Jim & Alice

We have a well-loved 2008 Honda CR-V toad that just recently developed AC problems... So yesterday, we had an AC kit installed replacing Serpentine Belt, parts, AC Compressor, etc. - seemed to run fine until this afternoon in the Hot Yuma Sun going over telegraph pass on Interstate-8.   Towards the top of the grade the AC cooling stopped (blower kept going)... we peaked out...  then on the way back down the cooling kicked back in again.   Outside temperature was about 109 degrees.   It was almost as if the new AC sensed an increase in engine temperature(?)... shut down briefly... and then resumed cooling.   I am scratching my head trying to figure out if I have a problem here or not.   Anyone ever experience anything like this before?

4 hours ago, bobsallyh said:

Jim and Alice, hold the fort down for a couple more weeks. 

Got the Fort down, bobsallyh!   Fact is that we have some haze move in... maybe dust?   Smoke?   Not sure, but the temps truly have come down a little bit.   Tomorrow still to be a high of about 91 still.   I can take a lot of haze for 91 degrees. 🙂

56 minutes ago, bobsallyh said:

35 this AM in Ririe, ID. strong winds yesterday afternoon starting about 4 PM. It was 80 before that and at 8 PM it was down to 37. The grass here at the park turned white for about 10 minutes.  Definitely time to peddle towards Yuma! 

Peace & quiet down here in Wellton, bobsallyh.   Finally a break in temps with tomorrow's temps to be 91/69.   Lots of planting going on.   Wish you safe travels!

We have done a similar trip every Fall... Very pleasant time to travel.   For late September, I would think 'weather' and avoid higher elevations.   The route for us in that case would be to leave Rapid City (Hart Ranch), going South on US 79 - US 385 to Sidney, NE, then I-80 to North Platte, NE... then South on US 83 to Liberal, KS... where we would get on US 54... then go South to I-40 arriving at Santa Rosa,  NM, staying a couple days R & R.   In your case, from Santa Rosa, it is a nice drive on I-40 thru New Mexico, Flagstaff, then Lake Havasu.   

I figure the advantage of the 'Plains Route' US-83 is a Fall trip thru southern South Dakota, then a Fall trip thru Nebraska and Kansas... lots of harvesting going on, and even some color.   We used to boondock the overnights, but over the years we have found some nice, quiet, easy pull-thru Parks to stay in as we go, especially in Santa Rosa.   Good luck with things!

On 9/4/2020 at 4:22 PM, Kirk W said:

Back when we were shopping gas coaches, National was one of my top choices. In fact, there was a Dolphin that I preferred, but Pam wanted the floor plan in the Cruise Master, so guess what we bought? 🥰

just an aside note, Kirk, back about 8 years ago... when my wife and I decided to retire and had come across a low mileage 2007 Dolphin 5355... I (as a new Escapee Mbr) posted on this site for any thoughts, recommendations, advice, etc.   You had some very good words to say about National RV.   Just wanted to let you know, you were right.   Its been a great Fulltime vehicle for over 7 years now.   Our experience has been - National RV used good material, a good design, used standard components, and built a great product.   We thought if we liked RV'ing... that we might 'upgrade' to a bigger Diesel... but found no compelling reason to.   Just some feedback.       

17 hours ago, Barbaraok said:

Providing shade makes all the difference.  We have a covered a carport area, with space for entertaining, grilling, etc.  use it all winter and it has helped keep car cooler this summer.  I would hate not to have it.   When under about 105° it is easy to be out under the shade because it is so dry.  

That 105 degree number is about what we are learning.   Thanks, and wish you folks well.

3 hours ago, Barbaraok said:

I can't image if we had spent it in the motorhome, our park model insulation is much, much better and the air conditioner (knock on wood) has handled it well.   There are some people who have spent the whole summer in their motorhomes/5th wheels and I don't see how they do it.   But people do adapt.

