Results for "brake controller"

Engine Hard 4-6 hours 119 👍 0

How to Replace Obsolete F53 Chassis ABS Control Module - Ford Discontinued Repairs Guide

Last week my 2013 Coachman Encounter's F53 chassis started throwing ABS codes — can't afford the $3,000+ dealer quote so is there a DIY fix under $500? Our ABS control module failed, creating a no brakes issue. After being towed to a Ford Dealership on May 28th, the repair has been incredibly complex. They've received incorrect and damaged modules, and even after claiming to fix it, the ABS warning light remains on and reprogramming attempts have failed.

Ford apparently no longer makes this module for units over 10 years old. What alternatives exist for finding a compatible ABS control module for my older F53 chassis when OEM replacement isn't available? …more

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Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 105 👍 0

How to Protect Your RV Alternator When Charging Lithium Batteries: DC-

Tried everything my neighbor did to charge his LiFePO4 batteries but mine keeps frying the alternator while his works flawlessly — what's different? I want to install a temperature sensing device that can interrupt charging by opening the solenoid between chassis and house charging systems if the alternator gets too hot. I'm looking to spec out components and understand the installation process, and I'm open to hearing why this might not be a good approach. My goal is preventing alternator overheating when these lithium batteries draw high current compared to my old flooded or AGM batteries. I'm looking for technical feedback and am totally open to critique. …more

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Electrical Easy 10 min read 93 👍 0

Motorhome vs Toy Hauler Electrical Systems: Complete Comparison Guide

Walked into three dealerships with my $40k budget and they're all pushing different electrical setups — can't afford to buy wrong between motorhome vs toy hauler power systems. Currently I have a 2020 F350 diesel SRW with a Reflection 29rs toy hauler, and I'm comparing a Grand Design Lineage 31ZW Super C motorhome versus a Momentum 381MS toy hauler.

The toy hauler I'm considering comes with serious electrical upgrades - 2 heated 400Ah lithium batteries with internal BMS, dual 3,000kVA inverters, four 300W bifacial solar panels, dual 50A solar controllers, and 60A DC-DC truck charging. Currently, to transport my side-by-side (SxS), I need two trucks and two trailers, which is inefficient.

I'm weighing pros and cons like overall length (truck and toy hauler would be about 60', MH and 20' cargo trailer would be about 57'), maintenance costs of keeping two diesel trucks, and transportation flexibility. I also have an F150 that could potentially serve as a toad vehicle.

What experiences can others share about transitioning between these RV types, especially considering power management and transportation logistics? …more

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Best RV Refrigerators

4.3 (9,200 reviews)

Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 93 👍 0

How to Fix RV Rear Brake Lights and Hazards Not Working - Common Grounds & Connections

Spent months planning our cross-country trip leaving next week and my RV's rear brake lights and hazards just completely stopped working. My 1998 National Tropical (on a '97 Ford F53 chassis with the trusty 460 V8) has decided to get creative with its lighting situation. The rear brake lights and 4-way hazards have completely given up the ghost - nothing, nada, zero response from the back end. But plot twist: the turn signals work just fine back there, and everything up front (brake lights, hazards, turns) is working perfectly.

I'm scratching my head because if it was a fuse issue, wouldn't ALL the lights be affected? The fact that some work and others don't has me thinking it's something more specific. Any ideas where I should start poking around to solve this electrical mystery? …more

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General Easy N/A 87 👍 0

5000 lb RV Hitch Rating Explained: Weight Limits, Tongue Weight & Safety Guide

According to my old Class C setup this same hitch rating confusion was easily solved with basic math — but towing a Jeep behind this Class A motorhome has me worried about weight limits and legal liability. After checking the Jeep website, I noticed that most Jeep models weigh over 5100 lbs, which seems to exceed typical 5000 lb hitch ratings. Could this potentially expose RV owners to liability if something goes wrong during towing? I want to understand the weight implications and safety considerations before hooking up a vehicle. Does this mean most Jeep owners towing with a gasser Class A might be inadvertently exceeding safe towing limits? …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 79 👍 0

How to Fix Intermittent Cruise Control on Damon Daybreak F53 Chassis -

Standing here staring at my 2009 Damon Daybreak F53 that's 15 years old and starting to have intermittent cruise control failures — should I repair or replace the system? The dash light doesn't come on when I press set, and cruise won't engage. Previous owner spliced the red wire from an aftermarket trailer brake controller into a wire in the steering column. When I fiddle with the brake controller or jiggle that connection, cruise sometimes starts working again.

