Results for "shock mount"

Electrical Easy 30 minutes 173 👍 0

RV 12V Lights Dimming: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

My neighbor insists it's the converter, the RV dealer swears it's bad wiring, and every YouTube video claims it's a dying battery—but my 12V ceiling lights keep dimming! One evening they're blazing bright like a casino, the next morning they're giving off all the enthusiasm of a sleepy firefly.

I've already checked my batteries, and they seem to be charging fine and in good shape. The converter is still humming and its fan is running normally. I'm pretty sure this isn't some fancy mood lighting feature I accidentally activated (though knowing my tech skills, anything's possible). The dimming seems totally random - sometimes they're fine, sometimes they look like they're on their last legs.

I've got a basic multimeter that I pretend to know how to use, but I'm not sure where to even start poking around. As a bonus weirdness, some of my under-cabinet light switches and the wall switch for the ceiling lights are getting really hot. Anyone know what typically causes this whole disco light show situation with 12V lighting systems? …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 158 👍 0

Ford E450 Inertia Switch Location Guide - Find Your RV's Fuel Cutoff Reset Point

Every Ford E450 I've worked on had the inertia switch behind the driver's panel — but my 2011 Freedom Elite 32r has it hidden somewhere completely different. The engine is experiencing what appears to be fuel delivery issues after a minor fender bender, and I suspect the inertia switch may have been triggered and needs to be reset.

I've already done extensive searching in the typical locations - removed both driver and passenger side kick panels completely, pulled out the glove box, and even partially disassembled sections of the dashboard. Despite checking all these common spots where Ford usually places these switches, I'm coming up empty-handed.

Could the switch be integrated into another component on this particular year and model? Are there any alternative locations specific to the E450 chassis or Freedom Elite configuration that I should be checking? I'm also wondering if some models of this year might not have a traditional standalone inertia switch at all. …more

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Chassis Medium 4-6 hours 157 👍 0

Ford F53 Motorhome Ride Quality: Improve Your Harsh Ride with Shocks &

I walked into my first Class A motorhome ownership with zero experience and my 2022 Jayco Precept Prestige 36H on an F53 chassis rides like I'm driving over constant speed bumps. This 3-year-old coach with 15,000 miles beats us to death on every interstate joint and bridge transition - it's honestly brutal and making long trips miserable. I've already added Sumos on the front and Timbrens on the rear, which helped somewhat with roll/sway, but I'm still getting hammered by road imperfections while blueoxing my Honda CRV.

I keep hearing conflicting advice about gas shocks versus other options, proper tire pressures, and suspension upgrades. What actually works to smooth out these bone-jarring impacts? I need real solutions that will make a noticeable difference in ride comfort, not just minor tweaks. Has anyone successfully tamed an F53's harsh ride? …more

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Best RV Generators

4.6 (18,900 reviews)

Solar Batteries Hard 4-6 hours 147 👍 0

MagnaSine MS2012 Inverter Replacement Guide - Best Upgrade Options 202

About my 2007 Fleetwood Bounder: the MagnaSine MS2012 manual claims it should handle my loads perfectly, but this inverter keeps failing on me anyway. It's been acting up for months now - the microwave keeps causing it to hiccup and shut off, then it comes right back on. I know it's only going to get worse from here.

I've been looking at upgrading to something more reliable, maybe a Victron or another brand, but I'm honestly overwhelmed by all the options out there. What are the best replacement inverters that other RVers have had success with? I just want something that's going to work consistently without all these random shutdowns.

Before I spend a bunch of money though, could this actually be a battery issue instead of the inverter itself? I'd hate to replace a perfectly good unit if the real problem is somewhere else in the system. …more

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Engine Hard 4-6 hours installation 141 👍 0

SDI E-Clik vs Liquid Spring: Affordable F53 Chassis Suspension Upgrade Options

Nobody warned me that what started as minor swaying on highway trips last month would turn into white-knuckle driving every time I take my F53 chassis RV over 50mph. SDI E-Clik costs about a third of what Liquid Spring systems run, but I'm wondering what you actually get for that price difference.

