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| Trip Report [message #151082] |
Wed, 30 November 2011 11:35  |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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We got home Monday afternoon from a ~520 mile round trip to the Imperial Sand Dunes in California. Aside from the aforementioned Onan problem all went well, except for a little issue with the cruise control that I have to talk to Jim K about. The coach never ran better.
The last trip Kathy and I made, to Phoenix and back last month, left me at the side of the road doing a repair, when the MSD ignition control box burned out. Once I figured out the problem, it was relatively easy to fix by just unhooking the MSD wiring and re-installing the original Ignition module. I sent the control box back to MSD and had it repaired for about $35.00, re-installed it the weekend before last, and everything worked great. The last mountain pass at Dome Valley, heading into Yuma, gave me a chance to check out my MSD on dash timing control. It worked as advertised. When I started hearing some pre-ignition, I turned the knob to the left and retarded the timing about 8 degrees and the pinging went away.
I also have just installed a Trimetric 2025 battery meter that was very helpful in keeping track of my house battery condition. I was encouraged to add this piece of equipment by Dan Gregg, who said it is one of the first steps to setting the coach up for dry camping and solar. It was very reassuring to have it to tell me what condition my house bank was in.
The ground at the campsite was very dry and therefore very soft. I didn't get stuck pulling in, but I did on the way out. I had loaded the Jeep on the trailer before pulling out onto the gravel road, and when I started going forward, my wheels dug in, in spite of having the 3.70 limitted slip final drive. Not a problem though. My son pulled the truck, a 1-ton dually with a 4.10 posi rear, and trailer in front of me, and hooked a strap from the back of the trailer to the tow hooks on the front frame of my Motorhome. All it took was a gentle pull to get me going again. The limitted slip and the 255/70 All Terrains helped a lot, I'm sure.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=41602
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=41605
The tip home was uneventful. Now to clean up the dust and sand. 
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
[Updated on: Wed, 30 November 2011 14:19] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #151139 is a reply to message #151131] |
Wed, 30 November 2011 20:45  |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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| Gary Berry wrote on Wed, 30 November 2011 18:50 |
Pictures, we need pictures. Someone once said that it didn't happen
unless we have pictures. Gotta see pictures...
On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 9:35 AM, Carl Stouffer <carljr3b@yahoo.com> wrote:
> We got home Monday afternoon from a ~520 mile round trip to the Imperial Sand Dunes in California.
Gary and Diana Berry
73 CL Stretch in Wa.
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OK Gary, start here:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=41605
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #151146 is a reply to message #151139] |
Wed, 30 November 2011 21:46 |
Gary Berry
Messages: 1002
Registered: May 2005
Karma: -1
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Hey Carl;
OK, I've had my fix for the day. Thanks for the pictures. I've
been on the horn today with a friend of mine in CA about a trip we're
planning in June. We're taking the motorhomes and buggies (glass
buggies) and the grandkids first to St. Anthony's Dunes in Idaho for
some sand. Then on to Yellowstone for a week of touring the park in
the buggies. Then back to Coos Bay, OR for some more sand, then down
to Redway, CA for a buggy get-together over the 4th of July weekend.
We love this stuff. Going to try and take the buggy to Nags Head, NC
for a buggy run on the east coast in Oct. Would love to go to the
Imperial Sand Dunes sometime. We did make it to the Dumont Dunes once,
but that was to pickup my wife's Manx Resorter/Turista out of Mexico
in El Centro, CA. Taking the buggy to Death Valley in Feburary for a
buggy run. Again, we love this stuff as it looks like you guys do...
On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Carl Stouffer <carljr3b@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> OK Gary, start here:
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=41605
> --
> Carl S.
--
Gary and Diana Berry
73 CL Stretch in Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #151173 is a reply to message #151146] |
Thu, 01 December 2011 08:20 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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Gary,
Don't even THINK about hitting those Southern CA. dunes in June. It will be 120 plus in the daytime. I will make it to Oregon dunes someday. Looks like a really cool place. My daughter lives in Lompoc CA, near Pismo, and we are heading over there for a visit in late January. Maybe I can get some decent tires on the Tracker and air them down for the sand. Worth a try, right?
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: Trip Report [message #151554 is a reply to message #151082] |
Sun, 04 December 2011 12:20 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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A little follow-up here: I just gassed up this morning and with some rough calculations, I got about 7.5 MPG on the trip home form Yuma AZ. That is a gain of about 2300 feet in elevation, pulling a ~3800# trailer, at about 67 mph, with a 3.70 final drive. I got almost 8 MPG on the trip down there between Eloy AZ, and Yuma AZ.
I don't consider that to be bad.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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