Login

1

General Discussion / Turn the page

« on: March 10, 2023, 10:16:26 am »

We've chased the birds and vistas from south to north, east to west.
We've tested all the borders of lower 48 in the "Dark Horse".
Its been a wonderful ride.
Thank you old friend.




Please ask and we will share snippets of the journey.

2

Photos / Basking in the glow

« on: March 10, 2023, 10:04:48 am »

Our 2018  2552 slide-delete-special Basking in the glow of a Mountain sunset in Arizona..

Notice the retro paint pattern. Its reminiscent of earlier paint patterns from the old Kermit days

Please comment

3

General Discussion / Re: Surge protector

« on: February 24, 2018, 12:06:17 pm »

Does anyone know the standard brand and model number of the surge protector being installed at the factory?

We ordered our 2018 2552 with a 50 amp service and Surge Protector. It is Progressive Industries ems-hw50c

http://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-hw50c

If you get the standard 30 amp service I assume they will use the ems-hw30c

http://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-hw30c

PC typically mount the remote readout on the wing-wall just above the tank level meter

4

General Discussion / Re: The fake leather on my seats and sofa is falling apart

« on: September 25, 2017, 09:35:36 am »

I hope the real leather holds up better. Maybe you could look into what grade of real leather they are using now on the 2018 and if meets your approval maybe you could get PCto put it on your deteriorating seats for a reasonable price.

5

General Discussion / Re: First 2018 Phoenix Cruiser is in Inventory

« on: August 31, 2017, 01:24:55 pm »

Now they have a 2018 2552 posted on Inventory (with walk thru video)

http://www.phoenixusarv.com/u?id=2018-Phoenix-Cruiser-2552-10822

6

General Discussion / Phoenix Paint Shop

« on: August 25, 2017, 08:51:12 am »

Does anyone know if PC run their own paint shop? If not. Who does their Paint? What is the name of the paint company and where is it located?


Thanks

7

General Discussion / First 2018 Phoenix Cruiser is in Inventory

« on: August 23, 2017, 10:20:45 am »

http://www.phoenixusarv.com/u?id=2018-Phoenix-Cruiser-2351-10820

8

Tips and Tricks / Re: Ever Wonder What A No-Slide-Out Dinette Looks Like?

« on: August 21, 2017, 03:26:44 pm »

I really like the fact that you gain extra height above the booth and more useable length along the driver’s side wall so that your headroom, legroom, and bed length will be increased. The slide margins take up a lot of area. If a person really wants a booth in a 2551/2552 this is a very viable option when compared to slide out on that model.

9

General Discussion / Turning radius of standard 2552

« on: August 10, 2017, 01:20:15 pm »

I am trying to get a handle on how tight the 2552 with 206" wheel base will turn. We previously had a sprinter with 170" wheelbase and all our parking locations are tested for that wb. I have a pretty tight. 90 degree, turn into my driveway but the sprinter made it quite easily. Based on that I have gone out on a limb to assume the  extra 36" wheel base of the 2552 will still make that turn.

I cannot find any specifications on turning radius so I was reduced to calculating for myself. According to my calculations using conservative geometry and the Ackerman Steering principle I calculate the center track turning radius to be 477" or right at 40'. After calculating the radius I'm not so sure its going to fit as easily as I originally thought.


If you have a 2552 and your experience is different please help me out with guidance.

10

General Discussion / What's new for 2018

« on: August 10, 2017, 12:05:05 pm »

Nothing concrete, but I have had hints as to what some of the added features for 2018 are

Here's what I think I know

1) windows in sidewalls of some slide-outs
2) black hardware accents (ladder. roof rack)
3) change of material on Ultra-Leather seating surfaces

I would like others who have information  to join the discussion.

11

Tips and Tricks / Re: LED Lights too bright?

« on: August 04, 2017, 10:56:23 am »

My 2552 is on the line being built. One of the non standard items Kermit agreed to try on my coach is rotary dimmers on two main lights. One in the main room and one in the bedroom. My previous LTV coach had this on their main switches. I know it is difficult to dim LEDs and special switches and bulbs are required, but I ponied up the $ and challenged PC to do it. We shall see in October if it was sucessful.

