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Desert_Captain's avatar
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Apr 19, 2014

Pre trip prep...what am I forgetting?

We will be leaving in less than two weeks for a serious, as in 2 months 7,500 mile, cross country trip. Highlights will be driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, a stop in Annapolis and then on to New England to visit my brides family with a quick run up to Maine. From there across the top of the lower 48 to Elkhart for a visit to the Nexus factory to add a couple of toys. On through Indiana and up into Michigan to visit more relatives and friends before heading down to Branson and home by July first.

Our C is a Nexus Phantom 23P with 16,000 miles (see sig), and I have been crossing off most of my pre trip checklist. Here is what I have done or am about to do before we depart:

Got 6 brand dandy new Michelin LTX M/S 2's courtesy of the recall about 2 months ago so I will be getting all of the wheels retorqued and the pressure checked to be sure I'm still running 55 psi in all 6 + the spare.

I went with pure synthetic on my first oil change 6,000 miles ago so I'll get the oil changed a little early for good measure. Going to have the transmission fluid changed and will go with full synthetic there as well.

Replaced what was probably the original air filter with a new Fram.

Washed the rig yesterday and waxed ( 2 coats of Nu Finish), the front of the coach. I hope to finish waxing the rest before we leave but it looks pretty good right now so....:h

The generator has 33 hours on it so I'll be changing the oil and filter and cleaning/gapping the plug as well.

I travel with a brand new spare mounted on the rear bumper and a 100 psi (HF), 3 gallon pancake compressor, 8 ton bottle jack and jack stands, large, very heavy duty cross/X lug wrench, torque wrench and tire repair kit. I have the Tire Trakker TPMS and an infra red thermometer for checking tire/wheel/brake temps at each fuel stop and at the end of the day.

Yes I have CoachNet but if they can't get to me right away I can change out the spare safely. CoachNet provides a very complete, free, trip planner service. We now have guide books and local info for the entire trip.

We have the Rand McNally 7720 LM RV GPS, Passport America Membership, Good Sam Membership and our beloved "Geezer" cards. The Scan Gauge II keeps us rolling along with all of the data I could ever want.

We put 10,000 miles on the rig the first 7 months we had it so I don't feel like there should be any surprises. So what am I missing? Thanks in advance for all of the sage advice to come. :B
Class C

16 Replies

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  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Apr 19, 2014
    Dick_B wrote:
    I read it fast but didn't see a GPS which we find very helpful. Search this Forum for GPS for more input. Some will say a map is just as good BUT a map will not find an address!


    Evelyn Wood would be proud but you missed this...

    "We have the Rand McNally 7720 LM RV GPS,"

    :B
  • OldRadios's avatar
    OldRadios
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2014
    Hank85713 wrote:
    I dont care for how the v10 operates so I have a 5Star tuner yet to install. Supposed to clear the poor throttle control and the dropping into high rpm ranges as a result. It also claims to give 10% mileage improvement?? Make sure that the trans is capable of synthetic fluids. I know ford does not in some cases recommend that route but it will depend on year model, check your owners manual.
    Other than that have fun.


    I don't have any problems with the V10. Mine hardly ever down shifts. Usually only on the largest hills when pulling a trailer. Don't believe everything you read on the Internet about getting a 10% mileage increase. If Ford could have done it they would have.


    My new Michelins came in in about 30 days. You need to get them on order. They aren't going to show up in stock until all the back orders are filled.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2014
    I read it fast but didn't see a GPS which we find very helpful. Search this Forum for GPS for more input. Some will say a map is just as good BUT a map will not find an address!
  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Apr 19, 2014
    Hank85713 wrote:
    I dont know how much storage you have but it seems to be a lot for the items you describe. I would say ditch the lug wrench and get an electric one instead, the compressor is fairly large unless its a small type but a pancake takes room. Jack stands again very large items. I dont have large storage areas so I cant carry all that stuff, I do have the hydralic levelers so they can aid if I need to pull a tire. I have a HF electric lug wrench, and a 12T jack I got there on sale, I know its overkill but for $10!

