| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Windshields, Are they all they're cracked up to be?
Good idea of blocking the lower portion of the windshield with a sheet of acrylic with stand-offs. I would suggest Lexan in 3/16" thin sheet. Check with your local plastic supply company, they can usually cut to size for you. We use Lexan for protective guards on instrument panels and guarding around industrial equipment. It will NOT crack when hit and can bend easily to the contour of your windshield with stressing. We purchase full 4'x8' sheets for about $130 and cut our own, but most plastic suppliers will do for you.
|
Mr. Jeff
|
03/21/10 08:40pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: anyone removed their decals?
We removed the Southwind logos on our unit using the heat gun, single edge razor blades, and Citrus Goo Gone. Take your time and it will come off quite well. Use the Goo-Gone to remove the remaining residue - spray on an area, let soak a minute, spray again and scrap off with the razor blade. Spray one more time then wipe off with a rag.
Now this was not a large area or large graphic. Our next project was however, and we used the same technique. We just finished removing the "North American" name and logo graphics from both sides of a 53 foot moving trailer! Believe me, we tried many different methods, including the 3M wheel, and kept coming back the heat guns, razor blades and Goo-Gone.
Good luck!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
03/19/10 11:04pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: New rig to me and want warranty
Self insure - that's what we do. Put that premium payment in your own "service" envelope instead of an insurance company. We found most of service issues were always around the deductible so the warranty folks never really had to pay out - they just kept getting my money. Everytime we take a trip we just add a bit to the envelope. If we don't need to use it then the money stays in there and grows with every trip.
Just our way of dealing with unexpected service costs
Enjoy the new rig!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
03/19/10 10:53pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: High Mileage RV - Afraid to go long distance
Tires, tires, tires! Put new ones on and hit the road! (well, check all your other stuff too). I'm running 203,000+miles on my Southwind with the original F460 and have no hesitation to make long trips. I learned my lesson on the tires. I change them two-at-a-time each year and keep track of the age of each tire. This helps keep the tire replacement costs under control (two tires each year is easier than lump sum six tires at one time)
But I also carry a fully mounted spare, an air compressor, 7 ton hydraulic bottle jack air impact wrench so I can change the tire if we need too incase road-side assistance isn't reachable where we happen to be.
Prepare properly so you can enjoy the drive!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
03/19/10 10:42pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Cross Country in an Older Motorhome ? ?? ?
Go for it! Just make sure your tires are good and check tire pressure daily. We often take 2,000+ mile trips and I don't hesitate. But I also make sure everything is in working order, chassis-wise.
Enjoy your trip, and your kids!!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
01/08/10 07:11pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Rough ride - solution?
Trop-a-cal - Yes, we have the 16 inch wheels. This past fall I change the rear tires up to 14 ply (load range G) and adjust the tire pressure accordingly based on the weight from the local CAT scales. I got tired of blowing rear tires on extremely hot summer afternoons when running near gross weight.
Not the original shocks but we are considering a change to the Bilsteins. don't need the expense of the Koni's.
(tahiti16 - hope you enjoyed your travel through OK despite our roads! We avoid I-40 anyway possible, but they're working to improve it)
|
Mr. Jeff
|
01/03/10 10:32pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
Rough ride - solution?
Time to figure out how to improve the ride of this trusty Southwind. Don't have a problem with sway - just a rough ride. We feel every concrete joint or crack in the asphalt. Airbags on the rear? Different shocks? (OK, maybe I shouldn't have driven that DP with air-ride awhile back :B ) Suggestions? Thanks!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
01/03/10 09:54pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
 |
RE: Knights of the road my a@%
I just finished my annual Defensive Driving certification and I'll have to agree with others - you should have backed off and let him in. That keeps YOUin control of the situation around you. You couldn't speed up because of traffice in front, you couldn't move left because of traffic beside you (without them moving) so your option was to slow down - it was your safest way to control the situation.
Consider this an opportunity to learn from this experience - Drive safe!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
01/03/10 09:30pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Backup camera wiring
Take a look at some of the remote/wireless backup systems. They are supposed to be able to transmit the length of the motorhome. You only have to wire power to the camera - certainly worth checking into.
Enjoy!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/14/09 07:58pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
Replacig the flooring, what about the chair pedestal?
