Basic Question and Update

Retread · 03-29-2010, 02:22 PM

Hi,

I posted a question and got some good feedback here last fall. Thanks.

I have another question and description of some of our recent travels/trails. I'll put description at end.

My question is how often should I replace my 33' RT's batteries. For
car/truck I do 5 years but it sounds like weak batteries in the Excel would
be a much bigger problem (Jacks and Slides) than in the truck.??

Travels.
We spent a few months at Golden Village Palms park in Hemet, CA. Very nice park with nice people but a little pricey ($600/mo with
>= 4 month stay). Good times with son and grandkids.

On the way home (to Oregon near Portland) a tire blew on the Excel.
It was 5 years old and I planned to replace them when I got home. Tire
destroyed the wheel well molding but no other damage. This happened in the middle of brocolli fiels on I5 at 4:55PM on a Sunday. Good Sam Road service came through pretty well They got somebody out there to change. It took the guy 2 hours after promising 1 hour, 1.5 hours and 1 hour and 45 minutes. Glad I didn't have to change it since spare was very
low and I left my pump at home.

Spent a day in Gustine, CA waiting for 4 new tires to arrive. Stayed at San Luis RV resort which didn't have much but was pleasantly inexpensive.
By the time we got new tires on the Siskiyou pass was snowy with same predicted for several days on. So we took CA 20 over to Ukiah to head up coast and bypass Syskiyou. Stayed at Redwood Fairgrounds which was sort of OK and very cheap. Problem was heavy rains overnight and 2 inches of water on drivers side of truck an FW in the morning at 36 degrees.

Took 101 (with icy spots) up to Winchester Bay Campground and Marina near Reedsport OR. Absolutely beautiful and well designed RV park. We were right on the water and had a great time. So nice that we stayed an extra 3 days. And only $26/day.

Then an uneventful trip on OR 38 to I5 and home.

rockintom · 03-29-2010, 04:36 PM

Retread, welcome back....I'll make this short for a change. Regarding the tires. Goodyear 614.....we talked about it over and over on this forum. The tires are marginal on capacity for this rig. They have changed the processing to make it better....but I personally changed mine at 3 years and maybe 30,000 miles. Some folks go 4 years and POW...there she blows. Goodyear used to say 5 years on RV tires in general....but I can't find it in writing anymore! Unless you want to spend a lot of money on upgrading to 17.5" rims and tires.....just keep pressure at max when cold (110 psi) and change your tires between 3-4 years and you should be OK. Just my .02 worth.

Regarding the batts....I use only distilled water in mine and not let them get too low on charge too many times and mine were still great after 5 years. BTW, mine were group 27 (12 V). My new Excel has 2 - 6 volts that are doing a nice job with my little 800 watt inverter (for those Walmart stays). I already forgot what size they are but they fit in the batt box just like my 27's did.

I would be worried more on my tire situation more than the batts. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!! rockin'