Greetings AllMy name is Jack, a Florida Native. After 45 years in the Cabinet & Millwork business; 30 years collecting Bromeliads and Orchids, and 35 years owning three offshore boats, I've decided to complete the last item on my Bucket List. Alaska, the Complete Round Trip from Florida. (2015)Not this year, I'm still learning the ropes of RV travel. It certainly can't be more expensive than boat ownership (my last one was a 32 footer twin gas). I will though, miss the freezer full of Grouper and Snapper.I retired early, in 2010. I'd had enough of the construction trades here in Florida, my blood pressure was through the roof. Finding experienced personnel was difficult at best, especially sober ones that would show up for work Monday and want an advance on their paycheck. So, sold the hole in the water, talked the Ball & Chain into retiring, and purchased a 2008 Four Winds Majestic E-350 Super Duty from Cruise America. Yes, I know some will say how could one purchase such a high mileage rig, but honestly, I'd rather have a fleet maintained vehicle, than one that sat for years with low mileage. I looked for a full year. Besides, I'm not ignorant on repairing mechanical devices. Try fixing a bad fuel pump 70 miles offshore in the dark with 8 foot seas.Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Ethanol gas additive, that's my main concern, especially in Canada. I strictly use Ethanol free fuel in all my small engines, and had problems with Ethanol relating to marine use. I read that later this year, the possibility of increasing it to 15% or higher... any comments?Big Three US auto manufacturers; not honoring extended warranties on engines prior to 2008 using greater than 10% Ethanol fuel additive?Thanks in Advance,Jack

Welcome.We left Fl. 5 years ago after being feed up with smoke and mirrors for 17 years. It is really like a magic show. All an illusion.You bucket list sounds great.The E350 is a Standard Ford build. They are built to work on the gas of today.I have a 2000 E450 with the V10 and have run into NO problems with gas from any station. The engine management computer does a good job. I use no additives.If however you want more power, the same computer needs to be re-programed. I have not yet made that change, however from my research 5-Star Tuning is the way to go for a Ford. It changes the engine operation parameters as well as shift points. We all know that the factory settings are a compromise, to meet the many different environments and regulations. The Ford E350 and E450 are Commercial workhorses and are well proven for reliability.I hope you enjoy the Journey.

Welcome JackYou will absolutely love RV'ing. I remember being out in Lake St Clair in Michigan many years ago and our boat quit. I laid down and looked under the dash and laughed. What a cobbled up mess of wires with twist nuts missing, wires dangling etc. You are used to water and water destroys many RV's. :) Like I said, you will love RV's. Remember this.......RV = Cheesy

Jack, Your 2008 E-350 should be pretty well set for the stuff they sell as motor fuel. unless you work pretty hard, you will find it tough to find something other than crapahol at a fuel pump. There is a website called Pure-Gas that will lead to real gasoline, but in the lower 48 it is not always easy to find. I did a lot of boat work before the depression killed our business, and by the end in 2010, the alcohol problems were fixed in the older baots. There are so few newer boats here, I just have to guess that this is a dead issue.People ask how I know so much about RVs. (They may not know that I have actually had one for years.) I tell them that they are just boats that don't float very well. Do you know the one really big difference between boats and RVs?? Water can leak OUT of an RV. Matt

Hi Jack and welcome to the "re-purposed RV rental" group :B I bought my 2006 E450 (Tioga) from El Monte RV. Gotta love the 12/12 warranty. I have had only minor problems that El Monte has already agreed to fix. Taking it in this Tuesday. I hope that you have zero problems with yours. How long have you had it? You will find a wealth of information on this and other forums. Seems I've been reading for weeks:) Keep posting and let us know how it goes.Al

Remember Jack, RV ing is like a sailboat, it is the journey to be enjoyed as much or more than the destination! Just my $0.02! Have fun.

Another "Old" Newbee | Good Sam Community

Harvey51
Explorer
May 05, 2014
Jack wrote:
Ethanol gas additive, that's my main concern, especially in Canada.

Curiously, I have never heard anyone here in Canada complain about alcohol, though apparently we have more in our gas than Americans do. The only effect I've noticed is that I never get carburetor freeze up anymore - I still have a 92 van with a carburetor - so no need to carry a bottle of methanol. No engine troubles.

