House Battery Problems...
Our new-to-us 2001 Coachmen Leprechaun has an electrical issue that has me stumped. The house battery and converter that it came with where not producing adequate voltage and an RV tech that was working on something else told me to replace both and my problems should go away. I put in a Powermax PM3-55 and a couple good lead-acid batteries. Should have been good, right? While plugged in to shore power (sitting in our driveway) the coach voltage started to drop off and the new batteries were getting discharged. Testing with the batteries disconnected, I get about 12.6 vdc coming out of the converter, while lights, fan and fridge are running. When hooked to the coach load, house voltage drops down to about 11.6 vdc. I traced it back to the fuse panel under the bed hoping to isolate/identify (maybe) a ghost load or high resistance short to ground. Nope. A good 12.6 vdc feed is going to the fuse panel, but when I connect it to the fuse panel, it drops to1 11.6 vdc. Pulling out one fuse at a time, I expected to see which circuit is pulling it down. Again, nope. It stayed low throughout that exercise. So....I'm stumped. Is my brand-new converter bad? And can anyone tell me how a battery is supposed to charge while it is wired in parallel to the system load? Should I change the setting on the converter to a constant voltage instead of the fancy 3-stage charging? Any help would be much appreciated.
How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?
I'm new here, and curious. How many of us in Class C own Dodge B300 incomplete cab/chassis based RV's? I know two others- Steve aka Ripsaw, with a 1977 Brougham, and Leroy aka 1978_Dodge _Delta who owns a 440V8 powered sharp looking 1978 Delta RV. I would like to ask, and offer, help, idea swapping and comparing notes on our particular RV's which are based on the Dodge B300 van chassis. Yeah, I know. These are low tech, podgy old RV's that would be considered "entry level" for folks like me, but I have a deep and abiding respect for the quality of these old "monsters of the open road". And anyone wanting to pick brains, joke about, share notes or just brag about our old A- Dodge-io's are certainly welcome to PM or email me. Between all of us we can form a real good support group, and help each other with problems we know we'll encounter with an older vehicle. Sure. I'd love a new RV. But I'd rather have an older one already paid for, and a lotta great memories. Call me frugal, an old hippie, or whatever you will. I'm proud of my old land yacht. Mopar Madness Manifest in the flesh, Mark aka White Knight P.S. Mine's a '72. Is there an older one out there someone's motorvating in? Maybe even a Travco? W/K
Winni Rialta
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-Winnebago-Rialta-21-Class-B-Volkswagen-Gasoline-Engine-Generator-Sleeps-4-/291410476794?forcerrptr=true&hash=item43d96afefa&item=291410476794&pt=RVs_Campers I saw this unit on Ebay, but not sure of the quality. It has over 90,000 mi on it. I'm a mechanic, but not looking for major issues, so other than checking the drive train, tires, etc., does anyone have experience with this unit or similar model from Winnebago? Any major issues?
Help! 1997 4 Winds 5000 21 Ft. Motorhome
I'm new to this motorhome and it was winterized. I can't find the battery disconnect switch to turn it on! I filled the tankless bleach water to flush it and can't because I have no batteries I had the battery checked and it's fine so I'm told that I probably have to turn the battery disconnect switch on the man I bought it from didn't know it had one but he didn't use it except to drive it home from the person he bought out from.
Importing an RV from Europe to the US
Having lived in Hawaii for the past 4 decades we have always rented RVs when we travel on the "Mainland" US or in Europe. But now we are moving back to California and wish to purchase a B+ RV. In Europe several companies make very nice small (< 6m or ~19.5 ft)coach built RVs with a design that is not available in the US. (see for example the 5.99m Challenger: http://www.challenger-motorhomes.com/low-profiles/194#model or the Chausson 514: http://www.lemondeducampingcar.fr/guide-d-achat/chausson-514-ford.html, both of which are built with the Ford Transit chassis and engine). The units are very compact, but come with a raised bed in the rear which makes room for ample storage beneath that is accessible from the outside. Has anyone ever been able to successfully import one of these small RVs back into the US? The Ford chassis and engine make overcoming the significant USEPA and USDOT import criteria possible, but I'm not so sure about the European wiring and plumbing standards meeting with import restrictions. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has seriously attempted or actually been successful importing an RV from Europe. Mahalo! (thanks)1991 Tioga Electrical Issue
Hi All, I am trying to help my buddy who is borrowing my Tioga and of course experienced problems his very first night of RV'ing! The power went out on the LEFT side of the stove-top range, meaning, the fan and light don't work now. (The stuff on the right of the rangetop are ok where you have the tank metering). The water pump works fine. At the same time, the socket in the loft area went out. We did a visual check of the fuses (and I know we should do a continuity test on them, as well) and they seemed ok, but I would greatly appreciate any suggestions beyond that. Thanks in advance for any help!Which parts for a Dodge F40 chassis?
Hey everyone, I just bought a 1981 Triple E Micmac IV motor home. It's a 26' and a real cream puff in terms of interior and extrior condition. All the appliances work, the interior is clean and in excellent shape, and exterior body looks fantastic. The motorhome has whopping 50,643km on it. I paid $1800 CAD ... the seller was very motivated and I was in the right place at the right time. I truly think this unit was a steal even with the minor mechanical repairs it requires to be passed for safety. It needs very little work to pass a safety, rear axle seals, ball joints, idler arms, and a few marker lights. This is easy work for me as I have the facility, tools, knowledge, and experience. The problem I'm having is sourcing parts. The plate inside the drivers side door pillar states it as being a Dodge F40. The badge on the side of the vehicle states Sportsman. I've read some guys say to cross reference with an MB400, MB300, or B300. I'm totally confused here and want to order the right parts once. What vehicle do you use to source parts from? The B300?
Holiday Rambler Atlantis
Looking at a 31ft HR Atlantis on a E450 V10. After doing a search on the forum, I found very few hit to read for this model. Any of you have this rig? If so how do you like it? I did a few searches on the internet and came up with a few very low mile rigs for sale. Makes me wonder if they are a bear to drive creating the low miles. Any input is appreciated.'Freedom Express' model Class C. Owners ???
Greetings. I have a 2008 Coachman Freedom Express 21 QB Model. I absolutely LOVE the layout of the inside ---- very well engineered allowing a HUGE cargo space from the outside : 103 cu. ft. Wish the toilet was easier to sit on for us 6'3" Guys...lol... You sort of have to contort to take care of Business. Ive had very little go wrong with this RV and find it a pleasure to drive. Ive used it over some pretty rough terrain including big sharp stones in the western Arizona Desert . What pluses and minuses have you got if you own a Freedom Express ? Any mechanical troubles with the engine or Coach ??? Thanks for sharing. Dave in N.W. Florida.
Cooper vs Michelin
Hello, I'm looking for input on Cooper Discoverer HT3 tires for my 31' class c on a Ford E450 chassis. I currently run Michelin LTX MS tires on my RV which I put on in 2013. I've recently had both inner dually tires blow out, on two separate occasions. It's time to replace all the tires. I replaced one of the inner tires with a Michelin Defender LTX M/S and the other inner with a Cooper Discoverer HT3 tire. I wasn't able to get a Michelin so I replaced it with a Cooper. I like the performance and handling of the Michelins and I got 16k miles out of them. The Michelins are $80 more per tire over the Coopers. Are the Michelin tires worth the extra money? I didn't come anywhere near the 50k treadwear warranty on the Michelins so milage isn't an issue. My main concern is whether the Coopers will handle as well as the Michelins. Thanks.