Greg's Trip Post Mortum June 11, 2008, 10:03:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 1181Okay the trip is over and we survived with a few foibles along the way.I'll give a brief run down of the events and plan.Original plan was to take the Greyhawk 32SS from Raleigh, NC to Denver, CO, then on to Moab, UT, Monument Valley, Albuquerque, NM, San Antonio, TX and back home.The final trip ended up being Denver, Moab, Monument Valley, Home.4429 miles19 Days and countless days of prep619 gallons of gasAverage price $3.92/galAverage mileage 7.2 mpgHighest price paid $4.10Lowest price paid $3.75Highest peak crossed at roadway 12,400 ftSteepest grade 8 1/2% Shocking how steep that really looks.I'm worn out and the motorhome went back to the dealer for some warrantywork and they'll probably have it for a couple of weeks. There is a TSBout for the exhaust hangar problem, but mine didn't break where theyhave the usual problem.Both a/c units work, but the thermostats are shot, or at least one ofthem is so it doesn't run the front unit. The other runs, but is way offon the temp. At least we had some cool coming out of one of them when itwas 106 in Grants, NM. The humidity may have been 3%, but it was hot nomatter how you look at it.The trip to Denver was without incident for the most part with theexception of trying to tow the Vue with the emergency brake on.Fortunately that only lasted less than two miles and according to theSaturn dealer there was no damage.When we realized there was a problem we had just gotten on theinterstate in St Louis and fortunately a passing motorist let me know. Ipulled to the shoulder and released the brake before moving on to wherewe could get off the interstate to check it out. I took the first exit Icame to and just stopped on the shoulder of the ramp. After lookingthings over and deciding it was okay I headed back up front and amotorist pulled over and rolled his window down. The guy said, "I don'tknow if you know it or not, but you've pulled over in probably the worstpossible place in all of St Louis." I said, "I guess I need to be movingon then" and he said something like "yeah get the hell out of this area" ;-)The trip to Denver from there was okay, but very windy. The slideoutawning on the livingroom unrolled part way and I never did hear backfrom Carefree. No damage and it rolled back in okay. I didn't haveanother problem during the trip. The dealer told me yesterday he's neverheard of a slideout awning coming out.The trip over the mountains to Moab was uneventful and the region thereis just spectacular. I'll never look at westerns the same way againafter going thru monument valley where most were filmed. We saw a bit ofCity Slickers II the other night and recognized the view from Dead HorsePoint which was kinda neat.The last night at Moab took a sorry turn when I almost got into a fightwith the guy next door to us. He refused to leash his dog and one of hisbuddies was the same way so these two big dogs came running over toinvestigate my dog Tica when I took her out. Of course she freaked inher usual way and the big dogs got excited. I said something to the guyswife who came running about the leash law and she gave me some crap. Iput the dog inside and said I'd just go up to the office rather thandebate the rules with her. Then her husband came around the corner andtold her to shut up and told me to go inside. That didn't really setwell with me. We exchanged pleasantries and he bowed up and saidsomething about I was going to have a problem with him. I said I'd justgo to the office and he turned away and spouted some crap about wantingtrouble. Talking to his back didn't set well with me either so we had afew more moments. I finally decided getting into a fight with a guytwice my size and his friends along with being 20 years younger wasn't agreat idea so I backed down. I did go to the office and they sent theowner over to talk with the guys. Kathy was scared to death all nightthey'd do something to our motorhome or car. No more came of it, but itruined a very nice day. These guys were probably mid 30's, had big ClassA motorhomes and each dragging a very expensive outback rigged jeepbehind them. They headed out every day for the jeep trails and lookedlike they were on safari. They may have been in debt up to their eyesfor all I know, but the old saying about you can't buy class certainlystands.After leaving Monument Valley we headed across Indian Route 59 towardsNM and ran into the incredible winds that plagued the area for the fullweek. At one point going across the desert we saw a dust devil that waspretty large and moving towards the highway so I slowed down and triedto time our arrival so they wouldn't coincide. That almost worked :-) Itcrossed in front of us, but damn what a shot we took and it moved usacross half a lane. I was glad there was nothing coming and I had timedit as well as possible.We started hearing a clunking noise and found the exhaust hanger brokenso it was a jury rig with a coat hanger that lasted about 20 miles. Ispent some quality time under the thing at a shopping center trying toget some bolts in the missing rivet hole, but to no avail. I finallygrabbed a hose clamp and tried that. It sorta held until we found acampground in Grants, NM. I talked to the GM road service who was alltoo happy to get a wrecker out there and drag it away, but I wasn't bigon that idea so I went to work and got the bolt in the hole. It held therest of the trip and will probably just stay there.It's at this point where the thermostat gave up the ghost and we