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Post by Chuck on May 25, 2019 9:28:37 GMT -5
I have to say I don't understand this whole camera thing, I liken it to a new gadget I guess Ugh !!! For years I have drove semi's with 40, 45,53ft trailers along with doubles an never needed a camera to either see behind me or back into a dock ... When backing I always get out an looked an do so to this day if I feel there is a problem, going down the road I wiggle the trailer an again do so to this day to see if someone is very close behind me otherwise I don't worry about the car or truck behind
me... When passing I make sure I have cleared the vehicle I'm passing by the distance I see in my mirror of least three or more car lengths ...
If I want to change lanes I just slow down an check my mirrors thus any traffic slide of me passes by ... So if i offended anyone I'm sorry but as stated don't understand this whole camera thing Safe Travels Chuck Chuck, given that most non-RVer/truckers on the road are 1) oblivious, 2) ignorant, 3) stupid, 4) discourteous or 5) just plain a-holes, giving yourself plenty of options isn't a bad thing. Given that plenty of RVers/trucker are of the same 5 options, it's even more imperative to have those options, IMO. I'm a pretty low-mileage RVer, but I've lost count on how many times that I've started a lane change and some idiot cuts over to pass me, out of my blind spot. Yeah, I know about weaving to see what's behind you, but FWs don't "weave" all that much, unless you're willing to do a lane excursion to check, and I'm trying to =change= lanes anyway. Lyle Lyle
One rule I have always followed an when teaching new drivers is to slow down an clear your lane before pulling out into another lane, thus whats ever in your blind spot will appear pretty quickly ... So if you traveling at say 65mph, slow down to 60 or 62 an believe me if someone is side of you or in your blind spot again you will see them ...
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 25, 2019 9:08:04 GMT -5
Hello, I picked up our Durango Half ton 283RLT yesterday. I have the same "monitor" in the same location. It is the OTCP (one touch control pad) screen that gives you the status of the leveling and allows a person to clear faults if one were to occur. I have an auto leveling system on our unit with the mini touchpad located on the opposite side of the unit. One can initiate the leveling from either location. My monitor displays the MyRV icon and the leveling icon. I agree with you that it would have been nice to have it inside the unit and not in the "basement". if you read the manual on the LCI level-up system it states for best possible leveling of your unit that no one should be inside, thus some controls on the outside, control pads inside of the battery box or storage compartment of the unit , it is also best
to level before opening slides giving the unit a better foundation when doing so, I believe your manual also states such ...
In our unit we can not operate the awning over the door an lights for that awning or outside security lights everything else we can use the APP or touch screens for ...
I still believe that all controls an touch screens should be placed inside either the battery box or storage compartment out of the weather ... I don't care how well you seal the controls on the outside someday your going to have a water leak an thus a
problem, you may think it covenant to not have to open a door to operate your controls but at least they stay dry an out of the
weather when not being used ...
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 25, 2019 8:27:19 GMT -5
Good job, looks like a easy fixed to wasted space Safe travels Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 25, 2019 8:21:23 GMT -5
Something I learned about the fantastic fans is that they will automatically stop if there is an obstruction causing them to not open all the way ... I learned this from the company that the fans have a sensor built in so it will not damage the motor or strip the gears that lift the fan cover ... This may also be the possibility of why Ron's fan cover would not close because the sensor detected an obstruction an thus sensed a problem, once the wind load subsided the senor no longer seen such ... We have fantastic fan covers over both of our vents so even when it rains we can have them opened... While searching for a vent cover to cover the kitchen fan I was told that you needed a special fan cover for that kitchen fan ... I could not find such so I called the company an ask, that's when I found out that the regular fantastic fan covers would work. even though the fan cover wasn't high enough (missed opening all the way but one inch) to let the regular fan cover open all the way it wouldn't hurt it because of the sensor built in would stop it ... So far after a year we have not had any problems leaving the fantastic fan open an since it is covered with the larger cover when it rains the smaller cover still stays open without any problems so far, so I guess the company was right Safe Travels Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 23, 2019 11:26:25 GMT -5
Ok Lyle
What about the show in Quartzite RV Show, I was under the impression that was a pretty big show with lots of venders
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 23, 2019 11:18:33 GMT -5
Well were back up to $3.45 yesterday at the Indians, Safeway $3.38 with Safeway card, Costco about the same as Safeway an Pilot at $3.35 which is 20 miles away as of yesterday, they have been changing almost daily now price wise ... Safe Travels Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 23, 2019 10:56:27 GMT -5
As well one thing you have to look out for when using Gasbuddy is for the older service stations, TT it's not as much as a problem as with 5th wheels which are most times way higher ... Gas or fuel price's may be cheaper but can you get in an out or even under the overhead in the older service stations ... As well I tend to steer clear of the service station that have you pull straight in toward the store, I tend to use the service stations were you can pull in parallel to the stores or go around back in the truck stops if fueling such an use the RV pull thought if they have one ... Safe Travels Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 23, 2019 10:44:34 GMT -5
Lyle You have to remember that the dealer is the one who orders the trailers not the factory ... Sue the Kz rep for that area can push for a dealer to stock more but also the dealer has to look at their bottom line ... Now I may be wrong but I do not believe Kz will stock a dealer on consignment, thus the dealer have to invest in the unit an if they are not selling those types of units then why stock/buy such ... Believe me if you every go to the factory you will see dozens of TT but not many 5th wheels parked on the factory lot ... Last time I was there they were running 2500 series of trailers, there might have been possibly 20 sitting on the lot, I saw maybe a handful of Durango Golds in one line so I have to believe that Kz like some other MFG don't go crazy building tons of trailers to sit on the lot waiting for dealers to either order or buy such ...
