NHIrish
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Re: Solidtude 390RK
I can't answer your question on the 390RK, but I can tell you that I just traded a 2016 Bighorn for my new Solitude 310GK and the fit and finish is far superior to the Bighorn. I had loads of Bighorn issues in the first year and essentially zero issues at PDI and first trip with the Solitude. Good luck! cgaskins wrote: A question for you Grand Design Solitude 390RK owners.... We are considering trading our Heartland 5er for a Grand Design Solitude 390RK-R. We have not been to visit one in person yet for a myriad of reason but I wanted to get some feedback from current owners of that model before we go to the dealership. Can someone post a photo of the inside of the coach -> looking from the door back to the kitchen with the slides IN? I can't see to find a photo of that anywhere. Are you able to control the slides individually? Since the refrigerator and kitchen are all the way in the back (which we think we like), it kinda makes it a little more difficult to stop by the side of the road for quick lunch if you have to run out all the slides. We are not full timers (weekenders trending towards anytimers) so our unit has to sit in a covered storage facility for a few months at a time. Due to size/width restrictions, I have to store my RV with slides IN. On my current 5er, we are able to leave the refrigerator doors open to help with ventilation, mold, sell, etc. Is this even possible with the 390RK? Last question - tell me things you don't like about your 390RK. Thank you. Chris823Views0likes0CommentsRe: Slide creeps out
Could also be a bypass leak in a piston....in other words, no exterior leak but the pressure leaks down internally. The problem is figuring out the leak is...check with the system manufacturer or rv manufacturer for troubleshooting recommendations. I found that many rv mechanics have no clue about hydraulics, so find a good independent!965Views0likes0CommentsRe: Avoiding Washington and Baltimore
I make this trip quite a bit, and will be just a day ahead of you. Lately, I think that 81 is no better than 95 and can often place you in winter weather this time of year due to elevation etc. Rte. 95 has gotten much better. Not sure how far you are going, or which direction, but also avoid the George Washington bridge in NYC. It is horrible, as is the Cross Bronx expressway that you will find yourself on. Use the Tappen Zee bridge north of the city. So, the only issue is traveling with propane through Baltimore...you can't use the tunnel. The route to take is 695, over the John Phillip Sousa bridge. I have always used 95 from Baltimore to DC. There is a 295 from Baltimore to Washington...but I don't know anything about it. Around DC is not an issue, take the outer loop...just follow the 495 signs. As a general statement, it is best to avoid rush hour in either of these places. Safe travels!717Views0likes0CommentsRe: King pin weight
Sure...you are over GVWR. By that definition, you are overweight. But I agree that the real question here is can you safely tow this...is the GVWR a real number? My experience with my new Ford F350 4x4 diesel sclb was enlightening. The GVWR for the truck is 11500, and the yellow stickered payload capacity is somewhere around 3600. So far, so good...but I am right about there with my Heartland Bighorn and two people in the truck. At or slightly over, depending on how I am loaded. Not enough to worry about but all the hype on the capacities of the truck and this is all I get????? So...I look to the Ford towing guide, which says that my truck configuration has a payload capacity something like 4680...just a tad higher than the 3600 stickered payload (going from memory here) for the 4x4 sclb. Now don't tell me that the Lariat leather seats took up all that capacity. The same tow guide limited fifth wheel weights to 18,000 lbs. (mine is gross rated at 15,500)only because the Ford fifth wheel hitch is the limiting factor....use a higher rated hitch and the numbers go up into the 20,000+ range. The question becomes...what does all of this seemingly conflicting information mean. The yellow stickered GVWR tells me that I can barely tow this trailer that weighs about 14,500 loaded. The tow guide ratings published by the manufacturer tell another tale. My opinion, based on calculations and lots of time looking at it was that the GVWR is a registration/taxation construct. Real world numbers are dictated by axle ratings and tire ratings. Real world test; Hooked up and headed on 8000 mile trip towing through the Colorado Rockies. The payload didn't even make the rear hit the overload springs. I had added Timbren springs and they came into play at the same time as the overload springs....rough roads etc., and barely at that. My experience confirmed what I thought.....so as others have said, I would look to the tow guide for your year and study the axle, tire and payload capacities. I'm a pretty conservative guy...but GVWR for me is a nice goal but not a real-world limit. Anybody that says that you are risking your life by being over the GVWR just hasn't looked at the real ratings. Your tires and wheels are the real world limiting factor for you....but I would also add that you are pretty darn close on that rear axle rating and you have a 10 year old truck. I would be more comfortable in a truck with higher ratings. All the best.597Views0likes0CommentsRe: Mount Washington New Hampshire
