Bill w/bus

Thank you. Tech assistance provided a detailed calibration procedure with pictures of expected screen data to calibrate the Elevation motor setpoint.  Calibration was successful.

Again thank for help.

Bill

Controller blinking with "Home El Motor Failure".  If I knew the sensing criteria that would help to determine the troubleshooting.  Any thoughts?

Thanks

Bill

We lived in HI for two years.  First two babies born there. Really I wasn't there very often as the submarines were designed to be out in the water. Then ID for two years as an instructor at a training facility.  Yellowstone was two hours away.  Started with tent trailer. Then a truck camper andoff to Norfolk, VA for three years. Explored the area pretty well. Really liked a weekend on Hatteras. Then moved to Maine for work and  sold the camper. Some 15 years later we decided  to try RV'ing again. We found a Dodge motorhome, 1970 at 24ft. Trip to Disney World via Foley, AL to visit family.  Transitioned through two more motorhomes. Then started our first bus coversion.  We used that for ten years. All states except CA, AZ, NM, TX, AR, MS, LA.. Second conversion, moved up five feet to forty,  was just for two of us and was an automatic.  That coach has completed all states  including a second trip to Alaska for the summer of 2016. During 2019 we worked the FMCA convention, RV Driving School instructor,  which gave us the golden opportunity to explore the Dakotas. Medora is a great stop.

Left are three Canadian provinces. Newfoundland is on the list for a summer time exploration.  Obviously this year was a travel bust. 

Bill

Speced out a 200AH 24V battery at about $300 plus labor. Using 10 AH cells in series. You need voltage controllers, connectors and an ability to solder the batteries. 

Bill

Look at Whytner (sp?) available through  Lowe's. Cost for the large one is around$600.

Looking at one for buying larger quantities. Found a meat market in Arcadia, Florida that sells whole tenderloin for $7/lb.

Bill

What you want are the "clear channel" stations. These stations have a frequency that clear of all other transmitters. They transmit at 50,000 watts. WLS in Chicago can be received in Idaho, southern part.  I can't remember but Denver, Dallas, San Fransisco have these high power stations.

Most are all talk stations. In the days before satellite radio truck drivers knew the reception area of all these stations.

That should get you started on finding the radio station you need.

Bill

Had a friend lose pressure in the left front tire when the steering wheel lock failed.  Tire $120,  wheel $250,  body repair $1500 minus $500 deductible. $500 will buy a great system. Besides the lost time and lost car availability during repair. 

As we stood there looking at his damaged car he said "You have told me to get a tire monitor. Guess I will now."

Bill

We are Mobile account and have Hallmark both channels.

Bill

Are you member of any fraternal organizations?  FYI Elks lodges frequently have camper parking. Same with Moose. Some have a fixed fee, some work on a donation.

Look for County and City/town campgrounds.  COE  campgrounds along the rivers. 

In other words expand your campground search.  I use RV Parks,  Discount Parks, RV Park Reviews.  Escapees has four parks across the southern tier Livingston, TX, Summerdale,AL. Bushnell, FL.  Wachula,FL. Month stays are reasonable.  

We use the Rio Grande Valley for a winter home.  Less expensive than Florida, and the Gulf Coast campgrounds. Weather is about the same as South Florida with wind and no bugs. 

Hope that helps.

Bill

Nice troubleshooting.  The advice was great. All easy  operations for a novice. 

Congratulations

Bill

Kirk

Solar power allows boondocking without a lot of generator time.  Now if you are not into minimalism the skip solar.

Panels prices are dropping still.  Efficiency goes up as the panel chemistry improves. 

LiFeO4, Lithium Iron Oxide, batteries are the way to go. No maintenance,  long life, and more usable amp hours.  No ventilation required.  

We have designed a 200AH 24V battery for a cost of about $300 in parts. That should imply that the price should be $600 for the battery. Total weight less than 40#.

Bill

Several items for consideration:

Agreed with those who suggested a smaller class C. Ina class B everything has a home and that's where it stays unless in use. With rving lifestyle a lot of your life is outside. So a few folding chairs and table should be included. 

I would buy used. I think Kirk was generous in his depreciation.  Roll a new unit off the dealers lot and look at 30% loss. 

Are you handy with tools?  If not learn. For simple fixes you don't need an "RV Tech" mobile tech at $75 per hour. 

Learn your systems. Water, gas and electric. Join Escapees and attend Boot Camp. Go to the Escapade and spend the day in the seminars. Learn and learn some more.  With a problem in a campground ask for guidance from your neighbors. You may get help or not. You could probably hire a tech by the hour to teach you the how and why for your systems.

Good luck

Bill

Sorry. You're right 691. I forgot. Spoke with a long time friend and retired CT SP Sgt. He  said"There is no easy way through CT."  He also warned that 9W is a higher accident road.

