Brand New Class A Driver - next week

[jerichorick]

Originally Posted by bdub

Yesterday I added small things. Screens to keep the mud daubers from nesting in the water heater and furnace vents, picked up a big bottle of 409 from Costco. Also picked up a bottle of coyote urine from the Field and Stream store. The finance guy at McClains said he bought a bottle of that and sprays around the tires to keep the mice away when he has it parked. Who knew they sold coyote pee? At ten bucks for four ounces, those coyotes are living the high life! Anyway, sprayed that around and got some wind spray on my legs...when I went back inside the pups were certain I'd been cheating on them. I felt damn lucky one didn't cock his leg to remark my leg!

dbub, you will do well because of your great upbeat attitude. Thanks for sharing all of your experiences. I would almost guess that you are Cajun? Love to be around them when we work projects there. Seems like the sun is always shining.
The pups might be happier if you simply put a LED rope light under the rig. Better smell and the word is the mice don't like the light. I put TomCat bate out for them.

Happy trails and many of them.

[bdub]

Originally Posted by jerichorick

dbub, you will do well because of your great upbeat attitude. Thanks for sharing all of your experiences. I would almost guess that you are Cajun? Love to be around them when we work projects there. Seems like the sun is always shining.
The pups might be happier if you simply put a LED rope light under the rig. Better smell and the word is the mice don't like the light. I put TomCat bate out for them.

Happy trails and many of them.

Hey thanks a lot jerichorick! I'm an inport to Cajun country, but you are right about these guys, always looking for an excuse to throw a party. I definitely want to look into ambient lighting. Have you had good luck with a certain product?

[BobC]

I've found with both my Suncruiser and my pickup/TT combo before it that 60 - 62 mph seems to be a sweet spot both in terms of handling and efficiency (watch your tach). I wish they made a cruise control that wouldn't accelerate on short hills like overpasses.

And, slow down if need be to let the pesky blind spot drivers pass you up. The same goes for tail-gaiters. Personally, I like tucking in behind a big rig that's going my speed (but not too close) when cruising down the interstate.

[bdub]

Originally Posted by BobC

I've found with both my Suncruiser and my pickup/TT combo before it that 60 - 62 mph seems to be a sweet spot both in terms of handling and efficiency (watch your tach). I wish they made a cruise control that wouldn't accelerate on short hills like overpasses.

And, slow down if need be to let the pesky blind spot drivers pass you up. The same goes for tail-gaiters. Personally, I like tucking in behind a big rig that's going my speed (but not too close) when cruising down the interstate.

Thanks a lot Bob C. It's definitely an adjustment in driving style, but I liked it. I read your posts in the Towing section. After that and some additional reading and youtubing, I think I'll go for the brute elite system you advocated. I like the idea of integration as well as mechanical function versus electronic. I do wish there was a more elegant and integrated braking system then a clamp and some metal wire and pullies, but sometimes the best solutions are the simplest and that seems to be what I am reading when it comes to these products.

[bdub]

The adventure of the Willenium Falcon continues....

This weekend was low key with the weather and everything.

Filled er up with gas, driving from Dallas to Lafayette chewed up about 3/4 of a tank of gas (need to do that calculation for mpg). Filled up with 87 at costco...just over 55 gallons. Had all the water tanks at about 1/3, so headed over to the CAT scales to get weighed. The WeighMyTruck app made all that a breeze. Didn't need the intercom at all. So weights with a full tank, and mostly stocked for a trip (with the holding tanks simulating a full tank of fresh) my combined axle weight is 14,640lbs. I'm really happy with that. Max is 16k so I have all kinds of room to play with here. And I'll be very comfortable now towing my Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk around. I was a little worried because of the monster 5.7l hemi in that little piece of heaven, but I'm not worried now.

Got behind the stereo to attach a USB extension, since it didn't come with one (and should have). Very easy to access the head unit through the top cover removal with just three screws. Easy peasy. Did a little wire tidying up while I was in there. We'll be back in there soon to install side cameras (probably going to get the dealer to do that, I don't think I could bring myself to drill holes in the sides).

