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Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Yahoo Message Number: 12150
I'm in Carlsbad, NM after leaving Portland, OR and going through National Parks of Utah, the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, onward to Dallas, TX, then Shreveport, LA. (weather scared me off from the planned CC rally in New Orleans - blew $475 for nothing!), then back across TX and up to tonight in Carlsbad. Almost 4,000 miles so far in 4 weeks on the road.

Motoring: Very stressful for me. Really can't relax because I'm paranoid about protecting my nice rig (Magna), and particularly worried about pulling off the road for services. I just pretty much pass everything and just head for Flying J's or other truck-stops becaused I'm afraid I'll "pickle" myself and won't be able to get out of places once I'm in. This feeling is the pits! With toad, this rig is 57' long -- that's a "Big Rig" to mess with. Always worried about the motor home when we Jeep out to places to see. "Did I turn the washer/dryer off?" "Did I close the windows in case a thunderstorm comes up?" "Did I leave the heater(s) on?" The list goes on and on and the worry kind of spoils my "play" days. I research the heck out of nightly stops (including calling them) because, once again, I'm afraid of getting the rig into a mess. Mostly the coach works fine, but has some rather minor issues that'll require a trip to Junction City for. That's to be expected, so no big deal.

Truck Stops: I have learned to really like Flying J's. Generally pretty clean, and you can use your credit card at the pump instead of taking it in and leaving it at the fuel desk with some questionable person.

Moto-Sat DataStorm satellite rig. Not worth it. Save your $5,000.
It worked fine for half the trip, but then quit working. The admin start-up page says I have "Transmit Error (3)." Moto-Sat tech support people are flatly rude when you call. My installer back in Junction City didn't have a clue as to what to look for???!!! Ground Control (my provider) was great to talk to, but got technical about what to unplug and switch wires around, etc. I told him I wasn't an electrical technician and didn't want to tear into the cabinet that the unit is built into. I'm hoping Ground Control can find me an installer/tech in Tucson to check it out. $5,000 up front; $99 a month for the service provider; $99 a month for Direct TV -- that's a lot! We bought an AT&T "Edge Card" for wireless connect that has been a lifesaver as far as getting connected since the satellite quit working. Anyway, lots of parks that we've stayed at have wireless connections anyway! Most have cable TV, so I've only ever used DirecTV once! I previously posted raving about the DataStorm. I retract. I also worry (everytime I put the thing up) that the computer will crash and I won't be able to get it down, thereby effectively sticking me wherever I might be. They say that you can push a button on the unit and it'll stow it, but then they also say to buy some kind of "pigtail" just in case that doesn't work!!! Wireless will make the thing obsolete within months, anyway.

Believe it or not, we have had a good trip, though. Anyway, no responses required here, just wanted to share the "first-trip" experiences of a "newbie."

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12151
Glen,

Have you asked the great online Datastorm community at
www.datastormusers.com what might be wrong with your Datastorm?

Ask a question in the forum and you will get more answers than you can handle. Some of the best installers will help you get back online. Some dealers only know how to install systems. When something happens later on they are not there for after sales support.

Barry

Quote from: Glen Gieg
I'm in Carlsbad, NM after leaving Portland, OR and going through > National Parks of Utah, the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, onward

to

Quote
Dallas, TX, then Shreveport, LA. (weather scared me off from the > planned CC rally in New Orleans - blew $475 for nothing!), then

back

Quote
across TX and up to tonight in Carlsbad. Almost 4,000 miles so far > in 4 weeks on the road.

Motoring: Very stressful for me. Really can't relax because I'm > paranoid about protecting my nice rig (Magna), and particularly > worried about pulling off the road for services. I just pretty

much

Quote
pass everything and just head for Flying J's or other truck-stops > becaused I'm afraid I'll "pickle" myself and won't be able to get > out of places once I'm in. This feeling is the pits! With toad, > this rig is 57' long -- that's a "Big Rig" to mess with. Always > worried about the motor home when we Jeep out to places to > see. "Did I turn the washer/dryer off?" "Did I close the windows > in case a thunderstorm comes up?" "Did I leave the heater(s) on?" > The list goes on and on and the worry kind of spoils my "play" > days. I research the heck out of nightly stops (including calling > them) because, once again, I'm afraid of getting the rig into a > mess. Mostly the coach works fine, but has some rather minor issues > that'll require a trip to Junction City for. That's to be

expected,

Quote
so no big deal.

Truck Stops: I have learned to really like Flying J's. Generally > pretty clean, and you can use your credit card at the pump instead > of taking it in and leaving it at the fuel desk with some > questionable person.

