jleamont

I'd bet the interiors are trashed by now from water leaks. Rubber roof sitting in the sun that long with no routine maintenance can't be good.

What year make and model is your coach? I posted more photos in the gallery, you can really see the lights now.

I have been reading these directly off of their website. some of it is a stretch but accurate non the less. 2 years ago walking through our local RV dealer for parts I often will browse the showroom just to see what's there. I saw a new Winnebago DP with a tag axle, I looked up inside was wowed by the bling, so I had to walk in, one side the slides were out, the other they were in. I got curious what they used on top of their slides as a roof, since ours has a Stainless steel cap the extends down the side wall, I stuck my hand up there and OUCH....I got pricked by a staple sticking up, with that I noticed there was nothing but bare wood, I guess the slide topper really has a serious responsibility

Carl, Welcome! You sound like you are in a similar situation to us. Two kids in high school here, one with her sights on College soon. We also love exploring in our motorhome and traveling the US. Joe

Yep, there are RV boneyards around, some of the junk I have seen sitting around would'nt be accepted there either... Tear it down burn what you can and scrap the metal, I see no other way. maybe a local junk man would just come and pick it up? I have a guy like that I can call, he'll take anything.

I was thinking about the scrap value to recycle a trailer RV. Since its mostly wood there really isn't any value in that approach. Pay to remove it sounds more realistic. That could be why you see so many around, up in these parts you have to be careful where you book a site, most "Campgrounds" or "Resort Campgrounds" are trailer parks trying to earn some extra cash. You will find these old trailers decaying into the landscape, not my idea of a fun packed weekend with the family. Like I mentioned above, unless the web site tells me otherwise stay clear.......! Oh yea, almost forgot to mention, the term "Beach House" up here is also used loosely, go to watch out for that also.... "Beach House" = Old camper trailer in a trailer park 10 miles from the actual Beach, for photos watch an episode of COPS!

I do not doubt that some on there would be tuff to deal with, so far I haven't dealt with anyone like that.

CarlBrothers, that is interesting that they offer that from the factory. I am very impressed by this. You said it best they just leave the chassis as it came from the factory, which is interesting since most often they will stretch it and overload it.

I have found.....so far anyway that most respond based off of how you ask questions. I have found a few folks on there to be very nice and helpful.

Brett, that's my fear. After speaking to the dealer that has done a few coaches and a bunch of Dodge Rams I felt better. They were kind enough to share their experiences with me, good and bad. They have only completed two ISL's several ISM's and a bunch of ISC and ISB coaches. None of theirs relocated the pump close to the tank on a DP. Apparently I'm fortunate to have space to relocate the separator and the pump down stream and have open access to the fuel tank. Fass recommend the placement of the pump as close to the tank as possible which on a Monaco works out since the next compartment forward is my power distribution. locating a ignition circuit should be simple, plus I have a bunch of open fuse spaces for adding circuits so I can make it look like it belongs. Bill I'm shocked how many Rams have had this done and how many companies make kits to do it on those. Most include performance upgrades which I have no interest in. I just want it to stay together and go down the road.

Brett, thank you for the response and I understand, I am glad you responded! When I spoke to Cummins and asked them if I could send positive pressure into the existing lift pump they told me absolutely not. Something is weak inside, they wouldn't elude to what but the weak link is on the inlet side (I pried), I believe the check ball is plastic and will break apart and go through to the next filter. I would love to see a cut away of that pump. The CAPS pump will accept up to 25 PSI (per Cummins), what it doesn't need it will return to the tank with no problems. The pump I ordered is the same one the RV dealer I spoke to swears by (I didn't want to be the test pigeon), its adjustable and the factory setting is 17PSI. I spoke to an injection pump rebuilder that is local, he bench tests the CAPS pumps (on the larger engines) at 25 PSI for an integrity test. Since the factory lift pump supplies 7 psi and the CAPS needs 10 minimum for proper lube and cooling...... which baffles me since there is no PSI coming to it now, its just volume that no one including Cummins has a spec on record. New pump link; http://www.fassride.com/detail/diesel-fuel-pumps/adjustable-diesel-fuel-pumps/adjustable-dodge-ram-cummins/adjustable-fuel-pump-95-gph-dodge-cummins-1998-1999-2000-2001-2002-2003-2004.php I thought about building a manifold to connect the return lines (one from the head, one from the CAPS pump and the 1/2" hose that actually feeds the tank) but the more I thought about it...I already have it. So two 5/8 JIC female plugs for the lines and I am done. Since I changed that pump in 2014 those were the two that were actually simple to access, when I pull my floor they are right there.

