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Messages - donc13

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1
General Discussion / Re: 2025 Reunion
« on: January 28, 2025, 06:20:28 am »
Looking forward to the 2025 Reunion and am starting to make plans to and from already. What is the proper protocol for extending our stay at the park? We would like to arrive early, and possibly help in any way we can, if needed.
Do we sign up with the club, then contact the park for an early spot. Rather not move if at all possible. of what is suggested.
Thanks,

gar & mar
Yes, you get your reservation from the Travel Club and then call the rv park to extend it

2
I have had Dish for many, many years.  zero complaints.   Their 800 number is easy to get ahold of a tech and adding or removing a "package" is quick and easy.

There are some reasonable limitations, you can't turn on something like HBO for just 1 day.  I believe the limit is a month at a time.

Don

3
General Discussion / Re: How many Phoenix Cruisers are on the road?
« on: January 26, 2025, 10:43:11 am »
They used to build around 100 a year back in the 20 teens.  And I believe they have been building them since the early 20's...  so in round numbers... say about 2,000 have been sold.

that a pure GUESS.


4
General Discussion / Re: Godzilla Engine?
« on: January 20, 2025, 03:40:54 pm »
We get about 9.5 mpg with a 2552 pulling a little Mini Cooper toad running on regular gas.  Without the toad, we could get closer to 10 mpg.  I cruise at 65 mph.

I really like the engine and the transmission combo (6-speed).  Good power across all rpms with a nice range of gears.  The extra sound insulation that comes with the Ford chassis that Phoenix uses combined with the V-8, you can carry on a normal conversation even when you are working the engine hard.  I do control the shifting for steep grades up and down.  I don't see any reason to run premium gas.  As mentioned above, the cost increase of the premium fuel won't lead to that much of an increase in mileage. 

Same here with my v-10 powered 2551.  Except I cruise at 70mph.  No TOAD but fully loaded so 12,000+ lbs. Driving at 55 to 65 on state highways yields 10.8 mpg.

That's using "regular" gas, not midgrade or premium.

5
General Discussion / Re: Godzilla Engine?
« on: January 20, 2025, 09:31:05 am »
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/gasoline/octane-in-depth.php

The price difference here is 60 cents per gallon more for premium over regular.  That's 1.2 times higher or a 20% increase.

You'd have to get 20% better gas mileage for the cost per mile to be equal.


6
General Discussion / Re: 911 - Charger Death?
« on: January 06, 2025, 01:10:04 pm »
The converter, not the inverter, is what charges the batteries.  You can disconnect the 12v batteries when plugged into shore power or running the Genset. 

As to why the bad battery caused problems when plugged in on shore power is because the converter/charger can not overcome the loss due to one of the batteries essentially being shorted out. Flooded cell batteries lose water when being charged.  Letting the water run below the top of the lead plates in the battery causes the plates accumulate corrosion and eventually short out.  Even if you keep the batteries always full of water, no chemical reaction is perfect inside a battery and the plates and the electrolyte eventually weaken and you lose battery capacity.


7
General Discussion / Re: 911 - Charger Death?
« on: January 03, 2025, 12:13:21 pm »
Oky Dokey.

Volt meter applied to batteries while connected:
6.1v

Volt meter applied to each battery uninstalled:
11.8
1.0

I'm off to the battery store.

Pic of what's been in there and working since 2019 (yeah yeah I know  :-D).

And there is your problem.  One of the 12v (measuring 0 volts) is bringing the other battery down to 6v

As I noted in earlier post in a parallel setup, the weakest battery will drawn down the stronger battery

8
General Discussion / Re: 911 - Charger Death?
« on: January 03, 2025, 12:05:17 pm »
That's parallel. 2 12v batteries

9
General Discussion / Re: 911 - Charger Death?
« on: January 03, 2025, 08:07:45 am »
Take the negative cable off the batteries.  Does the shore power now work normally?  If so, one or both batteries are dead.

Batteries in parallel is generally not the best idea.  When the batteries are new, it's fine but overtime, one battery will start to lose it's capacity and it will drag the other battery down with it and cause the problem you are seeing.

The simple fix, is get a larger single battery. Also make sure the batteries are "deep cycle" batteries, nor "starting batteries"

Personally, I use 2 high capacity 6v AGM  batteries in series instead of a huge 12v or 2 12v batteries wired in parallel.  I use 2 Lifeline GPL-4CT 6v AGM batteries wired in series to get 12v output.

