On our recent (maiden) trip from Iowa, we found that the mattress was really warm when we were ready for bed. It would have been great if outside temps were near freezing, but not in this weather. I think that I read that someone attached a foam board from Lowe's to the underside of the engine "lid". I would appreciate any info on solutions. This was not a problem with our Safari.
Do you know if you still have the stock muffler? Once I replaced that, the temperature of the bedroom and mattress significantly decreased, to the point of being almost exactly the same as the rest of the coach during the drive.
It also allowed for at least an additional 50 lbs of cargo behind the rear wheels and resulted in room for an additional cabinet to be built in that space due to the sleek shape and size of the new muffler. That stock muffler and the brackets for it are very heavy compared to the Magnaflow.
The new muffler itself was cheap, less than $100. It was the design and welding to install it that took some brainpower and time. Definitely the cheapest upgrade so far that was so exponentially beneficial.
I know the PO replaced all the engine comp. reflective foam insulation + the mattress on ours. No heat, even after a long day's cruise.
Does anyone run with no muffler , just a straight pipe. Only asking because I've seen a few post on other forums about it. More hp and only minimal increase in noise ?
As it relates to evacuating the exhaust heat out quicker verses trapping it in the muffler
Afraid to open this post from the title. My e-mail sorter drops things with that kind of a title. Anyway, we had a sleep-number bed that got warm and was firmer after a long drive. Learned the hard way not to drain the extra pressure since it was cool and much flatter in the morning. Put the old muffler to rest and the heat went away for the most part. P.S. We now have a memory foam and really like it. The pressure in the sleep-number would change with atlitude...same problem with deflating and inflating.
Sounds like an engine compartment venilator and more insulation could help. That, or parking much earlier than you expect to hit the sack, to allow things to cool off.
Ours was warm too....since the wife and I still work there have been many trips where we drive straight through from FL to MI taking turns driving and sleeping. I replaced my old insulation in the engine compartment and used insulated foam board between the doghouse and mattress. No issues at all since then.
Adding a reflective insulation to the bottom of the bed is what you need. The turbo and exhaust manifold on my C8.3 (and probably every other FT) are right under the mattress and contributed to an awful lot of heat to the bed. Also check for any exhaust manifold leaks.
This stuff works well.
Amazon.com: Thermo-Tec 14125 48" X 72" Two Sided Thermo Guard Flame Retardant... (http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Tec-14125-Sided-Thermo-Retardant/dp/B003HIPC3W/ref=pd_sim_263_31?ie=UTF8&dpID=41QhxX1SuSL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=FQJDZTF4V89S4YNRZ88E)
How thick is the foam board under your mattress and what kind of insulation did you use in the engine compartment?
Did you put this under your mattress or install it over the engine? If over the engine, did you remove the old insulation or sandwich the Thermo-tec between it and the bottom of the bed "lid"?
I'd like to know more about the "engine compartment ventilator" - it would be good to blow the hot air out the back. Do you have any information on this?
Our coach has no muffler just a straight pipe. Was that way when we bought it. I don't find it excessively noisy, has a rather nice sound.
Roland
Plenty of various brand resonators in use to replace muffler. Nice sound, lower back pressure
I'm pretty sure I posted pictures of it on here but I can't find them anymore (might have been on the old site and not transferred over?). The old insulation was left in place and the heat reflective insulation mat was installed over the top of it with glue and washers and screws. The edges were taped with aluminized tape. There is no heat in the mattress after this was done.