1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Topic: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV (Read 1712 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #25 – May 20, 2023, 09:54:52 pm

Just a quick comment about the towing - it all depends on who the roadside company or insurance company contracts with. The roadside/insurance company isn't the one towing vehicles, it's whoever they have contracted with in the area you broke down, and it's going to vary wildly. They could have great contractors in one area and "Dumb and Dumber" (or in my case in 1982 - Cletus) in others.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #26 – May 21, 2023, 03:01:45 pm

Yeah I read through the thread with interest. When I was at John 44's place in Tennessee and we were working on the brakes and I lost the bead on the tire and couldn't get it back I called progressive to get somebody out there. It was not a good experience. And then they were talking about towing me out on the phone and I said no I'm not doing that I just need somebody to help me get the bead back on the tire so I can reinflate it. The people that you talk to on the phone really don't seem to know what they're talking about. Nobody ever did come. David and I were able to get the tire reinflated after repeated attempts.
For sure I would like to know as well if you do use a tire pressure monitoring system. It really wouldn't have helped in a blowout though would it? I have the crossfire system on my rear duals and wonder how that would be if I had a blowout on one. It's supposed to shut the flow off at a certain point. That was heck of a blowout to displace your starting cables. Whatever happened with the radiator? Is everything okay there now?

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #27 – May 21, 2023, 04:22:01 pm

Quote from: Journey, Roam, Explore – May 21, 2023, 03:01:45 pm

For sure I would like to know as well if you do use a tire pressure monitoring system. It really wouldn't have helped in a blowout though would it?

Depends what causes the blowout.

If caused by a slow leak (nail in the tire or cracked valve stem) the HOPE is that a good TPMS would warn the driver ahead of time that tire pressure is getting dangerously low (and tire temp getting unusually high) so that they can pull over to stop in a safe location BEFORE the tire comes apart.

Of course, if you hit a piece of junk in the road that punches a big hole in the tire, TPMS will be of no use.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #28 – May 23, 2023, 12:03:22 pm

Now that we are back home we are planning to replace the rest of the tires and get a TPMS to put on them after our mechanic fixes the battery cables and radiator.
Current tires are 11R 22.5 Load range H so since we had one of those installed on the road I guess we should stick with the same size.
What TPMS systems are good?

Also wondering which roadside assistance companies are best.
CoachNet is who I called first and they did great with the tire repair. The guy went above and beyond so we could get to a safe place.
Progressive was a disaster. Still trying to get the $3,175.00 charge off my credit card for the tow that didn't happen.
I also have Good Sam and Triple A RV
I have a bad experience years ago with Triple A in our first motorhome which had a Chevy 454.
We the alternator go out between Bristol VA and Bristol had TN.
The guy they sent out said he couldn't jump us because his tow truck had a 454 as well and couldn't handle it.
Both Coachnet and progressive say they have free towing to the nearest repair facility.
We opted to have it towed back home since there were no repair facilitates close

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #29 – May 23, 2023, 12:17:22 pm

Quote from: Rocky1down – May 23, 2023, 12:03:22 pm

Current tires are 11R 22.5 Load range H so since we had one of those installed on the road I guess we should stick with the same size.

Assuming you have no issues with that size tire 11R 22.5 rubbing on front airbag plates when turning? Many Foretravel coaches would have that problem.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #30 – May 23, 2023, 03:14:14 pm

No it runs great on them. Has a very smooth ride.
I think it was one of the first U320 CSE built that year because it has furnaces and they appeared to switch to auquahot later that year.
I was really surprised when we looked at them to tell the tire guy coming out what we needed.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #31 – May 23, 2023, 06:42:35 pm

My 1995 U320 was one of the first U320 models made ( #4614). It was featured in the Foretravel brochure for that model year, as it announced the "new" U series bus models.
A few of the first 95 U 320's had the Primus heating system installed.
Foretravel was trying to decide between the Aqua Hot and the Primus system. This system was only available on the U320. It is a very complicated system with two propane boilers to heat all the hotwater with an endless supply. The Primus system heats with convection baseboard runs on both sides of the coach and through the dash so your windows don't fog or ice up. It states a front to back and side to side, top to bottom, heat balance of -or + 1/2 degree. It also features extra fan powered heat exchangers in various areas to act as toe warmers under the kitchen sink baseboard and in the bathroom. This system and the AquaHot were both options on the U320.
The forced air propane heat was standard equipment. The roof A/C units also had heat strips.

