Camping in and around Silver City, New Mexico (Gila Forest) Reply #25 – August 05, 2014, 06:58:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147792We have stayed in the delightful RV Park on Bennett Street in downtown Silver City, but wonder if others know of other campgrounds that are more rural. If the weather does not require air conditioning, then we are perfectly self contained for about a week at a time. We enjoyed photographing in Piños Altos, and wonder if there may be a hidden campground somewhere near there that is not advertised to the general public. Once the Benchmark map/book arrive, I will be able to better survey the Gila National Forest area, which I understand is a boondocker's paradise.Virtual hugs,Judie
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #26 – August 05, 2014, 07:12:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147796George is right - I meant I-70, not I-80 for the Eisenhower Tunnel.Ken F in WY
Re: Camping in and around Silver City, New Mexico (Gila Forest) Reply #27 – August 05, 2014, 07:13:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147797Try these resources:http://forestcamping.com/dow/southwst/gila.htmhttp://www.fs.usda.gov/gila/Joan
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #28 – August 05, 2014, 07:24:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147798It's a 2005 Jayco 24SS Greyhawk on a 2004 E450 chassis - same 14,050 GVWR as the LD chassis with the 305 HP V10 (and tranny mounted parking brake :-( ). I don't know if it's a stock chassis, or one that's modified for Jayco. I haven't discovered anything special about it, compared to what I know about other people's E450s.Eric Greenwell [lifewithalazydazerv] wrote, On 8/5/2014 8:02 AM:
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #29 – August 05, 2014, 07:33:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147799I don't know if it's a stock chassis, or one that's modified for Jayco.--- The standard wheelbase lengths for the Ford E450 motorhome chassis are 158" and 176", so the wheelbase on your Jayco has been "stretched". Lazy Daze cuts/stretches the 176" chassis to 211" for the 31' model.Joan
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #30 – August 05, 2014, 11:45:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147806Like several others, I too appreciate your comments. Tomorrow my wife and I will complete the last couple of hundred miles of a trip from NC to Ca. We will return via a different route in a few weeks which will include Northen Montana. We have made this trip a couple of times in the past and encounted several challenging grades. I generally followed Andy's suggestions in "eureka" and some of the same issues you referenced. Having driven several types of trucks delivering building materials during my college years, I understand minimizing brake use and downshifting. This trip we drove from Colorado Springs through Utah and through the Great Basin in Nevada. The grades were many with a number of them fairly severe. To someone who has limited experience in a MH, that may not sound like much but, it could be white-knuckle time if you see your speed above about 55 half way down the grade. I agree with you and Andy, control your speed and you should be OK. Only thing I would add that a new MH owner may not realize concerns "overdrive". Just shut it off when negotiating grades. With it off my LD with the Ford V-10 pulls the grades and shifts when it needs to and on less severe grades it allows the engine to hold the speed down with maybe only a few short uses of the brakes. Brakes usually don't fell if applied in short intervals to control speed. Riding them too long after Your speed has gotten away from you is asking for performance that may not be there. I would like to think that I am a reasonably good driver (vehicle operator) but, I still get a little uptight when negotiating severe grades. Maybe that is a good thing.Jim -NC 04 MB
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #31 – August 07, 2014, 09:16:22 am Yahoo Message Number: 147835I, too, would like to add my thanks for the *great* information from Ken F. We will be towing, so we have the toad for the more "adventurous" roads. However, I think we've got a much better handle on the situation. Off thread, we also got the "cold cracking" on the plastic corners of our '09 MB this past winter. It was all 4 corners (eg, the vertical plastic piece just to the left of the passenger door and right of driver door). Winter temps, *if* I remember correctly, were very low for GA, around 5 to 10*F for a few nights. Cracks appeared after that. Called Vince and his take is that it is just cosmetic, nothing to worry about. I could put some polyurathane caulk in if I wanted to. Ken
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #32 – August 07, 2014, 09:49:40 am Yahoo Message Number: 147837I could put some polyurathane caulk in if I wanted to.--- You could use polyurethane caulk, but for a re-seal which lasts, you could use 3M 5200 Fast Cure Marine sealant. I suggest getting the 1 oz. tubes; the stuff hardens quickly, in and out of the tube.Joan
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #33 – August 07, 2014, 03:34:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147850"There is a road in New Mexico, Rt 152, that crosses the Gila Mountains heading east to Caballo through Hillsboro. "In 10 years of RVing, were have NEVER tackled roads like that in an RV. We always camp the RV at one end or the other (in this case, Silver City or the town of "Truth or Consequences") and enjoy the rugged, gorgeous terrain from our toad or an Enterprise rent-a-car.Bob Siegel Santa Fe New Mexico I took this pass road in early 2000. I did not have a MH. It was one of the early years of my retirement. I drove it in a truck with Big Foot slide in camper. The weight of the truck and camper were about the same as the LD. It was the same lenght as the 24 ft. LD but a foot higher. I also was pulling a 10 foot trailer with an ATV. There was no problems. I camped near the top of the pass over night. Dry camping. A snow storm came in that night and I finished the east bound in snow covered roads till I got down to a lower elevation.No problems. But then I live in Denver CO and drive these kind of roads all the time.GeorgeRetired plumber
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #34 – August 08, 2014, 03:50:26 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147863Thanks for the timely refresher, Ken. I was glad to have studied your suggestions, as yesterday I had to navigate an unexpected 7 mile long 6% grade on I-40 between Asheville and Marion NC, both directions. Then today I crossed back over the Smokey Mtn's toward Knoxville, lots of curves, grades, trucks, and rain, while towing, and was blessing your name the whole time. Using your methods I always felt in control. My brakes like you too. My Scan Guage was immensely useful. Thanks again. Kathy Lautz 1999 MB towing a Chevy Tracker
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #35 – August 08, 2014, 05:23:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147864Thanks for the timely refresher, Ken. I was glad to have studied your suggestions, as yesterday I had to navigate an unexpected 7 mile long 6% grade on I-40 between Asheville and Marion NC, both directions. Then today I crossed back over the Smokey Mtn's toward Knoxville, lots of curves, grades, trucks, and rain, while towing, and was blessing your name the whole time. Using your methods I always felt in control. My brakes like you too. My Scan Gauge was immensely useful. Thanks again. Kathy Lautz 1999 MB towing a Chevy TrackerI also have the Scan Gauge. I have the ENGINE and TRANSMISSION temp on the screen. Do you agree the temps change VERY little.
