New to Us Coach Questions

[Dejae]

Hi Everyone,

Well to make a long story short, we had about 6 yrs ago a 2006 HR Neptune 36PDQ that we were going to full time in but then sold it about 4 months later as we realized it was to small.

 

Son came back from Florida so we waited to sell house till he got a job and got on his feet on his own again and now we have bought a 2008 Monaco Knight 38PDQ, which is more like 40 as it measures 39.5ft.

 

We want to do some things to it as soon as we can but are hoping you guys can point out some resources in our area or near us. We are in Las Vegas, NV

First, we have two couches and want to remove one, it is a beautiful dk camel colored jack knife bed couch but we want to have a custom cabinet installed there that will house a sinking tv. But I want it as big as the couch as we want to be able to use the front of it as storage and when the TV is down that we can use the counter top.

 

We want to have a ceiling fan put in the bedroom

 

Install a residential refrigerator

 

Take down a dome satellite and put up a traveler (spell?)

 

Leather repair as one of the leather capts chairs has a seam that is starting to separate.

 

NOW a few questions.....our large awning, when it comes out, it is wrinkled or gathered (lack of better words) in the middle when it rolls up, is that common? If not, best way to fix it?

 

Something to add to the black tank as it seems to always show like 1/4 full. Inspector said it is nothing severe, just get some additive to add to it and drive it around some and it will start to loosen more and more. Bad part, hubby forgot what the inspector said it was.

 

One slide....when it is closed in...for some reason there is this like flapping type sound from time to time, mostly if there is a bend in the road and you are driving around the bend. The owner we bought it from said that it is the topper for the slide, for some reason it makes noise. It didn't make the noise when inspector drove it but the drive from Alpine CA to Las Vegas, NV it did. Any guesses or means of checking things?

 

Lastly, I need a place to buy our baseplate and have them installed. The owner gave us the tow bar which is a Roadmaster Sterling All Terrain

 

 

Again, looking for someone here or near us but if not the best you know of, if you know of

 

Thanks for all your help

[Barbaraok]

For black tank, throw some dishwashing liquid and ice cubes down the toilet and then go drive . Add lots of water, then dump. Don't rely on tank indicators. You will soon learn to recognize the 'burp' that means your getting full. And you will learn your particular patterns for grey and black tanks.

 

Contact Roadmaster for dealers near you.

 

Sounds like awning and topper need some adjustments. Things need adjustment from time to time.

[sandsys]

Re: the black tank. If it is just a sensor problem ignore it; they are rarely reliable. If it is a turd mountain inside the tank, add water to the top of the mountain, let sit, dump. Repeat those steps as the mountain dissolves. This could take a few days.

 

Linda Sand

[Dejae]

For black tank, throw some dishwashing liquid and ice cubes down the toilet and then go drive . Add lots of water, then dump. Don't rely on tank indicators. You will soon learn to recognize the 'burp' that means your getting full. And you will learn your particular patterns for grey and black tanks.

 

Contact Roadmaster for dealers near you.

 

Sounds like awning and topper need some adjustments. Things need adjustment from time to time.

Thanks Barb.....

Will do so on the black tank for sure

 

The Roadmaster issue is a bummer situation, it may have come with the MH, but of course you know we actually paid for it in the bottom line. Not to cheap of one either. BUT we just found out from Roadmaster that they don't make a baseplate for our car. Blue Ox does....so guess we will be selling our nice Roadmaster tow bar and buying a Blue Ox.

We also have to I guess research and decide on a breaking system too.

 

NO BODY, has suggestions on cabinet makers, ceiling fan installers, satellite dish installers, leather repairer, or residential refer install?

 

I know Camping World does it all but now what I am thinking is the ideal.

There is a dealership here, Johnny Walker RV but he is backed up for 8-10 weeks.

and Another guy but he can't build the cabinet the way I need it to be.

 

I guess no one said it would be easy!

[Barbaraok]

Most of us are dispersed throughout the country and this time of the year, Las Vegas isn't somewhere that a lot of people choose for RVing. If you were in Indiana or Oregon there would be lots of companies that deal with refurbishing of RVs. Even in the Phoenix area in the winter, there are lots of places to go. Are you in an RV park - good place to ask for referrals to local businesses.

[Al F]

Thanks Barb.....

