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RE: removing bad battery switch
"Also, be carfull of the polarity, of the wiring, the positive wire (RED +), and the negative wire (BLACK -), in relation to the posts on the battery and the ground negative cable (black -). Depending on the year and make, an inverted battery can burn control units, as in computer, and once you let the smoke out, you can't put it back in."
Good advice, but you also should identify and tag each wire before disconnecting! I have seen RV wiring where I guess they ran out of red wire, and used black wire for positive connections! So never ever ASSUME!~ Take your time, you are not being paid piece work so make sure of everything you do and do it one step at a time, that way when finished it will be right, no replacing things that went "BAD".
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Coach-man
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05/16/12 01:24pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Build Quality
That sort of thing was going on before F-R bought Coachmen, but in terms of how they do things, the two companies were probably a pretty good fit. My close inspection of details like that, in a hundred or more TTs, C's, and A-gassers when I was shopping in 2003-2004 helped my shorten my list of companies whose RVS I wanted to look at.
It is better to be making those kinds of inspections before you buy, rather than after.
Again, yes it is true that there are other units out there with a better build quality, but at what price? I bought my Coachmen at a "good" price and had to pay $15 and an hour of time to get things where I think they should be! So am I better of???
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Coach-man
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05/14/12 03:56pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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Build Quality
Just wanted to vent! I have long purchased Coachmen RV's, and I am aware that they are AKA "The Chevrolet of RV's". Which is to say a good value for what you pay, but by no means the top end! I was killing time and checked my house batteries, and started noticing the cables seemed wrong, there are two grommets in the battery box for the cables to run through, my cables were not run thru them but were about 6" to short and run through the side of the case in a LARGE hole. I went purchased longer cables and re ran them, the negative pulled right out of the connector, (crimped not soldered ). Not a good ground!! All is well with about $15 worth of parts and 1 hour, including going to the store! My point is they could have done it right at the factory with 1/10 the time and parts as I spent! Yes I could have spent anywhere from $15K to $100K more for the RV, but I still don't know that it would be "perfect" and for $15????
Thats my rant and I am sticking with it!
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Coach-man
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05/13/12 10:25am |
Class C Motorhomes
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Mothers Day
Happy Mothers Day!
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Coach-man
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05/13/12 10:16am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: How do I check house batteries?
All good suggestions, but also you should periodically check the water level in the batteries by removing the caps and looking to see if the level is up to the "ring" inside. (Use eye protection, and wash your hands and/or use rubber gloves as what is in the battery is acid!). If you need to add water use only DISTILLED water, not tap water or just any old bottled water, DISTILLED water. If your charging equipment is up to date and operating correctly, the battery will be charged, and will not use much water. If the battery uses to much water then you are overcharging it! This will shorten its life. Have the charger checked, on some chargers you can change the type of charge depending on what type of battery you have.
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Coach-man
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05/08/12 01:41pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: DRIVING ME NUTS!
Your talking about the start battery correct? You have a red, positive cable from your starter on the engine trace it to see where it goes, that will be your start battery!
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Coach-man
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05/07/12 02:40pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Smoked The Converter
Except for some HIGH end all electric RV's. ALL RV's either 30 amp or 50 amp are 120 volts! That is your first mistake. Hopefully it was only the converter. In the future get someone who knows what they are doing, even some licensed electricians make mistakes. (Ever had a problem at an RV park with the electrical??) 50 AMP service is in reality two 50 amp 120 volt circuits, usually at different phases! Nothing to fool around with, 240 plus faulty ground equals electrocution!!!
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Coach-man
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05/05/12 03:10pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: better MPG ?
Also, keep your foot off the gas! Driving at 55 will save you plenty vs going 65!!! Remember the joy is in the journey, not the destination! Relax slow down "smell the roses" and you will be better off! Of course tune up's and tire pressure will also help. Another thing, what are you hauling? If you have "extra" junk that is rarely used then keep that stuff home! How much fresh water do you take with you? Every gallon weighs almost 8 lbs, that can add up to a lot of extra weight!
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Coach-man
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05/04/12 02:23pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Chassis Battery Recommendation
If you need to replace the chassis battery, consider buying a Optima battery. *They are AGM batteries and you never have to add water and they last a long time! My 2003 Wrangler I installed an optima and when I traded it for a 2009 Wrangler I was tempted to keep the optima! I am not sold on the optima's for house batteries but for you chassis battery hands down optima!! Yes they are a little more expensive too purchase than a regular lead acid battery but if you figure the cost over the life of the battery the optima's are much less expensive!
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Coach-man
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05/02/12 02:19pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Changed battery now radio won't work
It lost its security code. Need to reenter the code.
X2!!!
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Coach-man
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04/30/12 01:54pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: rodent control with bounce sheets?
I have always heard that the smell of a cat will repel mice. When we travel I always bring the cat, no mice! And no elephants either so I guess it works!!
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Coach-man
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04/23/12 02:22pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Do all RV's pull to the right?
Thanks for all the great responses. I really felt like they were trying to hand me a line, and based on what everyone has said, they were.
I will say that Lazy Day's did a nice job on my tires and I'm very happy with that. If they had put a little more time into the alignment, my experience would have been really great.
So it looks like I will have to take it to either a Mercedes or Freightliner dealer for the alignment. The Mercedes rep that I called recommended that. I wonder how much that will cost?
