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Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Printable Version +- Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum (http://www.wanderlodgegurus.com) +-- Forum: Yahoo Groups Archive (/forumdisplay.php?fid=61) +--- Forum: WanderlodgeForum (/forumdisplay.php?fid=63) +--- Thread: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird (/showthread.php?tid=5198) |
Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Ron Thompson - 06-26-2007 01:06 Being a new comer to the world of RV'ing I am impressed at the way everyone has responded to a call for help. Its very refreshing to see this kind of cooperation. I will be sure to pass it along as I intergrate into the world of RV'ing. Best regards, Ron Thompson Waller, Texas 1995 Wide Body 42" BB Detroit Diesel Series 60 470 HP Kubota, 4 cylinder, 1681 cc. Phone 936-931-2802 land line cell..713-295-0119 Cingular James Hutchings add on " you do not ride the brakes.. You apply continuous gentle pressure to slow the vehicle. As I said earlier if you smell brake you are in to high of a gear. Slow down before you mow down some one else. "Mountain driving - Professional drivers are taught to use the same transmission gear to descend a grade as the one required to climb the grade. This is a good rule of thumb but road surface conditions, visibility, and other variables must be used. Proper use of an exhaust brake will save the service brakes for real emergency stops. If you must use the service brakes it is better to keep a continuous light application of the brake pedal. This is less likely to cause brake fade than to allow your vehicle to speed up and then pump your brakes to slow it down. Better yet descend in the correct gear so that you don't even have to use the service brakes. It may take a few seconds longer to get down, but at least the brake lining will be saved and you won't have white knuckle brake fade to deal with. If your brakes do fail, look for a run off ramp designed for that event. If none is available try to scrub off speed by side swiping the mountain edge of the roadway. It is better to damage the rig than to go off a steep embankment and roll over, etc. Proper maintenance will significantly reduce this risk and you could take a few seconds in the Brake Test Area on the top of the hill to inspect and test your rig's brakes and tires. A few seconds is all it will cost. " 5.4.6 Proper Braking Technique Remember. The use of brakes on a long and/or steep downgrade is only a supplement to the braking effect of the engine. Once the vehicle is in the proper low gear, the following is the proper braking technique: . Apply the brakes just hard enough to feel a definite slowdown. . When your speed has been reduced to approximately five mph below your "safe" speed, release the brakes. (This application should last for about three seconds.) . When your speed has increased to your "safe" speed, repeat steps 1 and 2. For example, if your "safe" speed is 40 mph, you would not apply the brakes until your speed reaches 40 mph. You now apply the brakes hard enough to gradually reduce your speed to 35 mph and then release the brakes. Repeat this as often as necessary until you have reached the end of the downgrade. Both methods work if you are in a low enough gear. Jim Hutchings From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Pete Masterson Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 6:44 PM To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird The Jake Brake or Jacob Brake is a particular brand of engine brake manufactured and sold by Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc. While the term Jake Brake technically only describes Jake Brake brand engine brakes, it has become a genericized trademark and is often used to refer to engine brakes or compression release engine brakes in general, especially on large vehicles or heavy equipment. See Wikipedia for a full entry at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_brake> The magnetic retarder used on some earlier BBs is similar to the technology used for "dynamic braking" on diesel-electric railroad locomotives. The diesel-electric locomotive is actually a diesel generator (up to 5000 HP) that powers electric motors to drive the engine. On down grades, the motors are electrically switched to become generators, and the power produced is directed to very heavy duty grids and discarded as heat. Realize that these things produce 600 amps at 600 volts and that's a _lot_ of heat! (Great for toasting marshmallows.) Pete Masterson aeonix1@... '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42' El Sobrante, CA On Jun 25, 2007, at 4:28 PM, Ron Thompson wrote: > My BB has an engine retarder. I have no idea what that is > exactly. I assume it is using the compression of the engine to > hold back the transmission which will hold back the