Tech Talk

Towing News About 2015 Honda Fit
After a year’s hiatus, the Honda Fit has returned for the 2015 model year. In previous years, both manual- and automatic-transmission models were towable four wheels down.

Interrupted Circuits
I have a 2005 Mandalay Presidio 39C on a Workhorse R Series diesel chassis. The coach has two 120-volt-AC ground fault interrupter (GFI) breakers (1 & 2 and 5 & 6) that control all receptacles in the coach.

Hard-Closing Bay Doors
I have a problem with my 2004 Monaco Knight 38PST. I was having issues with the lower compartment bay doors hitting when they were being closed, so I took the motorhome to a …

Holding Tank Monitors
I have a 2006 Tiffin Allegro Bus that I purchased in April 2012. My problem is the waste tanks monitoring system. The system “works” and the lights are on, but all I can get is the black tank to display the amber light.

Clunking
I bought a preowned 2007 Safari Damara B-Plus M-293 TS. When I test-drove the motorhome before making the purchase, I noticed a clunking sound in the rear. After buying the motorhome, I took it to a hitch shop, where …

Motorhome Mildew
We live in North Carolina, and when storing our motorhome, even for a short time, we get a lot of mildew on it, especially the north side. What is the best way to remove the mildew?

Replacement Tires
I am seeking some technical advice regarding tires for my motorhome. I own a 2000 National RV Tradewinds motorhome with Michelin tires that will soon need to be replaced.

Battery Schematics
We are trying to find a schematic for installing the new batteries we bought for our motorhome. We have a 2003 39-foot Safari Sahara. I have searched the Internet, and we have searched what books we have  …

Refrigerator Advice
The cooling unit in our refrigerator was replaced by a local RV repair shop under our extended warranty. Now I’m concerned about some potential new issues with the refrigerator.

Flex Hose
I have a 2006 Monaco Camelot motorhome with a 400-horsepower Cummins engine. I need a flexible intake hose. It runs from the top vent down to the inlet side of the air filter.

Battery Storage
I own a 2003 National RV motorhome. When I put it in storage for the winter, the batteries were fully charged. In the spring when I went to retrieve it, the batteries were dead.

Refrigerator Facts
We have a 2003 Phaeton motorhome with a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. It is a Dometic NDR 1292 model. It was not staying cool (the refrigerator reached 90 degrees at one point), so the dealership installed a new cooling unit.

Wiring To Tow
Q: I have a 2008 Four Winds Freedom Elite on a Sprinter chassis, and I want to flat tow a 2008 Suzuki SX4. There is a six-way connection on the Sprinter chassis. I need to know what wiring harness I should buy for towing.

Dead Battery When Towing

When towing my PT Cruiser, I use a BrakeBuddy supplemental braking system. I have a 20-amp charge line coming from the motorhome’s house batteries to the towed vehicle.

LaPalma Information

Is there a Web site I can visit to purchase an owners manual for a 2006 Monaco LaPalma diesel pusher?

Raining Inside Refrigerator

We have a 2009 41-foot diesel pusher with a Norcold four-door refrigerator. It runs on 120-volt-AC electric or propane. The ceiling inside the refrigerator is always wet, and the water drips down inside.

Damaged Clear Tape

I have a 2007 Winnebago Adventurer with protective clear tape on the front. Mold has started to form between the paint and tape. If I remove the tape, adhesive residue from the tape is left on the paint.

Charging House Batteries

I have a 2006 Coachmen 38-foot diesel pusher on a Freightliner chassis with a 300-horsepower Cummins engine. I bought the motorhome new and found that the house batteries do not receive a charge while the diesel engine is running.

V-10 Temperature

We purchased our 2008 Itasca 32H Sunrise in September 2007. It is built on a 2007 Ford chassis with a V-10 engine, and it has been driven 47,800 miles. On five different occasions during the past 12 months, the water temperature gauge has risen toward or into the red zone.

