RE: Rubber Roof Replacement
Hello, I replaced the rubber roofing with a Dicor Kit. Plus, I added another inch of foam to the top, another 14" vent and squared of the rear of the roof plus added LED clearance lights.
My rig is a Tioga Montara, by Fleetwood but a 1991. I found rot in the cab-over, which started THAT project a few months earlier than the roof. Once the cab over job was done(there is info on my blog for that), the roof job went well. The Dicor video and other sites all help. Hope my effort with this blog link, helps as well. ron
http://memoryroads.blogspot.com/search/label/roof%20rebuild
RE: Onan Generator: Fix or Replace?
Thanks all, for the input. I've been down with medical problem, so slow to rise to generator work. Played with carb and checked wiring, and opened front of elec. box containing C.B. regulater etc. and all seems ok. Generator is now putting out voltage again, but why? I think its stuck brushes, so:
Checked with RV Medic in Tampa, they can order a block assy, that contains brushes and springs-it's a 'unit'.
Checked with Onan in Tampa and they concur the problem might very well be brushes. They had them in stock but needed to get springs to go with them which I stated I did want. Their guy is out sick, so when he returns and catches up, I will have them install brushes with springs and adj. voltage/carb etc.
Now putting out 122.8vdc no load/115.5vdc with slight loads and 114.8 with rooftop a.c. on.
Think it should be raised to 127vdc in no load cond. but will let them decide.
Again, thanks to all!
RE: Golden Age Pass changes (long)
mavapa wrote:
Besides, the senior discount is also a recognition of the (usually) generally reduced financial state of most seniors compared to those in the peak of their earnings lifetimes. Many government programs recognize that difference, from property taxes to income taxes to Medicare. Why shouldn't national forests and parks?
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Wether or not age means less financially capable or not, we are the generation or 2 that has paid for the road systems, some of parks, fought the wars, paid the taxes, followed the leaderships guidelines, and for that, get a screwed up Medicare system, pushed out of VA benefits for having 'something', etc. etc. etc. and now that we have retired and commited to the natural tranquilizer of R & R, the Business of concessionaires whine they are not making enough! Have'nt we heard this from every business at some time or other? If we are 1 in 7 or 8 who use the campgrounds,as the #'s show, and even if that goes up 50% in the next 15 years, as "their" numbers indicate; I have rarely seen campgrounds full, or expect the future 15 years to be overloaded with a burgeoning camper crowd! Not with this economy! It's about more profit without more product!
I'm not asking for a small apartment, so paying the 9 something to 13 something ($360/mo.) for a spot of dirt on which to park my vehicle, is infuriating!
It costs nobody nothing, to let the card holders continue usage. If they need a few more spots for the future, they can be built. I doubt future numbers of visitors will increase but rather decrease. If they want to cover their profits for the future, then print a different card and a different aggreement for the future needs of that crowd. I'm d___ tired of getting less than agreed.
RE: Golden Age Pass changes (long)
For those of us that feel the "passes" should continue to offer the full discount at all parks, I would welcome a well informed writer to develop a precise letter to be placed on this forum and elsewhere! Probably a one page "request and notice" to those in power.
We could then opt to copy it or change it, but either way have something potent for mailing.
Those wishing to do nothing, can; but those wishing to be involved yet feel limited, can be empowered.
RE: Onan Generator: Fix or Replace?
Yes, checked circuit breaker, connections etc. The first clue was the voltage dropping to 80. This made me think there might be 3 sets of brushes and one set quit...but no voltage at all, is leading me towards thinking it's the voltage regulator or a board somewhere.
Because the hour meter shows 5775 hours on it, I just ran some Sea Foam decarbonizer thru it. Engine starts and runs fine and did with a load on it too, at 114 volts with Air and microwave on, 115 without.
RE: L.P. Horizontal Tank not filling completely.
Well, seems we live in an age of 'specialty' and "OH, not ME!"
Out west on this last trip, I was impressed with the open friendly nature of all but back home here, it's back to what appears to be an attitude of do as little as possible for maximum money....and of course no risk or effort.
Propane shops here ALL declined any offer of assistance in ordering part...just not their thing. Out west they ALL would do it, but had to procure part in a day or two, and offered realistic prices.
Huge RV dealer an hour from here is the object of everyones affection, so to speak, but they charge $120/hr. with a 2 hr. minimum. I figure to take out the tank (an hour), install the valve(coffee break), and hour, reinstall and check out (an hour).. so, 3 hours plus maybe $100+ manufactures list price, is what a new tank would cost.
Just looking to be practical as a basic 'do it yourself' kind of guy(when possible).
RE: L.P. Horizontal Tank not filling completely.
