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RE: 87 Dolphin by national
We also have a 1996 Motor home but we opted to replace the 15 year old roof entirely. The EDPM only has a 15 year life expectancy in mobile applications and 20 year life in Stationary applications.
We also own a 5th wheel which is seven years old and our roof was stained but otherwise in good condition. We opted for the Dicor Roof Renew kit for that roof because we reasoned that the newer roof would have a better chance of a long service life than a 15 yeat old one. The 2 part Dicor system works by first making the roofing material sticky, with the cleaner / activator so the "part II" Acrylic coating actually bonds to the EDPM material. It made a big difference in cooling during the latter half of the summer.
BTW, make sure you buy the right coating for your situation Dicor coatings in the blue can are for non-EDPM roof materials such as Fiberglass, of Aluminum. coatings in the tan or peach labeled cans is for EDPM roofs and is the same color as the label on the "part I" cleaner activator.
Our neighbor thought it was such an improvement he had the same group on teenagers do his roof too.
Material costs were $70/ gallon for the coating and $25 /quart for the cleaner activator. You'll need two quarts and 3 to 4 gallons of coating, plus plastic sheeting, tape and typical paint supples.
As for vents when you replace them consider adding an Air Maxx or other type cover. These will reduce the UV damage to your new vents, and add a little more protect from falling objects which might crack the plastic vent.
If you end up replacing the rear view camera setup, you can buy a wireless unit for Amazon. com. There are two models from PEAK which sell for $50 to $80 depending on the monitor screen size and both work great. We have the smaller one in our motor home, and my wife opted for the bigger one in her Chevy Avalanche. Our rig is 34 ft long which is just inside the range of the wireless transmitter.
Other on the thread have addressed the Antenna issue.
Unless for batteries are physically damaged you might tried a product called "Solder It" from JC Whitney. We've use it with several golf cart batteries and gotten 2 or 3 additional years use out of them. Product has an unlimited shelf life and I've yet to find a dead wet cell battery that wouldn't recharge using this stuff.
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West Coast FT
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11/23/11 11:23am |
Class A Motorhomes
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A&E Patty O'room
I've got a 1996 Damon Intruder 325b. I've been thinking about adding one of those Patty O'room for a couple of years. I kinda of got talked out of the idea, because my awning ends right over the rear wheel well, and I've been told its is difficult to get the coach side piece to fit correcting in that situation.
I guess the other option would be to buy a longer Awning and replace my existing one, but adding 2 feet of awning moved the arms right over the bedroom window, Which would not work to well either.
the only other options I can think of are to either fabric a piece of material to fill the wheel well, or but a zipper between the motor home side piece and Patty O'room end wall on that side.
Not sure which idea makes more sense.
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West Coast FT
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11/23/11 10:47am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: We went backwards but loving it!
I've been quietly wondering if the entire RV industry isn't in a downsizing mode for a couple of years now. I see lots of the bigger older motor homes and fifth wheels on dealers lots but its the smaller and gas powered units which seem to turnover in the dealers lots more frequently.
Best wishes on the new motor home.
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West Coast FT
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11/23/11 10:34am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: What To / Not To Buy
Well I don't have any experience with older Chevy or Dodge motor homes, but mine is a 1996 Ford F53 model. We spend, not invested, $1,000 on repairs and updates in the nearly 4 years we owned it but We're not making payments on a newer model. We knew from the get go that we would basically be rebuilding a 15 year ago unit, and that is/ was less expensive than buying a new unit and paying interest. As you've probably researched already, buy a unit which is leak free and clean, everything should be in working order at the time of purchase. That actually speaks volumes as to how the motor home was maintained by the prior owners.
Sellers who don't take the time to fix problems often dump those units once they tire of them. Whereas, someone who has kept everything working is selling do to a need to downside, or they outgrown the unit. Anyone, looking at a class A as an investment, does not understand the concept of investing. We don't buy them cause they are cheap or save us money in some other area of our lives, we buy them because they fill a need.
