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RE: Mountain Driving * Engine Braking
I try and shift down (and slow down) until I can descend using only the engine braking to maintain a constant speed. Of course, I have a tach to monitor engine speed, but the engine does scream at high, but safe, revs. As others have posted, if you can't quite hold it with the engine braking, then an occasional stab at the brakes to slow down is OK.
Note that while many engines have a rev limiter, it only works when you are accelerating, and will not work when the engine is being driven by a downhill run. So it might be a good idea to add a tach or devise some way to determine when you're at the safe RPM limit.
Ed
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ed1
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04/11/12 11:11am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: is it cheaper to rent a car than invest in a tow bar.
It depends on how much you use a toad, and whether you need to buy one that can be towed. We started renting because we didn't have a suitable car. Most of the time it worked out fine, given that it does take an hour or so to pick up and drop off. We rented all over the US, mostly from Enterprise. I'd say our costs averaged $150 a week, but we pass on the extra insurance, and get a small car.
When we finally got a towable car, I found it would be about $3K to set it up, assuming our RV dealer did the whole thing. We decided not to do it, because we've been traveling less, and $3K would pay for 4-5 years of rentals.
Obviously, the calculation changes substantially if you are traveling 6 months of the year.
Ed
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ed1
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11/22/11 06:53pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: No spare tire holder, any ideas?
We put an unmounted spare under the bed in our gasser. It didn't fit in a compartment, and there wasn't room between the rails- so I modified the compartment under the bed just enough to fit the tire. My wife bags her linens and they go in the middle of the tire.
Ed
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ed1
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11/01/11 07:26pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Toad Rentals ?????
We've rented from Enterprise when we need a car, and have covered about 30,000 miles all across the US and Canada. It does require a bit of preplanning to stop at locations where an Enterprise is located. We've found it to be adequate, and less expensive than buying a toad and the tow setup for the amount we travel. We stop in an area for 3-7 days, rent a car and explore. then we move on to the next area of interest.
It is not quite as convenient as towing because of the time spent picking up and returning the car.
Ed
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ed1
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08/09/11 06:12pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: From Liberty Harbour NJ to Yaphank Long Island
More to the point, most Parkways have been built with bridge clearances of 10 ft or less (the lowest I've seen was about 7 ft!), so you don't want to make a mistake. The Expressway (I495) will get you out to the East end of the Island, then you'll have to switch to local roads. If you know where in Yaphank, you can check for height restrictions. It's pretty clear on most local roads running South from the Expressway, until you hit the RR bridges down close to the South shore. Did a quick search- if it's Maple Ave, off Yaphank Rd, then it's a clear shot off I495.
Ed
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ed1
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08/03/11 03:11pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: From Liberty Harbour NJ to Yaphank Long Island
duplicate post
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ed1
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08/03/11 03:06pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Mountain driving... Are you intimidated?
I spent almost 20 years with our Toyota RV before selling it in 2002. It was a 21 foot Class C with a weight that exceeded the GVWR of the chassis, even before we climbed into it. I never saw anything over 16 mpg, and averaged about 13 for the 50,000 miles we drove it. We never took it to the real mountains, but I'm not surprised that it had to SLOWLY climb the grades. I found that it would only reach 57 mph on the flat. That wasn't as much of a problem back when all the speed limits were 55.
I don't think we would go back now, even though our 8 mpg makes for some painful moments at the gas pump.
Ed
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ed1
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07/10/11 09:44am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Old or New?? Need some insight please...
I'd bet that the depreciation slows as the unit get past 10 years old. Even if it does continue to depreciate a constant percentage per year, the amount per year is a lot less than a new one.
Perception also colors our choice: we see the money going out for repairs but not the depreciation. My wife brags about how much money we save traveling with the MH, but she conveniently forgets about that invisible $5K per year in depreciation. But if she's happy- I'm happy.
I'm a believer in hanging onto a good vehicle, and fixing it until it becomes unreliable. I got 19 years out of my first little Class C motorhome.
Ed
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ed1
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07/08/11 07:51pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Driving a Class A Tips Wanted
Use a spotter when maneuvering at slow speed. The visibility is lousy and there might be objects either below or above your line of vision. We have a pair of little hand held radios that work well. We'd been pretty careful watching before maneuvering, until the day we were leaving an open, grassy campsite and I decided I didn't need to spot- I had backed in the night before, and I just needed to pull out the same way. Well, the fire ring was below my line of sight, and I drove over it with the rear duals. Tore up the bottom of the fiberglass fender. Since then, I NEVER move without an outside spotter.
The posters have talked a lot about operating on the road, but the spot that still gives me the most difficulty is a toll booth. You have to learn to center the wheels in a lane that's about 12 inches wider than your wheelbase. The best bet is to practice in a parking lot before you try the real thing. Then, remember to watch your mirrors- they are a couple feet wider than anything else, and usually have very little clearance from the booths. I go REAL slow, and watch the mirrors carefully.
Eventually you learn to automatically judge how to center in a lane, just like you do with your other vehicles. The trick is to get to that point without any damage. Good luck and enjoy the new rig
Ed
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ed1
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06/13/11 09:06pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Best Route onto Long Island
I'm also from LI, and so have to cross one bridge or the other when traveling. The Verrazano crossing is definitely shorter for you- I only take the GW bridge when heading west. I usually use the Outerbridge to get onto Staten Island, and it is narrow. I just hug the center of the two lanes, and this usually intimidates any driver trying to pass. It's only a couple of hundred yards where the bridge structure is very narrow, so not a big issue. As noted, there is a 12'2" clearance on the BQE, so check your height. My HR is 12'0", so I haven't tried the detour through Brooklyn. On the other hand, we came in this week and watched some trailer trucks go through, so it may be if you stay in the left lane there's more height. Try to stay in the center lane of the BQE, there's some left and right exits to stay on the BQE, and you don't want to get shunted onto a road into Manhattan! Pay close attention to the signs.
Some of the BQE has been redone, but there's rough patches, and close quarters especially in construction areas. I do it regularly, but it isn't my favorite stretch of road.
As for the rest of LI, check your route once you're off the LIE (I495). there's a few low bridges on secondary roads (especially the East end)that could be a problem. I think all are listed in the trucker's atlas.
Ed
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ed1
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05/28/11 09:04pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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