Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: At HWH for service (Read 845 times) previous topic - next topic

At HWH for service

We arrived at HWH for the first time ... our service appt is scheduled for tomorrow VERY early!  When I made my appointment, the very nice young lady told me "Parking is first come first served ... so just find a spot and plug in!".  We came in a lower gate, looked around and found 3 pedestals that were unoccupied and were told we could park there.  Backed in and hooked up with our Surge Guard as usual.  Oops!!  One leg was 155 and the other was 99!!  The SurgeGuard said REVERSE POLARITY.  Unhooked.  Found 3 other pedestals at the upper level where the service bays are located, 2 of which were occupied.  Tried again ... same results!!  NO ONE in the office mentioned anything about wonky power when we went to check in, even after I told the one guy that there was a bad pedestal "down below".  The other 2 customers beside us are not plugged in, either.  They must know something I do not.  A full report will follow. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #1 –
We came in a 1/4 mile down the road, left turn into the dirt lot.  At the east end of the bilding past all of the big service doors are several plug in spots.  That is where we stayed.  That is where they are going to work on your coach.  Try over there. No power issues the two times we have been there.

Tipton Family Diner about 9 miles north is quite good.  Nice portions, good food friendly prices.  The patty melt was one of the best I have had.

Kum and Go across 80 from HWH is a good spot to fill up.

If we were home you could come and visit us.  4-5 hrs north along the Mississippi River.  Come any way, I'll have Kathy turn on the 50 amp outlet on the front of the shop.  40 ft fits fine.

Don't you just need to go to the Mall of America?

Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #2 –
Carol
We were there last week on the upper side- where they do the service.  Plugged in with our Progressive EMS portable and had no issues on the pedestal farthest to the right as you look at them.

If no good electricity, use your generator and  protect your coach.

Hope your service goes better than your starting out there.

Cya down the road.
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #3 –
Yeah ... we are in the upper Service location where there are 3 pedestals. 2 were occupied with coaches, neither of which are plugged in. After testing with my SurgeGuard and seeing the reverse polarity, I know why!!  We are on the generator for watching TV at night ... solar during the day is keeping the fridge happy. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #4 –
I can't say enough good things about our treatment at HWH.  We were taken in bright and early and the coach was pulled onto the "Big Yellow Ramp".  (Those of you who have been there will understand.)  We explained that there had been glitches in our leveling system with the pad being cranky on occasion and the auxiliary air compressor coming on and just never shutting off  ... all the while blowing air out of the "spitter" valve at the base of the black bowl behind the air compressor and some other "thingys". (Don't ask me to get specific ... I'm doing the best I can.)  Josh (our tech) went to work and found ... wait for it...  13 different leaks on all sorts of HWH leveling system components.  LOTS of O-rings replaced!!  (There were tiny bubbles showing on our interior step cover, but that is not HWH stuff and we will address those later.)  These addressed, there was still the matter of the constant air being released by the blow-off valve and the compressor never shutting down.  Our slide bladder had begun squealing a bit on extension and retraction, and I was worried that it was not being deflated completely.  Josh reached out to Stacy Hanser ... the "Yoda" of slide bladders and nephew of the founder of HWH!!  A whole new area of work commenced.  The bladder looked good and investigation by attaching gauges showed that the  deflation and inflation were well into proper pressures.  BUT ... the constant discharge of air was perplexing and there was an extra wire going somewhere that was unconnected to any part of the compressor ... and no clue where it should be attached!  It was a brand new blow-off valve from FOT (not installed by them) but the problem had persisted. Just wasn't closing. Head scratching and perusal of schematics ... and then Stacy gets John ... the Electrical Engineer and Yoda of a different all things electric at HWH.  We had ALL the Big Guns crawling in the 2 bays with the slide manifold and the air compressor.  These guys spent SEVERAL hours ... truly!  Finally there was a call to James Triana (He calls them back right away, and they do not have to buy a Premium Membership) and there is more discussion of the extra wire and the "Air Tank" button on our control panel.  Josh also discovers a cracked fitting on the bowl where the "spitter" is attached.  Another leak!  They find an exact replacement among their parts, even though this equipment is not HWH, but something that Foretravel has re-engineered, and they fix it for us.  Testing is done to several solenoids and connections are verified and wires arranged ... it is determined the the extra wire doesn't do anything.  Snip ... gone.  The "Air Tank" button on our control panel is now revealed to me as a Courtesy Switch.  It will turn on the Auxiliary Air compressor(if it is not running) to slowly air up the coach (wet tank) for travel without starting the engine if we want to be kind to our neighbors in a campground of an early morning.  I can't imagine using it for that, as it would take forever!  I could just run the engine and leave before they had time to come and vent their displeasure ... and I probably am the last one to leave, anyway .... but, there it is!  We were in the shop from about 7:30 AM until they pulled us out at 3:30PM.  We had the upper echelon going over things with a fine-toothed comb.  Even though they said that they were interested and learning some things that they had not known before, I am sure that it was not how they had planned to spend their day.  Total cost????      Less than $500, including tax.  Their shop time costs $90 an hour.  They charged us $8.00 for the O-rings and $60 for the bowl that was a serendipitous find.  I am certain that our system works better now than it EVER has before and I am more grateful than I can say for the seminar we were able to attend while watching these guys investigate and diagnose.  Just doesn't get any better!!!!
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #5 –

  Happy to hear that HWH took care of the air leaks.
    I think a trip to them is in my future plans.
Jim & Doreen
2003 U320

 "Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen"
― Louis L'Amour

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Carol Savournin –
(There were tiny bubbles showing on our interior step cover, but that is not HWH stuff and we will address those later.) 

Norgren valve?

source for 12V air actuator for step

Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Quote
the constant discharge of air was perplexing
These guys spent SEVERAL hours ... truly!  Finally there was a call to James Triana
 Josh also discovers a cracked fitting on the bowl where the "spitter" is attached. 

Or they could search the forum  ;)  HWH Troubleshooting


Quote
The "Air Tank" button on our control panel is now revealed to me as a Courtesy Switch.  It will turn on the Auxiliary Air compressor(if it is not running) to slowly air up the coach (wet tank) for travel without starting the engine if we want to be kind to our neighbors in a campground of an early morning.

Air Tank Switch???

How to use my air tank switch
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #7 –
Thank you, Michelle!!!  It is better for readers to look at those links than to try and decipher my descriptions of "thingys". 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #8 –
I have had those guys fix up my slide room. It took all day but they figured it out. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #9 –
Carol

Glad to hear they got you fixed up.  They are a first class group of people working there and worth going there any time to have the HWH system worked on.

Safe travels.
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #10 –
Good visit at HWH, Carol.  Like the electrical guy John H found in Billings and the service tech, great help is out there. You have to look for them and sometimes you get lucky. HWH is one of them.  A must stop if you are any where near. 
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #11 –
Wonder what the lead time is now to get into HWH ?
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: At HWH for service

Reply #12 –
Call, it was about three weeks in the busy spring. They do their best to get you in and once you are there.  563-724-3396
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: At HWH for service

Reply #13 –
I got in with a week notice last month
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)