dkmthecook
Explorer
Joined 11 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: Brand new Class C owner and RVer
Actually the leaks are fixed. There was one in the front right corner of the cab over (the one that ruined the bed area). I patched that and put self leveling stuff on it. The side wall is fine. I found all my leaks by sealing all the windows, vents and drains and setting a fog machine inside. Then I pumped air in with a compressor through the water mains inlet. I opened the bypass cap. The positive pressure made the fog come out the leaks. One around the antenna and one the good one in the front. A little one at the back window which I need to caulk. The rubber seals around the window have shrunk exposing one corner. I don't know if I will replace it or just caulk it with black outdoor goo.580Views0likes0CommentsRe: Brand new Class C owner and RVer
Once I got it all ripped out I bought 1/2 inch foam, 1/2 inch plywood and contact glue. I cut the pieces of foam and glued them to the plastic base over the cab. I had to cut the 4/8 sheet of plywood in 4 pieces so I could get it in my car so I held the pieces together with repair pieces (metal squares with 4 holes, one at each corner). Then I screwed the wood through foam with 1 1/4 inch screws all around the sheet metal of the roof of what used to be the cab of the van. I still need to put on the fake wood laminate and staple down the wrap around so it looks good but it is solid and much better built than it was when it was new.580Views0likes0CommentsRe: Brand new Class C owner and RVer
Well, last weekend was a joy. I started tearing out the bunk over the cab and found out that the entire thing was rotted out. It took me several hours to tear out all the junk all the way down to the plastic shell then an hour more to get all the glue off the deck. That took up Saturday so I spent the night in the RV and on Sunday I went to the local home improvement store and bought the 1/2" Styrofoam and 1/2" plywood and glue to replace it all, about $50. The project went well and all is good now but I still need to cover the plywood with something that looks good. I also found a little leak around the old TV antenna and instead of fixing the antenna I just used the auto leveling goop and made the antenna unusable. I got an inside one that works quite well. Also I found that the mount for the small awning over the big window had come loose. The screws that held it in were just the self tapping sheet metal type and they were screwed into the vinyl siding only. I took it apart and replaced the screws with umbrella bolts and sealed it up with the non leveling goop. That thing isn't falling out any time soon.. By then it was time to go home and go to bed. All in all a good weekend of fixup580Views0likes0CommentsRe: Brand new Class C owner and RVer
Thank you all for the suggestions and good wishes. I have the MH being checked out now by my mechanic for the engine stuff and am reading, reading, reading on all the other things I need to check. Of course since she is used I have some deep cleaning to do also but after my first short trip I can tell you that she is not in bad shape and will be just fine for my retirement.580Views0likes0CommentsRe: Brand new Class C owner and RVer
OK. I have read all the posts and done some searching on line as well as checked with Firestone. It looks like I will be putting new sneakers on Gwendolyn as soon as I can afford it, about $1200 total. On the other hand I decided to risk it and drove to a nice RV park close to home, Autumn Lakes, about 30 miles, and spent Saturday night. I think I have discovered one of those things I wish I had always been doing. I believe even my prissy wife would have loved this life and this RV. This trip was supposed to be a shakedown cruise and I did find out several things. First, the people here are just wonderful. The guy next to me showed me several things I did not know like how to correctly put up my awning. He also lent me a water hose. I had not thought of that. One of the other things I learned is I need a water pressure regulator. I don't know if the pressure here is too high or not but Gwen leaks in several places. It looks like I need to replace a few connecting hoses underneath. Also the valve on the gray water tank does not close all the way. The handle won't go all the way in to the seat. Other than that I have to say my first experience RVing was a wonderful experience.580Views0likes0CommentsRe: Brand new Class C owner and RVer
Ok. I checked the tires. They are 8.00 16.5 load D rated. All of them are 4x05 so they are about 9 years old. Kind of on the edge of usefulness I guess. The owner said they had been covered, I do have the covers, for as long as he has had it but that was only about 2 years. I looked around and I can get cheap ones for $103, better ones for $119 and good ones for $149. On another note I found the tube used to empty the tanks stowed in the bumper. It is not in good shape so it needs replaced. Is the connector from hose to discharge outlet some sort of standard. Mine is a twist on to little ears on the discharge outlet. Sorry to ask such novice questions but as one response said, learn, learn, learn. I have done a little more checking and finding 8.00 16.5 tires is not that easy. I have seen some suggestions that say changing out the rims to 16 inch but then I have also seen some people say not to do that. Any suggestions?230Views0likes0CommentsRe: Brand new Class C owner and RVer
I have checked the tires pretty thoroughly and there is no sign of dry rot or anything else. I am somewhat of a gearhead and I tried to check out everything I could before I bought it. The 350 motor is in good shape and since it does have 63000 miles on it I figure it is pretty well worn in. A 350 is an easy motor to work on and that was one of my prerequisites since I will be doing all the work on this myself.230Views0likes0Comments
Groups
Motorhome Group
Join in here to discuss all things motorhomes.Jan 20, 202538,705 Posts