BB > > What is a Jake Brake? > <snip> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Ron Thompson - 06-26-2007 01:26 Leroy, You are correct, this is an important issue. I will check that out if I can get to it. Other wise I guess you could find the source of power and disconnect it. I noticed yesterday in the area where my tool box is located and all the water connections are with Sporlan valve is located that there is a small heater in the rear in the water connections cubby hole. I was thinking that heater would be a fire hazard with the right situation. Anyone know about that one. Its on a 1995 BB 42'. Ron Thompson Waller, Texas 1995 Wide Body 42" BB Detroit Diesel Series 60 470 HP Kubota, 4 cylinder, 1681 cc. Phone 936-931-2802 land line cell..713-295-0119 Cingular Leroy Eckert windows in the bedroom are the same way. I have lubed the track with limited success. I keep a small sledge hammer in the bedroom jic. I posted back in April a potential major source for fire. I have removed the source from my bus. The freeze heaters on my coach burned a hole in the water pipe under the night stand while in the infield at Talladega. The event did not trip the circuit breaker. Flooded the bus also. I am glad the water was in the line and the pump was on! Or??? The reason for the failure was two of the wires were touching when they failed. That is not allowed per specifications. I still do not know why they operated at 85 degrees. In any event, they are gone now. With hydronic heat, there is no real reason to have them. It is not easy to do and inspection of these wires as they are encased in insulation covering the water pipes. However, if two of these wires are crossed or get together from movement over the years the result is inevitable. Kinda off the original subject but very important. Leroy Eckert 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors" Niceville, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: Ron Thompson To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 7:01 AM Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird Brad, Man am I glad you jogged my memory about that bus fire during the Houston evac. I remember seeing that thing burn too. What a tradgedy. Yes, you are right about a fire on a coach being a serious matter. I was just thinking about what I would do if I was in the bedroom and a fire broke out in the galley. There is no door to get out. I tried the windows in the bedroom and you would have to have a pry bar to get them open. I don't think they have ever been open so they are stiff as hell. Going to have to lube them to get them moving again. A little WD-40 will do wonders. I notice too that the window latches are very difficult to release. One of the windows I had to go get a screw driver to get the latch to release. All of the windows are stiff like that. Is that a usual thing on these Blue Birds? Thanks again Brad. My best regards, Ron Thompson Waller, Texas 1995 Wide Body 42" BB Detroit Diesel Series 60 470 HP Kubota, 4 cylinder, 1681 cc. Phone 936-931-2802 land line cell..713-295-0119 Cingular brad barton <bbartonwx@...> wrote: Ron, One more ramble and I'll quit. Marty is right about heat. A dragging brake on a tour bus evacuating nursing home patients from Hurricane Rita in Houston, blew out one time on I-45. The driver didn't understand English, so he continued on after the tire was changed. The brake heated up again even in stop and go traffic. The wheel became red hot and caught the rear of the bus on fire. The driver failed to notice until portable oxygen tanks used by the patients began exploding. The bus turned into a crematorium for 24 of those patients. I'll never forget watching the bus burning up live on TV. Also, I left my magnetic retarder on by mistake in Flagstaff and nearly caught my 84 Bird on fire. I burned through the air line that operated the driver's seat slide. Imagine smoke coming from under your coach and you're struggling to get to the extinguisher with your seat next to the doghouse. Fire on a motorcoach is almost as serious as fire on board an airplane. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@... To: WanderlodgeForum@...: martingregg598@...: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:32:18 +0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird Ron, if you have a Allison HT-755 five speed with a retarder, I have know advice, if you have a 1995-42' you should have a Allison HD-4060 and a DD series 60 with a 3 position Jacobs engine brake. Jacobs's brakes close the valves and turn the cylinder into a compressor creating braking horsepower, each position adds more cylinders. I haven't driven a 95 in the mountains but I have driven over a lot of the passes in the Cascades, Montana, Idaho and so on, but I can't imagine that if your in the right gear at the right RPM that the engine brake won't hold it back. For me with a