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Max Brake display failure fix

Fifth Wheel Jacks broken

The 98 Avion that we had was equiped with Mor-ryde and we loved it. also had never lub berrings and that was great.

Jim A nderson has a rear kitchen in his Mountain Air 5th wheel. When I see him next month or talk to him before I'll ask him. He might need something to write about. I think the rough highways that we go over is the big reason things bounce back in the rear. Going to fast on rough roads is not good either.



Bill
 
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When you get to Chanute, ask them how those older units were built. The blue Dow seems to be something that has just come along in the last 10 years or so - just an impression I get. They used to use fiberglass in very old units (tan siding).

When I toured the NuWa factory in 2009, they showed us a black frame they said came from across the street - south of the factory next door. Was told all their frames come from that weld shop.

Any trailer needs to be inspected around all the outside joints starting after the first season. The old putty seals were absolute garbage - luckily, I haven't seen much of that lately on the newer units at the home park. Most use some kind of non-silicone "silicone type" sealant. Dicor maybe?? Most will start to have very small hairline 'cracks', usually near the end of a joint, starting after just one or two years in some cases. What is critical is to stay on top of those, cleaning out the old sealant and re-sealing before water gets in too long and does a LOT of damage.

Front and rear caps where they meet the rubber roof are prime candidates for sealant cracking and needing repair. This can cause major roof situations. (How many trailers have you seen going down the road with a big 'bubble' in the front of the roof where the rubber came loose from the roof? I see a lot!)

Another thing to look at is the slab side to see if there is rippling or any other sign of disbonding of the fiberglass shell from the luaun it is connected to. If so, there was probably water in there somewhere. When luaun gets wet and water wicks into it from any little leak (seal leak mentioned above), then it goes to the consistency of toilet paper, and with that failure, the fiberglass is free to move around.

Examples; I have mentioned my old worn out 1997 Kit Sportsmaster. Got it when it was about 9 years old. Neglect had caused much failure of the seals all around the unit. I have steadily and carefully 'fixed' each seal with dicor and no further leaks are happening now. The problem is that each corner of the trailer has rotten wood. Can push the inside wall with a thumb and it goes right through the rotten luaun and will crush the rotten corner studs.

One other thing - some trailers (cheaper) have the same type fiberglass sheet up the front rather than a hard shell cap. There are two, one an Outback, one a Sunnybrook at home park right now where the luaun got wet, failed as above. Large ripples, two and three feet long by 18" wide are visible on the front. One of the guys (2001 Sunnybrook) is looking for a house so can move out. Said he plans to just give the trailer away since the front has that going on, plus some rot in rear corner wall. All from leaks where the failed joint seals got away from him. (I told him I would buy the trailer from him for cheap, but he says no, he isn't going to take money from someone for it. )

Anyway, what it all boils down to is that older can be great if it has been cared for, but you really have to keep on top of it!! From day 1. Don't get caught up in the "looks" of a repaired joint - it seldom will be as pretty as factory - just make sure you get the leaks as soon as possible. There is continuous ongoing vigilance required to these things.

Arctic Fox advertises in their brochure that side walls are R-7 insulation. That don't seem so great to me.
 
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Bill,

I have looked at the DRV before and those things are gorgeous! And expensive. When I go to their website, they are talking about 'high density wool insulation'. Would you happen to know from your contacts what that really means? Is it a cellulose wool, or a mineral wool? Or something else??



I wish they would do a tour through the factory showing how they are built like some others do... maybe you could mention it to their Pres? As nice as they look, that would seem to be a natural fit to their marketing.



One thing that all the manufacturers seem to do is use the fiberglass sheet bonded to luaun for side walls. I have begun to form the opinion that it is a horrible component to use. I have seen so many trailers come through home park with disbonding on sides or front and rear that I think there must be a better way. Sadly, I don't know what that is just yet. If I figure it out, I will share with all here.



Rubber roofs seem to be just about as big a problem. DRV doesn't do that on the top of the line - they use fiberglass. They should use fiberglass everywhere, just not with the luaun layer bonded to it.
 
When you get to Chanute, ask them how those older units were built. The blue Dow seems to be something that has just come along in the last 10 years or so - just an impression I get. They used to use fiberglass in very old units (tan siding).

When I toured the NuWa factory in 2009, they showed us a black frame they said came from across the street - south of the factory next door. Was told all their frames come from that weld shop. .

Your "impression" is incorrect. I don't know when NuWa began using blue DOW fiberglass but it was many years ago.

Again you are wrong. The black frames were Lippert and not made across the street or next door. NuWa use of Lippert frames was never sufficient for Lippert to build a frame plant in Chanute. I have driven the entire industrial park where NuWa, Young's Frame, and Pop-Up Industries are located many times and never seen another frame plant anywhere in the area.
 
DRV does have plant tours. We have been on one with a few other people but you have to set up a time. I know they have a artic package but haven't been interested. The last of October when I can't wear shorts any longer We head for Florida. I will call and see if I can get that other info. you asked about.



Bill
 
We would probably use plastic dishes anyway so a rear kitchen should not be a problem. ;) I guess you could throw them in a box if you were worried about breakage. I'm guessing a rear kitchen would be a little heavier in the back? I could see that being a big problem on a bumper trailer but maybe not so much with a 5er.
 
We would probably use plastic dishes anyway so a rear kitchen should not be a problem. ;) I guess you could throw them in a box if you were worried about breakage. I'm guessing a rear kitchen would be a little heavier in the back? I could see that being a big problem on a bumper trailer but maybe not so much with a 5er.



