F53 Chassis Lemon?? Thoughts?? HELP??

[SDMiramar]

What’s your thoughts, am I to sensitive or concerned? I totally get a trailer or an RV is going to have some quirks in it but I’m getting a little tired of it at this point. I purchased a new 2022 Thor Miramar 35.2 on the new F 53 chassis and I think it’s spent more time in either RV service or Ford service the last year then my previous one did its entire life. I’ve had issues with front windshield and delaminating, paint peeling off the top which had to be repainted. slide issues where my small slide constantly binds up and is now going back into service because the bottom sticks out 2 inches further than the top after trying to reset it five times. There are generator issues where it automatically shuts off with a low fuel code although it’s full. I had to reinstall a gas filler neck because I couldn’t get any fuel pump handle in without rocking it just to the right spot . The battery isolator was installed incorrectly/backwards then it went to chassis issues where the parking brake was too tight from the factory so my rear brakes have been dragging so I had to have all the rear brakes completely replaced under warranty of course within the first 2000 miles. it’s been in for cylinder misfire twice although this is not part of the recall or recent TSB.

If it were you, would you push the lemon law issue?? I live in California or should I suck it up to just bad luck and hopefully it’ll get better but I’m afraid once the warranty ends including extended warranty I’m screwed and I’m just in for more headaches?

[DavidEM]

As I understand it, most state lemon laws cover chassis, not coaches that Thor installs. The only thing that could be Ford’s fault is the misfires. Replace all 8 ignition wires, even though Ford will usually only replace the ones on the cylinders that are misfiring and be done with it.

David

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by SDMiramar

then it went to chassis issues where the parking brake was too tight from the factory so my rear brakes have been dragging so I had to have all the rear brakes completely replaced under warranty of course within the first 2000 miles. it’s been in for cylinder misfire twice although this is not part of the recall or recent TSB.

If it were you, would you push the lemon law issue?? I live in California or should I suck it up to just bad luck and hopefully it’ll get better but I’m afraid once the warranty ends including extended warranty I’m screwed and I’m just in for more headaches?

Since the parking brake has nothing to do with the rear brakes why were they replaced?

There is a TSB for early F53 V8 chassis where the parking brake was adjusted incorrectly and caused the parking drum to overheat and the pads to wear prematurely. The parking brake assembly is on the driveline behind the transmission.

There is also a TSB for the plug wire issue.

I see nothing that would qualify your MH as a lemon.

[SDMiramar]

My RV is out of range for the plug wire TSB. I was basically told they would replace them as they burn out. ��

The Ebrake cable tension was set wrong so the Ebrake drags for 3000 miles heating up the rear brake and drum assy so everything got replaced for $3300 under warranty

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by SDMiramar

My RV is out of range for the plug wire TSB. I was basically told they would replace them as they burn out. ��

The Ebrake cable tension was set wrong so the Ebrake drags for 3000 miles heating up the rear brake and drum assy so everything got replaced for $3300 under warranty

Again, the rear brakes:
1 - do not have a drum - they are disc brakes
2- have nothing to do with the ebrake

[Lt Keefer]

Sounds like you bought a typical Thor product. But if your chassis shop replaced the rear brakes because of a maladjusted parking brake, you should seek a new shop. The F-53 chassis e-brake works by clamping the driveline, not the brakes.

[SDMiramar]

Sorry, Yes rear driveline Ebrake assy, shoes, drum etc… as well as rear brakes from a bad booster. Sorry, didn’t specify that very well.

[HMCSW]

Originally Posted by SDMiramar

What’s your thoughts, am I to sensitive or concerned? I totally get a trailer or an RV is going to have some quirks in it but I’m getting a little tired of it at this point. I purchased a new 2022 Thor Miramar 35.2 on the new F 53 chassis and I think it’s spent more time in either RV service or Ford service the last year then my previous one did its entire life. I’ve had issues with front windshield and delaminating, paint peeling off the top which had to be repainted. slide issues where my small slide constantly binds up and is now going back into service because the bottom sticks out 2 inches further than the top after trying to reset it five times. There are generator issues where it automatically shuts off with a low fuel code although it’s full. I had to reinstall a gas filler neck because I couldn’t get any fuel pump handle in without rocking it just to the right spot . The battery isolator was installed incorrectly/backwards then it went to chassis issues where the parking brake was too tight from the factory so my rear brakes have been dragging so I had to have all the rear brakes completely replaced under warranty of course within the first 2000 miles. it’s been in for cylinder misfire twice although this is not part of the recall or recent TSB.

If it were you, would you push the lemon law issue?? I live in California or should I suck it up to just bad luck and hopefully it’ll get better but I’m afraid once the warranty ends including extended warranty I’m screwed and I’m just in for more headaches?

Chassis problems belong to Ford.

[SDMiramar]

Yeah, 100%. Was hopeful that since it was 2 plug wires already in 6000 miles they would just own it and replace the damn wires. I said screw it and bought 6 today for $260 and installed them in about 15 minutes.

