Results for "bolt failure"

Engine Easy N/A 1,025 👍 0

Ford V10 Triton Engine Maintenance Guide: EGR Delete vs Regular Service Tips

Spent years doing regular EGR maintenance on my old gas motorhome without issues — but this 2007 Fleetwood 31' Tioga with Ford V10 Triton has me second-guessing everything. I keep reading conflicting information about EGR delete procedures on V10 engines, and I'm worried I might make things worse if I mess with it.

Is the EGR delete modification actually necessary on this 2007 3-valve V10, or am I overthinking this? I don't want to void any warranties or create problems that weren't there before. Would I be better off just sticking to regular maintenance instead of modifications? I'm looking for reassurance that I'm taking the right approach to keep this engine running reliably for years to come. …more

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Appliances Hard Professional repair required 822 👍 0

Splendide WDC7100XC Drum Bearing Repair & Replacement Guide

Splendide combo washer-dryer started making a grinding noise during the spin cycle and now it vibrates so hard it walks across the floor. Pretty sure it's the drum bearings based on the sound. Debating between a $400 repair bill and just replacing the whole unit. …more

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Engine Hard Not recommended 806 👍 0

Ford V10 Turbo Kit for Motorhomes: Cost, Risks & Better Alternatives

Before every camping season rolls around, I face the same dreaded reality with my Ford V10 motorhome crawling up mountain passes like a wounded turtle. What are the realistic costs involved? Are there major risks to the engine I should know about? Is this actually worth doing or should I look at other options? …more

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Best RV Propane Accessories

4.5 (11,200 reviews)

Plumbing Medium 1-2 hours 366 👍 0

Monaco Diplomat Rear Air Suspension Won't Dump Fully - Troubleshooting Guide

Last week my 2006 Monaco Diplomat's rear air bags started refusing to dump all the way down when I hit the air dump before leveling. The front dumps fine, but the back stays partially inflated.

I'm still pretty new to RV maintenance and not sure where to start troubleshooting this. Should I be hearing air escaping when I activate the dump? What are the most common causes when rear air bags won't dump completely? Any guidance on what to check would be really appreciated! …more

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Exterior Medium 2-3 hours 248 👍 1

How to Replace RV Slide Topper Fabric: Complete DIY Guide

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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Engine Hard 2-3 hours for diagnosis 242 👍 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

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Engine Easy 15 minutes to inspect 218 👍 0

Michelin RV Tire Age: Inspect After 5 Years, Replace by 10

Called three different tire shops this month about my 2020 Newmar Ventana's Michelin 275/70R22.5 tires and all want them replaced just for being 6 years old despite perfect tread. I'm meticulous about tire maintenance - I check air pressure religiously before and after every trip, whether it's a short weekend getaway or an extended cross-country journey like the 5000-mile trip I just completed.

Despite my careful maintenance routine, I experienced a blowout on the right rear inside tire during the final leg of that recent long trip. When the roadside service technician came out to help, he recommended replacing all six tires specifically because of their age, even though the remaining tires still have plenty of tread depth and appear to be in excellent condition visually.

This has me confused because I've heard conflicting advice from other RV owners - some say well-maintained motorhome tires can safely last up to 10 years, while others insist on much shorter replacement intervals. I'm trying to understand what the actual safety guidelines are for RV tire replacement based on age versus tread wear. Should I really replace tires that still look good just because of when they were manufactured? What's the real story on how tire age affects safety, and how do I properly check the manufacturing date to make this decision? …more

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Chassis Medium 4-6 hours 199 👍 0

Ford F53 Harsh Ride Fix: Shocks, Springs & Sway Bars

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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Appliances Hard 8-16 hours 192 👍 0

Entegra Odyssey 26M Murphy Bed Couch Replacement and Ground Clearance Upgrade

Our 2022 Entegra Odyssey 26M's Murphy bed couch just completely failed at 11 PM and we desperately need a replacement solution before family arrives tomorrow morning. What if I could swap out that murphy bed couch for some fancy theater seats? I'm picturing myself reclining in luxury while Netflix loads at dial-up speeds thanks to campground wifi.

But here's where my engineering expertise (aka zero knowledge) kicks in - can theater seats even work with a murphy bed setup? Do the backs need to come off or fold down? And while I'm dreaming big, I'd also love to get a couple more inches of ground clearance so I stop scraping on every driveway entrance like I'm driving a lowrider.

