Results for "quiet"

Plumbing Medium 1-2 hours 169 👍 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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Propane Medium 45 minutes 118 👍 0

RV Gas Detector Beeps Every Minute at Night - How to Fix

Before my wife mentioned it, I had no idea our RV gas detector was beeping every single minute from 7PM to 7AM—now it's driving me absolutely crazy. It only does this during nighttime hours - never during the day. I'm plugged into shore power with 4 batteries (2 coach, 2 engine). What would cause this specific timing pattern? Is it actually detecting gas or is something else going on with the detector itself? …more

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General Medium 4-8 hours 117 👍 0

How to Reduce RV Interior Noise: Complete Sound Dampening Guide for Motorhomes

Despite having a 2021 Coachmen Mirada, looking at my sound meter right now and there's 69 decibels of highway noise blasting through the cabin. My target is to achieve approximately 65 decibels for better communication with passengers.

I need a systematic approach to interior noise reduction. What are the most effective sound dampening materials and techniques for motorhomes? Specifically, I'm looking for solutions that address engine noise transmission, road noise, and any rattling components that contribute to the overall sound level.

What realistic noise reduction can I expect from proper sound deadening implementation, and what are the key areas to focus on for maximum impact? …more

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Best RV Batteries

4.5 (15,400 reviews)

Ac Refrigeration Easy 30 minutes 92 👍 0

RV Whirlpool Refrigerator Cycling Every 30 Minutes: Is It Normal? [202

Looked everywhere for answers on my Whirlpool residential refrigerator cycling every 30 minutes—my neighbor says it's normal, RV dealer says it's broken, YouTube says something else entirely. The ambient temperature here is around 65°F, and I have both the fridge and freezer set to the 3rd snowflake setting.

I haven't timed it exactly with a stopwatch, but I keep noticing it kicking on again after what feels like a short time. I'm concerned this frequent cycling might be a sign of a problem or could lead to premature failure. I try to keep the vents clean when I can access them. Should I be worried about this 30-minute cycle pattern, or is this within normal range for an RV refrigerator in these conditions? …more

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Propane Medium 4 hours 84 👍 0

Suburban SF-30 Furnace Replacement: Complete Unit vs Core Guide for RV Owners

Somewhere between our freezing mountain trip last month and now, my 2002 Born Free's SF-30 furnace died completely and I'm torn between replacing the core versus the whole unit. I believe it's a Suburban SF-30 model. I've been doing some research and see there are two options - I can buy a complete furnace replacement or just get a replacement core that supposedly slides into the existing SF-30 housing for about half the price.

I'm honestly not sure which route to go. The cost savings on the core is tempting, but I don't want to make the wrong choice and end up with more problems. As someone who's still learning about RV maintenance, would you recommend getting the complete unit or would the core replacement work just as well? Any guidance would be really appreciated! …more

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Appliances Medium 90 minutes 82 👍 0

RV Water Heater Popping Noise: Causes & How to Fix

I found myself replacing the heating element, flushing the tank, checking every connection — but my RV water heater still makes these loud popping and crackling noises whenever it's heating up. It's got me a bit worried since I'm not sure what's normal and what isn't with these systems.

Is this something I should be concerned about? Could it be dangerous or cause damage if I don't address it? I've heard people mention draining water heaters but I'm not really sure when that's necessary or how to tell if that's what mine needs. Any guidance would be really appreciated! …more

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Ac Refrigeration Medium 3-4 hours 79 👍 0

Dometic Fresh Jet 5 vs Penguin 2 Air Conditioner: Complete Installation Guide for RVs

Spent the weekend camping next to a couple with whisper-quiet AC while my wife kept complaining our Dometic Penguin 2 sounds like a freight train. I've been reading about the newer Fresh Jet 5 and wondering if it would be worth upgrading.

I'm mainly concerned about three things: Is the Fresh Jet 5 actually that much quieter than the existing Penguin 2 model? Will it use more power from my electrical system? And honestly, I'm not super handy with installations - would this be a straightforward replacement where I can swap out the Penguin 2 without extensive rewiring?

Any advice would be really helpful since this is a pretty big purchase for me and I want to make sure I understand what I'm getting into before I commit to the upgrade. …more

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Electrical Medium Planning exercise 78 👍 0

RV Generator Size Calculator: Solar vs Gas Generator Power Needs for Your Camper

Woke up to my Aliner classic's power system working perfectly in 60°F weather, but now that it's 85°F outside I'm drowning in solar versus gas generator confusion. Coming from a Rialta with a built-in generator where I just added some solar panels, I'm now starting from scratch with just one 88Ah lead acid battery and need to figure out the most practical setup for my boondocking needs.

My power requirements are pretty straightforward - laptop, house lights, furnace for overnight heating, and the occasional use of my 1800-watt toaster oven which is really the main power challenge. In my previous RV, I had 160Ah of lead acid batteries with a 100W solar panel that handled everything except the toaster oven, which required firing up the generator. I'm considering adding 200W of solar panels to this setup.

