smokeater75

Hi Betty, my wife Sue and I were caught in a snow storm in Rawlins Wyoming a few years ago. The wind was gusting to 80mph. We arrived just before interstate 80 was shut down. I had a full tank of water, we just hooked up power kept the slides in and waited it out, the motorhome was rocking pretty good at times but no damage to the motorhome when it was done. Good luck. smokeater75. We did not use our jacks either just the air suspension.

I had a similar problem while crossing Interstate 80 between Reno and Salt lake, strong cross winds, I put zip locks on my awnings, there easy to put on and take off. Not sure if this will help in your situation. smokeater75.

I was just wondering if anyone out there has been pulled over because there rear license plate was obstructed. We carry two bicycles on a bike rack at the rear of our motorhome, and with the cover over them you can't see the plate until you are passing by. I'm thinking about moving it to the ladder except I think its suppose to have a light. We haven't been pulled over yet but you never know. Smokeater75

My wife and I stopped at Wakarusa Indiana on the way back home from New York. We took a plant tour and were told that all Class A motorhomes were going to be built in Wakarusa. The service department was open and it looked like they were doing all kinds of repairs. Smokeater75.

Hi Montie, my wife Susan and I usually stop at the Elkorn Ranch RV park in Spearfish SD. Its a large park with concrete pads good power and a small store. We have stopped there the last 4 years on our way back to Winnipeg from Indio Ca. and enjoy it . The sites are large and will accomodate a 45ft. and tow vehicle. Good luck Smokeater75

Hi Anthony, My wife and I don't head down south until Feb. I can tell you that if the coach is outside and your temps are down in the -20 area you might want to take it out for a run every three weeks. The fact that you have power is great, as long as your battery levels are kept up your system should keep them nice and healthy. Make sure that your RV is winterized properly, eg. water filters removed, hot water tank by-pass on and tank flushed and drained,all lines blown free of water and anti-freeze put in and running through every water tap. If you have a washing machine don't forget it. Don't forget to have your engine anti-freeze checked. In the winter time here in Winnipeg, I have found that it takes about 60 miles to get the engine oil temp as well as the tranny temps up to operating temperatures. If it really gets cold and you are due to take it out, turn on the block heater the day before. Where I am I have gone to synthetic oil to help with the cold starts, not sure if you need that where you are. I also run a diesel conditioner in my fuel tank. I also pour and leave about 12 oz. of antifreeze in the toilet. Oh and don't forget to run your generator for a couple of hours under load once a month. Hope this helps a little smokeater75.

I was just wondering how accurate those oil pressure gauges are. Smokeater75

Hi Old Marine, thanks for the information. I wasn't sure about the ease of moving around New York , it sounds like we will be okay. I would like to know more about the New York City Pass, apparently you can purchase it for 1 to 7 days and it includes your your transportation around New York as well as the sites, for example $22.00 per person to go to the observation area of the Empire State building. Thanks you again, Smokeater75.

Hi Everyone, my wife and I are traveling to New York city in Sept., we are staying at the Liberty Harbor Rv&Marine park. We have already purchased tickets for some broadway shows but are wondering if anyone has some info on the tour buses that go to and from the park to downtown New York as well as the New York Pass. Thanks Smokeater75.

Hi lynnmcmillan, my wife Susan and I are in Indio Ca. part of the winter, we bought a stick from T-Mobile, its a pay as you go stick. It cost us $30.00 for 1GB for 30 days. Its more then enough for us to Skype our kids and grandchildren as well as pay our bills. We us it all over the U.S and really like it. We also do the same with a cell phone. It works for us and may be something for you to consider. Smokeater75.

My wife and I have just finished a 6000 mi. trip using the new 7710 as well as our 5yr. old Garmin Nuvi 660. I have nothing but good things to say about the 7710, it worked fine has a lot of good features and most of the time it was as fast as my 660 or faster. I honestly don't know if a lot of changes were made to the 7710 I bought in Feb. of this year compared to earlier models but the unit works just fine. I would not hesitate to buy one if I were in the market for a gps. Smokeater75.

Hi grammady, I have been using nitrogen in my suv and cars as well as our motorhome for the past 4yrs. I found that in the auto's when the temps dropped that the low air warning lights were constantly going off. When I switched to nitrogen no more problems. I take our motorhome out every two weeks in the winter to run the generator and heat up the tranny and engine, I found that when the temperature was down in the -30 range that the fluctuating air pressure was a real problem. I switched to nitrogen after talking to a number of truckers and Denray tire here in Winnipeg and no more problems. When my wife Susan and I leave for Indio Ca. in the middle of Feb. its usually around -25, when we come home we have put on about 6000 miles. I run 110 in the front and 100 across the back and I have not had to add any nitrogen to the tires during the trip. That is my experience. Aside from the Nitrogen molecule being larger there is also less moisture in a filtered Nitrogen supply. You can get Nitrogen at any large truck tire center and if you need a top up and your a Costco member you can get it there. Good Luck smokeater75.