Yep, we use plastic dishes in our RVs... lighter, not as breakable, and some are microwave safe. For the pots and pans, we place a piece of that "rubbery" stuff sold in RV supply stores that is designed to be used as shelf liners to keep items from moving around between each one and it works fairly well. When placed under a stack of dishes, it helps prevent movement as well, but won't help if the trailer bounces passing over a frost heave or an uneven road repair or bridge approach. When that happens, just hope you have secure latches on the cabinet doors.



Bill
 
I agree with what Bill said and in addition we keep all heavy pot and pan on the bottom shelves (floor level) wrapped in towels and shelf liners. Beside plastic dishes, we do keep china coffee mugs in upper shelves, which none have ever broke yet. Coffee doesn't taste the same in a plastic mug.
 
Beside plastic dishes, we do keep china coffee mugs in upper shelves, which none have ever broke yet. Coffee doesn't taste the same in a plastic mug.



Yep, you got that right!! Coffee in a plastic mug is about the same as a paper cup... it ain't fit to drink. :-laf



Bill
 
No broken dishes with my rear kitchen Cougar, go over some pretty nasty roads with it at times...



If I may quote Dustin Hoffman in "Rainman"...



:-laf"I'm an excellent driverrrrrrr. ":-laf



Mike. :)
 
Went to se my friends Arctic Fox TT the other day. Other than the fact the floor plan was not my style it was a NICE unit. Someday. Shadrach
 
M y wife and I had a Carriage Cameo 30FOOT fifth wheel for 6 years, until it got totaled in Illinois. It was a RK and we loved it. We now have A35 foot Cameo and it is A great unit. 14 years full time and going strong.



2009 3/4 ton White 6sp. bone stock Chas

Rapid City,SD.
 
Toomey



I talked to Kyle Miller who is in charge of production at DRV. He is at a show in ohio`I did get that High density wool insulation is an option. It is a subzero thermo-pack.

He also told me that DRV does not donate money to the RV rating company. Maybe that is why Mobile Suites are not 5 star. That is just my guess.

If anyone wants to arrange a tour of the plant at Howe, Ind. a call to DRV at 260-562-1075 and it will be arranged.



Bill
 
Have any of you been to the national RV show in Louisville KY. I think it is November? Does NuWa come, and how about AF? Or is this a show for Indiana made trailers due the proximity to Louisville. Would this be a good chance to talk to the manufacturers or is there such a crowd that it is maybe not the place to that?
 
Again you are wrong. The black frames were Lippert and not made across the street or next door. NuWa use of Lippert frames was never sufficient for Lippert to build a frame plant in Chanute. I have driven the entire industrial park where NuWa, Young's Frame, and Pop-Up Industries are located many times and never seen another frame plant anywhere in the area.



Wrong?? By stating what they told me?? Hmmm..... ok... .



Anyway,... as I said before. When I visited the plant, they showed us a black frame. They tour guide said it was built "across the street" by a local welding shop. Don't remember his name, but the guy who gave the tour is the one who does the video, "Factory Tour Part I (Frame and Suspension)".



Still wondering how I could be 'wrong again'... interesting... . and very strange.
 
Toomey



He also told me that DRV does not donate money to the RV rating company. Maybe that is why Mobile Suites are not 5 star. That is just my guess.



Bill



That explains perfectly why they don't get the "ratings". I have seen just about every trailer ever made come through home park in the last 5 years or so. Including quite a few older ones (Spartan, Airstream, home mades - but no Airfloat Navigators!!)



The litany of woes for trailers made in the last 10 to 15 years is amazing. It all starts out with, "Well, I really haven't had any trouble, except for... . ".



Some not too bad - biggest problem across the board seems to be leaks at the slideouts. Up to complete and total delamination of the outside fiberglass layer. There is another one here now (Sunnybrook 2002) that looks like a complete "blister". Over 50% of the outside surface is blistered and bubbling up. This is in addition to the other two I have mentioned previously. Granted, this is the extreme. But it should not happen at all.



I guess I will have to start making trailers to get what I really want... . DRV would be nice, but I can't see that kind of money for my uses. HH (NuWa) is getting closer to my world view.
 
Have any of you been to the national RV show in Louisville KY. I think it is November? Does NuWa come, and how about AF? Or is this a show for Indiana made trailers due the proximity to Louisville. Would this be a good chance to talk to the manufacturers or is there such a crowd that it is maybe not the place to that?



If interested in NuWa, just come on down to this part of the world. Chanute is very nice little town to visit... not too much to do, but nice. The factory tour is very good. It used to be that if you went on Friday, there was no production, so got a much more detailed and quieter tour. Could take longer, too. Friendly people. And I can give you a list of things to look at in the area that are pretty cool. There is a Tallgrass Prairie, a few world class museums and all the casinos you can stand within 100 miles or so (mostly less than 100). And some nice Route 66 drives! Plus, all those amazing Okie drivers to practice your self preservation skills around!



Spring would be the preferred time, so you can experience the thrills and chills of the largest area of tornado ranches in the world!! Overall, we grow more, bigger, better than anywhere else on this planet!!
 
Wrong?? By stating what they told me?? Hmmm..... ok... .



Anyway,... as I said before. When I visited the plant, they showed us a black frame. They tour guide said it was built "across the street" by a local welding shop. Don't remember his name, but the guy who gave the tour is the one who does the video, "Factory Tour Part I (Frame and Suspension)".



Still wondering how I could be 'wrong again'... interesting... . and very strange.



Since the reopening of the NuWa plant, all frames are made by Young's Welding, and are black. The guy in the video is Ed Cox.



Newt
 
NuWa may be painting frames black now, I haven't taken the factory tour recently, but were not when production restarted a couple of years ago.

The initial question and discussion were about an older, used unit which a member was inquiring about and had nothing to do with recent models.
 
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