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Topic: Pickup Report-30TB (Long Cont..) (Read 7 times) previous topic - next topic
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Pickup Report-30TB (Long Cont..)
Yahoo Message Number: 50873
I offer the following observations as a continuation to my Pickup Report dated Feb. 16th.

I have had a chance to weigh the rig and it is loaded almost as fully as we would ever desire.  The scale at the Santa Maria Truck Stop did not offer the opportunity to wiegh each side of the vehicle separately but I was pleased with the following results: Front Axle 4400 (200 uhder max), Rear Axle 9100 (350 under max), and total weight 13,500 (550 under max).  It does not appear that the limited CCC will pose problems for us.  I had entertained thoughts that I could "save weight" by traveling with the black and grey water tanks empty but it appears to me that empty black and grey holding tanks are assumed in the weight calculations. Whatever amount they may contain would come out of my CCC.

I did not order the Bilstein shocks on this unit.  The rear, and only the rear, of the coach seems to wallow a bit when making turns on uneven surfaces.  I am wondering if it would be appropriate to have the Bilsteins or some other replacement shocks installed on the rear only.  I think there is a replacement shock available that is adjustable.  Aside from this, the only difference I find in this unit compared to our RB is that the turning radius is larger.

I too have a shock absorber mounted transversely on the front end mechanism.  LD did not say anything about it at the PDI.  It is visible behind the three funky openings in the Ford front bumper which replaced the handsome front bumper on earlier models. I have no issues with the steering.

We removed the door from the inside storage area under the couch on the curb side.  This area makes a perfect kitty comfort station and any litter which accompanies the kitty out of the area falls into the step well and not on the carpet.  It can be swept out conveniently.  (The litter, not the kitty.)  Also, although this is a different kitty than we traveled with in our RB and although this is a different coach, the result is the same whenever the kitty steps on the Ford Power Door Lock Button in the middle of the night.  It unlocks the cab when you would rather it be locked.  I plan to remove the #5 Fuse (30 Amp) from the under dash fuse panel.
We will then have to lock and unlock the doors manually but it seems like little loss of convenience.

I am enjoying the new tranny.  It shifts smoothly and the compression braking available in "Tow/Haul" is a very nice feature.
Touch the brake pedal once and you get a little and touch it again, more aggressively, and you get more.  My tranny produces a slight whine when accelarating and going up through the gears with "Tow/Haul" engaged.  I am wondering if anyone else has noticed this.

For any of you who may be members of BPOE, do not overlook the Ontario Elks Lodge as a convenient and friendly place to park your LD for a night or two after your pickup or when visiting the factory for service. Electric and water is available. Cost is nominal. It is a couple miles from the factory.

We are enjoying the attention that our LD draws wherever we go.  A lady pulled alongside us at an intersection in San Luis Obispo and rolled down her window.  She wanted to tell us that she and her husband had owned an LD and now owned a Trek and were anxious to get another LD. A Harley rider stopped in the street near the Steinbeck House in Salinas.  We were walking toward the coach.  He wanted to know if the LD was ours.  We said ses.  He said, "Naice!"
 Chris W. has done an excellent job of posting the many attributes of the 30TB and so I won't go into that.  Those who may have an interest can read her post (Message #48928 dated Jan. 8, 2005).  I would endorse every one of her comments.  Her experience and ours is very similar since we both moved up from 26' Lazy Daze units.

The only disappointment I have found so far is the lack of an AC electrical outlet in the Entertainment Center.  I am pretty sure we had one in our other unit but, since it came with a tape player as part of the tv we didn't use it.  Now, I would like to add a DVD player for my Sharp TV and also plug my Dish Satellite Reciever in and there is no AC power available for these additions.  If I had planned ahead I could have ordered an additional outlet in this area. I will try to make do with a 70 Amp inverter and a few parts from Radio Shack.
 I would very much appreciate hearing others' opinions concerning the change to the rear shock absorbers, the removal of the Power Door Lock Fuse, and the inversion of DC to AC power for my entertainment gear.
 We are very happy and we do believe that this time, we got the right floor plan for us.

Nate Walker On the Central California Coast