Bought a New Class A RV today

[Hugh R]

I'll have to look up that park. If RVs are allowed it should be compliant. We bought the RV so that it would fit in CA state parks (29 feet), I think the limit is 30.

[latroz]

What is the fuel mileage on that thing?

[Crowbob]

Can I borrow it?

I mean, when can I borrow it?

(a little negotiation lingo there)

[Cajundaddy]

Nice rig Hugh. I am a pretty big fan of 24-29 footers for extended traveling. We sold our last one 6 years ago as we weren't using it much but may get back in the saddle when work frees up a bit. Enjoy!

[Hugh R]

Thanks, older thread, but it is great, went to Carpenteria State Beach two weekends ago and going again this weekend. In a few weeks we're going to Refugio State Beach. In the last year, I figure I'm getting about 12 MPG based on about 3,000 miles of driving.

I silicone dry-lubed all the hinges and locks and I highly recommend that to anyone buying one (not WD-40). I also keep a small Phillips screwdriver handy as the occasional hinge, cabinet stop needs tightening.

I find a certain routine helps. Level the unit (auto leveling) , hook up utilities, then open up the sliders so you aren't bumping your head working on the hookups under the slide outs. I can set it up completely in about six minutes.

The biggest pain is not washing it, but drying/wiping it so I don't have water spots. I have a water softener and it still leaves lots of water spots.

Check the tire pressure every single time you take it out.

[Hugh R]

Had an interesting thing happen while sanitizing my water tank. I'm going to Rufugio State Beach for the weekend and they have "dry" camping, meaning no hookups, you bring your own power and water. I'm kind of new to the RV thing. I was filling my water tank and watching the water level indicator, I heard water running on the driveway and it was the overfill drain. It proceeded to siphon out my water tank! After about 30 gallons, and pondering this, I opened a faucet and broke the siphon and it stopped, and I then refilled the water tank. Weird...

The overfill should be a hose at the top of the tank. Mine seems to go deeper into the tank and caused the siphon. The owner's manual says there is no drain on the tank per se but to run the sinks/toilet until it empties using the water pump. I think I found a better way to drain the tank. Although at this point, I don't know for sure that it will drain the entire water tank.

Checking into emergency fuses/relays for the truck and the box, I find that it has a combined total of like 80 fuses and relays! Wow!

[E38Driver]

Hugh,

One RV trick I have learned through the years is instead of using the chemicals for the black water tank use TANG. Two tablespoons in the tank and no smell.

Dave

[Joe Ricard]

TANG? Now that is a great idea. didn't even know thay still made that stuff.

[E38Driver]

Originally Posted by Joe Ricard

TANG? Now that is a great idea. didn't even know thay still made that stuff.

Yeah, it is still around. It works too.

Dave

[Hugh R]

I'll try that, the blue powdered chemical stuff is funky.

[Hugh R]

Up at Shaver Lake, CA for the week. Very early (dark) on Saturday we packed up to leave. Well from the pic can you guess what happened. There is a reason you can't lock open lower cabinets under sliders so the genius that I am, I made a prop to hold it open and didn't think to remove it before I closed the slider. The pic is a re-enactment of the accident scene. Fortunately, it only bent the aluminum door and surround, not the body in anyway. 10 screws and $150 and I get a new door from Coachmen in a few weeks, but it comes white, so I'll have to have it painted. Fortunately I got the paint codes for the Rig, and its been covered since I bought it new 18 months ago, so no expected blending of paint issues. Since I now have the four paint codes, I'll get some touch up paint for the odd bug/stone chip. "Stupid is, as stupid does."

[Cajundaddy]

Ouch! A relatively inexpensive lesson though. Stuff happens and then we learn for next time.

In aviation, every pilot learns to perform a pre-flight check of their aircraft to make sure everything works and there are no chocks, blocks, or intake covers still in place to create nasty surprises in the air. Over many years of hauling boat trailers, I developed the "walkaround". Before we roll out and anytime we stop for gas or open a door or hatch I would do a visual inspection to make sure everything was tied down, hatches battened, and the wheels, bearings, and tires looked serviceable.