Here's where I'm getting confused: I've been looking at 2000-2500 watt generators with minimum 1900 running watts, but I heard you shouldn't run more than 80% of the running watts capacity, which would mean I need about 2300 running watts just to safely operate my 1800W toaster oven. Is that calculation correct? Alternatively, I'm wondering if I could skip the generator entirely and run the toaster oven off a large battery bank with a proper inverter - but I have no idea how much battery capacity that would require or if it's even practical. What's the most cost-effective approach for someone who primarily needs reliable power for essential loads but occasionally wants to use higher-wattage cooking appliances? …more

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Engine Medium 30 minutes 77 👍 0

1995 Ford F53 460 Engine: Identifying EGR and PCV Valves | RV Repair Guide

Around 30 years into owning my 1995 Ford F53 with the 460 7.5L engine, I'm completely lost trying to locate the EGR and PCV valves. There are two valves that I can't identify - I'm pretty sure they're related to emissions control based on where they're located, but I'm not certain.

I think one might be an EGR valve and the other could be a PCV valve, but honestly I'm not confident in my identification. Should these valves be making any noise during normal operation? I want to make sure everything is working properly, but as someone newer to this, I'd really appreciate some guidance on what these components actually are and how they should behave. …more

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Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-4 hours 76 👍 0

Coleman Mach 10 AC Motor Replacement - Shaft Too Long Fix

Apparently this Coleman Mach 10 AC motor replacement is eating through my entire weekend because the new shaft is way too long for my Winnebago Era. The new motor shaft is way too long compared to what I'm seeing in YouTube videos of other Coleman units. The old blower wheel is stuck tight on the original shaft too - thing won't budge!

Anyone dealt with this before? Do I need to trim the shaft somehow, or is there a better way to handle the length issue? And what's the trick for getting that stubborn blower wheel off without wrecking everything? …more

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Engine Easy 30-60 minutes 75 👍 0

How to Stop Animals From Nesting in Your RV Generator Air Intake

During my pre-trip RV inspection this morning, I'm staring at my generator and there's a massive bird's nest completely blocking the air intake. I keep finding cat poop on my Onan Q70 generator intake! At first I thought maybe it was a one-time thing from the previous owner, but nope - I've had to clean it off THREE times now, and we're talking about some serious deposits here.

The really puzzling part? I haven't even been running the generator or traveling anywhere, so it's not like cats are seeking out warmth. We're also 500+ miles from where I originally bought the RV, so unless the same cat has been following me cross-country (which would be impressive dedication), this seems to be a recurring problem with different animals.

Is my generator intake just irresistibly attractive to cats somehow? Has anyone else dealt with this lovely surprise, and more importantly, how do I convince the local feline population that my generator is NOT their personal bathroom? I'm starting to feel like I'm running a very expensive outdoor cat toilet! …more

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Best RV Refrigerators

4.3 (9,200 reviews)

Propane Medium 2-3 hours 71 👍 0

Oasis Tankless Water Heater Won't Stay On After Sitting - Control Board Troubleshooting Guide

Every manual says check gas supply first when my Oasis tankless won't stay on after sitting, but I'm getting full flow and it still shuts off immediately. Every morning after the unit has been sitting overnight, there's no hot water available. The system appears completely unresponsive until I manually cycle the power switch - flip it on, then immediately back off, which seems to activate the AC heaters. Once I perform this power cycle, the unit operates normally for approximately 24 hours before requiring the same intervention.

This daily reset requirement suggests an internal control issue rather than a mechanical summer loop pump failure, since the unit functions perfectly once reset. The pattern is consistent - works all day after the power cycle, fails to initialize the next morning. What would cause this type of control behavior, and are there any permanent solutions beyond the daily manual reset routine? …more

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Propane Hard 3-4 hours 69 👍 0

Atwood 8535-III Furnace Replacement: Best Direct & Alternative Options for RV Heating

This 1998 Holiday Rambler's Atwood 8535-III is dying and I can't swing a $300+ service call — any DIY replacement options under $200? It's been repaired multiple times over the years, but now it's getting rusty and parts are nearly impossible to find. I'm worried about safety issues if I keep trying to patch it up.

I really need to replace it with something reliable, but I'm nervous about compatibility issues. Will a newer furnace even fit in the same space? Are there any direct replacement options that won't require major modifications to my RV's heating system?

I'd feel much better having a proper replacement recommendation rather than guessing and potentially creating bigger problems. What are my best options for replacing this old Atwood 8535-III? …more

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Engine Medium 3-4 hours 68 👍 0

Ford F53 Walker 21470 Muffler Upgrade: RV Chassis Performance Guide

Staring at my 2003 Ford F53 motorhome chassis with terrible exhaust drone, poor acceleration up hills, AND that annoying factory muffler rattle all happening together. I'm worried about making things worse or causing damage - this RV is my home and I can't afford major problems.

Will this muffler actually provide any real performance benefits, or am I just asking for trouble? I'm especially concerned about the installation process - I've read it might need welding and exhaust modifications. Should I be worried about safety issues or voiding warranties? The chassis only has 30k miles and runs fine now, so part of me thinks I should just leave it alone. …more

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Engine Easy N/A 68 👍 0

Cummins Engines in RVs: Diesel vs Gas Options and Maintenance Guide

Wondering if I made the right call upgrading to the new 6.7 Cummins gas engine after weeks of research — still feels like I'm missing something important. Imagine if Freightliner built a new chassis using this specific Cummins gas engine. I would think it would be a great option. I don't imagine Ford would willingly use this engine in the F53 chassis. …more

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