Every RVer needs to understand the importance of tires and proper tire pressure. The problem that can sometimes occur is while on the road, there is no available air support to check tire pressure. If you wait until you're on the road to check tire pressure, the tires are too hot for correct evaluation.
This is a common problem for RVers, and that is why you might want to consider a portable air compressor. Here are a few pointers when deciding what compressor to purchase: The rate that a compressor can deliver a volume of air is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm). cfm varies with atmospheric pressure. It also varies with the temperature and humidity of the air.
Technically, air compressor manufacturers calculate standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) as cfm at sea level with 68 degrees F air at 36% relative humidity. Scfm ratings are given at a specific pressure (for example) 3.0 scfm at 90 psi. If you reduce pressure, scfm goes up, and vice versa. I would recommend a model rated at about 4.9 cfm @90 psi The cfm and psi ratings are important because they will determine what a compressor is capable of doing.
The most important thing to determine when choosing a compressor is to make sure it can supply the amount of air and the pressure that your tires need. Many applications in garages and shops (like air tools) don't require 125 max psi, so they have a regulator to adjust the air. It may be necessary to increase this setting to inflate the tires.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
What's best, gas or diesel engine?
Dear Mark,
I sold my 24' Class C motorhome and am shopping for something newer and more efficient, also larger. I'm tending toward the Class B+ Phoenix Cruiser, 27' with two slides. It comes as either gasoline or diesel. I've been told the additional cost for a diesel engine outweighs any gas mileage benefit unless you keep the rig for many years. But I also wonder if other things have been factored in, such as, cost of engine maintenance, cost differential for the fuel type (as gasoline prices rise, will diesel rise at the same rate, slower, faster? What about bio diesel? Is there a re-sale advantage to either one?
I haven't found a discussion of these issues anywhere yet. The dealer I've been working with just gave me the answer above... the diesel is not cost-effective unless kept for many years. I'm an older, single woman, wanting to do some touring with my dog for the next two years or so. I'm expecting various friends to link up for certain legs of the trip. I will appreciate good guidance.
Mark says:
Gas versus diesel is an age old discussion and one that often times gets heated. If asked this question several years ago I would have responded similar to the salesperson because the cost of a diesel model over a gas model was quite significant. Today's RV's offer many gasoline models in the same price range as many diesel products, mainly due to advances in the chassis itself driving the prices upward.
What I can tell you is a diesel will last longer than a gasoline engine so if you plan to keep the RV for a long time it would be worth the investment. I have no idea what is going to happen with the types of fuel or the cost difference between gas and diesel.
Maintenance wise, it used to be that a diesel required less, keeping in mind there are more filters, etc., on a diesel. But nowadays gas engines can go upwards of 100,000 miles before a tune up with nothing more than routine oil changes, air filters, etc.
This probably doesn't help much. If you want some other opinions, I recommend you go to the RVtravel.com forum and post this same question in the appropriate forum. You are sure to get many responses.
I sold my 24' Class C motorhome and am shopping for something newer and more efficient, also larger. I'm tending toward the Class B+ Phoenix Cruiser, 27' with two slides. It comes as either gasoline or diesel. I've been told the additional cost for a diesel engine outweighs any gas mileage benefit unless you keep the rig for many years. But I also wonder if other things have been factored in, such as, cost of engine maintenance, cost differential for the fuel type (as gasoline prices rise, will diesel rise at the same rate, slower, faster? What about bio diesel? Is there a re-sale advantage to either one?
I haven't found a discussion of these issues anywhere yet. The dealer I've been working with just gave me the answer above... the diesel is not cost-effective unless kept for many years. I'm an older, single woman, wanting to do some touring with my dog for the next two years or so. I'm expecting various friends to link up for certain legs of the trip. I will appreciate good guidance.
Mark says:
Gas versus diesel is an age old discussion and one that often times gets heated. If asked this question several years ago I would have responded similar to the salesperson because the cost of a diesel model over a gas model was quite significant. Today's RV's offer many gasoline models in the same price range as many diesel products, mainly due to advances in the chassis itself driving the prices upward.
What I can tell you is a diesel will last longer than a gasoline engine so if you plan to keep the RV for a long time it would be worth the investment. I have no idea what is going to happen with the types of fuel or the cost difference between gas and diesel.
Maintenance wise, it used to be that a diesel required less, keeping in mind there are more filters, etc., on a diesel. But nowadays gas engines can go upwards of 100,000 miles before a tune up with nothing more than routine oil changes, air filters, etc.
This probably doesn't help much. If you want some other opinions, I recommend you go to the RVtravel.com forum and post this same question in the appropriate forum. You are sure to get many responses.
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