Franconia notch state park has full hookups. It's officially Canon State park on the amenities chart below. https://www.nhstateparks.org/uploads/pdf/campgroundsAmenities.pdf Near Mount Washington is a pretty big area...for example, Berlin is near Mt. Wash, but 45 minutes from North Conway...which is arguably the most tourist-oriented area in northern NH. There are two sides to Mt. Washington that offer non-hiking access to the summit. The Cog Railway is on the western slope and is in Bretton Woods, and the Mt. Washington auto road is on the Pinkham notch side (Eastern slopes). If you want people and outlets, North Conway is your place. The Franconia notch park will offer a much more natural environment in the midst of many major hiking trails and fairly close to the Cog railway. Most NH state parks do not have full hookups. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.393Views0likes0CommentsRe: LT G-Rated Tires
If you went to G rated tires to take advantage of their added carrying capacity, you are not getting that at 80 psi...although you are likely better off than you were because of the more robust build of the tire. For my money, I would air them to 110 to take full advantage of the increased load rating...which is the reason you did this in the first-place. If your rims are rated for 110 psi you are good but will need metal hp valve stems. Some will argue that you need to weigh all wheels and air them according to weight and psi charts. Neither is wrong, but one is a lot easier than the other. Road forces are hard to predict, and I like all the extra capacity I can get. The argument against automatically going to 110 psi is that it increases the harshness of the ride...which is not an issue in my mind.458Views0likes0CommentsRe: Bilstein vs Rancho
True tor sure. Those Rancho shocks on your Ford 4x4 are not Rancho shocks...oem junk with a Rancho label. That in itself makes me leary or Rancho. FYI...I did confirm this with Rancho when I fought to have the rusted rancho shocks replaced on my new Ford F350....right off the lot. Rancho confirmed that they were not Rancho...name only. PDX.Zs wrote: Funny. Ranch is owned by Tenneco. You can look it up, but suffice to say they are one of the largest auto parts supplier to the oem, aftermarket, and heavy industrial sectors. They are the real deal. They also make shocks for virtually every other aftermarket suspension maker. So whatever the sticker on your shock says, if it doesn't say Bilstein, KYB, or OME, chances are it came from Tenneco. So, along those line, there is Rancho and then there is RANCHO. Rancho is happy to sell you a low-performing shock with the Rancho name on it or a higher performing shock with the Rancho name on it. So when you say "Rancho vs. Bilstein?!", the first question needs to be, "Exactly which Rancho are you talking about?" At it's most basic, the 5000 is cheap oem replacement, the 5000x is a nice gas shock, the 7000 is similar to the X with a higher charge and stiffer ride and the 9000 is adjustable. Shocks are one of those never-ending internet debates, with no right answers for everyone. But I hope this info helps a little bit. :-)1.2KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Are All Undercoats Created Equal?
Take a look at fluid film. I use it on my trailer frame and truck frame. Apply it annually. The best bet is to buy the spray gun kit for your compressor and spray once a year. It is a lanolin based product and it works well...and you can use it over existing rust. Should you not be the type that likes to crawl around on the ground, you can go to their website and find a local automotive sprayer.601Views0likes0CommentsRe: I have never been as frustrated with a service as with Dish
full_mosey wrote: rhagfo wrote: Wow, never had that big of issue, I always made sure to cancel my service after a weekend. Then I only owed for that weekend next time. We always laughed at the “Please Come Back” emails we would get. X2! We only pay for the days we use. I have been on Pay-as-you go since Jan 2014. We call to cancel and reactivate online at mydish.com, both at will. Out last reactivation cost $7.66 because of the credit balance left over from the previous cancellation. Yes, $7.66 was three(3) days of use! This is different from what bill.satellite posted. Granted it was problematic for the first few years, but this year has been Easy-Peasy. OP, get on the correct plan. HTH; John Are you saying that you can shut off the dish pay as you go monthly plan after a portion of the month? I used to do that years ago but was told it is no longer possible???????? To the OP, make sure that your receiver is compatible with the dish that you are using. Not all are. Also, the cable length for most of the small antennas is 50', and many RV's have substandard cable. I added a new access point for cable attachment on my Bighorn...the easiest way to bypass rv cables. For the poster concerned about cost of dish going up, they now have a basic plan with a la carte. I think it was about $45.00 for locals and a bunch of the other stuff like hgtv etc...609Views0likes0Comments
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