Community Forums

dhlairbus · 09-16-2015, 03:02 PM

Did you know that anytime you activate the wipers, your headlights will come on, and if they were already on, they will remain on... until you cycle the ignition switch, after which time the headlights will operate normally... unless you use the wipers again.

Had to ask customer support, and Freight liner to learn this. If its in the owners manual, I missed it.

Anybody figure out a good way to keep the backup camera clean/useable in the rain?

We are planning our first long road trip, with planned driving times in the 4 to 5 hour range. There will be a couple of 7.5 days on the road... any one tried driving that long? Do you think I am pushing it?

What is the best CB channel for RV's? I plan to monitor 19 most of the time.

steved44 · 09-16-2015, 03:12 PM

Oh we've driven that long before, but have not enjoyed it. Driving a MH is a little more stressful than a car as you more things to pay attention to. We now (after 8 years full-timing) tend to drive in the 250 mile range stop earlier and rest longer. It's all about seeing the country and enjoying it, not just getting from one place to another.

As far as the rain on the camera, while you're driving in the rain it swirls behind you so the camera is not going to show you much at times. When the rain stops get out and wipe it off. I'm tall so I can reach it standing on the toad hitch.

newmarpusher · 09-16-2015, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhlairbus

Did you know that anytime you activate the wipers, your headlights will come on, and if they were already on, they will remain on... until you cycle the ignition switch, after which time the headlights will operate normally... unless you use the wipers again.

Had to ask customer support, and Freight liner to learn this. If its in the owners manual, I missed it.

Anybody figure out a good way to keep the backup camera clean/useable in the rain?

We are planning our first long road trip, with planned driving times in the 4 to 5 hour range. There will be a couple of 7.5 days on the road... any one tried driving that long? Do you think I am pushing it?

What is the best CB channel for RV's? I plan to monitor 19 most of the time.

Yea I can't believe that hasn't been mentioned before. On my 2015 Ventana 4037, as soon as I use the windshield washers the headlights come on and are stuck on until I cycle the ignition off. Really annoying.

eddieelk · 09-16-2015, 04:19 PM

There are those that monitor Channel 13 for Motorhomers. I have driven 10-12 hours on occasion, and stayed at Flyin J/Petro, usually on Interstates. Eddie Elk.

allynne · 09-16-2015, 04:31 PM

We regularly go 8-9 hours a day. In a Newmar DP it is not tiring and we get where we]re going when we want to. We have also gone for shorter times when it suits our schedule. Driving time is not a function of planning for us.

Al Sawyer
'05 MT. Aire

Skip426 · 09-16-2015, 04:47 PM

Get out at rest areas every 2>3 hours and walk around, for at least 10 mins. , helps avoid blood clots in your legs.
Don't ask .

TJ · 09-16-2015, 05:24 PM

I have wondered about using a Q-tip to put a dab of Rain-X on the lens to keep the water drop from forming. Haven't tried it yet as I wasn't sure whether Rain-X would harm the lens. I don't think so, but would value opinions on this. Anyone tried it?

Dutch Star Don · 09-16-2015, 05:32 PM

Did you know that anytime you activate the wipers, your headlights will come on, and if they were already on, they will remain on... until you cycle the ignition switch, after which time the headlights will operate normally... unless you use the wipers again. Had to ask customer support, and Freight liner to learn this. If its in the owners manual, I missed it.

Yes....This is not a Freightliner controlled item. It's done by your SmartWheel and I believe only coaches with SmartWheel do this. Just in case you haven't tried the wipers, the intermittent wipers are set by hitting the Intermittent button once, the wipers will swipe once and stop. They won't go again until you hit the intermittent button again. The length of time you waited will now be your intermittent wiper timing.

Anybody figure out a good way to keep the backup camera clean/useable in the rain?

Not much you can do, but they still work pretty well, even during the rain. If you stop, take a broom handle with a rag and wipe it off.

We are planning our first long road trip, with planned driving times in the 4 to 5 hour range. There will be a couple of 7.5 days on the road... any one tried driving that long? Do you think I am pushing it?

We often drive that long at the start of a trip....you just can't get out of Southern California unless you do. The first four hours are usually pretty good, we stop for lunch....don't rush....and then do the next four. We often find fuel before we pull into the campground so that we can get an early start in the morning. Comfort Drive will help make the drive very manageable. After the drive, relax, have a cocktail and enjoy dinner.

What is the best CB channel for RV's? I plan to monitor 19 most of the time

I didn't even hook up my CB on my new coach. Just not that much traffic anymore and what you can hear often involves swearing and other languages. I use to use mine to find why there was a traffic jam, but now there are so many apps that will do the same thing.

We really enjoy having satellite radio. We listen to some Country, then some oldies, maybe some comedy of we're getting bored and then news if something is going on.

DicknBambi · 09-16-2015, 07:05 PM

Some states require the use of lights if your wipers are on, may keep you from getting a ticket to the policemans ball. My rule is if you feel good you can drive as long as you want, if you don't feel good, don't drive. Do take breaks and walk around checking the unit for anything that could be going wrong. Maybe you can catch something before it gets expensive.

dutchstr3884 · 09-16-2015, 10:24 PM

X2 what DicknBambi said. Depends on how you feel. Do stop every 2-3 hours, get out and walk around.

Mr_D · 09-16-2015, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steved44

Oh we've driven that long before, but have not enjoyed it. Driving a MH is a little more stressful than a car as you more things to pay attention to. We now (after 8 years full-timing) tend to drive in the 250 mile range stop earlier and rest longer. It's all about seeing the country and enjoying it, not just getting from one place to another.

As far as the rain on the camera, while you're driving in the rain it swirls behind you so the camera is not going to show you much at times. When the rain stops get out and wipe it off. I'm tall so I can reach it standing on the toad hitch.

Not for me, I enjoy driving any MH we've had except for the '97 Ford chassis Type C, until we changed the factory seats, then it was fine.

Arch Hoagland · 09-16-2015, 11:50 PM

California law requires your headlights to be on if your windshield wipers are on. I like it as I can see cars in my mirrors easier. Helps with safety.

I've occasionally run 9 hours but normally 3 to 6 hours is my average. Leave early in the morning to avoid the wind and arrive way before dark at the campground.
Makes for a better chance of getting a good site and no maneuvering in the dark.

I carry a long pole with a sponge on the end to wipe off my camera.

Haven't found a CB to be useful these days so I don't use one any more. Didn't care for the foul language that was in use either.

PDR John · 09-17-2015, 06:53 AM

It took me awhile to figure out the headlights and wipers myself.

I clean the backup camera like it's the windshield.

We drove almost 800 miles yesterday, just finishing breakfast and back on the road.

newmarpusher · 09-17-2015, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

California law requires your headlights to be on if your windshield wipers are on. I like it as I can see cars in my mirrors easier. Helps with safety.

I've occasionally run 9 hours but normally 3 to 6 hours is my average. Leave early in the morning to avoid the wind and arrive way before dark at the campground.
Makes for a better chance of getting a good site and no maneuvering in the dark.

I carry a long pole with a sponge on the end to wipe off my camera.

Haven't found a CB to be useful these days so I don't use one any more. Didn't care for the foul language that was in use either.

It's not the turning on of the headlights that bothers me, that's a great feature. It's that they STAY on even after you turn the wipers off. There is no way to turn the headlights back off after wiper use age unless you stop then restart the engine.