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Newbie With A Million Questions
Hello All,
After lurking around this forum for years my wife and I have finally taken the plunge and bought a coach. I previously posted with the user name LKQ3 but only made a few posts regarding my first outing to Tampa for the Prevost show and once again after attending the ETLC tech seminar a few years ago.
We are going to pick up the coach beginning of September. We have never owned a coach before so before we embark on the next adventure of our lives I have a few pressing questions.
1. We are having a tough time finding an insurance company that will write an “agreed upon value” policy for the coach. Does anyone have any recommendations for a company they’ve dealt with? I seem to recall reading that Jeff from ETLC was trying to see if he could get a company that insures airplanes to insure our coaches but haven’t heard if he had any success.
2. What are your feelings regarding the use of surge protectors on the power pole before you plug your coach in. Curious how many of you use/recommend using the stand alone device. I think I saw one that claimed if the pc board fried you can replace the board instead of junking the entire unit, but don’t remember who makes it.
3. How do I determine what tire pressure to use BEFORE I have a chance to have the coach weighed. I have no idea what a safe starting pressure is for an H345 without slides circa 2001. And while we’re on the subject of airing up. Are the aux compressors on the bus capable of pressures over 100 psi. so tires can be inflated? And one more question… is an analog tire pressure gauge more or less accurate than a digital version, and if anyone has a recommendation on a quality gauge please let me know as from reading the threads on this forum I know how important tire pressures are.
4. Does anyone have a recommendation for a GPS that will take into consideration coach length, height and weight? I’m torn between something for RVer’s vs. truckers.
5. What is the proper procedure to determine the pressure of your tires? Do you weigh each axle and divide the weight by the numbers of tires on the axle that will share the load. Please correct me if I have this wrong but don’t most truck scales weigh each axle rather than each individual tire.
I guess that’s about it for now. Any help would be greatly appreciated because I really don’t want to screw this up right out of the gate. :^)
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9 Replies
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Congrats Lardog on your purchase.
I like the Progressive Industries 50 amp protective system that is installed in the bus. But they do make one that plugs into power post as do other brands. I always use a protective device for the AC power post.
You will have a Webasto burner installed either into a Webasto Heat Exchanger or into an Aqua Hot hydronic heater. In either case, get a fresh service on the burner. The most important part of which is a new nozzle. Having done so, run the diesel burner once per month, every month, PERIOD. Doing so keeps fresh diesel on the nozzle and the burner will run clean and clear for 2,3 and maybe 4 years before needing service. Sitting unused for weeks and months on end allows the diesel on the nozzle to congeal causing smoking and eventually failure to operate. Purchase 2 or 3 nozzles to have on hand in case smoking occurs as burner service fixes that but a nozzle is not on every street corner.
Hope this helps you. If you are near Houston, I know where the locals go to eat. Come on by.
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Suggest you add a signature and open your email up so other members can contact you. Go to the blue box “Profile” to do that.
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Because your post is likely to be of value to others relatively new to ownership I will attempt to address some of your questions.
Insurance is specific to the state but generally speaking the market has been very difficult for owners to deal with. There are so many factors you just have to deal with as many agents as possible and let them do the legwork. You likely will get posts from owners who are insured by the same company that insures their home, cars, business, etc. but just be absolutely certain you are getting the coverage you think you need. Companies not familiar with commercial bus conversions can be very difficult to deal with when there is a claim.
Your bill of sale will be sufficient for arriving at agreed value, but some companies may require a professional appraisal and a lot of photos.
Your coach may already have a surge protector, but if not there are multiple choices. The problem is nobody knows how well they work, except for those that did not work.
Owners of your converter’s H3 coaches can give you a good idea of what pressures you need, but to be on the safe side add 5 pounds to those suggested pressures and after you have all your stuff in the coach, weigh it with full fuel, full water and empty holding tank. Weigh each axle and if you can weigh each wheel, but usually total axle weight will be sufficient.
Get the GPS you think will work for you. A trucker GPS will be a better choice than one for a car. But put a belt on with your suspenders. I always “drive” my route on Google Earth to look for possible problems. I am an interstate driver and rarely have concerns relative to my weight, length or height, but if you are going to stay on more local streets and roads, especially in New England you really need to be very careful.
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Try contacting SAFECO for your coach insurance.
Yes, use a surge suppressor, either built-in (preferred) or pole mounted.
Tire air pressure. Good place to start is 110 Front, 100 duals, 90 tag.
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Lardog congratulations, now we were in a super C dealership 2 weeks ago and look over there . A 2021 13 ft 4 inch tall rv only 3,000 miles that owner was sleeping in bed ,21 year old son driving, using his phone for navigation and out of nowhere a 11 ft 6 inch bridge.If you guessed the 2 don’t mix well, estimate for repair north of 350 k .One must always be alert. Dealership ask me not to take picture .
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If the coach comes with documentation, the converter will give you tire pressure recommendations. Our coach requires 120 psi in the front tires as determined by weight.
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Call my agent:
https://agents.allstate.com/brandon-bystol-germantown-wi.html
Ask for Shannon Morehouse. He handles boats, yachts, aircraft, and motorhomes.
Good luck!
Dick
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Thanks all for your replies. ;^)
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