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Old 08-09-2020, 05:29 PM   #1
donshapansky
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Smile First Trip in our New Elite Suites

We are certainly having teething issues. The refer doors will not stay closed and found most of the food items on the floor after only 50 miles. Turns out a bungie cord came to the rescue.
The fireplace latch is so weak it will not stay stowed, I don't see any adjustments for the catch.
I installed soft starts on the 3 A/C units and before I could set one to off after starting the generator at a rest stop it popped the breaker and the lunch stop was a total fiasco.
Pulling the rig is very impressive in terms of ride, braking and stability in cross winds. We drove 360 miles today from Granbury, TX to Amarillo with cross winds and 102F peak temp. The truck (2019 F-350 diesel) did a great job, it pulls some mean hills without downshifting out of 6th and held cruise settings very well in the hills with the exhaust brake armed and adaptive cruise operational.
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Old 08-09-2020, 06:26 PM   #2
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Don, first the pleasant side, welcome to the forum. Secondly, how did the generator and AC's cycle when you did your PDI? Whoever did your soft start install should have taken care of this. I know this doesn't help, but I haven't seen any system that needed the soft start with a factory Onan.
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Old 08-10-2020, 07:43 AM   #3
GTM
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The first trip always fun. Yes a strap around the fridge doors does resolve the issue of the doors flying open. Still working on keeping the items inside secure, IE beer bottles all over the place. I have a bungie cord secured in each cabinet between the fire place and remember to run it across the front of the fire place before we leave. Be sure to check the sliders for the fireplace cabinet I found that the inside walls that they were attached to wer loose letting the cabinet move around and the fire place to come loose. Also be sure to latch the sliding door on your bedroom closet.
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Old 08-10-2020, 11:13 AM   #4
Cummins12V98
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I will bet the load being generated to recharge the batteries is the culprit along with heating the water heater etc.
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Old 08-11-2020, 10:10 AM   #5
porthole
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donshapansky View Post
We are certainly having teething issues. The refer doors will not stay closed and found most of the food items on the floor after only 50 miles. Turns out a bungie cord came to the rescue.
The fireplace latch is so weak it will not stay stowed, I don't see any adjustments for the catch.
I installed soft starts on the 3 A/C units and before I could set one to off after starting the generator at a rest stop it popped the breaker and the lunch stop was a total fiasco.
Fridge - velcro strap around the handles - should be standard. We also use the "spring bars" inside. And I use a couple of the clear plastic bins (available Lowes, not Home Depot).
If the bin is not full, for instance the beer bin is less then full I fill the spaces with cut pool noodles. I'll use pool noodle pieces on the door bins.

AC's - $15 soft start capacitors or the expensive micro air version?
Factory Onan 5500? That's only 22-23 amps per leg.
The AC's may hit 20 amps starting. As cummins mentioned the battery charger may also be a culprit.
Standard battery chargers could draw 8-12 amps AC
If you have the whole house inverter with the built in charger you could be drawing 15+ amps when it starts in bulk mode (capable of 125 amps DC)

Turn off the charger and water heater, find out which AC's are on which legs. Only turn on the two units (opposite legs)

Fireplace latch - do you have the fireplace drawer feature?
Mine fell out while being delivered to the dealer. 2 years later I am still finding the ball bearings that spilled out of the tracks.

If so, there is no adjustment, the retention is in the drawer guides, similar to household type guides.
The baby door clip is useless to hold that heavy drawer.

