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07-01-2020, 05:36 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34B
State: California
Posts: 22
THOR #19439
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'08 Hurricane 34B... issues, electrical, slide seal, questions, ADVENTURE
I officially retire from the US Navy tomorrow... about 90 minutes from now Pacific Time. I'm picking up the family at LAX Thursday morning and starting our X-country drive to Virginia to start my new job.
Just picked up 34B, 37,000 miles and despite the current insanity in the market, I feel I got a great deal. Bunch of new stuff, including tires and a rear AC unit, plus a stack of receipts from the previous owner. Still, a few things discovered on my 300 mile shakedown drive home from the purchase.
1) FUEL FILLER AND VENT HOSE ROTTEN... after putting about 10 gallons in, saw fuel at my feet. I almost set the thing on fire right there. Only owned it an hour, and already leaking dead dinosaurs all over the ground. Calmness prevailed, I stopped fueling, waited for the puddle to evaporate, drove it to an empty area and crawled underneath... both the 1.5" and .75" filler and vent hose sections at the tank were shot. I drove it home and a trip to Napa for some hose and new hose clamps was fixed.
2) SLIDE SEAL DO'H... starboard main slide, rear vertical seal... you can see it. Once it's out, I can manipulate it back into place, but it clearly needs re-attaching. WHERE DO I GET A NEW SEAL? I looked at a bunch of websites and no seals I've found look like mine. Also... what is the metal wire structure called and what's it's purpose? I think it's clamped to the fiberglass shell on the coach and serves to give an better anchor for whatever filler "glues" the seal in place.
3) 12VOLT LIGHTER SOCKETS no workie. Where are the circuit breakers for those... are they in the FORD labeled panel centerline on the coach directly behind the air filter assembly (how the heck do I get that box open?), or are they in the BATTERY CONTROL CENTER on the drivers side.
4) DASH ACCESS... my dash appears to be held in place with a half-dozen vinyl covered "buttons"... how do I remove those buttons without damaging anything... WHAT'S THE TRICK? Is there an easier way to access the area behind the lighter sockets to start chasing wires.
5) RADIO SUCKS... is there a more modern, direct replacement radio for the Jensen POS this thing came with. It looks like it comes out easily enough with the standard Ford u-shaped tool. Is the wiring harness to the radio factory Ford as well... will most double-din Ford radios drop in?
6) CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM... yes, "central" is giving it too much credit... but nothing happens when I hit the switch. Its mounted to the sink area and I haven't dismantled anything to get a look at the back of the unit. Is there a standard way to wire one of these into a coach? Does it need it's own circuit? Would it be wired to run on the generator?
7) GENERATOR MAX LOAD ROAD TO HAPPINESS! Please tell me if this all sounds good.
I go around the coach and turn off all hi-draw items. Then fire up the generator... fires up quick and clean thanks to a service and new carb. I let it run for a minute and then turn on both roof A/C's (about 30 seconds apart). As I turn on more systems over the next few minutes... swap fridge to 110, water pump, water heater, interior lights... at some point, the 20amp breaker on the generator trips and the rear A/C shuts off.
WHAT SYSTEMS ARE ON EACH DIFFERENT (20amp and 30amp) BREAKER ON THE GENERATOR?
8) SWAPPING BETWEEN SHORE AND GENERATOR AND BATTERIES
8A) Lets say the coach is dark, no external, no generator, and house/coach batteries off. What batteries power the starter for the generator? Do I need to have the house battery switch by the door enabled to start the generator?
8B) If I want to swap from shore to generator or vice-versa, do I have to disconnect the other system first... ie, if the generator is running and I plug in to the campground, can I shut off the generator after? What about the other way around... can I fire up the generator while plugged in outside?
8C) I've read that I should have the MAIN CB's under the queen bed OFF when plug into the campground... hook up the surge protector, throw breakers on the campground box, check for clean power, then hook up cable to coach, THEN the CB's under the bed? Correct or unnecessary? And do all of that with the generator off?
