Forum Discussion

olddogs's avatar
olddogs
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014

Greetings to the Forum

Well after a couple of years of research and searching I finally took the plunge and now own a diesel pusher. I purchased a pre-owned 2003 Newmar Dutch Star. I have had the unit about 2 weeks and of course some of the new owner pains are hitting home. But luckily I had read through lots of the forums and have been prepared for most of the problems. My checklist seems to keep growing even though I am working through everything on a daily basis. Almost like owning a boat...

Things I have done or will be doing:
- reading through all the manuals (again and again)
- cleaned all the battery connections
- replaced the ac ceiling vents (most broken or ready to break)
- replacing the 4 rear tires (big ouch)
- installing a tire monitoring system
- replacing the satellite tv system
- getting the engine and drive train serviced
- sealing the roof pass throughs
- replaced all the plastic parts on the ladder rungs
- replacing the stereo system (dvd, tuner, so on) with something a bit more modern
- minor repairs here and there on cabinets and such
- outfitting a motorhome ($1000)

Since I plan to live full time in my rv I am going through all the steps it will take to make life comfortable. Reading the manuals is a good thing, watching the hundreds of hours of YouTube videos very helpful but as a newbie I have already made one mistake. Loaded up the slide with a bit too much weight, went to retract the slide to move the rv and it won't move now. So... a call into the repair guy (I found one luckily right off) and get that fixed up.

One other issue which is now happening, jacks are retracting on their own in the back. Time to go post about that in the help forums.

But I am glad I have my home and I am looking forward to life on the road.
Class A

7 Replies

  • olddogs's avatar
    olddogs
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2014
    I had the repair tech here today, the darn slide came in for him no problem. I spent 3 days trying to get the slide to go in. He shows up and I think my motorhome knew she had to work or else! Nice that it was an easy "fix", greased the drive for the slide (used white lithium grease in a spray can). Ran it in and out several times and it worked every time. So I had the guy look at the jacks. He raised them manually doing the back ones first and then the front. He raised them to max height and then checked the hydraulic fluid level. The tank was near empty. He explained that when the tank gets low that it will suck in air and that will cause the rear jacks to settle back down. Kept it in the up position, added a half quart of transmission fluid and then raised and lowered several times. Works fine now. When I bought the motorhome a bad jack was found and it was "repaired" but they may have forgotten to refill the fluid tank. The repair guy said that when the jacks are auto leveled they do the front first which led to the problem of the rear jacks sucking air.

    At least it was a semi inexpensive.
  • olddogs's avatar
    olddogs
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2014
    Thanks for the responses! I already have almost new tires on the front (3/4 tread and 2013) so figured I would go ahead and do the rear tires. They are older ones and the tread is only about 1/3 on them.

    I forgot to mention I also have a dinghy - 1981 Fiat Spider - all set up for flat towing (Blue Ox).

    I should also mention I am an avid computer user ... and computer gamer (World of Warcraft). Spent the last 12 years in Panama (on an island) so when I returned stateside I decided to go for life on the road.
  • pompomgirl's avatar
    pompomgirl
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2014
    We're going through that with our 1998 Monaco Windsor. Or I should say, DH is going through it while I finish up my job. Today he made a trip to Home Depot (fortunately it is one stop light away because I take the car every day), got a bracket to install our new TV in a safer location, got some wood and stain to finish and stain the cubby he made out of the overhead TV cabinet, installed hooks for jackets and Gore-Tex (it has finally started raining in the NW), and searched for a replacement switch for the passenger seat controls. I'm sure by now he's napping.
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Oct 24, 2014
    replace the 2 front tires and put one old and one new one each rear axle. Some will comment not to do it but I feel it safer. Rather have one rear tire on a dually blow than one front.
  • 10forty2's avatar
    10forty2
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2014
    Welcome! I, too, am new to Class A Rv'ing and have learend LOADS of information here within the walls of this forum. Some great folks that have already been there and done that.

    Enjoy, and ask away!!!!
  • stugpanzer's avatar
    stugpanzer
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2014
    Welcome to the forums! There are many helpful people here that can answer many questions! Congrats on your RV and enjoy!

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