10
General Discussion / Re: How to make the screen door more visible
« on: January 02, 2025, 04:15:48 pm »
I believe that spray pain is your only option.  The screen has to be able to roll back into the side and putting even paper on it could easily cause you worse problems.

Don't forget, dogs can't see colors you can see https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-colors-do-dogs-see/#:~:text=With%20the%20filter%20on%2C%20you,colors%20your%20pup%20can%20perceive.

White is the best color.

The other option, keep the dogs on a leash when you bring them in.  Open the screen, then let them off the leash to go in.


11
General Discussion / Re: Dometic Thermostat Issue
« on: December 27, 2024, 08:11:43 am »
The thermostat needs to be reset.

With the thermostat off

Press and hold pressed tne + button and then press and hold the ON/OFF button until you see two dash's on the LCD.
Release both buttons and then press the on/off button again.

This will reset the thermostat.  You will have to set the auto/hi/lo
and heat/cool temp settings again.




12
General Discussion / Re: Valve Stem Extensions
« on: December 13, 2024, 07:18:39 pm »
Amsoilman,
I was lucky to find a shop that would install and bend my valve extensions. Talking to the tech, he said there was a slight bend needed on the inside dully. You might have the extensions installed with out the hubcaps then bend them yourself. You also could make the ovals in the hubcaps larger with a saw. Just a thought.

Stainless steel doesn't "saw" very well, it's too hard.  It can be ground with a fine diamond grinding wheel but will leave quite sharp edges.

In any event. I just use standard pop-in truck valves and my Tire Minder sensors that just screw onto the valves.  Yes, you have to remove the hub cover (simulator) to add/reduce the air pressure but that's quite easy with a truck dually inflator on the air hose.

I carry a pry bar and rubber hammer to remove and put back on the hub covers.  Very easy for me and I am 80 years old.


13
General Discussion / Re: Samsung dvd replacement
« on: November 15, 2024, 07:25:17 am »
It might be worth a call to the factory to find out what they are using now.

Don

14
General Discussion / Re: Signs of a Bad Water Pump
« on: October 28, 2024, 06:53:28 pm »
Thanks folks for the words of wisdom.  I think I'm going to get through winterization and deal with it during the off season.  At least that way the tank will normally be empty.

I will see if there is space to add an isolation valve between the tank and the pump to aid in a 'hot swap' in case I need to do it in the middle of a trip.  I'll put the idea of a pressure tank on the back burner.  On the 2552, I don't like the idea of a pressure tank in the same compartment as electronics and the power distribution / breaker panel. 

I admit that we just bought direct replacement pumps and didn't look to see if there were any that would be better built.  This one still pumps; the sudden increase in vibration while running leads me to want to swap it out.  I'll report back if I find anything definitive out the pump 'failing' just so others can learn from it.

The INPUT line to the pump goes through the back of the 3 way water valve where you hookup the city water.  The pump output obviously goes to the plumbing.    While there is a bit of room to install isolation valves near the pump, in MY OPINION that's just asking for trouble.. That adds 2 more points where water might leak into the underbed mechanical and electrical compartment.  For me, it is FAR easier to drain the tank and water lines, fix the pump and refill the tank ane lines.

Your opinion may vary.

15
General Discussion / Re: Signs of a Bad Water Pump
« on: October 28, 2024, 08:00:17 am »
Question...on our 2552, the water pump has been working fine for a bit more than a year.  A couple of trips ago, it still worked but there was a sudden increase in the amount of vibration and noise from it.  It still pumps the same but the vibration is not good.  I checked and it is still solidly mounted.  I've assumed it may have lost an impeller blade or otherwise has an imbalance leading to the high vibrations.  Have others experienced the same?

The plan is to replace it at the end of the season given that it still pumps water and we have only one weekend trip remaining before we winterize.  Does the water tank in the 2552 need to be drained before replacing the pump?  I don't think there is a valve between the pump and tank so I'm thinking that is the case.

Any other words of wisdom?  We already purchase 2 pumps, one replacement and one spare.

Yes, drain the tank.  It, along with the water pump are under the passenger side bed.

Yes, there is a drain valve on the water tank.  It's  on the center, bottom right side of the water tank when viewing from the walkway between the twin beds.  It's a quarter turn valve that feeds the water out a short PEX line that goes through the bottom of the RV and drains the water.   It works similar to the low point drain valves beneath the bottom drawer in the kitchen.

Don

Added in edit :
You normally just lift the cutout cover under the mattress and reach down to turn the tank drain valve to empty the fresh water tank.  But in this case, you have to remove the under the mattress plywood to replace the water pump anyway.

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