kaypsmith

As Brett pointed out, who does the maintenance is the major factor. Also if you do the maintenance when it is due, will also affect the average cost. Regular maintenance will cost much less than overlooking some of the important factors and fixing them when they fail.

Would like to see some pictures also. To add pictures, top right corner, (reply to this topic), will allow you to attach pic's.

I'm also sorry for the bad experience, maybe they should change the name from Rambling Pines to "OH WISHING WELL", their motto could be "come throw your money here". I have not been to a private park yet with that policy, except at state and local parks, that have a manned gate because of the added attractions. Although I haven't driven the mh Northward of the Mason Dixon line, and maybe that says something. I was sitting my car at a Winn Dixie store parking lot, in Hueytown, Al., just a few hours ago. A woman parked next to me came out of the store with one of those small buggies, pushed within one inch of my door, and proceeded to get into her car. I rolled down my window, and politely asked if she intended to leave it there, her response was, of course, is it in your way. I said to her, yes, I'm about to get out of the car and it is in the way. Her response was "OH WELL". In driving away I looked at her tag, it was from New York, oh well. Better luck in the future. Kay

Never heard of that company, but my bus uses that kind of glass on all windows behind the driver seat, the ones in the door and beside the ds are thermo pane. I left seven of the full size in place, they are all dark tinted, plus I use a themal shade inside. My old motorhome has thermal windows, and fewer of them, and the bus is seven feet longer, and is easier to cool than the mh.

I had my shade brackets made at a sheetmetal shop locally, I had them form 16 gauge stainless steel, and drilled the holes myself. Much better than those that came from the factory.

"Not sure what to do about the battery disconnect switch"? This statement raises concerns for me, any camper style, "absorbtion fridge", will still need 12 volt supplied, even if it is being run on 110/120 ac. The controls use 12 volts whether on gas or electric, if this is taken away, the fridge will not work. Kay

Depending on the age and dependability of my steer tires, I always opt for the better quality tires and put the new ones on steer axle, and move the older steers to the tag axle. I average never having more than 3 years on the steer tires, and 6 years on the tags. No rule that I do that but I opt for this configuration because I want the best on the steers, for safety sake. I have never seen a coach in the ditch because of a tag tire blown, but have seen, and read many horror stories because of a steer tire blow out.

Many things come into play as mentioned above, and I agree with Ray, determine is the clicking from the starter or another relay. The link that Rich posted is very informative, and may or may not the same issue. As Rich mentioned, the circuit is very complicated, I have also had issues when I was a diesel mechanic, "forty years ago", that was nothing short of a battery just too small for the job, to finding a misaligned, or warped flywheel. The latter actually causing slightly bent shaft on the starter, but most newer starters, especially on Chrysler products are gear driven, which the Sprinter was a Dodge design and while Mercedes owned Chrylser, took that design on and renamed it Mercedes. All are tidbits, and may or may not be revelant to the OP.

If this has been an ongoing problem since day one, I hope that you have kept records as to how many complaints have been documented to the dealer, and Mercedes Benz. I don't have any idea what state you are in, and or, what state it was bought in. I would certainly check the lemon laws of that state, and would pursue from that angle if possible. In Alabama it is four complaints in a one year timeframe, but all states have their own guidelines. With only 10,000 miles, i'm sure that it is outside manufacture timeframe, but a call to Mercedes hotline every time it happens, should get some attention.

I will always use an inverter which is rated at double the required load. 324 watts is much too close to the rated watts of the 400 watt inverter, heat that will be produced in this scenario will become an enemy, in addition to DD69's comments.

Welcome to FMCA, hope you find us all to your liking, and happy trails, Kay

Thanks for reminding me Bill, that was a mistake, should have read, "turn hearing aids down while she is making mechanical suggestions". LOL

Thanks for the comments, and yes DD, it is 12 X 22.5, outside right drive tire, with bud style lug nuts. I didn't have a large capacity compressor, and didn't want to crank the bus and disturb the neighbors. Also he was there soliciting business when I first asked for the service. I have spoke with the cg owner, who told me there had been complaints on him but not recently, but he is banning solicitation by this guy, in the future. Just thought all should know, and Haidenger, thank you, I will post on RV Service Reviews.

Last week, we took our semi - annual trip to Pigeon Forge Tenn.. Close to the cg the curb had been replaced due to new construction and the curb had a very sharp edge. Due to traffic I could not swing as wide as required and scrubbed that curb. Upon visual inspection of my tires at the cg, that tire did suffer damage from the scrubbing. Same day, Black Bear RV Repair came through the cg, I stopped him and asked if he could and would change the tire. I carry a spare tire, not mounted, the guy told me that he would change the tire, he could do the change in an hour, and his rate is $120.00 per hour. I then asked if I could expect a $120.00 charge for the swap. Yes was his answer. Three days later, I had not seen or heard from the guy, so I went to the local tire store and found out the price for exchange at their shop to be $40.00. Told my wife this, and she said she would rather wait for repair at the cg. Well next morning Black Bear RV repair showed up and proceeded to do the exchange, no jack, his impact tool was inadequate, I loaned him mine. He removed the wheel and took to his shop to replace the tire, remember I have my own tire. Upon arrival he did put the wheel with my new spare back on the coach. Then came the paperwork, Two hours @120.00 = $240.00 plus $65.00 service charge which was never mentioned before. Total $305.00 because my wife didn't want to break camp. Moral, beware "BLACK BEAR REPAIR", and don't listen to wife in the future. Kay

Glad you got that out of the way, better luck on the gc.

ObedB, Us bus nuts often add radiator sprayers to our units for cooling on steep grades, pretty easy install and works!!!!

I use 90 weight.

Carl, a china replacement normal toilet is less than $180. and it is a very simple replacement if water is there, they work very well. You might connect a 12 volt battery next to your toilet, or run a wire from your battery bank directly to your present situation for flushing purposes on the fly, but if you have a fuse blown or circuit breaker thrown, it is a good indication that you already have a faulty unit and could possibly let the smoke out of the present unit. I can relpace the toilet in my unit in less than 30 minutes on a bad day. Kay

I thought about making suggestions for 50 amp as opposed to 30 amp, then thought what I origionally wrote was appropriate.

IT is 110, please do not install as 220, it will fry your coach electrical if wired 220.

Tom's comments are very good, especially about using the second lane if possible. Truckers, and bus drivers are taught to use these lanes when possible for several reasons, and the best reason is because road hazards tend to lay on the right shoulder of the road.

Seems like a poor design to me also. Might be a good idea to add a safety latch to these doors that can remained unlocked when parked.

I recommend that you drive to an empty parking lot without the dingy, have someone else drive the dingy, then hook up the dingy. Place some safety cones, or cardboard boxes, or barrels, along a route that you have planned. Then practice passing the obstacles and pulling in ahead of them using your mirrors, and the rear camera. Then head for the interstate outside of the city limits where traffic is not so bad, if possible, have a friend or spouse in a separate auto with cell phone, or walkie talkie in hand, pass and repass several times. Practice is the key to any role becoming better.

12 volts when plugged, or generator, is probably from the converter, or inverter/converter. Sure sounds like a solenoid not making up for some reason, possibly bad, or master switch bad. Could even be a bad, or incorrectly wired battery isolator, if the coach has one, most do. Maybe a jumper from battery bank directly to the 12 volt side of the converter for trouble shooting purposes, that is of course the battery bank has already been deemed to have proper voltage, 12.6 or above.

Glad you enjoyed Camp Gulf. But be careful telling others that you brought back sand from Florida, that is a punishable crime in Fl., LOL.