Is E-Clik just electronic shock control, or does it offer more comprehensive suspension improvements? How does the ride quality compare between the two systems on F53 motorhomes? …more

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Ac Refrigeration Hard 4-6 hours 137 👍 0

Samsung RF18 Refrigerator Installation Guide: Bounder 35E RV Door Opening Dimensions

Apparently I'm tackling my Samsung RF18 residential refrigerator install in my Bounder 35E this Saturday — what measurements and prep work do I need ready for the door opening? I've measured the door opening and it's just barely larger than 24.5 inches at the narrowest point, and Samsung lists the RF18 at exactly 24.5" wide with doors removed.

I'm worried I might get the refrigerator delivered and then find out it won't actually fit, or worse - damage something trying to force it through. Has anyone successfully done this installation? I know some people remove windows for residential fridge installations, but I really don't want to go that route if I can avoid it. The measurements seem so close that I'm concerned about whether this is actually feasible or if I'm setting myself up for a costly mistake. …more

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Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 134 👍 0

Ford F53 RV Chassis: All Headlights Out - Complete Diagnosis & Repair

Pulled out my multimeter on this dead F53 headlight situation and I'm getting 12.4V at the relay when every Ford manual says it should read 12.6V. My 1999 Mountain High Pinnacle Class A with 76,000 miles on a Ford F-53 chassis has me stumped - ALL four headlights (both high and low beams) just went completely dead, but here's the weird part: every single other light works perfectly. Taillights, brake lights, turn signals, markers - they're all fine.

When the headlight switch is on, there are no headlights at all, and the blue high beam indicator remains constantly lit. I noticed a strange clicking sound from under the hood about every 20-25 seconds, which continued even after disconnecting the coach and chassis batteries.

I've already replaced the headlight switch thinking that was the culprit, but the same problem persists. No headlights whatsoever when I flip the switch, whether I'm on high or low beam. I'm starting to think it might be the combination switch or maybe a relay with a potential dead short, but I don't want to start throwing parts at this thing without some guidance.

Has anyone dealt with this exact scenario on a late 90s Ford chassis? What should I be checking first? I really need to get this sorted out before my next trip. …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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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 129 👍 0

Ford E-450 RV Shock Absorber Upgrade Guide: Bilstein 4600 vs Koni FSD

Before spending hundreds on new tires and suspension parts for my 2023 Ford E-450 Class C motorhome, the ride quality is still absolutely brutal. The RV is about 28 feet long and weighs approximately 14,500 pounds loaded. We use it primarily for family camping trips, but I also occasionally tow a small utility trailer with dirt bikes - probably 25% of our trips involve towing that extra 2,000-3,000 pounds.

I've been researching shock absorber upgrades and have narrowed it down to two main options that seem popular in the RV community: the Bilstein 4600 series and the Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) shocks. I understand both are significant improvements over stock, but I'm trying to understand the practical differences between them for my specific setup and usage patterns.

What I really need to know is which option provides the best balance of ride comfort improvement, handling stability (especially when towing), and overall value for money on the E-450 chassis. I want to make sure I'm making the right choice since this is a fairly significant investment and I don't want to have buyer's remorse later. …more

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Appliances Medium 45 minutes 127 👍 0

Glendinning Power Cord Reel Problems: 2020+ Model Reliability Issues &

The neighbor's 2020 Glendinning power cord reel works flawlessly while mine keeps having slip ring connection failures despite the supposed dielectric grease fix. I'm looking at their newer post-2020 units but still concerned about long-term reliability issues that plagued earlier models.

Should I trust the updated slip ring design or go with their Cable Master bucket system instead? The Cable Master uses a bucket to house the wound-up power cord, which eliminates the slip ring issue, but the bay with the Transfer Switch might be too small for my specific setup.