less effective Pac Brake, it is 4th gear at 50 mph at about 2400 rpm's on a 6% or so, on a steeper grade it's 3 gear at 35-40 mph and I almost never have to use my air brakes. If I am in 4th and it starts to run away, faster that I like, I use the brakes to get the coach down to the speed that I can select the next lower gear. If the Jacobs brake doesn't hold you back, maybe there is something wrong with the Jacobs brake? As for the "Drum type" air brakes, if you have been on the road for a time and the ambient temp. is hot, and If you ride the brakes for a long period of time the drum can expand away from the shoe and you lose your brakes. With some real bad luck you could heat the wheel up so hot that it heats the tire up and blowout.Marty95 BMC 37Kennewick Wa __________________________________________________________ Play free games, earn tickets, get cool prizes! Join Live Search Club. http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_wlmailtextlink [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Ron Thompson - 06-26-2007 01:35 Good suggestions. Thanks. Ron Thompson Waller, Texas 1995 Wide Body 42" BB Detroit Diesel Series 60 470 HP Kubota, 4 cylinder, 1681 cc. Phone 936-931-2802 land line cell..713-295-0119 Cingular Stephen Birtles Lube tracks with paraffin wax a small amount goes a long way If you really worried about escaping from the bedroom through the window a spring loaded center punch will make the window disappear with one shot it is tempered non-laminated glass and will crumble One good piece of equipment on any emergency truck or vehicle usually located in rescue worker's pocket for fast access along with seat belt cutter Stephen 77fc35 --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert" > > My windows in the bedroom are the same way. I have lubed the track with limited success. I keep a small sledge hammer in the bedroom jic. > I posted back in April a potential major source for fire. I have removed the source from my bus. The freeze heaters on my coach burned a hole in the water pipe under the night stand while in the infield at Talladega. The event did not trip the circuit breaker. Flooded the bus also. I am glad the water was in the line and the pump was on! Or??? The reason for the failure was two of the wires were touching when they failed. That is not allowed per specifications. I still do not know why they operated at 85 degrees. In any event, they are gone now. With hydronic heat, there is no real reason to have them. > It is not easy to do and inspection of these wires as they are encased in insulation covering the water pipes. However, if two of these wires are crossed or get together from movement over the years the result is inevitable. > Kinda off the original subject but very important. > > Leroy Eckert > 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors" > Niceville, FL > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Ron Thompson > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 7:01 AM > Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird > > > Brad, > > Man am I glad you jogged my memory about that bus fire during the Houston evac. I remember seeing that thing burn too. What a tradgedy. > > Yes, you are right about a fire on a coach being a serious matter. I was just thinking about what I would do if I was in the bedroom and a fire broke out in the galley. There is no door to get out. I tried the windows in the bedroom and you would have to have a pry bar to get them open. I don't think they have ever been open so they are stiff as hell. Going to have to lube them to get them moving again. A little WD-40 will do wonders. I notice too that the window latches are very difficult to release. One of the windows I had to go get a screw driver to get the latch to release. All of the windows are stiff like that. Is that a usual thing on these Blue Birds? > > Thanks again Brad. > > My best regards, > > Ron Thompson > Waller, Texas > 1995 Wide Body 42" BB > Detroit Diesel Series 60 470 HP > Kubota, 4 cylinder, 1681 cc. > Phone 936-931-2802 land line > cell..713-295-0119 Cingular > > brad barton <bbartonwx@...> wrote: > Ron, > One more ramble and I'll quit. > Marty is right about heat. A dragging brake on a tour bus evacuating nursing home patients from Hurricane Rita in Houston, blew out one time on I-45. The driver didn't understand English, so he continued on after the tire was changed. The brake heated up again even in stop and go traffic. The wheel became red hot and caught the rear of the bus on fire. The driver failed to notice until portable oxygen tanks used by the patients began exploding. The bus turned into a crematorium for 24 of those patients. I'll never forget watching the bus burning up live on TV. Also, I left my magnetic retarder on by mistake in Flagstaff and nearly caught my 84 Bird on fire. I burned through the air line that operated the driver's seat slide. Imagine smoke coming from under your coach and you're struggling to get to the extinguisher with your seat next to the doghouse. Fire on a motorcoach is almost as serious as fire on board an airplane. