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rayin

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Posts posted by rayin

  1. Posted · Edited by rayin
    corrections, grammar, puncuation, spelling     · Report reply

    This Bendix air brake handbook will explain in detail how the air dryer works, why it is required, and how to maintain an air dryer. Yours may not be Bendix brand, however they all work the same and are maintained the same;  with the exception of replacing the desiccant dryer/filter. Since RV'ers do not drive the miles daily to require replacing the dryer/filter annually, replacing it every 3-5 years on a RV is adequate.

    This does not eliminate the requirement to manually drain the compressed air storage tanks prior to each drive. If moisture is allowed to accumulate and work its way into the braking system it gets expensive quickly, not to mention the possibility of losing braking ability.

    You might want to check out the FMCA diesel club, which contains a lot of valuable information particular to diesel pusher motorhomes.

    BTW,. on a Spartan chassis the air dryer unit is on the starboard side of the MH nearly opposite of where the Freightliner unit is located.

    update: I forgot to mention the most important part of maintaining air brakes, the daily air brake check.

  4. Posted · Edited by rayin · Report reply

    3 hours ago, mackandmaggie said:

    The rv is in fernandina Beach fl. Never been in cold weather or winterized. Freightliner couldn’t give me a definite answer. Just received the engine serial # and will get pdf for engine diagram 

    Diesel engines work by heat, in fact they were originally called a heat engine. Anyway, look up the  ignition flashpoint of #2 diesel fuel. A diesel engine combustion stroke  must produce at least that temperature by compressing air until that happens. The Cummins grid heater heats the intake air just prior to  entering the combustion chamber, in warm/hot weather it may only cycle once to warm incoming air enough to promote instant ignition when fuel is injected into the combustion chamber at the top of the piston stroke.

    When working properly the grid heater will cycle at least once with each cold start below 60°F. You can check to see if the grid heater is coming on prior to startup by removing the battery cable from the solenoid, taping the end and tying it out of the way temporarily. The Cummins B6.7 grid heater draws approx. 205A when cycling.

  5. Posted · Edited by rayin · Report reply

    Bill all I had to do was stay home. I was still working then and going to work regardless of temperature was the norm. I worked 7 miles from our house so the 5.9 barely got warmed up and I was there. The Cummins ISB 5.9 in Dodge pickups was great, but Dodge derated the engine to 180HP to keep from destroying the Dodge automatic transmission, so it was a dog towing over a 35' 5er.

  8. Posted · Edited by rayin · Report reply

    1 hour ago, dons2346 said:

    Welcome to the forum

    The extended warranty from a dealer is a cash cow for them, I do not recommend. As far as roadside assistance, why not take a look at what is offered with FMCA?

    I completely agree with Don. First, it is not an extended warranty, it is a service contract with terms and conditions that must be met before a claim is honored.  That dealer wants him to finance an additional $20K; most folks don't know dealers get a kickback from finance companies. Shoot, I paid $6K to get a Good Sam 3yr extended service contract on our then 13 yr old MH. The engine and transmission both come with a 5yr/100,000 mile warranty. Some appliances come with a 2yr warranty now.

    What a ripoff that dealer has going.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    6 hours ago, akadeadeye said:

    I usually turn the "kill switch" knob.  They would have to locate it to start it, I believe.  Nope,  I never leave keys anywhere in sight.

    Don

    Yep, activate the emergency kill switch, many DP's come with one in the engine compartment.

    Also Iphone air-tabs are small, cheap and easy to conceal if one wants to go that route.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I had the exhaust manifold replaced on my Cummins ISC and the bill was #3,000. During this work the turbocharger must be removed anyway, which cuts down the labor bill, so i would agree that is rather high.

    Locate a nearby HDT repair shop that will work on a MH engine instead of a Cummins dealer, local shops seem to be more reasonable.

  13. Posted · Report reply

    You describe a great rig! If it were me, my only added concern is the engine size, I would not want a 40' MH with a Cummins B 6.7 engine, not enough torque or HP if planning travels that include mountain driving. I would want at least a Cummins ISL 400 HP. Yes a Cummins ISB 6.7 will reliably get you there with slightly better fuel mileage, but it will be slow climbing grades.