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West Coast FT
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11/23/11 10:23am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: tow vehicles
Looked into towing with our 07'Grand Marquis. Unlike most cars the GM still has the sub frames like its 1970's counterparts. But here's the rub. Rear end is a 2.73 ratio which is really to small for towing, but great for MPG. If possible upgrade to a later Model Mustang rear end which is probably in the 3.25 to 3.52 ratio range. TCM, (that's transmission control module), will need to be re-program with new shift points and the ECU or at least the VSS response codes will need to be updated. Otherwise the Merc is a great platform for up to 10K trailers. You'll need new shocks and probably need rear air leveling if not already equipment with it. And those standard touring tires got to go. Serious towing means the brakes will need more frquent change outs. If I remember correctly they are ceramic performance so they are up to the task, but the load will wear them down in half the time of normal.
As always, your not going to win any races up the hills, but you'll be fine.
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West Coast FT
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08/05/11 03:02pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Can a hole in my air tank be repaired?
Actually a friend came up with a novel solution to this issue about a year ago. I had a burned out electric mini air compressor and his Air brake tank was rusted out. We stripped the compressor down and fabricated slightly larger mounting straps. His orginal tank was 1.5 gallon mine was 2. We transfer hardware from old to new tank with a couple of reducer adapters. Rerouted one brake line and he had working brakes again. Since the compressor tank was stamped with the same pressure rating.It was a straight forward change out.
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West Coast FT
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08/05/11 01:48pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Interesting Black Tank Fix
Got to agree with Wireman on this. The proposed fix is temporary, real fix is a wedge or series of shims.
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West Coast FT
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08/05/11 01:28pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Pesky leaking overflow bottle
Based on experience I would not go with the glue route. The crack is a symptom of UV damage. I just replaced my overflow tank after trying to mend it with a Dorman products fiberglass and epoxy kit. The patch failed not because I used it incorrectly but because I didn't sand enough off to get through the UV damage layers and with heat and time the layers separated from the tank and started more leakage.
Order a new one from NapaOnline. It will probably be a Dorman products part and about half the cost of going back to Workhorse Chassis. Search for parts by VIN number on the NAPA site to insure getting the right part. Once you have the Dorman part number you can shop that part number through goggle and usually find it cheaper on Amazon or Ebay. If that's too much work pony up the few extra dollars and buy it from NAPA.
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West Coast FT
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08/05/11 01:20pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Thousand Trails, Florence Oregon @@@@@
Actually, before everyone gets up in arms...... This actually a novel way to implement a post 9/11 security measure. The park must have an evac plan and a way to head count people. So if you paid $5 to visit more than likely you're going to stop on the way out to collect that $5. Yes if you are back out by 5:00 P.M. they are suppose to refund that $5. After, 5 P.M. the security measure changes so they don't refund the money. If it we're $1 or less most people would not checkout and the head count would be way off.
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West Coast FT
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08/05/11 01:06pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Private RV Parks
Pauly, What happen is that many are realizing that Real estate, particular residental RE was not quite the investment they imagined it would be. They thought if I spend 250K and the house will sell for more than 250K+ when I sell it. They ignored that taxes, maint., HOA or other items would continue to increase even though their home was not.
All non liquid investments have a downside and must folks are tired of paying the price for a poor initial decision.
BTW the current Dept of Housing estimates are that home ownership will drop by 4% to 11% by 2018 from the 2008 high. I consider that "Right Sizing" for the country as a whole.
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West Coast FT
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08/01/11 12:10pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Are radios now part of the computer?
Actually, its all embedded now, The ECU has a section called "VTP" Its a theft protection registry in the computer. Basically all devices which interface thru the CAN network are registered into the ECU. If a device is replaced it must be re-registered with the ECU or it will be disabled by the ECU after the key is turned to the start position.
On some vehicles this gets as far down into components as fuel pumps and ignition coils, In others, changing out the engine will cause it to kick in. All DATA website has lots of information on the topic.
The goal is to stop the re-circulation of stolen parts.
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West Coast FT
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07/29/11 03:20pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Dometic Refrigetor
You know when someone preferences their response as sounding ridiculous we all get skeptical, but here goes.
Three years ago my dometic model 2682 or 2862 was running into the same problem. About a month after it started, my gray colored cooling unit ruptured and failed. This past week the same exact thing happened to my neighbor of the same dometic model.
So far as I can tell, its the gray painted cooling units and not the black colored units that have this problem. So If you are replacing yours do not get the gray painted cooling unit.