Thanks a huge dang bunch if you can help me out with these issues. Fixing the dash sockets is #1 on the agenda tomorrow... then the slide seal... then all the rattles... then a quick wash... Bissell-steam the carpet and hope it dries... ADVENTURE!
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07-01-2020, 05:37 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34B
State: California
Posts: 22
THOR #19439
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Seal off track...
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07-01-2020, 06:49 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Keystone
Model: Sprinter
State: Florida
Posts: 1,422
THOR #15553
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#3. sockets are 12 volt. on fuses not circuixt breakers. Dash sockets would must likley be on OEM chassis wiring. Could be on Thor added fuse panel. House sockets would be on Thor House fuse panel near the circuit breaker box. Owners Manuel would help here.
#4. Those are a 2 piece cap. Screw goes through the bottom piece and the cap snaps on. Just prey it off. You can get replacement in any hardware store. Maybe not the same color.
#6. Had one in my 5er. It was 120 volt on the GFI circuit because it was in a storage compartment. The switch was in the hose connection. Came on when you plugged it in.
#7. Rear A/C is usually the 20 amp breaker on the gen. It my have other things with it. You will have to find out what by trial and error. You'll need to learn load management. Water pump and lights are Usually 12 volts on fuses but MH are a breed of their own. Contact Thor with your vin# and get a wiring schematic.
#8a. House battery to start the generator. Battery disconnect ON to start gen. Only turn off battery disconnect when in storage.
#8b. ATS will take care of the switch over.
#8c. Turn off the power at the ped. I would also turn off the RV main breaker but it is not necessary, That's just me. I all ways was turn all loads of with an extension cord involved. Plug in EMS, plug in RV. Turn on ped breaker. Makes no difference about the gen. Only one power source will work at a time. if gen is running it will shut off when shore power come on. That will be done by the EMS.
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
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07-02-2020, 03:44 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34B
State: California
Posts: 22
THOR #19439
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Cavie, thanks for the robust comments.
Some additional homework revealed that my 12volt sockets are likely powered by a 20amp fuse in the BATTERY CONTROL CENTER. F17 fuse was good, however.
I got part of the dash to open up by removing a few of the small black screws around the dash trim. Both sockets were plugged in and I traced the wires back about a foot and they "look good"... for what that's worth.
I saw in another thread that there may be an inline fuse somewhere that is the culprit... anybody hazard a guess how to access that?
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07-02-2020, 03:48 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34B
State: California
Posts: 22
THOR #19439
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I get on the road in 7 hours... pick up the fam at the airport and get on the road directly. Other than the dash sockets, which is a big deal, and the main sofa slide needing some seal work, it's a beast!
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07-02-2020, 03:50 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34B
State: California
Posts: 22
THOR #19439
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One more thing... some of the windows look like the installer ran out of trim... is this a concern for water intrusion? If yes, what's the preferred goop to stick in there?
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07-02-2020, 04:41 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: SOB
State: South Dakota
Posts: 948
THOR #3916
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Additional Circuit breakers and fuse's location
Look on the drivers side of your bed pedistal near the night stand ... should be another breaker box..good luck..
__________________
current coach
An SOB Shack called Foretravel...This will Do.
former coach
Thor Infinity
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07-02-2020, 02:16 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,347
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamNavy
Cavie, thanks for the robust comments.
Some additional homework revealed that my 12volt sockets are likely powered by a 20amp fuse in the BATTERY CONTROL CENTER. F17 fuse was good, however.
I got part of the dash to open up by removing a few of the small black screws around the dash trim. Both sockets were plugged in and I traced the wires back about a foot and they "look good"... for what that's worth.
I saw in another thread that there may be an inline fuse somewhere that is the culprit... anybody hazard a guess how to access that?
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In case you miss it on your other thread:
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f8...tml#post240041
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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07-02-2020, 06:05 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34B
State: California
Posts: 22
THOR #19439
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 16ACE27
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If I have any more kids, I will name one ACE! Much thanks, look what I found at #22!!!
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07-02-2020, 06:32 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,347
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamNavy
If I have any more kids, I will name one ACE! Much thanks, look what I found at #22!!!
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You would name them after a Thor motorhome?
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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