Now time to add security for the Falcon. Bought a Ring spotlight cam that I am heading out now to put up in the driveway.

Oh! One more thing. Found that FULL sheet sets fit the bedroom mattress well. It's a bit tight, but I'd prefer that to loose flappy sheets. It stinks that the supplied bedspread is dry clean only, but I guess that will help it last longer.

Maybe we'll take a trip out in her next weekend....I think we have all the basics we need.

[feiter]

Bob C...the placard next to driver seat says cold pressure on both front and rear is supposed to bd 83 PSI...seems very low and I would think rear would be higher as more weight in rear (empty or full). Mistery what to actually use as cold pressure

[bdub]

Hey feiter, what year is your 26m? Mine is 2018 and I believe (I'll check when I get home from work) my psi recommendation on the placard is 81. I found the tires pressures charts when I Googled Michelin tire pressure for RV. I still need to do the math to find my psi.... It almost looks like my fronts could go as low as 75.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by feiter

Bob C...the placard next to driver seat says cold pressure on both front and rear is supposed to bd 83 PSI...seems very low and I would think rear would be higher as more weight in rear (empty or full). Mistery what to actually use as cold pressure

The placard pressures are the manufacturer's recommended maximum pressures for the specified GAWR. Once your rig is loaded for travel with empty waste tanks, full fresh water tank, full fuel tank, driver, passengers, you need to weigh it and get four corner weights (ideal) or front and back axle weights, you can work with the inflation charts to fine tune your inflation as described in the link I gave in post #9. If you exceed the GAWRs for your rig, you're overloaded.

Don't forget that the inflation charts are minimums for the specified weights. In any case you never want to exceed the pressures stamped into the sidewalls of your tires.

If your ride isn't too harsh for you when inflated to the placard psi, you don't need to do anything else. Your tires are going to age out before they wear out so pressure-related tire wear isn't an issue. I'm no expert but, from what I've read, you can't really go wrong by inflating to the placard pressures assuming the installed tires are the same as those on which the placard is based. IMHO, Roger Marbel (aka tireman9) is your best resource for all this.

I wouldn't think that the tables specific to your brand/size/load range tires are going to specify higher pressures than your placard (for the placard GAWRs) unless your installed tires are different from those on which the placard is based. Different tires are designed to run within different pressure ranges so don't think you need more pressure because you read postings quoting 90 psi for the front and 100 psi for the rear. The poster doesn't have the same tire as your's.

[feiter]

Mine is 2018 also...purchased mid November and first trip out in a couple weeks. If your's is 81 and mine is 83 makes one wonder if Winnebago is just guessing on CTP...Our equipment should be same. I have Goodyear's on mine...do you actually have Micheline tires? I downloaded the Goodyear 2017 guide yesterday and will use it after I do a weigh in. Think I found a local private scale that can do four points. Filled with fuel yesterday for first time and will add water to about 1/2 full and then go weight and calculate pressure based on that. I have pretty much outfitted as needed except for maybe a few hundred pounds of food and clothing and a few kitchen utensils.

When I was installing the TPS sensor on the front right tire I dropped it between brake caliper and wheel cover....I could not even get the wheel cover off! Have no idea why it would not come off when I was using a heavy pry bar! It loosened and now I can't tighten again.

I think the wheels and the wheel covers look great but not a fan having now tried to install the Sensors and add air to tires---see my comment on rear outer filler facing inward. To add, the holes around the valve stems protrude and are not large enough. Yesterday I ordered a commercial (150 PSI) gauge and filler that has a 14.5" hose with a locking connector and comes with a 90 degree adapter. That should help immensely.

I really don't like the placement of the front speakers and want to move them more forward in the cab to have better sound while driving...next big step in finalizing. I have previously changed out the radio to a similar Pioneer model including XM and Apple CarPlay. Installed XM antenna about 2 weeks ago.

Thanks for input now and in future.

