10-15-2014, 05:46 PM
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.
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.
1993 Newell (316) 45' 8V92,towing an Imperial open trailer or RnR custom built enclosed trailer. FMCA#232958 '67 Airstream Overlander 27' '67GTO,'76TransAm,'52Chevy panel, 2000 Corvette "Lingenfelter"modified, '23 Grand Cherokee.