Missy Conversion - 1998 MCI 102

[JDOnTheGo]

Measured Missy today. She has grown up a bit recently and has a new height of 12' 8" (at the normal/cruising ride height setting).

[alpine44]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

That is true. It does take a bit of water though.

The latent heat of evaporation for water is 2,2300 KJ/kg ~ 2114 BTU/Liter.
Typical residential evaporative coolers for 300sqft have a 5 gal reservoir.

I would try one of these things for about $100-$150 new or less off CL.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

Measured Missy today. She has grown up a bit recently and has a new height of 12' 8" (at the normal/cruising ride height setting).

Legal max height is 13 feet. A lot of bridges are lower than 12 feet, especially after the road under the bridge has been repaved a few times. They don't always correct the bridge clearance signage.

[JDOnTheGo]

Thanks Ben,

Please be careful with the legal stuff. We frequently get into this (legal stuff) and the answer almost always varies from place to place and with the situation. A quick little research (here, for example) will show that, for RV's, the maximum legal height is 13' 6" or more - for all states. It is 14' in my state of registration. Having been a full-timer for the last 5 years in an RV that was 12' 6" (and now Missy), I can say that I have never experienced a situation where I was too tall to fit. Please keep in mind that is for the areas of the country that I frequent - obviously this would NOT be true everywhere (especially in the east). Obviously, maximum legal height has nothing to do with the actual maximum height that will work on obscure county roads (thinking of the ones back east with little covered bridges and such).

[PNW_Steve]

My $0.02...

I traveled through 40+ states over 6 years and 250k miles in a converted Eagle that was about 13'4" tall.

In my travels I ran into a few bridges and tunnels that I could not clear.

All but one occasion I had plenty of forewarning of low clearance and alternative route.

There were parts of Yellowstone National Park that I couldn't take the bus.

Getting off of the main roads in parts of the N.E. required attention.

I found one overpass that I could not clear near downtown Denver. No forewarning. I had to back up a block to get to a spot to turn around.....At 5:00pm on a Friday afternoon. Not an experience I care to repeat.

A truckers GPS is a handy tool in any tall rig.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

for RV's, the maximum legal height is 13' 6" or more - for all states. It is 14' in my state of registration.

Really? I didn't know that. I knew about the 13'6" but not that it varied for RVs.



That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. How is 14' for an RV shorter than 13'6" for a semi??? The bridge doesn't give a $hit what's trying to get under it. If anything it should be the other way around. As a soccer dad loaded with cash, what experience do you have driving an RV that taller than bridges? As a truck driver with 100,000 miles a year, you're a little more likely to pay attention to those things.

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Really? I didn't know that. I knew about the 13'6" but not that it varied for RVs.

I only listed what I found for RV's - no idea what it is for other vehicles. You'll have to research that one for yourself.

[JDOnTheGo]

Finally got around to taking outside photos with the new satellite dish, A/C-Heat Pumps, and vents.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

Someone somewhere must sell "half panel" solar cells. If not, I still see room for at least one more panel.

[JDOnTheGo]

I'm not very good at trip reports. As a full-timer, I'm always on a trip so feels kinda odd to report the normal stuff...

That said, I started a 'longer than normal' trip this past week. I'm calling it my 2018 Far East Trip. In general, New Mexico to Minnesota for a family wedding and some time at the home office. Then to near St. Louis to visit more family. Then, who knows… Maybe to Ohio to visit more family… Or… maybe I'll have had enough of the far east and will head back out west. We'll see. It'll be at least a six week trip.

Middle of last week I made the short hop from my "home base" way up on the continental divide in New Mexico to near Albuquerque for some visits and business.

I was very lucky to get out of my summer spot due to the desert monsoon season rains. I was five miles off the paved road and the dirt trails liked to collect water and were really a mess. I spotted a bit of a window with a couple days of no rain and the road look passable so I gave it a shot. It all went fairly well until one spot where it was least expected - Missy's left rears sunk into mud that seemed to be under a dry crust. I kept the throttle down (not hammered, of course) and we just barely continued plowing thru it. A VERY close call. This photo was taken a few miles down the paved road - note how far the mud is up on the tire sidewalls.