The Canadian law is we must have 5% alcohol but Manitoba and Saskatchewan demand an extra per cent or two and the sellers like to add a bit more because it is profitable. I have seen signs at some gas pumps indicating that the premium gasoline has lower alcohol content. I think Husky stations have more alcohol.
Oldme
Explorer
May 05, 2014
A couple of interesting links:

Decode you vin at
http://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/vin-decoder/

Review of Gas/fuel treatments with alcohol:
http://www.fuel-testers.com/review_gas_treatment_products.html
path1
Explorer
May 05, 2014
Welcome...Lots of x-rental owners here. Most are pleased IMO and I also thought oil weight was a typo at first. After doing a lot of reading I only use Ford products for oil, and filters. Especially the oil filter with silicon valve. Also I notice a lot of RV owners no matter where bought use "normal" maint service schedule. I use the "towing" schedule as RV's have a lot of weight to pull around.

Here is link to service schedule you can use. http://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owner-manuals/

And of course some things I shorten up the schedule on, example...spark plugs for instance, every 99,000 mile is a joke IMO.

My only big surprise was using Seafoam to clean out fuel system. Cleaned it out alright, had to un-gum fuel injectors after breaking stuff loose got caught in them.
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
May 04, 2014
Welcome Jack.
It is good to hear from another a owner of a Ex Rental there are quite a few here, if you haven't seen it This Link will take you to a thread that is for us and if you want to tell about your experiences please do.

I also agree with you on having a fleet maintained vehicle, than one I had no idea about.

Have fun with it and keep us informed on how it works out for you.
gotsmart
Explorer
May 04, 2014
Welcome to the world of "Majestic". You may find the links in this post useful. The link is also found in my profile.
Oldme
Explorer
May 04, 2014
Jackson74 wrote:
Oldme wrote:
Welcome.

We left Fl. 5 years ago after being feed up with smoke and mirrors for 17 years. It is really like a magic show. All an illusion.

You bucket list sounds great.

The E350 is a Standard Ford build. They are built to work on the gas of today.
I have a 2000 E450 with the V10 and have run into NO problems with gas from any station. The engine management computer does a good job. I use no additives.

If however you want more power, the same computer needs to be re-programed. I have not yet made that change, however from my research 5-Star Tuning is the way to go for a Ford. It changes the engine operation parameters as well as shift points. We all know that the factory settings are a compromise, to meet the many different environments and regulations.

The Ford E350 and E450 are Commercial workhorses and are well proven for reliability.

I hope you enjoy the Journey.

Hey Old Me,
Me Old Too

It's only Smoke & Mirrors at the "Land of the Mouse & Duck" And, maybe sometimes South East Florida.

Those Ford V-10s scared me at first, and I've been a loyal Ford guy most of my life. As I read more, and you can't buy the old "Cleveland Engines' anymore, and Bill Elliot (that's another story), I've learned to accept what's inevitable. In some instances, the 10's get better mileage that V-8s. The rig I bought, if it had come with the V-10 package, I would have bought it.

I haven't had mine very long and it seems to me, the shift points could be better. I should know more when I get the tow package set up. There's a speed shop in Clearwater that does this, albeit rather expensive (what isn't these days). If push comes to shove, I will consider this also.

One other thing while I've got your attention:
In most of my other work trucks with high mileage, I always used premium oil SAE 20/50. In this 2008 big block, it says use SAE 5/20. What's up with that?

Thanks Old Me,
Where in Florida?

Where: First Hernando Co. then Clearwater.

I was concerned about the oil also.
Ford says SAE 5W-20 engine oil.
Ford has Synthetic Blends and Synthetic up to 5W-50.
From all I have read it came from getting more MPG across the board to help meet Fed regulations.

I did recently run into something unexpected with the wife's CRV in reference to oil and additives.

The electronic control for the variable cam timing went out only after 20,000 mikes. It is electronically controlled but has a oil pressure switch attached to the cam gears as a part of that process.

In searching for a reason for the failure, I found numerous references to oil and additives that made the oil too heavy for variable timing pressure switches. Heaver oil causes that pressure switch to fail.