[MJC62]

Sorry to hear you're having all these issues.
It does sound like your dealer is trying to correct your coach issue's.
Slides seem to either work like a charm or have issues so hopefully dealer is working with Lippert to rectify. I am surprised to hear it's your small slide giving you grief. Usually, we hear it is the full wall slides that have issues.

The genny is an Onan. If the dealer hasn't done so, you can contact Onan they have service centers all over the country. (Your profile lists California. Onan lists 30 service centers in California alone)

Chassis issues as stated are Ford's. It seems like Ford is making the effort to take care of what they can on warranty. It might be worth shelling out the coin to replace all the plug wires. I wouldn't wait on the wires to burn out one by one. Then contact Ford direct and see if they will make you whole. The plug wires are a known issue.
Hopefully you will get the bugs out. That Miramar 35.2 is very nice floorplan.

[SDMiramar]

MJC62, agreed they have taken care of things as I would hope with the exception of the wires and I decided today that I would just take care of them myself. We looked for a long time for a floor plan that made sense and this one hit almost every box we had.
I think I just needed to talk it out with some good forum people like yourself and come to the understanding I’m working through the madness! lol. It’s frustrating to have an expectation of some kind of quality with an understanding nothing is perfect but they still can’t even build a refrigerator to last 5 years even though we’ve been building them for over 100 years!! LOL!



Yeah the slide was a surprise for me to, but once I get it into service on Thursday I’m hopeful all the bugs will be gone. Been doing a lot of reading and understanding on everything from slide issues and maint and just overall working through the hassles. I can tell ya that La Mesa RV has been one group of people that have been great to deal with, very trouble free!

[PS89]

Ford V10s do nor use or have "plug wires". They use individual coils on plugs, known as COPs.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by PS89

Ford V10s do nor use or have "plug wires". They use individual coils on plugs, known as COPs.

Too bad the topic is not the V10, but the V8.

[PS89]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Too bad the topic is not the V10, but the V8.

Ah, crap! Missed that detail.

[Obiwan57]

Indeed, the 7.3 liter V8 replaced the V10 after 2021 /2022?

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Since the parking brake has nothing to do with the rear brakes why were they replaced?

There is a TSB for early F53 V8 chassis where the parking brake was adjusted incorrectly and caused the parking drum to overheat and the pads to wear prematurely. The parking brake assembly is on the driveline behind the transmission.

There is also a TSB for the plug wire issue.

I see nothing that would qualify your MH as a lemon.

My 2018 ACE 30.0 Engages at the wheel not behind the transmission. I have not investigated whether it works on the rear brakes but it defiantly stops both rear wheels turning.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Dan-sr@perra-us.net

My 2018 ACE 30.0 Engages at the wheel not behind the transmission. I have not investigated whether it works on the rear brakes but it defiantly stops both rear wheels turning.

Because it locks the drive shaft. Not sure why you think your F53 chassis is different from all the other ones.

[SDMiramar]

If you look just in front of the rear differential , just before the driveshaft enters the differential there is basically a big drum that houses the Ebrake set up. The brake cable runs into the top from the pass side.

[PS89]

Because it locks the drive shaft. Not sure why you think your F53 chassis is different from all the other ones.

The assumption that the F53 chassis used only the driveshaft-mounted e-brake at the differential is not correct.

My 2018 F53 has Drum-In-Hat (DIH) park/emergency brakes, just like my old 2001 F250, not the driveshaft-mounted version that you're referencing.I was just under there over the weekend installing a track bar and noted the difference and thought it curious at the time.

Checking the 2018 (and for the '16 and '17 MY) Ford Service Workshop manual (and several years prior), it has maintenance procedures for both varieties. The 2015 manual has only the driveshaft-mounted procedures. My assumption is that either both were used or a transition was taking place throughout that period.

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by PS89

The assumption that the F53 chassis used only the driveshaft-mounted e-brake at the differential is not correct.

My 2018 F53 has Drum-In-Hat (DIH) park/emergency brakes, just like my old 2001 F250, not the driveshaft-mounted version that you're referencing.I was just under there over the weekend installing a track bar and noted the difference and thought it curious at the time.

Checking the 2018 (and for the '16 and '17 MY) Ford Service Workshop manual (and several years prior), it has maintenance procedures for both varieties. The 2015 manual has only the driveshaft-mounted procedures. My assumption is that either both were used or a transition was taking place throughout that period.

I had to have my 2018 ACE 30.3 towed last year. While the tow truck driver was setting up we discussed me setting the parking brake. He then told me that the parking brake would do no good once the drive shaft was removed because the parking brake was on the tail shaft of the transmission. Then when he got under to remove the drive shaft in preparation for towing, he retracted that statement. Apparently, we cannot make a blanket assumption that all F53 chassis have a drive shaft parking brake.