Scotty Hutto

Joel, Did you get everything working?

Joel, I'm no expert but I am a mechanical engineer with some experience with metal fatigue... understanding that all I've seen is your pictures and read your descriptions, I'm going to theorize that you may have had some metal fatigue in those frame rails from the previous accident that wasn't noticed by the previous bodyshop. (even if you didn't have a base plate then - if you did that would heighten my suspicion!) Just a speculative theory... but this seems so far beyond the usual I'm hoping there's a clear explanation out there somewhere.

Just a side note from a lighting guy... You need an INCANDESCENT bulb for this. LED bulbs (and to a lesser extent fluorescent) are great for lighting; not so great for making heat. I would go with a 60 or 75 watt incandescent bulb. Even better if you can scare up a rough-duty incandescent bulb (they have a protective coating and stronger filament). And yes Virginia, you can still find them... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JS9SAA6/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_ey-JEbZYQ4678

Bob, It’s fascinating to see how different two 2006 Diplomats can be! I know you’ve made a lot of mods, but is that the original location of your hose reel? I’m planning on reworking my wet bay this spring, - I’ve already purchased most of the components (AquaJet pump, etc) - and have taken a lot of ideas from pics you’ve sent me. Have you considered removing the shower? Mine has never had a hose, and is mostly a nuisance. I use the spigot to wash hands - I have a small hose running from thereto the rinse, but was planning to connect those with a pex line with a ball valve and check valve. Scotty

Working on making that change, but it’s going to take some programming...

No worries! You can turn this off if you don’t find it useful! Click on your name (username) in the upper right hand corner Select "Account Settings" On the left hand side of the window, select "Newsletters" From the "Manage Newsletter Subscriptions" window, you can turn off Daily Digests or change the format to Plain-text or HTML (HTML is the default) That will turn off *just* the Daily Digest, not anything else.

It can be either... or... both.

Please take the poll on Weekly Digests. This could be an alternative to the Daily Digest or could be received with the Daily Digest (i.e., you could turn each on on and off individually)

Hope y'all are enjoying the Monacoers Daily Digest. I thought I would share that there are some new settings for the Daily Digest that you can change: format (HTML or text-only), or turn off the daily digest completely from the "Account Settings" page. To make changes: Click on your name (username) in the upper right hand corner Select "Account Settings" On the left hand side of the window, select "Newsletters" From the "Manage Newsletter Subscriptions" window, you can turn off Daily Digests or change the format to Plain-text or HTML (HTML is the default) Enjoy! Scotty

Bob, those are awesome! If my woodworking skills were better I’d try to make those! (I still may. )

Agree. Most rooftop units designed for RB use don't even have charging ports; they aren't designed to be recharged. This means the tech has to cut the refrigerant lines and solder in both low pressure and high pressure ports, creating additional potential leak points. Then find the original leaks and fix them, vacuum the lines, replace the filter drier, and add a new measured refrigerant charge. IF you removed the unit from the RV and this work was done in a shop, it might be done well. Then you still have an old unit. In my opinion, better you spend the money to replace it with a newer, more efficient, quieter unit. ...or wait until @Hotrod and I finish designing our variable speed compressor RV heat pump and get it in production. (🤣 You might not want to wait that long!)

I had have the Wacko Products A/C silencers for about eighteen months. It is a fairly simple install (maybe 10 minutes) and has made an appreciable difference in the noise. I tested noise level before and after with dB Sound Meter app, and it went from 90 dB to 84 dB (both taken @ 12" from air intake.) VERY noticeable difference in noise level to both my wife and I. She can now hear the TV without it being on full volume when the A/C is running, and it looks a heck of a lot nicer than my 12 year old, warped, yellowed original cover. I haven't noticed any performance impact in either AC or heat pump mode. “Happy wife, happy life...”

I got mine through Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0007XXTVC/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_-4GHEbFMGJ73W:

Since I have a "lower end" Diplomat, I don't have an aqua-hot, and use the heat pumps as our primary heating. We only use the furnace when we "have" to. If we're in a place with 50a (or even 30a) service, the heat pumps are less expensive to operate that the furnace (esp if the cost of electricity is included in the campground cost) The heat pumps have been extremely reliable (ours are 14 yrs old) and are quieter than the furnaces. (Note: I said "quieter" not "quiet" haha!) Plus heat pumps last longer when you use them... IF I had an aqua-hot I would likely feel different...

Have you checked the thermal fuse? Those are known to burn out occasionally. Also, this is a decent video on checking out an Atwood WH...