Recent content by Chi-Travels

Thanks for the tips to "go slow and leave early" which are always good ideas.  Still, would like some insight as to the current (i.e., summer 2018) conditions of the roads South from the Grand Rapids area.  Has anyone driven Hwy 69 South between Lansing and Fort Wayne or even all the way down to...

Hi Everyone, We are in the Grand Rapids, MI area and will be leaving to go South in a week.  My wife has hurt her back and having a very tough time with these Michigan roads.  Can anyone recommend the most comfortable road (i.e., fewest bumps, smoothest roads) to the South?  The options we are...

Our previous 1998 coach had a Cummins 325 and it started up immediately once the key was turned.  Our new (to us) 2002 coach has a Cummins ISM 500 and, although it seems to start well, it takes 4 to 5 seconds before it kicks over; the engine has to turn over a few times before starting.  The...

The dash AC blows strong yet does not produce cold air so we thought maybe the AC compressor was left off.  The dealer where we purchased the coach had worked on and stated the dash AC was fixed and blowing cold air before the engine failure; the engine failed while still at the dealer before we...

Just got back our coach after the engine (a Cummins ISM 500) was completely rebuilt; total cost over $32,000.  The attached photos show the engine once we got the coach back.  Does anyone know what should be bolted on that area where the three screw holes (circled in red) are located?  The...

Recently, we stored our diesel pusher for 2 months.  When "closing it up" for the extended storage, we put down the hydraulic jacks and engaged the air (i.e., parking) brakes.  At the end of the storage period, the coach started up fine, the jacks came up, and then when getting ready to move...

Thank you for your recommendations.  We are looking to make reservations now for November 2015 to March 2016.  We travel with bikes and like the beach as well as hiking.  Would appreciate ideas for RV parks close to the beach in Florida, especially those with bike trails or nice beach combing. 

We have reservations at Fishing Bridge Campground at Yellowstone and would like to know if our DISH NETWORK satellite dish will be able to pick up TV service.  Anyone know?

Looking for recommendations on Florida RV parks with full hook ups.  We are planning on spending our first winter as full timers in Florida, and are looking for nice RV parks within walking distance of the beach.  We will usually stay at least one week at each park and then move on; occasionally...

Our motor home (1998 Newmar Mountainaire) has a slide with an awning that automatically opens (over the slide) when the slide opens.  Yet, when we are set up in a high wind, the awning gets whipped around, and we feel that the awning will get ripped if allowed to be open in a high wind.  Our...

Just finished "The Good Thief" as recommended above.  Excellent read; very creative and interesting; page turner for me.  Still recommending "The Invisible Bridge" by Julie Orringer.  Anyone read that one? 

Getting ready to head up to the Pacific Northwest and -- of course -- anticipating lots of rain.  So, as preventive maintenance, looking to repair the few cracks in the seams on our rubber RV roof.  Some of the seams (all of which have a thick paint-like material "painted" over them) are showing...

Gary -- you are right in that both roof-top AC units are heat pump types.  Any idea of where/how to determine if the valve has failed or just stuck, and/or isolate, fix, repair it? 

Our RV has two roof top AC units - one toward the front and one toward the rear of the coach.  The wall-mounted thermostat controls two "zones."  One can put the system on either Zone 1 or Zone 2.  When the cooler is on one of the zones, the living room and kitchen areas receive very cold air...

Jim -- You seem to know I-90 well.  We will be traveling it this summer with our Honda in tow (in late June) from Bellingham, WA to Yellowstone.  Would you happen to have an idea of the extremes of the grades on the downward stretches?  For example, 6%?  8%?  We are somewhat new to RV'ing and...