jleamont

Thanks Byron, good info. I can't wait to use it more in a few weeks and really get to play with it.

Wow, that's a good price.

What are friends for......right!

Bill, agreed! lighter coach, smaller power plant, heavier coach, larger power plant......its a wash.

Carl, both, and an occasional mixed drink. It really just depends on my mood.

Thanks Jim, I have bought stuff from them in the past, great people. I installed my Coolant tank from Source last weekend. Nice product a little pricey but it should last and piece of mind is worth it....I guess. While I was back there I replaced a bunch of wire wrapping and covered a few small hoses that were in a location that they could chafe. My coach already had the OEM upgraded Nylon tank with the new design low coolant sensor, it was leaking at the fittings on the top and sides, the holes were elongating in the Nylon. Not sure how long it was in there but I was getting tired of removing the fittings and re wrapping them with Teflon and putting them back in, so I just went this route, I figured it would be once and for all.

Same here, we really enjoyed our old gasser coach, yea it was a little loud pulling large hills, it did it like a champ and I will admit I ran up some pretty big mountains with the V10 at the posted speed limit with the cruise set crossing the country both times. The "noise" you only really notice it when your pushing it hard and you get use to it, I was just sitting here trying to recall if there was ever a time where it was horrible, cant remember. If I hadn't stumbled onto this DP and the good deal it was we would have most likely bought a new Gasser Class A. The most annoying noise I created, the K&N open air filter had a drone sound like an old 4 Barrel carburetor on a muscle car at certain RPM's, in a class C it was right there and while it sounded like it meant business it did get annoying at times, but again....that was my fault, not the chassis. I never had any mechanical problems with that coaches powertrain, I replaced the spark plugs, coil boots and all fluids at 55,000 (when we bought it just for a baseline), water pump and fuel pump at 75,000 miles just to be safe and all coolant hoses, at that time and it was 12 years old, seemed like a good time to do so. We traded it in at 97,000 miles and 16 yrs old just routine maintenance, very very easy on my wallet.It still ran like it was new, never used any oil.

MLNDAVO, I just sent you a message.

Campcop, you are correct. Fords publications on their website have not been updated since 2014 . Funny, I logged on and cruised through their shop manuals and according to their "Parts and Service Division" a 5 speed was never an option, lol. It goes from a 4 speed to a 6 speed, no mention of a 5 speed ever existing. I did locate a 2016 F53 brochure and it does list the "Torqshift6" as standard, no manual for a 2015 and the 2014 is a 5speed despite what their shop manuals state. here's the link 2014, although it doesn't say its not current or a 2014 http://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/motorhome/ 2016 link http://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/strippedchassis/trim/f53classamotorhome/ Not one to bet but my guess is his chassis is a 2015 on a 2016 coach, very common...if not the "Norm". And the 6 speed you will most likely not see until next years body build.

HAHA, that's funny. Got to love kids.

I bought the precut strips with the adhesive backing from Cabin Bright http://www.cabinbright.com/x-factor-fluorescent-tube-replacements/ and replaced all of our interior lighting from wall sconces, 18" ceiling lights, 12" ceiling lights, and the dimmable pods (24 through out) and the vanity mirror lights with LED from Cabin Bright. Cost more but made in the USA with a nice warranty, plus you can get different brightness and colors (bright white or more of a yellow like the outside sun). I was uncomfortable with some of the other products found on the web and if you are doing an entire coach upgrade the discounts were very steep. The owner of the company is an RV guy just like us, I met him and his wife at the Hershey show in 2014 at his booth. I looked at the LED tubes and they were very expensive and my goal was to get rid of the ballast in the fluorescent lights, since I had a few that were bad and several bulbs with black ends. I removed two tubes and replaced them with one center strip of LED, still much brighter than before. Kudos for the thought of the LED's you can cut to fit, that was creative.

The V10 is standard, Diesel is a $9000.00 up charge

Carl, its work.. I will toast you guys this weekend with some wine and cheese. Have a great time!