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW > bbartonwx@... > > To: WanderlodgeForum@...: martingregg598@...: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:32:18 +0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird > > Ron, if you have a Allison HT-755 five speed with a retarder, I have know advice, if you have a 1995-42' you should have a Allison HD-4060 and a DD series 60 with a 3 position Jacobs engine brake. Jacobs's brakes close the valves and turn the cylinder into a compressor creating braking horsepower, each position adds more cylinders. I haven't driven a 95 in the mountains but I have driven over a lot of the passes in the Cascades, Montana, Idaho and so on, but I can't imagine that if your in the right gear at the right RPM that the engine brake won't hold it back. For me with a less effective Pac Brake, it is 4th gear at 50 mph at about 2400 rpm's on a 6% or so, on a steeper grade it's 3 gear at 35-40 mph and I almost never have to use my air brakes. If I am in 4th and it starts to run away, faster that I like, I use the brakes to get the coach down to the speed that I can select the next lower gear. If the Jacobs brake doesn't hold you back, maybe there is something wrong > with the Jacobs brake? As for the "Drum type" air brakes, if you have been on the road for a time and the ambient temp. is hot, and If you ride the brakes for a long period of time the drum can expand away from the shoe and you lose your brakes. With some real bad luck you could heat the wheel up so hot that it heats the tire up and blowout.Marty95 BMC 37Kennewick Wa > > __________________________________________________________ > Play free games, earn tickets, get cool prizes! Join Live Search Club. > http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_wlmailtextlink > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - truitt44@...> - 06-26-2007 03:44 Leroy, I had to pry my windows open. I sprayed a little WD40 on the track now they open fine. I also keep a hammer in the bedroom just in case it is needed. Howard Truitt Camilla, Ga. 86 PT40 > > From: "Leroy Eckert" > Date: 2007/06/26 Tue AM 09:02:46 EDT > To: > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird > > Stephen: > Will try the wax idea. > Leroy Eckert > 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors" > Niceville,FL > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Stephen Birtles > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 7:54 AM > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird > > > Lube tracks with paraffin wax a small amount goes a long way > > If you really worried about escaping from the bedroom through the window > a spring loaded center punch will make the window disappear with one shot > it is tempered non-laminated glass and will crumble > One good piece of equipment on any emergency truck or vehicle usually > located in rescue worker's pocket for fast access along with seat belt > cutter > Stephen 77fc35 > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert" > > > > > My windows in the bedroom are the same way. I have lubed the track > with limited success. I keep a small sledge hammer in the bedroom jic. > > I posted back in April a potential major source for fire. I have > removed the source from my bus. The freeze heaters on my coach burned > a hole in the water pipe under the night stand while in the infield at > Talladega. The event did not trip the circuit breaker. Flooded the bus > also. I am glad the water was in the line and the pump was on! Or??? > The reason for the failure was two of the wires were touching when > they failed. That is not allowed per specifications. I still do not > know why they operated at 85 degrees. In any event, they are gone > now. With hydronic heat, there is no real reason to have them. > > It is not easy to do and inspection of these wires as they are > encased in insulation covering the water pipes. However, if two of > these wires are crossed or get together from movement over the years > the result is inevitable. > > Kinda off the original subject but very important. > > > > Leroy Eckert > > 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors" > > Niceville, FL > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Ron Thompson > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 7:01 AM > > Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 > 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird > > > > > > Brad, > > > > Man am I glad you jogged my memory about that bus fire during the > Houston evac. I remember seeing that thing burn too. What a tradgedy. > > > > Yes, you are right about a fire on a coach being a serious matter. > I