MAYCO's 1982 310 TD

[mayco]

I'm too spoiled to do that but love the simplicity!

[Magnet18]

I definitely plan to do some camping in the 4runner someday, I would love to set it up like this



If I ever take a long trip to Alaska I'd like to restore one of these and take it

[mayco]

Got home yesterday from our trip out west and as usual I have a list of things that need attention on the rig. One question, I need to replace the fan start capacitor on my rear ac unit. I was thinking that as long as I'm up there with the shroud off, I should replace the start/run cap also? Possibly go ahead and purchase replacements for the front ac also?

I'm awfully weak in hvac knowledge. Would you guys go ahead and do the same? Those capacitors aren't very expensive, $14-$20 each.

[Keyair]

Can’t help you with that one!
I do have a request tho....
Loving the sites you camp at, but can you post the cost per night for these places?

[mayco]

Absolutely Steve. We continue to explore a good deal of these small city owned campsites on travel days. It's been a great deal of fun. We have found some really nice places for free with hookups all the way up to $35 per night. Most range from $10 to $15 per night.

[Keyair]

Awesome!
The reason I ask is simple and complex in one, so let me explain.
We have a plan.
We are 5-7 years away from our “Official” retirement age, but my girl can work from her phone and Laptop, so we are not constrained.
One thing we know, we will almost certainly not be staying in CA.
We don’t yet know where we will end up, but that’s where the Motorhome comes in.
The plan currently is to tour the West half of this wonderful country, and figure out where we want to be. There are many states, and places in our sights, including Az, Co, Nv, Wa, and Or.
We plan to narrow down our search down, and then stay longer term in each favorite, before buying land or a property.
As you well know, the cost of staying in sites will be a factor, so I am interested in knowing the respective costs of sites, with hookups and non hookup.
As you can probably see, I’m investing time and $, in building flexibility into my rig for water and power, to allow me options. I don’t want to have to pay for a hookup if I don’t need one.
I am also concerned about this growing trend of sites refusing service to older rigs.
Thanks for the info!

[mayco]

One thing we have found and you may want to consider is traveling as much as you can on US highway routes rather than interstates. Not only do you see much more of the country, but it's also way less crowded at campgrounds along the way. We use them exclusively when traveling from IL to CO....Sometimes it's not possible or there is no clear cut way to get from A to B so we will jump on an Interstate if need be. You would be amazed at the number of small municipal campgrounds there are out there and many not on camping APPs. We sometimes will just follow the little blue campground signs when passing through a town or get on the towns own website to see if they have camping sites at their park. We have found some really cool places with a few duds thrown in along the way. Not too many though.

[mayco]

I'm still using the original Coleman Mach air conditioners on the 310. The rear ac has failed to start a few times, intermittent, while on the road. So I decided to pull the shroud and replace start and run capacitors. These units have three, one for the fan, one for compressor start, and I believe the third is for compressor run.


Here are the capacitor sizes and the ones I bought. (I don't know much about these so I just made sure the numbers matched the original)
QH QX65075 Capacitor Motor Run Oval 7.5 uF MFD 370V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076RT8B61..._mCU7Cb0WGYX1H

PTMJ88 - Packard Aftermarket Replacement Motor Start Capacitor 88-108 MFD 220 250 Volt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IWYIGRA..._XCU7CbCC19AYM

Motor Run Capacitor 25mfd 370V VAC Volt 25uf Round https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VJ98N8..._sDU7CbC8NCHD3

They are easy to get to once you've got the shroud off. I did end up replacing a few of the female spade connectors.
The hardest part of the job is getting the damn one piece shroud back in place sliding it over lip on the plastic pan on the roof.

Turned out good though, running good and cool.

[dadstoy]

I replaced the capacitors on my Coleman within the first year I installed the new a/c.

Now that you are an expert on getting that cover back on, come on over to the ranch and help me with mine...time to solve the rain water leak!

[mayco]

It's a pain in the rear Dean! I ended up drilling some self-tapping screws around the perimeter lip of the plastic pan into the metal lip of the actual ac pan. The plastic pan was flaired outward all the way around, no way the shroud was gonna slip over it. The screws helped a lot to draw the plastic lip in, still a pain though. I did have Lynn spotting as I was wrestling the shroud down, you can't see anything while up on top.

[mayco]

Has anyone found a rattle can paint that matches the gray used on the bottom exterior of our rigs? I found a DuPont # but couldn't find it or a match in rattle cans. I need to clean up and paint some exposed steel under the genny and around the stairs.

[Magnet18]

Originally Posted by mayco

Has anyone found a rattle can paint that matches the gray used on the bottom exterior of our rigs? I found a DuPont # but couldn't find it or a match in rattle cans. I need to clean up and paint some exposed steel under the genny and around the stairs.

I was just looking for the same paint as well and haven't found any. My plan for the moment is to sand and re-spray everything with the same black I use for the stripe. I might be rattle-canning it, I might be attempting an Eastwood spray gun, we'll see. If rattle cans look ok that's the way I'll go, though for something this big i expect a sprayer might end up being easier

Seems like a lot of people are fond of the new 2K 2-part epoxy clear coats you can get in a rattle can now, you push a button on the bottom to break a seal inside right before spraying to mix the two parts.

[dadstoy]

Duplicate-color T-183

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by dadstoy

Duplicate-color T-183

Stupid computers!


Dupli-Color T-183

[mayco]

Thank you Dean. I had found that number in my search but when I try to Google it I don't get any results. Maybe it's an old number. I think Advance Auto carries Dupli-Color paints so Ill run over there and see what info they have.

[dadstoy]

Yes that is an old number but it should still be listed on the cans. At least it is on some recent cans I have. Sorry I’m back home now and the cans are up at the ranch so I can’t get you the new number.

[stream3]

Originally Posted by mayco

Has anyone found a rattle can paint that matches the gray used on the bottom exterior of our rigs? I found a DuPont # but couldn't find it or a match in rattle cans. I need to clean up and paint some exposed steel under the genny and around the stairs.

I took a small piece of the original paint, probably a half inch or so that was flaking off anyway, to NAPA and they matched it really well. Got a few rattle cans and a small touch up can. I didn't know they could do that until my mechanic mentioned it to me.

[mayco]

Originally Posted by stream3

I took a small piece of the original paint, probably a half inch or so that was flaking off anyway, to NAPA and they matched it really well. Got a few rattle cans and a small touch up can. I didn't know they could do that until my mechanic mentioned it to me.

Great! thank you. Another option.

[mayco]

Originally Posted by dadstoy

Yes that is an old number but it should still be listed on the cans. At least it is on some recent cans I have. Sorry I’m back home now and the cans are up at the ranch so I can’t get you the new number.

Ill get over to Advance or AutoZone, I think they both carry that brand. If no luck I'll try to find a loose piece and have it matched.

[mayco]

If anyone is interested....I searched Airforums for the paint color match for the gray trim on many of our Motorhomes. Dean came through with the same number I was finding on many other threads which is...Dupli Color T183. Searched the internet and couldn't find any reference to that number but finally went to the auto parts store and found that the NEW NUMBER FOR T183 is BGM 0534 Mica Gray. There is a sticker on the Dupli Color can that actually says "replaces T183." Soooo, fwiw, there ya go. Haven't used it yet, still in prep. The cap looks right though when held against the paint.