If I may suggest Ocala Freightlinner just off I-75. They even have a small RV Park in case you have to overnight. Excellant shop with experianced mechanics!
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Coach-man
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04/22/12 11:12am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Rate Your Sprinter-based Rig!
We purchased the Coachmen Prisim in November. Fit and finish as well as most quality issues are good to excellent. The ride is good, I think earlier models had a lot of body sway at low speed, I think they have fixed that. Easy to drive on local roads as well as on the highway. Plenty of storage, and space for the two of us is perfect. At 14 MPG it is a little on the low side from what I was expecting, but going from a 8 MPG Class A it is great. I wish the tank were a little bigger, 300 miles is the best I can expect from a fill up, or maybe I am used to the 575 miles with the Class A, of course 100 gallons vs 20 gallons of fuel does make a difference! Over all floor plan handling ride comfort space are good.
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Coach-man
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04/22/12 11:04am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Do all RV's pull to the right?
LOL! That's what I said. I was very pleased with their other work. I don't understand why they would say something like that and ruin my whole experience with them along with their reputation.
Dave - I have considered contacting Dodge. I haven't found anything similar online when I research Sprinter issues.
Why would you contact Dodge? Why not Chevy or Ford?? Since non of these companies have anything to do with Sprinter calling any would give you the same results! Sprinter is sold and serviced by Freightliner! If you are going to call anyone call Freightliner.
My Prisim runs straight and true no pull left or right! Anyone telling you different is just whistling Dixie!
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Coach-man
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04/20/12 02:38pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Battery Comparison
Marine Batteries are basically a deep cycle start battery! In other words they have the bad characteristics of both a start battery and a deep cycle! I would stay away from using Marine batteries in any RV situation. Number Two, if it has Cold Cranking Amps in any part of its requirements it is NOT a Deep Cycle Battery! If you use AGM type batteries check your charging system to make sure it is compatible.
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Coach-man
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04/20/12 02:28pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: First Prisim Problem
Coax cables are notorious for not being crimped correctly. When you move the cable and the signal changes tells me that the connector is the culprit. Disconnect the cable from the tv and then lightly pull on the cable while holding the connector. Chances are, they will disconnect from each other. You'll need to then re-crimpt the connector back onto the cable. You can get the crimp tools at Home Depot or Lowes.
Hope this helps
Ron
I agree, but it is not the end connected to the TV, it is in the other direction! Hence how do I get to the other end???
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Coach-man
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04/19/12 02:35pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Advice on buying an rv
Pay close attention to the floor plan.
THINK! It may be great when you walk into it, but if you are 50 miles form home, and it rains for three days straight, what will you think then?
IF the damaged rig was repaired by a competent shop (I would want references to prove their competency), I wouldn't be afraid of it. I might want a good warranty on the repair work done, though. If they aren't willing to warrant their work, they probably didn't do a good enough job!
After 10 years as owners of several RV's I can not agree more! YOU and You alone will determine what is best for you depending on what you are using the RV for! Are you planing to sell your home and live in the RV?, are you retired and planning on long trips away from home in the RV?, or are you going to use it on weekends and vacations??? That is a start on what type of RV and the floor plan you need/want! Some of the Tech stuff may or may not matter, but do you have enough room for your clothes? can you cook dinner and be comfortable in the RV? That will be your determining factor because once you purchase the RV you can not change the floor plan! My first RV was a used Class C that was several years old, it seemed to work for me and I did not have a fortune tied up in it so if it did not work out I was still ok! Good luck and welcome!
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Coach-man
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04/19/12 02:33pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Batteries - Charging - Electrical - Etc.
Optima's only look cool. Functionally they're lousy.
I had a 2003 Jeep Wrangler, after 1 1/2 years the battery that came with the Jeep died! I replaced it with an Optima, in 2009 I traded the Wrangler for a newer model, I almost asked if we could swap the batteries giving me the 5 year old Optima and they could keep the brand new one! They are excellent batteries! They are gell Cell Batteries so "normal chargers may not be right for them, but they are an excellent battery! Don't let anyone tell you different! Your problem was you thought the Gen-Set charged the Optima, but only the short time you ran the engine was it charging, and it still was able to carry you until it went dead, (and as pointed out by someone else, running the furnace creates an excessive drain on both batteries and propane!
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Coach-man
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04/19/12 02:23pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: First Prisim Problem
Who builds this coach? Can you get a Wiring Diagram from the Manufacturer? Jayco furnished ours, but I haven't looked to see if the TV cabling is included.
Meanwhile, can you find the Antenna Panel? Most of the Winegard ones have a switch, a cable connector, and a 12VDC "lighter" outlet. Maybe a cable loose or off at the back of it?
Failing a diagram, can you post a sketch or word picture of what's where and what's working/not?
There is no switch, when you set up the TV you are either on "air" or "cable" so it is all in the TV. You also can change the input to "AV1" which will allow you to view DVD's. The "power switch" for the antenna is up and to the left of the door, when I pull on the cable from the outside it seems that the connection is within 18" to 2 feet of it going into the RV. But when I look inside, this would be under the sink, there is no obvious panel for a connection. There are screws up at the power switch but that seems to be a long way from the TV, about 5 feet going across and the up and over the door. I don't want to take the whole thing apart.
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Coach-man
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04/18/12 01:59pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: First Prisim Problem
Lets bring this to the front again, there should be someone who has experience with this!
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Coach-man
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04/17/12 03:11pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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