Holiday Rambler Scepter 42 2008

CA Traveler wrote:
Was that $4K for just the DPF or was there other work?

My Scepter is side radiator and hydraulic fan and his is likely the same.

That was for the filter, labor, and a couple of probes. It had been trying to regen but was acting strange when it finally went into the limp mode. Of course heading up a hill just ten miles from Cummins. I had to have it towed. That was probably $600 but the good folks at Coachnet took great care of me.

This place can reprogram your ECM to delete the DPF, send them yours, get yours back with the new program, saw off and replace the exhaust system. Done. They can also reprogram for more power at the same time.

If I was looking down the barrel of $4k to replace the DPF, this is the way I'd go.

So far, other than some operator error, mine has been fine.

A few years ago, mine wanted to regen just as I was driving to the storage lot for the winter. I went ahead and parked it. Fast forward to spring, It went into limp mode on the way home from the storage lot. Limped it to cummins, The scanned it, said fuel pressure was low, replaced both fuel filters, did a "forced regen" and everything has been fine since.

But, when I see that regen light come on, I get on the highway, crank her up to 70, and just drive until the light goes out.

CA Traveler wrote:

Flyjay wrote:
What are the issues with the DPF filter? The unit does have one.

I thought it was good for 150K miles or so.

No issues with mine so far at 42K miles. It regens periodically and helps to produce a very clean exhaust.

But newer engines have more equipment that can fail.

They are supposed to be good for 150,000+ miles. I am at five years and 122,000 miles and started having major issues. The DPF clogged and it backed up the exhaust and created major issues with the EGR. Melted hoses, melted wire harnesses, exhaust pipes with holes from back pressure and $6000 later, along with three months out of the mandated federal emissions warranty, its as good as new.

FYI, for about an hour of labor to remove the exhaust, you can have the DPF checked pretty easily. If it needs a cleaning, that can be done for about $500 or $600 and have it all put back together. If I had known, I would have paid the labor and the cleaning charge and wrote it off as preventative maintenance!!!! Live and learn.

How did you protect the circuit board?

My front electrical bay has a large and expensive printed circuit board with no protection which I solved.

I like the idea of storing hook up stuff in the elec bay. I was wondering what to do about that. My journey has a convenient locker in the front drivers side that I use for tools, etc.

BTW With the tag and side radiator there is no storage towards the back. I use the big fuel door and keep fueling stuff like gloves next to the water tank. Also built an easily removable shelf that also protects the electronics in the front DS locker and store all hookup stuff there. ie Easy to access regardless of slide outs.

Flyjay wrote:
What are the issues with the DPF filter? The unit does have one.

Flyjay, in 7.5 yrs. and nearly 70,000 miles, we didn't have any issues at all with our DPF. It would go through a regen process once about every 8k-10k miles. A light on the dash would illuminate to let me know it was happening.

Obviously, with any piece of equipment, something could happen. We had no issues with ours and I hope that the new owners have smooth sailing too.

MM.

Flyjay wrote:
What are the issues with the DPF filter? The unit does have one.

I thought it was good for 150K miles or so.

No issues with mine so far at 42K miles. It regens periodically and helps to produce a very clean exhaust.

But newer engines have more equipment that can fail.