Will do so on the black tank for sure

 

The Roadmaster issue is a bummer situation, it may have come with the MH, but of course you know we actually paid for it in the bottom line. Not to cheap of one either. BUT we just found out from Roadmaster that they don't make a baseplate for our car. Blue Ox does....so guess we will be selling our nice Roadmaster tow bar and buying a Blue Ox.

We also have to I guess research and decide on a breaking system too.

 

NO BODY, has suggestions on cabinet makers, ceiling fan installers, satellite dish installers, leather repairer, or residential refer install?

 

I know Camping World does it all but now what I am thinking is the ideal.

There is a dealership here, Johnny Walker RV but he is backed up for 8-10 weeks.

and Another guy but he can't build the cabinet the way I need it to be.

 

I guess no one said it would be easy!

I don't have the "answers", however some suggestions:

 

-- cabinet makers: Locate a small local custom cabinet maker who does work on sticks & bricks, they MAY be willing to do what you want. Won't be cheap.

-- ceiling fan installers & satellite dish installers: A mobile RV repair person, may be willing to do this? The hard part is finding a good one. It takes time (man hours) to do a quality job.

-- leather repairer: An auto interior repair shop, or a home furniture reupholster could do the work. Take the chair to them. You can usually take the back off the chair to easily to get it out the door.

-- residential refer install: Not an easy or simple job. My suggestion: live with the gas electric until if/or when it breaks. Will you need more batteries and or larger inverter to operate the new fridge? Do you dry camp/boondock? If so you may want solar panels added as well.

[2gypsies]

Ceiling fan - make sure you have enough head room so it wouldn't be a safety factor.

[Dejae]

Most of us are dispersed throughout the country and this time of the year, Las Vegas isn't somewhere that a lot of people choose for RVing. If you were in Indiana or Oregon there would be lots of companies that deal with refurbishing of RVs. Even in the Phoenix area in the winter, there are lots of places to go. Are you in an RV park - good place to ask for referrals to local businesses.

In Oct we intend to take our first few week ride. Haven't decided where so AZ or OR can work. We are not in an RV park yet. We just sold the house here and close on it Sept 30. I have lived here for 32 years, there is as I said before one or two that does this kind of work and their waiting list is a mile long

[Dejae]

Ceiling fan - make sure you have enough head room so it wouldn't be a safety factor.

No tall people! lol I am only 5' and hubby is about 5'7", probably 5'6" by now..lol

[2gypsies]

Ceiling Fan - no jumpin' on the bed....ouch!

[docj]

 

 

Leather repair as one of the leather capts chairs has a seam that is starting to separate.

 

 

 

I'd be real surprised if the upholstery is leather rather than Ultraleather, which is a synthetic fabric.

 

As for finding someone to repair it, many car dealers (not RV dealers) use repair specialists who do onsite upholstery repairs but who aren't employees of the dealership. I would check with any high end dealership (Mercedes, BMW, etc) and ask if they would tell you who does their work.

[Dejae]

Ceiling Fan - no jumpin' on the bed....ouch!

2 gypsies, you are no fun at all! I thought holding on and whirling around would be better!

[Dejae]

 

I'd be real surprised if the upholstery is leather rather than Ultraleather, which is a synthetic fabric.

 

As for finding someone to repair it, many car dealers (not RV dealers) use repair specialists who do onsite upholstery repairs but who aren't employees of the dealership. I would check with any high end dealership (Mercedes, BMW, etc) and ask if they would tell you who does their work.

 

He said they were special order leather. Super soft like leather, so is the matching couch that we will be leaving if we find the right person to build the cabinet we want in its place....the other couch is original and cloth with airbed in it

[Dejae]

 

I'd be real surprised if the upholstery is leather rather than Ultraleather, which is a synthetic fabric.

 

As for finding someone to repair it, many car dealers (not RV dealers) use repair specialists who do onsite upholstery repairs but who aren't employees of the dealership. I would check with any high end dealership (Mercedes, BMW, etc) and ask if they would tell you who does their work.

 

He said they were special order leather. Super soft like leather, so is the matching couch that we will be leaving if we find the right person to build the cabinet we want in its place....the other couch is original and cloth with airbed in it

[docj]

 

He said they were special order leather. Super soft like leather, so is the matching couch that we will be leaving if we find the right person to build the cabinet we want in its place....the other couch is original and cloth with airbed in it

 

Regardless of whether they are leather or Ultraleather, a high-end car dealer should know someone who can repair them. We've had leather seats in two different cars repaired by on-site repair people and both times the upholstery came out looking as good as new.

