Barely Moving
Dear RV Doctor:
We just purchased a 2005 motorhome with three slideouts that have rack-and-pinion electric mechanisms. The large living room slideout lifted up awkwardly, went out less than halfway, and made loud noises. We retracted it and tried extending it again, but it would only go out halfway and made both clunking and clicking noises.
Moving Forward
Dear RV Doctor:
I recently purchased a 2003 motorhome. I have emptied the black water holding tank and noticed we still get a bad odor when driving. I do not notice the odor when the unit is parked. Do you have any suggestions on how to correct this problem?
A Flawed Finish
Dear RV Doctor:
We purchased a 1992 Coachmen Type A motorhome about four years ago. Since it is parked outside all the time, 90 percent of the clear-coat finish has peeled off (except for the bumpers), and the decals have faded and are severely cracked.
Frustrating Fly Infestation
Dear RV Doctor:
I just purchased my first motorhome earlier this year, a used 38-foot Damon. I have what seems like fruit flies breeding in the black water holding tank. I do not have this problem with the gray water holding tank. Whenever I push the flush foot pedal, the flies come swarming up out of the commode.
All Cracked Up
Dear RV Doctor:
My living room window was broken when our deck table fell through it during a storm. Do you have to take the whole window out to fix it? It was the bottom portion of the window that broke.
Rubber Or Wax
Dear RV Doctor:
I am replacing the closet flange seal under the toilet in my coach. I need to know how the seal goes in. Does it sit in the flange ring on the floor? Or do you first fit it around the toilet horn? The old seal was just sitting on top of the floor. Is that the right way to install it?
Multiple Pump Switches
Dear RV Doctor:
I need to add a third water pump switch in the toilet area of my RV. As of now I have a three-way switch on the master control panel and another three-way switch in the outside plumbing compartment.
Six Or Twelve?
Dear RV Doctor:
I’m wondering whether I’m better off using two 6-volt batteries wired in series or one 12-volt battery. I’ve heard a variety of reasons why it’s better and why it’s not. What is your opinion?
Back in the February 2009 issue of Family Motor Coaching, I replied to an inquiry from Autumn Rose, who asked whether it would be okay to plug her motorhome shore power line into her stationary home’s 240-volt clothes dryer outlet for the purpose of testing the rooftop air conditioner …
Carpet replacement
Dear RV Doctor:
I have a 1987 motorhome and would like to replace the worn carpet. How was this carpet originally installed by the manufacturer? How do I install the new carpet?
Thin Wall Mounting Dilemma
Dear RV Doctor:
The license plate and license light bracket are ready to fall off the rear cap of our motorhome. The screws have become loose. What’s the best way to reattach these items to a thin wall (approximately 1/8-inch thick) with foam insulation behind it?
Wobbly Antenna
Dear RV Doctor:
I have a Winegard crank-up “batwing†TV antenna, and when it’s in the up position, it rocks back and forth when the wind blows. Someone told me there’s a tool to adjust the antenna. Do you know what kind of tool this might be and what I have to do to adjust the antenna?
Fresh water chlorination
Dear RV Doctor:
The water in our RV had a bad odor — a musty smell — so we added some household bleach to the tank and let it sit awhile. Now we cannot get the bleach taste out. What do you suggest we do?
No output — battery
Dear RV Doctor:
Every time I tow my 2003 GMC Sonoma 4×4 pickup for more than four hours without stopping to start the truck for a while, my battery becomes completely dead or has just enough power to barely turn over the engine.
Skimpy Molding
Dear RV Doctor:
One of the most troublesome things I have found to maintain are the exterior moldings that are used to seal the seams along the edges of the motorhome siding.
Switch Or Solenoid?
Dear RV Doctor:
We sure enjoy your column, but in an earlier issue, even though you gave a very thorough answer about 12-volt-DC troubleshooting, you forgot one thing — that is, to check the male and female connectors hooking a towed car to the motorhome.
Which Circuit?
Dear RV Doctor:
How can I test whether I have a drain on my batteries that I am not aware of once I disconnect my landline power and switch over to DC power?
In Or Out?
Dear RV Doctor:
As I drive about I keep noticing RVs stored in driveways and yards with the slideouts open. Is this the preferred or correct way to store an RV for extended periods?
Short, But Sweet!
Dear RV Doctor:
What is the maximum amount of AC voltage that you should see coming out of the DC side of a converter?
Which End Goes Where?
Dear RV Doctor:
I’m embarrassed to ask, but I bought a brass water pressure regulator from an RV supply store. It came without instructions, and I didn’t think to ask. How do you use this thing?
Water leaks
Dear RV Doctor:
Unfortunately, my husband did not properly winterize our 1986 Southwind. When we fill the fresh water tank, we have no problems, but when the water pump goes on, the leaks start.
Growling Oven
Dear RV Doctor:
I have an Atwood RV range. It is a Wedgewood model. I’m curious why the oven sometimes makes a growling sound rather than the smooth hissing sound that an LP-gas oven usually makes.
Refer Removal
Dear RV Doctor:
I recently purchased a 1975 Sportscoach. The refrigerator was not working, so we decided to go with an all-electric unit. My question is: how do I get the old one out of the motorhome?
Four For Two-Fer
Dear RV Doctor:
If both of my air conditioners can run with the generator, doesn’t that mean the wiring can handle them both? Why can’t I just replace the 30-amp cord with a 50-amp and run both A/Cs from the shore power also?
Weepy Window
Dear RV Doctor:
I have a 1997 motorhome that has recently developed a leak in a sliding window. I have sprayed water on it from the outside to try to determine where it is leaking, and it looks as though the water is coming from under the window trim.
Trippy GFCI
Dear RV Doctor:
I have a troubling electrical issue. Last year when I plugged in my brand-new RV at the campsite, the GFCI on the pedestal tripped immediately.
DEAR RV DOCTOR:
Our day/night blinds have broken threads. Is there a way to fix or rethread them, or should we purchase new ones? Both living area blinds broke only days apart.
We also have a musty smell and taste in our water.
Failing Flange
Dear RV Doctor:
I have a question regarding a toilet flange. The flange that holds my toilet down has rotted away and will NOT hold the bolts that secure the toilet in place.
Dear RV Doctor:
I was asked a question the other day by a fellow RVer about a 4,500-watt Onan generator. He wanted to know if I could find out what the point gap of the points on his unit should be.
Annoying Ammonia
Dear RV Doctor:
Being a rookie RVer, I accidentally did not have my motorhome fully leveled while camping and, therefore, I now have a leak in my RV refrigerator. I am getting that wonderful ammonia smell when the door is opened.
Dear RV Doctor:
My wife and I are ordering and buying a new type A motorhome — a 33-foot, gasoline-powered coach with a 7,000-watt generator and 50-amp shore power service. The unit comes with a 300-watt inverter as standard equipment.
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