    Anyhow where did you get the tires, everyone tells me they are non-existant out here. I am waiting till mid next month before I make a decision to go with or change brands. We will be going just the opposite of you it seems, wife want to go to disney world! Will return via mid america route but dont plan to return till end of july. The buses I drive go 250 hrs on oil changes for generators, so 30-50 as you suggest may be overkill. I dont know what you plan on oil changes but I think the ford calls for 7500, and even with synthetic I will only go about 6 maximum. I dont care for how the v10 operates so I have a 5Star tuner yet to install. Supposed to clear the poor throttle control and the dropping into high rpm ranges as a result. It also claims to give 10% mileage improvement?? Make sure that the trans is capable of synthetic fluids. I know ford does not in some cases recommend that route but it will depend on year model, check your owners manual.

    Other than that have fun.


    We are lucky that there is so much storage available in our C. We have only used about 60% of the available space inside. The outside bays are fairly full. Fully loaded we are 1,500# under our GVWR of 11,500. I may have to get to HF to look at the electric lug wrenches. How much do they run? The Pancake compressor is very compact and lives under the dinette seating. Used it three times to repair tires on our old TT.

    I won't get under any vehicle that is supported only by the jack so the jack stand imparts a little more security and fits easily under the dinette with the compressor. I do all of my tire (brakes, shocks and fluid change), business with Fletcher tires and they have been nothing short of amazing over the last 7 years(haven't paid for an oil change in 6 years). Got my new Michelins about 2 months ago and they had no trouble finding them. Also a call to Discount Tire confirmed their availability. I would recommend staying with the Michelin LTX M/S 2's. I put them on my truck and they are the best tires I've ever run.

    This will be the first oil change for the genny and they recommend it at 25 to 30 hours so it is due. Every 100 hours after that but it will take 2 years to put that many hours as we just don't use it all that much. Fletcher always runs the vin to verify the applicability of fluids before changing any (it is a 2011 Ford E-350 Chassis), but if compatible I would like to go with full synthetic for the tranny as well as the oil.

    I'm curious as to what it is that you are unhappy about with the V-10. I love mine, it is beast that runs like a swiss clock and gets pretty decent mileage. The 5 speed torque shift trans is a jewel that mates well with the torquey V-10. Forgot to mention I have the Progressive Industries 30 amp EMS system and my old 30 amp surge guard for a backup. Thanks again. :B
  • Hank85713's avatar
    Hank85713
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2014
    I dont know how much storage you have but it seems to be a lot for the items you describe. I would say ditch the lug wrench and get an electric one instead, the compressor is fairly large unless its a small type but a pancake takes room. Jack stands again very large items. I dont have large storage areas so I cant carry all that stuff, I do have the hydralic levelers so they can aid if I need to pull a tire. I have a HF electric lug wrench, and a 12T jack I got there on sale, I know its overkill but for $10!

    Anyhow where did you get the tires, everyone tells me they are non-existant out here. I am waiting till mid next month before I make a decision to go with or change brands. We will be going just the opposite of you it seems, wife want to go to disney world! Will return via mid america route but dont plan to return till end of july. The buses I drive go 250 hrs on oil changes for generators, so 30-50 as you suggest may be overkill. I dont know what you plan on oil changes but I think the ford calls for 7500, and even with synthetic I will only go about 6 maximum. I dont care for how the v10 operates so I have a 5Star tuner yet to install. Supposed to clear the poor throttle control and the dropping into high rpm ranges as a result. It also claims to give 10% mileage improvement?? Make sure that the trans is capable of synthetic fluids. I know ford does not in some cases recommend that route but it will depend on year model, check your owners manual.

    Other than that have fun.
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Apr 19, 2014
    If you hve your GEEZER cards you are truly "GOOD TO GO"

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