Newmar Hoots Looking for a Roost

[harleychief]

Steve
Going to join in with everyone else "great job". So when are you going to open your own MH customizing shop? You've got talent and I've got your first job if you do.

[MJFZ]

Really nice work Steve!!! More storage is what we all need. Lets see, with the great idea, next year Newmar might offer a DSDP Bonus Storage option-- they should pay you for design services.

Mike

[JFXG]

Originally Posted by MJFZ

.... Lets see, with the great idea, next year Newmar might offer a DSDP Bonus Storage option.....Mike

Be careful what you ask for!

If your coach is perfect at the outset, you are deprived of the pleasure of modding it.

[johnnysfun]

Great idea Steve. I am still trying to catch up adding back all the additions you took out of your Ventana before we got it. I'll never catch up but I can keep trying.

[dpeterso]

Steve,
Great Job as usual! However, you're going to have to stop pretty soon as everyone else's honey do list is getting too long.

I just survived Camp Freightliner over the last two days. I've never felt like one of the dullest knives in the drawer, but these two days really tested me. I came out of there and told Lisa I'm not sure I have the mental capacity to make it in this lifestyle. I now know what I don't know, and it's scary. The instructor, Mike Cody, is fantastic in his knowledge and his delivery makes me think he should consider doing standup comedy. Never a dull moment. Totally worthwhile class.

[Sky_Boss]

Originally Posted by dpeterso

Steve,
Great Job as usual! ... I came out of there and told Lisa I'm not sure I have the mental capacity to make it in this lifestyle. I now know what I don't know, and it's scary. ...

I don't know if this is your first RV.

When we bought our first MH (39' Winnebago Adventurer) Last year in April I quickly learned that I didn't even know what I didn't know. :bang head:

We learned a lot last summer both technically and about what we would won't in our full time home. It was a lot of learning.

January this year we got the call from my salesman. He had just got the #1 MH on my list of choices. That choice was based on price/budget, features to meet our committed to the FT life style. Guess what...I still didn't know what I didn't know. Fortunately I was able to get into the week long Spartan Chassis Owners course. WOW! In some ways I feel like you that I am being challenged but at the same time I find that I am able to meet each challenge as long as I don't get all whacked out.

So far, the challenges have been minor but our real journey starts in 3 weeks. Sooo many unknowns from what to do if we break down to learning how to find nice CGs on the fly so that we don't feel we have to plan so hard.

So, I still don't know what I don't know but Sandee and I will learn. We want to transition from worrying about where we go to enjoying HOW we go where ever we eventual travel to.

I bet you learned a lot with your friends at the roost and along with your camp Freightliner you will adapt. I look forward to seeing your blog of events grow with great adventures.

[Deek]

It's a momentum that just seems to keep on truckin'.

For all interested, we are working on putting together a smaller Hoots get together at the Tampa RV Show in January. Smaller in the sense that it would be mainly a social get together over a couple of days, rather than an extended get together with coaches -- but it would still would be a lot of fun to have a couple of dinners together, a thorough check of the new Newmar coaches at the Show and some time spent with the terrific Newmar people at the Show.

True enough, there will not be the now-famous, never feared, always revered 'Tour of the Hoots' Coaches' (we'll save that for Hoots II if and where it will be held next fall), but there is a better than even chance that the Hoots will converge in a group to check out the Newmar product brought to the Show and figure out which Hoot family will be moving ahead into the next Essex or King!

Last year, Newmar had four or five coaches which were presented for test drives to demonstrate the wonder of Comfort Steering, and hopefully Newmar will do that again this year. Tampa is surely a great show and it's always a lot of fun to see everything presented.

Thus far, it looks like Friday, January 17 would be the best time for most Hoots to get to see the Show, so we're working with that date and we are hoping to get together for dinner both the evening before and the evening of the Show. As details are firmed, I will be sure to post notice on this Thread so that all who are interested can know in advance when and where we'll be getting together.

Cheers --

Deek

[MNBob]

Hello Hoots! We are looking forward to the mini-reunion in Tampa.

I have a couple of storage questions. On my previous coach, when I pushed the batter disconnect, the entire coach went dead (all outlets, appliances, steps, everything). I need to put the coach to bed for about a month. When I push the battery disconnect, the refrigerator, microwave still were on, so I pushed the inverter off. That shut them down, but the keyless entry, the automatic overhead lights and the steps continued to operate. Do these things always operate? Is there something else that I should be shutting off to decrease battery draw while in storage?

Now the second question, if I have the opportunity to plug into 110, what should I leave on and what should I disconnect?

Thanks for all your help, and see some of you in a couple of months!!

Bob

[redbaron73]

Originally Posted by MNBob

Hello Hoots! We are looking forward to the mini-reunion in Tampa.

I have a couple of storage questions. On my previous coach, when I pushed the batter disconnect, the entire coach went dead (all outlets, appliances, steps, everything). I need to put the coach to bed for about a month. When I push the battery disconnect, the refrigerator, microwave still were on, so I pushed the inverter off. That shut them down, but the keyless entry, the automatic overhead lights and the steps continued to operate. Do these things always operate? Is there something else that I should be shutting off to decrease battery draw while in storage?

Not all 12v will disconnect with the "salesman switch". There are some house items that stay on, such as the steps, door lock, etc, that will run off of the chassis battery. If you are going to leave things unplugged and sitting, then open the door to the chassis battery (rear, curb side) and rotate the big RED knob. That will do a complete disconnect.

Now the second question, if I have the opportunity to plug into 110, what should I leave on and what should I disconnect?

Thanks for all your help, and see some of you in a couple of months!!

Bob

I leave my coach plugged in 24x7 when parked, and never turn off anything. I leave the inverter on, the charger on, and turn off the lights. The refrigerator stays on, etc. you get the idea.

If you have the flooded batteries, you will want to maintain these monthly. Otherwise nothing special needs to be done. If you follow this procedure, it is always ready to go!

[MNBob]

Thanks Ronnie!

The storage unit we have has an outlet for me to plug into, so I guess we will just leave everything on and ready to go!

[FLSteve]

Originally Posted by redbaron73

I leave my coach plugged in 24x7 when parked, and never turn off anything. I leave the inverter on, the charger on, and turn off the lights. The refrigerator stays on, etc. you get the idea.

If you have the flooded batteries, you will want to maintain these monthly. Otherwise nothing special needs to be done. If you follow this procedure, it is always ready to go!

MNBob ... I do the same thing as redbaron73. It sits behind my house and is ready to go on a moments notice!

Not sure if you have the wet cell batteries ... but here is one thing I just did after getting home from the Hoots (added mineral oil to the house batteries). I also used the opportunity to clean up my battery compartment and all cable ends. Will see how it works going forward.

See you in Tampa.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/mineral-oil-177333-6.html#post1791299


Steve

[MNBob]

Steve,

I do have the wet cell batteries and I put in mineral oil in them right after I purchased the coach. It worked well for me on my old Pace Arrow.

Glad to hear I can just keep everything powered up!

Bob

[FLSteve]

Ma Snart ... this link has your name all over it!

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/lets...ml#post1800824


Steve

[Deek]

Originally Posted by FLSteve

Ma Snart ... this link has your name all over it!

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/lets...ml#post1800824


Steve

Interesting link with pics, but seriously if Snartman doesn't have them all beat by a country (corn field) mile, I will eat my Hoots' shirt!

Deek