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dadstoy · 09-13-2011, 03:11 PM

Keyair, the front airbags definitely make a large improvement in handling. I can certainly feel the difference with new air bags from bad air bags a couple of weeks back.

Definitely will have to figure out battery issue when running GenSet

dadstoy · 09-13-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

One thing some have discovered is sitting closer to the steering wheel helps to control the over and under steering. Not a mechanical fix, but it can help. Something to do with leverage. jim

Hey Jim, thanks for the info. I also discovered if I focus farther down the road with my eyes instead of looking at the road right in front of the MH, I under/over steer a lot less. Basic driving techniques I'm guessing!

Smartstream · 09-15-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadstoy

Road trip to Lassen...

One thing I have found to be the cause of many problems in a thirty year old coach is the wiring, 110 volt and 12 volt. Running the GenSet while driving, drains the auto battery very quickly. Not sure why. Running the headlights makes the gauges freak out. I know I have some corrosion at the started to take care of and I think I should replace the battery cables from the batteries to the starter and isolator.

One problem I found on mine was the fusible link. It is in the wire bundle along side the engine hatch under the drivers seat. Everything in the dash runs off this wire. It goes from the hot terminal on the starter to the ampmeter. From there it goes to light switch and ignition. The diesel has both and ampmeter and a voltmeter and I think the gas is different but I don't remember the details. Anyway the fusible link had been replaced on mine and I never found anything wrong with it but sometimes I would go to start the engine and everything was dead, lights and all. I'd play around a bit and it would be fine. Finally I ripped it out and put in a heavy circuit breaker and haven't had the problem since.

As for the driving issues remember these are 30 year old trucks and they just don't drive like a car. Also you are sitting above and almost forward of the front tires so your bouncing is magnified compared to sitting between the axles. I had a friend follow me and look to see if my coach looked like is was bouncing around abnormally and he said it looked good to him. If you want a reality check follow and old Winnebago around on a windy day, you will feel much better.

Glad you had a good trip first time out. The pictures look great.

Cheers, Dan

dadstoy · 09-15-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartstream

One problem I found on mine was the fusible link. It is in the wire bundle along side the engine hatch under the drivers seat. Everything in the dash runs off this wire. It goes from the hot terminal on the starter to the ampmeter. From there it goes to light switch and ignition. The diesel has both and ampmeter and a voltmeter and I think the gas is different but I don't remember the details. Anyway the fusible link had been replaced on mine and I never found anything wrong with it but sometimes I would go to start the engine and everything was dead, lights and all. I'd play around a bit and it would be fine. Finally I ripped it out and put in a heavy circuit breaker and haven't had the problem since.

As for the driving issues remember these are 30 year old trucks and they just don't drive like a car. Also you are sitting above and almost forward of the front tires so your bouncing is magnified compared to sitting between the axles. I had a friend follow me and look to see if my coach looked like is was bouncing around abnormally and he said it looked good to him. If you want a reality check follow and old Winnebago around on a windy day, you will feel much better.

Glad you had a good trip first time out. The pictures look great.

Cheers, Dan

Hi Dan. Thanks for the info and tips. I'll definitely look for that cable from starter to ammeter. I'll let you know what I find

Dean

dadstoy · 09-29-2011, 09:56 PM

Side tracked...

I've been working on finishing my "toy hauler". I have a 20 foot enclosed utility trailer for hauling my ATVs. I wish I could tow it with the MH, but I think it would be a big mistake at about 6000 lbs. So it is towed with my '95 F150.

I've been outfitting the trailer with cabinets, bed, sink, water and electric. I have a couch/bed up front, kitchen cabinets from Lowes, sink, water tank, grey water tank, 12 and 120 volt electric, adding windows and will install the old a/c from the MH soon.

With all of that, I still have plenty of room to haul the Polaris RZR.

We are heading to the sand dunes at Coos Bay, Oregon next week!

dadstoy · 10-20-2011, 04:07 PM

Got a few more things done...

Replaced a/c switch and knob. Switch was correct switch, but knob was the wrong one. Switch was also incorrectly wired to match the wrong knob. Now I have low/high fan and low/high cool. Also properly sized and secured flexible duct between roof and ceiling units. I think I'm getting more air through the system now. I will no longer ask my general contractor friend to help. He hacks everything together very quickly. I'm better off with no helper.

Drilled hole for refrigerator drain tube.

Installed new propane monitor and shutoff valve. It is nice to have this work immediately instead of trying for 10-15 minutes to get the old one going.

Got and hooked up sewer pipe adapter from Thetford to Valtera. Might be the best part I ever bought for MH!