Good luck

Bill

US7 will be a fairly slow ride. Be aware that you will enter I 84 in a nasty traffic area. Miserable until beyond I 684 exit. I would avoid the 91/84 route. It is not a fun drive. If you do then use 91 to 684 then 84. Avoids Hartford/West Hartford area .

What about moving over to New York and going south towards PA. 

Also US  209 through  the Delaware Water Gap  is a pleasant trip to Stroudsburg, PA.  Then PA 33 south to I 78 or US 222 to York then US 30.

Good luck and safe travels.

Bill

Used your ideas and info. Thanks to all.

Bill

Having one is a garuntee of a war.  I hear the stories of a new unit with problems that are never resolved  with reasonable satisfaction. 

Bill

Thanks to all. Video was great and almost no cost.

Thanks

Bill

Found out the expensive way that engine and transmission sensors don't respond well to a VOM to check for continuity. Most VOM's operate on a 9VDC battery.  Sensors, at least on Detroit engines and Allison transmissions,  require 5 VDC.  Found the very fine print in the transmission troubleshooting manual. After we found the cause for the DNS code, Do Not Shift,  which was oil level sensor failure. Temperature sensor is on the same circuit and had failed open. So the resistance check probably wiped out the level sensor. 

Anyway I haven't had any leads to such a power supply. Any thoughts or leads would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill

Most of the Super  C units are on air suspension.  So self leveling and a smoother ride.  As to SC vesus A.  Mid body entry SC plus two cab doors. A is one door either forward or mid body.  Any engine work on a diesel pusher is expensive for labor. Access is difficult. SC  is a standard truck with easy access. 

First Super C I saw was  an older Peterbilt tractor with a lengthed frame for 38 feet behind the rear cab wall for the RV  It was done in a Southwest motif.  Dick Lamb of Custom Land Yachts built the unit his own travels.  Dick had  a strong relationship with Prevost with his bus conversion business so the unit had the Prevost framing and windows. Absolutely a beautiful RV.  Time frame was around 2000.

Spend some time really looking and pretend using the units. Stand in the shower, sit on the toilet,  try to cook in  the kitchen, lay on the bed etc.  Take a  test drive in any unit you serious about. I mean at least 45 minutes as a minimum.  You may prefer an A over SC . Or the reverse. 

Good luck,

Bill

Move around for at least two years.  Remember any access to the water is more expensive.  Ft  Meyers is probably 50% more than central Florida. 

You really need to see the country. Not going to be as easy as in the past. Remember the Canadian's are not coming this year. That is based on latest  news. So a lot of parks will be looking for business.

Enjoy your adventures.

Bill

Semi fulltime until 2018, then got rid of the house.  Have a great winter home in the RGV. Then summer is ours. Well, except for this year. Ages now 78/76.

Bill

We came across a couple that were full-time in  Class B in Dawson YT.  If the weather was bad they said life was very difficult because of the lack of space. 

Comment on your concern about crash safety.  I think that you need to relax a little and think of where you can go and the beauty you will view. 

Bill

Sympathy for having to deal with Houston traffic. We usually come across Galveston Island then the ferry to the Bolivar Peninsula. Push easy until forced into I 10. Then turn south towards Port Arthur and cross to Louisiana onLA 82. Follow to Abbeville. Then east on LA 14 to US 90, or I 49. When US ,90  gets to New Orleans then jump on I 10 to cross over to Mississippi. I like  US 90 across the state and into Alabama until Mobile.

I know it's longer but the scenery is interesting and you have chance to stop. That is almost  some day run. Long day but doable..  We could easily make that a two week trip. Stop on the beach not far from the ferry landing. That's two days. Then Beaumont for the museum of the oil industry. Then the Parish park and campground in Sulpher, right on the Intracoastal waterway for $12/night.  Then Abbeville for Betty's RV park. Then Biloxi for the beach. We stay at the Elks and walk across the road to the beach. 

Enjoy,

Bill

T

On 6/11/2020 at 3:32 PM, Lou Schneider said:

The Spicer manual transmission is not synchronized, you have to double clutch and use the engine to match the new gear speed or you'll grind the gears when you shift.  It's a technique truck drivers have mastered with practice but is a pain for day to day driving.  This is why most bus conversions have converted to the Allison automatic transmission.

But with a Spicer the clutch never gets used. Well, there the start from a dead stop. Okay. A little use on the clutch. First bus was a GM4108, 8V71 with a four speed Spicer and a delightful three plate wet clutch. Shall we say the first drive was a learning experience.

Bill

On 7/30/2020 at 9:32 PM, noteven said:

I like your maps Bill w/bus ...

Thanks. Took a lot of miles and time. It's a tough job but someone has to do the 'Dirty Job'.

Bill