Moto-Sat DataStorm satellite rig. Not worth it. Save your

$5,000.

Quote
It worked fine for half the trip, but then quit working. The admin > start-up page says I have "Transmit Error (3)." Moto-Sat tech > support people are flatly rude when you call. My installer back in > Junction City didn't have a clue as to what to look for???!!! > Ground Control (my provider) was great to talk to, but got

technical

Quote
about what to unplug and switch wires around, etc. I told him I > wasn't an electrical technician and didn't want to tear into the > cabinet that the unit is built into. I'm hoping Ground Control can > find me an installer/tech in Tucson to check it out. $5,000 up > front; $99 a month for the service provider; $99 a month for

Direct

Quote
TV -- that's a lot! We bought an AT&T "Edge Card" for wireless > connect that has been a lifesaver as far as getting connected since > the satellite quit working. Anyway, lots of parks that we've

stayed

Quote
at have wireless connections anyway! Most have cable TV, so I've > only ever used DirecTV once! I previously posted raving about the > DataStorm. I retract. I also worry (everytime I put the thing up) > that the computer will crash and I won't be able to get it down, > thereby effectively sticking me wherever I might be. They say that > you can push a button on the unit and it'll stow it, but then they > also say to buy some kind of "pigtail" just in case that doesn't > work!!! Wireless will make the thing obsolete within months,

anyway.

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12154
Glen,

Regarding the Datastorm, Barry offers good advice.
Datastormusers.com is THE place to go for help. I also have one, and you are correct, there are lots of little "Hughes issues" that pop up, and you have to know how to work around them.
We also have the Direct TV option, it offers a MUCH better picture than most park's cable, and we can and have stayed in some beautiful parks in no-wheres-ville, Arizona, and been online, and gotten TV also.

As far as "getting boxed in", take a deep breath and relax. How many times have you hooked-unhooked your tow car? Worse that happens, you unhook it one more time, no big deal. Just use common sense and plan ahead.

I am the opposite of you, we LOVE traveling in the coach, big windshield, sit up high, comfortable seats, convenient to grab a snack while traveling, XM radio, etc, etc. Can't wait to get our new one.

Bill Harris

03 Allure 1st Ave (For Sale)
www.usaharris.com/coach

Quote from: Glen Gieg
I'm in Carlsbad, NM after leaving Portland, OR and going through
National Parks of Utah, the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, onward

to

Quote
Dallas, TX, then Shreveport, LA. (weather scared me off from the > planned CC rally in New Orleans - blew $475 for nothing!), then

back

Quote
across TX and up to tonight in Carlsbad. Almost 4,000 miles so far > in 4 weeks on the road.

Motoring: Very stressful for me. Really can't relax because I'm > paranoid about protecting my nice rig (Magna), and particularly > worried about pulling off the road for services. I just pretty

much

Quote
pass everything and just head for Flying J's or other truck-stops > becaused I'm afraid I'll "pickle" myself and won't be able to get > out of places once I'm in. This feeling is the pits! With toad, > this rig is 57' long -- that's a "Big Rig" to mess with. Always > worried about the motor home when we Jeep out to places to > see. "Did I turn the washer/dryer off?" "Did I close the windows > in case a thunderstorm comes up?" "Did I leave the heater(s) on?" > The list goes on and on and the worry kind of spoils my "play" > days. I research the heck out of nightly stops (including calling > them) because, once again, I'm afraid of getting the rig into a > mess. Mostly the coach works fine, but has some rather minor issues > that'll require a trip to Junction City for. That's to be

expected,

Quote
so no big deal.

Truck Stops: I have learned to really like Flying J's. Generally > pretty clean, and you can use your credit card at the pump instead > of taking it in and leaving it at the fuel desk with some > questionable person.

Moto-Sat DataStorm satellite rig. Not worth it. Save your

$5,000.

Quote
It worked fine for half the trip, but then quit working. The admin > start-up page says I have "Transmit Error (3)." Moto-Sat tech > support people are flatly rude when you call. My installer back in > Junction City didn't have a clue as to what to look for???!!! > Ground Control (my provider) was great to talk to, but got

technical

Quote
about what to unplug and switch wires around, etc. I told him I > wasn't an electrical technician and didn't want to tear into the > cabinet that the unit is built into. I'm hoping Ground Control can > find me an installer/tech in Tucson to check it out. $5,000 up > front; $99 a month for the service provider; $99 a month for

Direct

Quote
TV -- that's a lot! We bought an AT&T "Edge Card" for wireless > connect that has been a lifesaver as far as getting connected since > the satellite quit working. Anyway, lots of parks that we've

stayed

Quote
at have wireless connections anyway! Most have cable TV, so I've > only ever used DirecTV once! I previously posted raving about the > DataStorm. I retract. I also worry (everytime I put the thing up) > that the computer will crash and I won't be able to get it down, > thereby effectively sticking me wherever I might be. They say that > you can push a button on the unit and it'll stow it, but then they > also say to buy some kind of "pigtail" just in case that doesn't > work!!! Wireless will make the thing obsolete within months,

anyway.

