shields

Mike, Thanks so much for the excellent update. I recently replaced the original shocks on my 1997 Monaco 40' with Bilsteins. The ride is vastly improved and we are SO happy. It was well worth the expense. Thanks again, Tim

Unless you are storing the drinking water in the gallon jugs for extended periods, no treatment is needed. Just wash and rinse the jugs from time to time before refilling. I agree with Bill's point about the quality from your fresh tank. Unless you are putting filtered or bottled water into the travel jugs, you can get the same result from the MH fresh water system. If the quality from your MH fresh water system isn't adequate, maybe it can be improved. We had similar troubles and my wife was bringing bottled water for drinking. Since then, I bleached and flushed the system, upgraded the filters, and don't let the water sit in the tank for more than a month or so. The result for us has been (thankfully) no more bottled water expenses. Happy travels, Tim

Just found the article. It is in the January 2011 edition of "Motorhome". The shop is Redlands Truck and RV, in Redlands, Calif. 888-249-0124. Good luck! Tim

I think there was an article on exactly this subject in a recent edition of "Motorhome" magazine. They list the name of the shop that did the work. Maybe the shop could put you in contact with their customer who had the work done. Tim

Charlie, There is another recent discussion thread on this subject. See the post dated March 21 entitled "Vegas to LA and up the Coast to Oregon". I was there last month. We left our toad at Morro Bay and drove north to Big Sur. The roadway is one lane in several places due to repairs and two bridges under construction. It may well be closed, as others indicated above. We talked with another RV'er to took his 40'+toad up Hwy 1 to Big Sur. I'm glad we didn't. So . . . while it can be done, its a tough drive and (as far as I know) there is nowhere to park your 38' coach along way. The state parks in that area don't take MH's your size. Also, with all the rain recently, there may be other road challenges. I also drove Hwy 1 north from Santa Cruz to San Francisco recently. That road is all fine as of three weeks ago. I would head north from Ventura to Morro Bay on Hwy 1. Then take Hwy 101 to Carmel/Monterrey, and then head back to Hwy 1 to see the coastline. Happy travels. Tim

As Brett indicated, a lot of OEMs advise against K&N type filters. The air passing through the filter can pick up oil from the filter membrane. If that oil gets onto the mass air sensor, the computer misadjusts the air-fuel mixture. My brother had exactly that trouble with his Ford pickup. We eventually went back to the factory intake system. However, since you are already using the K&N filters without problem, adding the streamlined K&N intake piping might not create trouble. I would look and see where the mass air sensor is mounted in the K&N intake and compare it to your present set up. Good luck saving fuel ! Tim

Hi Jim, Thanks for letting us know how things worked out. I'd echo Bill's comment to check for proper charging as the new batteries start their service cycle. It only takes a few minutes and the voltages are listed in the posts above. Good luck and happy travels. Tim

Thanks Chuck.

Chuck, Deen; I've seen ads for the Amish units but haven't paid much attention to them. How are they different or superior to the OEM units? Thanks, Tim

Tupelo, Here are a few additional ideas: 1. Check the door seals using the "dollar bill" test. Maybe one of the doors got bumped out of alignment and is not sealing. 2. Is there anything obstructing the air flow into, through, or out of the unit? Take a careful look at each area for debris, obstructions, or broken/disconnected items. 3. Since it's not working on either gas or electric, the burner is probably not the trouble. However, you still might want to check and make sure the heat source is operating and adjusted correctly. 4. Was the unit operated well out of level recently? If so, there may be internal problems or deposits clogging the tubes. By the way, did this problem come on suddenly or gradually? Good luck, Tim