[LindaH]

 

The Roadmaster issue is a bummer situation, it may have come with the MH, but of course you know we actually paid for it in the bottom line. Not to cheap of one either. BUT we just found out from Roadmaster that they don't make a baseplate for our car. Blue Ox does....so guess we will be selling our nice Roadmaster tow bar and buying a Blue Ox.

 

This is probably a bit late, but you do not have to sell your Roadmaster tow bar! I'm sure that Blue Ox makes adapters to use with the most common tow bars.

[docj]

 

This is probably a bit late, but you do not have to sell your Roadmaster tow bar! I'm sure that Blue Ox makes adapters to use with the most common tow bars.

 

I think it may be even more common that the tow bar manufacturers make different connectors to use with the different baseplate fittings. I know that is true for ReadyBrute, but I'm not sure if changing the ends is a DIY task.

[LindaH]

 

I think it may be even more common that the tow bar manufacturers make different connectors to use with the different baseplate fittings. I know that is true for ReadyBrute, but I'm not sure if changing the ends is a DIY task.

 

Yes, it may be the other way around. Whichever way it is, it's not necessary to have the same brand base plate and tow bar. Therefore, the OP wouldn't have to get rid of their Roadmaster tow bar just because the only base plate available for their car was a Blue Ox.

[Smitty77_7]

One plus about Oregon area, is no sales tax. A second plus is the area is full our outstanding tradesman, many worked at CC, Monaco, Etc. before they went belly up.

 

We've had very competent help from Oregon Motor Coach. They can do just about everything you mentioned. While OMC last year, we had to purchase a replace Stirling Tow Bar as our first one was damaged. Sorry I can't remember the name of the business, and receipts are at our home so I can't look at them. But, it was the place that Jim Cooley, Manager at OMC, recommended in town. So perhaps while they have your coach during the day to work on, you could ask about this place, and head over and have them set you up. (Or, OMC may handle this for you too.)

 

For sure other places in the Oregon area, but I can tell you from our yearly maintenance visits to OMC, that they provide competent help, and make things right if something ever does go wrong. (We had a part that we had installed but OMC, within 4 weeks the part itself stopped working. OMC sent me a replacement part, and worked the return to the vendor that supplied the one that went bad. Parts do go bad from time to time:)!)

 

Best of luck to you on the new ride,

Smitty

[Dejae]

 

I think it may be even more common that the tow bar manufacturers make different connectors to use with the different baseplate fittings. I know that is true for ReadyBrute, but I'm not sure if changing the ends is a DIY task.

 

 

 

Will look into it for sure docj, thanks much

[Dejae]

 

Yes, it may be the other way around. Whichever way it is, it's not necessary to have the same brand base plate and tow bar. Therefore, the OP wouldn't have to get rid of their Roadmaster tow bar just because the only base plate available for their car was a Blue Ox.

 

No LindaH, luckily I don't have to, we called Blue Ox and they have a base plate to work where Roadmaster didn't, we just have to buy a small adapter to make the base plate match up to the tow bar...thanks for the info

[Dejae]

One plus about Oregon area, is no sales tax. A second plus is the area is full our outstanding tradesman, many worked at CC, Monaco, Etc. before they went belly up.

 

We've had very competent help from Oregon Motor Coach. They can do just about everything you mentioned. While OMC last year, we had to purchase a replace Stirling Tow Bar as our first one was damaged. Sorry I can't remember the name of the business, and receipts are at our home so I can't look at them. But, it was the place that Jim Cooley, Manager at OMC, recommended in town. So perhaps while they have your coach during the day to work on, you could ask about this place, and head over and have them set you up. (Or, OMC may handle this for you too.)

 

For sure other places in the Oregon area, but I can tell you from our yearly maintenance visits to OMC, that they provide competent help, and make things right if something ever does go wrong. (We had a part that we had installed but OMC, within 4 weeks the part itself stopped working. OMC sent me a replacement part, and worked the return to the vendor that supplied the one that went bad. Parts do go bad from time to time:)!)

 

Best of luck to you on the new ride,

Smitty

Great Smitty, thank you, we will give them a call on Monday!

[DonKofAK]

The good fellows who post RV Youtube videos under the name RVGeeks produced several nice pieces on gray and black water tanks, then they give one on recalibrating the water tank gauges. Here is the URL I found:

 

It's entitled "HOW TO: Calibrate RV Tank Monitors" by RVgeeks (one word).