Sometimes my wife would get impatient and want to just go... in a minute sweetie. I discovered many potential oops that would have ended badly on the side of the road without these habitual walkarounds.

[Hugh R]

Agreed, and I deviated from my routine. No excuse that it was 5AM. My eff-up and mine alone.

I thought about it and did make an operational decision. In the first photo you see a two part prop that raises the door into the slider area. I threw away the short extension and now it can't physically impact the door. Sure I have to crouch a little lower. But what I normally do is make the water connections before opening the slider and then break them after pulling in the slider. The rub comes when I have to drain the grey and black water while RVing. I need to hold the access door open.

[Ferraripete]

looks like a lot of fun hugh. I hope you and your wife are able to make many great trips and memories!

pcb

[Hugh R]

A friend of mine recommended a 5 PSI gas strut that can be installed that won't open the panel enough to be in the way of the slider. $20. I think I'll look into it.

[stealthn]

Hugh

Do you trailer a 911 behind it for driving around?

Did you ever do solar panels for your dry camping!

[pavulon]

Used a friend's RV which is based on a Ford V-10 (F-550?) chassis. It was not fun to drive...as in large boat at a slow speed steering and similar braking but much worse acceleration. I kept hoping to get up on plane but it never seemed to happen.

[Hugh R]

Bob,

Not there yet on towing a Porsche. I've rented a rent-a-wreck for $20/day a few times as opposed to the $3,000 to set up the RV to tow a vehicle. Go dry camping once or twice a year so no solar yet.

Pavulon,

Yes, Ford V-10, 5.7 liter engine. Will get up to freeway speed on an on ramp. Sucks the gas 12-13 mpg. It's a big ass boat to steer, but you get sort of comfortable with driving it. Biggest thing is the swing of the ass end at gas stations so you don't take out a pump, or post when turning. I hang in the slow lane, and I have to deal with those merging onto the freeway, but at least I only have to deal with vehicles on my left side passing me. It has 4-wheel discs and they are massive. It won't stop like my 911, but it will haul down pretty fast. Nevertheless, you don't tailgate.

[Hugh R]

So the dash A/C was delivering 90 degree air on the way up the I-99 towards Bakersfield, at 110 outside. Stopped at Wallymart and got one of those R-134a charging kits, it cooled it down to around 60 at the vent. Took it into the extended warranty place ($100 deductible) they said if it cools by 20 degrees below ambient the warranty company won't cover it.

Fine, they did a vacuum test and then found a missing factory Viton "O" ring on one hose. Factory eff up. No recourse on my part, one year warranty from Coachmen, I've had it 18 months. I have to pay the $105 A/C service fee. I have a $100 deductible on the extended warranty. Whatever. The joys of RV ownership.

[fingpilot]

Hugh,

Bought a 6 year old diesel pusher with low miles in excellent shape 3 years ago. Was really pressured into buying an extended warranty and I upped the standard coverage to include tires and a lowered deductible. $2500-ish for 2 years.

Considering how long it took the dealer to fix all the things that did not work at delivery (8 weeks), and the fact that they did not fix them all, my buyers remorse at the extended warranty was subsiding.

3 years later, the warranty is history and I did not renew it. I actually successfully used it twice, for a total payout of $2600, plus my @200. deductibles each time.

I tried to use it for 6 tires over the warranty period, and the fine print let them escape each time. Both front tires had sidewall issues (axle weight was 11k pounds). The pro-rated claim was going to be $60. each, more or less, deductible ate that up.

2 Duals failed after a day-long run across the desert in 100+ ambient. They found a way out of that.

Long story short, the warranty let me sleep better for the first two years, but 30k miles later, I know my rig inside out, and sleep just fine.

Will probably not be back in California for a while, git tired of cleaning filters, faucets and valves of what passes for water out there. Am in Alabama again, lush green, almost too much water, and 25% of the cost to live down here.