Simmering in Texas

[Catsmiler]

Hello from Tyler, Texas....Couple of octogenarians exploring this wonderful nation... just bought a 2008 RoadTrek on a Freightliner chassis with the Mercedes Benz diesel engine...we are newbies, last night was our first time on the road... heading for Washington DC... What a great way to start our national trek...We are doing it while we can...any advice is welcome...Larry and Jeannie

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Catsmiler

Hello from Tyler, Texas....Couple of octogenarians exploring this wonderful nation... just bought a 2008 RoadTrek on a Freightliner chassis with the Mercedes Benz diesel engine...we are newbies, last night was our first time on the road... heading for Washington DC... What a great way to start our national trek...We are doing it while we can...any advice is welcome...Larry and Jeannie

Welcome to the forum Catsmiler!

Great decision to do it while you can. If you have any specific questions. let 'er rip. Otherwise, expect a few mechanical problems along the way any some full parks and campgrounds, as new travelers have outpaced new camp sites.

Tighten the turbo hose clamps, keep a close eye on tire condition/air pressures, and drive safe while you explore the big wide world out there.

[Catsmiler]

Thanks for the gracious welcome and sound advice... checking those turbo hoses right now... looking forward to participating in the many forums available... Catsmiler

[twodaisies]

Enjoy your trip, from another Jeannie here in Ohio!

Stay safe and if you haven't already, there's several apps like AllStays that are great for finding camping if you need places to stay along the way.

Best advice; be flexible, and stop for the brown signs along the highway you never know what adventures await!

[604eholston@charter.net]

Do plan to incorporate The Natchez Trace in your route to Washington. A beautiful drive, only one stop sign, no trucks, beautiful scenery, lots of wildlife lots of history and some nice campgrounds. 55mph limit good road, nice shoulders. Go to I 20 then east to Jackso MS. Get on there. Then on up to Nashville.

[ks@yvr]

Welcome and enjoy the travels. In addition to turbo resonator and tires, I would suggest you replace serpentine belt if you don’t know when it was last changed. Reasonably easy to do yourself if you are mechanically inclined $25 belt or about $150 all in if someone else does it for you. I was thinking about ours and of course it broke right before July 4 and no one would look at since they were in holiday mode. Ended up getting replacement belt and enlisted youtube university and did it myself after only two shops still open said I would have to come back after the holiday. Could not wait as we had places to be.

Also you can buy a National Park pass lifetime for $80 and don’t forget to ask for your seniors rate at campgrounds often 50% off and even free in some states. Lots of free camping other than Walmarts if you use several of the apps including Google. Happy travels.

[lomcevok]

Originally Posted by Catsmiler

Hello from Tyler, Texas....Couple of octogenarians exploring this wonderful nation... just bought a 2008 RoadTrek on a Freightliner chassis with the Mercedes Benz diesel engine...we are newbies, last night was our first time on the road... heading for Washington DC... What a great way to start our national trek...We are doing it while we can...any advice is welcome...Larry and Jeannie

Yes. If it’s a Roadtrek Agile, check carefully around your house batteries. First, check the brake lines that drop down alongside the house batteries for corrosion - most have it. RoadTrek refuses to fix these anymore despite a past recall due to NHTSA reports of at least one full brake failure. Batteries out gas acid, acid corrodes brake lines, brakes fail.

And second, in the same, in their wisdom, Roadtrek also relocated the engine control computer to *beneath*, yes, beneath the 2 house batteries, with no drain other than to drip acid on the connectors and the cable ties - *yes, cable ties* they used to restrain the relocated engine control computer. Fortunately, Mercedes uses very high quality, sealed connectors, but they’ll fail eventually.

Bill

[TomTrek]

Congratulations! Sounds exciting.

One thing to keep in mind: A common sentiment of many people heading into their second year of travel and reflecting on their first, is that they wish they'd logged fewer miles and smelled more roses along the way.

[Grif]

Originally Posted by Catsmiler

Hello from Tyler, Texas....Couple of octogenarians exploring this wonderful nation... just bought a 2008 RoadTrek on a Freightliner chassis with the Mercedes Benz diesel engine...we are newbies, last night was our first time on the road... heading for Washington DC... What a great way to start our national trek...We are doing it while we can...any advice is welcome...Larry and Jeannie

Definitely agree with the comment about Natchez Trace. It starts in Mississippi and ends just south of Nashville. If it's too late to drive it going to DC, maybe you can do it coming back, or another trip.

Caution: Because this coach is a "new to your" vehicle it is very important to either buy a torque wrench and socket and check your lug nut torques or stop at a tire store and ask them to do it. I do my own. I let a Firestone dealer rotate my tires and they over torqued the lug nuts damaging the lug nuts. Damaged lug nuts loosen. We were on the 10th day of a 7000 mile trip when someone we visited commented that we had a wheel with missing lug nuts. I inspected and all four wheels of our 2004 Roadtrek were MISSING lug nuts and some were only finger tight. God blessed us. We had just drove the Pacific Coast Highway looking over bluffs into the Pacific. We replaced all the lug nuts immediately. No issues since then, but I check the torque after every time that someone touches our coach multiple times to make sure they are not loosening.