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12161
Quote from: Bill Harris
Bill, don't get me completely wrong -- I love the same things you mentioned about driving the coach. I just wanted to throw out some of the frustrations from the perspective of a first trip "newbie." I have gotten numerous private responses off of that post and I feel much better now. Many of the folks have offered lots of wonderful tips that will help me relax and enjoy this venture more. I think the biggest issue is that we tried to pack way too many miles into too short a period of time. 4000 miles so far (will be over 5,000 when we get back to Portland in a week and half, or so). Lots of motor home travelers only run 8-10,000 miles in a whole year! What was I thinking? I think we got tired and crabby!

I have used the Datastorm users forum. Really nice and helpful people (including you, there). Problem is, they all wanted info on my system that I did not have. The installer hooked it up, did a quick "run-through" back in March, and said, "There you go." I have been digging trying to get info out of Moto-Sat and Ground Control.
Apparently, I have the DataStorm F1 with a 4000 modem and am on SatMex5. That's all I know about it. When I try to "find satellite," under the signal strength line, there is something called "isolation." It flashes saying that it is "testing", but always comes up with, "Transmit Error (3)." This keeps it from "enabling." I'd love some help with this so that I can get it working again. If you can solve this, please e-mail me at: glen@..., or call me at: 503-849-2458. We'll be kicking around the Roswell Area today (UFO Museum - hope it's worth it).
I'll have the phone, though, and will be back in the coach this evening so that I can mess with the DataStorm.

Quote
Glen,

Regarding the Datastorm, Barry offers good advice.
Datastormusers.com is THE place to go for help. I also have one,

and

Quote
you are correct, there are lots of little "Hughes issues" that pop > up, and you have to know how to work around them.
We also have the Direct TV option, it offers a MUCH better picture > than most park's cable, and we can and have stayed in some

beautiful

Quote
parks in no-wheres-ville, Arizona, and been online, and gotten TV > also.

As far as "getting boxed in", take a deep breath and relax. How

many

Quote
times have you hooked-unhooked your tow car? Worse that happens,

you

Quote
unhook it one more time, no big deal. Just use common sense and

plan

Quote
ahead.

I am the opposite of you, we LOVE traveling in the coach, big > windshield, sit up high, comfortable seats, convenient to grab a > snack while traveling, XM radio, etc, etc. Can't wait to get our

new

Quote
one.
Bill Harris

03 Allure 1st Ave (For Sale)
www.usaharris.com/coach

Quote from: Glen Gieg"[/quote
Quote
>]
>

> I'm in Carlsbad, NM after leaving Portland, OR and going through > > National Parks of Utah, the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque,

onward

Quote
to

> Dallas, TX, then Shreveport, LA. (weather scared me off from the > > planned CC rally in New Orleans - blew $475 for nothing!), then > back

> across TX and up to tonight in Carlsbad. Almost 4,000 miles so

far

Quote
in 4 weeks on the road.
>

> Motoring: Very stressful for me. Really can't relax because

I'm

Quote
paranoid about protecting my nice rig (Magna), and particularly > > worried about pulling off the road for services. I just pretty > much

> pass everything and just head for Flying J's or other truck-

stops

Quote
becaused I'm afraid I'll "pickle" myself and won't be able to

get

Quote
out of places once I'm in. This feeling is the pits! With

toad,

Quote
this rig is 57' long -- that's a "Big Rig" to mess with. Always > > worried about the motor home when we Jeep out to places to > > see. "Did I turn the washer/dryer off?" "Did I close the

windows

Quote
in case a thunderstorm comes up?" "Did I leave the heater(s)

on?"

Quote
The list goes on and on and the worry kind of spoils my "play" > > days. I research the heck out of nightly stops (including

calling

Quote
them) because, once again, I'm afraid of getting the rig into a > > mess. Mostly the coach works fine, but has some rather minor

issues

Quote
that'll require a trip to Junction City for. That's to be > expected,

> so no big deal.
>

> Truck Stops: I have learned to really like Flying J's.

Generally

Quote
pretty clean, and you can use your credit card at the pump

instead

Quote
of taking it in and leaving it at the fuel desk with some > > questionable person.
>

> Moto-Sat DataStorm satellite rig. Not worth it. Save your > $5,000.

