 years old when this summer the plastic door hinge pin holder on the bottom of the door decided to break and drop to the floor, about 12", and almost on my wife's toes. The door is heavy when loaded with all the stuff, I would guess about 50 lbs. A replacement door is no longer available but I was able to jury rig it so that we could complete our trip, 1 1/2 months later. The model is RM7732, 2 door with ice maker. Anyone know where I could purchase a used door? Harry Salit 1997 Discovery 36R,120,000 miles Banks turbo stinger kit 2006 Scion xB toad

Good Morning, This is another very active Revcon group: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Revcon_Curious/ They will be able to answer your questions. Harry Salit

Try, Rincon Beach Parkway, north of Ventura. Emma Woods beach Park. More Central Ca: Avila Beach, near the pier. Jalama Beach Park, west of Lompoc. Check out campgrounds at: rvparksreview.com Harry

Tony, I currently have XRV 235/80-22.5 tires on my 97 Discovery. What do you think if I went to XZA2 energy in 275/70-22.5 size? And what would they cost? Or other suggestions? I would like to improve my my ride & use less air pressure. Thank you, Harry Salit

Check out Rockport State Park, it is on the East side of SLC. Harry Salit

I have been using the Swagman hitch mounted bike carrier for some years. (I just saw this 3 bike carrier on Google Products for $80.00.) I do tow a car & one problem is to check the oil, water, etc for a diesel pusher, is that you have to remove the bikes. The other problem is if your tow bar is RV mounted, then when you disconnect you have to hang tow bar from the bikes, you wont be able to lock it in its stow position. Not a big deal just hang it with some bungee cords. Harry 1997 Discovery, 116,000 miles 2006 Scion xB toad.

I agree, the wheel cut degree is meaningless hype. Just tell me what the turning diameter is for the particular coach that is being tested. The wheel cut degree will probably be the same for a 34' or a 40' coach (on the same chassis), but the turning diameter will certainly be different. Harry Salit

Hi Vic, If you are not a member of Discovery Owners Association Inc (DOAI) you might consider signing up. They have discussed the door hinge issues for years & have some solutions. Do a search in Forums. It is a very good source for all things relating to the Discovery coach. Harry Salit

Hi, Here is an update on my hard ride issue. Bilstein suggested that I install a shock that is 15% softer than the stock shocks, they are front: BE5-2545 & BE5-2546 for the rear. After installing them in June I have driven almost 5000 miles & the difference is just amazing! I am very happy with these new shocks & with the ride improvement. Next step is to replace my 6 1/2 year old tires. I understand that new tires will also improve the ride. Harry Salit

Hi Brett, For the front Freightliner says 10" +/- 0.25". Redlands measured 10.25" on both sides. For the rear they say 9.375" +/- 0.125". Redlands measured 9.50". I guess I should have told them to drop them to the low side of spec but the mechanic did not suggest that. Last time I had it wighted was in 2006 by RVSEF, RF 3825 lbs, LF 3800 lbs, RR 6875 lbs, LR 6750 lbs. I am sure it has changes some over the years but not drastically. I even tried 80 gls of water & 90 gls of diesel last time out & it still rode rough (and that was with Konis !). What do you know about the softer Bilsteins? Harry

HI, I am just trying to find some relief. The ride height has been checked by Freightliner & Redlands Truck Service and both say that "it is within specs", and the numbers they gave me confirm that. I tried the FSD Konis & that did not help. Bilstein tells me that there is a 15% softer shock then what comes on the coach, It is BD5-2545 & 2546, does any oe have experience with these? Thank you, Harry Salit

If I replace the 13 year old air bags on my XC chassis, will it ride any softer? Harry Salit

Thank you Brett, day after my post of April 12 I received a phone call from Jim Ryan !! He evidently told Redlands Truck & RV to make me happy. They went over the coach, checked the ride height again, tire pressures, etc & found some issues but nothing that would give me the hard ride. We test drove the coach with the Konis, then they re- installed my old Bilsteins & test drove again. Yes, there was a slight difference in the initial jar from irregularities in the pavement, the Koni's were slightly less jarring, but not $900.00 worth. As of today I still have the old Bilstein's installed & I am thinking about them. My tires are over 6 years old & due for a change, will new tires ride any softer? Is there a softer tire? I have XRV's. My air bags have cracks, will new air bags ride any softer? My coach is 13 years old, will anything make it ride softer? Or should I forget about it & just (?) buy a new coach? Harry Salit

Just an update on my Koni shocks. Evidently Koni cares only about selling a product, not about customer satisfaction. I have left two messages for Jim Ryan in the last 2 weeks without any response from him. Harry Salit

Hi Brett, I did not have any handling or porpoising issues before I changed the shocks, & I do not have them now. I have a Super Steer bell crank which corrected the the lane changes long time ago, caused by passing vehicles. The ride height was checked by Freightliner last week & was "within spec". The air in the tires is based on actual wieght & using Mich tables. And I did a test the ride on the same section of a road with the old Bilsteins & the new Konis & my wife & I could not detect any difference in ride quality. The old Bilsteins were not soft riding, I expected the Konis to be softer. My problem is rough ride over minor irregularities like alligatored pavement, 1" wide grooves, etc. I know that pot holes & bridge abutments will jar the heck out of the coach & passengers. I was not seeking to correct this problem, I just wanted a smoother ride on minor irregularities. Last year I drove 2006 Providence over 10,000 miles & I did not feel the minor rough roads like I do in the Discovery . I know it is 28,500 lbs and on a Spartan chassis & 9 years newer engineering but almost everyone said the Konis will give a softer ride on the Discovery. I am disappointed with the results. I did leave a message for Jim Ryan last Friday. Thanks again for your help, Harry Salit

Hi Brett, Well, I bit the bullet & had a set of Konis installed at Albuquerque on Thursday & I have driven about 400 miles since. A number of people said that I will have an improved ride but I am hard pressed to notice any difference from the original Bilsteins (with 105,000 miles). The difference in ride is not worth the over $900 cost. I could have new Bilsteins installed for half the price!!! My coach is on a Freightliner XC chassis with a rigid axle and loaded for travel it weights 21,250 lbs (no slides). On Konis' web site, for XC it lists only one shock available. I know that the larger coaches with 3 or 4 slides weight over 28,000 lbs. My question-- should not the difference in weights require different rate shocks ? Thank you, Harry Salit

Hi Brett, Well, I bit the bullet & had a set of Konis.