akadeadeye

Mike, I get your point but the $0.27 translates into $27.00 on a 100 gallon fill-up. Anyway, if I can save $27 and it doesn't really affect our time on the road that much, I will do so and use the $27 to pay for a camping fee. To me, it isn't a question of penny pinching but of maximizing performance and that includes economizing where appropriate. I have read some good discussion here on how to maximize performance of my coach and appreciate all of the input. For instance, I didn't know that maximum mileage occurs at, or close to, when the transmission shifts into 6th gear. I don't know when mine does that, but I will watch next time we are out. Just me. Don

Here are four I found on RVParkReviews.com http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/texas/san-marcos Don

If you look at a map there aren't really any good choices from San Antonio to Carlsbad except IH-10 to Fort Stockton then 285 through Pecos and on to Carlsbad. We have driven this route several times and it is fine. Don

Thank you for that link. I found two high school buddies. May they rest in peace. Don

Bingo! We were told several years ago by a local DMV office employee and a state employee in Austin that RV's were exempt and no special license was required. I kept hearing otherwise so I read the law and went to a local DMV driving test site to ask one of the people who gives the driving test and found out the truth. As others have indicated, Texas does require a Class B Exempt license for vehicles over 26,000 lbs. and a Class A Exempt for vehicles over 26,000 lbs. and towing over 10,000 lbs. It is likely that a LEO is not going to cite you for the license issue but it is very likely an insurance company will find any excuse they can to not pay up, and if another party is involved in an accident with you, you are courtroom fodder for a personal injury lawyer who finds out you are improperly licensed. And, they will. My test was in Kerrville, TX and was pretty simple. Mine did not involve parallel parking but she did take me to a large parking lot and asked me to back up 100 feet and then turn and back into one of the car parking spaces against an outside curb. Interesting. But, like a parallel parking test it was meant to demonstrate close quarter control I guess. Heck, after maneuvering around in several overly tight RV parks, this was a piece of chocolate cake. Hint, be sure you have proof of insurance and be sure all of your exterior lights work including turn signals and brake lights. They check them all. And there was a short version of an air brake test with the passenger side front wheel chocked. As Brett says above, don't trust the hearsay from seemingly knowledgeable people. Look it up yourself. Don

We tow a Toyota Sienna Van with front wheel drive. We use a Master Tow Dolly and have had no problems with it except some uneven tire wear on one side. We chose the Master Tow because of the 80 inch width. We tried a couple of other brands but the width between the dolly tire fenders was not wide enough. It has surge brakes which have performed fine and has a swivel cradle. I might say that our Sienna, modified by Braun for a ramp van to accommodate my wife's wheelchair, pushes the weight limit for the tow dolly. You will probably not have that issue. We also tow another vehicle ('98 Buick Riviera) on occasion which is why we went with the tow dolly so we wouldn't have to rig up two vehicles. Don

We stayed in the State Park down in the canyon. It is very nice and spacious where we were. Check it out. The road in and out is a little steep but very do-able. We had no problem. Don

If there will be no use of them I would leave them as they are, particularly if there is a chance of freezing temps. Don

My wife was not a happy camper to have been awakened at 5:30 to see this event only to find out there was massive cloud cover. So, I fixed her breakfast and we watched it on TV. Don

Well, I won't beat around the bush. Other comments are right on about what you need and how you will use it, but you asked for some experienced recommendations. Here is my opinion, not based on what I own (well, partly) but based on the experience others have had that I have read about and personal conversations with many coach owners. 1. Foretravel...........Newell 2. Newmar...........Tiffin 3. Entegra You will have issues with any of these but you can't go wrong with any of them either. Good luck. Don

I had a similar problem. The male splines on both wipers were stripped. After replacements they are working great. Don

Very destructive, not constructive, comments, Bill. And, as a "not really old member" I find your comments are negative only and not meant to suggest specific positive improvements to FMCA, if, indeed, improvements are needed. I know of no number mongering, as you suggest, and have never given it a thought. I do know when I see a FMCA oval sign on another RV parked near me in an RV park, there is a commonality established that can lead to interesting conversations, none of which involve "numbering". If you think FMCA is a dying organization and you care enough to post and complain about it, then step up to the plate young man and change it the way you think it should look. Don

I do not have a transmission retarder. I do have a switch that is labeled "engine brake". And, I use it quite often on steep grades where I want to maintain a certain speed. Don

Thank you for your knowledge and your time, Brett. Utah here we come. Don

Brett, How do you benefit from using the Economy Mode? Don

Great information Brett. Thank you. Don

Brett, Thank you for your response. This is the best explanation I have read yet from anyone. If I decide to downshift near the crest of the climb am I still OK using the engine brake on the descent? So, I should choose Economy Mode for all driving conditions? Don

I have yet to use manual shifting on our Allison 3000 and ascending and descending mountains has worked out OK just letting the tranny do its job and assisting on the descent with the engine brake. But I feel like I should know how and when to downshift to enable more RPMs on the ascent (to keep heating to a minimum) and to assist the descent in addition or instead of the engine brake. We are headed to the Rocky's this week. What do you do? Don

I would never pay anything for a diagnosis for something covered by warranty. That is ridiculous and I would refuse right up the food chain to the head shed's desk.

The standard RV camping is fine. No hookups where we stayed but the shuttle buses run by every 20-30 minutes along the perimeter of the camping area. Very reliable and a convenient 10-15 minutes to the balloon launch field. We would do this again. Don

We stayed at the dry camping area within the grounds where they had shuttle buses that ran continuously to get you from your motorhome to the balloon field. It was fine and we stayed 3 days with no problem. The price was very reasonable to be within one mile of the launch field. Don

Great advice Cookie! I know that I am a better driver in our coach rig than I am when driving only our toad. Must be a feeling of responsibility and realization that this much weight and bulk just has to act differently than normal vehicles no matter what it takes. Don

We had Spartan Chassis service one time on the road and they called CoachNet to help us. Tow truck showed up and did a decent job towing us the 5 miles we needed. Out of warranty, we now have Good Sam Roadside Assistance primarily due to price. We have not had occasion to use them but I feel that both services' main function is to find someone to help you out and I can't help but believe it will probably be a pretty good vendor if not the same one in any given area. There are always exceptions no matter who you choose. Don

Moab, UT to Zion Via Highway 12 On an upcoming trip we will be leaving Moab, UT, and traveling north to I-70 then southwest to Capital Reef, Torrey, then south on Highway 12 and eventually going through Escalante and on to Highway 89. For those familiar with Highway 12 in Utah is it a "must do"? Or, is it to be avoided? I can tell there are narrow spots with steep drop-offs on both sides in some places with little to no shoulder. We will be in a big rig, towing. Also, what are some of the "must see" sites along this highway? Thanks, Don

I think I will travel Highway 550 in my toad and leave the heavy duty driving to old fearless and experienced pros like you. Don