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EMERGENCY TOWING OF THE MOTOR HOME
Extreme care must be taken in the event the unit must be towed as a result of a break down or accident. The motor
home should only be towed by a professional towing company.
NOTE: THE USE OF A “DOLLY” TYPE TOW DEVICE THAT TOWS THE VEHICLE WITH ITS FRONT WHEELS
SECURED ON A SMALL PLATFORM FITTED WITH ITS OWN SET OF WHEELS, OR A WHEEL-LIFT TOWING
DEVICE THAT CARRIES THE MOTOR HOME’S FRONT WHEELS IN A “CRADLE” OR “SLING” ARE THE ONLY
METHODS RECOMMENDED. USING OTHER METHODS MAY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR
HOME. PLEASE REFER TO YOUR CHASSIS MANUAL FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON TOWING PROCEDURES.
DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION
DRIVING TECHNIQUES
With just a few miles under your belt, you will find that your new GULF STREAM handles much differently than a
typical car or truck. You must take into consideration that the vehicle is much longer, higher and heavier than any car
or light truck.
Always be mindful of your vehicle’s height when approaching underpasses, awnings, parking garages, drive-in
facilities (banks, food, fuel) and carport-type overhangs. Remember: your vehicle’s height can be different than what
the manufacturer lists depending upon any additions you have added to your roof.
NOTE: WHEN APPROACHING AN OVERHANG THAT IS APPROXIMATELY THE SAME HEIGHT AS YOUR UNIT,
USE EXTREME CAUTION. PAVEMENT DIPS/RISES AND NEW LAYERS OF ROAD SURFACE CAN MAKE OLD
CLEARANCE SIGNS OBSOLETE. “WHEN IN DOUBT…STAY OUT.”
GROUND CLEARANCE
Just as overhangs can produce problems, so do dips and rises in pavement. Be extremely cautious when entering
and leaving the main roadway (drives, parking lots, side roads, etc.). Become familiar with the rear overhang
characteristics of your individual unit. This will help you avoid damage to the undercarriage behind the rear axle. The
nature of your unit is such that you will not be able to access as many areas as easily as you would in a car.
WARM WEATHER/HIGH ELEVATION OPERATION
Although Gulf Stream vehicles are designed and tested in a variety of hot and cold situations, you must take
precautions when driving in hot weather or high elevations. Always read your chassis owner’s manual section on
driving techniques. When driving in hot weather, keep your engine speed up, not your road speed. In other words, as
the coach slows down, manually downshift the engine. This will keep the engine rpm’s up and the coolant flowing at a
high rate at all times. On diesel models, by shifting from sixth gear down to fourth gear on uphill climbs you can
decrease your engine temperature by up to 15 degrees (depending on humidity and road conditions), and yet you can
still maintain 55 mph if your load or the road allows.
Aside from driving habits, always make sure that your radiator is clean of debris and bugs. Using a power washer to
clean out your radiator will noticeably increase its cooling capacity. Also make sure that the coolant is a 50/50 mixture
of antifreeze/coolant and water. Adding more coolant than water will not increase the cooling capacity of the radiator.
Engine coolant is formulated to provide optimum cooling at an equal 50/50 mixture. Driving in higher elevations
(above 5,000 ft) will allow your coolant to boil at a lower temperature.
Summary of Contents for Indiana
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