We tow our toad 4-wheels down. It's a bit more challenging than towing our ski boat, which can be backed up without trouble. When you can't reverse, you need to think your way through things a bit more in advance. I've gotten into tight places a couple of times and had to disconnect. On our last trip we found the road washed out and no room to turn around. It took about 5 minutes (I'm not as talented as Bill Adams!) to unhook the toad so we could get the coach backed up. Most of the parks we've visited have space somewhere to stash your carhauler. Thus, either approach has advantages and disadvantages. If you have room for a carhauler and can use it in your business, maybe that's a sound approach. Is a good carhauler really available for the same price as a towbar and brakes? Also, what does the carhauler weigh? Are you up against limitations on total weight you'll be pulling? Good luck, Tim

Hi, Some of the more mechanical sorts will probably have a better understanding than I do, but here's my two cents worth. 1. The MH was at the shop for a month; so there was lots of time for the batteries to be drained from various sources. 2. When you picked it up from the shop, the engine had to be jumped; so the engine batteries were depleted. 3. When you picked it up from the shop, the generator would not crank; so the house batteries were depleted also. 4. After driving home, and plugging in for awhile, the engine starts on its own; so the engine batteries are getting charged (from the alternator, shore power, or both). 5. The genset is still not cranking on its own, but the lights in the coach work; so the house batteries have taken some amount of charge (or are still holding some voltage). They just don't have enough power to turn the starter. Maybe the house batteries just need more time to charge. I'd leave the coach plugged in for another day or so and see if they charge up. Or, if you're good with a multimeter, you can check the voltage and see if they are charging. If you're so inclined, write back and we'll help you through the process. Another (less joyous) prospect, is that the batteries are damaged, or the charging system is not working properly. By the way, was the MH in the shop for anything electrical? Good luck, Tim

Great stuff! Please keep writing. Hang in there tsmart, we've all gone through the same tribulations. It WILL, eventually, get alot more fun and a bit less expensive. Tim

You might try calling Specialized RV Repair [916-521-9577] in Sacramento. They might be able to help with a local solution. Good luck. Tim

Welcome to the FMCA forum. There are workshops and seminars offered at FMCA conventions and rallies. Also, both the FMCA magazine and MotorHome magazine have regular articles on maintenance issues which you might find useful. Lastly, Bob Livingston's book on RV maintenance and repairs covers most of the equipment and issues; its available online and at most RV supply shops. While none of these are technical courses, I hope they help. Happy travels, Tim

Jim, We just returned from a week along the central coast, from Newport Beach to Big Sur. Our size is similar to yours; i.e. 40' coach plus a toad. For a first night in the LA area, you might consider the Malibu Beach RV Park right on Pacific Coast Hwy in Malibu. The park overlooks the Pacific and has fabulous sunset views. There is a small fish store and restaurant within walking distance and you can eat there or take fresh fish back to bbq at your site. Heading north, Hwy 1 is perfectly passable as far as San Luis Obispo, and the views are wonderful along the way. Three to four hours north of Malibu, there are great full hookup spots in Pismo Beach (Pismo Dunes) and Morro Bay. However, our favorite stop this trip was at little known Avila Beach where we dry camped 30 feet from the waves and enjoyed the great sunset views. We also explored another beachside gem called Jalama Beach Regional Park. It is directly on the shore, uncrowded, and has full hookups. If you Google Avila Beach or Jalama Beach, you'll find details. Access in and out of both was fine. Once you get to San Luis Obispo, Hwy 1 and 101 separate. Hwy 1 stays on the coast and is an easy drive as far north as San Simeon (Hearst Castle). While you are there, you might want to check the old lighthouse at Point Peidras Blancas. Tours are offered on Tues and Thurs and we would recommend it. North of San Simeon, Hwy 1 goes to Big Sur and Monterrey and is narrow and twisty. We left the coach in Morro Bay and drove the toad to Big Sur and were glad we did. We passed another RVer with a 40'+toad along the way, moving very slowly. I spoke to him the following day in Big Sur and he said it was ok if you just take it real slow. However, the roads are under repair and are down to one lane in two spots. So, it can be done if you feel like it; but its not my idea of a vacation. If you skip the coastal route on Hwy 1 in the Big Sur area, your drive is inland on Hwy 101 from San Luis Obispo to Monterrey. It's a pretty drive and very easy. Once you get to the Carmel/Monterrey area, the coast road is a good drive and has great vistas. We've stayed in the past at a waterfront park at Pacifica Beach just south of San Francisco. The amenities aren't great (a fancy parking lot) but the location works and you can pick up the BART system for easy tours of the city. Heading north again, the drive is easy over the Golden Gate and up the Sonoma coast. From there its an easy jaunt to the east to access the Napa/Sonoma wine country and you'll find the roads workable. Have a good trip! Tim and Beth Shields

