Results for "red light"

Engine Easy 45 min 248 👍 0

Femco vs Fumoto Oil Drain Valves for RVs - Which is Better?

Looked at my mechanic's quote for a $300 professional oil change setup and something seems off—wouldn't a basic Femco or Fumoto drain valve work just fine? I've narrowed it down to Femco and Fumoto, but I'm genuinely worried about road debris damage since RVs sit lower and encounter more hazards than regular vehicles.

The thought of a drain valve getting hit by rocks or debris and causing a catastrophic oil leak on the highway keeps me up at night. I need to know which design is actually safer and more protected in RV applications. Does one have better protection features than the other? I'd rather be overly cautious than deal with a roadside emergency. …more

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Electrical Medium 45 minutes 219 👍 0

RV Backup Camera Not Working? Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Spent all winter enjoying a perfectly working RV backup camera, but the second temperatures hit 85 degrees outside, my screen goes completely black. My wireless backup camera decided to give me the silent treatment right when I need it most. The monitor is just sitting there mocking me with a "no signal" message, and honestly, my spatial awareness isn't what it used to be.

The camera worked fine on our last camping trip (when I only needed to back up twice), but now that I'm trying to navigate tight campground spots, it's gone completely dark. I'm dealing with a wireless system, so I know there are more things that can go wrong than with a wired setup.

Before I resort to using my spouse as a very expensive parking sensor, what's the best way to troubleshoot this? I'm hoping it's something simple like a loose connection rather than having to explain to my insurance company why there's a picnic table embedded in my bumper. …more

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Exterior Medium 2-3 hours 214 👍 1

How to Replace RV Slide Topper Fabric: Complete DIY Guide 2024

I pulled into three different campsites this month and my torn slide topper is eating through my gear faster than I can replace it. I've never done anything like this before and I'm worried I might damage the whole mechanism or make things worse.

Can I actually replace just the fabric portion safely, or should I bite the bullet and have the entire assembly replaced by a professional? I'm also concerned about costs - I'm hoping this won't break the bank. If it is something I can do myself, how difficult is it really? I don't want to get in over my head and end up with a bigger problem than I started with.

Can you help me understand the best approach for my specific situation? …more

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Best RV Sewer Hoses & Kits

4.6 (31,500 reviews)

Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours 178 👍 0

Dometic RV AC Not Cooling? 5 Common Fixes for Air Conditioner Troubleshooting Guide

Walked out to my RV this morning trying to decide between calling a repair tech or troubleshooting my Dometic Brisk Air rooftop AC myself since it's showing weird operational issues. The compressor engages and fan motor operates normally, but the unit fails to produce cold air output. Temperature differential across the evaporator coil is minimal.

Unit functioned properly through previous cooling season with no apparent issues. Current symptoms include normal airflow volume but inadequate cooling capacity. What systematic diagnostic procedure should I follow to identify the root cause? Looking for a methodical troubleshooting sequence that addresses the most probable failure points in order of likelihood. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 165 👍 0

How to Upgrade Progressive Dynamics Converter for Lithium RV Batteries Safely

Got a 15-year-old Progressive Dynamics converter that's starting to throw fault codes with my new lithium setup — worth upgrading or try making it work? I have a 2006 Lance 915 cabover that I recently upgraded with 2-200 watt Bouge solar panels and 2-100ah SOK lithium batteries.

The problem is I'm still running the original Progressive Dynamics converter charger that came with the RV, and I've learned it's not designed for lithium batteries. I'm worried about damaging my new battery investment.

What are my options for upgrading? I'm not sure if I need to replace the whole converter unit or if there's some kind of upgrade kit available. Any advice would be really appreciated since I don't want to mess this up! …more

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Slideouts Medium 1-2 hours 159 👍 0

RV Slide Out Won't Retract: Motor Runs But Won't Move - Fix

Planning to use the same motor running trick that saved my old Winnebago's slide out, but this new rig's slide won't budge at all. It extended just fine this morning, but now when I try to bring it back in, the motor sounds like it's working but the slide isn't budging at all. I can hear it running but zero movement.

I'm trying to figure out if this is a hydraulic problem or if I've got a cable system that's gone haywire. Could it be something simple like low fluid, or am I looking at broken cables? Don't want to mess around with it too much without knowing what I'm dealing with first. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 148 👍 0

RV Solar Panel Z Bracket Installation: Drill vs Adhesive Mounting Guide

Ready to mount solar panels on the roof but torn between drilling through the fiberglass with Z-brackets or using VHB tape adhesive mounts. Terrified of roof leaks from drill holes but also worried the adhesive won't hold at highway speeds. Which mounting method actually holds up long term? …more

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Plumbing Easy 30 minutes 148 👍 0

Fix RV Low Water Pressure on City Connection: Troubleshooting Pump Assembly

Last week my pressure regulator started reading a solid 40 PSI on city water but my water pump keeps cycling on for 5-6 seconds when everything says it should stay completely off. When I connect to city water, my water pressure regulator shows a solid 40 PSI, which should be plenty, right? But here's the weird part - my water pump keeps kicking on for about 5-6 seconds then shuts off, even though I'm connected to city water and the pump switch is supposed to be off.

The really frustrating thing is that the pressure feels weak throughout the RV, with specifically the bathroom sink and kitchen sink seeming low, though the shower has good pressure. I've already changed out the intake/check valve and don't currently have a filter in the system. I can see the pump running while on city water, which I know is not normal. I noticed the kitchen and bathroom sink screens were plugged - which might explain some pressure issues - but now I'm wondering about the toilet's low pressure. Could there be a screen in the toilet line I'm not seeing?

