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Expert
 
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | dkarnath - 2016-09-15 4:10 PM My spot/trip is up in the air still.....
I have faith that you will persevere and you will make it. Also, there will be many eyes to ensure your young one is safe. |
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Contributor
Location: Cupertino, CA | not only am I coming but cat (Kevin _ its a girls name) and smaller dog (Baby). Wife not coming _ again. but we proved she exists at MO rally! see ya-all next week! |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | It's only going to be me and my father in law on this trip |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | The Oregon Rally is fast approaching. It looks like we are going to have a good time seeing old friends and meeting new ones. One person had to drop out due to coach and business issues, but we will still have 8 coaches with 4 of those attending their first rally.
This being Oregon, there is the possibility of rain but that is just a fact of life in the North West. If it does rain, we will just adjust accordingly as usually it is intermittent and not continuous in this area. Any late comers are welcome to attend as well.
See you there, |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Got an awning so I'm not worried about rain too much. Like you say, there should be breaks regardless.
One thing: Are there firepits in each spot and if so, when does their 'No-Fires' season end? On Google Earth I couldn't really discern if there were firepits or not.
Usually pack a bunch of firewood with me; you never know when you might have roast a sudden weeny.
To me, camping without a fire is like - dancing without music.
Looking forward to this.
May all our coaches run well and get us there safe!
Terry
#846 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | The individual sites do not have fire pits. There is a large central fire pit a little south of where we will be parked. Burning has been very strictly controlled this year due to the dry conditions and multiple forest fires. We have gotten a single, decent rain but the general No Burn limit has not been lifted as of yet. I am going to call the park next week and see if we can have a fire in our area in my portable FMC Firebox. I have about 6-8 cords of wood at my house so if a fire is allowed, I will bring wood. There are a lot of restrictions state side about bring wood from one place to another due to insect transfer. Don't know what you might run into on your route. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | I hate dancing without music Terry!! lol
We "should" be able to have fires at the RV park I would think, can't wait to here Stephen. Our weather is going to be in the 60-70 range, and cool at night. If it does rain, it "should" be really light....I have no awning, so we will be camping under someone else's! Of coarse, where I live, we just had our first rain shower (that barely got any roads wet) last week. We haven't seen rain here in months.....We ARE going to be 40 miles east of Eugene...So....rain is highly possible now I think of it...Damn. Don't bring the rain Terry!!
Dan
#850 |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | I grew up in North Vancouver - foot of the mountains - and learned to love the rain; no other choice, so no issues with rain.
No campfire in my camp? Now that's a different banana all together.
Not a deal-breaker though, as I'm sure I can suffer without for a couple of nights; no pouting, cussing or swearing, or complaining constantly, drinking excessively, cranking my Alpine PDX amp to 3/4 throttle in the middle of the night (Satriani, of course) then banging on the camp-ground managers doors proclaiming, "I want my campfire... I want my campfire!" then finally retreating to bed, but only after beating on my coach repeatedly with a big-stick.
No, not THAT big of an issue with me.
Should #846 decide to deliver us, we'll be there.
Terry
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Contributor
Location: Cupertino, CA | Steph, definitely bringing 386 - Grape. Washed her yesterday, today is clean the inside windows and surfaces, check appliance operation (although everything was working last trip...).
Baby says, "I'm packed!" She is bringing 5 balls! Kevin isn't sure what to bring besides food, but he has plenty of that on board!
Coach has an awning, plus I could throw in the 10X12' pop-up...? Keep in mind CAnians only use them for sunshade...rain? Whazzat? |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | I grew up in WA State, I know all about the rain too.....We would get your coastal jet stream flowing south Terry....You get a lot of rain. "I walk through rain with head held high, Southern Oregonian/Californian man woman duck and take cover while running".. That was my Indian motto for the day... |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Larry, I have a pop up canopy in my coach. Feel free to bring yours also if you so desire. Also the coach has an awning. Those who want to stand in the rain to see what rain is can do so. Others will have a place to keep the food and chairs dry! Those who need more wetness can always go stand in the adjacent river!
"Larry said: Kevin isn't sure what to bring besides food, but he has plenty of that on board! " I thought Kevin is a girls name!!! Gotcha!!
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | I checked with the park and no wood fires are allowed at the individual sites - only at the central fire pit beside the pavilion. Over time they have had too many complaints of smoke drifting from a neighbors fire so had to eliminate fires at the sites. This is happening more often at RV parks so I am not surprised. RV parks and the woods are different places. Yes, I like the woods also! I think I will pack some wood so that we can have at least one fire at the pavilion if we so decide at the time. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Wow. Don't remember the last time I camped without a fire...
