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RV Refrigerator Ammonia Smell: Leak Repair & Safety Guide
Ac Refrigeration Medium 30 minutes 106 👍

RV Refrigerator Ammonia Smell: Leak Repair & Safety Guide

Last spring when I opened up my RV for the first camping trip, that same overwhelming ammonia stench hit me the moment I cracked open the refrigerator door. It seems to be getting worse and I can smell it throughout the coach now. I'm scared this might be some kind of refrigerant leak but I'm not sure.

Is it safe to keep using the refrigerator? Should I be concerned about health risks from breathing this in? I don't want to make the situation worse or put my family in danger. What should I do immediately to stay safe? …more
5 Star Tuner X4 for Ford V10 RV: Complete Performance & Upgrade Guide
Engine Easy 15 minutes 105 👍

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
Atwood AFMD35 Furnace Playing Peek-a-Boo - How to Clean Flame Sensor & Fix Short Cycling
Propane Medium 30-60 minutes 95 👍 1

Atwood AFMD35 Furnace Playing Peek-a-Boo - How to Clean Flame Sensor & Fix Short Cycling

Staring at my Atwood AFMD35 manual that claims it should stay running once lit, but mine keeps shutting off every few minutes like it's playing peek-a-boo. It fires up beautifully for about 5-10 seconds, gets my hopes up that I won't freeze tonight, then promptly shuts off like it's having second thoughts about this whole "heating the RV" thing.

I've ruled out the sail switch and high temp limit since it actually lights (small victories in RV life, right?). I'm pretty sure the flame sensor is the culprit here, but I've never cleaned one before. How do I clean this mysterious little part, and what's the best way to access it on this model? Because apparently my furnace thinks playing hard-to-get is charming! …more
Everchill 12V Fridge Not Cooling But Freezer Works - Fix
Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours 93 👍

Everchill 12V Fridge Not Cooling But Freezer Works - Fix

The freezer in my 2024 Jayco Eagle's Everchill 12V fridge works perfectly, but I'm tackling the non-cooling fridge section this Saturday — what should I check first? The Everchill 12V four-door refrigerator/freezer unit has developed what seems to be a common problem - the freezer compartment is working perfectly and maintaining proper temperatures, but the refrigerator section has completely stopped cooling.

I've verified that the internal fan is running normally, so it's not a power issue. The unit gets power, the controls light up, and I can hear it cycling on and off as expected. However, despite the fan running and the freezer working fine, the fridge compartment just won't get cold anymore. This seems like it happened suddenly rather than gradually losing cooling capacity.

I've read online that this is a known issue with these Everchill units, but I'm not sure what specifically causes the freezer to work while the fridge fails. What are the most likely culprits when you have this exact symptom pattern, and what should I check first to diagnose whether it's something I can fix myself or if I need to call for warranty service? …more
Norcold RV Refrigerator Fire Hazard: Complete Prevention Guide & Safety Tips
Ac Refrigeration Medium 1 hour inspection 90 👍

Norcold RV Refrigerator Fire Hazard: Complete Prevention Guide & Safety Tips

Standing in my flooded RV after last week's torrential downpour, I'm realizing my Norcold double door refrigerator might be one electrical surge away from turning this whole rig into a bonfire. I've discovered a concerning burn mark that suggests serious heat distribution issues, particularly around the chimney and heat diverter placement.

I'm trying to figure out if this is one of those real risks from the previous class action lawsuit or just an RV urban legend. After the factory modifications following the lawsuit, which installed a thermal overheat switch, I'm still worried about the fundamental design - specifically how the heat diverter seems to direct heat toward the cabinet wall.

What exactly causes these fire risks, and more importantly, what can I actually DO about it? The fix seems to involve removing the fridge and installing heat protection on the cabinet wall. I've heard whispers about recalls and some prevention methods, but I want concrete steps to ensure my RV doesn't become a potential fire hazard.

Any guidance on real prevention steps would be amazing - I'd rather not explain to my insurance company why my vacation home spontaneously combusted! …more
Banks Pedal Monster Ford F53 Motorhome Review: Does It Really Work?
Engine Easy N/A - informational 89 👍

Banks Pedal Monster Ford F53 Motorhome Review: Does It Really Work?

Halfway through every camping season, I find myself second-guessing whether that Banks Pedal Monster I installed on my 2017 F53 chassis motorhome was worth it. After installation, I'm honestly not feeling much difference in performance, even in the most aggressive setting. The sales literature made it sound like it would dramatically improve acceleration and power.