Hi Everyone, I am currently in Indio Ca. and have used the new 7710 for the past 1800 miles, I have the 7710 set up for me and my wife has our Garmin 660 Nuvi set up for her. I love the new 7710 I love the speed limit warnings, steep grade ahead, sharp turn etc. I think the unit is great. I bought it at Camping World, connected it to my lap-top and bingo I was up and running. I was sceptical at first and would have purchased another Garmin but they seem to be dragging their heels. I really don't have any complaints about the 7710. As far as process speed goes the two units seem to take turns beating each other so speed is not an issue. Just my 2 cents. Smokeater75.

Hi Mike, I have a air and hydraulic system on my 2003 Windsor. If I am going under the motorhome I use the hydraulic jacks and then I use steel jacks just in case something happens. I had my filters replaced this past fall at a Cummins dealer. I don't mess with things on the motorhome that I don't have a 110% confidence in doing. That aside I wouldn't go under the motorhome for any length of time without steel jacks supplementing what ever system I was using for lift. Just my 2 cents Smokeater75. Good Luck. Just to clarify when I say steel jacks, I'm talking about supports.

I hope you enjoy those new tires. I have been using Michelin tires for the past 40 yrs on my motorcycles,sports cars and family vehicles. I just finished putting a second set of cross terrains on my Acura MDX, the first set lasted for 60,000 miles. Next week my motorhome will be going in for a new set of Michelin 295/80R/22.5 /XZA2 Energy tires. I trust the product and I think you will be glad you have them on your RV. I am a retired Firefighter and all of our fire apparatus have Michelin tires on them, good luck down the road. Smokeater75.

Hi Baldeagle, I was just wondering , when you say propane heaters are you still talking about your furnaces or are you talking about individual propane heaters. Smokeater75.

This is a long shot but you never know. I had 4 furnace motors replaced in my house furnace before a tech finally figured out that there was a vibration being caused by the squirrel cage fan. If the batch of fans were faulty, this could be the problem. There is no reason for there to be so much vibration that it causes cracking of the motor mount. Just a thought, Smokeater75

I think that if you do any camping in the fall time or spring that the heat pumps and dual pane windows would be a good option. They would certainly help with heat loss as well as helping your air conditioning in hot weather. I also think that if its noisy outside that the dual pane windows would help when your trying to sleep. Just my two cents Smokeater75.

I am sitting hear having my coffee and just watched this beautiful video, thanks for putting it on, what a great way to start the day. Thank-you smokeater75.

I take my motorhome out every 2 wks in some pretty cold weather, -15 to -36 I found that when it was really cold that my furnaces seem to cycle on then off a few times before they finally stayed lit. When I took it in for my yearly appliance test, I mentioned this to the tech. He told me to start up my two burner gas stove first and let it run for a few minutes and then start my furnaces. It seemed to do the trick. Last time I took the motorhome out for a run it was -28 with a -39 wind chill and they worked just fine. Good luck, Smokeater75.

Your welcome. I should mention that every fall when I am getting my motorhome serviced I always have my gas appliances checked as well as the supply system. As a retired Firefighter I have total respect for propane and what it is capable of . Good Luck. Smokeater75

Hi , my wife and I leave from Winnipeg in Feb. for Palm Springs California, I have our motorhome parked on the driveway plugged into a 50 amp service, three days before we leave. For that time I have two electric heaters running. The morning that we leave I start the generator and if its - 39 like it was last year I turn on both of my gas funaces. Our first day is our longest, I usually drive straight south to Lincoln Nebraska about 650 miles. I run the generator the whole time and ususally don't shut down the gas furnaces until we get into South Dakota. I have been doing this the last 3yrs without any problems, the temp inside the coach is a comfortable 72F. Hope this helps Smokeater75

Hi guys, I use mobile 1 syn. in my cars and I use Valvoline syn in my 8.8 L.Cummins. All my engine service is done at the Cummins dealer. I also run the Valvoline Syn. in my Onan diesel generator. In the past 3yrs I have not had a problem starting the engine or the generator in - 30 temps. I run synthetic because of the cold temps here in Winnipeg. I want as much protection for my engines on a cold start as I can get. As far as extended oil changes Cummins does not recommend that. I have the rv serviced once a year and so far so good. I think that when you have very expensive sports cars coming from the factory with synthetic oil in them its something to think about. Just my 2 cents, Smokeater75

Thanks for the info Brett, I should have mentioned that the main reason I try to stick with #1 diesel is the -40 temps we have here in January. If I get caught with #2 in my tank the waxing is so bad that it will not start. Until my wife and I can get down south earlier I don't have alot of options. Thanks again. Smokeater75

#2 diesel is a summer fuel with a lower cetane rating. #1 is a winter grade, I tend to avoid #2 as it has only caused problems for me, stalling and hard starting. Even at major truck stops where I buy my fuel, I still try to purchase #1. Its hard to get #1 in the summer or Southern states as they really have no need for it, In the northern states they usually don't get winter fuel in until November. Think of it as a octane rating for gas. Just my 2 cents, Smokeater75