As mudflap14 stated he hasn't seen many Kz brand trailers in their travels, when we bought our Kz the only
one's I saw till our trip back east two years ago now was at our dealer an at a RV show locally ... The first Kz Durango Gold other than at our was at a dealer in Nebraska an the first one on the road traveling we saw
two years ago going back east was being deliver someplace because it was being towed headed west in Illinois on I-80 ... Even to this day we may see a Durango Gold or plan Durango series 5th wheel every so often
but not like Montana's or Grand Designs were you see all over the place ... I do see a number of Kz TT of different names so it seems that the TT market out here in the Northwester U.S. seems to be TT an not 5th wheels an that's why you see dealers stocking such ...
As well I believe the younger generations are buying TT an not 5th wheels, if you look around at a camp ground you see that the older generation for the most part have 5th wheels an their kids have been long gone an they if any kids are the grand kids with them ... The younger generation has kids an tend to have a TT, tents, eat out on the picnic tables more often, have camp fires just about every night (not that older folks don't like camp fires) an have SUV or smaller crew cab type pickups ...
As I look at the younger couples with the kids I can remember back to that time years ago when I had that much energy an didn't mind eating on the pinic table with the DW cooking on a Coleman stove at one end of the table an yelling at the kids to stay put because dinner was just about ready ... I can also remember
about the same with my Aunts an Uncles which I got to camp with sleeping in a tent an the smell of bacon an
eggs in the morning, I still to this day can smell such ... Now it's laying in our King size bed, smelling the coffee
brewing from the decaf K-cup the DW is using LOL, the smell of the bacon an eggs being cooked on the stove
without the bacon fat or lard my Mother an Aunt use to cook with, oh for the good old day's no wonder I have
heart problems it's my mother an her sisters fault LOL
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 21, 2019 10:59:37 GMT -5
Lyle I believe at this point owners are just wanting the darn things to work, glad we were pre-smart arm on
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 21, 2019 10:43:40 GMT -5
I'm with Edd, 1. the lines will be full of air, open a stove burner and light with a fire starter. 2 There is a shut off in the regulator and by bleeding the outside fitting it may have sensed a leak and closed the safety. if this does not work disconnect the tanks, reconnect and start again ... Also try turning on your furnace an see if it lights an your hot water heater ... With a new or storied trailer for a period of time you sometimes need to purge the system of air, thus you open a door or overhead vent an turn on fan then open a stove burner to middle high for a minute or two, let air clear an then try lighting stove ... Please make sure the trailer is clear of propane before trying to light stove again, waiting a few minute should do the trick or if the fan is on an the door open then i'd say its ok to try light stove shortly after leaving the valve open ....
One other Note on your water heater, there is a black or red switch on the water heater outside, take the water heater door off an turn the switch to on, thus you will get hot water with propane, if this switch is off you will get propane on electric but not propane .... Don't ask me how I know LOL Hope this helps, be safe Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 21, 2019 10:11:43 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for your input, especially you Chuck. To be honest I never gave the cost of tolls much of a consideration for this trip. I'm going to plot out the route in the next week on the Garmin and take your advice dropping down to Rt 20 & 30. Thank you again, everyone! I can almost bet if you started out on the PA toll road an ran all the way to Illinois, thought Ohio an Indiana toll roads you would drop a few Hundred bucks ....
Also Remember I-80 in PA is not a toll road till you get just past Youngstown Ohio, so you are ok there, then I76 W, I71 SW, US 30 W .... As stated in my other post there are ways below Chicago, I will say there are a number of stop lights but no tolls ....