I'm worried this expensive modification isn't actually doing anything meaningful for my heavy motorhome. Should I be feeling more power by now, or did I just throw money away? I'm starting to think maybe these throttle controllers don't actually work on big RVs like they claim to. Can someone help me understand what this thing is supposed to actually do versus what it can realistically deliver on an F53 chassis? …more

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Best RV GPS Systems with Integrated Dashcam and Backup Camera Display for Safe Travel
General Medium N/A - shopping 87 👍

Best RV GPS Systems with Integrated Dashcam and Backup Camera Display for Safe Travel

Halfway through backing out of my campsite this morning I spotted my dashboard cluttered with three separate screens for GPS, dashcam, and backup camera.

I've been looking around but I'm not sure if fully integrated systems like this actually exist, or if I should be thinking about this differently. Would love some guidance from more experienced folks - are there good options out there, or am I better off going a different route? Thanks for any help! …more
RV Hot Water Pressure Problems: How to Fix a Stuck Backflow Preventer in Your Water System
Plumbing Medium 1-2 hours 85 👍

RV Hot Water Pressure Problems: How to Fix a Stuck Backflow Preventer in Your Water System

About four years into owning my 2019 Winnebago, the hot water pressure is starting to completely tank — should I repair this backflow preventer or replace the whole unit? My 2002 Winnebago with an Atwood 10 gallon water heater just lost all hot water pressure overnight. Cold water works perfectly fine, but turn that handle to hot and... nothing. Zero pressure at any faucet.

The weird thing is the tank itself has hot water and pressure - I can open the relief valve and water shoots out fine with good pressure. It's like something is blocking the hot water from getting out of the tank to the faucets. I've checked what I can reach and don't see any obvious blockages in the lines.

Anyone know what could cause hot water pressure to just disappear like this while cold water works normally? There's gotta be something simple I'm missing here. …more
Norcold RV Refrigerator Not Cooling Properly: Complete Temperature Troubleshooting Guide
Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-4 hours 85 👍

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
RV Spare Tire Check: Verify Size and Pressure Before Every Trip
Engine Easy 15 minutes 79 👍

RV Spare Tire Check: Verify Size and Pressure Before Every Trip

Every time I crawl under my Class C RV I stare at that spare tire that's been hanging there for years collecting road grime — check or replace? I mean, it's there in the compartment looking all tire-like, but I'm wondering if there's stuff I should be checking?

I keep hearing horror stories about people getting stranded because their spare was useless when they actually needed it. Turns out this happened to me - I discovered my spare was the wrong size (245 75R16 instead of 225 75R16), which could have been a major problem during a blowout.

What's the smart move here for spare tire maintenance? I learned to check not just the tire size, but also the air pressure. Mine was sitting at just 58psi, which thankfully I could fix with my air compressor.

I'd hate to be that person calling for help on the side of the highway! Anyone else have similar experiences? …more
1986 Fleetwood Jamboree Fridge Repair Guide + Ford 460 Engine Upgrade
Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours for fridge 78 👍

1986 Fleetwood Jamboree Fridge Repair Guide + Ford 460 Engine Upgrade

Got my third fridge failure this season in my '86 Fleetwood Jamboree with the Ford 460 carbureted engine and I'm done guessing what's wrong. Two main issues:

The fridge isn't working at all. What should I check first for troubleshooting?

Also considering an EFI conversion on the 460 for better fuel economy since gas mileage is brutal. Is this upgrade cost-effective or should I stick with maintaining the carburetor system? …more
Dutch Star TPMS Not Working - Repair vs Replace Guide
Electrical Medium 3-4 hours 46 👍

Dutch Star TPMS Not Working - Repair vs Replace Guide

Found out my 2020 Dutch Star 3736 TPMS system isn't getting any tire pressure readings at all. The dealer quoted me $800+ to diagnose and potentially replace the whole system, which seems steep for what should be a monitoring system. I'm towing a 2022 Jeep Trailhawk and already have an aftermarket E-ZTire system for the toad that works great. The onboard TPMS display shows nothing - no pressures from any of the six coach tires. From what I can tell, these aren't the simple valve stem sensors you can swap out easily, but rather internal sensors that require tire dismounting. Before I drop serious money at the dealer, wondering if there's a simpler fix I'm missing or if I should just bite the bullet and install an aftermarket system for the whole rig. …more
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