We are removing the carpeting from the Southwind living area and found that the carpet had just been laid right over the pedestal base plate and securing bolts. The new flooring is Allure tile. So do we trim up to and around the base plate or do we remove the pedestal and re-install after the flooring is in place? The chair has a skirt that somewhat hides the base plate, suggestions for covering this plate so its not visible at all?
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/14/09 07:35pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: The old girl is back - where to start
So cool! We too, are preparing for Allure flooring installation. Thanks for posting all you are doing!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/13/09 12:38am |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Awnings Cost
Agree with RetiredJSO - replacement awning material ranges $250 to $400 for most material replacements without changing hardware. Fairly easy to replace if you have extra hands. I too, have Carefree. You can get a budget estimate from Carefree through their website.
Interesting that your insurance comany would be asking that, ummm......
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/09/09 10:47pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Broken Dometic refer door handle.
Very nice! Glad you documented and posted your solution for everyone. I have the same fridge and handle issue. Also took mine apart last summer and performed a similar service successfully.
Amazing what you can accomplish once you learn of the insane price for a replacement handle!
Thanks!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/09/09 10:10pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: auto start for genny??
Yes, this can be done. It's automatic switching gear. I don't have immediate links for you but you might do a search on this forum. Places like HomeDepot carry these switches for connecting a backup generator to you home so you might also check there for more information.
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/09/09 10:04pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Gas Motorhome Horsepower
Roger, welcome to the forum! I agree with DaveB110 - unhook and have a second driver drive the Jeep up and over. That's a lot easier on the engine, brakes and YOUR nerves.
Separate the two and enjoy the drive!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/09/09 10:01pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Flat Tire ... Now What?
Certainly try airing the tire first - you'll know pretty quickly if there is a major leak. If it appears to stay then make sure the other tire mounted with it is at the same pressure and drive to a nearby tire service center to have it removed and inspected.
Do not drive on one good tire with the other one flat. Besides ruining the flat tire you will be running over the rated load range of the one good tire remaining - way too risky.
If the tire won't hold air then search for a tire service center that will come on site to service your motorhome. If you have roadside assistance with your insurance then call them and they will send someone your way.
Enjoy!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/09/09 09:47pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Hotwater heater & Furnace not working - Are these related?
The only relationship of the two is the propane source and battery power. I would suspect low on propane in the lines. If you haven't fired either in months then the lines may very well be empty of propane. The water heater control board will allow the pilot to attempt lighting for several seconds then turn off if a flame is not detected. You may need to cycle the pilot several times to allow propane to travel to the line to the heater. I have to cycle our water heater about 8 times before propane reaches the burner.
The same applies to the air heaters - they made need to be cycled several times to purge the lines of air and fill with propane.
Enjoy!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/09/09 09:34pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Gear vendors over drive on and OBD I class A
WestCoast FT - You'll have better luck finding "G" rated tired than the "F" ratings. I got tired of running right at capacity with no margin on "E" tires. Found the tired through Big O Tire stores. They had to order them but only took a couple of days to get.
|
Mr. Jeff
|
11/05/09 10:11pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: pin stripping
I removed and replaced the large Southwind logo on the front of our motorhome this summer. Tried several methods but the best was this:
Single edge razor blade mounted in holder, hot air gun, Citrus Goo Gone in the spray bottle. Heat the immediate area and slowly work the material off with the blade. Take your time and keep the heat gun moving. Once the material has been removed soak small areas with the Citrus Goo Gone and carefully clean remaining residue with the blade again. Continue spritzing with the Goo Gone and blading the residue. Beware that Citrus Goo Gone will remove any wax that has been previously applied to the area.
Seriously, had such good results I finally went after the poorly placed boat numbers on my boat hulls. Of course this then required replacing the numbers with NICE numbers this time. So by end of summer I had a new Southwind logo on front AND back of the motorhome AND new numbers (all matching style) on four boats.
Be careful and enjoy!
|
Mr. Jeff
|
10/21/09 11:33pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: HELP- What am I doing wrong???
Most good ideas here - but DO NOT hook your vacuum cleaner to your tank inlet! That draws out fumes directly to the vacuum motor = vapor explosion. Air flows through the vacuum motor to keep the motor cool. Please be safe.
|
Mr. Jeff
|
10/21/09 11:16pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