    I have a Cummins ISC 350 HP engine and on steep climbs it struggles to maintain 45 MPH sometimes when towing our Silverado pickup..

  16. Posted · Edited by rayin · Report reply

    Welcome!

    alex, quite often RV age restrictions are used to keep the RV park from being an eyesore, from having trashy looking RV's there. If your RV is clean and neat most places can make an exception to their rules. Some will ask for pictures of your RV before making a reservation. I've only encountered a few high-end MH parks (>$100/night) that strictly adhere to their age requirement;  their loss not mine.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Although I have a diesel engine, I've found that Murphy fuel stations have the pump arranged so the end pumps are accessible to large vehicles. The local Murphy fuel station is where the city refuels their school bus's sometimes; and where I refuel my 40' MH W/towed there before beginning a trip.

    Pilot Flying J travel centers have separate fuel islands in front of the store with both diesel and gas, apart from the auto-gas pumps designed especially for RV's, their island even has a dump station and fresh water source for travelers.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    I think E-trailer is right. I had a 1997 Jeep Grand cherokee, which has only one light for brake and turn signal on each side.. The installer had to use the relay converter because the MH has separate brake and turn signal bulbs in separate fixtures. My relay converter is about 2" long X 1" high X 3/4" thick, if that has any useful information. FWIW, that 1996 Jeep GC used the same OEM wiring to the rear lighting, no special diodes, just that converter box on the MH just ahead of the 7-pin Bargman plug.

    All the lighting on the Jeep should work in conjunction with the MH lighting when wired correctly, the MH light switch will control both vehicles with umbilical cord attached..

     I'm inclined to think Roadmaster is pushing their product instead of the less expensive method.

    Just for comparison, talk to a local Uhaul hitch and wiring installer for their opinion; then speak with a Blue Ox installer about the simple way of configuring the wiring..

    More bulbs and more wiring is just that much more to cause future issues IMO.

    Then to end this reply; Now there is a wireless lighting system for towed vehicles, but the setup is quite expensive comparatively.

  20. Posted · Report reply

    We brought our MH back home to the RV garage Friday past rather than begin paying $100/day storage while the legal system works. The court appointed a lawyer as umpire to decide the amount Progressive must pay. I appealed that decision because IMO the umpire should be a person familiar with fiberglass body repair, current labor rates, and working on MH''s.. Per the Progressive MH policy the umpire does not have to be a lawyer..

     

  21. Posted · Report reply

    FWIW, an unopened  refrigerator should remain cold enough to keep ice from melting and food from warming for about 6 hours while  off. My house refrigerator does whenever I lose utility power for a day, can't see any reason why being mounted in an RV would be different.

    Like five said, if your house batteries are in good condition there is no valid reason not to use the inverter.

  23. Posted · Edited by rayin · Report reply

    27 minutes ago, kev said:

    The crud collected on by glove was not past the first seal inside the jack.  The tank oil was NOT contaminated.  This crud was collected after 32 years of use.  Jacks should ideally be wiped off before retracting the jack, to its storage position.   When the jack is out the residual oil on the chrome shaft attracts dirt.  The dirt will somewhat wipe off when retracted, but eventually collects near the bottom seal.    Does anyone wipe down their jacks before retraction? 

    Yes, after being parked for a month or more and annually. HWH recommends spraying with WD40, wiping clean to remove dirt and any residue , then wiping with ATF on a rag, then wiping dry. HWH also says not to use anything else. WD40 is an excellent cleaner and solvent, but if allowed to dry, turns into a tacky coating..

  24. Posted · Edited by rayin · Report reply

    My alignment specs were found in the Reyco-Granning IFS service manual. That is the front suspension/steering component Spartan uses under their chassis. I don't know anything about what Freightliner uses under their chassis, and haven't had time to search the web for information or a service manual.

    You might find what you need here: https://freightliner.com/service/driver-maintenance-manuals/

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