Leave the Diesel running or shut it down??

[Deucenut]

Originally Posted by flaggship1

By flipping this lever.

Attachment 36635

Interesting....I don't have that in my Winnebago journey.

[FormerBoater]

Originally Posted by jmckinley

Apparently the thing to do is to start it up as soon as you wake up at 6:30 am in the spot next to me. Run it at high idle until air pressures and water temp are fully up, then let it idle for two hours while you pull in your awning, roll up your patio mat, dump gray and black water, unhook water hoses and wash the windshield. Then pull out of the spot and block the road for 30 minutes while you hook up your toad. Discuss loudly and at length with your DW as you are doing it. If possible, play your toad radio at near max volume while you listen to the news as you hook up. Let idle for another 30 minutes while you wash up and have another cup of coffee. These things burn at least .5 gallons per hour at idle so all this will only cost you about $10 a day, depending on your procedure when you make camp in the evening.

Wow!

I have seen quite a few disgruntled folks here.

You now have the Blue Ribbon!!!

For the peanut gallery, I have never seen anything close to this in any CG, SP or RV Resort we have traveled to.

Great question by the OP, terrible attitude and attempt to hijack by this guy.

You sir, should stay home!

DaveS
1998 American Eagle 40EVS

[flaggship1]

Originally Posted by Deucenut

Interesting....I don't have that in my Winnebago journey.

May just be a Fleetwood thing. Many variations on a theme for sure.

[FormerBoater]

Originally Posted by clyon51

LOL John. I just spent 5 months in one campground, couldn't have said it better. In addition to that, we were very close to the entrance office. Never failed, a diesel would pull in (or leave) and let it rattle away for 1/2 hr or more. Day, night or time made no difference. My favorite was evening just after dark with a fire going. Pull in, leave the headlights pointing right at us, leave engine running, go in and BS for an hour. Come out, walk the dog, unhook towd, BS with with other arrivals, ect. Some people just don't think.

More Diesel envy?

5 months in one CG.

Never failed to happen?

4 years + and I have never seen it.

Oh, now I understand as you 2 are from Ohio and Michigan....little bit cold up there. Prudent for the DP's to warm up before they pull out.

Stay out of the cities, they have diesel powered buses everywhere!

[TRAILERKING]

Originally Posted by Deucenut

How do you guys deploy the slides and jacks with the engine running? Doesn't the air need to be dumped to deploy jacks? With the engine running, the air will get pumped up again correct?

Not all................Mine are electric controlled dump valves. When you hit the "Jacks Down" the first part of the sequence the Power Gear levellers do is "Dump" the air (in the bags, not the entire air system). There was a provision for a manual dump switch on mine hidden up under the dash. After contacting Spartan I hooked that up so I can choose to dump air(in the bags) if I wish. Don't know why Fleetwood never put the switch in because the chassis was all pre-wired for it. The way mine is there are very similar characteristics as a full blown highway coach (Prevost, MCI). I've noticed some motorhomes are designed and built like low-end/cookie cutter campers.
Also as many have mentioned about idling the diesel engine, it shouldn't "Idle" it should be bumped up on "High Idle" around 1000 rpm.

[flaggship1]

Originally Posted by TRAILERKING

..... The way mine is there are very similar characteristics as a full blown highway coach (Prevost, MCI). I've noticed some motorhomes are designed and built like low-end/cookie cutter campers.

I'm trying to figure out how these last two sentences fit into the discussion in general and specifically what is low end in the realm of dumping air? Flew over my head but I'm not a particularly tall man.

I do however agree that if I did not have a manual dump lever I would add one. As for a dump air built into the leveler panel - I don't have that and wouldn't add it. Like I said before - there are many variations on a theme - or ways to skin a cat. Not sure these dumping options rise to the level of low-end cookie cutter camper labeling.

[Davdeb1]

I have a manual dump, and manual levelers, all which can be operated without letting the engine run. Cookie cutter is good.

[TRAILERKING]

Originally Posted by flaggship1

I'm trying to figure out how these last two sentences fit into the discussion in general and specifically what is low end in the realm of dumping air? Flew over my head but I'm not a particularly tall man.

I do however agree that if I did not have a manual dump lever I would add one. As for a dump air built into the leveler panel - I don't have that and wouldn't add it. Like I said before - there are many variations on a theme - or ways to skin a cat. Not sure these dumping options rise to the level of low-end cookie cutter camper labeling.

Sorry for the comment, but I'm sure some understand what I mean.
As in the kind of dollars a guy spends for one of these units............Lets give it some features.

[georgetown350]

My friend who builds the turbos says it is better to leave them running but, he is into the big truck side of the business.

The more you idle ( unnecessarily) the more likely you will have to do a manual regeneration. It usually states in the manual not to idle for long. I will idle 3 or 4 minutes until the alternator settles down so I can pull the jacks up, then shut er down to pull the slides in. I don't start it again until I am ready to roll. I slowly idle my way out of the campground as the engine warms up. By the time I get to the open highway its fair game to put a load on the engine.

Shorter answer.... there is no benefit to running your engine while having your picnic.

[TRAILERKING]

Originally Posted by georgetown350

.................... I slowly idle my way out of the campground as the engine warms up. By the time I get to the open highway its fair game to put a load on the engine.

If only others operated like you. That's the way I do it also. Most are not in -40 degree weather..........It's summer time. Idle it out of the campground it'll warm up before you need to STAND on it.

[t55watson]

I do a walk around @ every stop and then shut it down.

[flaggship1]

Originally Posted by TRAILERKING

Sorry for the comment, but I'm sure some understand what I mean.
As in the kind of dollars a guy spends for one of these units............Lets give it some features.

Well can't argue with that. Just didn't make the connection in the context of air dumping manual vs automatic. Owning a Bounder 325 Turbo DP I'm obviously not in a full blown road warrior rig but it did come equipped with a 2000 watt pure sine magnum and have seen more expensive coaches with less and modified sign for example. I am now adding a Power Master VC 50 and the PI 50 SP - and have read many folks with higher dollar rigs having neither as well. I also did not have battery cutoff switches at the battery - just the in coach "salesman switches". Same story there. Others adding them as well to their rigs. When I asked my Freightliner guy why do they do this? He said they sell what they can make money on, not what ya need. While I didn't buy new - I can almost bet a VC, SP and cutoff switches weren't even available options. And I'd bet the lever to manually dump air wasn't on your option list either. So - yep I get it but don't think it's necessarily a low-end coach thing. Other build quality sure - but the serious mans add ons are apparently overlooked pretty widely. YMMV and thanks for the clarification.

[TRAILERKING]

Before I bought the American Dream I had an MCI highway coach. I was going to do a conversion. I bought the coach..................Then did the research and searching for components.
Then I woke up.

[Davdeb1]

Originally Posted by flaggship1

. I am now adding a Power Master VC 50 and the PI 50 SP

What the heck are those, and where do I get one?