rsbilledwards

J, It does look really good, you have me a thinkin about doing something very similar. I do not like having to clean the mirrors all the time. B

We have two Cabellas in Denver area. We went once as they were just opening the store. Tried to open a Cabella's card for a discount and they declined us. We have no debt, no troublesome history and credit scores in the 800s. Go figure, never went back. We like Bass as they are closer anyway... Bill Edwards 1999 Safari Panther

Byron Call me Bill Edwards are you going to be west this summer?

HA HA You are certainly one to speak or call the kettle black. How is Bette doing. B

In so far as adding insulation to the engine compartment. In many case this is very difficult and a job for a contortionist! But I have the ultimate coach allowing for ease of this effort. I used a lamination of foil faced foam and foil faced bubble wrap insulation. Depending on how it is assembled with a 3M spray glue one can attain R 12. The reduction in heat was substantial, 20 degrees +. Foil faced foam is available in 1/2, 3/4, 1 and 1 1/2 inch 4 foot by 8 foot dimensions and can be cut with a box knife. All it takes is time... Bill Edwards 1999 Safari Panther

Like you Brett waiting for a reply so I could throw in some interesting stuff recently discovered...last summer. I do not have a rubber roof or know any thing about compatible coatings, so this relates to fiberglass. Somewhere along the line, apparently a number of years ago 3M produced a Hollow Ceramic Ball for insulating purposes and if I were a guessing man, the impetus was the space age. This material has been added to elastomeric paint and is being used on commercial building roofs as a result of the "GO Green" movement and with apparently stellar results. Look at all the white roofs in New York and Los Angeles and countless roofs in Dubai and elsewhere. I received this tip from another forum member in Redding, California who was applying it to his commercial building roofs and also to his coach. I then followed suit and ordered a 5 gallon pail and applied it "SON SHIELD" in this case to my coach's fiberglass roof. It is amazing and it helps for sure. The insulating qualities of the hollow ceramic balls is considerable. It is more like a dust, hard to tell that it is actually balls in the paint. In the Arizona desert this February through April, in 80 and 95 degree weather the roof was cool to the touch and under the solar panels, it was in the big scheme of things, cold to the touch. I have concluded that there is more heat gain from the side walls than the roof. This stands to reason also from the fact that the walls are thinner than the roof at 1 1/2 inches versus 3 1/2 inches. There is a solution to help this as well not yet completed. Have you ever noticed how warm those upper cabinets get when the sun beats on the outside wall? One can Google this material for sure to determine accuracy. The balls reflect UV, They reflect heat both directions, they are fire resistant and have acoustic qualities, (I still had plenty of noise from rain beating on the roof) and several other purported attributes. The manufacturer requires 5 to 6 mills thickness hence the need for a five gallon pail. During application and due to the viscosity of this material it fills cracks and irregularities very well. In the 9 months it has been on the coach there has been no fractures in the surface due to additional drying, shrinkage from the heavy application to achieve the desired mill thickness. One thing I was hoping for was a shiny and thus a reflective surface. This did not occur at all, in fact it is a flat dull surface. I am still in the hunt for something to put over this now to gain the very glossy appearance I would like. A glossy surface is infinately easier to keep clean than a dull porous one. I am thinking of a high gloss Latex. Any input would appreciated. Cost was not bad a couple hundred dollars which is only a bit more that a couple gallons of Dicor roof coating with greater longevity. Bill Edwards 1999 Safari Panther

Brett, Herman and Carl, I have not been on in quite a while and now that we are home, yes problems... I logged on and went to locate some previous posts made in 2016 year in particular "Increasing Towable Weight". I had the time parameters correct and the name correct. The system could not find it, no clue, did not exist. I found it after a bit of searching. This has happened twice. Good seeing you at Verdi and Chandler and great to have met you too Carl. Sure would have enjoyed seeing the inside of your coach. Herman it was a pleasure meeting you too. Haven't seen a guy your age work so hard and freverently for a long time, kinda like the "Energizer Bunny"!!! Thanks for your help getting situated and teaching me how to pay attention to directions! HA HA Bill Edwards

I for one have a couple comments about the FMCA atlas. I glanced at it at Chandler. I could not read it since it was to small. It is designed for younger eyes or older Americans with a magnifiying glass. I know from a conversation there that it has been suggested numerous times to builkd an atlas in a large format that is easier to use. It was stated that "Charlie" voted it down. Why would anyone our age vote down an improvement to increase the useage of this product with FMCA on it. I currently but the large format one from Walmart...it is terrific. Bill Edwards

