Most to least common problems:
Tires - Used RV's tires are used and I have found over or under inflation as well as driving to fast to be the number 1 problem. Soulution buy new tires at least fronts/
Hanging brakes - Chevy bad brake hose or hoses. Ford sticking caliber
Ford fuel pumps on the fuel injected units mostly 1996 model RV's
Ford loss of power burnt up plugs or wires
1994 Fleetwood Flair sheered distributor pin ( I don't like Flairs)
No one likes to break down the stress level is off the chart and all at once. Just remember to stay calm relax and think. Most of the time what seems like a major problem is not and you can save time and money if you go at it alone.
Thats all for now tires and sticky brakes mostly. I'm just glad I drive them this far and deal with these common problems so my customers don't have to. There's a good tip when buying used ask the sales man, "How far did YOU drive it".
Only wish you were in this area. The best known dealer has been the most difficult to do business with after the sale. Fact known by many RV owners.
Ygohome Jean
Driveline (Engine, Transmission): Chevy 454, Turbo 400 transmission
Miles: 48,000 +/-
Year: 1986
Break Down Description: Transmission failure. My wife, grandson and myself left San Diego for our trip to Lake Tahoe, we took hwy 395. I was towing my jeep wrangler and the transmission temperature gauge (that I had installed several years earlier) started to climb a little but it was within operating limits. I noticed that when starting from a stop I had to manually place the transmission in 1st gear to get it to start in first if I did not, it would start in second gear. We decided to stop for the night in a little town called Lone Pine at a RV park. The next morning the transmission would not shift out of first gear at all. the transmission overheated and was disabled in a turnaround on hwy 395. I let it cool off and was able to limp it back to Lone Pine to a auto repair and towing facility. the transmission was toast and I had to order a remanufactured transmission from AC-Delco. 3 days and $2,500 later we were back on the road to Tahoe. We had an unplanned 3 day stay in Lone Pine.
More history about my rig: the transmission that failed had been rebuilt twice already, the first time by the original owner at around 25,000 miles right before I purchased the rig, the second time when I owned the rig at around 37,000 miles, 2 years prior to the failure at Lone Pine. The transmission shop that rebuilt it at 37,000 miles guarantied it for only 12,000 miles or one year, the breakdown in Lone Pine happened 2 years after, so it was already out of warranty. I was very careful taking every measure to keep the transmission running cool. When I first purchased the motorhome I installed an external transmission cooler (I could not believe that it didn't have one) with an electric puller fan mounted to it. Later I installed a second transmission cooler with another electric fan. I changed the transmission fluid and filter much more frequently than recommended.
My opinion is that my rig was just too heavy and pulling my jeep was just too much. Although the transmission failed before even before I started to tow my jeep.
31,000 miles
Drove from Indio, CA to El Paso. Pulled into the Flying J at Anthony to overnight. As I parked, the dash panel went dead and the engine died. Would not restart although engine would turn over with the starter. Dash panel showed no sign of the ignition being on. It was late so I went to bed. Got up next morning and the dash came back to life. Stopped at Freightliner on the way out of town and bought spare relays for the ignition system.
Next day was pulling into a Louisiana rest area at mile marker 2 on I-20 when the dash panel went dead again and the engine died. Checked everything I could think of and went to bed, planning to get a wrecker the next day. Next morning it was alive again so I drove on. Got 230 miles further East and was passing a truck while going 70. Panel died, tach and speedometer dropped to zero and I got it to the shoulder. Crawled under and on it for four hours with a test set with no solution. Got a wrecker and a Loadall to carry to Empire Freightliner in Jackson, MS. They got on it 24 hours later and, again, it started up.
I have a 135 amp main breaker on order 'cause every "teck" at Gaffney says that is what it sounds like but I know they are wrong. I put a test set on that breaker while it was dead and, anyway, the starter would have been dead if it was open.
Plan to drive for eight hours next week never getting over 20 miles from Empire Freightliner. I have the shop foremans phone number on speed dial in my cell phone.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated,
John Brewer
1998 CC Magna
Xantrex RS3000 inverter (POS!)
Replaced with an Prosine 3.0 (has worked for two weeks??)
36K miles
Dealership replaced with a big apology and a few other very minor things on warranty, also, we convinced them to give us an extra 4 hours of brand new owners classes no charge. (brand new off lot as of 4/2006)...
[Mantanace man, Randy, said this was very uncommon especially on a Winnebago Sunrise.]
Very happy with the attitude of "we want to make your buying and maintanace needs no problem." E-mail me if you want a recommendation on who to buy from. DFW, TX area...
those who move often, get instruction on how to be friendly
I don't want to be a part-time mechanic while I'm trying to be on a relaxing family fun vacation. Can someone please help me understand?
Four Winds 2002 Hurricane 33SL
Family of 7
Husband, wife, 2 kids
2 dogs, 1 parrot (solomon island eclectus, male)
Driveline (Engine, Transmission): Cummins 230hp 5.9l with a 6-sp Allison
Miles:40,000
Year:1994
Break Down Description: Shut off engine with the key & it kept running.....and running! I called the shop that does my maintenance & they put my mechanic on the line. He had me check the solenoid to see if it was stuck; he also suggested that I pull the connector that powers the solenoid if it wasn't 'stuck'.
Cause: Spring return for fuel solenoid missing & solenoid wouldn't close.
Outcome: Found solenoid & moved it closed by hand.
Any given day, I'm Boating, shoveling or RV'ing south! or riding, wheeling, GP'ing ">
'07 Coachmen Freelander C3100SO: OLLY - "Our Lyl' Land Yacht"
'05 Jeep Liberty
('03 SeaRay 280 Sundancer, '99 SeaDoo 18' Jetboat; '91 Jeep YJ; '03 HD V-Rod, '01 Boxster S)