The 5 Star Tuning that I mentioned, reprograms the shift points also as a pert of what it does. I have not searched to see of B&M or another transmission specialist offer an "oil time" transmission kit that would make for firmer shifting or change sift points.

Hope you have many enjoyable miles.
Rolin
Explorer
May 04, 2014
Hi Jackson 74,
Another V10 owner here. No problems with ethanol gas....just poorer mileage. These new engines seem to have figured out how to deal with the ethanol issues. I do put some additive in the fuel if we are going to let it set for more than 30 days. That seems to do the trick. Runs great (even the generator).

For our 26 foot Class B+ the V10 has plenty of power so we haven't made any modifications. Rather spend that money traveling. Get around 9mpg average with a light foot and no toad.

I was also perplexed with the 5/20 weight oil, but it does not seem to use excessive oil and I think that it helps with the mpg. The V10 is a bit thirsty, but very reliable.

The more I RV, the larger my bucket list becomes. Enjoy your travels.
Jackson74
Explorer
May 04, 2014
Oldme wrote:
Welcome.

We left Fl. 5 years ago after being feed up with smoke and mirrors for 17 years. It is really like a magic show. All an illusion.

You bucket list sounds great.

The E350 is a Standard Ford build. They are built to work on the gas of today.
I have a 2000 E450 with the V10 and have run into NO problems with gas from any station. The engine management computer does a good job. I use no additives.

If however you want more power, the same computer needs to be re-programed. I have not yet made that change, however from my research 5-Star Tuning is the way to go for a Ford. It changes the engine operation parameters as well as shift points. We all know that the factory settings are a compromise, to meet the many different environments and regulations.

The Ford E350 and E450 are Commercial workhorses and are well proven for reliability.

I hope you enjoy the Journey.

Hey Old Me,
Me Old Too

It's only Smoke & Mirrors at the "Land of the Mouse & Duck" And, maybe sometimes South East Florida.

Those Ford V-10s scared me at first, and I've been a loyal Ford guy most of my life. As I read more, and you can't buy the old "Cleveland Engines' anymore, and Bill Elliot (that's another story), I've learned to accept what's inevitable. In some instances, the 10's get better mileage that V-8s. The rig I bought, if it had come with the V-10 package, I would have bought it.

I haven't had mine very long and it seems to me, the shift points could be better. I should know more when I get the tow package set up. There's a speed shop in Clearwater that does this, albeit rather expensive (what isn't these days). If push comes to shove, I will consider this also.

One other thing while I've got your attention:
In most of my other work trucks with high mileage, I always used premium oil SAE 20/50. In this 2008 big block, it says use SAE 5/20. What's up with that?

Thanks Old Me,
Where in Florida?
adlereins
Explorer
May 04, 2014
That trip sounds like a great way to start. My first "real" trip won't be for another couple of weeks and then to the beach here on the left coast. Have fun & be safe!!
Al
Jackson74
Explorer
May 04, 2014
adlereins wrote:
Hi Jack and welcome to the "re-purposed RV rental" group :B I bought my 2006 E450 (Tioga) from El Monte RV. Gotta love the 12/12 warranty. I have had only minor problems that El Monte has already agreed to fix. Taking it in this Tuesday. I hope that you have zero problems with yours. How long have you had it? You will find a wealth of information on this and other forums. Seems I've been reading for weeks:) Keep posting and let us know how it goes.
Al

Hi Al
Cruise America was somewhat reluctant to furnish previous documentation on the rig I wanted. Then I remembered the old saying Dad always used... "The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Oil". This worked.

As I investigated further, this seemed to be standard practice for Cruise America, not so for El Monte RV. I received all 6 new Goodyear tires, new brakes, and a complete paint job with original graphics. I was and am satisfied. Their one year warranty was enough for me.

The one place I was not satisfied with was Lazy Days, the one in Tampa FL. It seemed they wanted nothing to do with those that wanted a "Previously Enjoyed" motorhome. Not to mention they swarmed like a school of feeding sharks and tried to encourage me from class C to class A.

We leave tomorrow for Sebastian Inlet on Florida's east coast. About half-way south between Daytona and Miami. I know a charter boat captain that promises me a cooler full of Spanish Mackerel...Yum. 10 days, this will be our first real shake-down.

Thanks Again,
Jack