First modification completed.
I got it tagged today. The clerk immediately asked if it was an RV & with her supervisor's help was able to get it updated in the DMV's system from an E450 to the actual coach make/model.
First modification completed.
I got it tagged today. The clerk immediately asked if it was an RV & with her supervisor's help was able to get it updated in the DMV's system from an E450 to the actual coach make/model.
barefootskater (Shaun) said:Aren't you the guy that had a thread called "poor life decisions"?
At least you're consistent.
At least I'm consistent at something, even if it's failure!
When I acquired my "coach", first point of maintenance was changing the fluids. I started with the breaks. It made a huge difference, in my case.
That and the fuel filter, the gas tank in my case was bone dry for years. But the grit was still an issue.
ShawnG said:Steele Rubber has an RV catalog online. You can view the rubber seals and bumpers in cross section with dimensions. They will probably have something that will work for you.
Our style seal was the first one on the list! $130 for 30' which I suppose isn't horrible, but definitely isn't cheap either. The joys of RVing have begun...
I looked up the details on our generator.
This thing is definitely not quiet. Well, maybe relative to a lawnmower.
I presume it has a muffler on it. Is it possible to add another one without causing problems? I noticed the exhaust points straight out the side too - why wouldn't it have a turn-down toward the ground?
You want the exhaust to get as far from the rig as possible. Carbon monoxide kills. You don't want it collecting under the unit and finding its way up through cracks etc.
There are exhaust stacks that can be installed while parked that go clear up above the roof. I have never used one, but are mandatory in some very crowed NHRA paddocks.
You soon won't notice the sound, especially if you are inside. Some state parks that don't have electricity also will not let you run the gen set after 10 pm.
Make sure your Carbon monoxide detector (usually near the baseboard near the bedroom) is functioning. It will save your life. Don't ignore it.
I use Mobil-1 in the genset and change it and filter every 100 hours. Gensets are stupid expensive, take care of it. I run mine 30 minutes every month that I'm not using the RV.
Irv2 is probably the best RV forum out there. My advice, get a logon. But, don't believe everything you read (shock).
Usually every few years I have to use red RTV to reseal my genset exhaust system where the pipe connects to the main unit. Just saying. YMMV
OBTW, I think you bought well.
No picture of the actually E36 M3ter yet?
In reply to Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) :
Thanks for that info!
Unfortunately the generator is right under the dinette slide out - although I'm not actually sure why it has a front slide out, as there's plenty of room(for us, anyway) without using it.
The generator has around 228 hours on it now & there's a tag showing it was serviced at 100 hours, so it's due. I downloaded a manual for it today, but haven't had a chance to read through the service procedure yet. It's on the short list of tasks though.
I did stumble on Irv2 a few days ago, but haven't spent any time there. I did join a Forest River forum(who's board software is straight out of Y2K) since there's not a whole lot of info on this model online.
Stampie said:No picture of the actually E36 M3ter yet?
Here's the throne room.
Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:ShawnG said:Steele Rubber has an RV catalog online. You can view the rubber seals and bumpers in cross section with dimensions. They will probably have something that will work for you.
They should be in the condom business with a name like that.
Totally agree, came here to post the same.
RV looks great too!
I predict you are going the really enjoy the new rig. Good deal for the way things are still going.
One of the things that impressed my about the full on custom built coach we bought, is the gen-set exhaust is tied into the engine exhaust. And with the twin chrome stacks, is already 13'3" in the air!
Pete, just a thought. After looking at the throne room, check the caulking around the base of the shower. While you're at it, grab your favorite beverage, and check all the plumbing you can get to. My experience with "trailer technology" has shown, left unused for periods of time, seals dry out and/or become brittle. Worth a beer or two of your time.
Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:I looked up the details on our generator.
This thing is definitely not quiet. Well, maybe relative to a lawnmower.
I presume it has a muffler on it. Is it possible to add another one without causing problems? I noticed the exhaust points straight out the side too - why wouldn't it have a turn-down toward the ground?
buy a Genturi... best mod ever with regard to onboard generators.
Maybe MicroQuiet just means that it's a little quiet?
In reply to Dirtydog (Forum Supporter) :
Thanks for the tip! Either this weekend or next I plan to pull it onto the driveway & spend some time crawling around underneath it. I might have to trim another tree first so I'll fit though.
I made a little bit of progress today. I picked up a 1" nylon strap to hold down the house batteries. No pic, because there's not much to see.
Next I was going to bolt down the underhood battery, only to discover there's no battery tray... So I just used a rubber strap. The hood is fiberglass so no worries about it shorting out there & it can't move around much.
I did find signs of brown recluse activity, so it'll be gloves-on 100% while I'm working here.
Here's a puzzle for you guys - wtf are these 2 extra reservoirs & the clear tubing for? The tubing disappears up underneath the cowl above the engine, and the smaller reservoir has a line drawn with a sharpie & a message that says to keep "water" below it.
Oh and I confirmed there's actually a K&N filter in the airbox. It needs cleaned & oiled, but I need to find my bottles...I think I still have some of that stuff.
Probably a water/methanol injection setup.
Some hacks were selling them for motorhome use to help keep detonation down.
They work but it's just one more thing to maintain.
In reply to ShawnG :
That's an interesting thought, if so I should swap it onto the DSM :-) It seems like a large diameter hose relative to the volume of the reservoirs if that's true though?
I guess I need to pull out the console & see if I can find it's destination from that side.
I could be wrong but it was a motorhome thing for a while.
Not having to use premium actually makes a difference in something with single-digit fuel economy numbers.
Is that generator engine a horizontal twin?
I have a little skid loader that someone before me re-powered with an Onan horizontal twin and that is the loudest dang thing ever. I went to great length to try to quiet it down with a muffler (like, a turbo muffler for a car) and it's still intolerable without hearing protection.
So, I guess my conclusion is that the engine itself is just noisy (even if you can muffle the exhaust). I wouldn't put too much effort into trying to quiet down the exhaust because it doesn't seem to be the only source of noise on this engine.
Fun project...I look forward to following along.
She's a beaut, Pete!
For the generator, I've seen people make a long verticals extension exhaust & when parking, pop it on & get the noise above roof level. Not sure where they store them while traveling.
My friend & I were going make an adjustable looping muffler for his gas one. The loop is adjustable to find the silent position - start it up & let it stabilize to operating speed, slide the tube in or out, when you get the correct position/timing of the returning sound way it will cancel out & be pretty much silent. Then fix it in that position.
How is your propane system? Check it out really well.
In reply to mdshaw :
That's an interesting idea. I may have to try it eventually.
I was told the furnace, water heater, stove & fridge all work fine on propane, but I've not had time to try any of them yet.
I plugged in the 30a shore power into my 15a garage circuit, and even though the a/c, tv & a light were left on it didn't blow the breaker. Having a/c is going to make it much easier to take care of the interior work I need to get done.
Probably a dumb question, but how is the refrigerator supposed to work?
The RV has been plugged into shore power for almost 24 hours. The seller said it takes about 12 hours for the fridge to cool down. I double-checked it last night - the power button is in/on, pushing the other button only toggles the amber "Auto" light on/of. The fridge is actually warmer than ambient temp inside the RV(which is already warm since the a/c is off.
How do I make the fridge work?
Don't know. But some Googlefu found this.
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