I drilled holes through the sides (measure multiple times) and use 4"x3/8" clevis pins.
Hint - drill from the cabinet side into the fireplace drawer, Before actually drilling through the fireplace drawer, push the drawer in, that way when the clevis pin is inserted the spring action will keep tension on it.
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Old 08-11-2020, 07:18 PM   #6
donshapansky
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Thanks for the fireplace tip, I was thinking the same solution, when I get home that will be the first item. The 1000 watt inverter was not armed so the fridge was always dark when I checked, but now I believe we will have cooling going on when on the road. The soft starts were added to allow 30 amp service with 2 airs and to hopefully extend the life of the units. We now know how to operate them and have not had any issues since.
We talked to our dealer today and heard about the Velcro strap, I had the material along to make one today. Now we are in Laramie, WY tonight very happy with the overall experience, the truck is making a believer out of me. Lots of wind and hills on cruise at 65 - 70 depending on construction zone from Limon, CO we made 8.0 mpg. The CAT scales say our GVW is 30,040 lbs. Steer Axle 5,120, Drive Axle 8,840 Trailer Axles 16,080 Net Weight of loaded trailer is 21,080 with full water, empty waste tanks and food, clothes, LPG full.
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Old 08-12-2020, 02:37 PM   #7
wingnut60
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Check into the FridgeFixer to keep your fridge doors closed--one time easy install and doors will not come open when moving.
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Old 08-13-2020, 05:36 PM   #8
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Has anyone been able to contact DRV Technical Support? I have tried several different days morning and pm in most cases someone picks up the phone and hangs up, other times it goes into a fast busy signal.
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Old 08-13-2020, 06:25 PM   #9
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Have you tried E-Mail. When I have contacted them in the last few months they are short handed.
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Old 08-17-2020, 07:26 PM   #10
MASTERDRAGO
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Our doors are held shut by this little hand tightened threaded piece. It goes into an iron bar attached between the ref & frz doors. That bar is attached to a pair of bars that go to the rear and attach to the back wall. I had to add the large plastic washer.
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Old 08-17-2020, 07:31 PM   #11
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Inside the refrigerator I use to line the shelves, Duck Brand EasyLiner Shelf and Drawer Liner, Non-Adhesive from AMZN. Keeps the plastic tubs from moving around.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg easy line duck brand.jpg (41.8 KB, 0 views)
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Old 08-17-2020, 07:41 PM   #12
donshapansky
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We did the same in the fridge with drawer liner between that and a velcro strap the fridge is now operational.
When I get home the the fireplace issue will be addressed thank you for the pictures!
We are in Idaho Falls for a few days and have visited Jackson and Yellowstone parks in the last 2 days. Next we head to Butte and then Billings. We will do an out trip to Red Lodge for my wife's birthday, she has the restaurant all picked out. We love these 59 F mornings! Especially when it's 110 F at home.
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Old 08-19-2020, 06:29 PM   #13
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Well we had an interesting lunch stop today on the way to Butte, MT, leaving McDonald's I had to make a sharp right turn and as I was swinging the truck hard right the brakes locked up on the trailer. I had blocked 2 lanes in a small town and was unable to figure out how to unlock them. An escort truck for moving a large piece of farm equipment came to my rescue, he said the 350 should pull it straight regardless of the brakes being locked. So I stuck it in low range 4 wheel and got the rig to the curb. The other escort driver said the brakes are locked, is the breakaway cable pulled out of the switch? I looked sure enough, the recommended tiedown position was too short on a hard RH turn! I'm glad it happened in a small town and I'm going to share it with my dealer who said where to hook it. (to the locking pin of the hitch).
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Old 08-19-2020, 10:08 PM   #14
wingnut60
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Did that once in Tyler, TX, pulling out of parking lot. Blocking 3 lanes. Yes, 450 pulled it into the center turn lane to re-insert the pin. Soon after, got one of the coiled flex lines for the pin, no more inadvertent pulls...
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Old 08-20-2020, 10:57 AM   #15
Cummins12V98
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Please tell me your "recommended" tie down position?
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Old 08-20-2020, 04:51 PM   #16
donshapansky
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They connected it to locking pin of the hitch, it looked OK to me but obviously on a hard right turn it wasn't enough slack.
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Old 08-22-2020, 11:38 AM   #17
Cummins12V98
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Simply NOT the correct place. Should NOT be attached to the hitch. Should be attached to the truck bed.
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Old 08-22-2020, 03:24 PM   #18
donshapansky
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That's what I have done, I got a new coiled strap today to give more flexibility even though with the new position I didn't need it.
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Old 08-23-2020, 09:02 AM   #19
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Damn!! That's 3 times in the last year that cummins and I agree on something. YEMV

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Old 08-23-2020, 09:23 AM   #20
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Damn!! That's 3 times in the last year that cummins and I agree on something. YEMV

Bill
Makes it not quite as much fun coming here to read! Actually, there's more to be learned on these sites if all members don't agree on everything. How much fun would we have if we all had Goodyear tires and pulled with a hauler?
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