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DIY RV Basement Door Paint Repair: Complete Guide & Cost Analysis
Exterior Medium 3-4 days (includes curing time) 235 👍 1

DIY RV Basement Door Paint Repair: Complete Guide & Cost Analysis

Despite protecting my RV all winter, those brutal summer months have absolutely destroyed the paint on my four basement doors and rear wheel area across 2' x 20', leaving me staring at a $5,000-6,500 shop estimate versus DIY with my compressor. I've never done automotive paint work before. Could I really achieve decent results for under $500 like I keep reading online? I'm concerned about proper paint matching, whether I'll damage the surface during prep, and if I choose the wrong spray gun or technique.

Has anyone successfully tackled RV exterior panel paint repair as a DIY project? I need reassurance that this is actually doable without professional training, and guidance on the complete process from start to finish. …more
1999 F53 V10 Oil in Coolant: Complete Head Gasket Diagnosis & Repair Guide
Engine Hard 2-3 hours for diagnosis 172 👍

1999 F53 V10 Oil in Coolant: Complete Head Gasket Diagnosis & Repair Guide

Called three dealerships about warranty coverage for 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
Ford V10 Triton Engine Maintenance Guide: EGR Delete vs Regular Service Tips
Engine Easy N/A 164 👍

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
Ford E-350 vs E-450 Chassis: RV Fuel Economy, Power & Weight Capacity
Engine Easy N/A 132 👍

Ford E-350 vs E-450 Chassis: RV Fuel Economy, Power & Weight Capacity

Last weekend I felt this awful engine strain and heard sluggish acceleration sounds while test-driving a 2017 Phoenix Cruiser #2351 with its E-350 chassis and V10 engine. I'll be doing extensive western touring through mountain and plains regions, which means substantial mountain grades and wind challenges. I'm comfortable driving slowly and want to understand two key things: 1) Will this E-350 chassis handle mountain grades without major issues, and 2) What's the real-world fuel consumption like? I plan to do an initial inspection this weekend, followed by a third-party mechanical review. I'm not overly concerned about fuel economy but want to understand the actual performance limitations. I'd appreciate insights from owners who have experience with similar touring conditions on an E-350 chassis. …more
RV AC Freezing Up? Fix Ice on Coils in 5 Steps
Ac Refrigeration Easy 30 minutes 131 👍

RV AC Freezing Up? Fix Ice on Coils in 5 Steps

Turned on my RV's AC as a total newbie and watched it run perfectly for an hour before becoming a frozen disaster that won't cool. I can literally see ice building up on the coils, and then it's game over until everything thaws out.

This has happened a few times now and I'm getting tired of sitting in a hot RV waiting for the thing to defrost. What actually causes AC units to freeze up like this? And more importantly, how do I stop it from happening again? I'm guessing it's something simple I'm missing, but I'd rather fix it right than keep dealing with this cycle. …more
Dometic RV AC Not Cooling? 5 Common Fixes for Air Conditioner Troubleshooting Guide
Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours 128 👍

Dometic RV AC Not Cooling? 5 Common Fixes for Air Conditioner Troubleshooting Guide

Walked out to my RV this morning trying to decide between calling a repair tech or troubleshooting my Dometic Brisk Air rooftop AC myself since it's showing weird operational issues. The compressor engages and fan motor operates normally, but the unit fails to produce cold air output. Temperature differential across the evaporator coil is minimal.

Unit functioned properly through previous cooling season with no apparent issues. Current symptoms include normal airflow volume but inadequate cooling capacity. What systematic diagnostic procedure should I follow to identify the root cause? Looking for a methodical troubleshooting sequence that addresses the most probable failure points in order of likelihood. …more

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RV Water Pump Running But No Water? Complete Troubleshooting Guide 202
Plumbing Easy 30-45 minutes 109 👍

RV Water Pump Running But No Water? Complete Troubleshooting Guide 202

Finally looking at my RV water pump right now and it's running constantly but there's absolutely zero water coming out of any faucets. However, when activating any fixture throughout the system, the water pump initiates and runs continuously without producing water flow at any outlet point.

All system components appear to be functioning mechanically - pump motor engages properly, electrical connections are secure, and there are no visible leaks in accessible plumbing runs. The symptom manifests uniformly across all water delivery points including kitchen, bathroom, and exterior service connections.

What diagnostic steps should be performed to identify the root cause of this no-flow condition despite continuous pump operation? …more
Onan 4000 Generator Surging: Step-by-Step Fix Guide (2024)
Engine Medium 2-3 hours 104 👍

Onan 4000 Generator Surging: Step-by-Step Fix Guide (2024)

Despite my neighbor's Onan 4000 generator purring like a kitten, mine suddenly developed nasty surging issues yesterday — what's going wrong? It surges when cold, then settles down as it warms up. Under load it surges heavily until the appliance shuts off. Getting worse each day.

What are the main causes of generator surging? Need a step-by-step approach to diagnose and fix this - should I start with the carburetor, fuel system, or something else? …more
Fix RV Low Water Pressure on City Connection: Troubleshooting Pump Assembly
Plumbing Easy 30 minutes 103 👍

Fix RV Low Water Pressure on City Connection: Troubleshooting Pump Assembly

Last week my pressure regulator started reading a solid 40 PSI on city water but my water pump keeps cycling on for 5-6 seconds when everything says it should stay completely off. When I connect to city water, my water pressure regulator shows a solid 40 PSI, which should be plenty, right? But here's the weird part - my water pump keeps kicking on for about 5-6 seconds then shuts off, even though I'm connected to city water and the pump switch is supposed to be off.

