2008 Sig coming in today..What do I need?

[billsmax]

I'm taking delivery of my used (12,000) 2008 Signature Fortress today. Can any of you 2008 Sig owners tell me of any mods or items I need to carry. I'm upgrading from a 38 5th wheel and would like to know the special items I need to pack in my new coach. For example, do I need to carry blocks and boards for parking?
Being new to Motorhomes, I really don't even know what question I need to be asking but maybe some of you good folks can give me suggestions.
Also, are there any chronic problems or idiosyncrasies with the 2008 Sig that I should know about?
Any help or suggestions will be appreciated
Bill

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by billsmax I'm taking delivery of my used (12,000) 2008 Signature Fortress today. Can any of you 2008 Sig owners tell me of any mods or items I need to carry. I'm upgrading from a 38 5th wheel and would like to know the special items I need to pack in my new coach. For example, do I need to carry blocks and boards for parking? Being new to Motorhomes, I really don't even know what question I need to be asking but maybe some of you good folks can give me suggestions. Also, are there any chronic problems or idiosyncrasies with the 2008 Sig that I should know about? Any help or suggestions will be appreciated Bill

Bill,

Sounds like a very nice coach. I can't help you much on the specifics of your coach but we moved from a 5th wheel and dually truck to a motorhome so I have been through that transition. We don't carry blocks any more or even a bottle jack. My dually truck was like a roadside assistance vehicle we had so many tools and jacks. We got out of that habit because the coach and tires are so heavy I don't care to change a tire and would not consider camping on soft ground. We have not been on a rally with the motorhome but if we were camping in a field I would not put my jacks down. They would just sink into the ground. If you have air bag leveling you are better off in situations like that. We don't have that option.

I do have a large six drawer Craftsman tool box full of tools in the basement storage area of the coach and would not leave home without those. I also carry a drill with lots of bits and accessories and a battery powered saws all just in case we need to cut a limb off a tree. We carry a 5 gallon bucket and water hose with a long brush and everything we need to wash the motorhome.

We wish you well in you new adventure,

Bob

[Mike Canter]

Hi Bill, you probably have some of this stuff from your fith wheel unit but I will list it just in case. You need an extra set of fuel filters just in case you get bad fuel, this should also include one for the Onan generator and the Aqua-Hot. You would also need the wrenches to take these filters off. Also need to carry distilled water if you have regular lead acid batteries and for mixing with anti-freeze. I would also carry a gallon of the special Aqua-Hot boiler anti-freeze. I have six chocks for the wheels just in case when parked on a hill and also to chock the wheels if you are going to get under the MH to check anything especially in purging the air tanks (I use cut to length 4X4s from Home Depot). I have a two grease guns, one with the clay based Shell AeroShell 7 (available at Spruce Aircraft Supplies) for the tag axle brake slack adjusters and Mobil 1 lithium soap based grease for the chassis and u-joints (my preference on the Mobil 1 but it is available at most discount car parts stores and is cheap and is the best) so I can grease the MH at the required intervals. You might want to also carry one set of fresh water filters. Your whopping big and great Cummins 600 hp motor and Onan generator are not broken in yet so you are going to have to carry at least a gallon on 15W-40 oil because they will use a little oil. You should find out what oil was put in it by Lazy Days so you can match it. It will probably be Shell Rotella or Mobil Delvo. You will need a long air hose to attach to the air fitting in the MH and be able to reach all the tires. Probably a 50 ft with the angled tire pressure chuck. If you haven't already got one you will need a water pressure regulator and I would highly recommend the Valterra HIGH FLOW one. It will really help in the water flow in the MH. You should also have a "dog bone" adapter to bring the 50 amp plug down to a 30 amp plug. I also have one to bring the 30 amp down to a 15 amp so I can plug in at home and keep the batteries charged. Thats all I can think of now except maybe a complete extra set of fan belts for the motor.

