Results for "transfer-switch"

Appliances Easy 10 minutes research 389 👍 0

Can You Run an RV Dryer on 30 Amp Shore Power? Complete Guide

Already dealing with my 2019 Forest River's 4-year-old dryer constantly tripping the breaker — should I repair it or just replace with something more 30-amp friendly? We have a 2024 Tiffin Open Road and I'm not sure if I can use the dryer when we're plugged into a 30 amp hookup at campgrounds.

I've heard mixed things about whether dryers work on 30 amp service or if you need 50 amp. Some people say it depends on the dryer type? I'm honestly not even sure how to tell what voltage our dryer is or what that means for power requirements. Any guidance would be really appreciated! …more

Read answer

Engine Hard 2-3 hours for diagnosis 309 👍 0

1999 F53 V10 Oil in Coolant: Complete Head Gasket Diagnosis & Repair Guide

Called three dealerships about oil contamination in my 1999 Ford F53 V10's coolant system — before I tackle this head gasket nightmare myself. The unit overheated after the oil level dropped significantly, though it still starts and runs without throwing any codes.

Based on the symptoms, I suspect a blown head gasket, but I want to perform proper diagnostic testing before committing to a major repair. What specific diagnostic procedures should I run to confirm whether this is actually a head gasket failure versus other potential causes like a cracked head or block issue?

Looking for a systematic approach to pinpoint the exact problem before I start tearing into this engine. …more

Read answer

Appliances Medium 2-4 hours 274 👍 0

RV Water Heater Not Hot Enough: Fix Lukewarm Water Issues

Looked forward to our two-week cross-country trip starting tomorrow until I discovered my RV water heater that used to produce scalding hot water now barely gets lukewarm. Both the electric and gas functions appear to be working - I can hear the gas igniting and see the electric indicator light - but the water temperature just won't get hot enough for a decent shower.

I've been dealing with this for weeks now and it's driving me crazy. The water gets warm, but nowhere near the hot temperatures I used to get. Is this a common problem with RV water heaters? What are the most likely culprits when you're getting lukewarm water instead of hot? I really need to figure out what's causing this and how to fix it before my next camping trip. …more

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best RV Leveling Blocks & Jacks

4.6 (9,800 reviews)

Electrical Medium 1-2 hours research and setup 259 👍 1

Safari Motorcoach LPG Tank Refill for Stationary RV Setup

Between my toolbox and the YouTube tutorials I've watched, I'm ready to tackle the LPG tank refill setup on my permanently parked 2000 Safari Sahar 32-footer. Since my wife and I live in California and visit several times per year to help her aging parents, the RV serves as a stationary dwelling with full hookups for shore power and water.

The challenge is that the coach won't be moved to drive to propane filling stations, so I'm exploring on-site refill options. I'm specifically interested in potentially transferring propane from a standard 40lb grill tank to our RV's fixed tank. I want to understand what type of fitting our Safari Sahar has and what safety considerations or special equipment might be required for liquid-to-liquid propane transfer.

Since we'll need heating during colder months and my wife will sometimes be at the RV without me, I want to ensure a reliable and safe refill method. What are my options for refilling the LPG tank without moving the motorcoach? …more

Read answer

Engine Easy 15 min read 236 👍 0

Remote RV Diesel Fueling: Complete Guide for Campground Fuel Strategies

Last night at 11 PM I'm staring at my diesel RV's fuel gauge showing nearly empty — need to figure out remote campground fuel strategies before we head out this morning. With a 5 gallon Harbor Freight stick transfer pump, I've been able to add fuel when truck stops aren't convenient, but I'm concerned about static electricity risks.

My current setup involves using the pump to transfer diesel with the fuel can on a camping table, since my RV's fuel inlet is located under a slide. I pumped 10 gallons successfully, but I'm wondering about the safety of this method.

I know there are static electricity concerns when transferring fuel, and I'm curious about the specific risks with diesel. How safe is it to transfer fuel when the can isn't directly grounded to concrete? Are there best practices I should follow when manually adding diesel in remote locations? …more

Read answer

Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-4 hours 228 👍 0

Norcold RV Refrigerator Not Cooling Properly: Complete Temperature Troubleshooting Guide

Before the summer heat kicks in, my 20-year-old Norcold absorption refrigerator only stops cooling when it's above 85 degrees outside — works perfectly fine the rest of the time. I've been tracking its performance with a recording thermometer for 5 days.

Here's what I've observed:
- Cooldown takes about 4 hours
- Freezer varies between 0 and 5 degrees
- Every ~24 hours the unit shuts off to defrost, heating to about 20 degrees
- Time to warm from 5 to 20 degrees is around 1.5 hours

I changed the temperature setting from 7 to 5 on day 3, which seemed to affect the temperature. The refrigerator section is hovering between 30 and 35 degrees during this time.

Is this temperature pattern normal for an absorption fridge, or does this sound like something that needs to be fixed? I'd really appreciate some guidance from more experienced RVers about what these temperatures might indicate. …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Medium 4-8 hours 226 👍 0

Complete RV Solar System Guide 2024: Sizing, Installation & Wiring

Turned to YouTube for RV solar advice and now I'm more confused than ever - probably a dumb question, but how do I actually size this thing? Could fellow RV owners share details about their current solar setups?

Please provide insights on:
- Total system watts
- Fixed or portable panels
- Rigid or flexible panel types
- Series or parallel wiring configuration
- Total system amps
- System voltage
- Wire gauge used
- Controller type
- Personal pros and cons of your current setup
- What you might change in a future installation

These details will help establish baseline specifications for a fleet installation project. …more

Read answer

General Easy Research and comparison 214 👍 0

Tiffin Allegro Bus vs Newmar: Complete Owner's Comparison Guide

Finally decided to stop watching YouTube comparisons between Tiffin Allegro Bus and Newmar coaches since every reviewer contradicts each other and I'm more confused than ever. I've been researching for months and keep going in circles. Currently own a 2019 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40ip and absolutely love it, but we're looking to upgrade to a 45-footer and suddenly questioning everything.

