willbo777

We've had one in for years, a marked improvement in drivability, a slight increase in mileage, and no damage or downside, but we only have 199,000 miles on it.

On 1/27/2023 at 11:50 AM, LakeBob said:

I am not familiar with the Aladdin system. I am able to read line voltages and amp usage from the Aladdin screen. 

Is there a way to read the fault codes from the Adladdin screen?   

The coach does not have the remote read out that my 2009 has.

Thanks!!!

Bob

If there is a fault it will automatically appear on the Aladdin electrical screen.  No fault, no message.  Are both legs reading normally?

From what I understand the front bags need the 3/4" inlet to allow the ping tank to work properly.

On my 2007 Nav, which I would assume to be the same, the front bags are  W01-358-8897 with 3/4" inlet.  Rear are W01-358-9376 with 1/4" inlet.  Firestone numbers, some folks use all 8897 with a bushing in the rear bags.  Hope this helps.

I installed a 40350RVC in our coach when the original 40250 died.  It does require its own monitor, but it was easy to install and only changes where to get the same info.  I was disappointed to stop having to use the Aladdin, but they told me none of their units talks to it anymore.

We are fans of the vented Splendide combo.  In our full timing of 19+ years, we are on our third unit, so we have the newest model right now.  They have added a lot of electronic gadgetry, but it performs better than the previous models.  It is run almost daily, sometimes several loads a day, we have only had a few issues with the older models and their customer service has always been excellent.  In each case it was the drying side failure that prompted us to get a new one.

I have had them do several things for us.  Reprogram the multiplex switches to do various things they didn't do prior, they recorded the software for our coach, they have rebuilt 2 switch panels.  All said I have been very pleased, both with the price and turn around time.

17 hours ago, Dennis H said:

The reason most campgrounds allow the mobile guys in and frown on us doing our own repairs is because there are a few, an y'all know who you are, are slobs when it comes to cleaning up and not leaving behind a mess. Same with washing your coach. I use a bucket and rags and never leave the hose running in the street. Never had a problem working on the coach or washing it in a campground. I ask first and assure them they won't have a mess when I'm done. Just my observations and experience......Dennis

I agree with your premise, but on average I would say that 90% of the parks we stay in prohibit washing.  It is almost with glee when we find one that will allow it, in fact we are so dirty right now it is embarrassing, but hope to rectify that 2 campgrounds down the road.  And really how many people leave a hose running, without a sprayer installed?

20 hours ago, Ray Davis said:

Good morning Bill,  this is something I've wondered about.  As full timers and doing your own maintaince,  how do you go about finding a place to do things?                   

I have done a few things in the campsite without asking for permission, things like fuel filters, belts, and so on.  I'm careful to be clean and quite to hopefully not draw attention.   I imagine most parks would say no if asked and I wouldn't blame them, things could quickly get out of hand.

We have only had a few instances where a campground won't let you do some repair or project.  In fact we cleaned and painted our roof this summer in Montana, replaced a blown out hydraulic cooler in Maine.  We find it harder to find a campground that allows you to wash than do a repair.

We have been full timing for 19 years.  We have always used Florida for our residency.  We use St Brendan's Isle as our mail forwarder and physical address for voting.  They have the ability to send whatever little mail we get to wherever we want or to scan it and then we can download it, whichever we want.  We have towed a Ram pickup for the last 8 years and Grand Cherokees before that.  We like having a full size vehicle that can carry stuff, go most anywhere, and comfortably seat 4 people if necessary.  Our present coach is also our last coach, we are very familiar with it, do 99% of the repairs and maintenance ourselves, and we stay on top of it.