[BillFleming]

Hi Bill:

You're already received some good advice. When I swapped my 38.5 PDQ Monaco Knight for a 2008 Executive, just like you there were things to learn due to the size and advanced systems. Regarding size, my wife has always been available when I needed her to help during moving about in close quarters, but with the Executive, we had to tighten up our methodology. After I have satisfied myself we're ready to leave, she does a walk around and rechecks everything I just checked. Surprisingly a cargo door is ajar, the Jeep tow key is in the locked position, or, etc. - you get the picture. Secondly I never begin a tight parking effort without, with walkie talkies confirmed as working, she assures I'm aware of a rock or tree stump or what have you is in my intended path. Also, a predetermined understanding of what hand signals mean are used consistently. She understands that if she can't see me in the mirrors, I can't see her. Voice commands can be reduced when visual contact is maintained. But, the biggest adjustment for me was the additional features. To use theses outstanding and useful features, one must understand their purpose and how to use them toward that end. You probably have received most of the manual, operation instructions, etc. for all the systems. Take an inventory and acquire all those that you don't have. Then, read and learn them inside and out. Collision avoidance, GPS System, Air leveling, tire pressure monitoring, tag axles, etc. are wonderful features. I'm retired and was fortunate in being able to spent everyday for two full weeks after bring my coach home learning about about it's systems. Then take a short trip, mileage wise, and use the coach doing whatever you intend to do with it in the future. Take detailed notes and when you return home, learn what you didn't know. Now you are ready to use one of the best motor coaches ever built. Every trip you will gain additional appreciation for what a great coach you have. Go and have fun with it.
I am a pilot and am use to systems and am very comfortable with there use, but much of there operation is not intuitive. You will learn some of the neatest and most clever thing that can be done with them when you study the manuals. Did you know you can program your generator to detect when battery voltage is getting low or the temperature is approaching freezing, and automatically turn on so the heating system and converter can prevented dead batteries and freezing damage.

Best to you,

Bill

[billsmax]

Bill,
That is great advice and after 6,000 miles I have learned to do most all of that especially having my wife double check my checklist.
I'm still learning all the systems, of which there are more than I could imagine when I bought this.
Now if I could just teach my generator to start up every month by itself for the maintenance run while we have it parked for a couple of months in storage.....

Thanks

[GOLDWINGER2]

600HP!
SWEET!

[billsmax]

Until I arrive at the diesel pump!

[GOLDWINGER2]

You will get the same or better than my gasser. (mpg)
J

[goldwingerx2]

Come to think of it, I do have a lot of tools etc that I have carried for 5 years that I have never used. Time to empty the trailer of some items. I might even get the weight under 8000#s. Carrying a Goldwing/TrCiCar and Smart car so I need metric and standard tools both. But not some the heavy duty items I have in the trailer.

Congrats on the new unit and thanks for getting me thinking.

[BillFleming]

Hi Bill:

If the maintenance you're referring to is based upon maintaining your batteries or prevent freezing damage, you can. Really! the procedure is outlined in your manual

I meant to remind you about the swing of the rear of the coach while in tight environment, it will swing much farther than one might imagine. Also managing the tag axle while making short turns or more importantly, while turning while in reverse. At 6000 miles I imagine I'm now preaching to the choir.

The best to you,

Bill

[billsmax]

Bill, fortunately, I've discovered those things before bumping a tree or sign.
No, I know about the temp and voltage settings on the Gen, it's exercising the gennie that I was referring to.

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

I caary 1'x1 1/2' one inch thick plywood for my Jacks. I use them all the time some folks only use block for the ground. I use them on asphalt and cement as a good neighbor policy so that in warm weather I don't damage the asphalt or take a chance of cracking cement. If you park in gravel or dirt and get rain saves from the Jacks sinking into the ground. A collapsable ladder in needed for cleaning windows/windshield and other stuff. I have the ladder that collaspe to about 5"x5" that I store in a 6"x 6" PVC plastic fence post across the storage bay...always retrievable as nothing gets on top of it. I also use the kind of post for my long sewer hose. They are stacked on top of each other.
Keep us posted on your add ons and adventures!!

[billsmax]

My coach is obviously heavier than most. After reading several post about using 1'x1' x 1/4" plastic cutting boards for jack pads, I bought 4 of them. One each for my rear jacks and 2 together for my one front jack. They are very sturdy and don't break but there is a campground in Salt City that now has a 3" depression in their asphalt that measures 1'x1' where my front jack pushed the jack pads into the asphalt.
So when I got to my destination in South Fork, Co I decided to use a 1'x2'x2" board on top of the 2 1'x1' cutting boards on my front jack. That didn't work too well either. The Jack buried them about 4 inches into the ground and busted the 1'x2' lengthwise. I still haven't figured out what is safe to use under that front jack. Good thing I also have air levelers. By the way, the 1'x1' cutting boards work great on the rear jacks.