What did you do to your Class A MH today???

NAUTIQUE wrote:

Gotago2 wrote:
Changed the oil and filter on my Coachmen Mirada (F-53.) What a chore. First the drain plug was right over the front axle so had to balance the oil catch pan while I pulled the plug and as it was draining and again as I remove the filter. Yep, spilled some here and there but it cleans up. Then the biggest challenge was refilling the oil. What a job that was. I have to think of something better next time. I purchased a 5 qt. container of oil but had to pour it into a one qt container to get to the fill hole one qt at a time. You have to be a contortionist to not only see but get the oil to the hole.

:B Gotta love those F-53's!!!

I've tried many different contraptions balancing on top of the axle. Most all end up with wiping up oil off the axle though!
One of the best is just a V-folded peice of cardboard to divert it into container on ground.

I use a long flexible spout funnel to drain the oil on my F-53 into the drain pan, and a 1 qt funnel with a rotary valve at the neck to refill it. No mess to deal with at either end...

Gotago2 wrote:
Changed the oil and filter on my Coachmen Mirada (F-53.) What a chore. First the drain plug was right over the front axle so had to balance the oil catch pan while I pulled the plug and as it was draining and again as I remove the filter. Yep, spilled some here and there but it cleans up. Then the biggest challenge was refilling the oil. What a job that was. I have to think of something better next time. I purchased a 5 qt. container of oil but had to pour it into a one qt container to get to the fill hole one qt at a time. You have to be a contortionist to not only see but get the oil to the hole.

:B Gotta love those F-53's!!!

I've tried many different contraptions balancing on top of the axle. Most all end up with wiping up oil off the axle though!
One of the best is just a V-folded peice of cardboard to divert it into container on ground.

Gotago2 wrote:
Changed the oil and filter on my Coachmen Mirada (F-53.) What a chore. First the drain plug was right over the front axle so had to balance the oil catch pan while I pulled the plug and as it was draining and again as I remove the filter. Yep, spilled some here and there but it cleans up. Then the biggest challenge was refilling the oil. What a job that was. I have to think of something better next time. I purchased a 5 qt. container of oil but had to pour it into a one qt container to get to the fill hole one qt at a time. You have to be a contortionist to not only see but get the oil to the hole.

Get you a Fumoto Valve, one with a tip. I love mine, attach a tube and drain the oil directly into a plastic bottle to take to the oil recycle. I use a tube about 16" long. As for refilling, take out a bar stool and sit to pour it in.

I have tried a nail into the bottom of the oil filter, it takes a while to drain out but I never seem to get all the oil out this way, some always gets on you.

Got a new locking gas cap for the Vista. Apparently Ford does not have one specifically for the F-53 chassis, but it's the same size that is on my '05 F150 and he did not have a listing for that one either. The parts guy finally took the non locking one back to the stock room and started going through various boxes to find a match up. After about 10 minutes he finally found one. I had to modify the retaining strap to fit the Vista, but now I can semi-secure the gas tank at the fill tube. At the price Ford charged, I think it's made of gold.

removed and replaced the washing machine and replaced the upper scissor hinge latch on the entry door.

Gotago2 wrote:
Changed the oil and filter on my Coachmen Mirada (F-53.) What a chore. First the drain plug was right over the front axle so had to balance the oil catch pan while I pulled the plug and as it was draining and again as I remove the filter. Yep, spilled some here and there but it cleans up.

Head down to you local big box store are get a $5 concrete mixing tub like this one. Solves the spill problem plus makes for easy transmission or power steering oil collection. Plus at 10 gallons will probably hold all the engine coolant for reuse to winterize waste drains and tanks. Mine doubles (after cleaning) as a dog bed, dish washing tub, power cord holder and anything else I throw into the storage bin.

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:

xctraveler wrote:
Repaired the hinge of the bed lift.

DW lifted the foot of the bed to store the pillows as usual. this was accompanied by a cracking noise and the bed lifted canted. Turns out the nails that held the bed base to the hinge had ripped out.

Moved the mattress out to the living room, removed the gas strut on the broken side, restapled the base to the hinge and hope it will hold. Real fix will require removing the entire bed support and rebuilding the connection. Not to be done on the road this week. Maybe at my son's unless we trade the coach first.

Need to totally rebuild ours too. Screws securing the strut to the slab ripped out--it's just particle board. Last year I had drilled out the screw holes and glued in wooden plugs but they ripped out too.

Like you, it will have to wait until we get home. Another on the :"To Do" list.

My usual fix for ripped out screws is far simpler, I fill the hole with hardwood toothpicks and Elmers glue. This fix has has held my driver side mirror secure for 5,000 miles.

xctraveler wrote:
Repaired the hinge of the bed lift.

DW lifted the foot of the bed to store the pillows as usual. this was accompanied by a cracking noise and the bed lifted canted. Turns out the nails that held the bed base to the hinge had ripped out.

Moved the mattress out to the living room, removed the gas strut on the broken side, restapled the base to the hinge and hope it will hold. Real fix will require removing the entire bed support and rebuilding the connection. Not to be done on the road this week. Maybe at my son's unless we trade the coach first.

Need to totally rebuild ours too. Screws securing the strut to the slab ripped out--it's just particle board. Last year I had drilled out the screw holes and glued in wooden plugs but they ripped out too.

Like you, it will have to wait until we get home. Another on the :"To Do" list.

Repaired the hinge of the bed lift.

DW lifted the foot of the bed to store the pillows as usual. this was accompanied by a cracking noise and the bed lifted canted. Turns out the nails that held the bed base to the hinge had ripped out.

Moved the mattress out to the living room, removed the gas strut on the broken side, restapled the base to the hinge and hope it will hold. Real fix will require removing the entire bed support and rebuilding the connection. Not to be done on the road this week. Maybe at my son's unless we trade the coach first.

Added some extentions valves to the rear outside duals so that I can more easily check and add to the pressure