Owners manual and basics help!!!!
I am new to the rving world. My wife has juvenile parkinsons and unfortunately we live in a very small town. It costs me and arm and a leg to drive to a big city to get her to her doctors and on top o...
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Chassis: Replace tires that are older than 6 years old right away. Have entire brake system checked including flex hoses at front wheels, have brake fluid drained and replaced.Have engine cooling system including " clutch fan", radiator and all belts and hoses checked and serviced. Have transmission and rear end serviced. Have front end suspension and steering components checked and aligned. Have engine alternator and starting battery checked.
Housebox: Have house/auxiliary battery(s)checked and replaced if needed. Have converter/house battery charger and connections to house battery(s) checked to make sure it is charging the house battery when you are plugged into 110vac "shore" power, replace if needed with a modern converter. Have the 12 volt DC connections to all appliances checked and fixed as needed. Most appliances have circuit boards that may need to have their contacts cleaned or boards may need to be replaced. Furnace and water heater runs on propane and 12 volts DC power, may need servicing of connections and safety devices to get running properly. The generator's ground connections and carb may need servicing to get it to start, generator will need oil changed. The roof AC unit runs on 110 volt AC shore power or 110vac power from the generator. It may need servicing or replacement of the roof mounted compressor unit to get it working. The fridge temperature control operates from 12vdc from the house battery. The fridge cooling unit works on 110vac from shore power, or from propane. Fridge may have automatic or manual control to switch from 110vac to propane for cooling. Look for discoloration, smell of mold,delamination signs of water leak damage. Repair of leaks may be minor to costing thousands of dollars to repair water damage.
General: Try to find an RV repair place or mobile RV repair service that has a good reputation in your area. Find a good light truck repair guy for chassis servicing and repairs. Get estimates for all parts and labor and time needed for new tires and all repairs needed for chassis and housebox and determine if you want to invest real time money getting this old rig safe and dependable to drive and pleasurable to travel and camp in. Be aware that resale with all repairs and upgrades may only bring some $5000 due to age, appearance and mileage. You may want to sell it for what you can get and save to buy a much newer rig with everything working. Best of luck and prayers for you and your wife.
Housebox: Have house/auxiliary battery(s)checked and replaced if needed. Have converter/house battery charger and connections to house battery(s) checked to make sure it is charging the house battery when you are plugged into 110vac "shore" power, replace if needed with a modern converter. Have the 12 volt DC connections to all appliances checked and fixed as needed. Most appliances have circuit boards that may need to have their contacts cleaned or boards may need to be replaced. Furnace and water heater runs on propane and 12 volts DC power, may need servicing of connections and safety devices to get running properly. The generator's ground connections and carb may need servicing to get it to start, generator will need oil changed. The roof AC unit runs on 110 volt AC shore power or 110vac power from the generator. It may need servicing or replacement of the roof mounted compressor unit to get it working. The fridge temperature control operates from 12vdc from the house battery. The fridge cooling unit works on 110vac from shore power, or from propane. Fridge may have automatic or manual control to switch from 110vac to propane for cooling. Look for discoloration, smell of mold,delamination signs of water leak damage. Repair of leaks may be minor to costing thousands of dollars to repair water damage.
General: Try to find an RV repair place or mobile RV repair service that has a good reputation in your area. Find a good light truck repair guy for chassis servicing and repairs. Get estimates for all parts and labor and time needed for new tires and all repairs needed for chassis and housebox and determine if you want to invest real time money getting this old rig safe and dependable to drive and pleasurable to travel and camp in. Be aware that resale with all repairs and upgrades may only bring some $5000 due to age, appearance and mileage. You may want to sell it for what you can get and save to buy a much newer rig with everything working. Best of luck and prayers for you and your wife.
