Call for help

Topic: Call for help (Read 3245 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Call for help

Reply #25 – September 29, 2018, 03:12:56 pm

Drill ?

Re: Call for help

Reply #26 – September 29, 2018, 05:46:52 pm

Quote from: Bill Chaplin – September 29, 2018, 03:12:56 pm

Drill ?

Not sure if foam is open or closed cell. Anyone with experience?

P

Re: Call for help

Reply #27 – September 29, 2018, 06:35:36 pm

Yes, we ave experience with that.
Soon after buying our 03 U320 we were at camp Foretravel to have our roof recoated. Not mowing any better we had hooked up to the city water thinking that's what you do.
Sunday morning we went to town for breakfast and did not shut off the water spigot. We got a call from another forum member about two hours later saying we should get back to our coach as there was water pouring out of all our bays!!! They did shut off the water for us.
What a sight it was for us to see about 20 people standing around our coach watching water drip from the bays and running down to the drain! I did see a few smirks amongst the crowd as we opened our door to see what had happened. At first we thought the front carpet was ok but on the first step on it water squirted out from underfoot. Upon further inspection, water had filled the entire coach from front to back and side to side.
The cause for our internal leak turned out to be the circuit board for the Thetford toilet had malfunctioned and kept flushing the toilet over and over endlessly until I pulled the fuse. We had dumped the day before so the black tank was empty at the time, so if we had been using just our water tank and not city water, there would of been a good chance that whatever water we had in the fresh water tank would of fit into the black tank and not flooded the inside of the coach. Of course the pump and toilet valve would of still been cycling on and off but we wouldn't have any water damage.
The moral of this story is.... if you use city water and leave it on, you risk the chance of having a toilet malfunction or pet pipe come loose inside the coach and cause a lot of damage that could have been avoided by just using your water tank and shutting off the pump when you leave the coach.
That's my story, nd I'm sticking to it.

Re: Call for help

Reply #28 – September 29, 2018, 07:50:12 pm

This might be a dumb question but when using fresh water tank, can you leave the pump switch on all the time. Or do you only turn it on when using water??

Re: Call for help

Reply #29 – September 29, 2018, 07:50:31 pm

Bob would go out and turn off the water supply just in case we sprang a leak overnight. (Nothing worse than waking up in the morning, swinging your legs out of bed into a pool of water!) So I gently suggested that he might want to put a switch inside the coach that could turn off the water thus sparing him the task of climbing in and out of the coach each night. We bought a pilot operated solenoid valve online and located it at the inlet of the water filter/softener. He installed a switch in the bedroom and at the exit stairs utilizing a common relay. Both have green LED's so that we could see if the water was left on before climbing into bed. The total cost of the project ran @ 50.00. Now with just a flip of the switch, the water is secure and we can sleep easy

That was seven years ago,
Faith

Re: Call for help

Reply #30 – September 29, 2018, 08:03:55 pm

Quote

can you leave the pump switch on all the time. Or do you only turn it on when using water??

I leave it on all the time except when we are away from the coach. Always (almost) turn it off just before leaving.
jor

Re: Call for help

Reply #31 – September 29, 2018, 08:12:24 pm

You can use the pump switch while it's filling but the pressure is real low until you turn off the fill Valve

Re: Call for help

Reply #32 – September 29, 2018, 08:28:27 pm

I installed a direct fill, no more turning valves under the sink and making sure the water pump switch is off. Tank fills in 10-15 min. We turn off the water source at night and when away from the coach

Re: Call for help

Reply #33 – September 29, 2018, 08:28:39 pm

Quote from: Tony – September 29, 2018, 07:50:12 pm

This might be a dumb question but when using fresh water tank, can you leave the pump switch on all the time. Or do you only turn it on when using water??

We make it a policy to shut off the water pump and the water heater when we leave the coach. Around meal times, the pump is usually left on. With it off, there is still plenty of water available from the pressure tank.

Pierce

Re: Call for help

Reply #34 – September 29, 2018, 08:39:09 pm

Quote from: Tony – September 29, 2018, 07:50:12 pm

This might be a dumb question but when using fresh water tank, can you leave the pump switch on all the time. Or do you only turn it on when using water??

I leave mine on all the time But I am confident in all my plumbing. I have been all through it.

Re: Call for help

Reply #35 – September 29, 2018, 11:02:09 pm

Tony, if you leave the pump on and there is a leak (even in your trusted plumbing) you can pump the fresh tank ful of water to whereever the leak is. At the very least shut the pump off when you are not in the coach. I added a simple programmable timer to the water pump circuit to shut off the pump for us in case we forget.