 

Just completing this Summer in Wellton (AZ).   Temps like yours.   Up thru July 8, we lived in our motorhome without cover... very hot but survived.   AC struggled all day/all night.   on July 9, Had a solid RV Port installed, Steel, 16' tall, 46' long, and 24' wide, made a HUGE difference after we moved in.   Not as good as a Park Model, but the Motorhome's Air Conditioning effect was vastly improved to being just plain 'comfortable'.   So, I think a Park Model would certainly be preferable, but if prepared, a Motorhome can do well also.   A side benefit was (as we planned) that our RV Port was to be wide enough for car parking underneath, and an eventual porch. - I would say, the car port idea has worked well too.   Car is much more cool to get in now. 

1 hour ago, Barbaraok said:

The change in the Mesa, AZ area the last few weeks has been dramatic.  And it is working, the positivity rate/hospitalization rates are down.  

Same observation over here in the Yuma area, Barb.   Masks work.

6 hours ago, chindog said:

We carry spares in the car.

Yup!

61 and 63 for us, 7+ years ago - and kept the house with Kids and grandkids living there full time.

15 minutes ago, Jim & Wilma said:

Interesting and promising.  Thanks Joel for posting. 

X2

Got er' done... summary:

Just to wrap up our experience - We moved our Motorhome under our new RV Port, love it, quite happy with it.   We had Centurylink WiFi in place prior.   Bought a Roku Ultra device (Amazon), hooked it up to TV (HDMI), linked Roku Ultra Device WiFi to our Home Centurylink network.    After successful linkup, We took advantage of the many, many "7-day free trials of channels & programs.   I would mention, for us, the quality of video & audio is excellent - there is 'some'variation between streaming providers, tho.   We settled on Fubo with "Fubo Extra" add-on to receive all the programming that we (wife) wanted.   I want to thank all that commented a couple months back - it made the whole process go smoothly, and come to a successful conclusion!

On 8/9/2020 at 8:40 PM, ssomwm said:

So . . . - does the RV port really keep the rig cooler and cut on A/C costs?

-Bill

Anecdotal evidence says yes.   We have been 'moved in' for about a month now, and judging from the 'personal body temperature feel', and the performance of the A/C, it makes a considerable difference.   Both A/C Compressors run continuously from mid-late morning until about 8 PM at night... when we reach our desired 78 degrees... and then sporadically runs as needed, maintaining our 78 temp until the next morning.   (During the daytime the outside shade temps are in the 110 - 115+ range.)   More importantly, "we feel the cool'.   Also, we had our RV Port built wide enough to accommodate our Honda CR-V parked underneath in the adjacent shade.   It makes a HUGE difference on the Honda's parked temperature.   We have not yet received our monthly Electric Bill from the Town of Wellton.   I don't expect miracles, but just the improved living accomodation makes it worthwhile as a long-term Homebase investment.   Incidentally, ours is the 4th such structure like this put up on our street in the last six months... all by the same company, of the same type build.   Similar thinking going on out there!

14 hours ago, Kirk W said:

We lived in a barn-dominium when we left the road. Lots of people are building these in TX.

Our new RV Port, big enough for our motorhome and the toad beside it... plus porch, etc.   We have a 10' x 16' Graceland shed behind the motorhome.   Golf course in the back.

1 hour ago, lappir said:

I'm not sure it's doing what everyone seems to think it's supposed to, but I will wear one if asked to away from work. 

Rod 

You sure have a wealth of experience.   Thanks for sharing.   I would ask:   Seems like on a national scale, when States cycle thru... "Open up"... to 'Lockdown w/mask_distance_etc"... that the Incidence of infections decrease.   Doesn't that kind of support the value of taking CDC measures, like a mask?

2 hours ago, bobsallyh said:

... Since then we have been out west, spend winters in Yuma, AZ. travel north in the summer... in the Foothills on the east side of Yuma there are RV lots in residential areas. Most have 2 FHU's, Mexican brick wall on the sides and back with a gate on the front. We can put 2 RV's, or stick built house, or 1 mobile, or 1 modular, or 1 park model. There are hundreds of these lots in the area that are for sale or rent. We just come and go when we want. If you look on Yuma Craig's List under "For Rent" and "For Sale you can see pictures of what I'm describing. Next month there will be many more to view. In all our travels over the years we have never run across anything like this situation.

