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gelsw

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Everything posted by gelsw

  1. dkreuzen, Only later did I find out that the section I almost made it too was called "Pucker Pass" and for very good reason. We came down it and the GMC just barely fit between the walls, coming up and slick would have got jammed in sideways for sure. While not a professional driver (like a OTR truck driver) I have done my share of driving, averaged 35,000 a year when working. Dreaded to see summertime and all the amateurs going on vacation with a van full of kids heading to the beach about 10-15 miles over the limit, clueless that they are blocking lanes, jumping from one lane to the other and then back to get ahead of one vehicle and the constant tailgaters. Firmly believe that drivers need retested every five years and to get a license need intensive training similar to a pilot.
  2. Spanish Valley Drive south of Moab, Utah. Was crawling along at 45 hunting for the vets office near the county line. Got a ticket, the speed limit is 30. Turns out there is faded paint on the pavement I had never noticed despite being there maybe a dozen times. This on a straight flat country road miles from town. Barney one bullet had quite the attitude, I just thought he was an arrogant jerk. Route 220 south of Monterey, Va. Remembering the incident described below and not being in any hurry we were traveling about 45 mph, since leaving Elkins, WV earlier that day had twice pulled over and let faster drivers pass us. Driving through Monterey passed a sheriff and a state trooper talking to each other on the side of the road. A couple miles south on 220 saw flashing lights and pulled over to let him pass. He stopped behind me. 65 in 55 zone. I know I was doing 45. He was also an arrogant A-hole, got the impression he wanted to beat a confession out of me. At the next town south got gas and someone coming out of the station came over and cautioned me to go very slow the authorities are overly exuberent. Told him to late and relayed what just happened. He said they can't get repeat business at the hotels around the springs because of the scam the authorities have going. He walked off shaking his head dejectedly. I met with the troopers sargent and filed a complaint against Trooper Carpenter. Don't know if he still has a job or not. And then in Michigan following route 2 into St. Ignace. Was following a fifth wheel doing 55, the speed limit. A trooper passed us going the other way, spun around and I got a ticket for doing 70. Told him no way but you know how far that got me. Several things in common here. The last time I got a speeding ticket in Ohio was about 30 years ago and that was because I had a headlight out and that got his attention. All three of the above was in other states where I am much less likely to come back and fight it. In Michigan was driving a 550 Mercedes with the top down. In Va. was in a Roush Mustang with bright red paint. COP MAGNETS!!!
  3. RCD offered a free oil change for the coach and gen. to smooth things over. But....they have told me a lot more lies then truths, most of which came from their service department. Don't know that I want that service department touching anything of mine, they have not done a thing they were supposed to either in the weeks before or in the 8 days they had it after the sale. I suspect that free oil change would cost me a lot more in the long run than I would save right now. I have the coach back in my possession now and think I will keep it that way. Below is the pic I pulled from their web site showing the water hose laying in human excrement, exactly how the coach was shown to me the first 3 times I saw it. Even though I made the statement that I could not believe they showed me the coach in this condition not once but three times, it was not cleaned until the closing. None of the other promised repairs were ever made. I did file a report with the attorney generals office but have not heard back yet. Gary
  4. Due to the price I stuck with this one, what a mistake. One lie after another. So far have had it in my possession for a total of three days. Returned it for the service that was supposed to be done a week and a half ago, the sales man said that it was only a half hour to repair it, should have it the next day. Now after multiple phone calls as to when we will get it back they finally looked at it and determined that it will be another 2 weeks to get more parts. I am now just fed up with the whole thing, want my money back and will just stay in motels. I have bought 4 rv's from all three of RCD Sales locations, but they will never get my business again. For a more detailed review Google RCD Delaware. Gary
  5. Found the answer to my own question. While the manual is rather obfuscated, I eventually found the answer. The left digit is the selected gear and the right is the gear that it is actually in. So in my example above 6 (or drive) is the selected gear and 1 is the current gear. Gary
  6. You must be a mind reader!! Was just trying to find the info in the manuals and gave up. Opened FMCA and there it is on top..... One other question, Allison 2500, there is an led (or whatever) above the pushbuttons but can't find what it means, etc. Have noticed that it say "61" sometimes. Note I don't have 70 miles driving time on the coach yet...
  7. gelsw