Depending on the time of day an day of the week if you want to chance it an don't mind some traffic you can shoot up I-69 in Indiana to I-80 ... You will be past the Indiana Toll road at that point an will only have one Toll on I-80 as I stated the west side of Chicago which is I believe is $2.50 with a TT but not sure since we have not gone that way for some time now staying down below on the back roads ...
I-80 in Indiana an Illinois can be a zoo, bumper to bumper cars in the mornings an afternoons, when driving over-the-road I always went thought on I-80 either late at night or very early mornings an even then at times it was busy ... Not many cars late at night or early mornings an hardly any campers either just wall to wall trucks one after another running 60mph if possible an sometimes faster one after the other in a hurry to get past Chicago east or west ...
Again stay off I-90/94 up thought Chicago, there are toll booths about every 3 or 4 miles up thought there till you get into Wisconsin !!!!
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 21, 2019 9:46:17 GMT -5
ount Living in Colorado, I-70 has a ton of gas stations along the way that route should not be a problem. In all my travels I always get concerned on the side roads etc and running low on FUEL. Literally just 2 weeks ago I purchased a new GAS tank from Titan and replaced my original 25 Gallon Diesel Tank with a 56 Gallon Diesel Tank - it is an exact replacement and man I love the piece of mind for travel now! -Nomad Normad
I been thinking about the Diesel Tank replacement for our truck, we have 38 gallon tank an that extra 18 gallons would sure be nice
Again jlo415 I want to remind you an not to scare you traveling out west in the mountains the passes are no joke,
the grades can be an some but not all are long an steep, when a sign states 6% grade for the next 14 miles believe it an take it slow, stay off your bakes an if you have an engine brake use it !!! Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 20, 2019 10:09:52 GMT -5
Shoot, jack stands with padding on them would work as well Safe Travels Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 19, 2019 13:36:08 GMT -5
I agree, nice looking trailer, looks to have allot of room .... May you have may safe trips an camping memories
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 19, 2019 13:04:16 GMT -5
As stated the Ohio toll road is smooth but costly, Indiana toll road is ruff an costly, RT20 or RT30 across those states is the way to go if you want to stay up north ... Do not go north on I-90/94 of I-80, the tolls will eat you alive, there are toll booths every few miles till you cross over into Wisconsin ...
If you take RT20 I would drop down to RT30 in western Indiana, staying on 20 will get closer into the Chicago suburbs, so will 30 but not as bad as 20 ... Either route you will be able to go north on an interstate if you do not like the traffic an once you cross over into Illinois if you choose to go up to I-80 you will only have one toll on I-80 at the west side of Chicago but the traffic will be heavy at times till you get past the I-80/90/94 interchange ... Again I will say if you go up I-90/94 thought Chicago you will be tolled to death, stay on I-80 till you can pickup I-35 an then go north to I-90 or I-94 ...
If you take RT30 across Ohio you have to drop down from I-80 on I-78 to I-71 an then RT30 across Ohio, Indiana an Illinois to Joliet Illinois were you can pick up I-35 going north to I-90 or I-94 ... RT30 is not a bad road but near the Chicago suburbs you have a number of traffic lights an small towns but no tolls to eat you alive ... If you want to get past Chicago an get to I-80 you could follow this route : If you take I-70 across to Champaign Illinois were you can pick up I-74 to Galesburg an then head north on IL34 to Moline were you can pick up I-80 thus you avoid Chicago an only have Indianapolis in Indiana to contend with which is not bad ... As far as service stations there are numbers of them along with truck stops on I-70. I-80, I-90/94, RT20 an
RT30 in the small towns .... Once you get into North or South Dakota they are further apart an I start to think about fueling when my fuel gauge drops below a half a tank or just above a quarter ... I also carry 10 gallons of fuel just in case but have only needed it once when when I pushed it an then i found out I could have made it but wasn't sure, if I was using gas I wouldn't have had a problem but fuel is not at every service station ...
In Wyoming, Montana it not to bad but exits can be far apart, Idaho, Colorado in the mountains I'd watch
my fuel a bit closer, Western Kansas as well because it is many miles between exits an service stations ...
The ruke I use if I think I need fuel or stop to eat or take a brake an the is a service station handy I will top off my tank if it's just above or at a half a tank, it may cost you a little more but you not side of the road out fuel
I hope I helped you a little bit, I have traveled these roads both with our 5th wheel an with a semi many
times so it amazes me how things have changed over the years, were there use to be hundreds of miles between fuel stops an gas stations they seem to be now just a few miles apart ...
After thought here, if you come down I-15 from South Dakota, fuel stops are always apart so make sure you have a full tank starting out, as well in Utah in I-15 till you get just north or outside of Salt Lake City ... Once you make left off of I-15 onto I-70 there is a Flying J truck stop there but after that it's was to the next service station because you are in the mountain pass ...
