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Topic: Inspection Concerns (Read 407 times) previous topic - next topic

Inspection Concerns

Had a inspection done on a U320 this week and had a few items that I need this knowledgeable groups insight.
1.  Two holes (Not small screw holes but a good bit larger) were noted on top of the slide.  Both were near middle of the slide top equal distant from the each side.  Are these part of the slide design or something that was done by a previous owner?
2.  Cracks in the gel coat was noted on the roof and front roof cap.  Is this typical for a +20 year old RV.  Should I be concerned about this?
3. Dash air is pretty weak.  Not sure if this is low refrigerant/leak or sign of a compressor in its last legs?  What is your experience getting this system fixed?

Thank you,

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #1 –
Quote from: BARRY T –
Had a inspection done on a U320 this week and had a few items that I need this knowledgeable groups insight.
1.  Two holes (Not small screw holes but a good bit larger) were noted on top of the slide.  Both were near middle of the slide top equal distant from the each side.  Are these part of the slide design or something that was done by a previous owner?

Welcome to Foreforums!

Regarding the holes, do you have photos of them from the inspection?  Are they visible/unprotected with the slide extended?  Is the slide topper/awning still present?  I'm wondering if these are the holes for the slide locking pins, which would be part of the slide design in a 2002, I believe.

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #2 –
Quote from: BARRY T –
2.  Cracks in the gel coat was noted on the roof and front roof cap.  Is this typical for a +20 year old RV.  Should I be concerned about this?

Are these more of a spider crack that the dirt highlights or a through-crack?  If the former, it can be present especially if the roof is still its original gel coat.  It can be addressed by having someone like Xtreme in Nac prep and paint it (ideally with non-skid additive). 

WildE's Xtreme Makeover

(Be very wary of vendors who make R-value claims.  The "effective R-value" in those products' literature comes from the reflectivity of white paint, NOT the batter-consistency glop they coat the roof with.)

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #3 –
Regarding the dash AC. if it is still functional that is a good sign. All these older rigs loose refrigerant. Annual recovery and evacuation and then a fresh charge will help to keep these systems alive and discover any items in need of repair. Just topping them off only buys some time and if the refrigerant is leaking out, then contaminates are getting in.

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #4 –
You maybe correct on the locking pins.  I included a photo of one of the two holes.

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #5 –
Thanks for the insights, here are a photo of the cracks seen in the inspection.

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Dennis H –
Regarding the dash AC. if it is still functional that is a good sign. All these older rigs loose refrigerant.

Other contributors to weak dash air cooling are the proximity of the A/C condenser and its fan to the trash can-sized muffler, if it has the original.  Members have found changing to a straight glass-pack muffler, like a Magnaflow, or a resonator, like an Aero 5050XL, reduce the heat load some, especially for the bedroom after a day's driving.

The dash A/C in our 2000 had a small leak that was repaired last year (although we appear to still have a small leak near the condenser, since there's a small pag oil drip from one of the fittings that we need to have looked at.  We did have the compressor clutch go out in the '03 many years ago, but it wasn't too expensive to repair.

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #7 –
The middle crack looks like an impact crack, must of hit something. I would recommend to get those fixed, not typical spider cracks. The end cap crack was a common problem when they went to the molded caps. I think 2002-2004?

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #8 –
Quote from: John hobbs –
The middle crack looks like an impact crack, must of hit something. I would recommend to get those fixed, not typical spider cracks.


If you look at the long cracks, you can see what looks like a slight dent, which might confirm an impact.

Quote
The end cap crack was a common problem when they went to the molded caps. I think 2002-2004?

It was, but it was more visible along the vertical seam on the sidewall, and virtually every one of those coaches should be long-repaired by now.  It could be they didn't extend the repair completely into the roof section.

Might be worth shooting those photos over to Greg at Xtreme for his thoughts.

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #9 –
If I had dash air, never had it on 15 coaches, I think I'd have died and gone to heaven.

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #10 –
Barry,

Quick question since this is a 2002 - does it have the Zip Dee air awning?  That's the only year it was used, and many whose coaches have had one have changed it out to either a manual Zip Dee or an electric Girard.
 

Re: Inspection Concerns

Reply #11 –
Looks like a locking pin hole to me.  There should be two matching ones on the bottom of the slide.

Rich