Dennis H

Patrick, easiest way to tell is to remove the handle. There's only a few screws and it comes right off. If there are two wires coming off it, then you should have a light. If it doesn't work, while you've got it off you can fix it. The wires go into the cavity under the passenger's cup holder....Dennis

Scotty, was that "glitch" 2020's way of giving us the finger as it made way for 2021 ?.... 😉 Asking for a friend.....Dennis

Our Executive is older but well constructed and is dependable. That said, realizing that there have been improvements over the years, mainly with electronics, I've gone over our coach and made a list of 'upgrades' that I would like to make. I then prioritized that list and will work through them as time and money allows. I figure it'd cost me about $100 grand to upgrade the unit to something more "modern", not necessarily better, but more modern. I like the new rigs with the added fiberglass rails to hide all the 'stuff' on the roof, like solar panels and A/C units but again, that is just 'fluff'. I like the fact that my Cummins is pre-def although YMMV. I've got 100,000 miles on it so far and with proper care and maintenance I feel it will run another 200,000. So, really, 100 grand would only buy me interior upgrades. This year I replaced both TVs, cut about 500 lbs in weight and the GPS dash unit. (Click HERE for pictures etc.) The mirror bases need to be replaced/re-chromed, the interior day/night shades could use some freshening/cleaning/replacing and I have a two floor tiles that got cracked by items being dropped on them. I've replaced the headlights and tail lights and the exterior looks great. The electric awning over the door has ripped, (duct tape cures all) and that needs to be replaced soon. Other than that everything is tight and works. I figure repairs etc. that need to be done will be less than 5k so I'm way ahead by keeping my coach.....just my opinion, as I said earlier, your mileage/opinions/ideas may vary.....Dennis

Why not simply upload it to the download section of this site? Then anyone can access it if needed. Just a suggestion. If you need help doing so, either ask here or contact a moderator....Dennis Karl, thanks for uploading the files....Dennis

Walter, I have and use an iphone but I purchased it and should be able to do what I want without Apple telling me what I can and cannot do with it. That's why they have jail breaks and Apple continues to fight it with their incessant upgrades and annoying itunes which I refuse to use. Yes, I agree with some of the android stuff but they're not much better. I've had both types and finally went back to Apple when the XR came out. Not because I fell in love with Apple but simply because I liked the iPhone better than the Galaxy and I can happily hack away and delete and/or bypass all the annoying stuff.... Happy trails....Dennis

Dave, this might help. If not, you might have to be more specific as to what you're looking for. Often coach wiring spans across several model years....Dennis Signature file, but a Sig is just an Exec with more bells and whistles. Wiring diagrams

Let's talk about macerators. You know the installed poop grinders. First off, let me say this post is not about the pros and cons of using them. My coach came with one and I would not buy another coach without one. That said, over the years it has had it's share of issues. I pull mine apart and clean it at the same time I do all my other annual servicing of my rig. However, it has always bothered me that it seems to be struggling at times. I just figured it must have been something we ate. 🙂 Then there is the bypass do-hickey that sprung a leak a couple years ago. A glob of JB Weld and it leaked no more. At least until last week, then it started trickling a bit. Sooooo.... We are wintering in Arizona, it's a new year, the weather is beautiful and I am bored so I thought I'd tackle the macerator project. A quick check thru the internet showed I could order a replacement part for the low low price of $34.95 plus tax and shipping. After a long pause at the computer to confirm I was reading everything correctly, I removed the offending part and made a trip to my local Home Depot. Scrounging through their PVC aisle, their brass fittings as well as their drip system aisle I came away with a solution. The register showed about $8 including taxes. I was getting excited. Back to the coach to assemble the parts. Assembled everything and it worked like a charm. However, the pump, as usual, was acting up. So I removed it, cleaned it and reassembled it. While I had it off, on a whim, I put it on my coach battery. WOW! Thing ran like a scared puppy. So, I began the tedious job of tracing down the wiring in my coach, looking for any voltage drop. I was showing 13.4 VDC at the battery and only 12.3 VDC at the relay. Upon activating the switch, that voltage dropped to 11.5 VDC! Not good. Back I went to tracing the wiring. Apparently Monaco did some strange stuff wiring things. The macerator source is in the rear run bay where it's fused. From there it goes thru several looms and finally comes out in the wet bay. They used 14ga wire, insufficient for a Jabsco pump but maybe sufficient for a Thetford. Dunno, but mine has a Jabsco. Back to HD where I purchased a 50' spool of 10 ga wire and a 10 ga in line fuse holder. I then ran a new wire from the house battery bank directly to the wet bay. I now have a dedicated wire from the source to the switch and then to the motor. What a difference! Emptying the black tank first, smooth and fast, followed by the grey water to clean everything out. The pump ran like never before. Not a hint of a slowdown or hiccup. Big difference!!! If you have a macerator system in your coach and it seems to be struggling or just not up to par, you might want to check your wiring. 50' of 10 ga wire is $20 at HD. You can run a test wire from your batteries to your pump switch and see if that perks the pump up. If it does, as it did mine, you can simply run a new wire for the pump and be a happy camper again. I'm sharing my experience in the hopes it helps someone else. If you need pictures of the bypass gizmo I made, let me know and I'll post it. Eight bucks versus forty and you can afford to take your honey out to dinner and Mickey Ds!! 🙂 🙂 Happy New Year everyone!....Dennis