was just thinking about what I would do if I was in the bedroom and > a fire broke out in the galley. There is no door to get out. I tried > the windows in the bedroom and you would have to have a pry bar to get > them open. I don't think they have ever been open so they are stiff as > hell. Going to have to lube them to get them moving again. A little > WD-40 will do wonders. I notice too that the window latches are very > difficult to release. One of the windows I had to go get a screw > driver to get the latch to release. All of the windows are stiff like > that. Is that a usual thing on these Blue Birds? > > > > Thanks again Brad. > > > > My best regards, > > > > Ron Thompson > > Waller, Texas > > 1995 Wide Body 42" BB > > Detroit Diesel Series 60 470 HP > > Kubota, 4 cylinder, 1681 cc. > > Phone 936-931-2802 land line > > cell..713-295-0119 Cingular > > > > brad barton <bbartonwx@...> wrote: > > Ron, > > One more ramble and I'll quit. > > Marty is right about heat. A dragging brake on a tour bus > evacuating nursing home patients from Hurricane Rita in Houston, blew > out one time on I-45. The driver didn't understand English, so he > continued on after the tire was changed. The brake heated up again > even in stop and go traffic. The wheel became red hot and caught the > rear of the bus on fire. The driver failed to notice until portable > oxygen tanks used by the patients began exploding. The bus turned into > a crematorium for 24 of those patients. I'll never forget watching the > bus burning up live on TV. Also, I left my magnetic retarder on by > mistake in Flagstaff and nearly caught my 84 Bird on fire. I burned > through the air line that operated the driver's seat slide. Imagine > smoke coming from under your coach and you're struggling to get to the > extinguisher with your seat next to the doghouse. Fire on a motorcoach > is almost as serious as fire on board an airplane. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW > > bbartonwx@... > > > > To: WanderlodgeForum@...: martingregg598@...: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 > 00:32:18 +0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with > 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird > > > > Ron, if you have a Allison HT-755 five speed with a retarder, I > have know advice, if you have a 1995-42' you should have a Allison > HD-4060 and a DD series 60 with a 3 position Jacobs engine brake. > Jacobs's brakes close the valves and turn the cylinder into a > compressor creating braking horsepower, each position adds more > cylinders. I haven't driven a 95 in the mountains but I have driven > over a lot of the passes in the Cascades, Montana, Idaho and so on, > but I can't imagine that if your in the right gear at the right RPM > that the engine brake won't hold it back. For me with a less effective > Pac Brake, it is 4th gear at 50 mph at about 2400 rpm's on a 6% or so, > on a steeper grade it's 3 gear at 35-40 mph and I almost never have to > use my air brakes. If I am in 4th and it starts to run away, faster > that I like, I use the brakes to get the coach down to the speed that > I can select the next lower gear. If the Jacobs brake doesn't hold you > back, maybe there is something wrong > > with the Jacobs brake? As for the "Drum type" air brakes, if you > have been on the road for a time and the ambient temp. is hot, and If > you ride the brakes for a long period of time the drum can expand away > from the shoe and you lose your brakes. With some real bad luck you > could heat the wheel up so hot that it heats the tire up and > blowout.Marty95 BMC 37Kennewick Wa > > > > __________________________________________________________ > > Play free games, earn tickets, get cool prizes! Join Live Search > Club. > > http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_wlmailtextlink > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Pete Masterson - 06-26-2007 04:05 No... it's not normal. Probably a function of the coach sitting a long time. On my coach, the windows up front open very easily -- too easily, in fact. The weather stripping has flattened and I need to renew it to stop some rattling while underway. The bedroom window, however is somewhat of a pain. It's quite sticky. My latch doesn't quite latch. So, my plan is to thoroughly clean the tracks and apply some graphite. (WD-40 is a solvent. It leaves a slight residue that attracts dirt, so it's not a good choice for a window.) I'll also add some washers under the latch part in the window frame so the locking part will connect (if the cleaning and graphite doesn't do the trick). Pete Masterson aeonix1@... '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42' El Sobrante, CA On Jun 26, 2007, at 5:01 AM, Ron Thompson wrote: > <snip> I tried the windows in the bedroom and you would have to > have a pry bar to get them open. I don't think they have ever been > open so they are stiff as hell. Going to have to lube them to get > them moving again. A little WD-40 will do wonders. I notice too > that the window latches are very difficult to release. One of the > windows I had to go get a screw driver to get the latch to > release. All of the windows are stiff like that. Is that a usual > thing on these Blue Birds? Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Pete Masterson - 06-26-2007 04:09 Growing up in California ... and having a family that liked to travel to the mountains (fly fishing in Idaho), I observed --and when old enough did-- a lot of mountain driving. Indeed, even in the SF Bay Area, you can encounter some "interesting" (if short) grades. Gives you lots of practice... Pete Masterson aeonix1@... '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42' El Sobrante, CA On Jun 26, 2007, at 5:11 AM, Ron Thompson wrote: > Hey Pete, you sound like an expert to me. I appreciate your in > depth cretique. I print everything you write. > > I have been over the mountains at Berthoud pass when I was a kid > but that was the only time. I remember my Grandmother was driving > since my Grandfather never learned to drive and she was riding > those brakes and had the manual transmission down it 1st gear and > both hands on the steering wheel with white nuckles. It impressed > me enough that I still remember the quietness in the car when it > was usually mayhem. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when we got > down on level ground again. And that pass is not that bad. > > Thanks Pet and safe driving. Hope your trip home is without incident. > > Ron Thompson > Waller, Texas > 1995 Wide Body 42" BB > Detroit Diesel Series 60 470 HP > Kubota, 4 cylinder, 1681 cc. > Phone 936-931-2802 land line > cell..713-295-0119 Cingular > > Pete Masterson > wrote: I'm no expert, but I've > crossed the Rockies in southern Wyoming > twice, I've done the Raton pass in southern Colorado twice, I've gone > up and back down Colorado I-70 to near Evergreen CO, and I've crossed > the Sierras into California on I-80. Plus I've traveled through a > fair number of lesser mountains in Oregon, Idaho, and California. So > I've seen a few mountains. > > Basically, the technique is to watch the temperatures, especially the > oil temp when you're climbing. Higher revs = cooler engine, so slow > down and shift down, as necessary. Take it easy. > > Coming down, use the jake brake (it's actually integrated into the > automatic transmission, so when it's enabled, it 'kicks in' as > needed. The engine computer "watches" the revs to avoid over-reving > but you still need to watch that you don't exceed 2400 RPM while > exhaust (Jake) brake is operating and 2100 RPM while under power. In > general, come down at moderate speed. When you slow down with the > service brakes, slow to 5 mph or more _below_ your target speed, then > let the coach gradually pick up speed (still using the jake brake). > > The coach has plenty of service brake capacity to control the > vehicle ... but you do need to pay attention an not run low on air. > Don't "ride" the brakes as that will heat them up and not really help > maintain control. > > It is said that you should descend at the same speed that you climb > at ... but the reality is somewhat different. For example, from Reno > to Donner Pass on I-80 you climb about 3500 feet in 10 miles or so. > Then from Donner Pass to Roseville, you descend nearly 7000 feet in > 40 miles. So, the grades are quite different and your speeds will not > be "the same"... Nevertheless, "keep it moderate" is a wise approach. > If road-side signs suggest a curve be taken at 40 mph -- take it to > heart. It's good advice. Be sure to get to 40 or slower for that > curve. (For years, I always wondered just who they were thinking of > with the curve-speed advisories. Now I know....) > > Note: Do not use the jake brake under poor traction conditions (such > as snow or wet pavement) as it can lead to control/skidding problems. > > Pete Masterson > '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 > aeonix1@... > On the road at Harrisburg Oregon > > On Jun 25, 2007, at 12:28 PM, Ron Thompson wrote: > >> This is a question that lots of people might want to explore. Would >> someone with a lot of experience driving a big rig in the mountains >> please write up a good descriptive instruction for mountain driving. >> >> I have never driven in the big mountains with a normal vehicle much >> less a 42,000 lb motor coach. I am planning a trip through the >> mountains maybe this year but definitely next year from Texas through >> the Rockies and on up to Alaska. It would sure be helpful to have >> some pointers from an expert. >> >> Best regards, >> Ron Thompson >> > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - brad barton - 06-26-2007 04:20 I use detail brush or even manicure or small hand brush to clean out the dirt, then spray top and bottom tracks with a silicone lubricant that won't damage the rubber. If your coach is stored outside, you'll do it every month or two but it works. