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Jeff & Suzanne

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    Homewood, Illinois
  • Interests
    Theatre directing, acting, drum & bugle corps, hockey, Broadway, old movies, WWII re-enacting

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  1. We bought a Class B+ built on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis. It isn't a "cut away" frame as you put it, but an RV custom built. Really, to my way of thinking, a B+ is just a Class C with an entertainment center integrated with the cab instead of a sleeping space. We bought ours used from a 2nd owner individual in Florida who provided all maintenance records and new tire receipts so we mostly knew what we were getting. It takes a lot of looking but research pays off.
  2. Phoenix Cruiser 2400 Sprinter. http://www.phoenixusarv.com/2400.html Black tank is 35 gal. . .gray 23 gal.
  3. Thanks. We've used a string of white LED rope lights under our Foretravel DP and also our Airstream TT and had good results in the "no mice" department. Sounds similar. Plugging the access holes solves the mouse problem until they figure out how to open the door.
  4. "Fawkes" is all set up for the Chicagoland winter; and during my weekly spot check, lo and behold. . .mouse droppings. From the size it was a very small field mouse (as opposed to a larger gray house mouse). Traps caught five after two weeks of setting them out. The weather cleared temperature wise several days ago, and in order to find the way they were getting in we turned on all the lights in Fawkes and opened every cabinet, closet and other access areas. I crawled under the PC and saw light bleed coming from the round opening where the fresh water tank drain goes through. There was no coping or other attempt at covering, resulting in a 1/4" crescent shaped opening where the tube protruded. I stuffed a bit of coarse steel wool into the opening and viola! No more light bleed and after a week, no more mice in the traps. Easy schmeezy except for returning this 74 year old back to the upright in the driveway.
  5. Not close but. . .http://www.phoenixusarv.com/community/index.php/topic,2883.msg23695.html#new http://www.phoenixusarv.com/community/index.php/topic,2843.0.html
  6. Check back on this link from time to time. They are very trustworthy folks to buy from and like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get (on the used RV section that is). http://www.phoenixusarv.com/inventory.html
  7. In almost 20 years of RVing (about 1/3 of it fulltiming), we have never worried about leaving our camp set up to run errands or go see something. Obviously we didn't leave big ticket things out (Honda generator when we had one), but we've never had any chairs, tables, rugs, screen tents, grills, ice chests, water hoses, sewer connections, etc., etc. taken while we were gone. With our current B+ Phoenix Cruiser, all of our water connections have quick detach fittings so we just pop them loose and unplug the power cord from "Fawkes", leaving the surge protector padlocked to the power pedestal; take in the awning and head out. Maybe we've just been lucky, but it hasn't limited our enjoyment of the RV life. As for planning ahead, experience has helped us to mostly get it right with the occasional minor "oops", but we usually get through it. And, you are right, there's no correct answer. . .it's whatever one is comfortable with. Experience is the best guide.
  8. Our DEF tank on our Phoenix Cruiser is accessed through a lift up door on the passenger side just behind the cab. The tank cap is unscrewed and SWMBO and I use a funnel with a long, flexible tube to pour the fluid in. SWMBO holds the funnel in one hand and the end of the flexible tube in the tank opening. I do the lifting of the one gallon bottles to pour them into the funnel. We quit using the 2 1/2 gallon bottles because they are too heavy for these old arms. When SWMBO feels the fluid hit the top of the tank opening, job's done. Easy task.
  9. We haven't driven a small RV with the Ford chassis; but after RVing with both diesel (Class A) and gas powered RVs (travel trailer tow vehicles), we appreciate the torque generated by a diesel engine when climbing mountains, not to mention better mpg. SWMBO has done a ton of research comparing what other RVers say about going up and down steep grades with both types and, for us anyway, the diesel wins hands down. The Sprinter cab is also roomier than the Ford. Yes, the MB is more expensive to purchase (unless you find such a deal. . .we did), and maintenance at a MB dealer is nothing to sneeze at; but the time between regular visits is much longer than for a gas rig. I guess one has to read and compare and see what works.
  10. After we bought our Spirit Deluxe with the small, side dinette seats made as preformed fiberglass seats that were basically just an extended part of the shell, we decided the make the rear dinette permanently into our bed so we wouldn't have to convert it from dinette to bed every night. We did buy a very comfortable memory foam mattress for the now permanent bed. We had planned to install aftermarket swivel seats in the side dinette, but never got around to it. Now, wouldn't you know it, the PC 2400 Sprinter has a sofa that has to be made into a bed every night. . .there is no way to leave it down and still be able to use the living space. In addition, although the Ford 350 chassis PC2400 has a memory foam sofa/bed, the Sprinter (because of its wheel well location) has a sofa/Aerobed. Yep, air mattress. However, we replaced the aftermarket mediocre Queen size air mattress that came with the rig when we bought it with a top of the line air mattress that is supremely comfortable and not that difficult to deal with. SWMBO and I have a routine that gets the bed up in the evening and down in the morning in no time at all...really no more effort than just making a bed. We prefer it to a corner bed since no one has to crawl over the other to get to the WC in the night. Besides, our two Cocker Spaniels find it very accommodating. If you do decide to shop for pre-owned Phoenix Cruiser, you won't go wrong to keep an eye on the factory's used trade in inventory. They often have just what you are looking for, and they make sure the pre-owned PC's are up to snuff; and they will even help with any repairs even though you didn't buy new. We bought "Fawkes" from a Florida dealer, and when we had cabinet latches failing from lack of care, Phoenix sent me at least a dozen at no charge so I could replace them. The guys at Phoenix USA, Kermit, Bob, Kyle and Earl are really great supporters of their RVs.
  11. Hi Dean. . .we too owned a 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe in our attempt to downsize from fulltiming in our 40 ft Foretravel. However, it was way too uncomfortable for long periods of sitting inside during cold, wet weather, which was pretty much all we had during our first long trip. Plus, when we got our second 25 lb Cocker Spaniel, the Casita became wa-a-a-y too small; so, we bought our 2012 Phoenix Cruiser 2400 Sprinter B+ (we named him Fawkes after the Phoenix bird in the "Harry Potter" books). We do what Linda Sand sez in her posts about parking; and, It took some major realignment of our RVing style to get used to accommodate not having a toad. We try to do our provision shopping before we get to our destination. Fawkes has possibly the most cabinet storage, and the best, roomiest refrigerator/freezer we have ever owned, including the excellent Foretravel. When we do find we need to break camp to go somewhere, we have quick detachable water hose connections; bike cable secured surge protector and Anderson levelers to make getting back on level a snap. When we are in places like Las Vegas (spending 3 weeks there at Nellis AFB in January 2018), we will rent a car as needed. We will be spending two and a half months in Mesa, AZ with long time amigos, and when we aren't riding with them, we'll be using a friend who drives with Uber. So, one can do OK without a toad if some planning goes into the mix and your RVing lifestyle develops into an enjoyable experience. Happy Trails.
  12. Schake. . .sent you a PM about used Foretravel coaches at Motorhomes of Texas http://motorhomesoftexas.com/
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