I think I have the jist of some of this and the heat wrap. On the Z, I wrapped the entire exhaust system that was practical all the way to the muffler and then all the air plenums from the filter to inner cooler and out the other side to the intake port. Exhaust manifold not but would like to. Two things happen, bedroom is 20 degrees cooler after shut down. Obvoiusly cooler engine bay. The other gain I believe is cooler air to engine equals additional HP. NASCAR developed this technology trying to reduce heat to the driver and increase HP Thanks it works Bill Edwards

Carl, Sent you pm. Yes to both Hang on B

Seems to me that larger water supply tank is in the offing but it sure looks great!! Bill Edwards

Another pertinent series of questions would be what type, brand of 6 volt battery has bee installed. What is the amp hour rating and if flooded or not. All of these will determine how much usage is available. If flooded typically you have 50% of the rated amp hours available. Bill Edwards

J Take a look at Rvillage.com site and visit the Restoration forum several great idea and how to as well. Bill Edwards

Typically the solar is connected to the house batteries, in your case the chassis batteries with a Smart Charger as there is no chance of over charging. In all that I have read nothing has ever been referenced to hooking the solar to the inverter/charger. Why disconnect them in the first place. Leave them connected, direct solar to house batteries and install an echo charger as Brett suggested and all will be maintained in great condition. If you want to disconnect the chassis batteries from the system, remove the primary ground at the chassis. The batteries will still charge as desired, reconnect the ground and drive away. Bill Edwards 1999 455 Panther

That is a good indication of a bad fuel pump diaphragm. If the pump is attached to the engine and operates with a lever from an internal cam inside this is where the fuel will come from. Only a guess. If it has an electric pump mounted externally it is not the source. Bill Edwards

Great Idea BillE

WOW That all sounds like some one wants or plays or played real hard!! Cooler yet!! BillE

Kinda far down the road now Carl but that thing pumps a lot of oil cooled AMPs!! Pretty cool Ernie!

Brett, No more moisture than expected and clean air no debris. BillE

Brett, No drier and you know I have not yet checked. I have one to install-- probably now sooner than I was planning. I will ck that later this AM. First going to take my girl to Breakfast! Thanks for keeping track. BillE

Nope not here on Monday, showed up on Wednesday...on top of that the wrong one! of course and as usual. I called back Wednesday PM and spoke with TRAVIS. It was his brother that took the original order. I don't know what happened but the correct part was on the shelf. Travis took a couple pictures of it for me and now I knew what to look for. As Herman said look locally so I did after googling the valve based upon what Travis sent me and bingo found it for $106 at Midwest Truck Parts! I did not know of them until I was looking for the airbags and STEMCO sent me there as a distributor. I asked the about the valve as I was picking up the bags and yes two of them on the shelf. Now they are made by HALDEX called a "ride height control valve" Same valve is used on the Beaver Magnum chassis. OK take it to the shop and install it...it works and then it does the same thing, et side inflates to ride height and lft to tight but no additional lift. However I notice this time a fair bit of oil in the bled off air out the bottom of the valve. I don't think that is good or supposed to be like that. I did find quite a bit of debris in the other valve's intake screen. I did not notice or there was no oil on that valve as I looked a second time...I am going to Google this and see what comes up. Bill Edwards

Unfortunately I am not much of an interstate traveler. I like the secondary roads. Guess I will have some adjustments and Janet wil have to learn how to navigate more efficiently. One aid in this is our coach is only 11' 9' tall, a shortie in the big scheme of things. I know from the racing days there is no substitute for seat time, mlies around the track and on that score I have, compared to many of you, coach seat time, is limited and driving in the EAST very limited so I will accept being a "newbie". I am not going to Connecticut and will spend very limited time there in the future. This trip Ohio, Penn, and Southern New York. Thanks, BillE

Carl, I'm with you, I wondered the same thing. maybe he is controlling incoming air or keeping the wasps from building a nest before the next trip. In doing all the work I have been doing on the Panther I have found a small box of retired wasp nests. One of them nearly filled one of the air horns, and several in and under the AC covers, YIKES!!! BillE

I will heed the advice.!! September is almost here and we'll be on the road again!. BillE

I love it when the newbies try to solve the issue without heading to the check out stand and pay for an over priced invoice. Here they get a pat on the back and will eventually tackle another more complex issue all the while having a smile on their face and a DW that thinks they are a genius...except you Carl and Hermanl! BillE