> It worked fine for half the trip, but then quit working. The

admin

Quote
start-up page says I have "Transmit Error (3)." Moto-Sat tech > > support people are flatly rude when you call. My installer back

in

Quote
Junction City didn't have a clue as to what to look for???!!! > > Ground Control (my provider) was great to talk to, but got > technical

> about what to unplug and switch wires around, etc. I told him I > > wasn't an electrical technician and didn't want to tear into the > > cabinet that the unit is built into. I'm hoping Ground Control

can

Quote
find me an installer/tech in Tucson to check it out. $5,000 up > > front; $99 a month for the service provider; $99 a month for > Direct

> TV -- that's a lot! We bought an AT&T "Edge Card" for wireless > > connect that has been a lifesaver as far as getting connected

since

Quote
the satellite quit working. Anyway, lots of parks that we've > stayed

> at have wireless connections anyway! Most have cable TV, so

I've

Quote
only ever used DirecTV once! I previously posted raving about

the

Quote
DataStorm. I retract. I also worry (everytime I put the thing

up)

Quote
that the computer will crash and I won't be able to get it down, > > thereby effectively sticking me wherever I might be. They say

that

Quote
you can push a button on the unit and it'll stow it, but then

they

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12167
Glen,

I know what you mean. Our family responsibilities are such that we can only leave for a few weeks at a time, so that means a lot of driving, rather than parking somewhere for long periods of time. We have 50,000 miles on our coach, but with little "living" time in it.
So far, I have never had to unhook the tow car to get our of a jam.
My biggest frustration has been RV parks along the major interstates. They are way behind the current state of the "Big Rigs". Even those that offer enough room to get in and out without unhooking, are in rough shape. Then, once in a while, you come across a park like Buckhorn Lake Resort in Kerrville. It was so nice we spent an extra few days there, visiting the nearby hill country towns.

Bill Harris

03 Allure 1st Ave (For Sale)
Datastorm
www.usaharris.com/coach
.

Quote from: Glen Gieg
Bill, don't get me completely wrong -- I love the same things you > mentioned about driving the coach. I just wanted to throw out some > of the frustrations from the perspective of a first trip "newbie." > I have gotten numerous private responses off of that post and I

feel

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12170
Greg, might I suggest that you try covering less ground and just enjoy an area a bit more. We've found that by staying in one area, you really learn more about it...people, sights, restaurants, etc.
You have bought a motorhome for the convenience of staying in familiar surroundings, your own bed, own bathroom, etc. but it doesn't necessitate driving it as far as you can in a day ....you'll find you get much less stressed if you only drive 200- 250 a day to change places. We took 6 weeks just to travel from Napa, CA to Florence, OR and LOVED the trip! Sometimes we drove less than 60 miles to the next destination.

You'll soon learn from experience to worry less about places...yes, you'll probably have to unhook the toad someday to "turn around", but that's part of the experience...(i.e. a flash flood on the way to Carlsbad caused us to contemplate turning around on a narrow 2 lane highway, so we unhooked the toad, but a DOT person came and checked the depth of the road and said it would be passable in an hour or two...ended up we waited, I fed lunch to him and a few other travelers, and we had a good time! In 2 hours we were on our way.)

Enjoy your Magna!

(BTW...buy the book "Big Rig Best Bets" and use it to find some more big rig friendly places.)

Jan McNeill, Fulltimer
2001 Intrigue 11320
Currently in TX

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12172
Bill

I agree with your comments about the lack of facilities to accomodate big rigs. A few years ago I talked to Karen at CC about the disconnect between the types of motor homes being delivered and the facilities available across the country. Her response was that Bob Lee was working on that issue, but his response was a very expensive place in CA. I think this is a critical problem and would like to see FMCA or some other organization get into campground development. The bulk of the campgrounds are 1950-1960 vintage and the owners have no idea what accomodations are needed for big rigs. In most instances they advertise Big Rigs welcome, but that statement should be a Red Flag for big rig owners.! RVs are selling at a record rate and people have to have some place to park them other than Wal Mart parking lots.
Gene

[quote author=Glen
Gieg"

> Bill, don't get me completely wrong -- I love the > same things you

> mentioned about driving the coach. I just wanted > to throw out some

> of the frustrations from the perspective of a > first trip "newbie."

