On my way back from Thailand to pick up the rig and head out. I have it in Mesa, AZ and I plan on doing Route 66 as much on the old part as I can all the way to Chicago. I got the Route 66 iphone app which looks good. From Chicago I will head to Minneapolis, over the UP of Michigan and down to Midland to visit some old friends. Then head south, souther, more souther..... Key West, turn around (my only option) and head back to the Orlando area and leave the Rig in storage. I have spent the last few years doing the west and deserts and plan on doing a few years of the east coast.

I left the batteries connected to the solar panels and am wondering if they have any chance in heck of being good this year. They are now 4 years old and I am not sure if the lasted or not. I was/am/could be hoping that due to the cycle nature of the solar panels (no charge at night) the batteries could have been cycling a bit and could be good. But then I do buy lotto tickets so this could be a wish and a prayer....

The trip should last from the Middle of May to the middle of Sept, cover 8,000 miles on the motor home and 4,000 or so on the motorcycle. The more I use the motorcycle the better mileage I get..... Last year I averaged 21 mpg using the RV and Cycle together......

Any help welcome, interesting sites or places to avoid. I would like covered storage in Florida due to the rain. Orlando area good due to proximity to the international airport.

Tom

WOW! What an excursion!

What a ride! When you get to northern Michigan let us know, we might get together for a MI mini GTG if anyone's interested.

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Any help welcome, interesting sites or places to avoid. I would like covered storage in Florida due to the rain. Orlando area good due to proximity to the international airport.

Tom,

If you're aiming for the Orlando area, why not come by for a few days to our place and check out the more relaxed and infinitely drier part of Florida. Steve VW visited recently on their quest for a new home and signed a contract at a nearby campground for this fall (Rockcrusher Canyon).

I've got a great Barth parking area and will possible have an electric hookup by then.

Just so you are aware, Orlando is a great place to visit, but represents the hottest, muggiest, wettest region of central Florida. The reason is not always understood by northerners (as I once was). Void of mountains, the rain is caused by warm, moist ocean air colliding with the colder air aloft as it is carried up in thermals from the earth heating up each day (Spring/summer). This means almost every day the interior (15/30 miles in from our coasts) gets rain. The coastline is spared of this daily barrage for the most part because the collision happens further inland. I don't think we get much more rain here than we did in NH, but when we do get it, well, it does pour!

So, my recommendation is to not set up camp in the interior, but stick within 15 miles of the coast.

I hope you take me up on the invite, I know you have some great travel stories!!

Please post up pics of your route 66 excursion. That is a route I'd love to travel some day.

Tom, sounds like we would have to cross paths somewhere along the road. Donna and I and Tom and Nancy Johns are planning on leaving the Milford GTG for a trip of about the same distance. Travel "Old 66" end to end. Visit Napa Valley (might indulge in a glass or two of the local products, being good tourist you know). Come back east along the Canadian border, turn South down to New Orleans and back home to Georgia. Should take a couple months. Would like to meet as many "Barthers" as possible along the way.

Any chance you can time your trip to make the Milford GTG?

Nick

To m, what is you schedule to leave Mesa? We are planning to leave the San Jose CA area about June 5-6 for Chicago, after the Barth GTG June 14, (we probably will be there earlier though) and then return back to the West Coast, Might be able to hook up along the way.

Nick, We are 2 hours South of Napa Valley, I have room for an RV for a night or two here. What would be your intended schedule?

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Originally posted by MWrench:
Nick, We are 2 hours South of Napa Valley, I have room for an RV for a night or two here. What would be your intended schedule?

Ed, NO firm schedule. Probably a couple weeks after Milford to get to California. Have promised to visit a cousin in Lodi, CA. Other than that- just rambling.

Nick

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Originally posted by Tom Loughney:

I left the batteries connected to the solar panels and am wondering if they have any chance in heck of being good this year. They are now 4 years old and I am not sure if the lasted or not. I was/am/could be hoping that due to the cycle nature of the solar panels (no charge at night) the batteries could have been cycling a bit and could be good.