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@... To: WanderlodgeForum@...: truitt44@...: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:44:41 -0400Subject: Re: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird _________________________________________________________________ Live Earth is coming. Learn more about the hottest summer event - only on MSN. http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthwlm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Ron Thompson - 06-26-2007 04:38 Lets see now, windows sticking and not unlatching or latching properly, # umpteenth priority project. Whew this fun RV'ing is about to kill me...LOL Ron Thompson Waller, Texas 1995 42' BB Pete Masterson it's not normal. Probably a function of the coach sitting a long time. On my coach, the windows up front open very easily -- too easily, in fact. The weather stripping has flattened and I need to renew it to stop some rattling while underway. The bedroom window, however is somewhat of a pain. It's quite sticky. My latch doesn't quite latch. So, my plan is to thoroughly clean the tracks and apply some graphite. (WD-40 is a solvent. It leaves a slight residue that attracts dirt, so it's not a good choice for a window.) I'll also add some washers under the latch part in the window frame so the locking part will connect (if the cleaning and graphite doesn't do the trick). Pete Masterson aeonix1@... '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42' El Sobrante, CA On Jun 26, 2007, at 5:01 AM, Ron Thompson wrote: > <snip> I tried the windows in the bedroom and you would have to > have a pry bar to get them open. I don't think they have ever been > open so they are stiff as hell. Going to have to lube them to get > them moving again. A little WD-40 will do wonders. I notice too > that the window latches are very difficult to release. One of the > windows I had to go get a screw driver to get the latch to > release. All of the windows are stiff like that. Is that a usual > thing on these Blue Birds? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Pete Masterson - 06-26-2007 04:40 It is heated by the Aqua-Hot system. It doesn't get any hotter than 180-200 degrees. An electrical short in the fan (behind the radiator) is about the only possible source of ignition -- but then the whole wiring system is equally "dangerous." The '95 Bird doesn't have the heat tape of concern in the older Birds (unless a previous owner installed some -- but that's unlikely unless the coach has spent a lot of time in very cold climate). Pete Masterson aeonix1@... '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42' El Sobrante, CA On Jun 26, 2007, at 6:26 AM, Ron Thompson wrote: > Leroy, > > You are correct, this is an important issue. I will check that out > if I can get to it. Other wise I guess you could find the source > of power and disconnect it. > > I noticed yesterday in the area where my tool box is located and > all the water connections are with Sporlan valve is located that > there is a small heater in the rear in the water connections cubby > hole. I was thinking that heater would be a fire hazard with the > right situation. Anyone know about that one. Its on a 1995 BB 42'. Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird - Ron Thompson - 06-26-2007 04:43 I have a graphite lubricant that I will use on it. The biggest problem I see is that the latches are extremely difficult to get unlatched. In fact I couldn't do it with hands alone. And I am no wimp. 6' 4" and a life time of heavy hand work. I had to get a screwdriver to get them unlatched. Once unlatched I could move them fairly easily althoug they were sticky. I didn't have time at the time I was trying them to see if there was an adjustment on the latches, but there should be some way. Maybe shims that could be added or removed. Ron Thompson Waller, Texas 1995 42' BB brad barton <bbartonwx@...> wrote: I use detail brush or even manicure or small hand brush to clean out the dirt, then spray top and bottom tracks with a silicone lubricant that won't damage the rubber. If your coach is stored outside, you'll do it every month or two but it works. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@... To: WanderlodgeForum@...: truitt44@...: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:44:41 -0400Subject: Re: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Mountain Driving with 1995 42', 42,000 lb. Blue Bird __________________________________________________________ Live Earth is coming. Learn more about the hottest summer event - only on MSN. http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthwlm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |