[Dale]

Perko is a brand name of boat hardware. Look for a new lock there.

What I would do. Using a 1/2″ drill motor capable of slow speed, I would drill out the center part that turns by the square hole, therby allowing you to pick out the pieces from inside the lock with picks and needlenose pliers.

I would use a hole saw whose ID was as close to the outside diameter of that center piece with the square drive hole that turns, it would be the pilot to keep the saw centered. Drill slowly and carefully.

If it is the lock that does not protrude from the door, offering the pilot, from a 1/2″ piece of plywood about 8″ square, drill a hole in it in a suitable location that would allow you to center that drilled hole over the area to be drilled out. Tape the wood in place and use it as a drill bushing (pilot)to start the hole saw. Remember, slow and easy does it. Once the saw cuts in a little the wooden bushing will not be necessary. Vitricore cuts well, but does not like “pressure from pinching”, it will crack at the pressure point.

or, call Troy.

JIM

[Dale]

We were leaving Chicago about a month ago and jumped on the turnpike heading south.

Traffic was heavy and we were in the number 4 lane (far right). Up ahead I notice cars and truck slightly weaving as there was an obstacle in the road. It was a rear bumper from an old rusted early ’80’s Olds 98 parked up ahead in the emergency lane.

As we passed the wayward bumper, I was thinking how lucky we were that it was parallel to the white lines between lanes 3 and 4. As we passed it, I was watching in my side mirror and a big 18-wheeler bumped it with his front right tire knocking it into lane 4.

Poor person driving a small white car had no choice but to drive over the big rusted bumper. I’m sure that metal bumper did some damage to that little car. I hated that for them but glad I didn’t have to run over it. If the trucker was paying attention, he wouldn’t have veered to the white line where the bumper was resting.

Safe travels,

Mark

[Dale]

Dale, like you my wife and I are not into bling. But that shouldn’t make you steer away from some very good coaches. If your priority is a plain or basic interior a Prevost might not be for you.

Our last two coaches are what I can say were kind of glitzy. The previous one especially had mirrors everywhere but the floor. It had etched glass. You get the picture. We wouldn’t have ordered it like that if our lives depended on it. But we grew to like it. A lot. It was completely different than how we live and it was our getaway.

You don’t have to turn on the rope lighting. You don’t have to use the underside neon lighting. If you don’t like the upholstery do like we did and change it. Most Prevost coaches are well equipped with fancy features. Nobody says you have to like them. They certainly don’t make the coach any more or less comfortable or useable. We surprised ourselves when we realized after a short period of time we had grown to like our over the top coach. I did not like it so much when I realized it looked like what people assume a whore house looks like. Tom told me what they looked like. I wouldn’t know.

[Dale]

Tom,

I reviewed the linked document, and it seems to apply to calibration, not to setting the (original / desired) starting mileage for the odometer.

Is there another document that might explain how to start a new odometer with the actual mileage rather than zero?

Thanks,

Mike

[Dale]

The chap in the MH to your left seems to have great faith in both the braking ability of his coach and also his reaction time. Looks a bit close to the car in front to me.

[Dale]

We’ve stayed in Banff National Park a couple of times at Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court. They have water, sewer and electric (can’t remember if 50 Amps but 30 for sure) at long pull thrus. Gorgeous park. Jasper too but smaller sights. Check the park’s website. We’ve gone in May and and Sept. and had to reserve months ahead but worth the wait. Prettiest place on earth.

[Dale]

Jon,

To be honest I have thought about OTR but since I am not wanting to be in the south in summer it really did not mean much to me personally. However you bring up a good point about resale and value if the coach is not equipped with it it will narrow the folks you can sell it to. I always try to have a solid exit plan because you never know what may come your way. I dont fully understand OTR completely and need to think this over.

Excellent points Jon and thanks again.

Dale

[Dale]

Jon/Tom,

Again, many thanks for the responses with all your unyeilding help. I think I need to be flexable or I may never get a coach. I heavly considered the 8V92 but from what I have learned over the last year for me a 60 series would be a better choice that is more reliable, better mileage and hopefully better resale in value and selling faster maybe. I am flexable on the front end but I would prefer the SFA. I also thought I would never want a coach without alot of wood interior but I am weakening on that as well.

There is a 97 Liberty on prevost-stuff, w/ a solid front axle, wood simulated laminant interior that is a very nice looking coach. It even has my exterior colors which is green., a 20 KW genset and 8x coach batteries, 2×4500 w inverters. I do not require any slides and could live with a 40 or 45 foot, so I am flexable on that as well. It has 147 K miles on it. He’s asking $137K which is a bit above my budget. It will need new house batteries right off the bat and who knows what else after a intense PPI. I am not sure how I feel about that price at the moment, I’m in no hurry and don’t want to get all emotional over the great exterior paint !!!

