99 30 foot RLD

[Steve,N,Jan]

Picking up my first Excel monday afternoon.
Other than the obvious,Tire pressure,lights,brakes and pin setting,cargo sercureity. is there anything else I should be sure to check before enbarking on the 100 mile trip home?

[Steve,N,Jan]

Picking up my first Excel monday afternoon.
Other than the obvious,Tire pressure,lights,brakes and pin setting,cargo sercureity. is there anything else I should be sure to check before enbarking on the 100 mile trip home?

[LarryGodby]

I don't know about everyone else but one thing I always do is a test pull with the fronts jacks about 2 inches off the ground with the trailers brakes applied. I really don't want to bounce the trailer off of the truck rails.

Check the lug nuts also. Not sure what size the truck is and where do you live, mountains or major metro area. All these things would make me think of different items.

[rockintom]

Welcome Stevenjan,

One other safety thing I do everytime I start to pull is to do an application of the trailer brakes with the overide on the controler. This is when I'm just rolling at 3-5 MPH. If the unit has set for a week or more, I do this several times to burn off the rust/moisture off the pads/disk (or shoes/drums). I created this habit and don't even think about doing it. I've done this ever since I heard of the guy that pulled out of a park and proceeded to go down a long hard grade. No trailer brakes!! Manual override still no trailer brakes. Don't know if he got it stopped before an accident or not. His grandson had been playing in the truck and he turned down the gain all the way down on the controler. Something to think about. Tom

[ChiefJohn]

Welcome Steve & Jan to iRV2.com and the Excel Owner's Forum. We're across the river from you folks--if you're ever over this way, give us a shout.
John

[Workshop]

Steve,N,Jan welcome to the Forum.

Don't know what your towing experience has been but the Excel shouldn't tow much different than others in a general term. Sounds like your list had the same as I would do and you have been given good advice on things to check and do. Always best to get it setup correctly from the start.

Being an owner of a once new-to-me older Excel that I purchased last year there will always be things to check and do. After I got mine home, I checked the tires for date codes, repacked the bearings, did some minor brake maintenance, cleaning and lube and rebuilt the running gear. Found I some bad/worn shackles and bolts. Often overlooked and taken for granite.

Good luck and if you have questions there is always good advice to be had and sure you have answers for us.

[LindaH]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Workshop:
After I got mine home, I checked the tires for date codes </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
This was what I was going to suggest. If the tires are the original ones, it's long past time to buy new ones.

[Steve,N,Jan]

I never saw a date code on a tire where is it and how does it read????

[Curtis Brown]

If the trailer is brand new, fill the fresh water tank, disconnect the city water, turn on the pump and see if it runs when there is no reason for it to be running. This will indicate leaks. Do this for several hours. Perhaps even for the first night of use. If the pump burps from time to time it indicates that there is a slow leak somewhere.

[rockintom]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Steve,N,Jan:
I never saw a date code on a tire where is it and how does it read???? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Here is a link to explain it. It is in my opinion you should be gettin' ready for the 3rd set of tires based only on age! A heavier RV like an Excel is good for about 3-4 years before needing the rubber to be replaced. Tire Date Code Tom

[Workshop]

You will find the date code as either a 3 or 4 digit code and in a lot of cases on the back side of the tire. The first two numbers are the week it was made and the last digit or two is the year.

When I purchased my unit, a 2001, I had a 2000 as a spare, a 2000 and three 2003's on the ground. Two of the tires were 7 years old and three, about 5 yrs. Even though they looked ok, decided to replace all five to start fresh. Looking in the roadside fender well showed evidence of blowouts in both positions. I look at the tires all the time and start replacing between 4-5 years. A lot of things goes into the decision on when to replace

Here's a couple of links fo tire info if you need them.

Goodyear RV Tire and care guide
Michelin RV Tire Video
Michelin RV Tire Reference Material
Bridgestone, Rx for RV tires

Hope something helped.

Chris

[LindaH]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Workshop:
You will find the date code as either a 3 or 4 digit code </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Since 2000, all tire date codes have been 4-digit numbers. If the tire date code on your tires is only a 3-digit number, it means that it was produced in 1999 or earlier...time to replace!

[Workshop]

Thanks Linda, I was aware that current codes are 4 digits. The reason I mentioned the code as either a 3 or 4 digit is because I'm sure there are tires out there that still have 3 digit codes on them, shouldn't be but guess there might. As we are talking about a '99 model, wouldn't hurt to mention.

Bought the Excel the 29th of June 07 and replaced them all in July before the first trip. All my codes are from March '07. Sent 2 of the 5 tires back and requested all the lastest date codes or what would closely match the other tires. The two tires were from Sept '06 and 7 months older than the other three. It doesn't hurt to look at the code when your buying tires as well. When I was buying the unit, I knew the tires were out of date and used the $1200 to $1600 replacement cost as a way to get the cost of the unit lower.

[rockintom]

Great info on tire codes. When I bought my new tires last winter (the 3 year point for Journey)....I simply went back in the tire room (he had them in stock) with the store manager and simply marked them (all had the same date) as "mine" Came back to have them installed as we were leaving town and I inspected to make sure the codes were the same prior to installation! Now, try to convince me, I'm not OCD!

P.S. As some may remember, I also made the tire tech put jack stands under Journey as it was outside and the wind was blowing at gust to 45 MPH. The trailer was justa flappin' in the breeze. You could stand back and see it rockin' (no pun intended!) The guy turned out to be quite nice and did a good job (put up with my BS too) and I tipped him nicely. rockin'