Yes Nelson. Started out checking the gauge last year, then ran the tank dry once on purpose and 2x now on accident. Finally figured out that while traveling, we are using about .5 gallon per day average on our trip west. using LP for refrigeration and minimal water heater run time and a partial run time on indoor heating. With max 5.6 gallons in tank, we can get about 10 days +/- before running out, but with food in frig, I kept refilling every 5 days +/-.
Guage is not the problem.
RE: L.P. Horizontal Tank not filling completely.
I think you are correct. The problem has been diagnosed by every pro so far as being the float mechanism/which is a part of the fill valve assembly. Purging gas lines is not the problem. Total fill of the tank is! It's being restricted by the safety mechanism designed in.
Since I have not been able to get any of the local propane sellers here in St. Petersburg, Fl. to agree to order the part from Manchester Tanks and do the install, I will remove the tank and then the fill valve/float assembly.
Will be patient and see if any thoughts arise as to procuring another valve/float if necessary. The r&r process should be straight forward, removing the tank so that the replacement will allow me to lower the new assembly straight down(vertically)therefore not damaging the float mechanism while going in.
Worst case scenario.... I go to the RV big guy dealers with sad red face ;)
RE: L.P. Horizontal Tank not filling completely.
Not sure what you mean by 'purging'. Can you explain the process a bit?
As I understand it, the fill valve has the float on the backside of it/it's a unit. The float arm is a geared device that is either bent or the teeth in the gear have slipped, setting the float lower than it should be. In the tank there is also a tube that goes up to the 80% level and down to a small opening in the exterior of the tank. The fill stations open this 'vent' a bit, to allow liquid to overflow if it gets to the top of the tube inside while they fill. Are you suggesting an air pocket somehow inside?
RE: Onan Generator: Fix or Replace?
Hello Gunny, Bought a 1991 Tioga Montara 24 by Fleetwood, last year. It had 32K miles on it, now 42. Generator ran OK and only got better with use and clean fuel + additives. The fact that it dropped to 80 volts, made me think one of three brushes was stuck.(?) I'm ok on most things but not the electrical portion of generators. Totally unfamiliar with them.
It's a gasoline Onan mod.# 6.5kw NHDFB, s.n. L980-836548
While rig only had 32K miles on it, the Onan shows 5K hours on it and it's 18 years old...Looks 'fair'; not bad, but not good. Can't tell about maintenance but doubt it. That's what has me questioning whether I'll be chasing my tail over time.
All phone calls and searches here in St. Petersburg, Fl. are pointing me towards one of 2 big RV dealerships. Got ripped off once by them here and not going to allow it to happen again. Would love to find a small honest shop but so far it hasn't happened.
When I figure out more and hopefully get more information from the group, I'll proceed. The forum is a wonderful resource that I can't pass up.
Thanks for your input and that goes out to all. Happy Thanksgiving!
RE: Onan Generator: Fix or Replace?
Sorry. The 'engine is loud', not the generator itself. No abnormal sounds. The 6.5 is alot of engine and the db's are up there. It certainly is no where near as quiet as more modern units I've heard and it's a large/heavy unit. Hour meter shows 5000 hours on it and although it runs good, if the AC problem is not relatively simple and inexpensive to fix, I can't see a $2 grand input without then also including an engine rebuild, which would put the numbers higher still. That's why I might consider swapping it out for a smaller, newer, quieter, more efficient/fuelwise/generator if I cannot get a handle on simple fixes.
With only one air conditioner and a small microwave, I think a 3-4kw might be what I need to consider. I can do the do the R&R on a complete unit but it's too early in my learning/decision curve to commit yet.
RE: Rebuilting cab over..water leaks
I originally started a blog to cover the rebuilding of our Cab-Over rebuild, www.memoryroads.blogspot.com
---and used original Contact Cement to attach the Filon to new/but West System epoxy treated plywood. I used 2 coats and took the time and "energy" to forcefully roll and press the surfaces together.
-Liquid Nails HD was used for structural framework
-Liquid Nails Tub Surround was used to bond the Extruded Polystyrene foam to the sheets of luan on roof rebuild.
-3M's 5200 Adhesive Sealant was used to add strength to attaching any wood to steel box tubing used in our original framework.
L.P. Horizontal Tank not filling completely.
It has not been a problem but a nuisance. The Manchester Horizontal 14 gallon tank seems to be 2 years old, so it's out of warrantee. Problem is that when I run out of L.P. gas the filling stations can only put in a maximum of 5.6 gallons of LP. The safety valve should stop the fill at 80% of units volume (80% of 14 gal.=11.2 gal.)so 5.6 is only half full. This has gone on for a year now and what I have been told by Manchester Tanks, is that I have to order the part (the fill valve-which probably has a bent float on it)thru a "dealer", like Camping World and have them install it. At $100 bucks an hour, that is not my goal! A few LP shops out west said they could order the part for me and it's a simple plumbing type install and that I could do myself or they could do it quickly.