A few minutes after taking those photos, the rain opened up and really dumped. So, I guess timing really is everything!



Friday started the first long haul segment to Minnesota. I decided to enjoy some of the secondary roads and took the route shown below.



The drive was pretty uneventful and Missy ran well. She still has a vibration that really annoys me - still working on that.



First night was spent in a nice little RV park near Hugoton, KS named Eagle RV Park. I kinda like the unattended operations. Pull in, pick a spot, put your money in an envelope and enjoy. Nice and easy. Photos?? No… forgot. Sorry…

Saturday was mostly lots of cruising - about 550 miles to Onawa, IA. These long drives give me lots of time to contemplate the changes I'd like to make to Missy. She is nowhere near "done" so I have a long list of things to do anyway but always adding more to that list.

Again, another RV park. This one named 'On-Ur-Wa RV Park'. A very nice couple checked me in and even provided a golf-cart escort into my spot. Very easy!



I don't normally stay at RV parks when traveling due to the hassle of getting in and out. This time around, I expected it to be hot weather and wanted shore power for air conditioning. It certainly wasn't as hot as I had expected but I carried on with the plan anyway.

Today I'll drive the final 300 miles to near St. Cloud, MN. I'll be there for a week boondocking on my sisters farm.

[cadillackid]

sweet trip!!! im embarking on my longest Bus journey ever this week in a bus ive never seen and know nothing about!!.. if you come to ohio let me know.. would be fun to meet up!!! ill be trekking from oregon to Ohio via some route this week..


glad to see missy is rockin N rollin through the country!!! awesome stuff
-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

JD,
Far east?!? If you haven't hit the Atlantic, it ain't east. Looks like you did get lucky with the muck. Was just talking about you this weekend and the time you got stuck in the sand. Any of the "To Do List" include a winch? Even a "small" 10k or 12k might be enough to get you out of trouble. Cheaper than a $2k tow bill. Use the jeep and a couple of cinder blocks as an anchor if there are no suitable trees.

Originally Posted by cadillackid

sweet trip!!! im embarking on my longest Bus journey ever this week in a bus ive never seen and know nothing about!!..

What's this business? You buy another bus???

[JDOnTheGo]

Thanks guys!

Yesterday's trip leg went just swell and I'm now sitting on my sister's farm in Minnesota.





With 180 gallons of diesel it was theoretically possible to make the entire 1,300 mile drive from NM to MN without stopping for fuel. However; Missy's fuel gauge doesn't work and I'm paranoid so I stopped twice. If nothing else, those stops afford the opportunity to clean the windshield. Both times, the fuel consumption averaged out to 8 mpg (8.18 and 8.23). The first tank included some slow dirt road driving, the second tank was entirely highway at mostly 63-65 mph.

I hadn't weighed Missy in quite a while (before adding the bathroom, washer drying, etc.) so decided to do that at one of the last fuel stop. She had about 80 gallons of water, 100 gallons of fuel, and all of my belongings on board. The "Trailer Axle" is my Jeep Wrangler. Thus, Missy currently weighs 42,160 lbs.

I can add another five tons of stuff!!

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Far east?!? If you haven't hit the Atlantic, it ain't east.

Oh trust me... this is east for me!! I feel it in every part of my body, especially my head.

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Any of the "To Do List" include a winch? Even a "small" 10k or 12k might be enough to get you out of trouble.

No, afraid not. It has been previously suggested and it is a good idea just not on my radar at this time. I wouldn't mind having one on the Jeep but again, not on the radar - I just don't need any more projects. A set of chains has also been suggested and that too is a good idea. Having a to do list with 758 items on it kinda stinks... So much for simplifying my life...

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

im embarking on my longest Bus journey ever this week in a bus ive never seen and know nothing about!!

Good luck Christopher!! I sure hope it goes smoothly!

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

With 180 gallons of diesel it was theoretically possible to make the entire 1,300 mile drive from NM to MN without stopping for fuel. However; Missy's fuel gauge doesn't work and I'm paranoid so I stopped twice.

