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Overnighting at Tamarack in WV
Does anybody know if over nighting is allowed at Tamarack on the WV Turnpike near Beckley?
They have a large bus/RV parking lot, we have stopped and shopped before, but can't remember if over night parking is allowed.
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vfrmarc
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04/24/12 08:07pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Looking for info about Red Bay, AL repair facilities
Having been there for body work at a local body shop, they pointed out some defects that Tiffin was fixing and arranged for the repairs for me while I went home to Ohio. The whole town is geared towards making Tiffin owners happy.
It is out of the way, in fact the west side of town backs up to Mississippi. It is 70+ miles to the nearest interstate.
Besides were else would you find a campground full of 100+ Phaetons or Allegro Buses, with an occasional Zephyr thrown in :-)
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vfrmarc
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04/23/12 04:25pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Duraceramic flooring upgrade
We have it in our kitchen and what the web site above sez is mostly true. We have had to replace tiles and now have more that have cracked. It feels great on your feet compared to ceramic but I wish we had looked at a Pergo type floor instead.
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vfrmarc
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04/19/12 01:52am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Average or Common Markdown % off MSRP
If you are looking at Tiffins, here is a great website that is updated everyyear by the owner. It covers Tiffin pricing for a number of years.
Tiffin Pricing
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vfrmarc
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01/09/12 06:14am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: First time buyer question
If the motor is the ISB 6.7, then there is a range of torques it can be rated at. Torque is your friend for moving weight. The reason for different ratings is there are different Allison transmissions and the amount of torque they can handle is different. Some of the newest ISB6.7 with the DEF after treatment systems can be rated to 800 ft lbs, they use the Allison 3000. Others with lower torque rating will use a less expensive Allison tranny like a 2500 or 2000.
I hope this info helps
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vfrmarc
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01/08/12 07:31pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Newmar or Tiffin
Just got back from Red Bay last week. Our Motorhome was hit by a car and I took it to Red Bay Body for repairs. The Red Bay folks pointed out the roof rail problem and said they would make a call to Tiffin to take care of it and explained what I needed to do. As the owner I had to go to the Tiffin Service Center and fill out paperwork on the requested repair, I also added a couple of other repairs to the list. I then headed back to Ohio in my car.
It took a bit over a month between the body work and Tiffin repairs, but everthing requested was done.
My point is that my coach is now four years old, Tiffin put time and money into repairing the issues I pointed out. The local body shop worked with Tiffin to move the motorhome back and forth as needed. The whole town of Red Bay is geared to make the coach owners feel very important and it is rare to hear of someone leaving there unsatisfied. The biggest complaint is waiting to get work done. Tiffin has a 100+ site full hook up campground on premises and it is often full of owners waiting for their turn on repairs. You show up get a campsite and wait until they can accommodate you.
Tiffin owners know or learn the process. It is comforting to know that someone will work with you when you have troubles with what is a very expensive non-investment of your money.
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vfrmarc
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12/31/11 04:11am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: What do you know about 2012 Ford Fiesta?
What with the recent history of some Ford vehicles destroying their transmissions while being towed, I would NEVER buy one for use as a towed vehicle!
I believe that the new Fiesta uses a transmission similar to those you find in some German cars which is an automatic/manual. The design is completely different than the 6spd automatics found in Escapes and Fusions. I did read there were problems with it but they are not related to flat towing.
Our Fusion has 30,000 Odometer miles on it and an additional 7,000 miles flat towing no problems. :)
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vfrmarc
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11/15/11 10:26pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Mid Michigan to Panhandle Florida
I've used both routes, and definitely prefer I-65. Either way, you'll have to contend with some construction south of Cincinnati in northern KY, but you'll be cutting southwest on I-71, so you'll probably miss some of it. The construction should end about December 1st, so I'm told.
Take I75/I71 to Louisville. Take I264 around the city to I65, your next stop will be wherever you plan to leave I65 to get to the part of Florida you are going (many options there). Just got back from Red Bay Al last week and the route above has the least construction and mist direct route to Mid-to-Western panhandle in Fla.
Be advised that passing through Nashville at rush hour will slow you done because there is construction both North and South of the city which forces the road down to two lanes in each direction.
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vfrmarc
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11/09/11 03:58pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Detroit MI to Ft Myers Beach FL
We usually are not in a hurry and try to stay off major Inter states. Also I've been told I-75 is crazy w/ trucks, bridges, construction, cities, and that I-77 is less hectic, less mountainous and is by far prettier route.
I agree about the views, but they come at a price. That price is climbing up and down many mountains in WV and VA. There are a few 5-7 mile climbs and descents, a couple of points above 3000'. The twists and turns of the WV Turnpike are not for the feint of heart with many 55mph corners with the trucks tipping signs as a warning. It got me quickly acquainted with the value of my turbo/exhaust brake. I don't recall anything as hairy in I75, but I have not yet traveled I75 with my Motorhome. If I was going to West Florida I would take I75, my last trip that way took me through Atlanta at 2:00am - bingo! right down the middle on I75 no traffic problem.
Good Luck
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vfrmarc
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10/18/11 04:19pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: RV Storage
I wish I could build one, I simply don't have the space. When we move that will be a prime consideration of our next house. If you have the land, a 50' pole barn with concrete floor should be less than $20,000.
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vfrmarc
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10/17/11 07:06am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Ford Fusion towing 4-down 2010
Here is a great device to let you charge the toad battery from the rv when traveling.
My Ford Escape battery died so I made sure it wont happen again.
