DON
Forum Replies Created
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Wow Doug! Taking the stainless skin off the coach puts you in a pretty rare DIY group.
I think that Prevost probably uses a 3M tape similar to what the higher end trailer manufacturers use for their screwless sided trailers. Some guys call that “forever tape”. My Bravo dealer’s tech screwed up a modification job on our trailer and had to replace a panel on the ramp door on his nickel. I took a chair along and watched.
The tech worked slowly and deliberately with a heat gun and what looked like a hard plastic “putty knife”. He said in the middle of the project, “I prefer doing this on a hot sunny day. Park the trailer in the sun for a few hours, this goes much easier.”
The device below is very handy to have if you use large blind rivets.
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It’s somewhat surprising that insurance was not in place to cover what is most often referred as “acts of god”.
As many travelers with insurance policies have learned, unless it’s specified otherwise, pandemics are typically on the list of exclusions and not covered.
I’m booked on a June Caribbean cruise out of Florida and while I have little doubt that it will be cancelled, I need to wait for the cruise line to issue an official cancellation to get a full refund. The cruise line has already cancelled sailings for the month of May and offered passengers the option of a refund or a 125% credit towards a future booking. When I’m presented the opportunity, I’ll take the refund as until there’s a tried and tested vaccine, I’m not going anywhere near a cruise ship.
I also have a trip to France on the books for October and while I was looking forward to it, I am not planning on attending. I prepaid the airfare with American Airlines and when I spoke to the travel agency to check my cancellation options a few weeks ago, I was advised that although I had a full fare ticket, no refunds would be available. While it was not offered when I booked (and in all fairness, I didn’t ask), the only “no questions asked” cancellation policy that I could have purchased would have been equivalent to 40% of the price of the ticket. At this point, if I chose to cancel, I would be issued a credit that had to be used on the same routing within 12 months of the original booking date. Considering the virus may reappear, I made the decision that should that occur, I have no desire to be out of the USA.
A week later the agent called to tell me that American changed the outbound flight by three hours and that it would affect the connections. Since the change was more than 60 minutes, I now had the options of cancelling for a refund. Yes, I took the refund.
I don’t think I’ll get the 10% deposit returned for the France riverboat and will have to wait a while to get my hotel refunded.
The moral to the story is…Motorhomes are the safest way to travel as you are, for the most part, self sufficient and know who slept in the bed the night before. If I want to travel in the future, I may have to go motorhome shopping again!
Sorry for going somewhat off topic. While this is different from the FMCA situation, I’m really surprised they are hanging their membership out to dry and not offering any level of refund. I can only wonder if the sponsors are receiving refunds and if so, if that’s why there’s no money remaining for the members.
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OK. I’ll be “that guy”. Disagree if you want, but personal attacks due to a differing opinion – I can play that game too.
First of all, not many areas of the country are very similiar to Queens, NY – or even NYC for that matter. And yes, I’ve been in NYC and Queens multiple times. NY Times did an article by an ER Physician at Elmhurst Hosp. in Queens (called the epicenter of the epicenter) a few weeks ago. Wasn’t intended to be on one side of “this” or the other but gave a perspective of the primarily three communities served by that public hospital (that stays at or near capacity) and the living/commuting/working conditions of those people. Makes one realize how good most of us have it – to say the least. Like a third world country compared to many other places in the U.S. That article gives (probably unintended) a perspective of the contrast to most other places here. A little Trump bashing towards the end but I ignored that.
I am not a physician. I do have some friends/family that are, and regardless of how much they buy into the panic going on, none are going to speak out (publicly) and possibly land on the “wrong” side of this.
I’m no economic scholar either. But what is going on here is NOT sustainable – and borders on insanity for some of the inconsistent rules/regulations on what businesses can/can’t be open, or in some places what items can/can’t be sold at the same store. “Shooting from the hip making rules up as we go” for many municipalities. I could expand on that but will hold off for now.
For those that are extremely worried – stay home – for weeks, months or years if that’s what you feel comfortable with, wear a mask at home, in your vehicle or whatever suits you. I realize there is a risk. True with so many things in a free society.
There is likely an argument to be made by some that those in their 80′-90’s (or pick a number) are creating a safety hazard by driving – even if only or mostly to themselves. Do the powers that be take that away? I hope not.