    PowerSpec Software

    Thanks Again!!
  8. gelsw

    PowerSpec Software

    Has anyone experimented with Cummins PowerSpec software for adjusting performance? Gary
  9. gelsw

    0513161005a-resized.jpg

    Yes we lowered the antenna! Just before driving it away for the first time.
  10. gelsw

    2016 Forza

    Just before driving it away for the first time, final walk through. Yes we did lower Sat. Antenna.
  11. Sometime back in a park I no longer can remember there was an RV Repair magazine on the table. At the time I meant to get the name of it but never did. Google does not find anything like repair. Anyone know what it is? Thanks!! Gary
  12. Similar question to what is frequently asked on woodworking forums: "I'm starting my shop and am wondering how many clamps I will need?" The answer: "One more than you own".
  13. Wow!! this the most informative thread yet. I knew nothing about the fuel being also used for cooling the engine. While it was obvious to me about keeping a full tank when in storage I was thinking of the traveling we do in the west with the mountains and all, but you have me convinced, work off the top half or even third of the tank. We need to stretch frequently, i.e. we know every rest area on 10, 40, 70 and 80 between Ohio and California. Reminds me of my boating rule of thumb, 1/3 out, 1/3 back and 1/3 in reserve, which I have had to dip into more than once. Thanks everyone, I am amazed at the wealth of knowledge here!! Gary
  14. I'm just about ready to run away from this dealer. If things don't move soon I'll just give up on them and stay in the View.
  15. With a 90 gallon tank I am thinking keeping it only about half full while driving just to keep from hauling all that extra weight around. With diesel weighing about 7.5 pounds per gallon that is an easy weigh to drop 300 + pounds. Still would have about a 300 to 400 mile range between refueling. The other school of thought I am aware of is keeping the tank topped off to avoid condensation in the tank. Suggestions anyone? Gary
  16. Thanks for the info! Was wondering if I could just look at a Dodge to see where the engine parts are and learn where things are before lifting the bathroom floor and poking around with a flashlight. Gary
  17. We did the walk through before I signed. What I want to tell them can't be printed here. Gary
  18. gelsw

    Shortbus

    Wow, bringing back some memories! I know exactly where my man parts are, she keeps both of them in her purse.
  19. Well....went to the dealer today for the closing and to get the Forza. and..... they didn't have it ready, and...no one bothered to tell us, the buyer that it will not be ready.
  20. gelsw

    Shortbus

    Forgot to mention that I am the Boss, and I have her permission to say so.
  21. gelsw

