Departing Phoenix for Gulfport, Miss

Kwajdiver · August 08, 2007, 01:07:18 PM

At last, time to leave Phoenix. The new ATC RADAR is complete and I'm needed

in Gulfport, Miss. I plan to drive a couple hours late tonight, then a 4am departure tomorrow. A little side trip through Roswell, NM. to say I've been there. Then south to Gulfport, Miss

I plan to run I-10 to Juarez then up to Almagordo, then to Roswell, NM. Would like to avoid the moutains if I can.

From Roswell to Dallas, I-20 to Jaskson and then south to Gulfport, Miss.

I'm open for any and all suggestions to other routes that perhaps I should or should not take. Looking for an RV Park in the Gulfport area. I also need a place to leave the bus for the weekend.

If there are any bus nuts on my route I would be more than happy to drop in, if time permits.

Hope to do 350 to 500 miles a day, but really not in a hurry.

Bill

CS · August 08, 2007, 01:40:53 PM

need some help? sure would like to be in gulfport eating fresh seafood right now!
P.S. I don't know s#!* about radar but i will wear my aluminum foil hat while I help you.

Dreamscape · August 08, 2007, 02:42:23 PM

Hi Bill,

I bet your glad to get away from the Arizona Heat! Have a safe trip.

Happy Trails,

Paul

Dreamscape

tekebird · August 08, 2007, 04:11:17 PM

White sands is an interesting stop if you have not been there.

if you can stand a climb there is a neat super tall old railroad trestle on the way up to Cloudcroft.....makes for a good photo op with the bus.

edvanland · August 08, 2007, 04:15:53 PM

Yes he will be leaving the good old Arizona heat and trading it for the 90% or better humidity in the south. I'll keep the Arizona heat until my house sells, then who knows.
I was raised in Memphis, TN.
ED
MCI 7

Runcutter · August 08, 2007, 05:12:46 PM

Bill, remember I'm in the Dallas area if you need something passing through. I'm on the north side, you'll be on the far south side. I did get a good price on tires recently from Southern Tire Mart, not far from downtown Dallas if you decide to do something about yours.

Arthur

Sean · August 08, 2007, 06:37:26 PM

Bill,

Last time I was in Gulfport, it wasn't there.

Admittedly, that was 18 months ago. See our blog post at:
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/2006/03/recovery-encampment-pass-christian.html

If things are, today, as I expect them to be, Gulfport will be full of trailers. Locals will be in the FEMA variety, and hordes of contractors will be in their own rigs, parked wherever they can. You will have lots of competition for RV park spaces with hookups. That being said, you could probably park a rig in the middle of US90 and not be hassled by anyone.

Good luck, and let us know what you find. I'd love to know how the recovery is coming along there.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

njt5051 · August 08, 2007, 08:38:30 PM

There is just outside of Gulfport a place at MENGE exit this is about 10 miles west of Gulfport. They are Bus friendly and have a flea mkt. NO TREES. You do sit in the hot sun a lot. Where my bus is at is Closer to Bay St Louis now since the Hurricane. I am at a neat little park on 90 in Pearlington. Nice Folks.. Trees and quiet.

Most of the parks still have very little space. I was only able to move back in from 35 miles out at the end of May.

Eagle Andy · August 09, 2007, 09:30:41 AM

Hey Bill , How did the repairs go at Eugene's. I'am going there tomorrow for my service . Heading to Billings a week from Sunday. It was nice meeting you last week and if your ever up in the Billings Area give me a call Be safe Andy

Kwajdiver · August 10, 2007, 06:44:34 AM

Hello Guys,

I'm in Roswell, NM, going to spend the morning looking for UFO's.

This bus does NOT like to climb hills. Going down the hiway if I ran about 60-62mph my temp sat just under 190. Speeding up to 66-75 and the temp climb to 195. This on flat roads.

NOW, going up hills was a big problem. Did a 2000 ft climb on Hiway 70. The bus made it to 1800 before overheading and shutting down. In the middle of the road, with no place to pull over. As luck with have it I was in the right hand of three lanes and not much traffice. Put out my cones and got the water hose out. A little at a time, I sprayed the engine down, cooled it enough to get it started again, then of course it cooled itself down.

The other hills where not that bad, I did stop three times to make sure the engine was cool before starting a climb.

As for the repairs in Phoenix, all went well, they didn't get as much done as I would have liked. But the rear end is repairs, parts and labor, $2650. Not bad, I'm thinking for replacing a rear end.

Not sure what route I'm taking from here to Gulfport, Ms. Will let you know this afternoon, when I hit the road.

Bill
From Roswell, NM

RJ · August 10, 2007, 07:12:46 AM

Bill -

Downshift that Allison manually when climbing hills, and try to keep the engine in the 1700 - 1900 rpm range on a partial throttle. You should still be able to accelerate up to 2100, but keep it lower. If you can no longer accelerate, downshift again.

Watch for black smoke out the exhaust, and back out of the throttle if you see it. If you can maintain your speed, then keep an eye on the exhaust. If your speed starts falling off, time to downshift and follow the above.

Drive safe and enjoy the journey!

FWIW & HTH. . .

TomC · August 10, 2007, 08:15:23 AM

I recently pulled the southbound Grapevine (5 miles of 6%) at around 100 degrees. While the bus has enough power to pull it at 45 mph, I slowed to 32 mph so I could be in 1st gear with the torque converter locked up (least amount of heat from the transmission) and went up with the misters on. Stayed at about 195-anything under 200 is fine with me.

When I was driving truck and pulled I-15 north at Baker, Ca during summer, there is a sign that says turn off the A/C to make it up the hill. Instead, I'd just grab a lower gear to keep it revved (2100) up to get max fan and coolant flow-turn off the A/C-are you crazy? If you start overheating on a grade, slow down and pull it down to the next gear. Ideally on a long grade, you should have the engine revved up with partial throttle. If it continues to heat, stop before it gets to the shut down and let it fast idle until the temp gets back down, then continue. I know most of us are not in that big of a hurry that we can't slow down a bit on the hills when it is hot.

Watching the exhaust is good advice. Anytime you're putting out black smoke, you're over fueling the engine, which also means you're overheating the combustion chamber (with non turbo'ed engines, it gets worse the higher in altitude you go-that's the main reason I turbo'ed my 8V-71). And I know we want to give the engine every chance to last as long as possible. Good Luck, TomC

Kwajdiver · August 10, 2007, 10:11:07 AM

Thanks guys, I will try that the next "hill".

Saw a beautiful Silver Eagel passing through downtown Roswell about an hour ago.

I believe since my break down, I may have an air leak. Taking forever to pump up the air and the "Low Air Tag Axle" light is staying on. Although setting still I'm pumped up to 129psi currently.

Heading out of Roswell, south on 380.

As always, thanks for the input.

Bill

Kwajdiver · August 10, 2007, 01:49:36 PM

Paul,

It's 3:45 I'm pulling out of Brownfield, TX. A mere 180 miles from Abilene.

Unless I hit my wall, I should be near you in about 4 hours.

Give me a call, please.

863-604-3701

East bound and down,

Bill

Kwajdiver · August 10, 2007, 07:38:24 PM

Hi Guys,

Made it to Paul's in good shape. The leaking air that I have is the E-10 Brake Value, (if that's the thing in the drivers tool comp?) Air is leaking from the bottom of the unit. Actually, it has been leaking a little, but has really increase today.

Is there a quick fix for this? That could help me make another 800 miles? Perhaps shoot some WD-40 in it. Keep in mind, I am still able to hold 100-125psi.

Thanks for the help,

Bill