Terry
#846 |
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Veteran
Location: Olympia, Washington | Had to make do with an old sputtery, flaring lantern once it was a poor substitute. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | Yes George, even a candle or something helps with the "no fire tonight" rule....It's obviously not the same, but you still have something shiny to look at....Someone should steal one of their wives' "unscented" candles for us!! Terry? lol |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | The first road trip for #850 in 20+ years was a success!! It was so neat to meet other FMC owners! I wish I was still in Oakridge hanging out with everyone who is still there right now. Mechanically 850 did great, the 440 ran like a sewing machine for 400+ miles. Shifted great too. I started off with 65 psi in the rear tires and 60 in the front (Tornel 8-plys). I felt cars and trucks pushing me as they passed, and I really had to work the steering wheel more than I like. So Saturday morning I checked air pressures, and I only had 50 psi in the steers!!! Opps..The rears were still 65. When I replaced the steer tire tubes it was a 95 degree day, I put sixty in them then. I think the heat effected my pressures?? Idk. In Oakridge it was a chilly damp morning and I had a more accurate cold tire reading. I put 70 in the rears and 65 in the steers and it drove beautifully all the way back home. The only steering issues we had was behind 18 wheelers' tail wind, and some strong side winds at times. I also tightened the right front wheel bearing an 1/8 turn on the nut. The wheel/hub had a bit more play then I liked. I had a few water leaks with the fresh water system, I just had to tighten some hose clamps under the kitchen sink. I need to remove the toilet again and put some hose clamps on a couple of he rubber lines. I had two windows leak a little too. We had some pretty good rain Friday and Saturday nights. The original 12v fridge worked great. 850 would cruise 60 mph at about 3100-3200 rpm's. I backed it in the driveway up on my ramps and in the next day or so I plan on getting underneath and doing a good inspection on everything. I'm looking forward to meeting up with everyone again around the campfire!! Terry we missed you. |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | I agree with what Dan had to say about the rally. All who were there had a great time and the intermittent rain did not dampen spirts nor interfere with activities. I have added some more pictures to the photo album started by Dan. It can be seen in the Album section of this site at this link:
http://www.fmcowners.com/mbbs22/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=147&p...
I also took a few videos that are hosted on a different website. Here are the links to the videos and it is best if viewed in order.
https://vimeo.com/185715690
https://vimeo.com/185715691
https://vimeo.com/185719559
https://vimeo.com/185720663
See you at the next rally, |
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Veteran
Location: Olympia, Washington | 10-4 good buddy I copy that 18 wheeler tail wind. 506 did not like the turbulence behind a semi wanted at least 1/4 mile following distance. And passing? When they overtake you first you're pushed away then once they are past you get sucked back the other way. That was the longest trip yet at just under 1,000 miles. The coach never missed a beat as long as I put GAS in it. 2 minor incidents, all in all a good successful trip. I don't know if I will ever be a long distance driver in the coach as the fuel costs alone keeps me on a really short leash! |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | What kind of mileage did you get George? I haven't filled the tank in #850 yet to figure mine.... |
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Contributor
Location: Cupertino, CA | I know you didn't ask me, but the Grape (#386) got 6.3 MPG on the trip to and from the Oregon Rally. Cupertino to Westfir and back (plus a little miscellaneous miles while lost in Cottage Grove) for a total of 1327 miles on the odo.
Edited by larryenok 2016-10-31 5:41 PM
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | 6.3mpg is pretty much what you'd expect given the engine size and weight of the FMC (plus the elevation changes on that drive), you'd be hard pressed to squeeze much more out of it. There's probably some flat-landers that would report more but out here you're either going up and worrying about engine heat or going down and worrying about brake heat.. |
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Extreme Veteran
Location: Ignacio Colorado | I would say 7.5 mpg is the norm for the 440/FMC when you are trying to get the best economy. A good running 440 bottoms out around the 6 mpg range. In the hills you can do better as it is 6 mpg on the uphill but much better on the way down. I have seen 8.5 mpg on a run up and down, over and over starting in Colorado working north into Utah towards Salt lake. I have also seen 4.5 mpg as a low with almost no compression and a turbo that was coming apart. Same engine.
Bill |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Having once owned The Grape (386), I am aware of its engine. The engine in it is a MCR (Les Hoagland) rebuild that produces more power than most 440's. It will pull some grades in high gear that other coachs have to shift down for. I don't know which level of build it was. It appears that the power is coming at the cost of fuel mileage. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | I have to remind myself that not everyone has a toad/trailered vehicle, my thoughts on the 6.3mpg were based on having a tow load as that's what I do 90% of the time.. |
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Contributor
Location: Cupertino, CA | I also was driving Grape (#386) at 3400 RPM most of the trip. Grape runs the beefed up engine, Holly carb and 17" stock wheels. She can climb the donnor summit at 50 or better in 3rd, Mt Ashland at 50 or better in 3rd. 128,000 chassis miles, unknown on the engine. Speeds are GPS.
Pebble (#968) made the trip to Missouri twice. The first at 60 MPH average and 8.24 MPG average for the whole trip. The second trip I pushed it harder because the engine was broken in and drove between 65 and 75 (3200 and 3600 RPM) with speeds timed by GPS. On my his trip my overall average dropped to 7.75MPG. It has a stock engine/carb setup with 19.5 tires. It accelerates slower and is slower than Grape at 45 over the Summit and Mt Ashland. Both are loaded nearly identical with supplies/tools/bedding, etc. so they can be taken out on a moment's notice. 105,000 chassis miles with 20,000 on the new crate engine.
Hope that helps evaluate their performance and mileage a little better.
Edited by larryenok 2016-11-01 9:28 PM
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Oregon Rally, Sep 30 - Oct 2, 2016
