I'm looking for anyone else who owns a Travel Supreme built with the all-electric option. We have a 2004 38' DS04 with 10 batteries (8 coach 6V and 2 chassis 12V) and two 2k watt inverters and have had nothing but problems since delivery in August 04. I'll save all the gruesome details until I hear that other people have one. I think perhaps we might have the first one they built and it would seem that they did not have the design under control. Other than the electrical system, we love our coach and I'm sorry to hear of their current trouble. Looking forward to any responses on this issue!
I'm looking for anyone else who owns a Travel Supreme built with the all-electric option. We have a 2004 38' DS04 with 10 batteries (8 coach 6V and 2 chassis 12V) and two 2k watt inverters and have had nothing but problems since delivery in August 04. I'll save all the gruesome details until I hear that other people have one. I think perhaps we might have the first one they built and it would seem that they did not have the design under control. Other than the electrical system, we love our coach and I'm sorry to hear of their current trouble. Looking forward to any responses on this issue!
JohnnyT, the moderator of this forum has one..
He's on the list to come to the Elkhart Rally in my signature.
'06 Phaeton 40' QSH
'03 Ford Sport Trac
Scottiemom's Pet
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2 Traveling Scotties RV.net Rallies 11, Other Rallies 9, Escapades 5
2005 F/T Class Our Travel Blog Where are we?
I have an all electric same setup as yours.. Took delivery in July 2003 have not had any problems with ours. As mentioned we will be at the April Rally... What sort of problems?
JohnnyT
2004 40DS02 Travel Supreme ISL 400
Jeep Grand Cherokee
M&G Brake & Break Away
Blue Ox Aventa II Tow bar
Johnny,
Thank you for your reply. I'm going to have to make the April Rally a priority-providing we get our motorhome back by then. It is currently in Elkhart at a repair facility, and had been at Travel Supreme-again-since we came back from Alaska and left it there in late September 2007.
Where to start? When we took delivery in 8/04 we drove it home, plugged it in (we have our own 50-amp circuit in our pole barn) and two days later every battery in it was dead. We got it started with a service call and took Karen's elderly parents to VA for their grandson's wedding. Took two days to travel there-we parked in a Wal-Mart on the way, running the generator, which turned out to be a lifesaver. Spent three days in VA at a campground, plugged in, and when we went to leave, all 10 batteries were dead. Again. Discovered that the only thing which would prevent battery discharge was running the generator. Took her parents back to Ohio, running the generator 24/7, then drove the coach back to Indiana to the factory at their request. There were other issues for them to attend to that weren't right at delivery, but the had the coach for the entire winter-we didn't see it until April 2005! I'm going to skip some other details to save time, but we've finally gotten to the point that it will stay charged as long as we're using it or it's plugged in. Let it sit un-plugged for more than 2 days and you're asking for trouble. Also, on our Alaska trip this last summer, it burned out two 160 amp engine alternators. Travel Supreme apparently has replaced all 10 batteries and installed new control panels in the bathroom-I presume you know what I'm talking about here-but I only know this because we were called over to Elkhart on other business and saw it firsthand. No communication from TS. My weekly calls to Joe Reed for over 6 weeks went unreturned. Now I learn they are in trouble, but that doesn't explain the lack of ANY communication. Don't want to bore you with further details now, but you have a glimpse of what we've dealt with. Of course, other than the electrical problems, we love our MH!
Two things: 1. Where do you get that nifty map that you and others use in your signature? 2. You have GOT to get to Alaska! It is spectacular. If you are ever thinking of going there, I can give you some tips, one of which is to buy the Great Alaska TourSaver. We saved many times its price.
Thanks for responding! Maybe we will be able to meet you at the rally.
In the RV Net search box, type US signature map and click on the only suggestion. This will bring you to a forum then click on the underlined US signature map.
Last year we met someone who had an all electric TS; he had a lot of problems with the coach. Our TS is not all electric.
Happy RVing!
Susan
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy s___...what a ride!"-Unknown
There is an electrical drain on the batteries when not plugged in--when you run gene--the batteries won't go dead because they are being recharged....so something is draining them....you need to check everything electrical, engine block heater switch, refrigerator door heat switch, wet bay heat switch...something somewhere is running and draining your batteries...maybe even a light in a closet or in the storage bay--maybe even your step limit switch. I am assuming you are using the battery disconnect switches and this still is happening? Perhaps it is the inverter to run the residential refrigerator. You may have to play a game of disconnecting via breakers/fuses one at a time until problem stops..then at least you would have found the circuit and can track from there. I don't envy you.
Stuart and Stella Denning
2009 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 41SKQ
Our 4 Bulldogs (Summer, Sully, Sierra and Great-Grandma Demi)
2007 Saturn Vue (TOAD)
Diesel is provided by your safely trained drivers, as pictured below
This may sound too basic but you must shut the inverter off when in storage or it will eat the batteries even without another draw. The inverter uses a few amps per hour by itself. If I leave my inverter on while in storage even with frige off all batteries dead within three days.
also you must have a battery isolator installed. had same problem with a 2005 select all electric. they probably install them now. Contact travel supreme techs they are still working in the service center or contact Jacob in parts to get an isolator. Hooks up to gen, coach inverters and keeps the batteries charged up while plugged in or running genset or dry camping. This should take care of zyour problem.
bullydogs1 wrote: There is an electrical drain on the batteries when not plugged in--when you run gene--the batteries won't go dead because they are being recharged....so something is draining them....you need to check everything electrical, engine block heater switch, refrigerator door heat switch, wet bay heat switch...something somewhere is running and draining your batteries...maybe even a light in a closet or in the storage bay--maybe even your step limit switch. I am assuming you are using the battery disconnect switches and this still is happening? Perhaps it is the inverter to run the residential refrigerator. You may have to play a game of disconnecting via breakers/fuses one at a time until problem stops..then at least you would have found the circuit and can track from there. I don't envy you.
Thanks for your suggestions! One of the original problems turned out to be that the batteries simply weren't wired correctly. They claimed that they had not been ruined by being incorrectly wired, but I've never been too sure about that. Yes, I am using the disconnect switches but certain items still are lit up in the coach. They since have installed a "birdhouse" so that the inverters charge the batteries when the coach is plugged in and this has worked fairly well since we have wired the barn for the correct electrical service. I considered the route of flipping breakers or removing fuses but there is truly a daunting number of those and I don't think the batteries have enough cycles in them to do that much trial and error. Throw in what you pay for one of these units and I just don't think that kind of troubleshooting is my job. I find it interesting to read that you think we have a standard residential refrigerator-we don't. We have a Dometic standard RV type evaporative unit that of course only runs on electric now, since we don't have any LP. I asked why we couldn't have a cheaper, larger, residential refrigerator instead (we custom ordered the unit) and the answer was: We just couldn't. I'm still shaking my head at that one, since I see home units in other motorhomes.
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