Taking breaks is good but only if they are on your schedule. My Dakota left me walking when it was out of fuel and the gas gauge said 3/4 of a tank. Phuck me once and I'll never trust you again. Seems to be working since I cleaned it after I ripped the fuel tank off but still. I reset the trip meter EVERY time now. I did back then too but thought the ex might have put some fuel in in it.

Anywho, this one should be near the top of the list below.

Thus, Missy currently weighs 42,160 lbs.

She's a fat heifer!!! Last scrap run, mine weighed 20,600 but that's completely gutted. My GVWR is only 33,X00 lbs

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

Oh trust me... this is east for me!! I feel it in every part of my body, especially my head.

You are just in time for the dog days of summer. You should go visit the Everglades or something along those lines.

As well as Chris' invite to OH, let me know if you do make it further east to MD/PA area. I'll buy you a beer.

No, afraid not. It has been previously suggested and it is a good idea just not on my radar at this time. I wouldn't mind having one on the Jeep but again, not on the radar - I just don't need any more projects. A set of chains has also been suggested and that too is a good idea. Having a to do list with 758 items on it kinda stinks... So much for simplifying my life...

758 for those are easy to check off the list. $100 tops. A winch will set you back $800 (???) I think it was for a HF ... no it wasn't HF but some other catalog I saw for a 12,000 lb. I can see waiting on that if you don't have the cash to throw around. But chains or a set of straps... I've got a 5k strap I found on the side of the road. Must have come off a semi. It's gotta be 30 ft long. Not great but double it up... and for the price.

[alpine44]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

Oh trust me... this is east for me!! I feel it in every part of my body, especially my head.

My main reason looking for a bus is to spend the summer in the dryer climates out West. However, there is one thing in the North East you have to see at least once in your lifetime and that is the fall colors (google "leaf peeping").

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

No, afraid not. It has been previously suggested and it is a good idea just not on my radar at this time. I wouldn't mind having one on the Jeep but again, not on the radar - I just don't need any more projects. A set of chains has also been suggested and that too is a good idea. Having a to do list with 758 items on it kinda stinks... So much for simplifying my life...

I think that tire chains and a couple of Vetter lifting bags would get a bus unstuck even if there is no suitable anchor available for winching. Plus, the chains may be required anyway if Old Man Winter catches you early in the wrong place. Chains are also an excellent preventative measure on soft surfaces.

Without chains, I can get even my FLU419 Unimog stuck in the right mud and that beast has 4WD, lockers on both axles, and a serious amount of ground clearance. But when mud turns the tires into something resembling glazed donuts, even a purpose-built offroad machine is not going to go very far. These chains, bought as a surplus item for $160 a pair, fixed that problem nicely. Also makes driving on hard packed-snow or ice a whole lot less stressful. In these conditions, the Unimog will not get stuck with bare tires but can become uncontrollable if there is any slope involved.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by alpine44

But when mud turns the tires into something resembling glazed donuts, it's not going to move far either.

This^. I've done it twice with my B2600. It was only 2x4 but I was "stuck" in literally 1/2" of clay and 1/2" of mud. 4x4 would have had me out of the mud as the mud didn't span the length of the wheel base. The clay, I was hosed no matter what. Had a full load of fire wood too. The weight didn't help in the least.

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by alpine44

However, there is one thing you have to see at least once in your lifetime and that is the fall colors in the NorthEast.

I completely agree!! However; I'm waiting for a transportation device that can beam me from some point west of the Pecos to Middleton, VT or Medway, ME.

Originally Posted by alpine44

But when mud turns the tires into something resembling glazed donuts, it's not going to move either.

HA!! EXCELLENT analogy and exactly right!!

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

I completely agree!! However; I'm waiting for a transportation device that can beam me from some point west of the Pecos to Middleton, VT or Medway, ME.




HA!! EXCELLENT analogy and exactly right!!

yeah and that MUD is about as sticky as donut glaze too.. in a Jeep with a monster engine you have a chance at spinning them fast enough to spray off the mud.. but in a bus wit han automatic the wheels wont even spin.. and with a clutch youll make glazed cookies out of your clutch plates
-Christopher