    Shortbus

    Oh so true!!!
  22. Thanks for the info!!!!
  23. 2016 Winnie Forza 38R Freightliner XCS chassis ( never dreamed I would be joining a chassis and tire group before) with 340 HP Cummins ISB 6.7L. Allison 6 speed 2500 MH transmission.
  24. This happened several years ago in a GMC 2500 tow vehicle:At OK RV in Moab Utah for a couple of weeks. Since it is supposed to rain this afternoon thought we would take an easy and quick morning drive up Long Canyon since it is short and close to town, has an unexpected surprise near the end and then an easy drive back into town. We stopped and got some coffee to go and proceeded out Potash Road, found the turn to Long Canyon and off we went down the Canyon. Started out as hard packed red clay/sand, a beautiful drive with breath taking scenery. After a mile or two we start climbing up and there is some snow on the road in the shady areas. Stop at the first patch of snow for another round of picture taking, go to take off again and the rear wheels spin a little. OK, to be on the safe side I put it into four wheel drive and we are off. Make it through several more shady snow covered patches and notice that there is only a half inch or so of snow over ice so stay on the areas no one had already driven on for the extra traction. Shortly we come around a corner and there it is. A huge house size boulder that has fallen over the road but it is so large we can still drive under it. Nancy is not happy since she knows my "surprises" for her usually involves scaring her to death, which is fairly easy to do here since she is afraid of heights. Frequently on the way up she had closed her eyes or stared at me so she would not have to look at the cliff on her side.We paused for another round of pictures of the rock and to let her get her nerve up to let me drive under it. I had wanted to stop under the rock but it looked slick and I decided to keep my momentum going to get to a little hump on the other side and stop on it. We did and took yet another round of pictures of the other side of the rock.Starting up again I told Nancy don't be afraid but I am going to go a little faster now to get the momentum up to make it over the steep grade in front of us, the steepest yet. Took right off and was doing great, until suddenly just short of the top all four wheels are spinning. I quickly slammed on the brakes to keep from rolling backwards, but, the harder I pushed the faster backwards we slid. We are sliding backwards out of control towards a cliff......I remember thinking if I don't let up on the brakes we are going to slide over the edge for sure. I think I let up on the brakes but can't really say for sure. I don't remember turning the steering wheel either however the steering wheel was up against the left stop and suddenly we hit the vertical wall on the left side because the turned front wheels had suddenly caught traction on something which jerked the front end around, put the rear wheels in the ditch and still had enough momentum going to swing the front end all the way around, overlooking the down side cliff on the way by, and then come to a stop just above the hump we had left a minute before but facing the way we had come CENTERED in the road.(007 couldn’t have done a better J turn!!)Only then did Nancy see my face and realize that I had not been driving but hanging on for dear life. Then she was really scared because she had thought I was backing up real fast to scare her, not knowing I had no control over the truck at all.We calmed down and I got out of the truck to see the damage but could find none. So what did we hit that spun the truck around and stop the downhill momentum?There was only one tire skid mark that went into the ditch, the left rear, the skid mark from the right rear stopped at the top of the ditch, rotated about 180° and then led to where the truck was resting on down the hill. The front tire skid marks made a neat half circle around the ditch impact point. There was no evidence of hitting the cliff wall, with the bumper or any of the under carriage. I wish I could say it was my expert driving skills that got us out of that situation but I was hanging on hoping the truck would slide into the ditch and not over the cliff.Now it is time to consider our position, we are almost at the top of the cliff, nothing separates us from the top but a sheet of ice. We are facing back down hill and i certainly don't want to try turning the truck around and attempting going on up. But, there are known slick spots on the way down and now I realize it was about 32° when we left town and near 40° now so the snow covered ice is melting and getting slicker by the minute. Also the rain is expected in an hour or two so we need to get off this cliffside NOW before it is all wet ice and we are stuck here. Now is a fine time to think about the above, so much for the morning "walk in the park" drive.....(found out later that just past this point is Pucker Pass, so narrow that had I made it another 50' or so we would have gotten wedged in sideways for sure)OK, we decide that Nancy will walk down the snow/ice covered areas and I will try to drive the truck down before it gets any slicker and if it gets too slick (and the unspoken I don't end up over the side) I'll park the truck and we will walk the several miles back to the highway. I manage to make it down past the snow covered areas with little problem, wait for Nancy and we head back to town.On the way back we also realize no one knew where we were going and we had no water or food since it was a "walk in the park" drive. The lat and long of the house sized rock is: N 38°32'36.22" W 109°42'23.28". Google Earth shows about a 90' drop off the edge to the bottom and it is not a vertical drop but the truck would certainly roll over and over to the bottom. No one would be able to see us unless they were standing right at the edge of the road. The whole time we were on the mountain there was not another vehicle. If we had gone over the side and been hurt who knows how long it would be before someone happened to see the wreckage and find us.Started paying more attention to the self rescuing signs then.....Gary
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