The Primus system was used on Bluebird Wonderlodge coaches for several years, Foretravel finally decided to go with the AquaHot, not the Primus system.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #32 – May 23, 2023, 07:41:14 pm

Bob, I'm happy with the TST system. You can get 6 sensors for the coach and another 4 for the Toad.

Amazon.com: TST 507 Tire Pressure Monitoring System with 6 Cap Sensors and...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #33 – May 25, 2023, 10:30:56 am

Quote from: MarkC – May 23, 2023, 07:41:14 pm

Bob, I'm happy with the TST system. You can get 6 sensors for the coach and another 4 for the Toad.

Amazon.com: TST 507 Tire Pressure Monitoring System with 6 Cap Sensors and...

X2. Really like the system. Setup takes a little to understand but works great. Would prefer internal sensors

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #34 – May 25, 2023, 10:52:49 am

Very happy with our Tire Minder and I still have my Jeep because of it. I am yet to hear anyone have problems with one of the higher end TPMS systems though - good place to spend your money IMO and you seem to get what you pay for. Cheep insurance any way you look at it.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #35 – May 25, 2023, 02:14:08 pm

So who do the independent truck drivers call? Seems to me they have this all figured out and we keep getting screwed LOL!

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #36 – May 25, 2023, 02:45:36 pm

Remember they are 18 wheelers,see them once in a while with that bad tire and them just keep on trucking or with their 4 ways
on with a tire off the rim.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #37 – May 25, 2023, 11:16:06 pm

Quote from: Spowell – May 25, 2023, 02:14:08 pm

So who do the independent truck drivers call? Seems to me they have this all figured out and we keep getting screwed LOL!

I've been around big trucks my whole life. Never have had too much tire trouble though. Lots of PM. In the past few years I've relied on this website to search for help when I (or my buddies) needed it.

NTTS

If I were you guys, I'd bookmark it. It's easy to use. May save you some more gray hair someday!!

jk

ps. Back in 1972 I was on my first long haul OTR job. Team driving. The old head I was with said. "If you don't want flat tires, keep the rig on the pavement. All the various screws, bolts, rivets and nail gather on the shoulder." Still true today. FWIW

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #38 – May 26, 2023, 12:57:40 am

PM ?

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #39 – May 26, 2023, 07:31:41 am

Quote from: Bob & Sue – May 26, 2023, 12:57:40 am

PM ?

Preventive Maintenance?

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #40 – May 26, 2023, 08:28:00 am

Quote from: kimosabe99 – May 25, 2023, 11:16:06 pm

In the past few years I've relied on this website to search for help when I (or my buddies) needed it.
NTTS
If I were you guys, I'd bookmark it. It's easy to use. May save you some more gray hair someday!!

Done! Thanx for that link. Appears to be a excellent emergency roadside service resource.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #41 – May 26, 2023, 08:36:08 am

Lay people seem to think that the larger the machine you're operating the more invincible that machine is when the converse is true: The operator of heavy equipment holds within his hands the ability to destroy the machine. And your tires are delicate balloons waiting for the sharp edge of a pot hole, or curb to break the inner structure setting the stage for catastrophic failure. If you educate your eye you can see the line in the sidewalls created when a tire cord is broken. But it's best not to drive over the things that break tire cords in the first place.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #42 – May 26, 2023, 09:42:20 am

Quote from: kimosabe99 – May 25, 2023, 11:16:06 pm

I've been around big trucks my whole life. Never have had too much tire trouble though. Lots of PM. In the past few years I've relied on this website to search for help when I (or my buddies) needed it.

NTTS

If I were you guys, I'd bookmark it. It's easy to use. May save you some more gray hair someday!!

jk

ps. Back in 1972 I was on my first long haul OTR job. Team driving. The old head I was with said. "If you don't want flat tires, keep the rig on the pavement. All the various screws, bolts, rivets and nail gather on the shoulder." Still true today. FWIW

That is a great site. I agree never leave home without it! They break in down real well, and include all the the basic information I want. Super easy to use. Thank you for letting me/us know about it. Great information. You are also spot on in regards to tire damage, it's ugly on the side of the road. 👍👍
Scott

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #43 – May 26, 2023, 09:53:11 am

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – May 26, 2023, 08:28:00 am

Done! Thanx for that link. Appears to be a excellent emergency roadside service resource.

Appears to be way more than roadside services. Reststops, fuel, and much more. Excellent site.

Re: 1995 U320CSE Help we are on the side of the road in WV

Reply #44 – May 26, 2023, 01:03:06 pm

Thanks Jack.
Looks like a great site. It's now bookmarked for us. Lots of useful info there.

Affiliate Notice