Has anyone been able to procure this part, or have comments?
Thanks all!
ron
Onan Generator: Fix or Replace?
My 6.5 Onan gas generator runs fine, but lost all AC.
Noted one day the air conditioner stopped so shut it down and checked generator voltage. It was 80, not 115.
The next day generator engine ran fine but NO output voltage at all. (Air cond. runs fine on power cord)
Any gurus with suggestions? Have ordered a repair manual but my unit is a 1991 and not sure if it's worth fixing one that old, besides its LOUD compared to most I've heard. Comments? What generator manufacturer is recommended for 3-4kw? Might shop for a replacement! Thanks, ron
RE: Onan generator problem
My 6.5 Onan gas generator runs fine, but lost all AC. Noted one day the air conditioner stopped, checked voltage and it was 80, not 115, so shut generator down. Went back to checking the next day; generator engine runs fine but NO output voltage at all.
Any gurus with some suggestions? Have ordered a repair manual but my unit is a 1991 and not sure if it's worth fixing one that old, besides its LOUD compared to most I've heard. Comments?
What generator manufacturer is recommended @ about 4kw? Might just get a new one!
Thanks, ron
RE: Recommend a model for me, please
Hi Ron, Your rig and mine are near identical in size. close enough.
Fabrics/updates in equip/glitz/ real features are certain, but size is similar.
One of the things we realized on this trip that I thought I understood years ago and re-affirmed is that " quick and simple disconnect from your KOA pad or Mall-parking lot means much IF you do not want to ALSO tow another vehicle(toad) to get around.
We found ourselves really comfortable and understand for others a 45' Class A would still be considered poor shelter, but...
$ for $, in today's market; If I had to put my name on a piece of advice, I'd suggest another would look at the 'smallest' of their dreams.
ron
RE: Recommend a model for me, please
OK, you are seeing what I am seeing/ a MAJOR change in prices,,,but why?
Go back 6 months and you will quickly realize that the prices had plummeted! Gas prices up? Stock prices Down! Economy in the garbage can!!!!!
NOW?
"The powers that be...whomever...is offering anything ...at wishfull thinking prices
WHEN,,,,gas goes back up and rigs sell for half of the pre reality, what are you going to be holding and pumping fuel into?
Are you going to say, "I can travel with my family and afford it? or stay put because you payed what salesmen are ''''''''asking'''''''' now to save their butt's?
Forgive me if I'm not sensitive to some but I think I'm being realistic for most.
RE: Recommend a model for me, please
Hi Rick, Bottom line is you can look at everything(which it sounds like you have done) and realize that for another 6" You pay another couple of grand.
If you wanna go from 24 to 26? You've gotta sell another handful of CD's.
LOOK, once again....at the very minor differences in the incramental sizes and ask yourself if/IF, you can be comfortable with this or that and keep some $ in your budget for travel expenses.
over the past few months and especially weeks and days, I have tried to reviewreview my thoughts and ALWAYS come up with the same conclusions.
I did fine for me and you have to do that for you.
For us, I've decided we can do just fine by upgrading and maintaining equipment IF and When.
All the comments so far should help you. I'm beginning to ''really'' feel that less is more/but that's my gut reaction.
Stay well and keep smiling, ron
RE: Recommend a model for me, please
Hello TurningHawk, This thread is a hair diffent, but maybe not, so expand your input if you do not mind/here or elsewhere, where at least I can gleen something from you on size and class. I'm always interested in learning something. Thanks in advance. ron
RE: Recommend a model for me, please
Hello Rick, Had to chuckle as we all know the "I want" thing. Two years ago, I was looking at 40+ ft. Class A's. Needs changed due to size of family but I still wanted to travel with my wife, so opted for an Ebay 23.5' in what appeared clean/lightly used Class C.
Bottom line is that THE SIZE and amenities have actually been a PLUS in some ways. We can park almost anywhere, even here at our condo by backing up over the grass etc. and not upsetting anyone. Found easy parking everywhere we were in our JUST completed 9000 mile trip across southern U.S. Had found restrictions on 24,26 and 30' rigs in National Parks and I think State Parks and 30' on some twisting roadways.
Anyway, I'm so glad I have our 23.5' older rig, that is now in top condition due to sweat equity and a few more bucks. It's almost as good as the old college days with the VW camper vans... ;), well, except for gas milage! (9.5 on latest journey)
Just a thought, living with less is often more.
www.memoryroads.blogspot.com
ron
