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Topic: Access to Flourescent Tubes? (Read 517 times) previous topic - next topic

Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Before I break something, how do I get to the tubes in the bathroom ceiling fixtures in a 1998 U320?
Bob & Nadine Hall
98 U320
07 Honda CR-V

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #1 –
If the light covers are like ours, they just snap up in place with two cabinet clips on each end holding it in.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #2 –
 " if a hammer doesnt fix it, must be electrical"
        Author unknown. 😋
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #3 –
 The wood trim just snaps on and off. Just pull straight down. You also might need some supper glue to glue back the plastic part that holds the cover on, seems to want to break when you pull the trim down.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Bob Hall –
Before I break something, how do I get to the tubes in the bathroom ceiling fixtures in a 1998 U320?

Bob, you clearly described one of my main issues with trying to do the minor maintenance on my MH.  I have a fear of breaking more things than I fix just by trying to get to the problem!

However, as Fourwheelers and Turbojack said, the cover on mine is held in place by a clip, and you simply pull down to disengage.

Glen
Glen Kenney
Colmesneil, Tx
Former owner of
1997 40' U320
Build # 5099

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #5 –
On my '03 the frames are held to the ceiling carpet with Velcro.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #6 –
When you pull off the light covers, mark on the inside which end goes towards the front of the coach. Putting them on backwards is not easy, they will almost fit but not quite.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #7 –
Hi Roger,
  I guess times were better for Foretravel in 1997. The wood frames in our 1997 can not be put on backwards. They have three clips to hold them in place. Two on one end, one on the other.
Raymond
Raymond & Babette Jordan
1997 U 320
1998 Ford Explorer XLT

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #8 –
Bob,

Here is a couple of pics that shows what you should have.  We use a butter knife to pry the trim loose from the front or to the rear side which ever you can get to.

Pamela
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Glockjock –
Bob, you clearly described one of my main issues with trying to do the minor maintenance on my MH.  I have a fear of breaking more things than I fix just by trying to get to the problem!

  Exactly. 

Glen
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
Bob,

Here is a couple of pics that shows what you should have.  We use a butter knife to pry the trim loose from the front or to the rear side which ever you can get to.

Pamela

Where did you get the LED light strip from and is it as bright as the bulbs?
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago
 

Re: Access to Flourescent Tubes?

Reply #11 –
turbojack,

They are 5050 strips from Wong Foo Chung as an experiment. They are better than expected. These are warm white and in the bathroom we like them better than cool white. As you can see we left the fluorescent lights in there original mounting with a switch (that you can see in one of the pics) that we can go back to the fluorescent if we wanted. Once the LED's were used we never had an occasion to go back.  The LEDs are glued to an aluminum tube that has ears, that were riveted to the original light housing. My dear hubby likes a back up system.

Here is an example as to what we used there are others out there as these are the first ones that popped up today.
5M 3528 5050 300 600 150LEDs SMD 6 Color White Flexible Strip Light DC 12V...

Pamela
And, Yes they are as bright or brighter than fluorescent.
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."