Can I safely disconnect the brake controller's red wire from the steering column to fix this? Will the brake controller still work if I remove that connection? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 77 👍 0

DC-DC Charger for Lithium RV Battery: Protect Your Alternator

Despite everyone saying I need a DC-DC charger for my lithium RV batteries, I'm skeptical about dropping $400 — will it actually protect my alternator? Just got a shiny new 2026 F250 (after my poor F150 basically begged for mercy when I hooked up my 2600RB) and had a 230ah lithium battery installed in the trailer. Now I'm reading horror stories about truck alternators and lithium batteries having some kind of electrical death match that could fry my alternator or damage the battery.

I keep seeing mentions of DC-DC chargers but honestly have no idea if I actually need one or if this is just RV paranoia at its finest. The trailer has solar and I've only got a 12V fridge drawing power when towing, so it's not like I'm running a mobile data center back there. Can I just use my truck's existing charge line to the trailer, or am I about to become another cautionary tale about expensive electrical mistakes? …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 months research and shopping 77 👍 0

Diesel vs Gas Class A Motorhome for Family of 6: Expert Advice

Three months of research comparing diesel pushers versus gas Class A motorhomes for our family of 6 has left us more confused than ever!

Here's what's driving me crazy - diesel pushers from around 2010-2012 seem like the budget sweet spot, with their quieter engine placement at the rear and more comfortable ride. But we had a devastating mold problem in our last house that affected everyone's health, and I'm terrified of buying an older RV that might have hidden moisture issues.

The newer gas Class A units (2015 and up) seem like they'd be safer from a mold standpoint, but I worry we're sacrificing ride quality and long-term reliability. Since we don't already own a heavy-duty truck, a motorhome seems more practical than a 5th wheel. With four kids, comfort matters, but their health matters more.

Am I overthinking this, or should the mold risk really be the deciding factor here? I just need someone to tell me straight - which way would you go? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 77 👍 0

How to Fix Parasitic Battery Drain in 2006 Damon Challenger RV: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

I found three different "experts" telling me three different causes for my 2006 Damon Challenger's parasitic battery drain - neighbor blames the converter, dealer says bad fuse, YouTube points to inverter. I've traced it to the instrument cluster fuse, and Thor doesn't have schematics for this model due to its age.

I'm not even sure if it's actually the instrument cluster itself or something connected to it - could it be the transmission temp sensor, engine temp sensor, or other wiring? I really don't want to damage anything expensive or create a safety hazard. What's the safest way to diagnose and fix this without causing more problems? I'd feel much better with a step-by-step approach that won't leave me stranded or worse. …more

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Engine Medium 4-6 hours installation 71 👍 0

F53 Front Leaf Springs: 2017-2021 Compatibility for Air Lift

Between my neighbor insisting F53 front leaf springs swap between 2017-2021 models, my RV dealer claiming they don't, and YouTube mechanics throwing different part numbers at me, I'm completely lost. I successfully installed an Air Lift air bag suspension kit on my 2017 Winnebago a few years back, and now I'm looking to do the exact same setup on a 2021 Holiday Rambler Invicata. Both RVs are built on the F53 chassis, so I'm hoping the front suspension components are standardized across these years.

The Air Lift representative I spoke with believes the kits should be compatible between the 2017 and 2021 F53 chassis, but they don't have definitive documentation to confirm this. Since I already have experience with the installation process and know the kit works well, I'd prefer to use the same Air Lift setup rather than sourcing a different kit. Can anyone confirm whether the front leaf spring configuration, mounting points, and overall suspension geometry remained consistent on F53 chassis from 2017 through 2021? I want to be absolutely certain before ordering the same Air Lift kit for the newer RV. …more

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Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 69 👍 0

EuroLoft Bed Lift Control Issues - Entegra Vision Troubleshooting

The EuroLoft bed lift in my 2025 Entegra Vision is completely acting up and driving me crazy. The bed won't budge when I hit up or down - just sits there like a stubborn teenager.