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #36 – August 08, 2014, 05:52:40 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147865Mostly I watched the RPM's. The temp reading I use is fWT, at least that's what it looks like on the SG screen. I'm not sure what it measures, but it varies for me between 191F and 215F max.Kathy L.
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #37 – August 08, 2014, 07:25:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147866Mostly I watched the RPM's. The temp reading I use is fWT, at least that's what it looks like on the SG screen. I'm not sure what it measures, but it varies for me between 191F and 215F max. The "fWT" is the temp of the coolant in the Engine. I also have the gauge programed for "TFT" Transmision Flowed Tempiture.These are the 2 most important for when you are climbing hills. Your engine temp is right on and I try not to let the TFT go over 200. Most times it will be around 175. When you down shift the fan will run much faster keeping both of these temp down. I do not display the RPM on the SG. You have that on the big left guage on the dash.
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #38 – August 08, 2014, 07:41:05 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147867My rig doesn't have a dash RPM gauge so I use the SG one.I'll look for the TFT.Kathy L
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #39 – August 08, 2014, 07:56:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147868Kathy, I suggest contacting ScanGuage for information about programming your unit to display transmission oil temperature:ScanGauge - Trip Computer + Digitial Gauges + ScanToolsAs a general FYI, E450s did not have a tachometer until the 2004 models.Joan
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #40 – August 08, 2014, 07:59:29 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147869Thanks Joan. I thought TFT needed programming. I read about it in the book, but never got around to it. KEL
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #41 – August 08, 2014, 08:07:47 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147870"I thought TFT needed programming."--- It does. Additional (Ford-specific) programming possibilities on this page of the ScanGuage site:Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Specific : Linear Logic : Home of the ScanGaugeJoan
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #42 – August 10, 2014, 12:07:33 am Yahoo Message Number: 147890."What I do is hold a steady 1900 to 2100 rpm going up the grade and use the same rpm going down. Sometimes this means 15 to 20 MPH." Ford designed the V10 to spin at much higher RPMs than engines of a few decades ago. The transmission is programed by Ford to allow running in excess of 4500 RPMs. The Factory would not program the engine to spin at damaging RPMs and besides, the power range is much higher than 2100. 2100 would be less than 60 MPH, on high gear. . I try to run around 3800 RPMs when climbing or descending long grades. Spinning faster doesn't produce a pleasing exhaust note like a V8 or V12. Larry
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #43 – August 12, 2014, 08:06:30 am Yahoo Message Number: 147912I had to program the Scangauge II TFT for our 2013 21 IB. I had to try a couple of the codes before getting one to work. Since then it's always on. Someone posted they try to keep it under 175F, but mine usually reads 175-200. I get nervous when it goes over 200.Had the LD in for first 5K oil change in Bangor, ME a couple weeks ago at the Ford Truck Service there. Manager seemed familiar with the parking brake transmission issue, but said the 2013 E450 parking brakes are connected to the wheels.joel passing by Sturgeon Falls, Ont, heading Ouest as they called it in Quebec
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #44 – August 12, 2014, 09:01:30 am Yahoo Message Number: 147913said the 2013 E450 parking brakes are connected to the wheels. --- Yes; 2008 was the last year for the driveline mounted parking brake on the E450 .Joan
Re: Mountain Directory question Reply #45 – August 12, 2014, 11:29:17 am Yahoo Message Number: 147914"I had to program the Scangauge II TFT for our 2013 21 IB. I had to try a couple of the codes before getting one to work. Since then it's always on. Someone posted they try to keep it under 175F, but mine usually reads 175-200. I get nervous when it goes over 200."Joel You needlessly worrying yourself. 200 degree is right in the middle of the transmission's normal operating range. Short term peaks of 230-235 are acceptable, when climbing steep grades in hot weather. Not at all sure where this misinformation comes from but there is a lot of paranoia about this topic. The E450 comes with a robust cooling system that is not prone to overheating, even when towing in hot weather. There are larger transmission coolers available, not a bad addition, if you tow.Larry 1 Likes
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