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Topic: Dash/Cap Separation (Read 850 times) previous topic - next topic

Dash/Cap Separation


On our last trip we noticed quite a gap between the base of the windshield and the dash.  We haven't noticed any extra wind noise or shift in the windshield.  I've seen a post or two on dash/cap separation that seemed to be unique to GV's.  Not sure if this is an issue the bus style chassis has had.  I'm wondering if this is something that requires special skills or something that an RV/glass repair shop will be able to handle as we're likely to be on the west coast this year (PNW this summer)?

Grant
Grant and Betty
1996  U320C  40' WTBI 4949, Xtreme FBP 2011
2003 CRV

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #1 –
Grant,
Sounds like there is a water leak problem that needs to be fixed before fixing the dash interior. Pulling the dash apart is not difficult but rather tedious. There may be plywood dash components that need to be replaced/reupholstered.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #2 –
Thanks Peter.  When I'm at the coach next (June), I'll look for signs of water leakage.  We haven't noticed anything so far, but also this is something we've only noticed recently.

Grant
Grant and Betty
1996  U320C  40' WTBI 4949, Xtreme FBP 2011
2003 CRV

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #3 –
Grant,
Hard to see in the picture but I think you have what Foretravel calls a loose cap.
If you push on the bottom of the windshield inside the coach can you see that gap increase?
The nose cap is glued to the structure around the windshield opening.
My 95 had a loose cap. Foretravel removed both windshields and reglued and clamped it with wood blocks and clamps overnight.
Then reinstalled the windshields.
JD
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #4 –
John,
I haven't brave enough to push out at the bottom of the windshield (didn't want to make things worse).  In looking at their post again, I see now that Amanda and Douglas (Siren and ScubaGuy) seem to have had a similar problem to ours, although we haven't noticed leakage yet (and we drove through some rain on our way north from Arizona).
Thanks, it is looking like the "loose cap"; now I need to find someone in the PNW that can remedy it.
Did it cause you any grief before you had it repaired?
Grant
Grant and Betty
1996  U320C  40' WTBI 4949, Xtreme FBP 2011
2003 CRV

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #5 –
Grant, Since any repair will probably be better if the soft dash vinyl top is separated from underlying plywood dash structure, it may be worthwhile for you to remove the vinyl and see if you can learn more about the separation. We have not removed the vinyl, but others have.

Dash Removed 2002

Windshield washer fluid fitting on passenger side

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #6 –
Barry,
Thanks for the links.  This may also be the time to try to repair (revitalize) the dash a/c system while I have the dash apart...
Grant
Grant and Betty
1996  U320C  40' WTBI 4949, Xtreme FBP 2011
2003 CRV

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #7 –
Grant,
I didn't even know I had a loose cap.
Went into Foretravel to have a windshield replaced and they saw it first thing.
The coach was notably quieter after the repair!
I never had any water leaks as the windshield was still sealed to the cap.
I guess the coach was more resistant to flexing or twisting when the cap was reattached to the structure .
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #8 –
Grant,
If you intend to replace the dash air blower motor it's about a 10 hour job at Foretravel .
Took me two days!
I think that's the first thing they put on the coach floor then built the coach around it!
But the new fan motor was nice!
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #10 –
John D - not sure I want to spend 10 hours (let alone 2 days) replacing the dash blower, but it sure would be nice to feel a real air flow from it!

John F - thanks! I'll do some checking on them.

Grant
Grant and Betty
1996  U320C  40' WTBI 4949, Xtreme FBP 2011
2003 CRV

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #11 –
@Grant I'll second Oregon Motorcoach Center. They are an authorized Foretravel service center and honor the Motorcade discount!. Junction City is where both Country Coach and Monaco were built is just north of Eugene so there are a lot of RV services available in the area. We had a very good experience with Oregon Motorcoach. First class.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #12 –
Quote from: John Duld –
Grant,
If you intend to replace the dash air blower motor it's about a 10 hour job at Foretravel .
Took me two days!
I think that's the first thing they put on the coach floor then built the coach around it!
But the new fan motor was nice!

I second what John has written. Our blower works fine at all but the highest setting where it is very noisy, and I would like to correct that. John was kind enough to describe the disassembly/reassembly procedure to me, and I thoroughly investigated to find some shortcut procedure. I could find none and so I have so far been satisfied with living without the highest setting.

John is not exaggerating: The HVAC assembly appears to be the first thing they placed on the floor, with the blower at the forward-most point of the assembly, and then the rest of the coach appears to have been built around it. I have been very tempted to build an access door into the very front of the motorhome just to replace the blower!
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #13 –
Grant,
We had the same problem on out '96 U295. I think the Foretravel solution is the best way to fix it. Stallings and MOT applied glue and screws from the outside.

We had our dash recovered at FOT last year and in the process discovered that the plywood deck (the flat piece of the dash) had to be replaced due to water damage. I think the water is /was from condensation on the inside of the windshield rather than a water leak.

hth
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #14 –
Elliott,
Just to clarify, did you have the dash/cap re-bonded by Xtreme /MOT and then later found the water damage which FOT repaired? Did FOT have to bond the cap to the dash again?
Thanks.
(Had to Google hth :) )
Grant
Grant and Betty
1996  U320C  40' WTBI 4949, Xtreme FBP 2011
2003 CRV

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #15 –
Barry had provided a link above (Windshield washer fluid fitting on passenger side) which answers my question I believe.
Thanks again.
Grant
Grant and Betty
1996  U320C  40' WTBI 4949, Xtreme FBP 2011
2003 CRV

Re: Dash/Cap Separation

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Grant L –
Elliott,
Just to clarify, did you have the dash/cap re-bonded by Xtreme /MOT
Yes
Quote
and then later found the water damage which FOT repaired?
Yes.  When we recovered the dash  a couple of years later.
Quote
Did FOT have to bond the cap to the dash again?
No

If you were contemplating recovering the dash anyway I would try to fix the separation from the inside.
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB