trimster

So, specifically, the Royals International 2005-2010. There's still lots that look pretty well kept. Dated interior, yes. But full body paint, and upscale in it's time....which from what I'm seeing, is way better that most since. 

Example: https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2010-Carriage-ROYALS+INTERNATIONAL+36MAX-1-5026607044

We're looking at a few Royals International  trailers. If anyone has first-hand experience, I'd be interested in your thoughts.

So, no one has the tilt out vents they can look at, to see if they have seals?

The filters in most RV AC units are junk. What are others using, that offer more filtration? Any DIY options/suggestions?

Are the tilt out cab vents supposed to have gaskets or seals? Mine leak and don't have seals.

We've been in this campground for a week. Weather forced us to change our plans and hunker down. Plus, it's a good place to fish. Santa Rosa is a one-day town most of the time.

The campground is absolutely nothing special. Maybe a bit sub-special.  It's a one-night-stand. Almost every night it's fairly full and empty by 10am the next. We booked 3 days ahead and he could not find full hookup site. WTF. The place is empty most days. Hmmmm.

I've had one encounter with 'the' guy when he came out in his golf cart apparently wondering why had my Volvo parked across an empty site. I needed to level ground to offload the Smart from the bed. I think he was rev'd up to tear into me until he saw the ramps and the car offloaded. All he said was "oh, I see what you are doing." and drove off. Not a howdy do or anything. We were one of 3 campers in a 86 site campground. So, not impeding anyone.

Would we stay again? Nope.

Oh. we ordered the fried chicken. It was really good until you got to the middle of the generous pieces. It was icebox cold. They pre fry it, put it in the fridge and throw it back into the frier for re-heat when ordered. Skip the delivery service.

We've been on the road (this trip) since late Sept. Have seen 2 other rigs going the other direction. In eastern NM now, headed to Tuscon for the winter.

Last year headed from home base (Utah) to Alabama, N & S Carolina, Georgia, and on to Tuscon, saw 5 rigs moving about. Maybe we were just on the right roads.

We do get a lot of thumbs up from other truckers. Kinda cool actually.

And like others, lots of time answering questions at RV parks. And that's okay by me.

We're finding more commercial RV parks that think they are making it less confusing by asking 'rig length' right after the 'what type of rig' in their online booking. So, conditioned by years of 'what is the length of your trailer?'.  We've been stung a few times by answering the rig length with the length of our 5er. They assume a pickup and throw us in a 55' site. 62' doesn't fit well.

The other problem is how some are measuring (as 2gypsies mentioned)....  One park outside Bend, OR, proudly advertises BIG rig sites that are 64' long. They measure from the furthest corners of an angled site. Measure down the middle and it's barely 60' if that.

If there's a comment section when booking online, I always put the 5er length + "I have a long truck. I'm 62' overall". I don't mention the truck type.

Is it all from the firewall side? Or do I have to pull the under part of the dash appart?

Not sure what to call it, other than the plate on the firewall that a lot of airlines go into and through. Drivers side.

I've replaced the o-rings and some lines, but one will not stop leaking no matter what I do. I'm thinking that this junction place needs to be replaced. Not uncommon for Volvos. Apparently, other brands have brass replaceable line connections... not Volvo. Bummer

Any help with how to attack this fix would be appreciated.

And we did...3 times.

Even after calling twice and telling them I was driving an HDT tow vehicle, and getting the "that's fine", when we pulled in it was a different story. One of the desk help came charging out the door to meet us at the check-in parking. "We don't allow semis in the park." Asking why the several phone calls, someone said "that's not a problem, we have long sites."  His response was again... "no semi-trucks."

Istata is first come basis. Fortunately, we were able to get a spot at Enchanted Trails RV park, with a phone call, west of Albq., off 40. Just for the record, the KOA in the southeast of Albq. is $158/night. So that is not going to happen for us.

This 'no large tow vehicle' ban might be more prevalent on reservations. We've never tried to stay at a reservation park before. Never had a problem in private parks.

1 minute ago, lockmup68 said:

If you are replacing several of them, do it in Montana or any other state with no sales tax. Will save you a bit. 

I am doing 6. Quote here in Tucson is $3380 installed, tax and all that. General Ameri-steel.

Amazon. Like these. Just get the right cup size to fit the generator feet.

Washing Machine Foot Pads for Anti-vibration and Anti-Walk | Washer and Dryer Anti Slip Mat with Rubber Technology | Ideal for Vibration Reduction and Shock Absorber | Rubber Isolation Feet Set of 4 https://a.co/d/cdy2YU8

ran the generator the rattles were loader than the generator itself.

I put vibration isolation mounts under the feet of my generator (actually for washing machines). Those cut 90% of the vibration being transmitted to the bed.

as well, I put rubber strips between the deck plate and the beds frame. That stops rattling as well.

Soooo, it's nice that I built the deck plates in sections so I can just undo a few screws and have access to everything under the bed.

And lookie what I found. The airline got pinched between the frame of the truck and the bed sub-frame. Ya Huston, that would be the problem.

New line ordered.

Big thanks folks. Travel day today. Alamogordo to Tucson. I'll dig into it there.

1 hour ago, ddm502001 said:

TP-3 by Haldex, buy NEW

As in Volvo expensive new, or aftermarket new?

45 minutes ago, ddm502001 said:

Tractor Protection Valve is failed.  Cylindrical usually attachment point of the air lines to the chassis.

Should look similar to this.

So I'll find this drivers side. Rear of cab where the glad hand attachment is?

I used the original coiled airline from the gladhand. Connected 25' of air hose to the rear of the bed. That gives me a 3' pigtail to air up the hitch if needs be or connect an additional air hose. Simple setup.

Now in Alamaguardo, NM... White Sands National Monument. 60+ yrs since last hear. Still, sand.

Ya, we've been roaming.

It's been this way since I built the bed and ran the airline. Always worked fine. So yes, RED glad hand. No disrespect.

So, I adapted the trailer air supply to give air for tires, etc. Used the other day to fill and top off tires. Today, I activate the trailer supply at the dash and get a mear puff of air out of the hose. No sound of air leaks. It's like there's just a trickle of air now.

Where do I start looking for the problem?

I don't like the delay built into the wireless camera systems. I inherited an expensive one on our new trailer (both sides and the rear). 15 frames per second and up to 2-second delay. You run into something before you see it on the monitor.

I put in wired cameras. One high on the back of the cab looking down on the Smart Car and bed. One on a magnet-mounted post at the hitch. I can move it to the rear looking down if I use a tongue tow trailer. And I ran two to the trailer. One in the toy hauler garage and the other on the rear looking back. My monitor can do a side-by-side split of any 2, all 4 at once, or individual cameras. No delay in the image as well.

Any suggestions on where to get tires in Tucson?