westtexus
Hale Center, TX United States
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I don't know if this is the right catagory for these questions, but here goes:
I am looking at a 1985 southwind class A rv, about 26 to 28 ft. gas gauge doesen't work, only one tank. it has a switch that controls main or aux tank. the switch moves, but as I said only one tank. If only one tank, does anybody know how many gallons it would hold?
It only has 2 batteries, but places for three. can someone explain if 2 are house batteries, with one engine battery? if so are house batteries connected to each other, but not to engine battery?
chevy 454 with 66,000 miles showing. what might be approx mpg on this rv?
i need to drive it about 300 miles home, with o gauge I need some way to figure mpg & capacity so I wont run short of fuel. I really don't want to take the time to fix gauge before coming home.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Westtexus 1976 Kings Highway
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Son of Norway
Denver, Colorado
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I don't know the exact specs of your coach, but plan on each tank holding 20-30 gals. Fill up before you leave then stop for gas twice on the way home and you should be OK. If your engine is in good adjustment you should be able to get 8-10 mpg with that coach. The batteries in the battery compartment should be coach batteries and your chassis battery should be in the front of the coach. They are probably both connected and isolated by a solenoid near the chassis battery, looks like a stew pot. Good luck and enjoy the coach! We owners of classic and paid-for RV's need to stick together!
Miles
Miles and Darcey
1989 Holiday Rambler Crown Imperial
Denver, CO
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westtexus
Hale Center, TX United States
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with only one tank, I think I'll measure and determine the gallons. One similar rv owner on ebay told me his has one tank, 50 gal. On the 85 I'm talking about it has space and holders for 3 batteries, all in a line, axcessed through the drivers side front hood, or flap. Right now there are only 2 bateries, and they seem small, like 6 volt batteries.
8-10 mpg would seem like a dream come true.
Hope to locate some sort of owners or operators manual.
I have a 76 kings highway, 26 ft, but like the layout of this southwind better.
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whem2fish
alvarado texas
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i have a 1985 28 ft southwind. i have never saw one with 2 tanks. that said the gas tank will hold between 65 t0 75 gallons i have got 82 in it
by letting the tank burp and filling the last slow. that said in stock form you will get 7 or 8 mpg. now i did a distributor mod you can find here by "Jim Elliot" may you rest in peace. after the mod i get around 8 pulling a 4 door chevy truck. when looking under the hood the battery on the left is the starting battery the 2 to the right are the house batteries. i do have all the manuals for the appliances and chassis electrical if you need i can e-mail them.just PM me.that said what part of texas are you im south of ft worth on 35W. last check out IRV2.COM look under vintage there are lots of southwind,pace arrow,bounder owners. i can easly get to the coast (300miles) put in 30 gallons then get back home with just over 1/4 tank of gas
now i see where hale center is
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whem2fish
alvarado texas
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your fresh water is 50 gallon also
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westtexus
Hale Center, TX United States
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I was under this rv, and it only has one tank, looks pretty big. I searched and found that a gallon of gasoline fills just short of 231 cubic inches, and the metal tank is rectangular, so easy to figure.
I did read that the batteries are 6 volt, is this true on your 28 footer?
I live near Hale Center, Texas panhandle, 45 miles north of Lubbock on I27. the rv is in Bridgeport, about 300 miles away. I drove it a little, runs and shifts good. It's not perfect, but doesn't need much in way of cosmetics. some running lights don't work, gas gauge, other than that I want to check it out at home. I'm going back to get it in a few days.
* This post was
edited 01/22/12 07:22am by westtexus *
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whem2fish
alvarado texas
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it could be true on 6 volt batterys they will have 3 water fill holes instead of 6 on a 12 volt battery
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whem2fish
alvarado texas
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westtexus check your e-mail let me know it the manuals work.my 1985 was built on a 1984 chassis. i will be leaving for church around 9 i will check back around 1 or 2. i sent you the manuals for the appliances. the service manuals are in PDF form
dave
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westtexus
Hale Center, TX United States
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ok, thanks whem2fish. the id tag on rv said manufacture date in 84, I forgot what month. Any info will be helpful, as it is completely differant from my 76 King's Highway.
I think the batteries had 6 holes, but they sure looked small. Maybe just a smaller 12 volt, I did not know they made deep cycle batteris that small.
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topflite51
In The Desert of Nevada
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The formula for determining gallon capacity is L x W x D divided by 231.
Hopefully batteries that it has are 12v, other wise somebody has did some rewiring, for whatever reason. A GP24 12v deep cycle is no larger than a regular GP 24.
 David
Just rolling along enjoying life
w/F53 Southwind towing 87 Samurai looking to golf or fish
Simply Despicable 
Any errors are a result of CRS.
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