Replaced sewer vent pipe gasket. Might still trim rubber gasket. What are others doing? I don't have my polisher yet so polished by hand...340 grit wet/dry, then 600 grit wet/dry, then polish with rag and metal/ alum polish!

I think I will wait out one more winter then most of the clear coat will have removed itself!

dadstoy · 10-20-2011, 04:28 PM

Photos of recent work...

dadstoy · 10-22-2011, 09:07 PM

Also installed the new water heater switch in the bathroom...

dadstoy · 10-27-2011, 05:21 PM

Installed new dog house gasket today. The one I got from Inland is a bit different, but I think it will be fine.

Keyair · 10-29-2011, 12:16 AM

Wow, you are getting it done!

cmadmaxman · 10-30-2011, 04:28 PM

Hey Dean, take a look at the toy hauler that we build to haul our two motorcycles. It took me about 3 years to complete. I made Stainless Steel tanks for the gray water and fresh water. The commode had it own holding tank built into the shower base.

We had to put 6K axles under it, the 3.5K ones could not hold the load, and when I took them out, the mounting bases were cracked.

Keep up the great work on yours.

Ours is gone now with our 310 and 3 Grand Daughters, the 310 works much better.

We pulled ours with a 3/4HD Duramax Crew.

dadstoy · 10-31-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keyair

Wow, you are getting it done!

Not too many big things left. For some reason my punch list always seems to grow however!

Mike Leary · 10-31-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadstoy

Not too many big things left. For some reason my punch list always seems to grow however!

Check the latch on your gen set door.

dadstoy · 10-31-2011, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmadmaxman

Hey Dean, take a look at the toy hauler that we build to haul our two motorcycles. It took me about 3 years to complete. I made Stainless Steel tanks for the gray water and fresh water. The commode had it own holding tank built into the shower base.

We had to put 6K axles under it, the 3.5K ones could not hold the load, and when I took them out, the mounting bases were cracked.

Keep up the great work on yours.

Ours is gone now with our 310 and 3 Grand Daughters, the 310 works much better.

We pulled ours with a 3/4HD Duramax Crew.

Wow, that is sweet! You certainly built a real toy hauler there! Did it start as an empty enclosed utility trailer? Sort of looks like my Carson trailer from the outside except for your wrap on the front top corner. My trailer is actually a car hauler. You put in a lot of great work in three years. I had three weeks to put mine together

Mine is 20 feet and your 4 extra feet sure come in handy. What is the paneling that you put on the walls? Did you insulate the walls?

dadstoy · 10-31-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

Check the latch on your gen set door.

Mike, it is so funny you mention that. Heading on next trip next week and just spent last two weeks up north working on MH. I've been following the gen set door thread and yesterday as one of the last thing I did before heading home was to check the gen set door. I don't know if mine is totally original, it does have a hinge in the middle. Bottom is hooked in with two spring loaded pins. Top of bottom half is bolted to sides. Top opens with a lock at the center top. All looks good for the trip to Yosemite next week.

dadstoy · 10-31-2011, 11:30 PM

Got a few more items taken care of last week..

Wired up a couple of 12 volt outlets, cleaned up license plate light, took front bumper off to polish it, moved wiper arms up on shafts so wiper would cover more glass, organized storage bins, scraped a ton of grease from the suspension, installed SteerSafe and gave the MH a good washing.

The exterior cleaned up well with a good wash. At one time I thought I might have to redo all the exterior, but it really looks fairly good. The lower gray and red cleaned up good. The higher gray and white stripes are decals I believe. Hopefully they can be replaced without too much trouble. Roof was painted metallic in the past and most has peeled off. I will paint the top white in the near future. I will keep the brushed aluminum on the rear cap and rear sides.

I'm interested to see what the drive is like with the SteerSafe component. The suspension parts are tight and with new shocks, steering stabilizer, air bags and the SteerSafe, I'm hoping it goes straight down the road.

dadstoy · 10-31-2011, 11:35 PM

A few photos after MH was all cleaned up...

dadstoy · 10-31-2011, 11:46 PM

More pics..

dadstoy · 10-31-2011, 11:50 PM

More pics cont...

cmadmaxman · 11-01-2011, 05:49 AM

Thanks Dean.

When we started, the PO had installed ship-shod 120V wiring (removed it) and had a full divider 1/4 forward. The walls were white sheet aluminum inside with foam board for insulation.

We had to remove all that along with the ceiling panels. Soldered all the OEM 12v wiring, insulated with fiberglass, installed new 120v & 12v wiring for our needs. We also installed the windows in the unit.

I had to screw 1x2's to the steal ribs on the walls to staple the birch paneling. All the wood work was birch as well.

Keep up the great work, thought it might give you some ideas.