Yahoo Message Number: 103207 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103207)
I'm getting the six new Michelin 295/80R22.5 tires installed tomorrow morning. I currently have 12R22.5 and have the 110 psi crossfire system on my duals so one valve stem on each side for the duals. My question to those using 295's is what psi are you running on the tires? I know they're rated at max 120 psi. Should I eliminate the crossfire system and run 120psi, or keep the crossfire and stay at 110 psi? Thanks!
Yahoo Message Number: 103210 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103210)
120 psi is max cold pressure depending on the weight of your rig.
here's the XZA2 Energy 295 80R 22.5 tire chart:
http://www.michelinrvtires.com/tires/selector/#!/info/xza2-energy (http://www.michelinrvtires.com/tires/selector/#!/info/xza2-energy)
Yahoo Message Number: 103211 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103211)
oops.. forgot to sign previous message.
Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065
Yahoo Message Number: 103212 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103212)
ps. we run XZA2 Energy 295 80R 22.5 tires on our '04 Allure. Our coach is a 33' so the weight may be different.
We have 105 psi in the front and 115 psi in the rear.
Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065
Yahoo Message Number: 103213 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103213)
If you have a 40' coach I would put 120 lbs in the front as the 40'Allures and Intrigues of that time were always pushing the limits of the front tires and suspension, especially if you have 3 slides, The duals are going to depend on the weight of the coach and how she is packed with extras. I would weigh my coach full front and back and side to side. Then get a tire chart from Michelin and use the recommended tire pressure for the heaviest rear corner and add 5 or ten lbs for a margin of safety, for both sets of duals, especially if you drive in very hot weather and twisty winding roads that can be hard on tires. But I would suspect 110 lbs would work great with the 295 tires. At Home Coming rallys and FMCA rally seminars tire manufacturers all said crossfire systems were a definite no-no was my take. The hose to the inner dual is very susceptible to road debris damage. Which is a very dangerous situation!!!! TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
Yahoo Message Number: 103215 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103215)
Thanks all! My coach is 36' single slide. Think I will not be reinstalling crossfire system. Just made it easier to top off tires since the inner ones are difficult to get to.
Steve
2000 Intrigue
#11168
Yahoo Message Number: 103216 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103216)
If you think about it the advantage it gives you is also it's biggest weakness, single place to add air or lose it.
With any of the kits to join the valve stems if you get a blowout or even just a leak both tires are going flat.
Ray O
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Yahoo Message Number: 103217 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103217)
Crossfire does have protection built in to prevent both tires going flat if one develops a fast leak. They are used by a lot of trucking companies. No tire company has published any negative info. Some tire reps may personal opinions, but they are not the companies position.
On the positive side they do keep the tire pressure equal between both tires, they have a pressure indicator on each unit. They can be ordered with any pressure you want them to be.
They clam increased tire life up to 25%.
Here is a link to their webiste http://dualdynamics.com/products/cross-fire/ (http://dualdynamics.com/products/cross-fire/)
Mikee
Yahoo Message Number: 103220 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103220)
Been using the Crossfires for 10 years and love them. Even lost all air in one wheel once and the other associated wheel didn't go flat.
Larry 03 Allure 30856
Yahoo Message Number: 103221 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103221)
Just over 40K on our Crossfires, including a nice 12-13K mile trip to Alaska and back, on some roads and off roads that were a real test of tires and all equipment in general:)!
I feel all have covered the pro's cons well. But will add that I had a hose extension from the inner wheel when I bought the coach, so the same extra hose connection as it is feeding the Crossfire - I call that a wash.
On air pressure, yep, get the four corner weight while loaded for a trip. Consult the tire chart manufacturers recommend PSI for that weight. I personally, will bump up to the next line on the inflation chart, if the weight is within the top 25% of a range, and use that PSI recommendation. From that PSI value, I add 5 PSI as an extra safety margin. (Though I will say that a poster I respect on IRV2 Tireman9, recommends a full 10% on top of the PSI value from the chart. You might want to look for Tireman9, and get over to his blog for what I consider outstanding information. Tireman9 is not a layman like I am, he is a tire professional.)
On a 36', good chances that the 110PSI will work for you until you get a actual weight. I run 110 on all of our wheels, which is actually a bit more on the duals then is needed. But, is easier for me to remember:)!
Best to you,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
Yahoo Message Number: 103222 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103222)
Well I had my new tires installed today and the tech side swiped a car while backing out of the bay so now I need body work. Looking for paint codes and may possibly need new latch handle for one of the basement doors. Any idea where I can get paint codes and latch (if needed)? Thanks.
Steve
2000 Intrigue (36')
#11168
Yahoo Message Number: 103223 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103223)
Kevin Waite might have the paint codes and the latch. Or you could try the factory but haven't heard about good response from them.
Our paint codes are in our documentation from the factory.
Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065
Yahoo Message Number: 103224 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103224)
The paint codes don't really help much these days. Body shops and paint suppliers use scanners so the paint matches your color NOW not what came out of the can 8 or more years ago.
Ray O
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Yahoo Message Number: 103225 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103225)
The scanner for paint matching makes good sense since the age of the coach is now 15 years, I'm sure the original paint code may not match as well. I'll also have to look at my documentation from the factory just to see if or where I can locate the paint code just for curiosity. The body shop did say paint codes are not important these days since they have a paint scanner.
I am also curious about "gel coat"....what exactly is that? Is it basically a clear coat laid on top of the paint or is it some special finish that the body shop will need to be able to match up to the rest of the coach? As you can tell, I'm not in the body shop business!
I will also contact Kevin Waite should we need parts to see if he has the door latches. Fortunately the damage seems to be to the basement doors and nothing above them (some around the rear wheel well too). I assume the doors are fiberglass (not metal). I thought one of the doors looked a bit dented, but if it is fiberglass I would think it would crack rather than dent. Anyway, taking to the body shop this Friday and will see what they say regarding the doors/latches.
Steve
2000 Intrigue (36')
#11168
Yahoo Message Number: 103226 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103226)
Gel coat is the "outside finsh" of the fiberglass.
Ray O
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Yahoo Message Number: 103227 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103227)
Thanks Ray. Just trying to wrap my head around this. I thought clear coat was the outside finish on the fiberglass applied over the paint. I am going to be very particular about the paint and wanted to better understand the process of gel coat, paint, clear coat, etc. and how it is applied and finished. Maybe I just need to trust the body shop! I appreciate you taking time to explain.
Steve
2000 Intrigue (36')
#11168
Yahoo Message Number: 103228 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103228)
Why does it cost so much to repair or repainted Gel Coat ?
Yahoo Message Number: 103229 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103229)
Gel coat is part of fiberglass products clear coat is used over paint especially multi color paint job to smooth everything out and protect the edges of the striping.
Ray O
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Yahoo Message Number: 103231 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103231)
Here is the layout of fiberglass. the top is clear coat, under that is color coat, under that is the gel coat. Then the fibergass.
A mold is sprayed with gel coat then fibergalss it laid on that with resin. After it sets it is removed from the mold then prepped primed. color coat then clear.
Hope this helps
Mikee
Yahoo Message Number: 103233 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103233)
Got it! Thank you!
Steve
2000 Intrigue (36')
#11168
Yahoo Message Number: 103234 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/103234)
Been in the boat business for over 43 yrs. and couldn't have explained it better Mikee. Well-done. Of course, paint and clear coat are not that common in boats. Mostly hi-line yachts. Safe travels.
Jeff Thurston
'03 Intrigue 42 Ovation First Avenue