nursedalong on one A/C unit. The temps stayed in the 101 - 106 range for a fewdays with winds 35 mph gusting to 45 and occasionally 50. It was severaldays of holding on for dear life. Not fun driving anything in thoseconditions. I was VERY glad I insisted on the optional second a/c unitfor the bedroom which the dealer kept saying was probably a waste ofmoney. Turns out it was $650 well spent. There's no way we could havemade it without air.We also decided to bag the trip to San Antonio as I was worn out and theproblems just made it too worrisome to attempt. We waited all day at onepark for a mobile repairman who was too busy to ever show up. This didprovide some needed rest for me now that I was starting the downhillslide on rest and recovery. I have some health issues that fatigue playshavoc with.We set a plan in motion to travel two days no more than 8 hours each andtake a day off so we followed that the rest of the way home. We stayedat some decent places and a couple of dumps along the way, but we gothome safely.I was glad to finally get home given the worries of a couple problemsand the big clunking sound in the back is still a question. Kathy isready to go again. I'm sure if I ever catch up on rest I'll feeldifferent, but right now I'd be glad to sit for a couple weeks and notget behind the wheel of anything. Hard to admit that I'm no longer theman I used to be...or even close when it comes to stamina. Damned mortality.We planned way too much into the time frame we had to deal with andfinding out I couldn't keep up with the schedule made it rough. We didlearn some things though....or at least I did since she apparentlyalready knew them....naturally :-) We'll plan much more relaxed traveltimes and more rest periods for me in between.We did come in on budget though and the planning software I used wasvery accurate. We really did make good use of the TomTom GPS unit and itwas the best purchase I made for the trip (picked one up for $99). ThePOI's are a bit suspect though as she tried to make me turn the oppositedirection when I could see it from the intersection and it was the otherway :-) All in all it did a great job and was VERY handy a couple of times.The thing is the photos of the canyons and towers don't even do itjustice on the grand scale. It's so massively huge you just can'tappreciate how far it spans in person. I'd like to go back on aleisurely schedule and just take more of it in. If you've been in thatarea you have some idea what I'm talking about.We've made a pact that the next trip is going to be an enjoyment tripwithout such a rigid schedule. Some of the problem lies in the factKathy doesn't want to come home the way she went out and when we leaveDenver she's depressed over knowing she won't see the baby, etc for along time. Sooooo she wants to be entertained and have some fun. Hencethe big after Denver plan each time, but this time it didn't work outwell. I've told her if she wants to go to Denver this way she's going tohave to do it one of two ways:1. go and come back2. don't have a job to come back to, or a house so we can be leisurelyOverall I'm happy with the Greyhawk and the way it handled in the highwinds. The mileage was about what I expected and there were no bigcatastrophes. Had we not had to get back for Kathy's job we could havelaid up in Albuquerque and waited for the Jayco dealer there to work onthe a/c units.The clunking noise in the rear is still an issue and I fully expect thedealer to tell me it's a GM problem or he can't duplicate it. I knewthey'd try to say it was something in a storage bin or the rear hitch soI tested with them empty and that removed and the clunk it still there.The odd part is you don't hear it when you first start in the morningand after about 30 minutes or so it starts. It seems to get worse at theday goes on or I just notice it more. I don't know. I've checkedeverything I can think of as far as finding something loose. It happensas you come off or on the gas so it's a weight shift/torque sort ofthing that causes it.I'll get some photos up on a website when I catch my breath.Take care, Greg Quote Selected
Re: Greg's Trip Post Mortum Reply #1 – June 11, 2008, 11:38:30 am Yahoo Message Number: 1184Many thanks for the report Greg. Lots for me to think about as that trip is HIGH on our list, as you know. I'd love to do it when the MH is still under warranty but it is not looking like that is possible. Frankly, when we cost it out we are wondering about doing it in the Tahoe. It will be shorter on travel time and the cost isn't looking too bad at all. Gas cost will be $2000 less with the Tahoe vs the Kodiak and that amount plus the campground fees will pay for the motels. We'd also be gone a good week less because I can easily travel 600 miles + per day in the Tahoe and still be relaxed (we've concluded it is the best traveling vehicle we've ever had - and that includes a Caddy, Lincoln, SSEi, Mercury, Chrysler LXi Town & Country, Cherokee, LHS, etc).Did you have the clunk before the exhaust problem? I'm almost positive now that my drive line whine is the outcome of the way I rigged the exhaust as it stops instantly when I let off the gas. The vibration comes right through the frame.I got a note from Jayco today apologizing for them not getting back to me on the propane line recall. They said "you are right it doesn't apply to the 32SS."I've told them that I'll try to fix the hanger to eliminate the vibration and if I can't do it they can try it again when we travel back to Middlebury (and waste $250) to have a little paint work done they couldn't