> I have gotten numerous private responses off of > that post and I
feel

> much better now. Many of the folks have offered > lots of wonderful

> tips that will help me relax and enjoy this > venture more. I think

> the biggest issue is that we tried to pack way too > many miles into

> too short a period of time. 4000 miles so far > (will be over 5,000

> when we get back to Portland in a week and half, > or so). Lots of

> motor home travelers only run 8-10,000 miles in a > whole year! What

> was I thinking? I think we got tired and crabby! > >

>
>

> > Glen,
> >[/quote]
=====

Gene Clendenin

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12173
Glen - You and my wife would get along fine - she worries about everything and I worry about nothing - first trip out in our Inspire (bought on a whim 2 weeks after brain surgery and couldn't test drive it) six weeks after we bought it we drove from Las Vegas to a state park in Oregon - pulled in when it was dark and drove around trying to find a space we could get into - got it stuck between some trees and had t have some people help me get it out - finally got it out by jacking it up and putting some would under the back tire to slide it sideways - and engineer watching us come in thought of that - escaped with some minor scratches - in Junction City waiting for the factory to get some minor bugs fixed my deliberator went off - didn't bother me except for the shock and my yell causing the ruckus in the restaurant at the time - but scared hell out of my wife - after waiting a week my wife finally convinced me to have the deliberator checked out - they sat the parameters up a little bit so everything is fine. Anyway I really enjoyed what you had to say because it is so true - after the new wears off and you get accustomed to how everything works you'll be fine.

Clint Frederick (Inspire #51038)

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12209
Gene,

Isn,t the big rig problem as much our fault as the campgrounds fault. We demand bigger and bigger rigs with 4 slides and then wonder why we can't find a place to park. Big rigs are a relative new thing and most of the campgrounds were built 20 years ago. We purchased a 40 foot Magna with 3 slides because of that very problem but it was the only 40 foot 3 slide Magna made this year. Up until the class Reunion when 3 more were sold. I think as time goes on and more people are fighting for the big sites people will buy smaller, this 4 slide 45 foot trend will change.

Bill G. 2005 Magna #6425

Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12210
Hi Bill, Just thought I would add my two cents worth. We LOVE our four slides and the beauty of it is that we do not have to put them all out if we can't or choose not to when we park. We traveled across country and really had little or no problem. Yes, there were a couple of time that we didn't extend both slides in the living area and the same in the bedroom. BUT when we can extend all four it is awesome. The room and livability is wonderful. Several times we have had 12 or 16 people in and we still have room. We have our table extended so we can seat six people for dinner or a games. I personally believe that the models with 2 and 3 slides will not hold their resale value as well as the four slide models. One thing for sure is that what makes the world go around is that we are all different; different needs, wants, and what we feel is desirable. What a boring world it would be if we all wanted the same thing. To each his own and hopefully we have what we like and like what we have! Happy, safe travels,

Dale & Candace Hollick

2005 Affinity #6370 Quad Slide
See You Down the Road!

Re: Reply on "Big Rig" rigs

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12215
Bill

I hope you are right, the current RV arena seems to be getting to the point of being ridiculous. The next thing will be a motor home that pivots in the middle just like some of the new city buses. I saw a recent articile about the Paris Auto Show and the writer stated that the US was so out of step with the rest of the world with the size of our vehicles. Look at the cars from Japan. Do you remember the first Honda and Toyota cars brought into the country compared to their current product offerings?
Gene

--- gablerwh@... wrote:

Quote
Gene,

Isn,t the big rig problem as much our fault as the > campgrounds fault. We

demand bigger and bigger rigs with 4 slides and then > wonder why we can't find a

place to park. Big rigs are a relative new thing and > most of the campgrounds

were built 20 years ago. We purchased a 40 foot > Magna with 3 slides because of

that very problem but it was the only 40 foot 3 > slide Magna made this year. Up

until the class Reunion when 3 more were sold. I > think as time goes on and more

people are fighting for the big sites people will > buy smaller, this 4 slide
45 foot trend will change.

Bill G. 2005 Magna #6425

=====

Gene Clendenin
_

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Re: Random thoughts on "Big Rig" motoring

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12237
My first rig was a Ford f-350 crew cab with a 35'-5" Airstream travel trailer. Then came a 37' 10" CC with a Mercury Grand Marquis and now a 42' Ovation(43' 7") and a Honda Odessy. (56', 54', 62'+). The Ovation with IFS turns inside the other two by a large margin. I was alwasy getting stuck with the Airstream, but could back out. Only got stuck once with the Allure and never with the Ovation. All you need to do is practice in a parking lot.
You'll get the hang of it. Just remember your sitting on the left front axle tire. The other things will come in time if you sort of do things in order the same way each time. At least we don't have to chock the wheels to secure and level the unit. I got so I could back the Mercury over two hundred yards with practice. The Honda only once for twenty feet. Keep at it, satisfaction will come with practice. TOM/CAROL