X2.   My wife and I been fulltiming for 7 years, have done the same thing, same type of lots, only in Wellton just outside of Yuma.   We have a large storage shed, and recently a large steel "RV Port" that provides cover for our MH and car.

3 hours ago, Wrknrvr said:

    I flat out quit working, shaking hands, hugging people and quit petting puppies as they walked by.

  But I will say that they really do not care about my life or my wife’s life. 

  The last three customers out of maybe 10 all summer have flat out lied to me. I ask about going to eat or them going to bars before I agree to come to their rv and do the work. And no work inside the rv. The last three have had a slip up of words about going to eat together or with other people while I am standing there.

  Just my experience,   Vern

I sympathize with you.   I am still in Arizona, good location all things considered... good people... but I am amazed at how many folks of my similar status (Retired) that ignore standard CDC recommendations on dealing with the virus.   When I greet people now, I immediately smile  at them and say, "we are practicing CDC recommendations"... stay at six feet, no handshake, and avoid gathering close.   But seems like I have to take the initiative.   At this pace, I think it's going to be a long pandemic.

4 hours ago, 2gypsies said:

I'm confused by I-84.  She's not driving from the north. She's coming across on I-80.  Where is Echo?

Look about 35 miles East of the Wyoming state line on I-80 - there is a large reservoir named 'Echo" on Google Maps... and I-84 splits to the Northwest at that point.

https://goo.gl/maps/nbwhx7GZE8YcVhtD9

3 hours ago, Zulu said:

What will Summer 2021 be like?

I predict... there will be a Vaccine available, and things will be more back to 'normal'.   Hopefully, a (literally) Post Mortem will be conducted on what 'We as a nation' did wrong... and how can we get better prepared for the next Pandemic.   Travel wise, I think more normal Summer activities (ie, Workamping) will resume!

Recently had a pleasant, out in the open, encounter with a "soon-to-retire" Nurse, who works in a major Health Facility in Arizona.   After talking long about RV's, Retirement, Etc... we came around to 'work' issues (I worked in a large Hospital for many years).  Turns out she works in a ICU... and provides COVID care.   Her simple, emotional, words were... "It's Real... It's killing many people... and Destroying health in many others."   She had her mask with her.   It seemed clear that she was considering early retirement due to the dangers of nursing in a COVID environment.   Her unstated statement was "if everyone would just do what they are supposed to do"...        

5 hours ago, 2gypsies said:

The first 'issue' will be Parley's Summit on I-80 east of Salt Lake City, UT at MP 140.  Westbound descent has brake check sign "3-6% grades next 10 miles; truck escape ramp left lane 3.5 mi.".  The first 6 mi. are steady 6% grade then 3 mi. of 6% after the escape ramp.

 

Check out the westbound I-84 route from Echo... to US-89... to I-15 Southbound... on to I-80 westbound (West of SLC)   This avoids Parley's Summit.   I-84 tracks in a river valley (Weber river), has no significant grades, and is just a gradual drop in altitude going East-to-West.   I doubt you would even need to downshift going West.

3 hours ago, Twotoes said:

I like grilled Spam on a French roll with melted mozzarella cheese covered in marinara sauce. Kinda like a meatball sandwich. Not the kind you get in an email. 

Had it a lot as a kid... Dad's Army days catching up!

Great set of comments. 10x.

Wish we had up/down votes on issues... 

44 minutes ago, podwerkz said:

Whats with this spam about watching a song somebody wrote?

I've gotten two of them from two different people, who are doing some kinda of mass mailing...

I just delete them with no action, I do not click on the video or link. Safer that way.

Got the same thing.   Deleted.   What a waste of time.

Back in the late 80's I can remember purchasing a 128K SSD (solid state disk)... and placing our VSAM File Indices on that much faster disk device.   Greatly improved our CICS (On-Line System) response time.   Cost was in the $100k - $200k range, iirc.