If the water stayed up and the voltage stayed at 13.2 or so, they should be OK. 4 years is not a long time for good batteries, if properly maintained. Your mention of the possibility that the batteries could have been cycling a bit would add to the likelihood that the batteries are good. My own preference is to give them a deep discharge followed by a vigorous charge once a month, but that is difficult to do in absentia. Sitting on float can cause sulfation, though. Yuasa makes a charger that addresses this issue by shutting off for a while, but I don't think it is large enough for your battery bank. A number of RV chargers equalize at periodic intervals, but I believe frequent equalization to do more harm than good. I equalize only when the SG varies widely from cell to cell.

But, back to your situation......... To be sure your batteries are good, I would discharge them down to half, then charge them up at a rapid rate. You might want to invest in a charger that has a desulfator feature. I used to use a B&D/Vector, but they are not very durable, and I can't recommend them. (As with most Chinese products, they are nice while they last).

Then read the SG and have them tested with a conductance meter. Many of the chain auto parts stores use them, as do Costo and/or Sams. Can't remember for sure.

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Originally posted by Moonbeam-Express:
Steve VW visited recently...

This is where he stayed - across the street from Corey's house.

I am pleasantly envious! Someday I would love to do a Rt. 66 trip, except in reverse order of yours. I'm just about 100 miles south of the Chicago end. Let me know when you make it this far.

Tom, It would be great if your timing would put you at the Milford GTG. If comming thru Dayton,Oh on your way south, and want to stop in for a few days and take a ride, or want info on what in the area, send me a PM.
Doorman

My plan was for 3+ days of fixit in Mesa. Last year was 7 days fixit time. So certain I booked a "Hotwire" rental car for 3 days, no refund and the nearby travelodge hotel.

We got thru immigration, customs and into the rental car in record time. We got to the storage yard 1 hour before it closed, just enough time to make a list of problems to start working on the next day.

Wheel covers in place, motorcycle cover intact, not leaning or listing. Open it up, all seems fine.

Ok now comes the test, key in and turn......nothing, but wait I disconnected the batteries using the "intelligent" disconnect switches. Well now they both powered up, leaping into the drivers seat and it starts on the first turn.

Hit the generator starter and it is purring like a fat kitten. House air con works, refer starts, AC works.

I had hooked the motorcycle battery up to the coach batteries using alligator clips, 12.96 volts it says. Into the bike, cranking to get fuel into the dry carb and pop it starts also.

Off to dinner, back the next AM clean, wheel covers off, this and that. Take the rental car back, using public transportation from the airport to Mesa, nice system in Pheonix and cheap.

Head out of the valley as it is 105, head north to camp verde "happy trails campground" motorcycle off, go check the air only a little low, have a leak in the fuel filter. Can't get one yet, coat the little bugger with "seal all" and it stops the leak.

Clean the windows, change the water, check fluids, go for a ride on the bike.

Head over to Sedona and up 89 to flagstaff, curvy darn road, camp at "Sunset Crater" National Park, do the 60 mile loop on the bike. $9 to camp and it was very nice, clean and lots of space. Park nice also, good hikes and interesting.

OK, so now I am be comming very worried, everything working so good, when is the hammer going to fall.

Head from Sunset Crater via Flagstaff over to Winslow, get to Meteror Crater, which was a pass anyway at $15/head, and then the smell of fuel. Oh S__t what's wrong. Peek inside and fuel is leaking from somewhere. 20 miles to Winslow, head to the Flying J truck stop.

2 hours wait they say, ok,ok no problem I can wait. Take the motorcycle off the back, open the rear doors and look inside. The number 2 or 5 compression nut on the injector tubing is loose, fuel spraying out in a fine mist. Put the wrench on it, wipe up some of the fuel and we are good to go. Engine looks nice and clean now...

Head out to "Petrified Forest" National park, no camping but "free camping" sign at the gift store at the entrance to the park, check it out, yep free and clean.

A number of people with "cool gear" taking pictures of the solar eclipse so we got to look via filters, cameras, and laptop computers.

So far so good....

Tom

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So far so good....

I hope your good luck continues.

I'm jealous. Are you by yourself?
Jim