Brocki, We found the two piece tubs (where the lid is a separate piece that snaps onto the bottom) work much better than the tubs with the hinged lids. Although I've never tried it, someone told me that dusting the tubs with Ajax helps deter the critters too. Good luck. Tim

Don, If you are interested in oceanfront, and don't mind pavement, then Silver Strand or Mission Bay are worth looking into. If you'd prefer some trails, mountains, and a more rural environment, we had a fine time at Oakzanitas just north of El Cajon and about 20 miles east of San Diego. Happy trails . . . Tim

In addition to keeping a window open, you might also place a CO2 alarm at floor level near the heater. Tim

Chuck, Rene; Thank you both for the advice. The coach has been at an Allison shop and they reported that the Pac-Brake is now working properly. As Brett suspected, it seems one of the connections got goofed up in the course of the project. I hope to get over to the shop within the next couple of days and check things over in person. I certainly plan on following your advice and checking for codes and getting more familiar with the VIM, ECM, etc. Once again, thanks to you all. I'll let you know the final outcome soon. Tim

Thanks Brett. It sounds like you and I are seeing things the same way; the source of Problem #2 is probably found in the work done on Problem #1. Thanks again. Tim

I'm facing a situation where, in the process of addressing one problem, a second problem has arisen. I suspect the source of Problem #2 is the work related to Problem #1; but no one seems to have a clear explanation. We have a 1997 Monaco Dynasty with an 8.3L Cummins engine coupled to an Allison six speed transmission. The coach also has a Pac-Brake exhaust brake. Problem #1. We've had two small transmission issues: (1) the shift from 2nd to 3rd was not a smooth as the other shifts, and (2) when the transmission downshifted to 4th up steep hills under heavy throttle, an indicator light saying "service" appeared on the transmission control panel. These small issues have existed for many months and I just got around to dealing with them. We notified our mechanic who reported that the "service" code was a false report of the transmission being overfilled with fluid due to a malfunctioning sensor. As to the odd shift from 2nd to 3rd, he reported that the throttle position sensor and the transmission control module were not communicating properly. We had the transmission fluid level sensor replaced, the throttle position sensor replaced, and the transmission control module tested by the manufacturer. The transmission control module was working properly but they upgraded it somewhat after the testing. Problem #2. Everything is back together and working fine, EXCEPT, now the exhaust brake is inoperative. When I depress the activator for the exhaust brake, the numbers on the transmission display panel start cycling rapidly from 1-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6. The technicians have replaced each of the three new components and rechecked their work. Nothing has changed. At this point everyone involved seems mystified. Before the technicians start investigating further, I wonder if any of you FMCA members have ideas or suggestions. Thanks so much! Tim

Brenda, Take a look at www.RVHeadsets.com for a product made for just your purpose. They run $79 per pair and come with a nice padded carry case. Their phone number is 719-338-3138. Happy travels, Tim

Bill, Thanks for the update. We will be heading out for a week following Presidents Day, and I'll be refueling to the tune of 100+ gallons at FJ. It will be interesting to see what happens. All the best, Tim

If we could do one thing differently about motorhoming, it would be to buy one sooner. Yes, it costs a bit more than you might spend otherwise. However, the memories, family togetherness, and fun make it all worthwhile. My brother has children several years younger than mine, and I'm encouraging him to get started now rather than waiting. Happy trails to you all. Tim and Beth