Am I asking for the impossible, or is there actually a way to make this couch-to-theater-seat transformation happen? And what's the least complicated way to get this thing sitting a bit higher off the ground? …more

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Exterior Medium 2-3 hours 191 👍 0

RV Roof Leak Around Air Conditioner: Complete Repair Guide

Around noon Saturday I'm planning to tackle this stubborn RV roof leak by my air conditioner — what tools should I gather beforehand? My rooftop air conditioner is letting water in every time it rains, and when I climbed up there (probably looking like a graceful gazelle), I can see the sealant around the AC unit is definitely cracked and peeling.

I'm standing in the RV section of the hardware store looking at about 47 different tubes of sealant, and I have no idea which one won't turn into another cracked mess in six months. What's the best product to properly reseal around an RV air conditioner? I'd rather not repeat this whole 'indoor rain shower' experience again! …more

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Engine Hard 4-6 hours installation 183 👍 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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Best RV Awnings & Accessories

4.5 (7,600 reviews)

Chassis Easy 30 minutes 171 👍 0

Ford E350 Dually Wheel Center Hole Size Guide: Front vs Rear Differences Explained

According to my mechanic, my Ford E350 dually has mismatched wheel fitments, center holes that don't align properly, AND different sizing between front and rear wheels all at once. I have a 2001 Ford E350 Class C motorhome with dual rear wheels, and I desperately need to get a spare tire sorted out.

I found what I thought was the perfect rim - same bolt pattern as my existing wheels - but when I got home and really looked at it, the center hole is noticeably smaller than the ones currently on my RV. I've been assuming all six rims on a dually setup would be identical, but now I'm second-guessing everything.

Could it be that Ford actually uses different center hole sizes between the front wheels and rear dually wheels on the E350? I'm really hoping someone can clarify this because I need to know if I bought the wrong type of rim or if there's something else I'm missing here. …more

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Exterior Medium 2-3 hours 169 👍 0

Dometic 8300 Series Awning Torsion Assembly Replacement Guide (834AV44

Already burned through three Dometic 8300 torsion assemblies in six months and I'm hemorrhaging money as a new RV owner. The model number is 834AV44.138 and I'm not even sure what series this is - is it part of the 8300 series maybe?

The torsion assembly lever broke off and I can't seem to find exact replacement parts anywhere. I'm wondering if there are compatible parts from other Dometic awning models that would work with mine? I don't want to order the wrong thing and make the problem worse. Any guidance on finding the right replacement parts or temporary fixes would be really helpful! …more

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Slideouts Medium 2-4 hours 164 👍 0

Lippert Power Gear Slide Motor Replacement Guide

Walked out to prep our RV this morning and discovered our Lippert Power Gear slide motor is making grinding noises and won't extend properly. My RV's slide motor is failing and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get replacement parts. The slide is getting sluggish and I suspect it's either the motor brushes or possibly something in the gearbox itself.

I've been searching everywhere for Lippert Power Gear parts but I'm not sure where to look or what my options are. As it stands, the replacement parts are ridiculously expensive - a $100 gearbox, $50 brake, and $100 motor, but Lippert wants nearly $1000 for the whole assembly. I just want to replace the brushes, but they won't even sell those separately!

Can I buy just the motor component, or do I need to replace the entire gearbox assembly? I really need to know where I can actually purchase these parts and how to determine whether it's a motor issue or a gear problem before I spend a fortune on the wrong repair! …more

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Engine Easy N/A - finding shop 161 👍 0

Ford F53 V10 RV Chassis Repair Shops Near Raleigh NC

My Ford F53 V10 is showing misfire codes P0301 and P0303, but my compression test reads 180 PSI when everything says it should be around 150 PSI. I'm located near Raleigh, North Carolina, and I need to get some mechanical work done - specifically repairs to the exhaust manifold bolts and air conditioning system work.

The problem I'm running into is that when I call Ford dealerships in the area, they keep telling me they don't work on motorhomes, even though it's a Ford chassis. This seems crazy to me since the engine and drivetrain components should be the same as other Ford vehicles. The exhaust manifold issue and AC problems are fairly standard automotive repairs, so I don't understand why the Ford connection isn't helping me here.

What type of repair facilities should I be looking for instead? Are there specific shops or service centers near Raleigh that specialize in F53 chassis work, or should I be approaching this differently? I just need somewhere that can competently handle these mechanical repairs on my motorhome without the runaround. …more

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