[Catsmiler]

Originally Posted by twodaisies

Enjoy your trip, from another Jeannie here in Ohio!

Stay safe and if you haven't already, there's several apps like AllStays that are great for finding camping if you need places to stay along the way.

Best advice; be flexible, and stop for the brown signs along the highway you never know what adventures await!

Jeannie...We are checking out AllStays right now...Thanks for the tip...And we will most definitely be exploring those brown signs...We just saw the Caddo Indian Mounds in Alto, Texas...Nor much to look at but the people we met there were locals that had been born on or near the mounds...They had the most intriguing accents...part Indian and part pure Texan...people are so much more interesting than the historical monuments...they provide a living history and are usually willing to articulate their own slice of life...We are heading for DC and see some of the greatest monuments to our own American history, hoping we meet folks that share our excitement...81 years old and I still get excited when looking at our great national monuments...Larry and Jeannie

[Catsmiler]

Originally Posted by 604eholston@charter.net

Do plan to incorporate The Natchez Trace in your route to Washington. A beautiful drive, only one stop sign, no trucks, beautiful scenery, lots of wildlife lots of history and some nice campgrounds. 55mph limit good road, nice shoulders. Go to I 20 then east to Jackso MS. Get on there. Then on up to Nashville.

Looking forward to that route...Thanks for the info...Larry and Jeannie

[Catsmiler]

Originally Posted by lomcevok

Yes. If it’s a Roadtrek Agile, check carefully around your house batteries. First, check the brake lines that drop down alongside the house batteries for corrosion - most have it. RoadTrek refuses to fix these anymore despite a past recall due to NHTSA reports of at least one full brake failure. Batteries out gas acid, acid corrodes brake lines, brakes fail.

And second, in the same, in their wisdom, Roadtrek also relocated the engine control computer to *beneath*, yes, beneath the 2 house batteries, with no drain other than to drip acid on the connectors and the cable ties - *yes, cable ties* they used to restrain the relocated engine control computer. Fortunately, Mercedes uses very high quality, sealed connectors, but they’ll fail eventually.

Bill

Thanks Bill...You just scared the crap out of me...I'm looking for an RV repair shop here in Tyler...Don't want to hit the road with a potential brake failure...just had the lug nuts torqued, tire pressures checked, and the oil and filters changed...asked him if he knew where the turbo hoses were and could he check to see if they were tightened...he didn't know where the hoses were on the 3 liter diesel...I can see two batteries in the engine compartment, drivers side, nothing under them that I can see...gas engines I know enough to get myself in trouble...diesels I know nothing about, including what the computer looks like and where it is located...looking at the engine specs I find nothing referring to the computer...Thanks for the pre-trip advice...Larry and Jeannie

[Catsmiler]

Originally Posted by TomTrek

Congratulations! Sounds exciting.

One thing to keep in mind: A common sentiment of many people heading into their second year of travel and reflecting on their first, is that they wish they'd logged fewer miles and smelled more roses along the way.

We will definitely be checking out those brown signs as we make out way around this great nation...Thanks, Larry and Jeannie

[Catsmiler]

Originally Posted by Grif

Definitely agree with the comment about Natchez Trace. It starts in Mississippi and ends just south of Nashville. If it's too late to drive it going to DC, maybe you can do it coming back, or another trip.

Caution: Because this coach is a "new to your" vehicle it is very important to either buy a torque wrench and socket and check your lug nut torques or stop at a tire store and ask them to do it. I do my own. I let a Firestone dealer rotate my tires and they over torqued the lug nuts damaging the lug nuts. Damaged lug nuts loosen. We were on the 10th day of a 7000 mile trip when someone we visited commented that we had a wheel with missing lug nuts. I inspected and all four wheels of our 2004 Roadtrek were MISSING lug nuts and some were only finger tight. God blessed us. We had just drove the Pacific Coast Highway looking over bluffs into the Pacific. We replaced all the lug nuts immediately. No issues since then, but I check the torque after every time that someone touches our coach multiple times to make sure they are not loosening.

Thanks, Grif...Had the tire guy check all the tires for lug nut torque and pressure...Thanks for tip and sharing your near accident...you are blessed, indeed...Larry and Jeannie

[mloganusda]

Also check into Corp of Engineers parks along the way. The senior pass is half cost and most have water & electric for $12-$15 per night. Lots around Nashville, TN

MLogan
Smyrna, TN

[Catsmiler]

Originally Posted by mloganusda

Also check into Corp of Engineers parks along the way. The senior pass is half cost and most have water & electric for $12-$15 per night. Lots around Nashville, TN

MLogan
Smyrna, TN

Thanks...will do as suggested... never considered Corps of engineers...

[Dogman]

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