dalerussel
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Great towing experience
Since the roadside assistance applies to all vehicles, we called when we had battery problems in Phoenix. They responded quickly and towed our car to the dealership. In 8 years we have used this 3 times. Once was for an RV tire problem while the other two times were for auto battery issues. I couldn’t be more pleased with the service provided.4.8KViews0likes4CommentsRe: How Do You Evaluate Floor Plans?
Our needs include a king size bed and a shower tall enough for me to fit, I am 6'3". It should have a living space that allows at least 4 people to sit comfortably while not using the dinette. Also consider outside storage because larger folding chairs might not fit. If you are taking children, bunk beds are nice, not only for sleeping, but also so they have their own "den." It also keeps the rest of the RV cleaner when you get up in the morning. There are no hidabeds or dinettes to put back together.548Views0likes0CommentsRe: If you had to buy again today...
We use our motorhome about 2 mos a year. For cost reasons, we have always had a gas motorhome. We started with a 29' Class C with no slides. It was a good starter motorhome but we outgrew it. It seemed too cramped in the living room and bathroom to use for any length of time but it was really easy to manage. We then moved to a 35' Class A with two 18' slides. It has 2 bunk beds (took two gradchildren last summer) and a king size (short) bed. The larger RV has more room but doesn't handle as well. I am not sure if that is due to length or because the Class A is taller. The Class C drove a lot like our pick up truck. If I were to buy now, I would get a 30' Class A (due to headroom) with a slide in the living area. As a note, our biggest maintenance/repair headache and cost has been with our slides.233Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cost to set up Toad
We bought a 2014 CRV to use as a toad. It cost about $3800 to set it and our gas rv up for towing. This included all new equipment, labor and taxes. The items installed were: Blue Ox baseplate Blue Ox Avail tow bar Wiring harness SMI braking system Brake notification light run to the RV drivers console Fusemaster disconnect switch for the CRV The CRV is only about 3300 lbs and with the latest Blue Ox tow bar it tows well. It is also very easy to hook up and unhook. We went to a Blue Ox recommended installer who set up both the CRV and the motorhome in one day.781Views0likes0CommentsRe: Need to replace all window treatments. Suggestions?
As a cheap fix, we cut some reflective window insullation to the size of our bedroom window. We put it underneath our shades when we want it dark. It also helps with temperature control while parked. Camping World sells rolls of this. We also use this in our front windshield under the curtains.435Views0likes0CommentsRe: Narrowing down a Class A
We have a 2009 Winnebago Chalet 35JR (same as Sightseer 35J). It has 2 bunks, a front TV and a king size back bed. The bunks are permanent, but it has a dinette that makes into a bed, a jack knife sofa and a separate chair in the living space. The bunks have built in DVD players.319Views0likes0CommentsRe: Honda CRV
We had a Blue Ox recommended shop install everything at once including our SMI braking system, the fuse disconnect switch, the wiring harness and the brake indicator light inside the RV's cab. Since the company does a lot of these, it was a very professional installation, much cleaner and faster than I would have done.418Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tow bars
For our first experience towing 4 wheels down, we bought the Blue Ox Avail tow bar. We used it this summer and it was easy to use once we figured it out. It follows well when turning, especially in gas stations where things might be tight. The price you were quoted is in line with what we paid for our system. If you go to a different brand of tow bar, will you have to get a new baseplate? That could be an extra expense. A couple of suggestions: 1. If you have trouble getting both arms to latch when hooking up, turn the toad's steering wheel towards the unlatched arm. Drive the RV a few feet and the arm locks easily. Found this suggestion on you tube. 2. While stopped for gas one day I checked the tow bar. The O-pin that keeps the 1/2" pin holding the tow bar arm to the baseplate fell out. The connecting pin was still there but the quick pin was not. We now travel with extra ones of these and will get a lock next summer.233Views0likes0CommentsRe: Honda CRV
We tow a 2 wheel drive, 2014 CRV with our gas motorhome. We use a Blue Ox baseplate and their Avail tow bar. We have an SMI stay in Play Duo braking system and a fuse disconnect switch. Positives: easy to set up, light and gets reasonable gas mileage when driven. The Honda user manual supports towing and gives clear instructions on vehicle preparation. Negatives: takes about 5 minutes running each day (to lubricate the transmission) before we tow and after 8 hrs towing. Also, there is not as much leg room as I would like, I am 6'3".417Views0likes0CommentsRe: slide out
Attended the annual Winnebago rally the summer and asked this question to their maintenance trainer. He said their slide rails are engineered to work without lube and recommended against it. He also suggested that you should use a good wax on the sides of the slides to reduce friction when deploying or bringing in a slide.196Views0likes0Comments
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