There is a 96 Royale on RVT that looks like a decent coach as well plus there are few others I am thinking over.

Thanks, Dale

[Dale]

I am sorry, Hector, I drove part or all of that in a car several years ago but I did not have a bus then so I was not scoping out the drive as I would now. We did take the bus to Estes Park from the east in 2010 and I highly recommend the drive going East out of Estes Park toward Loveland, Colorado on Hwy. 34 down the Big Thompson River Canyon.

The road drops over 2500 feet in the space of 25 miles and the view the entire distance is incredible. The canyon is narrow all the way down with just enough room for the road, the river and a few houses and businesses. I just coasted the bus the whole 25 curvy miles with the Jake Brake on pulling over every few miles to let the long train of cars behind me pass by. It was a very relaxing drive for us. We would love to go back and spend some more time in that area.

There are signs posted in various places that say “In Case of Flooding Climb to Higher Ground.” Later we found out why. On July 31, 1976 this area received 12 inches of rain in 3 hours and the 2 foot stream became a 19 foot wall of water sweeping boulders, houses, businesses, cars,RVs and homes down the narrow canyon. 145 lives were lost in that flood. If you Google Big Thompson River Canyon you can read all about it. The stories are very moving.

Davy

[Dale]

Hi Joe,

Not sure if you are familiar with the camping at Bristol, but the Medallion
Camp ground is the premier campground owned by the track. It sets up on a hill
overlooking most of the complex, within easy walking distance to the Coliseum,
although golf cart shuttles are provided by the staff. You will have
full hookups with 50 Amp service. This is a gated community. First day for
camping is on Wed Sept 7th and it will run thru Sunday Sept 11th.

There are 2 tickets to the Kenny Chesney concert which is going to be held
on Friday night. They are in the Junior Johnson (D) section, row 20, seats 23
& 24. That’s pretty much trackside and as close to the stage as you can get
without being on the track.

There are 8 tickets to the game Sat night. They are in the Dale Earnhardt
Terrace (B) section and if I’m not mistaken under cover. There are 4 seats in
row 17, (seats 1 thru 4) and 4 seats in row 18, (seats 1 thru 4). So the seats
are all together and are aisle seats.

The game is sold out, you can buy aftermarket tickets on Ticket Master or
Stubhub though. Seats equivalent to what I have would run a minimum of about
$2600. The Medallion camping area is sold out, that spot is worth $1000.

You can make me an offer on all or any combination you like. Let me know
what your thoughts are.

[Dale]

I have a 2001 Vantare with the same ACs. Mine are wired as follows:

Front CruiseAir and piremary RC Central AC on inverter 1. Rear CruiseAir and secondary central compressor/fan on Inverter 2. Your overload may be due to one of the ACs pulling too many amps due to impending failuare of a compressor or fan.

To Test: Turn off all loads on both inverters at the control panel. Then tourn on each AC one-at-a-time and note which inverter is affected and the amp draw. Individual AC should draw less than 20 amps. If more seek repair.

[Dale]

Wow! What a mess! So glad you are ok. Sorry for the problem.

[Dale]

i

If you get this (Temp coat or what ever Marathon calls it), done will you please let me know how how you like it. It is suppose to add some insulation factor to the bus.

Is there anybody else who has had this done, if so please comment.

Larry and Miriiam Nelson

2002 XLII Vision

2012 CRV Honda

Hurricane, UT

[Dale]

Must be a jinxed weekend. Mine quit too. Got over to Petoskey, MI and it would only go out about 6 feet and stopped with a squeal and blew the breaker. Reset the breaker and tried again…blew it again after a short squeal. Reset it again, and tried to get it back in. It would not move. Tried it again several times and finally got it back in. Then tried to get it out and it went out just enough so I could hook up an extension cord to it so we could get power.

Jeff thinks it could be either a knot in the new cable he installed in April, or the motor could be bad.

We are scheduled to go to Yellowstone this comming week, so as long as it will keep working to give me 8 inches or so, I can use the extension and we are good to go.

You have to pull the generator radiator to gain access to the storage tub and mechanisim. Not exactly user friendly.

Looks like a trip to North Chicageo will be the next stop after we get back.

[Dale]

There is a good shop in Ellenesberg Wa it’s a Detriot Volvo shop and they have one in Yakama, or drive to Vancouver Canada to the Prevost shop it’s not that far either