Word of warning that mountain passes going on I-70 are darn steep, 6% grades for a number of miles, so take
your time, don't think you can go down them at 50 or 60mph, stay off the brakes, these are no were near the mountains or what we call hills you have back east ...
Safe travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 19, 2019 11:38:59 GMT -5
Yes I have heard from others concerning the reliability and we are going to try to stay away from the big city mess when we can. I was just curious about the antenna and whether or not it does away with the need for the cell phone interface. I saw a 760 out there but they wanted $1000 bucks for it. What is the difference I wonder between the 2? Thanks much for the traffic info and the link which I will read! Bob We bought are dēzl™ 770LMTHD for $350 with free upgrades for life off of Amazon last year ... I don't know if the others have the low clearance option thus we bought the trucking verson .. works great warns you way ahead of time about curves an low bridges an other things like scales which you don't need to cross or know ... you can also give it voice commends which is way cool, it has
7.0-inch glass display Lifetime¹ maps of North America, plus lifetime HD Digital Traffic² Custom truck routing³ for the size and weight of your truck Truck & Trailer Services Directory, plus points of interest (POIs) highly-rated by truckers Road warnings, including sharp curves, bridge heights, weight limits and more
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 18, 2019 13:52:17 GMT -5
Well Darrel fuel went down a bit, was only $3.25 yesterday when I filled up, what made me mad was the one station the Indians run was $3.25 a gallon an not a mile away at the other station they own it was $3.17... This is a game the Indians play, the station out US12 9 miles away was $3.15 I was told, so between the three stations in our area there was a drop in price an difference Ugh !!! Safeway was at $3.22 an our nice governor who is running for President what to rise the state fuel tax 12 cents a gallon putting Washington next to California in one of the highest fuel tax's in the country ... Safe Travels Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 18, 2019 13:33:08 GMT -5
mudflap14 Here is the Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/1497881047105248/Also on this form is a Durango thread were the 1500 would fit in ... I will say Kz in my opinion builds a somewhat better mouse trap an what i believe you get more bang for your buck ...
Remember that the appliances such as stoves, TV's, frig's, trailer steps, hydraulics etc will more
that likely (99.9%) all be the same in either brand, the only thing that will be different is how the frame is built from Lippert (LCI) an how well the bones of the band of trailer your buying is built ...
The Grand Design Reflections we look at were nice an they had allot of bling but when looking deeper into how they were built I saw big differences between the two brands an the way they were built along with the cost an that's why we went with the Kz ...
I'm not saying you will not have problems, seem like all brands have problems, it's just that
it seems that Kz brand has way fewer overall an the factory support seems better when an if needed from what I have read on different forms... I will say if you really want to dig deeper take the factory tours of both brands an see for yourself how they are built, ask the questions, kick the tires so to speak ...I'm sure when taking the tours of both brands you will get the dog an pony show an how great their product is... You just have to look for your self an check the blocks an listen closely, did they lye, did they hide things, were they straight talkers or just slick car salesman ... Kz has been very open on their factory tours, letting
you look over an under their products, take pictures of everything including frames, welds, inside
construction etc, they hid nothing ... On the 5th wheel lines we took tours of they explained the difference's between product an showed us what was different from the past years product of the same thing, they hid nothing an were very open ...
Also here are pictures from the 2017 rally an factory tour, you can see scanning thought the pictures the trailers being built on the 1500 line that year I believe ...
Here are pictures from the 2018 Kz rally an factory tour, you can see scanning thought the pictures
the trailers being built on the 2500 line last year ... 2018kznationalrally.shutterfly.com
Lastly as I have stated many times before an will state I'm sure many times again the dealer is the most important part of the buying a trailer, I do not care how well built or great a trailer is if the dealer is bad it will reflect on the product 100 percent, bad dealer bad product, good dealer good product ...
Sorry to be so long Ugh !!
Anyway good luck on what ever brand you decide on buying an use the PDI list on this form when buying either brand if you like ...
Safe travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 17, 2019 13:01:08 GMT -5
We are looking at the Durango 1500 series 5th Wheels 250 and 259, comparing to the Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 260 and 273. We are looking to use it to winter in the south west. (5-6 months of the year) We have a Silvarodo 2500 High Country diesel. Have any of you purchased a Durango 250 or 256? What were your reasons? I am liking the layout and storage in the Durango’s. They seem to have more storage with larger drawers and shelving. Especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Any insight would be very helpful. And much appreciated. Thanks in advance! You might ask the same question over on the Kz facebook page an see if you get the answers to you questions
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on May 17, 2019 12:42:30 GMT -5
There should be a switch to turn on the front cap lights on the APP off you phone as well Safe Travels Chuck
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