Short Trip Report October 03, 2007, 12:36:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145First off let me say that I read all of the posts here with a lot ofinterest, and thank everyone that takes the time to write, and themoderators for the forum.I have a 2007 Four Winds 35B, with the 6.6 Duramax, and we justreturned from a 3K + trip from Texas to Las Vegas, to San Diego, on toLos Angeles (Castaic) , and back to Texas. I have not weighed the MH, but I do pull a car dolly(Roadmaster), and a 2005 VW Passat(diesel).We averaged 8.5 MPG, with a high of 9, 5 thru California (55 MPH speedlimit when towing). We had 2 problems, the turn signals quit, and wegot them fixed at a Chevrolet Dealership in Phoenix, and the automaticstep quit deploying, I replaced the motor and board on this myself inSan Diego.This was our second long trip, as we went to Phoenix Az and back inJune. On that trip the main slide refused to first deploy, and then toretract once we jumped the electrical system to get it out. Thiswasn't a big problem because we stayed in the Phoenix campground for amonth, and we were able to have a mobile RV repair service fix itbefore we left. The problem was the ignition override solenoid locatedinside the right rear wheel well. I believe we averaged about 8 MPG onthat trip.Next up, we leave for the east coast early next week, and this tripshould be another 3K+ miles. I'll post a trip report on this one whenwe return.ThanksPat Drake Quote Selected
Re: Short Trip Report Reply #1 – October 03, 2007, 01:08:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 146 Thanks for the info Pat.For the repairs you did yourself did you submit the parts invoice to Thor for a refund?BTW, there is no moderator on this forum. I'm the forum owner (in terms of Yahoo's classification) but I'm not moderating the forum at all. The only reason I do not allow automatic sign up is that other forums I've been on that do allow "unapproved participation" have been flooded with spam. This way I won't necessarily stop a spammer from getting on but I can knock one off immediately if we detect spam and then they have to go through application with a new address to get back on - and that usually stops them.I've only withheld approval for one applicant so far. There was no indication that he/she had a Kodiak or was interested in acquiring one. I sent a note back asking about such interest but never got a reply so I didn't approve that person for participation.We now have 50 participants and 6 of them get no email and check the web site periodically. The other 44 are a mix of individual emails and the daily digest. Those who get the daily digest should recognize that the digest, like web site access, does not include attachments (such as the price list and Kodiak specs that were attached the other day).Hope your next trip goes well. Near the end of the month we will be taking our first long trip - 1400 miles to Florida. When we get there we will have about 3700 miles on the Greyhawk and I'll be approaching 6 months and the need for a drive train lube (especially u-joints). I'll have to get a grease gun and do it myself since I'm not going to "break camp" (we will be on our lot until mid April at least) and go looking for a lube. In May we will get the first annual maintenance done which will include an oil change. We will have about 5300 miles on and I'm going to ask Allison if waiting to 5300 for the 5000 miles filter change is OK. If they say it isn't (can't imagine that reply) then I'll have to change it before we leave Florida.Anyone else do their own drive train lube?Donpat.drake wrote: Quote Selected
Re: Short Trip Report Reply #2 – October 03, 2007, 01:47:05 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147I did submit them to Thor for reimbursement, but since I did not seekpre-approval I will be reimbursed dealer cost for the step parts.Their explanation was that if I had called them first, they could havesent the parts at their cost(which they couldn't have since I wasn'tgoing to be there that long, but that's neither here nor there thestep is fixed).When you start to travel and need repairs you may find as I did thatthere is a very long wait time for service at RV dealerships, and youcan do it yourself, or use a Mobile RV service to get around theproblem. In either case you run the risk of having to pay up front andthen dealing with Thor for the refund.On the lube question, my Duramax has the Oil Life system, where theonboard computer tells you when it's time to change the oil. Thisnotification came inroute from Phoenix Az to Las Vegas, and I solvedit by having a mobile lube service come to the Oasis RV park and dothe Oil+Filter+Allison Filter+Chassis and Drive train lube for $130.Sounds a little steep, but worth it to me to eliminate the hassle offinding someplace to do it and interrupting the trip.Pat, "Donald A. Leslie"wrote:QuoteThanks for the info Pat.For the repairs you did yourself did you submit the parts invoice toThor for a refund?BTW, there is no moderator on this forum. I'm the forum owner (interms of Yahoo's classification) but I'm not moderating the forum at all.The only reason I do not allow automatic sign up is that other forums I'vebeen on that do allow "unapproved participation" have been flooded withspam. This way I won't necessarily stop a spammer from getting on butI can knock one off immediately if we detect spam and then they have togo through application with a new address to get back on - and thatusually stops them.I've only withheld approval for one applicant so far. There was noindication that he/she had a Kodiak or was interested in acquiringone.QuoteI sent a note back asking about such interest but never got a replyso IQuotedidn't approve that person for participation.We now have 50 participants and 6 of them get no email and check theweb site periodically. The