Tha Co-op: Dang, I forgot the fan! (updated)

Another road trip….I could get used to this! Hey, if it helps though it really is important. Take another couple of days to shake the work done out. You do it, I do it but man, it’s important. Picking up a coach needs to include a shakedown trip before leaving out…..

But why do we go through all of this? I’d say it for the experience and roadtesting coaches…..what a great perk….not many in this business.

So our fun this weekend was a shakedown on ” Rock the Alps” . So the journey is a mechanical checkout some 2 1/2 hours run south to Hobe Sound .

In this case, belonging to a family in Switzerlad, it’s hard to give their coach exercise….so that’s the reason for this.

Mechanical check….. 60mph, this pic is at 40 but it’s the same at 60.

It’s too bad, the motor runs so good but only 20psi oil pressure underway, it drops to almost nothing at idle Bummer but until the coach is shipped to Switzerland the motor will need some love. Oil, water and trans temps are perfect Beyond though what the gauges show, the driving was awesome 2 fingers on the steering wheel at 60mph…it’s a great ride! @ 2 1/2 hour drive south…now THIS is true Florida flatland

Pulling into Johnathan Dixon Park in Hobe Sound at sundown…….good stuff This where where the title of this post comes in….I forgot the squirrel cage fan to keep the “no seeums” away. Sand fleas…… whatever you call them at dark man they are thick During the day things are fine but if you want to enjoy Florida beaches and water…..bring a big fan for your camp site

Of course also this time of the years, there’s another insect to deal with. Called “Love Bugs” they do not give love…just kill the paint on your car

These acidic based biology, 2 times a year these little black bugs hang around @ 3′ off the asphalt surface where their number 1 predator can kill them. That would be the front of a speeding car. Other animals won’t eat them….. they hook up…fly around like that and get smashed on yor car eating the paint. Getting bsck to the shop…we found a war zone on the front of “Rock the Alps” The mirror didn’t miss getting into the conflagration……. It’s raining today so these will wash away but man was it a battle coming home! Kinda neat, waiting at the RR crossing near the shop, the George Straights Fair and circus was loaded up on rail cars heading out from their winter home in Taft @ 2 miles south of the shop.

If you look at the weather today, we punched out of the heavy weather down south to find more rain in Orlando…. Raining now, it’s going to be a wet week. The shakedown in prperation of the Tanners flying in from Switzerland was important and a good test. The outcome was:

o The original Onan generator finally tipped it;’s hand and will be replaced next….No output it’s entered the realm of an unreliable generator……Without call in Florida it’s a tough ride. Janie and I made the run with no cool…..the pitiful 1975 dash AC is just not up for the rtask and with no generator…..lemme put it this way, if you weren’t used to the heat while driving you would never survive! You need to live here to put up with that! I see a Honda generator in Rock the Alps future…..

o The dash AC…..what AC, is a piece of well, you know. Lets see if we can do anything for it.

o The engine fan touches the fan shroud on a hard right turn…could be a motor mount or loose fan shroud.

o The cruise control speed up as it does it’s thing.

o Height control valves need adjustment.

o Fantastic brakes with out sensitized booster but the brake light flashed a couple of times….may need to flush and bleed the brakes.

One other good report, the fuel gauge is actually working pretty good. At 241.4 miles the needle showed around 1/2 tank which is kinda close. Pumped 27.4 gallons of fuel at the stop which means mileage at 60mph is 8.8mpg…….with Ethanol regular fuel……not bad, I’ll take that. Non Ethanol fuel would pick up the mileage a bit but that’s normal.

All in all, the road test and weekend in this puppy was a good one Like I said, I could get used to driving around like this……. it’s what these things were made to do! Go drive yours…bring it down here & I’ll drive it!