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  big rig rv parks and what really is a big rig?

Posted by: encantotom
06-02-2013, 09:24 PM
Forum: Big Rig Friendly places to go
- Replies (9)

howdy all,

i am nowhere as experienced as many of you in traveling in our coach. this is our 4th coach and 2nd newell but to be honest never had the time to do lots of use on them. i have probably 20k miles between my two newells i have used them on. that said, i am still learning big time on what is a big rig and how to find a place to stay that accommodate our 45'8" newell along with towing our CRV.

i cant say how many times i have called ahead and asked if they can handle big rigs. they almost always say yes. we pulled into a park in indiana last summer and i had asked and described several times over the phone the size of this beast. always got a "no problem" we pulled in and stopped in front of the office and gazed at the not so big sites that each had rocks on the corners outlining the spot and thought "uh oh" when i went in the office and the girl was looking out the window in wonderment and said" i dont think my dad knew it was THAT big". we unhooked the car and got in the spot, but had a fun time getting out.

one of the additional challenges we have with our newells is the low clearance. i had to use the leveling over ride and lift the rig up 4 inches to back into our friends driveway.

i was staying at a park in riodoso nm 5 years ago and it was terraced. they said...no problem. yea right. that place was pretty, but pretty for much smaller rigs.

we stayed at a nice koa while visiting richard and rhonda in WV last summer. they neglected to tell us that it was a hairpin turn into the park and that you needed to come in from the opposite direction we came. i turned in, promptly got stuck in the turn, the coach and car was sticking out into the highway. we quickly got out, stopped traffic and unhooked the car and once in the park it was plenty roomy. a few nights later it was rainy and dark at the same park and we were coming back from their home and i saw a set of headlights coming down the highway the same way we did with the turn signal on and i could tell from a ways away it was a big wanderlodge. we pulled over at the hairpin curve but it was too late. he was stuck. so i stopped traffic while he unhooked his car.

our first stop on this trip was 90 miles in and at a walmart in payson arizona. none of our vehicles can pass that place. we have a cabin north of it and stop every time for something. we were trying to follow clarke and elaines example of stopping frequently. we got stuck in the parking lot and had to wait for a lady in a pickup truck to get done shopping and drive away. as we were negotiating our way out of the parking lot, another truck stopped to let us by. darlene was looking at him and she said she could see him mouth the words..."WOW"

i subscribe to big rigs, and read reviews on parks and research them, but not everywhere we go has a place that is in these books.

the people in the parks are usually nice, but dont really care if you damage your coach trying to get around in their park.

we were staying at a park in ohio near our son scott. the park was nice and the spot nice. but getting out would have been very easy if they would have let us just pull through and go out a gate that was locked shut. they wouldnt. they made us do funky turns and barely make it around. what are some of these places thinking?

trees are another issue. having trees is very nice. as long as they dont rub on the sides of the coach while getting in, getting out or while just plain sitting there.

it doesnt help that most rv parks were designed in the days where 40 footer that was 11.5 foot tall was the biggest rig they ever saw.

it also doesnt help that i am paranoid about hitting something...

but i have to say i have met the nicest people at rv parks. in general they are out to enjoy themselves and want to meet and talk. of course, i talk to everyone.

so....what is a big rig and how do you describe it? because none of my descriptions have been adequate so far....

tom

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  slides in during high winds?

Posted by: encantotom
06-02-2013, 08:18 PM
Forum: General
- Replies (4)

hi all,

we are on the road and tonite there is currently a strong wind, hail and rain advisory. i put our car in our friends shop, but the coach is outside. this part of rv'ing is new to us. should we put the slides in during high winds? i looked online and most people said they leave slides out. (all types of rv's_)

i put the sat dish down to be sure it wouldnt get ripped off.

any wisdom here?

tom

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  Going to see Mickey

Posted by: John L Williams
06-01-2013, 07:22 PM
Forum: Travel Logs
- Replies (4)

Well....We are packed up with all of our toys, and will be heading down to Fort Wilderness for a week of roughing it. It will be the first time we get to utilize the Toy Hauler, because we are taking two of our sons and their families with us. I learned long ago... they do not make Motorhomes large enough for more than one family. That is where the Toy Hauler comes in. We loaded 2 Golf Carts, 2 bicycles, and an assortment of toys for a 2 year old, 6 year old and 10 year old. The Toy Hauler will sleep 6 people, with it's 2 Queen, and 2 single beds. It also has it's own kitchen, bath, and TV. It is going to be a challenge to park it in our space, because overall length of the two is 83 feet. But we have our patio chairs, fishing equipment, and maybe a whole lot of patience. All I can say is ...it is going to be a real trip..if you get my drift. Will keep you posted...