Need to know if the 2020+ models actually solved the connection problems or if I should stick with the more reliable bucket design despite the potential space constraints. …more

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Chassis Hard Research and planning phase 127 👍 0

Ford F53 Godzilla V8 Suspension Problems: Fixes & Upgrades for Class A Motorhomes

Halfway through my first long trip, this bone-rattling vibration and unsettling sway started plaguing my newer Class A motorhome with the Ford F53 Godzilla V8 chassis. Coming from a 26' travel trailer and a history with brands like LazyDaze, I'm trying to understand the current RV landscape. I saw a Baystar 2023 model where the owner spent around $35,000 on suspension upgrades after just 12,000 miles.

Sounds awesome on paper, but I keep hearing people say you still need to dump a ton of money into suspension upgrades to make these things handle decently on the highway. Did Ford actually improve the suspension setup when they introduced the Godzilla engine, or are we dealing with the same basic chassis design that's been around forever? I'm talking about 30+ foot Class A rigs here - seems crazy that a $200k motorhome would need immediate aftermarket work to drive safely.

Anyone know if the Godzilla F53 combo actually fixed the handling problems or if it's just more power on the same wobbly platform? …more

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Best RV Refrigerators

4.3 (9,200 reviews)

General Hard 3-4 hours 127 👍 0

How to Replace a Broken RV Front Shock Mount - Part ID Guide

Tried to avoid a costly repair by checking first — would my RV's front shock mount bracket failure where the shock absorber connects to the chassis be covered under warranty? The bracket appears to be chassis-specific hardware, but I'm unable to locate the correct part number through standard parts diagrams - it shows as a grayed-out component without identification in the technical documentation I've found.

What is the proper procedure for identifying and sourcing this type of suspension mounting hardware? The bracket sits adjacent to part 3A010 in the assembly and appears to be a critical structural component for proper shock absorber attachment. …more

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Chassis Easy 15 minutes 122 👍 0

Ford F53 Jounce Bumpers Always Touching: Normal Design for 20K+ GVWR Motorhomes

Finally crawling under my Ford F53 motorhome staring at these front jounce bumpers constantly touching suspension components with no clue if this means something's actually broken. According to Ford Special Service Message SSM 53453 for 2020-2025 F53 Motorhome chassis with a GVWR of 20,500-26,000 lbs, this constant contact is actually normal.

The front jounce bumpers (service base part number 3020) are designed to be an active part of the suspension, providing incremental dampening that improves ride quality and cornering performance. For motorhomes in this weight range, constant contact is not an indication of overloading or damage.

You can reference the full details in the official Ford document: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2025/MC-11015265-0001.pdf

I want to ensure I'm not damaging my suspension or operating unsafely, but this service message confirms that constant contact is within normal operating parameters for heavier motorhomes. …more

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Solar Batteries Hard 6-8 hours 122 👍 0

Complete Newmar RV Lithium Battery Upgrade: DC-DC Charger and BIM Wiring Guide

Staring at my 2019 Newmar's freshly wired lithium upgrade with Victron BVM-712, Orion XS DC-DC charger, and Cerbo GX — finished yesterday but the system still isn't charging properly.

The main issue is I can't figure out how to properly integrate my existing boost switch with the new DC-DC charger setup while maintaining the ability to trickle charge chassis batteries. Currently, my Orion XS DC-DC charger flows only one way from engine alternator to lithium batteries. Should I replace the existing BIM with a LI-BIM, which would be in series with the 2/0 cable? Is there a control wire on the Orion XS that will allow flow from lithium to chassis batteries while on shore/inverter power?

I'm considering adding a 120V battery tender for chassis batteries, but want to confirm what modifications might be needed to my existing BIM. Can someone provide guidance on the correct wiring approach? …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 122 👍 0

Onan 5500 Generator Shuts Down Under Load: Troubleshooting Guide

Onan 5500 runs perfectly at idle but kills itself within 30 seconds of turning on the AC. Been fine for years and suddenly can't handle any real load. Fuel filter is new, oil is fresh, and it starts right up every time — just dies the moment I ask it to actually work. …more

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