Unplanned Maintenance

memtb wrote:
We’ve got an older Class C, which has seen minimal use.....considering age! With our summer travels being minimized this year, we decided to use the motor home for our tri-monthly shopping trip! Figuring that it needs some fresh fuel, and a little exercise for the driveline and the ac.

While in the store, we left the generator running for ac power....leaving the dogs camping out! We returned in about an hour, with the generator “not” running, and the interior getting warm A longer period of time or in an extremely hot region.... this could have been ugly! We have a fairly large project planned for our little class c this summer ( 4 panel solar system) but, generator repairs were “not” on the list!

Once home, and trying to diagnose the problem.....the generator would start, run for a short while, then die! So, I started with the least expensive, easiest to replace and most likely culprit....the fuel filter. Problem Solved!!

This long diatribe is primarily a bit of advice. A very simple thing (fuel filter) could cause you much discomfort and perhaps much worse will on the road. Changing your filter prior to starting your trip could save you some headaches. I recommend having a spare ( cheap, light, small) filter. As much fuel that we go through when on a trip, and never being certain about the quality of every fuel purchase.....a spare filter may save you some heartache!

As many spare parts and tools that we carry ......we didn’t have this little item! memtb

If your generator is an Onan unit, where is it's fuel filter located?

We sometimes for a few hours in warm weather leave our Class C motorhome with our people-dog inside and the generator and A/C running. However as backups, we keep the roof vents open and the roof vent fan (set on high) in one of them pulling outside air through the length of the the motorhome. In addition, we leave a powerful 12V fan sitting on the floor aimed at the dog in her playpen so as to have air blowing right at her. This means that if the generator or A/C should fail, at least the interior air gets about no hotter than the outside air temperature and the dog has a blast of air directly on her at all times. FWIW regarding the heat-gain of our Class C in warm weather - the coach and cab are white color.

P.S.: Once when parked way out there along the Colorado river in Arizona we came back to the RV and the A/C had quit with our people-dog inside. Luckily she was just fine (i.e. no tongue hanging out) - due to the backup fans.