I've been full-timing for two years and never had this issue before. What should I be checking for? I'm handy enough to do basic repairs but need to know where to focus my troubleshooting efforts. …more

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Electrical Medium 3-4 hours 145 👍 0

Sony VCB-62MH RV Camera Monitor Replacement: Complete Installation Guide for RV Coaches

Already cleared my Saturday schedule to swap out this Sony VCB-62MH RV camera monitor — what tools and prep work should I have ready beforehand? The Sony VCB-62MH rear view camera monitor in my 2008 Phaeton finally died, and of course Sony doesn't make them anymore. I've been searching everywhere for a replacement but everything I find is either way too big for the existing dash opening or doesn't work with the Sony cameras that are still perfectly fine.

I really don't want to replace the entire camera system - that would cost a fortune and the cameras work great. I just need the monitor replaced. Has anyone successfully found a workaround that reuses the existing Sony cameras and wiring? I'd love to keep the automatic switching feature for the side cameras when using turn signals if possible, but at this point I just need something that works and fits in the dash opening. …more

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Exterior Medium 2-4 hours 144 👍 0

How to Fix Cracked Dometic RV AC Covers & Roof Vents: Complete Repair

Already tried following a YouTube tutorial to fix the cracked Dometic air conditioner cover on my 2022 East to West 1900MMK travel trailer but somehow made the crack even worse. What are my repair options - can I fix the crack or should I replace the whole cover?

Also dealing with a broken cap on the roof tank vent. I'm curious about material choices - I've noticed galvanized steel can rust, while PVC seems to degrade in sunlight. What are the pros and cons of different vent cap materials? What's a reasonable price range for replacement?

Looking for practical solutions for both issues. …more

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Appliances Medium 3-4 hours 143 👍 0

Dometic R31 Stove Review + Gas Pressure Test Guide

Walked into my RV this morning to find my Dometic R31 stove flames randomly dying again - probably a dumb question, but is this normal? I've been looking at the Dometic R31 as a potential replacement, but I want to make sure I'm making the right choice before spending the money.

What's really concerning me is this gas pressure test mentioned in the installation manual. It talks about connecting some kind of gauge to a test port on the regulator, but doesn't specify what type of gauge or what pressure readings I should expect. I'm pretty handy with basic repairs, but gas systems make me nervous and I want to do this safely. Has anyone actually done this test, and is the R31 reliable enough to justify the upgrade from my problematic Wedgewood? …more

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Best RV Solar Panel Kits

4.5 (12,700 reviews)

Engine Easy 15 minutes 142 👍 0

5 Star Tuner X4 for Ford V10 RV: Complete Performance & Upgrade Guide

Planning to tune my 2018 Ford 6.8L V10 RV but got quoted $800 for professional tuning and wondering if the 5 Star X4 is DIY-friendly. Specifically want to know about real-world performance improvements - does it actually improve throttle response and shift points? What about fuel economy gains?

Which of the 3 programs works best for RV towing? Is the investment worth it for better drivability or just hype? …more

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Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 136 👍 0

RV Dash AC Blower Motor Not Working? Check These Hidden Fuses First

Last week I'm trying to decide between shelling out hundreds for an RV tech or tackling this myself after my F53 chassis motorhome's dash A/C blower motor completely died. I've checked all the obvious fuses in the main fuse panels, but nothing seems blown.

I discovered something crucial that might help others: Fleetwood added a hidden 25 amp fuse wire-tied above the emergency brake, not shown in standard Ford chassis diagrams. In my case, this was the culprit. As a temporary fix, I even ran a wire directly from my lighter plug with a switch to get some air movement.

I'm wondering if other RV owners might have similar hidden electrical components that aren't in standard chassis wiring documentation? Before taking it to a shop, I recommend carefully checking behind panels and tracing wires, especially looking near the dashboard area above the emergency brake for manufacturer-specific fuses. …more

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Slideouts Hard 2-4 hours 135 👍 0

How to Fix RV Slideout Rubbing Against Exterior Wall - Complete Repair Guide

Finally figured out why my neighbor's slideout glides like butter while mine scrapes horribly against the exterior wall every time — what's their secret? My slideout has started rubbing against the exterior bathroom wall, and the coach is perfectly level.

The main thing I've noticed is that the gap at the bottom of the slide is much smaller now compared to the top - it used to be about 1½-2 inches at the bottom, but now it's barely anything. There's also about a ½ inch difference in height from one end of the slide to the other when I measure from the top.

I've independently jacked up both sides of the slide more than an inch each and checked the gap, but neither showed a difference. When I crawled underneath, I couldn't see where the slide might have moved laterally closer to the wall. The exterior stripes still line up. I also noticed the shower hasn't been used in 6 years or longer (I bought this coach used).

I'm wondering if this could be some kind of drooping issue? I've heard about things like rollers wearing out, but I honestly don't know what to look for or where to start troubleshooting. Should I be checking underneath the RV? Any advice on what might be causing this rubbing and smaller gap would be hugely appreciated! …more

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Chassis Medium 45 minutes 133 👍 0

Dutchstar Chassis Cracking Noise: Diagnosis & Repair Guide

Hearing a loud cracking or popping noise from underneath my Dutchstar when going over bumps or turning. Sounds structural — like metal flexing or a weld breaking. Crawled under and couldn't see any obvious cracks but the noise is getting louder each trip. …more

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