do in April.Do keep us posted on that clunk. I have to say I'm not looking forward to being out of warranty. Any drive shaft problems could be a bear to have fixed given the only option will be getting Jayco to ship the parts or have them made from scratch by a truck drive line center. Big $$$ not doubt in either case - and long waits. "IF" we ever get another MH it will not be on a stretched WB without a chassis manufacturer warranty. Frankly, I wonder about the thought process at Jayco and the others who stretch the wheelbases. They know that GM won't cover the warranty and the info Denny posted makes me wonder if the rear end and the transmission will be covered. I think they should be disclosing this to us before we purchase. I figured my entire chassis was covered by GM so obviously I didn't do my homework properly.DonOn 11-Jun-08, at 10:03 AM, Greg Gimlick wrote: Quote Selected
Re: Greg's Trip Post Mortum Reply #2 – June 11, 2008, 02:52:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1185Greg, Really nice report! Almost made me feel as if we were there along withyou... much appreciated. Incidently, since I was there with you, thanks for letting discretion be the better part of valor cause I suredidn't want to get into it with those other jerks either :-)We'll be looking forward to hearing how your problems get worked outand in seeing all your photos.Bill Quote Selected
Re: Greg's Trip Post Mortum Reply #3 – June 11, 2008, 03:07:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1186thanks...........enjoyed the summary alot just wish I could hit the road !!! Quote Selected
Re: Greg's Trip Post Mortum Reply #4 – June 11, 2008, 05:37:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1187Don wrote:QuoteMany thanks for the report Greg. Lots for me to think about as thattrip is HIGH on our list, as you know.Utah has more incredible scenery than anyplace I've seen. We still wantto go back and do Bryce Canyon and the north rim of the Grand Canyon.Alaska always intrigued me when I was there and we want to go back, butUtah is a lot easier to get to and a lot warmer :-)QuoteFrankly, when we cost it out we are wondering about doing it in theTahoe. It will be shorter on travel time and the cost isn't looking toobad at all. Gas cost will be $2000 less with the Tahoe vs the KodiakBy car would certainly be cheaper and faster. Since I don't like motelsand don't want to board the dog for an extended period I still preferthe RV way of travel. This may well change as the current situationunfolds, but I hope I can continue.QuoteDid you have the clunk before the exhaust problem?I think it arrived about the same time, but it's further back on theframe than the exhaust problem was.Quotenow that my drive line whine is the outcome of the way I rigged theexhaust as it stops instantly when I let off the gasI've got a drive line whine too and think it's just a fact of life withthe Kodiak for some reason.QuoteThe vibration comes right through the frame.I don't have a vibration. When my hanger broke it actually lost therivet that holds the two pieces together so I could bolt it back together.QuoteI got a note from Jayco today apologizing for them not getting back tome on the propane line recall. They said "you are right it doesn't applyto the 32SS."Ha :-) I got the recall and the note saying "oops" when I got home.QuoteDo keep us posted on that clunk. I have to say I'm not looking forwardto being out of warranty. Any drive shaft problems could be a bear tohave fixed given the only option will be getting Jayco to ship the partsor have them made from scratch by a truck drive line center.I had one done for one of my sons when he did a Chevelle years ago andit was stretched and balanced. It was a lot cheaper than I thought itwould be, but I'd hate to think I needed to do the same with the motorhome.Quotenot doubt in either case - and long waits. "IF" we ever get another MHit will not be on a stretched WB without a chassis manufacturerwarranty.I agree about the disclosure and it's clear my dealer doesn't want todiscuss it. I told him one day if he wasn't going to service them hemight as well quit talking crap about places like RV Direct becausethere isn't a difference in the end if the buyer is out there on his ownfor everything.I've said I want a class A, but at this time I don't see myself doinganything like that since I think we probably own something we couldn'tsell in todays gas market. Not because it's a bad unit or anything likethat, but I'd hate to try to sell one while gas is so uncertain.QuoteI figured my entire chassis was coveredby GM so obviously I didn't do my homework properly.You and the rest of us. I asked where to get service and was told thenames of two dealers in the area who have since shown they won't touch it.I guess when it comes back from the dealer I will be doing my own oilchange and gen service. I need to get an Allison filter and I'llprobably change the motor oil over to synthetic when I do the oil change.Take care, Greg Quote Selected
Re: Greg's Trip Post Mortum Reply #5 – June 11, 2008, 08:37:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1188Bill wrote:QuoteReally nice report! Almost made me feel as if we were there along withyou... much appreciatedThanks. glad you liked it.. Incidently, since I was there with you, Quotethanks for letting discretion be the better part of valor cause I suredidn't want to get into it with those other jerks either :-)Sometimes I have to remind myself I'm not a young hard charging Armyaviator any more and park my temper.Take care, Greg Quote Selected