Toad Charge
+2:)
Had same problem 2010 Fusion, added this product and towed 2,000 miles car started everytime. We use a Roadmaster Even Brake.
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vfrmarc
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10/16/11 11:11pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Front engine diesel Tiffins
I have a Tiffin FRED (FRont Engine Diesel) and am generally happy with it. Fuel economy was a big driver for the purchase along with hill climbing torque of greater then 600 ft lbs. No gasser comes close to that. The gassers may have more horsepower 340-360 but it is torque that gets you up the mountains.
Our 11,000 mile running average fuel useage is 9.7 mpg and that includes 7000 miles towing and over 100 hours of generator time. I tend to run 60-62 mph when towing and 65 when not.
Noise level, Tiffin is sloppy in this area, I had to add additional noise reduction material to the engine area and it helped. Especially when the fan is clutched on. In cooler weather the fan almost never engages and at speed it is also rarely on unless climbing a long grade.
Since the generator is also diesel and invertor based it is very efficient. A recent tailgate with over 14 hours of generator time spread over 21/2 days consumed less than 7 gallons.
The chassis is very solid and tracks much better than the last gasser class A I owned.
I hope this info helps.
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vfrmarc
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10/16/11 11:00pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Any regrets from 5th wheel to Class A
:h every single trip something seems to go wrong with the class A...
rear tail light out
front headlight out
tire pressure monitoring system failure
leveling jack hangup
scrape nose fascia and crack on ground at CG
dent/drag SS mud flap at CG
dent tailpipe at CG
slide wouldnt go in
mirror wobbly about to fall off
meanwhile (and i dont want to jinx myself here) i hook up the fifth wheel and go, not one issue...
regrets? not yet...
:E
Wow, maybe I should sell mine now before these problems start to happen. After 36K miles on a used Class A diesel, I had one spotter light on the right front mirror burn out.
Every other problem has been an easy fix. These things require fix as you go maintenance and if you fix'em when you find them they don't pile up. My relatives with travel trailers have more things wrong with them then I do with my Class A. They just use them that way - something that would drive me crazy.
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vfrmarc
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10/11/11 02:04pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Diesel Mileage Sinks
I have the same basic configuration on my Allegro Open Road. In my 11,000 plus miles of logging fuel useage I have never dropped below 9mpg. That inlcudes the mountains of WV and Va. My average is 9.71 which includes towing, no towing and tailgating with generator running for 15-24 hours. My highest single tank was 10.65 mpg. I take all of the lows and highs with a grain of salt because when I fuel at the local Kroger, parking one way get less fuel in the tank than the opposite direction (sloped).
I have heard of others running a tank of fuel into head winds and seeing a 2-3 mpg drop from the norm. As long as power seemed ok its probably not the power train itself.
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vfrmarc
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10/10/11 12:27pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Which diesel for pulling?
Our Cummins ISB6.7 has 300hp 620ft lbs torque and 6spd Allison. Not been out west yet but last year we pulled I77 through Virgina and West Virgina with a 3,300# toad and when you turn off the OD you can climb at 55mph 2600-2700 rpm in 4th gear all the way to the top of the big hills on that road.
Along the way passed more than a few semi's and many other motorhomes. The key is getting up a head of steam and not having to slow down for other vehicles. Once you lose the torque/horsepower sweetspot its hard to get it back.
Our total weight is somewhere between 25-26,000 including toad.
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vfrmarc
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09/29/11 12:06pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Thoughts on Air Matress
We have an Air Coil mattress in our couch and it uses an external pump that is specially fitted to its valve it only takes 10-15 seconds to fuly inflate. The mattress and the pump work very well. We have used it maybe a dozen times we have even slept on it giving my elderly parents the queen bed in the bedroom. No complaints. It has a big dump valve that when opened empties the air in seconds. The actual air mattress is inside a permanent mattress cover that zips open and closed to expose the air valve. It also comes with patches although we have never had a leak.
I would choose this over a regular fold out couch any day.:)
Only caveat is that the pump uses 110v so when we boondock, have to use the generator to fill it.
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vfrmarc
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09/29/11 11:51am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: What class A is small, but a "hoss" for towing?
I think you are looking for a class A with a 10,000# towing capacity. There are many DPs out there with the Cummins ISC or ISL or larger that have that capacity. E.G Tiffin Phaeton 36' is the smallest they make with an ISC. Other coach makers use the same chassis/engine and that will meet your needs. Some of the other newer coaches use the Cummins ISB but that usually has a 5000# towing limit. Any of the coaches that use the Cat engines also have the grunt to also get'r done.
Good luck in your search.
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vfrmarc
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09/27/11 08:40pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: ToadCharge to Chassis or House Battery ?
I wired our Toad Charge to the house batteries. Just because access to them was easier. The only thing I need to do when we Walmart camp is disconnect from the car so I don't leave an extra load on the house batts while boondocking. Since all batteries are charged when running down the road the choice is yours.
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vfrmarc
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09/27/11 03:25pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Good Sam Iifetime Membership
Got my offer the other day. Current price seems high for value offered.
I have considered lifetime on Sirius but at only 5x the yearly rate it too is over priced IMHO.
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vfrmarc
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09/21/11 06:21pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Driving without cover for topside satellite dish
If the cover is damaged and they don't offer you a way to keep it weather free, I think their insurance just bought you a new one.
Do you store inside? If not they need to be prepared or their insurance carrier prepared to get it so it will not recieve further damage in its broken state.
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vfrmarc
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09/21/11 03:25pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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