I bet Walter loves Apple and how he's "free" to use his iPhone how he sees fit. I think it's wonderful that we no longer have to actually think for ourselves and be responsible for our own actions. Letting the government and big tech control our lives has really made 2020 enjoyable. Thank God we can type this stuff as my mask blocks any sort of real conversation....just my observation....Dennis

So, I changed mine out this year. The pictures are below. The originals were made by TYC who no longer makes them, hence they're not available. I replaced mine with the ones in the second picture. Two issues I ran into...first they were not an exact fit so not a plug and play. The outsides are perfect but you'll have to enlarge a couple spots with a Dremel to get a perfect fit. No biggie as it's behind the lights. The other issue is all the lenses are red, hence your back up lights will be also. I have docking lights in the bumper so it didn't matter to me. I purchased them on eBay for 98 bucks and some change-free shipping. Seller was idol168.....more pics or questions..feel free to ask...Dennis

Remember when gas stations were called Service Stations.??? You pull in and ran over the cord stretched across the drive, which rang a bell inside the station. An attendant would come out and take your order and fill your tank. While it was filling, he'd check your oil and wash your windshield. Then he'd take your money and bring you change without you ever having to get out of your vehicle. Many even wore uniforms. S&H Green stamps was your bonus. Much of what I see today is the result of packing everything into a short timeline, pushing us to live our lives faster and faster. We need to slow down so we even know the roses are there........Dennis

Chris, it's happening everywhere. You can't tell me Google's purchase of YouTube has made YouTube better. As the big money continues to eat up little money the competition lessens. Less competition means less quality and less service to the consumer. I also see a major decline in customer service across many platforms. It seems many use Covid as an excuse for poor customer service. Nowadays, if you call a company with an 'issue' you will always get a recording that either tells you to use their website (read, we don't want you to bother us) and/or tries to sell you something you don't need. We were always taught the phone should be answered by the third ring and by a live person but that's no longer the case. We, as consumers, allow ourselves to be bullied and pushed beyond belief, that this is the 'new normal'. Unless we start using our checkbooks to fight back, we will continue to see the megabucks control our future.....Dennis

Greg, we just about beat that horse to death a few weeks ago. HERE is that discussion. Enjoy the read......Dennis

Convection/microwave ovens will always be a bit noisier than a regular microwave simply because of the way they operate. There's an extra fan necessary for cooling and moving the air around inside the convection that microwaves don't need. There are some other subtle differences but that's the most obvious....Dennis

Ernie, next time you're in for service, have the tech spend an hour testing all your air fittings. It'll be money well spent. I bet you'll be surprised at how many minor leaks you have. Most are fixed by simply tightening the connector. My guess is you've either got a leaky air bag or simply leaking fittings leading to that bag...let us know the outcome...Dennis

Ray, you are correct. Pictures would certainly help. We jump in with suggestions as if they pertain to every situation and someone in a similar situation may break a windshield or worse thinking it's the proper way to correct their issue. My responses are usually predicated on level surfaces and sunny skies....Dennis

64 degrees under sunny skies in Mesa Arizona. No snow. 🤥 Can't shovel sunshine......Dennis

I agree with those who say dump the air completely and enjoy the winter. In the Spring, air it up and trouble shoot it then.....Have a Merry Christmas....Dennis

John, I would advise against using the accordian style exhaust. It collects too much lint and that increases the chance of a fire and/or lessened drying capability. A straight pipe is preferred if you can manage that.....Dennis

Is it just me or does Velvac's website simply suck? My driver's side mirror base has decided to lose some of it's chrome and I thought I'd explore having it re-chromed. Before removing it and checking out the cost of such an endeavor, I thought I'd see what a replacement would cost. What a nightmare! Maybe it's just me but after spending an hour on the web, I'm no closer to determining what I've got than I was when I got up this morning. It appears there's three different mirror assemblies Velvac made for RVs. 2020/2025 and 2030. I think I have the 2025 but I'm not sure as Velvac's website doesn't show pictures of the assemblies only the heads and they all appear to be the same. So, my question is two fold. One, has anyone replaced or re-chromed the base of the mirror? Cost? and Two, how did you determine which Model mirror was on your coach. I'd appreciate some help before I go insane....thanks...Dennis

Since you already drilled the 4" hole, you're somewhat limited as to where you go from here. Can you install an 90 degree elbow and vent it downward beneath the engine? Seems like the simplest solution. There should be enough room but it'll be a bear to clean when necessary. Use solid piping and not the corrugated collapsible stuff.....Dennis

Go Greyhound...cheapest to ship stuff across country...Dennis

You will need it the day AFTER the trash pickup...Dennis

I'd venture a guess but it would depend on how kinky you and your wife want to get.....Dennis

Three things to check. 1. Are the bolts the correct bolts and installed correctly? 2. Is your ride height correct? and 3. Are your tires aired up to the correct PSI? Any one or all three could contribute to your issue. It needs to be corrected or you might find yourself changing that inside dually....Dennis

First things first. Do you intend to modify your coach or are you looking for something that will fit as a plug and play? There are number embossed on the lenses themselves. Take down those numbers and do an internet search. Once you've determined what Monaco used for your coach, then you can begin your search. For instance, my coach has 2005 Dodge RAM headlamps but a 2004 Lincoln Navigator tail lights. Mine were made by TYC who no longer makes the tail lights meaning I had to use another brand and modify the holes they fit into. The head lights fit perfectly....someone with your year and model might chime in an save you some trouble....Dennis