Weird part is the up/down LEDs that normally stay on while it's moving? They just do this quick millisecond blink and that's it. I already checked the obvious stuff - removed the mattress, no belt issues, nothing binding up. I used a 12V supply to test the motor directly, and it works fine both ways - moves up and down when I apply power with correct polarity.

I checked 12V power is getting to the red and black wires, and when I manually powered the Brown and Grey motor wires, the bed moved up and down. But oddly, when I removed power after testing downward movement, the bed kept dropping until the driver and passenger chairs stopped it.

Sounds like maybe the Power Controller or ACS (Advanced Control System) might have lost its marbles? Anyone dealt with this before? I'm wondering if there's a reset procedure or troubleshooting guide for this system. Really don't want to call a tech if it's something simple I'm missing. …more

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Best RV Awnings & Accessories

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Engine Medium Professional installation 68 👍 0

SDI E-Clik Stabilizer Reviews: Real RV Owner Experiences & Performance Guide

The third time this season my F-53 motorhome has been rocking like a boat at campgrounds and I'm done pretending the SDI E-Clik stabilizer system isn't worth investigating. The body roll on highway drives has me white-knuckling the steering wheel, and I'm worried about safety for my family.

I keep seeing mixed information online - some people seem to love it, others say it's just marketing hype. I don't want to throw money at a problem that needs a more serious suspension overhaul, but I also can't afford a complete suspension replacement right now.

Can anyone share honest, real-world experiences with the E-Clik system? Does it actually improve handling enough to notice, or am I setting myself up for disappointment? I need realistic expectations before I commit to this purchase. …more

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Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 66 👍 0

How to Install Brake Controller on 2025 Thor RV Ford Chassis - Step by Step Guide

Found myself staring at my 2025 Thor RV Ford chassis this morning, realizing I'm still missing that brake controller I should have installed months ago. I know I need some kind of brake controller to operate the trailer brakes safely, but I'm honestly not sure where to start.

I've heard that Ford chassis might come pre-wired for this, but I don't really know what that means or what brake controller brands work best. Could someone walk me through what I need to look for and how this whole installation process works? Any guidance would be really appreciated! …more

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Engine Medium 1-4 hours 62 👍 0

How to Diagnose and Fix RV Fuel Injector Problems: Complete Repair Guide for Motorhomes

The mechanic wants to replace all my fuel injectors on my 1996 F53 460 motorhome after I installed a Banks Power system with Accel 24 lb, but this sounds like complete overkill. injectors. It's been running rough, especially at idle, and I'm getting intermittent check engine lights. I don't want to make things worse by guessing or doing the wrong repairs.

I'm honestly a bit intimidated by fuel system work - I've heard horror stories about people causing expensive damage. The injectors I installed were Accel 24 lb., and I want to confirm if these are correct for this engine. I'm planning to pull a plug soon to check my fuel mixture, but I need some expert advice on the safest way to diagnose whether my injectors are actually the problem. I want to be absolutely sure before I start throwing parts at it or risk damaging something else in the fuel system. …more

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Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 60 👍 0

Ford F550 RV Brake Controller Wiring: Fixing Red Wire Connection Issues Safely

About a week after that heavy rain, my 2002 Itasca Sunrise 34D with Ford F550 chassis is giving me classic Ford wiring headaches while installing this Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller. I've got the controller harness with bare wires ready to splice in, but I'm stumped on where to connect that red stoplight wire safely.

The Tekonsha documentation warns about older Fords having weird ground-switching brake circuits that'll fry your controller if you connect wrong. They specifically mention avoiding brake pedal switch wires that go 12V hot when pressed but drop to ground when released - which could kill the controller during manual override.

My brake pedal switch has four cables: a light green (12V hot when pressed/ground when released), light green with red stripe (constant 12V), blue with black stripe, and black with blue stripe. As an electrician familiar with 12V systems, I need to know the safe spot to tap into for the stoplight signal on these F550s without risking controller damage. …more

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