other 44 are a mix of individual emails and thedaily digest. Those who get the daily digest should recognize that thedigest, like web site access, does not include attachments (such asthe price list and Kodiak specs that were attached the other day).Hope your next trip goes well. Near the end of the month we will betaking our first long trip - 1400 miles to Florida. When we get therewe will have about 3700 miles on the Greyhawk and I'll be approaching 6months and the need for a drive train lube (especially u-joints). I'llhave to get a grease gun and do it myself since I'm not going to "breakcamp" (we will be on our lot until mid April at least) and go lookingfor a lube. In May we will get the first annual maintenance donewhich will include an oil change. We will have about 5300 miles on and I'mgoing to ask Allison if waiting to 5300 for the 5000 miles filterchange Quote Selected
Re: Short Trip Report Reply #3 – October 03, 2007, 02:06:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148 I've got the onboard computer oil change calc as well but we won't come close to a change oil message by the end of the first year (since most of our 3700 miles will be at 60 mph and 1890 rpm) as I would expect to get the message at 7000 miles at the earliest (with our Tahoe it was much higher than that and the last monthly report on OnStar for this next change indicates it won't be until over 10,000 miles (well, I get it in KMs and that is over 16,000 kms). We will never know though since we will hit the one year interval for the Kodiak before the mileage limit.I might look for a mobile RV service in Manatee County in Florida to do the Allison filter change and the chassis lube. Sounds like a good way to do it. Oil change at 3700 would be a bit too early. Perhaps I should just let it sit until April, have it all done mid-April and that is close enough to May 23 that the whole works could be done. Something I'll have to consider if I can find a competent mobile RV service (anyone who winters in the Manatee/Sarasota county area have any recommendations?).OH, $130 steep? In August of 2006 we had our first annual done for the Ambassador - including oil and filter on the Onan 7.5 diesel gennie (only 12 hours on it). They changed both Allison filters (3000MH) which there was no need for and by the time we were done with extra TranSynd and all the filters on the Cummins ISC in US$ we were well approaching $900. Now you can be happy with the $130 charge. Donpat.drake wrote: Quote Selected
Re: Short Trip Report Reply #4 – October 03, 2007, 04:29:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 149Great report Pat.8.5 and 9.5 mpg seem on the low side for 55 mph. Our Kodiak D/A gets aconstant 10+ mpg at 60 mph. Some trips here in MI get over 11 mpg.Craig Davis gets 10 mpg also. How many miles do you have on your Kodiak?The oil change light came on ours last spring near Reno, NV. Thoughtthere was something wrong with engine. Until I got the owners manualand found out the funny icon meant to change oil. Had just had oilchanged about 100 miles before light came on. Had oil, filter, fuelfilter, and lube done at Speedco for $148. Quote Selected
Re: Short Trip Report Reply #5 – October 03, 2007, 04:32:48 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150 Looks to me like the dealer didn't reset the oil minder. That is what I like about the Tahoe - it shows the percentage left before it has to be changed. With our Equinox and the former toad (Colorado) we never had it come on so we can only guess that they reset it - but we got the oil changed every 5000 KM (3000 miles). Now the dealer says don't come near us until the light tells you to.We have yet to get over 8.0 MPG with the 8.1 not towing. I keep wondering what it will be like when we start towing the Tahoe? 7 or less?D Quote Selected
Re: Short Trip Report Reply #6 – October 03, 2007, 05:01:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1518 to 9 mpg is what most 8.1's get. You need to spend less time settingin line at the border. The D/A's should do 10 mpg at 55 easy.Our MH had 7,000 miles on it when we bought it. Dealer did a oilchange before delivering it. Light came on about 19,000 miles. If ithad never been reset normal miles would have been 15,000. Maybe I ambabying it to much and did not require a oil change. The engine needsto have a quart of oil added about 8 to 9,000 miles. I start lookingfor a place to get it changed after that. Just added a quart thismorning. Need to get oil/lube done when we get on road to TX laterthis month. Quote Selected
Re: Short Trip Report Reply #7 – October 03, 2007, 05:10:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152 Ron, we were in Waterford this past weekend but didn't take the motorhome as we left early Sat due to a Special Olympic function on Friday evening. The lineup at Port Huron looked really good - not long at all. 45 minutes later we got through. Someone needs to learn how to do their work. It wasn't much faster on the way home Sunday night.I sure hope we can get 8+ otherwise we are going to have to stop fairly often to make sure we don't run too low just in case we get stuck in a traffic jam.Donps. Son really had a silly accident on last lap of his last race. Going to cost him several thousand to fix the damage. Quote Selected
Re: Short Trip Report Reply #8 – October 03, 2007, 07:34:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153Ron, the MH now has 11650 miles, I probably don't drive it like Ishould, plus some of the California route was through the mountains.Pat-- In KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Hall" wrote:QuoteGreat report Pat.8.5 and 9.5 mpg seem on the low side for 55 mph. Our Kodiak D/A gets aconstant 10+ mpg at 60 mph. Some trips here in MI get over 11 mpg.Craig Davis gets 10 mpg also. How many miles do you have on yourKodiak? Quote Selected