We have a routine in our 19 years of full timing.  I pull into the truck stop, pull on the braking brake and check for level, one to be sure I'm not leaning toward whichever side I am pumping on, then with the manual air leveling tilt the coach away from the pump.  Then I go out and fuel, meantime my wife is marking down our mileage since last fill up, resetting the Aladdin fuel screen, and then when I finish she notes the exact gallons, and presses travel.  Then I usually come back in, stop in the rest room, and then I pull out, at travel.  Even if I would forget, the Valid system defaults to travel when the parking brake comes off and I put it in D.  I don't think you could actually move more than 50 yards at a very slow speed before you'd be at travel even if you forgot to press the button.  I have a 35 year aviation background and believe in checklists and flows, not saying we have never forgotten between the two of us, but knock on wood, it hasn't happened yet.

I tilt almost every time.  But I have air leveling, easy peasy and gets another 20 gallons or so.  The only time I don't is if I am going to go into a campground directly after fueling.

After 3 sets of Michelins cracking to the point of being unusable in 3 1/2 years, I went to Toyo and have never looked back.

When my 40250 crapped out this summer, I initially bypassed shore power to come directly into the coach until I could get a replacement.  I went with the 40350 and  mounted their monitor so I am still able to see Volts, Amps, and faults.  A bit of a transition away from the Aladdin, but it works well and we are pleased.  And the 40250 is a transfer switch and surge protector as is its replacement the 40350.

The 600 I installed has hard lines, but even so it's not hard to service.

I have Balance Masters on all 3 axles, and am very pleased, very smooth ride.  I used to use beads and thought they did all right, but after 10,000 miles or so with the balance Masters, I believe and so does my wife the Balance Masters are better. And even with the fairly high mileage I put on between tire changes, I've never had an issue with wear.

5 hours ago, LakeBob said:

 

The Flag Pole Buddy seems like a good, easy to use design, have the same concerns as Tom regarding stress on the ladder.  

 

Now to decide, hitch or ladder mount. Definitely leaning towards a hitch mount.  Concerned with a heavy duty pole mounted to the ladder. The down side is I’ll have to remove the tow bar and find a place to stow.

Somehow I can't believe there is a tenth of the stress on the ladder in 30 knots of wind compared to my 220# climbing it:-)

JMO, but I cannot imagine pulling off my towbar each time I wanted to fly the flag which in my case is every day.

I have been flying a flag with a solar light on it for more than 15 years with a flagpole buddy mount and fiberglass pole, and for the last 3-4 years a weather station on a PVC pipe mounted on a larger flagpole buddy mount, both on our ladder.  A big fan, very easy to do, and with most wind it is fine.

1218 probably

I used Online Metals

I recently had to replace my TRC 40250 due to a severe over voltage from my generator, now fixed.  It blew out the transfer switch.  The research I did indicated nothing will communicate with the Aladdin.  So I installed a new TRC 40350 and a TRC 40299 monitor which I mounted inside the coach.  It works much like the Aladdin showing voltage and amperage, and any faults.  It wasn't difficult and other than having to look in another place it works fine.

1 hour ago, Ray Davis said:

Wow, Bill,  that's a lot of miles, It might even be a record, I don't know, but I like it,  get out there and do some RVing.  I wish we could travel like that but life gets in the way.  However, we are planning a trip to the Great Lakes & Upper Peninsula area soon.  We have been close but never quite got to the UP, maybe now we will.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think it is any kind of record, but we have been full timing since 2004, and don't sit still, and the first DP goes back to 1995 and even when I was working managed to put a lot of miles on.  Lots to see:-)

I have had 3 DP's over the years, all with the mudflap, 50,000 on the first, over 100,000 on the second and now 185,000 on our Nav.  Never had a problem with it kicking stuff up on our toad, including 2 trips to Alaska.  I wonder if it doesn't happen to those whose flap drags the ground almost all the time?  

20 hours ago, sg47619 said:

Took the cover off can’t see any hose’s or valves leaking there is some water coming from the inspection plate where the heater element goes in. 

Pull the inspection plate off and see where the leaking is coming from, don't give up on it yet.

Take the cover off and be sure you don't have a fitting leaking.  The hole where the exhaust comes out is at the bottom and where any leakage ends up.  Keep your fingers crossed that is what it is.