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dadstoy · 12-14-2021, 10:55 PM

Since the furnace isn't working, I've been using my Mr. Heater. The "old" one is one that my dad used in the MH years ago. I've used it a couple times during our Yosemite trips.

The old one wouldn't stay lit for very long. The pilot was low and would flutter at times and eventually go out. I took the old one apart and found an oily substance in the lines and valve. I blew out what I could and reassembled the unit. It still would not stay lit for long.

Well what would we do without Google/Youtube these days? I found out that the oil is from the hose between the propane tank and the heater. The older hoses and even some current hoses will leach oil from the rubber hose under high pressure. The hose is under high pressure being that it is connected directly to the 5 gal propane tank and before the regulator in the Mr Heater. If you use a hose after the regulator, there isn't a problem since the hose will not leach oil under low pressure.

So Sunday I went to town and purchased a new Mr. Heater and a new hose. The new hose is specially made to use under high pressure and it will not leach oil.

Well, I'm extremely happy with the new Mr. Heater and the new hose! I think it actually works better then running the furnace. It's about 36 degrees out right now and it is 75 inside the MH. I have the Mr. Heater up front on low and an elect heater in the rear on low. I do have an attachment on the main MH propane tank, but no way to run the hose inside. So I have a 5 gal propane tank sitting in front of the driver's seat. Probably not the best thing to do safety wise, but what the hell.

There are safety concerns of course using gas heaters. Fire is one and CO2 is another. The old one set off the CO2 detector once and I simply turned on a roof fan. There is plenty of fresh air leaking into the motorhome, though window seals for one. So one must be careful using these. I don't run it when sleeping for safety.

This morning I woke up and turned on the Mr Heater on high. I fell back asleep for an hour waking up to it being 95 degrees inside the MH! Bottom line for me is that I like it and with taking the right safety precautions, I think it can be used without worry.

dadstoy · 12-15-2021, 06:24 PM

Didn't wake up to snow, but will be going to bed with snow!

Beltran · 12-16-2021, 05:33 AM

Yank that heater out and fix it. I can’t recall if your full timing in this or not. That’s no way to spend the winter.

dadstoy · 12-18-2021, 11:54 AM

Power went out on the mountain about 10:30pm on Wednesday. It was out for 20 hours. I left the Mr Heater running all night with a roof vent partially open. I'm a little surprised as to how much propane they use, but they do their job well. The next morning I set up my Yamaha 2000 generator. Ran it for about 6 hours on 1/2 gal of gas! Can't beat that! Would be nice to have one of those new $6000 Onan GenSets installed in the MH...oh well!

dadstoy · 12-19-2021, 10:49 AM

The pneumatic valves came in for my door step. Now I just have to mount them, wire them and plumb them. I went with Tameson valves. They are rated for continuous use.

dadstoy · 12-20-2021, 12:49 AM

I have been following and watching "Keep Your Daydream" for a while now. I have fallen in love with Marc, Tricia, Caleb and Charlie. I wish I could travel full time like they do. They are currently traveling from Chicago to Santa Monica on Route 66. They are doing that in their BlueBird MH, but they do have an Airstream trailer as their main RV. Check them out at https://www.keepyourdaydream.com/

PeterH-350LE · 12-20-2021, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadstoy

I have been following and watching "Keep Your Daydream" for a while now. I have fallen in love with Marc, Tricia, Caleb and Charlie. I wish I could travel full time like they do. They are currently traveling from Chicago to Santa Monica on Route 66. They are doing that in their BlueBird MH, but they do have an Airstream trailer as their main RV. Check them out at https://www.keepyourdaydream.com/

My favorite camp out show to watch is Northern Exposure. I just live in Sicily and leave the world we live in now behind.

Dean, question: where is your spare Tire mounted? It seems your dad had the bracket in the rear removed?

bkahler · 12-20-2021, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadstoy

The pneumatic valves came in for my door step. Now I just have to mount them, wire them and plumb them. I went with Tameson valves. They are rated for continuous use.