A major water leak inside the coach is a unnecessary, messy and likely expensive repair.

Re: Call for help

Reply #36 – September 30, 2018, 09:09:48 am

Quote from: Tony – September 29, 2018, 07:50:12 pm

This might be a dumb question but when using fresh water tank, can you leave the pump switch on all the time. Or do you only turn it on when using water??

won't hurt a thing if you leave it on all the time........ UNLESS........ your plumbing develops a leak......... then it may hurt your feelings.

We leave ours on while in the coach and turn it off when we lock the door to leave.

Re: Call for help

Reply #37 – September 30, 2018, 09:18:38 am

Quote from: Tony – September 29, 2018, 07:50:12 pm

This might be a dumb question but when using fresh water tank, can you leave the pump switch on all the time. Or do you only turn it on when using water??

I leave it on except:

When not in the coach
When dry camping and trying to conserve battery (the relay at least on older models) takes a small amount of power. Newer models may have latching relays that do not take power even when pump off.

Re: Call for help

Reply #38 – September 30, 2018, 10:37:36 am

I understand the frustration of having major issues that seem to arrive as if on an endless line of train cars. When it happens on the heals of something I just resolved, I tell Kristi "I hate this coach and want to get rid of it!" We bought our coach that was "in excellent condition" just over two years ago and have spent close to $30,000 for repairs and maintenance since then, with me doing much of the work. After cooling my heels for a while, I think about everything we experienced because we have an RV that would not have happened with a car and hotel rooms. We also met people and had conversations which only seem to happen at campgrounds. Most importantly, we get to sleep in our own bed and don't have to worry if Lacy would be welcome.

We used to have a Safari and it had its share of issues. The only thing I miss about it is the Safari community and individuals that were on their blog. It was like moving from one neighborhood to another. The Foretravel put us into another league with regard to costs and complexity, but I like not having to hang on to the steering wheel every time I see a semi approaching from the other direction and I like not having a rear radiator. I also like not being woken up in the night every time the furnace kicks on and not having to worry about having enough hot water.

I should add that I miss the utility bay from the Safari. The fuel filters, dip sticks, hydraulic reservoir, remote start and gauges were in one compartment and easy to access.

Re: Call for help

Reply #39 – September 30, 2018, 10:51:54 am

On our last outing I couldn't understand why our pump (under the couch where I was sitting) would cycle every 2 minutes 10 seconds. I actually sat there and timed the pump! I then went up front and turned on the monitor. It showed the fresh water tank down to 1/4 full!! Night before it was 3/4.
This warranted some investigation immediately!! I went out and walked around our coach and found water pouring out behind the driver's side duals. Went inside, shut off the pump, back outside on a tarp under the coach. Saw only one wet point. The short fill hose I hook up shore water to. WOW, relief!! Not broken plumbing under the tub--which is in the other side of the wall.
Bad thing: the backflow preventor we bought last year wasn't working.
Good thing: I had a shutoff hose valve. Installed it and leak was gone.
New problem? Needed to get the tank filled. We took our (3) six gallon jugs up to the bubbler in the CG and filled them from the faucet on the side.
Back to the coach, open the little compartment door in front of the driver, pulled out the 3/4" dia milkhouse hose, turned on the 12V pump and transferred 18 gallons to the fresh water tank. Repeated this until dash monitor read full.

Re: Call for help

Reply #40 – September 30, 2018, 11:25:07 am

Quote from: bbeane – September 29, 2018, 08:28:27 pm

I installed a direct fill, no more turning valves under the sink and making sure the water pump switch is off. Tank fills in 10-15 min. We turn off the water source at night and when away from the coach

I like your direct fill and the way you supported it from above. What was your source for the actual tank fitting? Going to move it way up on my endless to do list.

Pierce

Re: Call for help

Reply #41 – September 30, 2018, 11:30:18 am

Pierce, Amazon search "Uniseal" you can get them from 1/2"on up cheap.

Re: Call for help

Reply #42 – September 30, 2018, 12:25:41 pm

Thanks! They are cheap.

P

Re: Call for help

Reply #43 – September 30, 2018, 03:46:47 pm

Thanks for the PM's I received. Was actually a bit taken aback that many folks 'off line' agree with and share my frustration with these 'well built' coaches.

The leak has gone away. Looks like a fill valve rebuild is in order and doesn't look to be a PITA. So that's nice.

Re: Call for help

Reply #44 – September 30, 2018, 04:59:50 pm

They are well built coaches. Some may have not been maintained and kept that way. Just imagine, you could have bought a Winnebago.