We have a large Integris Hospital here that has actually closed temporarily. Due to the cancellation of elective type surgeries, they had excess staff that had nothing to do. My neighbor is a nurse that has been furloughed along with many others. That hospital is has been “available” for the potenital influx of possible Covid patients. Which has not happened – thankfully. Far cry from what you will see on Main-Stream-Media.
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Thanks Jon,
Ideally we are looking for a Marathon, Liberty or something of that quality. Would prefer OTR or roof airs or both. Prefer rivet coaches and would love to find a 40′ but realize that’s a tall order. ’97-2000 are also preferred so we get the rivets and the independent front suspension.
Tend to like warm interiors with dark or wood tones. Like the north/south master beds as well. The less overt “swirl” on the paint job the better.
I’ve found a couple XL2’s that we like and may go that way but the “de-lam” issue still worries me. I have a buddy who has a 2001 Marathon that we very much like but it has no OTR and we do travel and spend a lot of time in the heat of Vegas, Phoenix, Texas, etc. in the summer.
Our coach has most of these features but is an 8V92 bus. We love her and have toyed with the idea of repowering with an American Fleet rebuild but really would like to get a coach with the Series 60/World combo.
None of this is etched in stone. More than anything we just want something that fits our aesthetic and taste.
Anyhow, as always, I appreciate the info and guidance.
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Al … do you remember what Marathon charged to swap out the refrigerator?
As I might have said, based on Jeff’s recommendation about refrigerators and other electronics not liking MSW when one of my original inverters failed, I had Jeff put FSW inverters in the coach.
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I just installed one of these last February. Exact same unit. Very happy with it.
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If you have a Parker-Hannifin store will have them. So will Fleetpride where get our air parts in denver. You might even try a truckstop shop. Ive gone to our local T/A truckstop which has parts counter.
In indio we go Franklin Truck parts
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Corrected above, freaking auto spell.
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Since my practices as relating to the use of batteries are the result of 30 years of using various types I will be the first to admit how these batteries function is part of the steep learning curve.
As my last article mentions my brain had not gotten wrapped around the fact that a voltage of an Li battery that is equal to a fully charged AGM for example is an Li battery with little of its power remaining. It isn’t written anywhere in anything I read, and when it bit me in the butt and I finally figured out what was happening it was a huge piece of information everyone should know. In simple terms the voltages usually seen with LA batteries are meaningless when using Li.
Everybody mentions issues but few discuss such mundane things as how voltage is in fact an indicator of state of charge, but I am certain since voltages are impacted by temperature I have to get my brain adjusted to that, as well as determining to what extent temperature impacts the time / temperature / voltage curve.
What I do know that makes a SOC meter unnecessary for my application, is if I use my batteries as I always have I really will not care if I have a battery fuel gauge or know the SOC. The way I use my generator when dry camping makes all the potentially available Li power overkill, especially combined with the fact if my engine hasn’t given them a good charge the inverters will when my generator is running.
As long as my coach is sitting unused in the garage I am going to gather as much information about these batteries as relates to me and my coach as I can. I certainly will be looking for a reliable way to make the auto-start work. That will not be because I ever intend to use it, but the feature should be functional on my coach.
As to potential damage to things like the alternator, I think I am OK, because my chassis batteries are always being charged when my house Li batteries are being charged so if the Li batteries shut down they will still be absorbing alternator output. But of greater concern to me, by far, is preventing anything that will cause my Li batteries to go into shut down. By the time that happens I have bigger problems than a potentially damaged alternator.
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Watch his video of the “5 most influential people in the RV industry 2020” for some entertainment.
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“V o g u e”
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I carried one for 8 years, never used it and left it for the new owner.
He hasn’t used it yet either. Good to have, if you need it on the road you’ll never find a Napa.
I would usually change mine out every 3rd or 4th service at about 500 hours.
Later
bv
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Jeff can’t wait until your finished and have an idea what is entailed and cost of the project with replacing hoses on the OTR system from condenser bay over to the other side. . My 91 hasn’t leaked yet but know it’s coming.
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Now have jake brake and prefer it. Other bus had retarder which kicked out (probably overheated)coming down I-26 from asheville, nc. Wasn`t a fun ride !
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Self Storage. Manage properties for a small chain spread around the US. Wife and I work together and full time in our RV. We are parked on site at the various sites we manage.