4104 Trip Notes

[gus]

               `   
We departed Sep 27th and returned home to AR at on Oct 9th. The trip was 1900 miles with no problems with the bus. I replaced the remaining two front air bags just before this trip since I found delamination and air bubbles on one while replacing the suspension bumper.

We took I-30 from Little Rock, AR to Texarkana, US 59 from there to Houston, then I-10 to San Antonio. We continued via I-35 to Fort Worth and OKC, then I-40 back to Little Rock. The roughest roads were short stretches of I-35 south of OKC and I-40 east of OKC. This is a big improvement from a few years ago when these roads were very rough for miles and miles, not just bouncy but bone jarring. 

Diesel was most expensive in OK and TX in that order with AR on the interstates not much better. South of Little Rock was the cheapest on the Interstates. The highest I saw but didn't buy was $3.19 south of OKC and the lowest was $2.84 on US-67/167 at Bald Knob, AR.

We didn't use WM parking lots this trip because it was too hot and I didn't want to run the gen all night. We did spend the last night at a Casino parking lot in Salislaw, OK because my wife wanted to take home some of their money. She did!

We found a few rest stops with dumping stations east of OKC.

More to come;

[DrivingMissLazy]

               `   
We departed Sep 27th and returned home to AR at on Oct 9th. The trip was 1900 miles with no problems with the bus. I replaced the remaining two front air bags just before this trip since I found delamination and air bubbles on one while replacing the suspension bumper.

We took I-30 from Little Rock, AR to Texarkana, US 59 from there to Houston, then I-10 to San Antonio. We continued via I-35 to Fort Worth and OKC, then I-40 back to Little Rock. The roughest roads were short stretches of I-35 south of OKC and I-40 east of OKC. This is a big improvement from a few years ago when these roads were very rough for miles and miles, not just bouncy but bone jarring. 

Diesel was most expensive in OK and TX in that order with AR on the interstates not much better. South of Little Rock was the cheapest on the Interstates. The highest I saw but didn't buy was $3.19 south of OKC and the lowest was $2.84 on US-67/167 at Bald Knob, AR.

We didn't use WM parking lots this trip because it was too hot and I didn't want to run the gen all night. We did spend the last night at a Casino parking lot in Salislaw, OK because my wife wanted to take home some of their money. She did!

We found a few rest stops with dumping stations east of OKC.

More to come;

Gus, I am curious as to why you did not want to run the genset all night?
Richard

[gus]

CO fumes and noise in somebody else's parking lot.

[gus]

                                                                    RV Parks

Carthage, TX-Carthage RV Campground. Very friendly, nice park right on US-59 East side bypass, no restaurant. Wide open spaces but no trees. We made reservations by phone and arrived late. We were assigned one of their numerous new concrete pads at the rear of the park. These pads are huge, I could have parked another 4104 in front of mine! They are 50 amp, which I don't need but had to pay for anyway. Good Sam. $28.

Columbus, TX - Shady Oaks RV Park. This is a dry, dusty location on the side of a hill. They advertise all level spots but I didn't see one level spot in the whole park! There were numerous signs around the office beginning with "No" or "Don't". I had enough of those signs in the Navy! We looked around and waited about 20 min, didn't see a soul anywhere, and drove away.

Columbus, TX - Columbus RV Park. Beautiful, lots of grass, all level spots, very friendly folks, in town and just off I-10. Short distance to a couple of good restaurants. Good Sam. $20.70.

Von Ormy, TX (Near San Antonio). Hidden Valley RV Park-Very isolated and quiet, right on a small creek. New level gravel parking spots either 30 or 50 amp. However, the facilities are very limited and there is a one mile dusty gravel road into the park. This is not for the faint of heart nor the place to be without a toad, but it is an easy drive to the tourist attractions of San Antonio. Excellent Mexican restaurant two miles away. Very, very friendly and laid back. I stayed here six nights next door to a buddy who had a toad while our wives attended a reunion in SA.  Passport America rate is $10/12.50 for 30/50 amp spots.

Waco, TX - I-35 RV Park. Huge park (215 spots). By far the nicest park of the trip. Right off I-35 just north of Waco. Very friendly, owner is a character. First class facility, good level, shady spots and on site cafe of limited menu. New pool, two laundromats, three ponds (Fishing in one). We were ahead of schedule so stayed two nights because it was so nice. Good Sam. $20.

More to come;

[John Z]

Gus, i appreciate the campground info. I am saving it for my use. I hope to be OTR for my winters starting next year, and i think this will be very helpful.

JZ

[gus]

Bus Stuff

We saw no other conversions on the whole trip.

There was a lot of interest in the bus at a few stops. Two RV park owners greatly admired the 4104 and one restaurant owner came over and told us what a great looking RV it was even though we were parked in her parking lot eating our lunch in the bus! I thought she was coming to tell us not to park there!! Another lady came over while we were fueling east of OKC at Okemah and asked the year of the 4104. She then pointed to a Flxible across the street at a truck repair shop which looks a lot like a 4104 and said it was hers and was a '56. I didn't go look at it but should have.

I picked up a bunch of 4104 parts from Bob Evans in OKC. I wanted more but ran out of baggage space. A 4104 4-sp tran will fit in the forward RH baggage compt-barely!

                                                         End of Report