Bill

[BobC]

It's a safest to have your fresh water tank and your fuel tank full and your waste tanks empty when you weigh. Realistically, there will be times when you'll be traveling with a full FW tank and you don't want your tires to be under-inflated. Similarly, you may have left home with 1/2 a tank of FW but have spent some time hooked up to city water, still have 1/2 a tank of FW but now have 1/2 tank's worth of waste water in your tanks because you couldn't or didn't empty them before hitting the road.

The initial weigh-in isn't the time to be over-conservative in your loading. If your initial weigh-in shows that you're overloaded, then you can start economizing in terms of weight, but you'll need to stick to your economy load and not let it creep up over time.

[bdub]

I'm definitely going to recheck when I get home. They should be the same. Hey what's the model number of that new head unit you bought? Sounds like the exact set up I want.

I'm thinking of adding a couple speakers by just wiring in to those two front ones and adding more sound that way.

[feiter]

Pioneer AVH-1440NEX...really easy to install as exact same dimensions as stock head unit.

[BobC]

Valve extenders or valve extensions are pretty much a necessity if (or should I say when) you install a TPMS and are a convenience even without a TPMS. Here's a link to a discussion on irv2 regarding these that pretty much covers the topic:

Tire Pressure Extensions - iRV2 Forums

[bdub]

Originally Posted by feiter

Pioneer AVH-1440NEX...really easy to install as exact same dimensions as stock head unit.

Cool. Gonna look into that for sure.

Ok just checked my placard. It's 82 recommended psi. I have Goodyears as well. What's funny, and I noticed this last night after I had already posted about how happy I was with the weights and towing...none of my info matches in terms of weight. What I mean is that chassis recommendations are 6500 front axle weight rating and rear is 11000. Winnebago says my gross vehicle is 16000. Ok was never the greatest with my math, but that should be 17500 right? I'll go with 16k cause that's mor conservative, and I'm into this thing to get away from the house, not bring it with me, but it would be cool to know what the real story is on weight tolerances.

[feiter]

Forgot to suggest you order the XM installation kit at same time as the new unit...it will save you one removal of covers to install...kit is about $24 on Amazon...I think I paid about $300 for the unit...have been trying to sell the original but with no luck.

[feiter]

Thanks Bob, the extenders are included as standard equipment on my Intent for the inner real wheels but not on any other tire. I also wish I would have gotten flow through sensors for my TPS...I have to remove mine to adjust air.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by feiter

Thanks Bob, the extenders are included as standard equipment on my Intent for the inner real wheels but not on any other tire. I also wish I would have gotten flow through sensors for my TPS...I have to remove mine to adjust air.

I chose non-flow through sensors after reading about clogging issues with the flow-throughs.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by bdub

Cool. Gonna look into that for sure.

Ok just checked my placard. It's 82 recommended psi. I have Goodyears as well. What's funny, and I noticed this last night after I had already posted about how happy I was with the weights and towing...none of my info matches in terms of weight. What I mean is that chassis recommendations are 6500 front axle weight rating and rear is 11000. Winnebago says my gross vehicle is 16000. Ok was never the greatest with my math, but that should be 17500 right? I'll go with 16k cause that's mor conservative, and I'm into this thing to get away from the house, not bring it with me, but it would be cool to know what the real story is on weight tolerances.

The GVWR isn't necessarily going to be the sum of the two GAWRs since more goes into the calculation of the GVWR and GCWR than just the axle ratings (frame strength, brakes, etc. all play a role. Logically, however, GVWR would never be higher than the sum of the two GAWRs. Here's a site that explains all this (RVs are the same as trucks in this regard):

https://www.ntea.com/NTEA/Member_ben...rk_trucks.aspx

[bdub]

Thank you sir! Love all this new info and reading up on what this new language means.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by bdub

Thank you sir! Love all this new info and reading up on what this new language means.

Having owned two TTs and several sailboats, I was pretty comfortable with the house systems but didn't know much about the "truck" systems, tire stuff, etc. when I bought my MH in Nov 2018. Thanks to Winnieowners.com and IRV2.com, I've learned quite a bit.