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We just got home from our longest trip yet in the 1993 Newell:: 1400 miles to Richmond, VA and back. In short, mechanically everything worked well. I had two minor issues that we were able to work around. The generator would not start. I could get it to start by holding the fuel solenoid open manually. With temps in the 50's to 70 we did not need any HVAC while traveling so I depended on the main engine to keep the batts up and the invertor to keep the fridge running. We boondocked two nights so I manually started the gen. and left it run all night.
The other issue was a strange "thumping" coming from the Freedom 458 invertor/charger. I ended up talking to Gordon (Bestgenman) by phone and he was very helpful. He recommended disconnecting the exciter wire that plugs into the generator motor's alternator. Apparently that small alternator was confusing the Freedom 458. I stopped by his business and picked up a new fuel solenoid on my way home. (Really disappointed that we did not get to meet!!) Hopefully that will fix the generator start problem.
We encountered several 7% grades of 2 to 6 miles and handled them well. I was towing my Grand Cherokee aboard my Imperial 18' car hauler trailer. Most of the time I could crest the grade at 35 mph. in 3rd gear. Once on the way home on the longest grade I was down to 25 mph in 2nd gear for the last couple thousand feet or so. The temp never got above 200 but I did "back off" the throttle a few times when it hit 200. It makes me wonder how it would have done if the ambient temp would have been 95 degrees. I'm curious to know how you guys do in the western mountains. Do you ever just stop part way up to let things cool down? Typically I would downshift at 1200 when my speed had reduced to 1200 rpm on the tachometer. I'm not sure if that was right or not but it "felt" right. Fuel economy worked out to 5 mpg..About what I expected considering the percentage of miles covered crossing the Alleghany Mountains.

Here is a timely Poll... Now be honest everyone of how you have always done it and if you still do it that way .....

Went to the Fall closing of the Coolspring Power Museum. Trip started off with the Recaro seat not inflating, bounced all the way to Coolspring. Parked and had trouble with the rear slide not going out all the way. Tried leveling rather than in travel mode, slide went out. Most confusing as Newell states "slides should be operated in travel mode".

Next tried to start generator but nothing doing. Racked set out and started from Kohler panel, came inside and WT & OP plus run indicator lamps working. Started checking wiring from set towards coach. Next checked wiring at connection point location in front of passenger seat (also fuse panel located here) loss of connection between set & connection point. Result open conductor, thankfully our Newells have ample spares (the guys do such a stellar job of bundling cable sets),and there was a spare which when connected solved the problem.

Then the grounds administrator asked us to move so went to travel mode and front slide went in but rear slide wouldn't budge. Went back, to level and tried again, this time the slide came in. I'm pretty confused at this point.

Moved to a new spot and while in travel mode front went out and rear went out half way but would not budge past that point. Called a fellow Guru and tried several things but nothing worked (included relieving pressure by manually opening solenoid valves). finally gave in and called Tommy Keyes. "Start your engine and parallel your batteries and try again to operate the rear slide", it worked!!

All day I've been working this over in my mind and my resolution is: The hydraulic pressure needed at that distance from the pump is more than the pump can do if motor voltage is down just by a small amount . By paralleling and utilizing the 300 plus ampere capacity of the main engine's alternator, the voltage is kept up enough to generate the pressure needed.

I hope this helps someone whom may experience the same problem.

I received this message from Escapees:

Diesel Fueling in Arizona
Message from Jim Koca, Advocacy Director
Arizona fuel-tax rates are different from what we may be used to while traveling throughout the United States. This fuel law has been on the books for several years. The law states:

The Arizona tax on gasoline (motor vehicle fuel) is 18 cents per gallon. Use fuel (diesel) is taxed at two rates in Arizona.

-If the use fuel is used in the propulsion of a use class motor vehicle on a highway in this state, the tax rate is 26 cents for each gallon.

-A "use class motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle that uses use fuel on a highway in this state and that is a road tractor, truck tractor, truck or passenger carrying vehicle having a declared gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds or having more than two axles.

I talked to the Revenue & Fuel Tax Administration Fuel Tax Manager in Phoenix, Az, and asked for the definition of the "passenger carrying vehicle" and he stated that would include a motor home. What this means is those who have a vehicle that has three or more axles or a declared gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001+ lbs are required to use the truck lanes and pay the higher fuel tax. The regular diesel tax is 18 cents. Filling the RV at the regular pumps will subject you to a citation with a steep fine. Arizona has a Fuel Tax Evasion Unit that monitors the filling of vehicles at fuel stations.

Escapees feel that this information should be sent out to all of the members that travel through Arizona.

I would like to thank all of the members who have sent in this information to Headquarters so that we could investigate this issue.

So, based on the subject line, you now know I don’t know much about the topic. We had a non-HD kingdome. Yes, HAD, but it was taken out by hail in Denver a few weeks ago. So, since we will be redoing our system, we are wondering what the pro’s and cons are of the different systems. Please speak in baby talk, second grade level as electronics and math are NOT my strong points. I haven’t been active on this site, but we had a chance to meet a great bunch of nice folks at Newell in July after your rally in Branson, and thought you were the folks to ask about all of this.


Thanks
Rose

Driving in the rain yesterday my passenger side wipers stopped. It went all the way to the right. When it was running I could hear a click-clack sound and then it stopped. This morning I removed the dash cover and could see the motor, which is hard to get too. The driver side motor is much easier. I pushed the wiper back to the center of windshield and cut on the wipers and it went to right but did not come back. Probably the gears are shot. Has anyone had this problem and replaced the motor?

Left last night from WI headed to Pierce City MO to drop off the coach for a re power.
Pulled in for a few hours of sleep at a truck stop in Paris, MO.
The 903 is running ok, but smoking a bit more than usual, so far so good, less than 3 hours to go after breakfast is over.


Scott

I just bought 2 new 8D house batteries. A while back I read an article in FMCA about adding mineral oil to batteries. If I recall, about 4 oz per cell. Is anyone here running "oiled" batteries? What are experiences if so?

Hi guys
We're on our maiden voyage since I started the remodel. We are in West Virginia at the moment. The fuel solenoid on the 20k yanmar won't open. I can start it by holding it open and it will stay running. I'm guessing I need a new fuel solenoid. Can somebody help with a part number. I may try to buy one and change it in the rest stop. Thx

Hello-
We just completed the 1200 mile trip back to our home in Jacksonville, FL this past weekend from Michigan, where we became the proud new owners of #535. The previous owners, Serge & Carol, were terrific and the coach was even better than we expected. Our next excursion is already planned... a trip to Daytona International Speedway for a race weekend. I'm surely looking forward to chilling in #535 after getting out of the race car! We hope to meet some other owners and become regular contributors. Thanks All