Fridge Facts

The refrigerator in our motorhome works sporadically. During our last trip, it didn’t work at all. We took the RV to a home appliance store and the diagnosis was that they needed to “burp the fridge,” because of the ammonia within the sealed system.

More Maceration

This letter is in reference to the “Macerator Mulling” letter in the June 2012 "Tech Talk" column (page 18). In the seven years of using the macerator in our motorhome, we have experienced much of what was discussed in the letter.

Ethanol

Now that the government has approved 15 percent ethanol (E15) gasoline, how is this going to affect our 2007 GM Workhorse 8.1-liter gas engine?

Coach Batteries

Several years ago, I bought a 2000 Monaco Diplomat. At that time, the house batteries (four 6-volt) were five months old. I recently replaced them and must have received some bad information somewhere along the line.

Extended Storage

In the December 2011 issue of Family Motor Coaching, the answer to Don Loudermilk’s “Storage Question” letter (page 20) states that you should place pieces of plywood under the tires of the motorhome when storing it. I have a Prevost XLII with air support…

ABS Error

I own a 37-foot 2006 Holiday Rambler Neptune built on a Roadmaster diesel chassis. Occasionally the ABS light comes on. The problem is that the light comes on intermittently.

Ford 2012 Escape, Fusion No Longer Towable

Family Motor Coaching recently learned that Ford Motor Company has amended its information concerning flat-towing 2012 Ford Escape and Fusion vehicles equipped with front-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, or all-wheel-drive systems (excluding hybrid models). In February 2012 the company published an Owner Guide Supplement for these vehicles that was sent to current owners.

Ford Escape, Fusion Clarification

In the ”Tech Talk” column of the June 2012 issue of FMC (page 18), it was reported that Ford Motor Company had published an Owner Guide Supplement in February 2012 that indicated 2012 Escape and Fusion vehicles with front-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, and all-wheel-drive systems should no longer be towed four wheels down behind a motorhome.

Valve Extensions

Referencing the “Tire Valve Extensions” letter that appeared in the January 2012 “Tech Talk” column (page 20), I think the answer provided offered good advice, but I also want to point out that many wheels do not need them.

Maintaining Towable’s Battery

In the August 2011 “Tech Talk” column there was a letter about Honda CR-V battery problems (page 22). I also use a 2009 CR-V as my towed vehicle and had the same problem with the battery dying while it was being towed. I recently went to a local trailer hookup and welding company and found a wonderful solution.

Macerator

I have a 2010 Roadtrek Type B motorhome that I ordered and received in February 2010. I went on a trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in October 2010 to visit with family. I used the macerator pump to empty both the black and gray water tanks. The system worked fine, except that it blew the fuse.

Replacing Tires

I’m thinking about replacing the tires on my 2005 Sportscoach even though there are only 34,000 miles on them. I keep my coach garaged, the tires are always covered and set on heavy-duty plastic, and the air pressure is checked often.

Towable Battery Assistance
I read the “CR-V Battery Problems” letter that appeared in the August 2011 “Tech Talk” column in which Bill Shaw wrote about the battery drain issues he was having. I’d like to share some information that I think could help people who are experiencing similar battery problems.

Frosty Fridge Fins

We have a 2000 Holiday Rambler Endeavor motorhome. Last summer the refrigerator’s cooling unit was replaced. With the original unit, we hardly ever had to defrost the refrigerator or freezer. With the new unit we have to defrost the refrigerator about every two weeks.

Propane Level

From the time I purchased our new 2003 Fleetwood Discovery, the propane gauge at the front of the motorhome always has read full, regardless of the amount of fuel in the tank. 

Chevy Cruze Automatic No Longer Approved For Flat TowingFMC recently was notified by several FMCA members that Chevrolet has issued a bulletin and supplemental owners manual page that advises owners not to flat tow Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, even though the owners manual states that the vehicle can be towed four wheels down.