jana0623

I have an Aqua Hot 400-D in a 2015 Tiffin Phaeton 40-AH (all electric) coach. Yesterday the temperatures were warmer, so I'd turned the diesel boiler off, leaving the electric on. This morning when I turned it back on to get heat, the diesel didn't start or ignite. When I look at the indicator lights on the control panel, everything that's lit is green, including: Electric Heating Element Status, Heating Zone Status #1, Low Temp Cutoff Status, Pump #1, Diesel-Burner Status. Inside, the heat exchanger fans are blowing cool air. When I turn off the diesel boiler for 30 seconds and turn it back on, a pump comes on briefly, then goes back off. At least that's what it sounds like. Up until now (since January, we're full-timers), it has been our main source of heat, not to mention hot water.

If you are a member of Escapees, you have the option of joining Alliant Credit Union and financing through them. They finance full-timers, which is one of the challenges. Most banks and Credit Unions don't do full-timers. That's what we ended up doing, when the dealer couldn't find someone who'd take us, despite a credit score well above 800.

I have travelled the Siskiyou Pass several times in winter in a 30 foot Holiday Rambler Admiral or 40 foot Country Coach Magna. I've had no problems. Just follow the advise of HuffyPuff. Stop at Seven Feathers for the night, then check in the morning. It's a major truck traffic route, so the state DOT gets it open as quickly as possible.

Or you could take the other approach and turn the appliances off, and the propane at the tank when you leave one place, and turn it back on when you stop for the day. It is my understanding that the refrigerator should be good for 8-12 hours off, even in warm weather, particularly if you keep the door closed. If you have a residential refrigerator (many newer high end motorhomes) you can go much longer.

I question the idea that the propane on is less dangerous than the risk of food poisoning. As I understand it, the RV refrigerators are designed to keep cold for at least eight hours when off, even in warm weather, as long as you keep it closed. I turn heat, refrigerator, water heater, propane off when pulling out, and turn it on again when arriving. That way there's no risk of forgetting to turn things off at the refueling station. The only exception would be if it gets hot and I want to run the generator while traveling, I'll turn the refrigerator back on as well, since it's running on electricity.

Last few trips we’ve used the maps app on my iPad. The only bad thing is the lack of an RV setting, so it doesn’t warn of low clearance, weight limits, etc., but for travelling it’s been pretty accurate. That with the Pilot and Love’s apps for fuel stops, and we’ve been good. I looked at the Rand McNally RV app, but it’s $100 and only 2.5 stars. Also saw Trucker Path Pro (Free download). Aimed at over the road truckers, but may be useful for big rigs as well.

Interesting story. I've had Good Sam ERS for several years and used them a few times with no issues. This last time, we picked up something on the road on I-15 about 12 miles south of Nephi, Utah that did significant damage in the engine compartment of our 40 ft. Country Coach DP. Called Good Sam, and a mechanic/driver came out, figured out that he couldn't fix it on the side of the road, and went back and got his flat bed trailer to haul it what amounted to about 20 miles back to Nephi. They dropped us off at an RV park next door to the shop where we stayed for the five weeks it took to do the repairs (yes, it's a long story). In talking with the proprietor of the towing/Truck repair business, he stated that they have always had trouble getting paid by Good Sam ERS (handled by Allstate). Since it was a road hazard, our collision insurance (National Interstate) covered the repairs, including picking up the majority of the towing that Good Sam wouldn't cover. Worked out for us, but I'm thinking about whether we should switch. Maybe I need to read my policy to see if I can just drop both and use National Interstate.