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07-07-2009, 03:05 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 509
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We've had a heroic effort by everyone at Excel today given they only got a call on Friday at 3:00 PM (their time) and we got here Monday morning (Excel production closed for the holiday on Monday).
For Tuesday:
The hydraulic pendant is replace, additional electrical work done for the hydraulic system (to keep me from burning up the hydraulic electronics again), and having a relief valve turned (which was causing the hydraulic fluid to leak every time we turned the pump).
Other work:
Slides adjusted
Convection Microwave replaced (we had gotten the dreaded F-5 code)
Trim repair
Plus we finally found out that my issue with the bedroom TV is that it's a dead TV. (low, low priority for the moment.)
I wouldn't recommend anyone come the way we did as it's almost abusing the company as they pull people off the assembly line to make the emergency repairs. But we do appreciate the superior response, and we'll do everything we can to ensure the next time we visit for repairs, that it's planned well in advance.
Now if Excel could just fix those interstates...
David
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David & Donna Driver SKP# 105170 | Fulltimer | 2009 F450 Lariat Plus w/Nav | 2011 MS 36RSSB3
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07-07-2009, 03:16 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hangin' with Sacs and the Pins
Posts: 9,412
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davydee
We've had a heroic effort by everyone at Excel today given they only got a call on Friday at 3:00 PM (their time) and we got here Monday morning (Excel production closed for the holiday on Monday)....Now if Excel could just fix those interstates...
David
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.. Wait until you hit the California roads, DavyDee!
I am glad to hear things are moving very quickly! You will soon be on your way home again.
__________________
MM
*MonacoMama with the 2 Pins & SacsTC Nearby* *2007 Monaco Diplomat 40' SFT<>2006 Chevy VortecMax Toad<>2006 Buick Lucerne Leading the Way*
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07-08-2009, 08:09 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 298
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Now you know why Excel is the best.
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2007 Excel 30RKE
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07-11-2009, 03:14 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 509
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Back home safe & sound. We're tired. Trailer fine and in storage. It'll be treated to a complete exterior detail by Safford RV next week. The truck will get one in a couple of weeks. For the first time in my life I have to say that I'm glad a vacation is over! David
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David & Donna Driver SKP# 105170 | Fulltimer | 2009 F450 Lariat Plus w/Nav | 2011 MS 36RSSB3
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07-14-2009, 09:47 AM
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#33
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Junior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 11
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David,
I am wondering how the F450 performed on your "Torture Test" !!
We are finally in the 36bdo and will be parked here for the summer. Have only pulled about 80 miles, but it feels comfortable behind the F450.
Alex
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"Freeneze down the road we go"
Alex & Katherine
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07-14-2009, 11:10 AM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 509
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F450 was a champ, Alex. We were fully aware of what we were buying, and the poor fuel mileage the truck would get. We had added a 50 gal transfer flow tank to gain some range. Truck now has 10k miles on it, and we put close to 5,500 miles on if for this trip. We did have the truck serviced at Bozeman Ford while on the road with no problems
We have the Michellin XTAs on our trailer and traveled at the 62 mph speed rating those tires have. Fuel mileage seem to hover around 8.4 to 8.8 towing. Low was 7.4 and high was 9.4. While running solo around YNP and at nat'l park speeds, we saw 14.3.
Got the brakes hot coming east over Teton Pass (highway 22) to Jackson, WY. We increased the gain from 3.5 to 4.0 to compensate. We've had issuses with the satellite radio and it finally died during the trip. Sound from the complete radio/jukebox/nav system died for about 4 hrs while traveling I-64 through West Virginia and Virginia, but returned later in the evening. We'll have our dealer check those connections when we have the sat radio repaired.
If you read thedieselstop.com forum, you'll see a thread on the rough downshift of the tow/haul for the 6.4Ls. Most of the time it wasn't an issue, but on one quickstop while coming downhill and stopping at the bottom for a stoplight, it felt like the transmission was coming out from underneath the truck as we rolled up to the light. We've paid more attention to how we're driving in traffic and increased the brake controller gain to 5.0. We haven't felt it that rough since. Tow/haul does a good job holding the truck back on long downhills. The lower gears seem to "hang" a little when you're speeding up from one of those long downhill runs, though. Just be aware & be easy on the throttle and it'll come out of the "hang" quickly.
David
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David & Donna Driver SKP# 105170 | Fulltimer | 2009 F450 Lariat Plus w/Nav | 2011 MS 36RSSB3
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07-14-2009, 10:11 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Rio Rancho, NM
Posts: 1,068
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Your whole trip I found intriguing. I can only relate it to the MH but your mileage did not seem out of line with what we get and what I have had when we had 5r's. Our F450 was a thristy truck but hauled the 35 MKO without drama. The guy I sold it to pulls a Wild Cargo and has two problems, one with the tranny and the other with cylinder #8, repaired by Ford.
The Excel's problems were like buying a new house. It takes time to tweak it and get it running right. Perhaps you had more than your share but the company stood behind you 100%. In these days that is a considerable advantage over others. Good luck with your ownership, you truly do have perhaps the best made RV.
Phil
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[/SIGPIC]Phil & Carol & Sir Puck, Grey Lady and The Cat
2016 Ram 2500, CTD 4X4, CC
2022 Rockwood 8263 MBR
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07-15-2009, 06:24 AM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 509
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Thanks, Phil. The 36GKE is certainly a house! David
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David & Donna Driver SKP# 105170 | Fulltimer | 2009 F450 Lariat Plus w/Nav | 2011 MS 36RSSB3
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08-24-2009, 06:32 AM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 509
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Well, we may just be getting the hang of all this. For the first time we got the trailer on and off the truck easy, yesterday. I'm not a fan of our Reese Signature Series hitch, but knew that the real issue could be us not understanding the hitch and being new to fifth wheels in general. Wanted to get the grey trailer out of storage, washed and ready for a dry camping trip this wekend. We get to the storage lot and the grey trailer is sitting in 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water on top of some of the best mud Virginia has to offer. Found some planks to walk out on, got the batteries on and started to raise the front and one leg sticks. OK, been here before, lets check (as I balance my self on the longest & widest plank I could find.) Yep, one leg accidently turned off. So turn it back on, level the front end, and no issues until I decided I had to have the trailer parked perfectly in the dirveway so we can get around it easily with step ladders. We get it parked, I get out and see mud on the front cap of the trailer about a foot above the truck bed. Oh, well, it's here to washed, anyway. Guess we had more fun than we planned!!
__________________
David & Donna Driver SKP# 105170 | Fulltimer | 2009 F450 Lariat Plus w/Nav | 2011 MS 36RSSB3
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