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West Coast FT
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07/29/11 02:57pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Size Matters
34't0 35' is about the max for the California state parks that I've used in the Bay Area. California county parks can be a squeeze at 34'. Only the brave will try Yosemite National Park at over 30' in season, but there are KOA parks just out side the park that will handle 40'+ I suspect the other older National Parks have a similar situation.
To be accurate, there are tour buses and other large vehicle which roam the park roads of Yosemite, but they're not trying to fit into a campsite
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West Coast FT
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07/29/11 12:25pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Cummins ISC 360 dies while doing 70 mph.
Bad ground! Bad,bad, bad ground.
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West Coast FT
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07/26/11 03:19pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Dead Inverter
I've got a freedom Combi charger\inverter in storage that I'm not going to use. I think its a freedom Combi 25 and it tested good at Holister RV before I put it in storage. PM me if you are interested.
edit I just notice your signiture. the guy I bought it from, Lyle, upgraded his Beaver to a larger one. So I bought his combi 25 because I thought I was going to build a larger battery bank. My other half, probably better half, wouldn't give up the space.
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West Coast FT
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07/26/11 03:02pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Pimp my RV
Why stop with paint and LEDs under chassis lights? If we're pimping let's pimp.
"Halo" headlights, like the ones from Spyder. Upgrade all the clearance lights to LED's. Change all side marker lights to Superbright LEDs. For the campsite how about portable hot tub? The units I checked are 15 amps, or if you've got diesel heating you can tie the heat exchanger into the coach system.
Those two stroke blenders are a nice addition. Propane fire pits, inflatable lawn couches and chairs,.......now you're pimpin'
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West Coast FT
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07/26/11 02:52pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Possibly buying 1998 Monaco Windsor
The mileage looks good for the age as well. My experience has been that low mileage coaches tend to leak at the engine and transmission seals.
As has been suggested check those tire manufacture dates. Any thing 7 years or older needs to be replaced regardless of condition/
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West Coast FT
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07/26/11 02:35pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: I've got some oddball Airbag questions
Leaf springs are correct. As rear leaf springs these are multi-leaf so they don't really have much arch like the front ones do.
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West Coast FT
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07/14/11 10:43am |
Class A Motorhomes
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I've got some oddball Airbag questions
About a year ago I decided I wanted Airlift airbags on my 1996 F53 Damon. So I went to Camping World ordered them and scheduled an installation appt.
Well on the day of the appt we discovered that my rear springs had sagged to such a point that the unit no longer had the minimum clearance between the frame and the leaf spring axle perch to install the Airlift springs. Camping World would not warranty the work so I skip the installation and got new leaf springs at Betts Truck springs. After the leaf springs were installed I went back to CW for another measurement on the clearance. It was still about 1/2 to low.
Please note the motorhome was empty except for fuel and water, so this was not an overload situation. I reconfirmed with Betts that we had the correct leaf springs for the chassis.
So now I'm looking at Firestone RideRites. Their fitment requirement is 8" clearance between the tire and the frame. I think I have that clearance.
So my question is, what's so different about the Firestone product from the Airlift product? Are the Firestones are good or better that the Airlift product? And who I the Bay Area of California installs them on Class A motorhomes?
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West Coast FT
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07/14/11 10:25am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Recharging My RV AC with R134a
I can't imagine that a 93' model didn't use R134. You won't need the fittings that are included in a retro kit...to convert R12 fittings to R134 fittings.
Seems like 92 thru 94 were the change over years. I remember because my 92' Honda Civic was R12. So I made sure it was recharged in 96' on a visit to KC/
A retro fit is a little more complex than a do it yourself project, IMO. Its likely the accumulator will need to be changed out and I think you'll want to change the high pressure hose as well. It's also time to get a new A/C clutch kit if it has not been changed in the last few years. Otherwise you may seize up the front bearings on the compressor once it fails after the change over.
Getting those snap rings on the clutch seated correctly takes skill, patience and practice.
Just about any place that works on trucks and A/C can do the work. Figure $150 to $200 for a new A/C clutch (plus installation) if you don't need to buy a completely new compressor altogether, because the don't sell the clutch as a separate item. Compressors are $200 to $400.
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West Coast FT
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07/11/11 11:25am |
Class A Motorhomes
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