Probably a wise move to get the continuous rated valves. Who knows, you might go on an extended 12 hour run someday

dadstoy · 12-20-2021, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterH-350LE

Dean, question: where is your spare Tire mounted? It seems your dad had the bracket in the rear removed?

Yes, my dad had removed the spare tire from the rear bumper. They traveled for years with no spare. I've done multiple trips with no spare as well. When I towed the flat trailer behind the MH, I took the spare with me on the trailer.

I still have the large mount for the spare. I tossed the hard plastic cover (I know, I know!) some years back after getting tired of consistently moving it out of my way and after I sort of ruined it with paint stripper. If I ever remount the spare, a soft vinyl cover will be good enough for me.

dadstoy · 12-20-2021, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkahler

Probably a wise move to get the continuous rated valves. Who knows, you might go on an extended 12 hour run someday

Ha, I know right? Probably the only time I ever drove for 12 hours or at least more then 8, was leaving Burning Man one year. Just imagine going for hour after hour, a couple miles an hour and stop and go and stop and go! Then driving a hundred miles on a Nevada two lane road in the dark with, well you know, those headlights on an Airstream motorhome, scared to death that a cow was going to show up in the middle of the road right at the far edge of those headlights! By the way, I did hit a cow once, not in the MH, but in my Explorer towing a 14' cargo trailer. Both were drivable but took out the entire driver's side of the SUV and totaled the trailer. Cows are big!

mayco · 12-20-2021, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadstoy

Ha, I know right? Probably the only time I ever drove for 12 hours or at least more then 8, was leaving Burning Man one year. Just imagine going for hour after hour, a couple miles an hour and stop and go and stop and go! Then driving a hundred miles on a Nevada two lane road in the dark with, well you know, those headlights on an Airstream motorhome, scared to death that a cow was going to show up in the middle of the road right at the far edge of those headlights! By the way, I did hit a cow once, not in the MH, but in my Explorer towing a 14' cargo trailer. Both were drivable but took out the entire driver's side of the SUV and totaled the trailer. Cows are big!

If you hit one in Mexico I believe you have to compensate the owner of the cow!!!

dadstoy · 12-20-2021, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayco

If you hit one in Mexico I believe you have to compensate the owner of the cow!!!

It was free steaks and burgers for 6 months!

bkahler · 12-21-2021, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadstoy

It was free steaks and burgers for 6 months!

Roadkill special

dadstoy · 01-03-2022, 10:03 PM

Let's see what arrived today! Oh, my furnace fan motor! Six months early!

I originally ordered a "replacement" part for less money then the original part# (all made by the same manufacturer). It was back ordered with no future delivery date. So I looked up the original part # and well guess what it was available, more money of course.

I ordered from dyersonline.com. I've used them multiple times in the past and I'm very happy with them. The motor was sent out the next day and I got it within a few days. The lady on the phone was very nice and very helpful, the way customer service should be.

The part# on the new part is a very different part# that I can't find anywhere, but the # on the carton and the instructions are correct. The label on the box is correct with a Suburban logo and it was intact. The motor looks correct, but I left the bad motor at the MH and can't compare side by side yet. I'm sure it is correct. Now just have to put all the parts back together correctly, a lot had to be disassembled to remove the motor!

dadstoy · 01-12-2022, 07:17 PM

I installed the new fan motor and reassembled the furnace. Got it installed and hooked up. Nice to have a working furnace again!

It seems water leaks never end. The soft line has a small leak. This is the winterizing bypass hose on the water heater. I've never used the bypass. Draining the water heater tank and draining the lines is enough for my location.

The maintenance dept was kind enough today to spread some gravel in front of the MH for me. I have to swap RV spaces on Saturday and I don't want to bury the MH in the mud. We will have to wait and see if the gravel helps!