After some intense research I have decided to modify the existing fuel system design to eliminate the root cause for the CAPS fuel injection pump failure which is low fuel pressure to the fuel injection pump. I spoke to a RV repair facility that has done several of these, the longest running unit has been out for over 7 years and has accumulated just shy of 75,000 miles with no problems. This unit had two previous CAPS pump failures, none since. After doing my research speaking to one ISL owner that modified his I think I am going to tackle this for insurance. Here is my reason; the factory design of the Fuel injection pump pulling/sucking fuel from the tank 40' in front of it through a pump that shuts off after 30 seconds and through two filters is crazy, it strains the pump and it ultimately starves itself causing it to self destruct. The conversion will give the system a pump close to the fuel tank that constantly runs supplying filtered fuel to the CAPS injection pump so it doesn't starve and will always have fuel coming at it when the ignition is on. My plan is to relocate my primary filter/separator in the fuel tank bay with the pump mounted just after it, pushing fuel down to the engine's secondary filter then onto the CAPS injection pump. All returned fuel will remain as designed by Cummins and be routed from the Cylinder head and CAPS pump back to the tank via the Cummins lift pump that will be there only to serve as a manifold where the returned fuel all meets up to go back to the fuel tank. The factory lift pump will be capped where the original fuel supply lines connect (so the returned fuel does not leak out and its all sealed up) the electrical connection get's unplugged, the connector gets a relay plugged into it so the ECM see's a draw, assumes its the lift pump and doesn't set a fault code or turn the engine light on, I am remote mounting the relay in my rear electrical bay just as if the factory put it there. I will incorporate a electronic fuel gauge into the design for my coach and put it in the dash as if it came that way from Holiday Rambler so I can monitor fuel pressure, when it drops I will know its time to spin new filters on, no more guessing or waiting for it to starve the pump and begin to buck. All parts are on order except any hoses I will have to make up for the installation so far the tally is at $750.00 this will be the most cost effective insurance policy yet for this coach. CAPS design; ISL,ISM,ISX the lift pump shuts off after 30 seconds (just to prime the system) and relies on the injection pump suction to feed itself with this design you cannot install an aftermarket warning system to alert you of a problem since you only have fuel pressure for the first 30 seconds. There is no ECM strategy to turn the pump on when fuel volume is low, fuel flow is not monitored, in fact the only item monitored is the lift pump if there is an electrical draw, if its working or not it has no idea, it just will cause the $5500.00 injection pump (parts only not labor) to self destruct. ISB and ISC; the ECM will regulate the lift pump and send fuel to the Injection pump as needed. The ECM on these will often not supply enough fuel to the injection pump causing them to fail or the lift pump just fails and you might not realize it since the injection pump will also pull fuel to itself, just not enough. BD diesel makes a kit with a dash mounted alarm incase fuel pressure drops below 5 psi, so you have a chance in saving yourself the cost of an injection pump replacement. If you have any questions feel free to ask, I have so many notes and diagrams for My ISL engine bay layout I feel like a Cummins engineer that actually did his or her job .

Great article!

Carl, . Her Prevost will be so old build quality will be superior coupled with that old two stroke Detroit.

Ok so one story. Funny none the less. we were on the road for two days with our last coach 31'class c, long time ago. DW finds a place off of I-95 to stop for the night. I ask here to check the web and tell me what she sees. No website could be found...hmmm. Called no answering machine. We pull up 1/2 hour later it looked like a place from the movie Friday the 13th, should have been our second clue. I was tired so for $10.00 full hook ups we put the money in the envelope none of my info was required, which I thought was strange. I squeeze in, couldn't figure out the site layouts to save my life, all covered in leaves so I see a tower I pull over to it (it's summer and this place is almost empty, clue 3) no lights could hardly see. All I could see was a few abandoned trailers or at least they looked like they were as my headlights cast upon them when I was driving around. I pull up to a tower hop out test it, plug in, connect the sewer hose, empty, something is hitting me on the head, I shine the flashlight up creepy trees covering the top of the coach, (no idea what was hitting me on the head) I drop the flashlight and there are red ants everywhere I ran over a very large hill and they are climbing up the coach. I pull the power, and sewer hose,hop in the drivers seat, throw the coach in drive, entrance marked one way the exit had branches across it and I'm not sure how I got in that place the first time, here comes this person from a trailer that was missing a door, I'm out of here!!!! I could see the highway through the brush, ( I almost drove through them since the entrance was partially grown over) so... we'll here goes hold on....I floor it through the bushes onto the highway hooked a right and down the road I went. Down the road to a car wash I remembered passing just down the street (maybe a mile) when I arrive I wash and put my hose and plug away (yea they were dragging along side of me. Hose off the coach and spent the night at a rest stop off of 95. Boy I miss that flashlight and the bush kicked out from under the coach a few feet from the CG. Just in case you were wondering. Every time we drive down 95 we laugh. Still can't figure out where that place is not that I want to go back. moral of the story, there are some real shady places out there.

RodgerS, thank you for posting this. It was about as accurate as we see it oh so often while traveling. I could stand up on a soap box and type for hours about the stuff we have encountered in ONLY 8 years of doing this part time. I will say this....if you own a campground or know someone that does, pass this on.... if they do not have a website or a decent website with site photos I will not go there unless a friend recommended it. I have gotten burned too many times. Funny I have family that owns a campground, never been there and was offered a free site when ever we want to go....still haven't been there. No website not sure if I can even get into their CG let alone squeeze into a site, plus they have a few permanent sites which we avoid at most if not all the time. We stayed down the street and didn't say a word .

Steve, I had to unbolt mine unhook the water supply line and flip it over to get the model and serial. When you flip it over there was only a water connection to the toilet bowl jets and the wires. Mostly everything comes as one unit already assembled. If memory serves me right it was 6 Philips screws and it was all apart. The, motor, valve is all one piece very simple to change.

2brew, I did that with my headlights and front parking lights. My tail lights are 1992/1996 ford econoline and headlights are 1997-2006 Ford Econoline if you zoom in these are dark perimeter with clear lenses rather than the original. Theses also have Led halos on the bottom of the headlight

Blake, we use KOA also. I tend to go where I get discounts if just passing through. I will be down there in August.

Kay...Carl