Tech Talk
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September 2018 Fuel Bib To prevent fuel stains down the side of my motorhome, I made a bib from Dicor rubber roof material (other material also could be used). I…
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The following recall notices are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To search for recalls, investigations, and complaints by vehicle year, make, model, and VIN, visit www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues. NHTSA’s…
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Fire Extinguisher Recall The recall of millions of Kidde fire extinguishers has been widely reported, including in this magazine, but it bears repeating. The recall involves 134 models of Kidde…
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The following recall notices are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To search for recalls, investigations, and complaints by vehicle year, make, model, and VIN, visit www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues. NHTSA’s…
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The following recall notices are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To search for recalls, investigations, and complaints by vehicle year, make, and model, visit www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues. NHTSA’s Vehicle…
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Sealed Tight Make sure you have all sealants checked once a year and that the correct sealant is used. We learned the hard way when we had a leak where…
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The following recall notices are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To search for recalls, investigations, and complaints by vehicle year, make, and model, visit www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues. NHTSA’s Vehicle…
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Storage Solution Our 2005 Fleetwood Excursion motorhome came with a washer/dryer combination, which we never used. What we needed was more space to store things, such as paper plates, cups,…
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The following recall notices are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To search for recalls, investigations, and complaints by vehicle year, make, and model, visit www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues. NHTSA’s Vehicle…
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Finding “ACC” In Escalade I outfitted my 2016 Cadillac Escalade with Blue Ox equipment to make it flat towable. One of the steps in the flat-towing procedure calls for the…
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The following recall notices are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To search for recalls, investigations, and complaints by vehicle year, make, and model, visit www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues. NHTSA’s Vehicle…
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Faded Decal Removal
I have a 2003 Type C motorhome with Dutchmen logo decals that are faded and cracked. What is the best way to remove them?
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In the November “Tech Talk” (page 18), Tim Scowden said his alignment had been adjusted six times but his tires were still wearing out at an unacceptable rate. I have found that many alignment and RV shops do not know what they are doing when it comes to alignment. At one shop, the person I spoke with didn’t even know what caster is.
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In the February “Tech Talk,” the owner of a 2005 Monaco Dynasty said his starter sometimes engages on the first turn of the key, but other times it takes up to 10 tries to engage (“Shaky Starter,” page 18). I had a 2004 Monaco Safari Trek with a similar starter issue (a click, click, click sound, and no start).
Inverter Input Voltage
We have a 2006 Tiffin Allegro built on a Workhorse chassis with an 8.1-liter engine. Several years ago I installed a Tripp Lite inverter/charger, model RV1250ULHW. Two years ago we were on a trip and stopped for the night at an RV park. I plugged into shore power and noticed that the remote panel for the inverter was showing shutdown due to overcharge
A/C DrainageType C motorhomes have long had the problem of water draining from the rooftop air conditioner onto the sides of the coach, including the windows. Has a solution been developed to drain the water efficiently so that it falls to the ground without touching the coach’s sides?Equine RVer
We are in the market for a motorhome. We plan to tow a three-horse trailer. The trailer, when loaded, will weigh a maximum of 10,000 pounds. We assume we’ll need a …Front-View Camera
I’m trying to find a mirror or camera that views the front end of the RV. Any suggestions?Electric StepMy 2000 National RV motorhome (bought new) has a Kwikee electric step that needs a new motor assembly. Both National and Kwikee no longer exist. I’ve tried to find a new or used replacement with no luck.Low Ground Clearance
I purchased a 2014 Type A motorhome. It was jacked up at the time, and I did not notice the low ground clearance of the 10-foot overhang behind the rear duals. I have talked to the motorhome manufacturer, and they say it is a problem of the chassis manufacturer. I talked to the chassis manufacturer, and they say it is a problem of the motorhome manufacturer. I cannot find anyone who can help.Weighing The OptionsI learned a lot from Mark Quasius’ article about proper chassis alignment (“Chassis Alignment Checkup,” June 2016, page 50) and have one question. All manufacturers recommend weighing coaches loaded, but the only place to get this done seems to be at a rally.Charging SystemI recently inherited a 1998 41-foot Beaver Patriot motorhome. Even though the motorhome has been plugged in, power from the batteries is not reaching the motorhome circuits. Everything is dead. Local motorhome repair technicians do not seem to know where the problem is.Chassis Batteries QuandaryThe chassis batteries do not hold a charge on my 2004 Winnebago Vectra. The engine alternator charges them when the engine is running, but the batteries do not charge when connected to shore power.Battery IssueI have a 2011 Monaco Diplomat. When I turn off the house battery switches, the gauges on my dash blink on and off. Obviously, the batteries run down fairly quickly. I replaced all of the batteries two years ago, so they are fairly new. …Any idea what's happening?Electric Receptacle IssueMy 2000 Four Winds Infinity has two electric receptacles mounted underneath the cabinets above the kitchen sink. The receptacles work only when they want to. It makes no difference if the coach is on battery power, generator, or shore power.Brake QuestionI tried to drive my Allegro Breeze after a month or so in storage and found that the brakes would not release. They apparently were stuck to the drums.Painting A Propane TankI look forward to receiving Family Motor Coaching magazine every month. I always learn a lot from your column and very seldom question your answers, but this time . . . oops.Water Tank SeepageAbout a year ago, I began noticing that when we are connected to city water, our onboard water tank slowly fills, even with all the gate valves properly positioned. Every two to three weeks I have to turn off city water and use the onboard water until the tank becomes mostly empty again.Complex Electrical TaskWe own a 2002 Beaver Monterey Type A motorhome with 50-amp service. It has two chassis batteries and four coach batteries. It also has a Xantrex PROsine 2.0 2,000-watt inverter/charger and a Progressive Dynamics 5200 series automatic transfer relay switch. We frequently stay at campgrounds that have only 30-amp service but also have a separate 20-amp outlet.Tire Pressure GaugesI’ve read several articles over the years about the importance of tire maintenance. I’ve had my coach weighed. I carefully check the tire pressures at least once a week, more often if traveling, and I use a tire pressure monitoring system. My question: How do I verify the accuracy of the tire-pressure gauge?Oily Electrolyte
Letters from people who added four ounces of mineral oil to each cell of a battery bank appeared in “Tech Talk” in March 2014 (page 18) and August 2014 (page 18). I did this, and I am amazed at how well it has worked the past 1 1/2 years.Battery Charging Revisited
I am writing in response to a question from John Billups in the May 2015 “Tech Talk” column (“Battery Charging,” page 18). The 12-volt house batteries on his diesel pusher were charging only when …Fiat Chrysler Addresses Jeep IssueFiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has issued “Customer Satisfaction Notification P73,” which is directed at owners of certain 2005 through 2010 model-year Jeep Grand Cherokee and certain 2006 through 2010 model-year Jeep Commander vehicles equipped with a Quadra-Trac II full-time active four-wheel-drive transfer case. The notification may be of interest to FMCA members who tow those vehicles four wheels down behind a motorhome.FRVA members have access to exclusive articles and RV tips, plus a digital library of RVing know-how. For full access to website content, plus must-have travel benefits, join FRVA today and get instant access to Family RVing magazine.
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