solo318

Thanks guys, Mine is a 97 build and the wires are numbered differently. Marks diagrams have been truly helpful, just not for what I'm chasing down currently.

Does anyone have the wiring diagram CD for a very early vnl? build date late 97?

Volvo cannot seem to find the cd anymore, even when I give them the part number from volvo corporate.

I'm specifically concerned with the cruise and the ground circuit through the clutch and the brake switches.

I'm would love the whole set of files though.

Quote

For close to the same money as ScanGauge D look at

bluefire-llc.com.

Many more display options.Needs a tablet or laptop.

 

ShortyO

Can you monitor the cruise switches on a gen 1 volvo with it? That coold be REALLY handy with my intermittent cruise issue. The software looks promising, but it can only read what the Engine ECU puts out.

Try a scan gauge "D"

How in the world do you successfully get reservations from Reserve America? I'm trying to book for next year and even if I log on at 1201 AM 11months out (the supposed "booking window") all of the campsites are reserved. What am I missing? Do I have to do the "I'm a little teapot" dance? How in the world are people getting reservations that far in advance? I'm even a Florida resident!

Let me make a suggestion when it comes to the car. Install some e-track in the floor under the car tires and use the newer style over the tire tie downs. They anchor behind the tire go over the tire and then ratchet tight out from under the car. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Cargo-Control/Erickson/EM58523.html  

They make loading and unloading the car a metric ton easier. No more crawling under the car to hook a strap up.

The E-track is also really useful for other stuff as well.

On 11/5/2020 at 10:50 AM, Grizz1 said:

I was out there this past summer. Did not camp there but took a drive out there in the Jeep. I think I have some video, let me look and if I find it I will post a link. It is an awesome place to boondocks as far as location there were a lot of people out there. Some big 5er’s and some big MH’s too along with smaller rigs. 

That would be awesome. We are going to try to stay in town until daybreak, then head out to the rim at first light.

Back to the planning stages. It looks like we will be staying 2 nights in July. the 10th and 11th. unfortunately it's a weekend. so we are crossing our fingers.

Does anyone have any video of the road in? I'm concerned about that, having never seen it. Have you guys been down it in a class 8 truck? My rig has road tires all the way around and doesn't have a locker in the diff.

I know there is a cell tower nearby, is the service for T mobile decent? We have to coordinate with some more people on the day we leave.

Sorry for the rookie questions, In Florida we don't have good options to boon dock.

So I'm about to click go on our campground reservations for next year. I'm a bit concerned though. We just got home from Gatlinburg and were frankly appalled by the number of people crammed into the national park. When the parking areas filled, people literally parked on us 441 and just locked the car and walked away. (not just one car, lots of cars) The owner of the campground we love there said the town is booming with people who have nothing else to do. Traffic was terrible. Is this the norm for all of the national parks? or just a anomaly?  I kind of hate to drive 30 hours to sit in traffic with rude people. Anyone been through the black hills lately?

Just be sure to run your mini split of of a true sine inverter.

The cow in the car is a "pet" i read a story about it some years ago. 

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bull-ship/

replace it. it WILL crack again. Mine has been fixed on both hinges and cracked again on both sides. the replacement hoods are 1 piece instead of 3. they hold up better.

If I can make a "driving style"  observation here. I spend a lot of time teaching teens driving safety and skid control. One of the things i try to ingrain into the students is target fixation.

For example, when your in a skid, don't focus on the tree you might hit. instead focus on the path betweeen the trees. The human body is awesome in the way it takes clues from the eyes. If you focus on the tree, you WILL hit the tree. If you focus on the path, your body knows what to do to get you there.

The same thing applies to everyday driving. I challenge you to drive down the road and look at every pothole you come across. then count how many of them you miss.

The point to all of this is that you need to look at the road. The larger the vehicle you drive, the farther down the road you need to look. when you get to a curve, you should be looking around the curve at the road. NOT at the guard rail or the drop off.  AT THE ROAD...

I have taught several people who have a fear of heights  to safely navigate even the tallest bridges we have here in Florida (and some of them are HUGE).

Give it a try in the SUV and see if it makes you more comfortable.

I use sygic Rv on a the android stereo oin my RV. It works quite well, and hasn't let me down (yet).

we see more truck conversions/stackers than HDT/5ers.  Especially around areas with racetracks.

37 minutes ago, 2gypsies said:

As far as returning to the same park.... we only did that with one park .... Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore in Michigan.  We were staying in the park for the first time and absolutely loved the park and the surrounding area.  While there we went to talk to the ranger and asked if they needed any help.  We were 'hired' on the spot for the rest of the 6-week fall season (an awesome time to be there).  We returned each fall for 9 seasons.  We also added 3 yr. of giving lighthouse tours  in the summer for six weeks on South Manitou Island, part of the park and were given a little historic home to live in on the island.   This was our all time favorite place to volunteer.  We didn't clean bathrooms.  We did the c.g. census at 7am in the morning; pulling tags for those leaving and making note of those coming in after hours who still needed to pay.  Then we went into the office to check in campers and some misc. paper work.  We left at noon and had the day free for us.  We shared the job with other couples who did afternoons and evenings.

