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RV Flat Tire on Highway: Emergency Steps & Specialized Roadside Service Tips
Chassis Medium Varies 193 👍 1

RV Flat Tire on Highway: Emergency Steps & Specialized Roadside Service Tips

Every highway mile seems to be eating through my Tiffin Allegro motorhome tires way faster than it should, especially after that brutal double blowout on the back axle. When this happened to us, we found that regular AAA and typical roadside assistance don't always help with RVs. We were stranded and eventually had to use a service called Driving Solutions, who charged us $1600 for used tires after eight hours of waiting.

What's the proper procedure if this happens? Should I try to move to a safer location first, or stop immediately? Who should I call for help - are there specialized services that handle RV tires? I want to be prepared with the right contacts and know the safe steps to take, because I imagine regular tow trucks and tire services might not have the equipment or expertise to handle a large motorhome tire emergency on the interstate. …more
Dutchstar Chassis Cracking Noise: Diagnosis & Repair Guide
Chassis Medium 45 minutes 137 👍

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
Ford E450 V10 Spark Plug & Coil Replacement Guide - RV Engine Maintenance Tips
Engine Medium 2-4 hours 125 👍

Ford E450 V10 Spark Plug & Coil Replacement Guide - RV Engine Maintenance Tips

After handling coil swaps on my old Chevy like they were nothing, this Ford E450 V10 setup has me completely intimidated and second-guessing everything. I've heard cylinder #3 is particularly difficult to access and I'm scared I might break something or use the wrong tools.

I tried using a 7mm wrench like some sources suggested, but it doesn't seem to fit properly and I'm afraid of stripping the bolt heads. I'm also concerned about how to safely reach the coils without damaging other components.

Can someone please walk me through the safest approach and tell me exactly what size wrench I should be using? I'd rather ask for help than risk making an expensive mistake. …more
How to Fix RV Rear Brake Lights and Hazards Not Working - Common Grounds & Connections
Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 122 👍

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
Ford F53 460 Engine Timing Marks: How to Locate and Check (Step-by-Step Guide)
Engine Medium 30 minutes 113 👍

Ford F53 460 Engine Timing Marks: How to Locate and Check (Step-by-Step Guide)

About to drop serious cash on a used Class A motorhome with a Ford F53 460 engine — should I check those timing marks myself or am I asking for trouble? Where exactly are the timing marks located? I can see the harmonic balancer but having trouble spotting the marks and pointer. What's the best way to make them visible and actually read them with a timing light? …more
How to Fix Parasitic Battery Drain in 2006 Damon Challenger RV: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 110 👍

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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5000 lb RV Hitch Rating Explained: Weight Limits, Tongue Weight & Safety Guide
General Easy N/A 107 👍

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
How to Replace Rear ABS Sensor on Heavy Duty RV Chassis - Complete Guide & Tips
Engine Medium 1-2 hours 106 👍

How to Replace Rear ABS Sensor on Heavy Duty RV Chassis - Complete Guide & Tips

Looked forward to spring camping season prep on my 2011 Ford F53 22,000 lbs GVWR RV, but that damn ABS light killed my inspection plans again. I'm trying to figure out where exactly the rear ABS sensor is located, specifically on these heavy duty chassis. I found a RockAuto part (WELLS 5S12339) that seems specific to my 2011 model.

I see there's one sensor at each rear wheel. I've already removed a small screw, but I'm unsure about next steps. Do I need to remove the wheel, drum, or bearing to access the sensor? There seems to be a metal cap over it that's complicating things.

Any advice on accessing and replacing this sensor, especially dealing with potentially rusty mounting hardware? I haven't found clear guidance on YouTube or IRV2.com for my specific setup. …more
How to Reinforce Your RV Rear Ladder: DIY Safety Upgrade with Aluminum Tubing
General Medium 2-3 hours 102 👍

How to Reinforce Your RV Rear Ladder: DIY Safety Upgrade with Aluminum Tubing

Finally planning to tackle my wobbly RV rear ladder this Saturday — what materials and tools should I have lined up for this safety upgrade? It's rated for 250lbs but I don't trust the mounting points on the rear wall.

Looking at reinforcing it with 1-inch aluminum square tubing. What's the best way to bolt additional support tubes alongside the existing ladder rails? Need to know proper attachment points and hardware to distribute the load better and reduce that scary flexing. …more
How to Fix 2001 Ford E350 RV Cruise Control Brake Light Circuit Problems
Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 101 👍

How to Fix 2001 Ford E350 RV Cruise Control Brake Light Circuit Problems

Every time I mention my 2001 Ford E350 RV's cruise control issues with brake light circuit resistance, I feel stupid asking, but why does this keep happening? According to the service manual, I should be reading less than 20 ohms between pin 4 and ground, but my multimeter shows 50 ohms consistently.