Quality oil and filter.... it will take it. I ran Mobil 1 Synthetic (5W30) with a Motorcraft filter in mine. I have personally seen these with over 300,000 miles on them in construction vehicles that tow, and I can tell you they have a much harder life than in an RV. I had one company set a transmission on fire from beating on one so hard, (pulling a full size Case backhoe with an F550) it shoot fire out of the transmission dipstick tube onto the engine, I replaced the transmission, engine and transmission wiring harnesses, coolers, radiator etc, still running today...

My friend's Tiffin has it in the kitchen directly across from the Refrigerator. If it was boxed in behind the drivers seat I wouldn't mind.

Yup, my thoughts exactly. That was the reason for my change over to oil.

Ugg, want to go but can't.....Safe travels!

Thanks Carl, I actually found this company (link below), and I will look into your recommendation as well. We can put away some BBQ in this family and I love to cook it. I'm that guy at the campground cooking up a bunch of food meeting new people. I might need the trailer type and hook it to the back of the jeep .We will look like the Beverly Hillbilly's rolling down the highway. I mentioned it to the DW the other day, and I got that stare.... , so I let it go at that point. The next trip we go out looking for that local BBQ place and the food isn't that great, she will come around. http://www.traegergrills.com/shop/grills/town-travel-portable-series/ptg/TFT17LLA.html#gclid=CLbj3PbKn8sCFYUWHwodITkOdA&start=23

Carl, she is 5'2" I am 5'8" not 6'6". Puff, when you sell that coach you have to stay on here....no one else will defend the Norcold 1200 series they way you do. You are like the Norcold expert, that's pleasant to work with. just my two cents, my ice maker was the only thing that worked on our 1200LRIM correctly. It was plugged into a separate outlet, not sure why. all it ever gave us was cold H2O, nothing freezes at 34 degrees. twice I was able to get the freezer below freezing, not sure why or how on the one time. The 2nd time it was behind the coach (after it was removed) and it got cold out that night.

Carl, let me know what they charged you for the Aqua Hot once you have it completed. I am going to tackle mine this weekend, I probably would have paid someone but there are no authorized service centers local to me.

Agreed, it had more power, I found it was worse on fuel...mostly my fault, it ran so good I found my foot in it more often. But when I was behaving it was no better on MPG. I installed trans temp gauge, oil temp gauge and Diff temp gauges on the A Pillar and my transmission ran at 150 degrees from 190 before the banks trans command was installed and it shifted much better. later on I replaced the pan with an extra deep sump aluminum pan with cooling fins, I dropped another 10 degrees with that and gained a few more quarts. I changed the pan to help keep the ford transmission case square, under heavy load they were known to flex causing internal leakage at the valve body gaskets inside, which would result in internal failure, the solid pan helped to hold it square.

Oneway, our first coach needed a new roof, when we looked at it at the dealer it was parked inside a storage warehouse it was so bad. I do not know what it was originally but I can tell you it was replaced with TPO. (same color on both the top side and bottom side) That coach was a 1998 Coachmen Santara 311SB 31' Class C. The unit was on consignment and I bought it for a cheap price (no inside or wood damage) the dealer charged me $2600.00 to remove everything on the roof and replace the TPO, reinstall all vents, A/C etc. It was a small local dealer in the Pocono's nice people family owned RV dealership. I don't know if the price was discounted in anyway but none the less that is what I paid for the roof.

Jeff, good post, thank you! I see your signature, I am interested in the under 60 task force, can you pm me?

Looks like a 6 speed listed with an F53 is an error in the Winnebago literature. The six speed is only available with the Fseries truck with the 6.7l power stroke diesel. Here are the 2016 specs for an F53 Choice of wheelbases from 158 inches to 252 inches Instrument cluster with added information High-capacity 175-amp alternator 80-gallon fuel tank Suspension designed to optimize ride and enhance weight distribution characteristics Front and rear four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes Integrated rear suspension system for excellent ride and handling 22,000-, 24,000- and 26,000-lb. GVWR chassis equipped with polished aluminum wheels TorqShift® five-speed automatic overdrive transmission Available with CNG/LPG Gaseous Engine Prep Packages - See more at: http://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/motorhome/#sthash.3jSLcErp.dpuf