The really frustrating thing is that the pressure feels weak throughout the RV, with specifically the bathroom sink and kitchen sink seeming low, though the shower has good pressure. I've already changed out the intake/check valve and don't currently have a filter in the system. I can see the pump running while on city water, which I know is not normal. I noticed the kitchen and bathroom sink screens were plugged - which might explain some pressure issues - but now I'm wondering about the toilet's low pressure. Could there be a screen in the toilet line I'm not seeing?

I've been full-timing for two years and never had this issue before. What should I be checking for? I'm handy enough to do basic repairs but need to know where to focus my troubleshooting efforts. …more
Onan Code 36 Fix: Complete Troubleshooting Guide for RV Owners
Engine Medium 2-3 hours 98 👍

Onan Code 36 Fix: Complete Troubleshooting Guide for RV Owners

Got my tools spread out and I'm determined to fix this Onan QP 3600 LP generator (Model 3.6KY-26120R) that's throwing code 36 myself — where's the best place to start? The unit starts immediately but shuts down right away. I have plenty of propane and the oil level is fine.

What specifically does code 36 indicate on Onan LP generators? What are the most common causes that would make this code appear? …more
Onan 5500 Generator Shuts Down Under Load: Troubleshooting Guide
Engine Medium 2-3 hours 97 👍

Onan 5500 Generator Shuts Down Under Load: Troubleshooting Guide

Onan 5500 runs perfectly at idle but kills itself within 30 seconds of turning on the AC. Been fine for years and suddenly can't handle any real load. Fuel filter is new, oil is fresh, and it starts right up every time — just dies the moment I ask it to actually work. …more
How to Winterize RV Dishwasher and Washing Machine with Antifreeze - Complete Guide
Appliances Easy 30-45 minutes 93 👍

How to Winterize RV Dishwasher and Washing Machine with Antifreeze - Complete Guide

During my first walkthrough of this RV I bought last month, I discovered the previous owner never properly winterized the dishwasher and washing machine. I've got a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher and a Contoure front loading washer that I absolutely cannot let freeze up.

I know I need to use RV antifreeze, but I'm honestly confused about the exact process. Do I just pour it in and run a cycle? How much do I use? I've read horror stories about people using the wrong type of antifreeze and ruining everything. I really need someone to walk me through the correct steps before I mess this up! …more
F53 V10 Water Ingestion Fix When Ford Parts Discontinued
Engine Medium 2-4 hours for custom fabrication 89 👍

F53 V10 Water Ingestion Fix When Ford Parts Discontinued

Our '99 F53 chassis with the V10 engine hasn't run right ever since we got caught in that torrential downpour last month and now we're dealing with water ingestion issues. I've experienced hydro-lock issues in severe downpours, and I know Ford issued Technical Service Bulletin 04-24-22 specifically addressing this air intake design flaw on the '99 to '04 F53 models. The TSB called for replacing the air intake horn and modifying the intake strap to prevent water from being sucked into the engine during heavy rain conditions.

The problem is that when I contacted my Ford dealer, they told me the critical air intake horn part specified in TSB 04-24-22 has been discontinued and is no longer available. The modified strap is still available, but without the new intake horn design, I'm still vulnerable to water ingestion during storms. With extensive travel plans ahead where I'll likely encounter severe weather, I need a reliable solution to protect my engine from hydro-lock.

What are my options for addressing the F53 V10 water ingestion problem when the original Ford TSB parts are no longer available? Are there aftermarket solutions or modifications that other F53 owners have successfully implemented to solve this issue? …more

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How to Clean Clogged Duo-Therm 630515 AC Drain Pan & Lines - Complete RV Maintenance Guide
Plumbing Medium 45 minutes 87 👍

How to Clean Clogged Duo-Therm 630515 AC Drain Pan & Lines - Complete RV Maintenance Guide

About five YouTube tutorials later, my Duo-Therm 630515 drain pan is somehow backing up worse than when I started this whole mess. The condensate seems to be backing up and I can see water where it shouldn't be, but only a little bit is coming out the normal drain line.

I'm worried about making things worse by trying to fix it myself. Is there a safe way to clear these blockages without having to tear into the unit or damage any seals? I have access to compressed air and a shop vacuum if those would help.

Any guidance would be really appreciated - I don't want to create a bigger problem by doing this wrong! …more
Why Your RV Generac Diesel Generator Shuts Off After 2 Minutes Under Load: Troubleshooting Guide
Engine Medium 2-3 hours 86 👍

Why Your RV Generac Diesel Generator Shuts Off After 2 Minutes Under Load: Troubleshooting Guide

Found that ever since those heavy rains last month hit, my 2007 Alfa's Generac 7.5kw diesel generator shuts down exactly 2 minutes after firing up the basement AC.

Just did a full service (oil, filters, the works) so it's not basic maintenance stuff. I can restart it right after it shuts off, but if the AC is still calling for power, it dies immediately again. No error codes or blinking lights to give me a clue.

Is this a fuel delivery issue where it can't keep up with the AC load? Or am I looking at something else entirely? Really hoping someone's dealt with this exact same 2-minute thing before! …more
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