First trip, shakedown of the Shorty

[chuckd]

Last Sunday left for Grand Marais, a distance round trip of about 500 miles.  Wanted to see what would happen camping for a few nights, and running down some terrible two lane roads.  So first night my brand new water pump that I just installed went bye, bye.  Did not get a chance to even look at it, just hooked up to campground water and called it a day.  Second morning no water, walked out side and lots of water running out of my bay, a fitting had come loose, luckily I have primer and solvent so put stuff back together and no further issues.  My Espar air heater does not work, but the ee heaters did work on one morning that was cool.

Did not need ac while driving, and my coach air does not work, but I did test the cruise airs and all 3 of them work, just did not want to run the gen set while driving, cool enough without them.

As I mentioned in another post, not used to the Prevost steering, it is slow.  My Volvo 770 has 55 degree side cut, and responds quicker to steering input.  I am going to have some of the Mn/Wis busnuts drive mine and see what they think, it could well be the nut behind the wheel.

Made two bad decisions on the way home.  I pulled into a pie shop that I should never have pulled into, mistake number 1, I knew better but did it anyway.  It had a steep driveway with a sharp turn, I just stated my Prevost would never be mistaken for a nimble vehicle.  On the way out I dragged something on the steep drive way and had to find a shallower exit, which I did.  Low ground clearance did me in.  Turns out the only damage I know about is I dislocated the exhaust pipe from the exit of the gen set, both are still in place just separated.  It could have been worse, so lesson learned.  There probaby were 3 bad decisions made, I really did not need the pie.

I have a small leak somewhere on the top of the windshield, cannot find it, but the rain cooperated and the leak was at least noticed.

Have a couple of other concerns but will be in separate posts, all in all it was a blast, other than getting totally waxed by a SS class A going up a steep hill on a detour outside of Duluth.

Chuckd - who is tired of being a newby

[gumpy]

sounds like a fairly successful shakedown, to me.

Get used to those SS guys blowing by on the hills. Just know that while they may be sneering as they go by, deep within, they are full of bus envy!! 

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Keep in mind too that in 20-30 years from now those rigs will no longer be on the road but your bus will still be going and going and going.   

[JohnEd]

Now! now!...Wendy was born in 73 and she is still spry and she will blow your doors of on a grade.  I make that 37 years young.  She also gets about 1.5 MPG in that mode. Dodge 440's rule.  Soon to retire the old girl though.

John

[rampeyboy]

gosh, I may have to re evaluate my decision! I have a Travco S&S with 440. I hate how weak it is on a hill, ya'll mean my Scenic will be even weaker? J/K. My reasons for going to a bus is the Travco just isn't happy on the interstate. Hopefully, the bus will be happier! I think sometimes the worst thing I did was install gauges. Now I watch them and worry myself to death! Maybe better to not have them and just be fat dumb and happy!
Boyce

[cody]

My revcon with the olds 403 loves hills, plenty of power to hit anything I want, will even spin the front tires leaving stop signs but I've learned that you can spin the tire right off the rim lol.  Mileage is about the same, around 6 tho lol, drives like a car, a really big car.

[uncle ned]

Difference between a class A and a converted bus.

Started camping with a travel trailer,soon moved up to a Dodge ,"Cruise Air"with a 440.  Ran good,used a lot of gas,and was scary to drive down the Interstate. Truck moved it around bad,real bad pulling my box trailer.
Had to stop for fuel ever150 t0 200 miles.

Moved to a bus conversion. Now i can spilt the trucks on the 3 lane and never feel them,and don't know the box trailer is back there.

If being passed by a s&s bothers you,then is the time for a repower. S&S do not bother "HUGGY"

All they see is a big cloud of black smoke. Right Kyle.

uncle ned

[cody]

We started with a travel trailer too, a 18ft 1964 frolic with a birch interior, really nice trailer, we bought it from the original owner in 1975, then moved up to a class c, that was a horribly under powered litle thing, it had a chevy S10 front with a v6 in it, 12 MPG but took all day to hit the speed limit, then got the revcon, with the 403, massive power increase, duel exhaust, the whole power package, duel oil filters, 8 quart capacity, ability to smoke the tires, I was like a kid in a candy store with that lol, then to the bus, still got the travel trailer and revcon tho, they are fun in thier own way.