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  dash air blower motor

Posted by: encantotom
06-01-2013, 04:51 PM
Forum: Heating Systems
- Replies (1)

hi gang,

my blower fan for the front dash air/heater has been making a whine. today after driving on some rough roads it made a horrible racket. i turned it off for an hour or so and then it started up ok.

it had made noises before.

has anyone replaced that blower before and if so what is the part number.

and any hints on getting at it

thanks

tom

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  kwikee steps

Posted by: encantotom
06-01-2013, 04:34 PM
Forum: Exterior
- Replies (9)

hi all,

i put new steps on last week and now am having trouble getting them to retract. sometimes they do and sometimes they dont.

before i spend alot of time looking into it, just thought i would ask if any one had any brilliant ideas.

tom

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  axle weights question on 2002

Posted by: encantotom
06-01-2013, 04:27 PM
Forum: Suspension/Tires/Wheels
- Replies (14)

hi all,

after we filled with fuel today we unhooked the car and weighed the coach.

we weighed with empty waste tank, full water tank and full fuel tank and darlene and i at our seats.

attached is the picture of the scale readout. it is a little confusing to me as it is lower than i expected.

my vin plate shows gross weight of 55,000 pounds with 12k at tag, 18k at steer and 25k at drive.

corresponding tire pressures on the vin plates for 215/88r22.5 lrl are

100psi at tag, 110psi at drive and 140 psi at steer

i have changed the steer to 365/70r22.5 lrl and have been running 115psi.

my scale readings were 9940lbs tag, 17500 steer and 23360 drive

for a total of 50,800

so tire pressures are now a bafflement to me.

the michelin chart show that the tire pressures could be wayyy lower than what i am running. it was a cat certified scale. what other axle weights do you guys with 2 slides see?

tom

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  New Member from California

Posted by: lewisbair
06-01-2013, 08:53 AM
Forum: Please introduce yourself
- Replies (3)

I am a new member and own a classic 1980 Newell 37' hand controlled motorhome with a built in wheelchair lift. I am looking to upgrade my coach so if you know anyone that would like a very unique coach please let me know.

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  tom and darlenes first trip after retiring

Posted by: encantotom
05-31-2013, 07:29 PM
Forum: Travel Logs
- Replies (54)

howdy my friends,

well, we finally headed out today for a couple of month adventure. we had hoped to get out yesterday but had to take care of some things at home first. we drove about 360 miles and stopped at Lavaland RV park in grants, nm. a passport america park so a whopping 16 dollars. small park but clean and close to the freeway. the fellow at the desk said something about that being a big rig. i had called to make sure we would fit. after i paid he said that he had 65 foot rigs in our spot. no way we could fit without unhooking the car. but still i nice spot to just relax and rest.

we went the longggg grade way from mesa to winslow to hit i40. 160 miles of steep up and down grades. never got above 208 and most of the time in the low 200's for engine temps.

tomorrow we will head to clovis new mexico to see family. we will get there today.

to not make clarke feel bad we stopped after 90 miles and darlene went shopping at walmart. missy got a walk and i got to rest.

it is nice to get away from the heat. supposed to be 106 at home saturday and we are sitting here with the windows open and a nice breeze blowing through.

coach ran like a champ. i always find a few little things i need to improve or fix.

our daughter heather saw us off and it will be the last time we see her till the fall of 2014 as she is headed off to work in indonesia.

also a big shout out and thanks to her and our son scott who was home from the air force and helped me a ton getting ready and heather did as well.

tom

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  troubleshooting

Posted by: qcj
05-31-2013, 09:56 AM
Forum: General Repair
- Replies (35)

My 99 with S60 engine had been hard to start when been setting for a couple of days. It takes about 15 to 20 seconds or longer before starting and after it is warm it will start right off. This just started a week ago while at a park for about 4 days. Tried to crank and it took awhile, and this morning tried again and the same thing happened. After warm it starts right off. I will leaving for Spearfish in a couple of week and need to get this taken care of. Chappell

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  ceiling fan

Posted by: ashley
05-30-2013, 01:49 PM
Forum: General Repair
- Replies (10)

Does anyone have a spare blade arm for 42 inch craftmade ceiling fan. 281-687-8687

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