Now your just trying to make us Jealous. That sounds AWESOME

Disclaimer: This Rant that will do no good at all, But sometimes you just gotta call a spade a spade.

Okay, so this opportunity to help a fellow RVer isn't for you. Why crap in everyone else's Easter basket? You just need to decide which is more important. Doing something that is right, or arguing what is Legal. Sometimes they are the same, sometimes they aren't.  If you are personally not ok with it. Keep it to yourself.  When you're no longer able to drive maybe you'll need help too.

On 7/20/2020 at 9:43 AM, richfaa said:

It is illegal to haul for  pay without the proper documentation check it out.

Also did you even look at the description before you decided to insert your opinion? It is not illegal to drive someone else's properly registered car or rv. Any thing that is passed between two gentleman as a gratuity is just that. a Gratuity. If the owner wants to thanks you witha few hundred bucks and a plane flight home, why turn him down?

End rant 

There is a campground on Tybee island. and the island is FULL of seasonal rentals.

https://www.riversendcampground.com/

We drove thru it last year. Looks nice and well rated. lots of local stuff to do when the siblings annoy one another.

I was just thinking how quiet this forum is getting. I almost posted something about not for hire signs just to get everyone riled up. I guess my wife is right, I do like to stir the pot. (of Dr Pepper).

I have never had any not for hire decals on my truck and I've hauled race cars all over the east coast and midwest.  I've only been pulled over once and asked if I was making money. I simply laughed and explained that no one is making any money in amateur racing.  He chuckled and sent me on my way.

Everyone asks me if I'm afraid to drive past weigh stations. I simply tell them "not even when the blue lights come on"    It's just a man, doing his job.

Let me give you MY personal experience, I'm still rounding up the solar leg of the system, but here is how it will look.

1st if your starting from scratch, I highly recommend a mini split for the a/c. (in fact I used 2 in my build) They are duty cycled units that don't start and stop all the time. When they due start they come on slowly so they don't hammer your inverter. In fact I can run them both on a 15 amp outlet. plus they are SUPER quiet.

2nd batteries. You can buy a 48 volt nissan leaf pack from a seller on ebay that would run a mini split for a few hours.  you would need to match that with a 48 volt inverter (which is the most efficient of the options) and a set of solar cells that will charge the batteries via an mppt charge controller.

3rd if all else fails and it's raining you can get a generator auto start that will fire up the genny when the interior temp reaches your specified temps. this will also trigger the charger side of the inverter and recharge your battery pack.

All of this needs to be accounted for before you start outfitting your van/truck. you should also add closed cell spray foam to the wall and roof cavities. That way it makes the whole package more efficient.

Of course the easy way would be a big battery pack and a 12volt evaporative cooler in the van. If you don't mind the dampness.

6 hours ago, dmk said:

Depending on the time of year be prepared for a busy place. We stopped by last week it was pretty full. Two years ago we were nearly by ourselves. Like others have said check the road in first especially if recent rain has fallen. Be prepared for wind and storms. It is an awesome place just think about wind and storms when you setup and you'll be fine.

Good to know. We are planning mid June next year. I guess if it's full on the way to Custer we can camp on the way back.

Do the storms seem to come in from any particular direction? Might help with set up. Here in Florida the afternoon storms usually com from the southwest.

Awesome advice.  Have you been there? it looks awesome from the photos.  Our plan is to stay there for a few days and then head to a campground for a week or so. Maybe I'll have my solar done by then. But the other couple uses Cpaps at night and will need their gen set anyway.

p.s. My wife doesn't like heights and says we WON'T be camping on the rim.

Looking for first hand information on Nomads View in South Dakota. We are planning on stopping there and boon docking for a few days on the way to Custer next year. I' ve never used any government land to dry camp on. Is there any procedures or rules I should be aware of? Any rules on Generators and stuff?  We are heading there with friends, Is it acceptable if we park together? How much room would you leave between campers?

Thanks for any first hand knowledge.

I have 100 fresh, 100 grey, and 40 black. The issue is length of showers and the constant need for them.  plus we use real dishes and wash them each meal. We are an active bunch.

We could probably conserve and go several days if we tried, but it's WAY more pleasant to just get a full hookup site. We limit our dry camping to occasional short term boondocking and travel stops.

16 minutes ago, Twotoes said:

I volunteered in Custer State Park for 3 summers a few years back. All of their camp grounds are well kept, especially Game Lodge, Grace Coolidge, and Legion Lake. I highly recommend you stay within the Park. 

I travel with 2 women. 1 of which is a teenager.  I can't go any length of time without full hook ups. I would literally be heading to the dump station every other day.