vfrmarc
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Re: Rust Around Basement Doors on Power Bridge Chassis
I didn't crawl underneath the coach to give it an overall look. I have gone under my coach on a creeper for maintenance and did not notice anywhere near as much rust and we live in the heart of the rust belt. My coach is a fairly simple 34 foot Class A on a F53 Chassis. At this point it is all for moot as they offered such an insulting amount on trade-in value that it won't happen. They recently lowered the price of the 2014 by $20,000.00 so they may have already factored its less then "average" condition into the price. Time to look in a different direction.236Views0likes0CommentsRust Around Basement Doors on Power Bridge Chassis
Looking at trading my 2013 Gasser with trailer style basement doors for a 2014 Diesel Pusher on a Power Bridge Chassis. When examining the basements noticed lots of surface rust near the bottom hinges on almost all the basement swing doors. My current coach doesn't have that issue, just wondering if it is a paint touch up maintenance issue or a sign of lots of salty road driving. The areas in question are exposed to mother nature the basements themselves have good seals and look fine. Coach has less then 20K miles on it. The jacks and springs also look real rusty.1.4KViews0likes4CommentsRe: Class A Gassers and The General Quality of Products
Great replies, I knew this would spark opinions and experiences. I thought we would stick with the 5th Wheel path, but spending the winter (our first) in Florida opened my eyes a bit. Watching others with fairly new and expensive fivers have problems and manufacturers ignoring them. The last straw for me was one of the holding tanks in a 2016 $80-100K fiver fall out on the ground and local shops unwilling to come to park to deal with it because manufacturer won't reimburse was a wake up call. We were going to upgrade our 5th Wheel and truck, but after watching these owners deal with quality issues plus the need for me to spend $60+K on a truck and probably that much on a 5th wheel I reset my sights back to a Class A. Wife and I also realized that as true "new retirees" we have some traveling to do and a Class A is just easier to get around with, boondocking, Walmarting and just being more spontaneous at when and where we spend the night. In my Class A search I have noticed that Holiday Rambler, Georgetown, Jayco seemed to have upped their quality and that is why I started this thread, to get other opinions.346Views0likes0CommentsClass A Gassers and The General Quality of Products
Alright, this could be a loaded question. We are selling our 5th wheel and coming back to a Class A. Haven't purchased yet, still looking will be a gasser this time. My question is we had a Tiffin before (FRED). Not perfect, but basically a good quality motor home. I have been limiting myself to considering Tiffin, Newmar and Winnebago. But wondering if I should give the resurrected manufacturers and the older poorer quality manufacturers a good look this time? Looking for something with newer Ford V10 w/6spd tranny.8.4KViews0likes27CommentsRe: Poll: How many years have your 6v batteries lasted?
Just starting their sixth year probably replace next spring. Just replaced the starting batteries after nursing them along these last four months. They almost failed to start the diesel when breaking camp last Sunday. Has at least one bad cell. Upset DW a bit when I wouldn't stop on the way home for shopping as I was afraid she wouldn't start again. Hearing the motor start in two seconds versus listening to the starter crank slower and slower before finally starting is very comforting.253Views0likes0CommentsRe: A Cautionary Tale for Ford Fusion Owners
Dakzuki wrote: Nice to know that Ford (corporate) stepped up and did the right thing. They did and because of the confusion surrounding what is needed to tow this model (I think Ford changed the rules on the TSB) we will no longer tow it. Last fall we purchased a 2012 GMC Canyon Crewcab 4x4 with a selectable neutral in the transfer case. I just hadn't outfitted it for towing yet, but now I will. Ford will still guarantee the replacement transmission for towing but we are not going to take a chance. Interestingly the new 2013 Fusions are rated for towing but I don't know what the requirements are. Maybe they changed the transmission. I do know they raised the towing speed to 70mph on it.331Views0likes0CommentsRe: A Cautionary Tale for Ford Fusion Owners
vfrmarc wrote: Corkey05 wrote: The troubling part is you bought the vehicle because it is (was) towable. I feel for what has happened to you. I sure would put the dealer to task and ask for them to "Show me" the secret TSB. I've been the victim of tongue & check from dealers, but no more. It's impossible to make a good decision from conversation that may or may not be anything close to correct unless I see it in writing. After getting off the phone with the area manager for Ford the Operable word here is "set for towing". Apparently when not towing Ford said you must raise the fluid (I never heard of that before and never had it raised). No other dealer ever gave me any issue about keeping it low. I must have been stupid for not understanding the implication of towing/not towing meant to perform a fluid level change that is difficult to do every time - duh! Just go off phone with Ford corporate, bottom line is a new transmission NO CHARGE! :) I am happy, happy, happy (apologies to Duck Dynasty)331Views0likes0CommentsRe: A Cautionary Tale for Ford Fusion Owners
Corkey05 wrote: The troubling part is you bought the vehicle because it is (was) towable. I feel for what has happened to you. I sure would put the dealer to task and ask for them to "Show me" the secret TSB. I've been the victim of tongue & check from dealers, but no more. It's impossible to make a good decision from conversation that may or may not be anything close to correct unless I see it in writing. After getting off the phone with the area manager for Ford the Operable word here is "set for towing". Apparently when not towing Ford said you must raise the fluid (I never heard of that before and never had it raised). No other dealer ever gave me any issue about keeping it low. I must have been stupid for not understanding the implication of towing/not towing meant to perform a fluid level change that is difficult to do every time - duh!331Views0likes0CommentsA Cautionary Tale for Ford Fusion Owners
This is a cautionary tale about towing a Ford Fusion (2010) and probably applies to any 2010,2011 Ford Escape also. My 2010 Fusion sits in at a Ford dealer 100 miles from home with a toasted transmission. This is the very same car that has 10,000 trouble free towing miles on it plus another 60,000 or normal driving. My problem started when we took it in just before the power train warranty ran out to have a rough shifting concern looked at. They found something and replaced/rebuilt the valve body and said we were good togo. Now we told them we towed and the fluid level needed to be left lower per Ford's 2009 TSB. They said no problem the levels are set correctly. Last week as we started across Ontario (where the speed limit is 63) we were flagged over that our car was smoking. Sure enough the tranny boiled out all of its fluid. We took it to the closest US Ford dealer and there it sits. When the original repairing Ford dealer was contacted by us they were already in contact with the dealer where the car was left. The repairing Service Manager was all about the fact that they set the fluid level at Ford's “normal” level they would never let a vehicle leave with that set incorrectly? To which I said WTF, Ford's TSB about lowering it doesn't apply? He stated that there is a new TSB about raising it when not towing (I've never heard of this) and how do you manage that? I bring this topic out because I was a firm believer in this car/transmission as a good towing option, but Ford has now convinced me otherwise. Too many issues here. We may have to pay for the transmission, I am appealing about the secret TSB I had no knowledge of and the dealers failure to inform me. No matter what I will never tow this car again.3.2KViews0likes8Comments
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