Made it back from the initial trip (New Hampshire to Dallas, via New Brunswick, almost 3200 miles). No significant troubles, so the work Spike and Jim Michaud did, to make sure the coach was fully roadworthy (arranged starter rebuild, new radiator, ended up with new driveshaft to eliminate vibration), paid off.
I didn't expect to have trouble with manual steering, since she's only a 35 footer. (Original owner, Connecticut Company didn't spring for the PS option.) I drove plenty of 35 and 40 foot transits (old look) without PS. Our 4905's, at 40 feet did have power steering - I couldn't imagine taking corners in downtown Boston, with that long wheelbase, without power.
Come to find out, I did notice a difference - particularly in parking lots, and in downtown Moncton NB - especially on the right turn immediately after I saw the 3-meter vertical clearance sign. I'm sure it couldn't be that I'm not in my 20's any more. Wasn't an issue on the highway, but Massachusetts potholes (almost lost the generator exhaust pipe) and highway bridge joints were kind of jarring on the arms.
So, what is the experience (cost) with adding power steering - if it's still possible to this 1968 coach?
The other issue I'm having is some chattering of the clutch in first, pretty significant in reverse. I haven't driven one of these in about 28 years, so it took a little while for my old habits to return; but there have been others driving a few miles here and there for repairs - and I don't know exactly how she was behaving when the previous owner put her on the market. I'm hoping an adjustment will take care of it - any ideas there? Gone are the days when my responsibility ended with writing up a defect card - now it's write the defect card, write the check .....
Arthur Gaudet Carrollton, TX