12

General Discussion / Re: Freightliner

« on: July 16, 2017, 02:17:13 pm »

Folks:

Please note that my initial post was not meant to mean that all E-450/350 applications could be replaced with the Freightliner SC-2 chassis, I was implying that many of these longer Class C's (3100, 2950 PC's) that are coming out of the factory with 3 and 4 slides (other manufacturers) are maxed out before one puts one gal of water in the tank.   Those are the situations where a heavy duty chassis is needed and the SC-2 with say 19.5" wheels would be a good application.  A 2350 on a SC-2 would not be a good use of the chassis I fully realize!  I am still hopeful that some day PC may consider a 33'-34' coach but with the sales of Class B's up nearly 27% last month I doubt PC will shake up their line to much....just my two cents.   Thanks, Ron G.

If Phoenix USA builds and offers a 31-34 foot coach (without bunk over cab) on a S2RV platform, I'll buy it.

renotse

13

General Discussion / LED Flashlights - What all campers need to know

« on: July 16, 2017, 12:28:59 pm »

On another thread, the topic of LED flashlights came up and seemed to get some interest. Since I am flashlight guy I thought I’d share my thoughts.

Led flashlight quality vary significantly. The ones that are solid and waterproof can be found discussed here.  And they aren’t cheap.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/content.php

The link below is a very good source for reasonable and high-quality flashlights based on the 18650 Li-Ion batteries
https://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/
Stay away from Amazon generic flashlights.

Batteries are the key to LED flashlight and the Panasonic NCR18650B with protection circuit is king. Take a look at the chart.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?330236-2012-Battery-test-review-summary

Lots of Chinese fakes out there messing with the price. My Genuine Panasonic NCR18650B cost $14 each 3 years ago. The internet price has come down considerably but I fear it’s because many are chinese fakes. I don’t have a current reliable source for My Genuine Panasonic NCR18650B but they are out there, just be diligent. Be leery of a $6 Panasonic NCR18650B

On chargers - Nitecore makes a super versatile 4 slot that charges just about any size and chemistry flashlight battery but it really shines on the 18650 Li-Ion
http://charger.nitecore.com/CHARGER/D/D4/

For the real geeks among you, watch this Charger comparison video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQJaumozgj4

Follow this advise and you'll only have to buy once

14

General Discussion / Does your Phoenix Cruiser have the "New" Slide Out?

« on: July 14, 2017, 10:21:53 am »

There is always a lot of talk on this forum about whether to get a slide out or not. But since the introduction of the "New" slide out these discussions have been more vigorous.

I'd like to reintroduce this topic but confine the participates to the folks that bought 2017 models equipped with Lippert Schwintek slides.

1. Does your Phoenix Cruiser have a Schwintek slide out?

2. If you have a Schwintek slide out, do you have any problems with it? …. Explain.

3. If you were to get another new Phoenix Cruiser, would you or would not get the Schwintek slide out?



Background: For years. probably since introduction of slide room, Phoenix USA used slide mechanisms manufactured by Liftco. They have the distinctive bar braces on the outside slide walls
https://liftcoinc.com/pdf/products/glideouts.pdf

For the 2017 model year Phoenix switched over to the Lippert-Schwintek Slide mechanism.  Easily identified by the dual gear racks on the outside of both sidewalls of the slide room
https://www.lci1.com/in-wall-slide-out.

15

General Discussion / Re: Freightliner

« on: July 13, 2017, 10:03:06 am »

Ron, we would love a rig like that.  I think but not positive you can get them down to a 34 foot

Freightliner offers the S2RV in Wheel Base Range: 179” – 279” so its conceivable that you could build a coach as short as a Phoenix Cruiser 3100 (30.5’).

 I derived this theoretical OAL length by looking at the wheelbase and OAL of a 36-foot super C, in this case the Dynamax DX3 (wheelbase 237” and OAL 425”), and subtracting the shortest wheelbase length available on S2RV (179"). This difference was minus 58”.  So the theoretical OAL of a coach based on of the shortest S2RV chassis  would be 30.5 feet provided you maintain the same front and rear overhang as on the DX3.

I used the specs of the DX3 (based on M2 chassis) because I could not find specs on the Renegade Valencia (based on S2RV chassis). Slight front overhang differences between M2 and S2RV may exist.

I am not sure how a 31 foot coach with 179" wheelbase would handle, but if you streched that wheelbase a bit, it’s obvious that a very well mannered coach could be produced from the S2RV in the 32-34 foot range

Sources
https://www.fcccrv.com/chassis/s2rv/frame-rail-construction/#s2rv-wheelbase
http://www.dynamaxcorp.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=299&Image=10335
http://www.rvbusiness.com/2017/03/fccc-touts-s2rv-chassis-at-work-truck-show/