Re: Call for help

Reply #45 – September 30, 2018, 05:07:57 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – September 30, 2018, 12:25:41 pm

Thanks! They are cheap.

P

l bought a bag of 5 3/4" ones, maybe someone down at Q may want one.

Re: Call for help

Reply #46 – September 30, 2018, 07:17:38 pm

Mods. Could you split and move this to the appropriate area (Foretravel discussions) as it has wondered off topic. Not sure how to do it and not mess up the coverage of the original issue.

Thanks in advance

Re: Call for help

Reply #47 – September 30, 2018, 07:23:40 pm

Quote from: Sven and Kristi – September 30, 2018, 10:37:36 am

I understand the frustration of having major issues that seem to arrive as if on an endless line of train cars. When it happens on the heals of something I just resolved, I tell Kristi "I hate this coach and want to get rid of it!" We bought our coach that was "in excellent condition" just over two years ago and have spent close to $30,000 for repairs and maintenance since then, with me doing much of the work. After cooling my heels for a while, I think about everything we experienced because we have an RV that would not have happened with a car and hotel rooms. We also met people and had conversations which only seem to happen at campgrounds. Most importantly, we get to sleep in our own bed and don't have to worry if Lacy would be welcome.

We used to have a Safari and it had its share of issues. The only thing I miss about it is the Safari community and individuals that were on their blog. It was like moving from one neighborhood to another. The Foretravel put us into another league with regard to costs and complexity, but I like not having to hang on to the steering wheel every time I see a semi approaching from the other direction and I like not having a rear radiator. I also like not being woken up in the night every time the furnace kicks on and not having to worry about having enough hot water.

I should add that I miss the utility bay from the Safari. The fuel filters, dip sticks, hydraulic reservoir, remote start and gauges were in one compartment and easy to access.

Yes. I agree that we still like the RV experience of having our own bed, food and such. So we will stick with it. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be a FT fan boy that refuses to say what needs to be said about a crappy design aspect of a FT. I'm not the sort that calls dog poo on the sidewalk a Rose.

Re: Call for help

Reply #48 – September 30, 2018, 07:42:42 pm

That's why bus conversions are great but also with their drawbacks. While the chassis is first class and designed to go millions of miles, the interior is usually awful in DIY conversions and way over the top Vegas in others. They only need a poll dancer to complete the effect

While Fore had great interior designs and chose good running gear, putting it all together could not be done correctly without the experience of a company with years of experience and feedback from bus/tour companies.

My 4107 bus had an outstanding shop manual detailing just how to accomplish all maintenance as well as a parts manual with detailed drawings with every nut and bolt identified as to the size, thread, etc. etc. Working on it was EZ.

So, yes, I'm frequently disappointed as I work on our coach and often wonder "why in the world did they do it this way." It's sort of like owning a Jaguar or an Italian car. Love it for the way it looks and feels, hate it when some stupid design flaw bites you for major coinage.

Just be thankful that Foretravel or any other RV manufacture doesn't build the airliners we fly in. The railroads would make a quick comeback.

Pierce

Re: Call for help

Reply #49 – September 30, 2018, 09:07:57 pm

Most US manufactures in the 90s knew how to do things and did not value Quality practices such as FMEAs, Quality of Design, or Cross Functional Teams. These practices could have identified some of the problems that we encounter today. It was a classic case of "We don't know what we don't know" and many manufacturers were not interested in "complicating" their processes by asking the question: "What If". Many were not interested in Problem Analysis and Corrective/Preventive Actions and did not take Customer Complaints seriously. Rejects were OK if under 3%. I think many of the things that we scratch our heads about today could have been designed into or out of the product(s) if they asked: "What If". Six Sigma and ISO were largely unknown in those days, and what was known, many in manufacturing were not interested unless it was a Customer Requirement.

As a Quality Engineer, during those days, I was often in touch with Sales, Purchasing and Operations personnel that did not like change and could not see that product improvements and failure analysis/prevention would add monies to the bottom line faster than the new gizmo that sparkled in the light that hopefully spurred sales. Many manufacturers preferred Shooting From the Hip. Short and Long Term planning were primarily financial and had little to do with the Quality of the product or design.

The Japanese adopted Edward Deming"s Total Quality Management concepts. From these Quality practices we now have Honda, Toyota, Samsung, Sony among others. Many in the US aeronautical and Tech industries saw value and adopted them as well. US automotive was just getting their toes wet in those days.

Foretravel did some wonderful stuff, other stuff they could have done better.

We do have a choice. Mine is a FT. Maybe not the best but better than most.

Sorry for the diatribe.

Affiliate Notice