The cruise control system monitors the brake light circuit through the light filaments to detect brake application. With this higher-than-spec resistance reading, the cruise control will not engage properly. I've already replaced the brake pedal switch and master cylinder switch, but the resistance remains at 50 ohms when measured at the pedal switch.

What typically causes this excessive resistance in the brake light circuit, and what is the complete wiring path from the brake switch to the rear lights that I need to inspect? The brake lights themselves function normally, but this out-of-spec resistance is preventing cruise control operation. …more
How to Wire LED Halo Headlights to F53 Chassis DRL System - Complete Guide
Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 101 👍

How to Wire LED Halo Headlights to F53 Chassis DRL System - Complete Guide

During every spring prep on my 2005 F53 chassis RV, those damn DRL wires for my LED halo headlights leave me completely stumped again. I've upgraded to LED headlights with built-in halos on my Safari Simba, and I desperately want to connect those halos to work with the existing daytime running light system instead of having the DRLs run through the main headlight beams.

I know there are DRL relays and the parking brake cutout that I need to stay downstream from, but I'm completely lost trying to trace these wires through all the looms and bundles. The headlight uses a standard H4 connector, and the halo has its own separate positive wire that needs 12V when the DRLs should be active.

Can someone please tell me which specific wire at the headlight connector carries the DRL output signal? I really hope there's a straightforward way to tap into this without messing up the existing relay control system! …more
Ford V10 RV No Crank Intermittent Starting Issue Solutions
Electrical Medium 30 min 100 👍

Ford V10 RV No Crank Intermittent Starting Issue Solutions

Opened the hood expecting to find the same starter solenoid issue that plagued my old gas motorhome — but my 2020 Fleetwood Bounder 33C with the Ford V10 keeps doing it. For the past few months, I've been dealing with this really frustrating intermittent starting problem where I turn the key and get dash lights but absolutely no cranking from the starter.

The weird thing is it's not consistent - sometimes it starts right up, other times I'll sit there for 20-30 minutes trying and then suddenly it'll fire right up like nothing was wrong. I've already replaced the ignition switch and even the starter/solenoid thinking that would fix it, but I'm still having the same issue. Battery tests good at 13.4 volts and it doesn't matter if I'm plugged into shore power or running the generator.

I'm kind of at a loss here and don't want to keep throwing parts at it. Could this be something with heat affecting an electrical component since it seems to work after sitting for a while? What should I be looking at next? …more
RV Park Brake Warning Light Stays On: Causes & Quick Fixes
Engine Easy 30 minutes 100 👍

RV Park Brake Warning Light Stays On: Causes & Quick Fixes

Finally at 11 PM my 2016 Thor Miramar's brake warning light just lit up bright red on the F53 chassis — need this solved before tomorrow's departure. The park brake warning light on my dashboard stays on even when the brake isn't engaged, and I get that annoying warning chime when driving.

I'm not sure where to start troubleshooting this. Could this be a fluid issue or maybe a stuck switch? I'd really appreciate some guidance on what the most common causes are and what I should check first. Thanks for any help! …more

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Fix Tiffin Phaeton Parking Brake Limp Mode Issue
Chassis Medium 2-4 hours 98 👍

Fix Tiffin Phaeton Parking Brake Limp Mode Issue

Three dashboard warning lights are lighting up on my 2018 Tiffin Phaeton 380 Cummins whenever the parking brake engages while running. Worse yet, the engine immediately goes into limp mode and won't rev past idle. Even after releasing the parking brake and the lights go out, the engine stays stuck in limp mode until I restart it. This is really frustrating because it happens every single time I engage the parking brake. We're currently 170 miles from our usual service center and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Has anyone experienced something similar with their Cummins-powered motorhome? …more
RV Water Crossing: How to Avoid Engine Damage and Recovery Steps
Engine Easy N/A 97 👍

RV Water Crossing: How to Avoid Engine Damage and Recovery Steps

Woke up to my Winnebago Ekko surrounded by floodwater above the wheel hubs, the engine is completely dead, AND there's moisture creeping into places it definitely shouldn't be. While I haven't noticed any unusual noises or driving behavior, I want to be proactive about potential water exposure damage.

I've checked that the oil isn't milky and brake fluid looks normal. However, I'm concerned about potential impacts on hubs, bearing grease, brake fluid, differential fluid, and transmission fluid from this water exposure.

Has anyone else with an Ekko experienced similar flooding and have recommendations for post-water exposure inspection? Am I being overly cautious about checking various components? I'm hoping to get some expert advice on what specific things I should examine to ensure no long-term damage occurred. …more
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