stteardrop
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Re: Furnace / AC problem?
I replaced the thermostat in my 5er and discovered that the problem was actually NOT the thermostat. We had typical thermostat problems too, like staying off too long, not shutting off at the set temperature, etc. I have since learned that for most 5er's, the furnace is designed to run off 12 v batteries, so they are much more sensitive to workload and maintenance than house furnaces. Sometimes little things like dust buildup or debris in the unit can cause it to lock up. If your problems are not fixed when you replace the thermostat, I would start by doing very extensive cleaning of the unit/motor and see if that makes a difference.202Views0likes0CommentsRe: considering buying a fifth wheel
One thing that I wished I had done before I purchased was to take a good look at the manufacturer books that come with the unit. I found out after the fact that if I had looked at them carefully, they told me what I could expect as far as how I use the unit and what will happen if I do something that it was not designed to do. For instance, I have an older 1994 5er and the Dometic refrigerator is not to be operated/turned on when the outside temperature is below 55 degrees!! If you plan on being strictly a summertime RVer, its probably not an issue with how it will be operated, but if you want flexibility in time of travel, best check to see what your rig can tolerate by reading the manuals. I think sometimes there are clues in those books, but few spend time looking at them.205Views0likes0CommentsRe: Question concerning condensation
Thanks for your insight and experience! I have watched a ton of videos on the internet about others and what they found when they tackled the insulation. Some had none at all, some had insulation that had lost its position, and some insulation was very thin/slight. I have seen how they did insulation installs themselves, but the problem is they only start the video after the shell has been removed, or when the initial problem was water damage, after the walls were removed. I have very little insight on how they removed those vital parts. It is an older 5th wheel and I want to believe that improving the insulation is possible. I'm trying to find a carpenter in the area to see if they have some suggestions. The local RV place wants me to bring it in, but we spent a lot of hard work and materials on constructing the skirting and making cold-friendly plumbing PVC as the drain pipe on the tanks. Breaking it all down is breaking my heart! LOL It has been a learning experience thus far and definitely not for the faint-hearted, comfort-loving, lazy person. I just really want to believe there is a way to reconstruct this rig into a cold-tolerant living space. ANY warnings or suggestions would be appreciated, no matter how seemingly insignificant.387Views0likes0CommentsRe: Question concerning condensation
I wish they had a separate category for those who winter RV in places like North Dakota!! My 2nd winter here in an RV and ice intrusion is killing me!!! I know that part of the problem is lack of overall insulation. The front of the 5th wheel is the worst. Ice in every bedroom cabinet. I do keep the ceiling vent open slightly. I have to because I run a Mr Heater part of the time. Doesn't help though. I have tried keeping the bedroom closed off, but I think that makes it worse because there is a large gap on the bottom of the sliding door that cannot be covered. I tried 1/4-inch foam board covered with Reflectix and that just allowed the cold to turn the Reflectix into its own condenser. I tried larger foamboard on the inside, but lost all my cabinet space. It did help reduce the ice though. I need to get real insulation under the shell, but I'm afraid to tamper with the shell. Is there anyone who could advise me on how to get the job done, who to hire, can I do it myself by breaking down and replacing the cabinets and walls? So many questions and so little insight. I know I'm asking this 5th wheel to do what it was never designed to do, but I'm in it now. I would like a smaller bed than a queen and the cabinets are too short to hang anything but the shortest shirts. I could use a remodel, so I'm not afraid to break down the cabinets. Just afraid to break down the walls or the shell. I need advice!!387Views0likes0Comments
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Interested in fifth wheels? You've come to the right spot.Feb 28, 202519,007 Posts