Everyone says both Tiffin and Newmar are top-tier quality, but I need to understand the real differences. What makes each brand stand out? Is Tiffin's customer service really that much better, or is it just hype? Are Newmar's interiors actually more luxurious, or is that just marketing?

I've read every forum post and review I can find, but I really need someone to break down the key differences so I can make a decision and move forward. We're not buying new, looking at newer used models, but this choice is keeping me up at night! …more

Read answer

Ac Refrigeration Easy 30 minutes 213 👍 0

Dometic CF80 Drain Foam Replacement: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Woke up to check out my new place's Dometic CF80 basement refrigerator/freezer and discovered what looks like deteriorated foam filter stuff in the bottom drain compartment. The foam material shows significant contamination and degradation.

I need to understand the specific function of this foam component within the CF80's drainage system. Is this foam element critical for proper unit operation, and what are the consequences of operating without it? Additionally, what is the recommended replacement schedule for this component, and how do I determine when replacement is necessary versus simple cleaning? …more

Read answer

Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours 196 👍 0

RV AC Not Cooling Properly? Complete Troubleshooting & Repair Guide

Standing here after replacing my RV's AC compressor yesterday but it's still barely blowing cold air — did I mess something up? My dual AC setup absolutely crushes it when it's blazing hot outside - we're talking 95+ degree days and it'll knock the temp down a solid 15 degrees no problem. But now that the weather's cooled off to like 70-75 degrees, the darn things can't even keep up with the outdoor temperature. Set the thermostat to 69, outside temp is 69, and I'm still sitting at 75+ inside the rig.

I actually tested it yesterday - turned off the AC completely, opened windows and ran exhaust fans, and got better cooling than with the AC running! Now I'm doing this weird combo of AC plus open windows just to stay comfortable. What gives? Why would my AC units lose their mojo when the weather gets easier on them? Is this some kind of airflow issue or what? …more

Read answer

Chassis Hard Research and planning phase 191 👍 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

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best RV Sewer Hoses & Kits

4.6 (31,500 reviews)

Slideouts Medium 1-2 hours for inspection and measurements 188 👍 0

Hydraulic RV Jack Drift: How Much Sag is Normal?

Apparently my hydraulic leveling jack has a mind of its own — it keeps slowly drifting downward when it's supposed to stay in the retracted position. All four jacks also have a thin coating of hydraulic fluid on them, which has me a bit concerned. I went ahead and extended the leveling system today to take some careful measurements of each jack's extension and the distance from each corner to the ground. I'm wondering what amount of drift or sag should be considered normal versus something that needs immediate attention? …more

Read answer

Engine Hard 1-2 hours per plug 188 👍 0

Ford V10 Blown Spark Plug Repair: Complete Time-Sert & Heli-Coil Fix Guide

Walked out to my Ford V10 this morning with my toolbox in hand, ready to fix this blown spark plug myself — just need to know whether Time-Sert or Heli-Coil is the way to go. My 2000 Ford Flair 31A with the 6.8L V10 just blew a spark plug going uphill - sounded like the exhaust fell off until I realized what happened. The shop is telling me this is apparently a "common issue" with these 2-valve V10 engines, which is just fantastic news after being stranded on vacation.

They're giving me options for thread repair - either a Heli-Coil insert or something called a Time-Sert. I've heard horror stories about blown plugs on these engines, but I've also heard that proper repairs can actually fix this permanently. Before I spend my hard-earned money, I need to understand: are these thread repair methods actually reliable for V10 blown plugs? And please tell me there's a way to prevent this nightmare from happening again - proper torque specs, anti-seize compound, whatever it takes. I just want my RV running reliably again. …more

Read answer

Electrical Easy N/A 186 👍 0

RV Red Warning Light: How to Identify Unknown Electrical Components

Woke up to find my RV's mystery electrical component glowing red instead of the green light the manual promised, and I can't even figure out what this thing is! In the picture I uploaded, you can see the component with the red warning light that just started appearing recently. I'm pretty sure that's not a good sign, right?

I'm thinking it might be some kind of detector or maybe part of the electrical system? There are so many gadgets crammed into these rigs. Anyone know what typically has red warning lights in RVs and what I should be looking for to figure out what this thing actually is? Would love to get it sorted before it becomes a bigger problem! …more

Read answer

Electrical Hard Professional installation 185 👍 0

How to Fix Firefly Battery and Victron System Conflicts in Your RV

Wondering if anyone else has dealt with a rental RV where the Firefly batteries and Victron system are constantly throwing conflicts I've never seen before. I have a 2020 Discovery LXE 40M that I've equipped with a complete Victron system - two Multiplus II inverters, Cerbo GX, and SOK lithium batteries. The problem is my coach's existing Firefly system is creating constant conflicts with the Victron equipment.

The AC units keep getting "shed" by Firefly, I'm getting random low voltage warnings even when my batteries are full, and my Auto Gen Start has completely stopped working. I've heard this might be related to waveform differences between the systems, but I'm not sure what that means or how to fix it.

I've seen some mentions of using dual transfer switches to isolate the systems, but I have no idea how that would work or if it would solve my Auto Gen Start issues. Has anyone actually resolved this Firefly-Victron nightmare? I really don't want to rip out thousands of dollars worth of equipment, but I need my RV systems to work properly! …more

Read answer

Loading more Q&A...

You've seen all 35 Q&A articles!