Jerry's Hurricane mods

[halfprice]

Originally Posted by Classictint

Those plates look pretty. My friend has a Fab shop I know he could make them for me

Have him follow these specs but use 4" plates overlap 1/2 on each plate. Also i can remove one if mine to use as a template for the holes

Jerry

[Classictint]

Originally Posted by halfprice

Have him follow these specs but use 4" plates overlap 1/2 on each plate. Also i can remove one if mine to use as a template for the holes

JerryAttachment 5687

That's awesome ! I saved the pic Your such a good guy let me know if I can help you out with some 3M film for your rig I'd love to return the love (material cost only)

Here's a link to my guys doing work on a new BMW M3
https://youtu.be/8JoxhEygULA

https://youtu.be/UibI75SBbZs

[SuperD]

Originally Posted by halfprice

I would suggest making the plates for the chf. Safe t plus will be a bitch to install on 29m because it sits low to the ground. Will need ramps to drive up on or use the leveling jacks. Just not a lot of room to work under there but it can be done in a couple hours.

Jerry

Attachment 5686

I like the plates Jerry has but had no way to make them but here is an alternative, they are the same diameter but 14" long. Easy swap, just press the bushings out of your old links, press in to the new ones and install.
Here is the link: https://skyjacker.com/shop/sway-bar-link/sbe507/

[SuperD]

Originally Posted by Classictint

It's a 1965 11 window walk thru all original

Attachment 5685

That is just to cool!!! I had a camper van, 76 model I bought for $2200 from a guy who owed the IRS a butt load of money and was having to move, I had cash and he was in a hurry. The picture isn't mine but it's identical to the one I had. Took a lot of fun trips, bunch of us would load up and drive about 5 hours from Oklahoma to St Louis to watch the Cardinals play. Kinda wish I still had my bus!

[SuperD]

Originally Posted by Classictint

I'm falling behind on the mods .. Too busy at the Tint shop

I'd like to add sun blocking film to my front side windows, coming back from Galveston the west sun was getting hot on my arm! I don't want any tint if possible, just heat blocking. What type of film would you recommend for the side windows and can I get it wide enough to cover in one piece on each window section? I have a 29M like you and Jerry except mine is a Windsport. None of the tint shops in my area want to work on a motorhome. Thanks!!!

[Classictint]

Originally Posted by SuperD

I'd like to add sun blocking film to my front side windows, coming back from Galveston the west sun was getting hot on my arm! I don't want any tint if possible, just heat blocking. What type of film would you recommend for the side windows and can I get it wide enough to cover in one piece on each window section? I have a 29M like you and Jerry except mine is a Windsport. None of the tint shops in my area want to work on a motorhome. Thanks!!!

I would recommend 3M Crystalline (pricey) or a good Ceramic ( high heat rejecting) film
Good brands are Suntek,Llumar or 3M

[SuperD]

Originally Posted by Classictint

I would recommend 3M Crystalline (pricey) or a good Ceramic ( high heat rejecting) film
Good brands are Suntek,Llumar or 3M

Thank you for your recommendation!!! I was thinking 3M, that's what is on my Yukon windows and it works great. Will try to find online.

[SuperD]

"If mama ain't happy, nobody's happy!"
I originally installed these sliding window locks, Myra didn't like them, said it was to hard for her to tighten and loosen the little wing nut.


Thinking cap back on. Went to Lowes, again, and bought a couple of stainless steel S hooks. Added some red electrical tape for visibility, the extra tape around the bottom is to keep it from rattling. I drilled a 3/16" hole in the fixed frame and elongated it slightly by tilting the drill back to front, makes it easier to insert the hook, cleaned up the hole with a deburring tool.





Easy on and off, blocks the sliding window from moving more than a 1/4". Mama is happy now!

[DocMike]

Super D...

I like the window locks! Looks like another project!

Thanks.

Doc

[Oneilkeys]

Originally Posted by DocMike

Super D...

I like the window locks! Looks like another project!

Thanks.

Doc

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f27...lock-8070.html

See above thread #1-4 for a similar approach.

[jtroop]

Well, I just completed the CHF on the front. It has been raining all day in the thumb, got tired of waiting on the rain to stop and slid my large frame under the rig....tight fit! Took me about 45 mikes as the driver side bolt was hitting the leaf spring. Using a bottle jack I was able to get the bolt in the chf hole. The rods are only at about a 110 degree angle now, so should be good.

I will probably do the back one day this week after the rain stops. We are leaving Monday on a trip to Florida. I am betting she handles a lot better now. Did anyone get a harsher ride after doing this?

[jtroop]

Originally Posted by halfprice

Ok got up early to beat the heat. Its Sumo Spring install day. Only installed the front and it took about 1 1/2 hours which included clean up.

I started at 830 removing the old bumper stops. Real work started when Dave, Sundance, arrived to supervise at 900. I then raised the front end with the leveling jacks. Installed the drivers side first. Pretty easy job but i credit my supervisor. Drilling took a bit but i used old drill bits. I bought a new 7/16 which the instruction called for but to use it would mean to lower the axle. I left the axle raised and use the bracket as s guide. 3/8 bit worked great and the top bolt went on with no problem.

Started on the passenger side. Got the sumo bolted to the leaf spring. At this time my buddy, Jaime that owns the fleetwood that i helped install his safe t plus and rear track bar shows up. I drill the upper bracket hole. This side is harder to bolt on. The bolt goes in no problem but There is anothet bracket blocking the inside if of the sumo bolt so it was hard to attach the nut. Supervisor gets involved and we lose the nut for a few minutes. Jaime finds it and he bolts it down.

Jaime was happy to contribute. I was hoping Dave and i would be done before he showed up. On well we were close to finishing.

As usual Dave goes home sfter the job is done. He never lets me buy him lunch after working.

Jaime and i do a test run eat.

We did a little city driving and went in and out of several parking lots. Definately makes a difference in driveways. No more rocking.

Some time next week ill try to take it on the freeway to see if i can feel the semi as they get next to me. If i cant do it next week it will be in a few minth when dictor says im clear to drive after my surgery.

Enough typing geres a couple pics.

Jerry



Attachment 5675Attachment 5676Attachment 5677Attachment 5678Attachment 5679Attachment 5680

Nice! After I do the rear CHF, if I am not satisfied with the ride I'm going to do the sumos and Safe T plus next.

[thutchis]

I didn't notice a "harsher ride" after doing the CHF on back and front. The MH still rides like a big, heavily loaded, single rear axle Ford truck. But the swaying side to side is much better. Well worth the time and effort.

The CHF and a Safe-T Stablizer together made the MH a lot more pleasant to drive. I don't feel like I have been herding cats all day after a long drive.

Originally Posted by jtroop

I am betting she handles a lot better now. Did anyone get a harsher ride after doing this?

[halfprice]

Originally Posted by jtroop

Nice! After I do the rear CHF, if I am not satisfied with the ride I'm going to do the sumos and Safe T plus next.

Heres the order i would go for suspension upgrades
1. Chf front and rear
2. Safe t plus
3. Rear track bar
4. Front sumo

I dont really know how the coach drove without the safe t plus because it was installed before i picked it up. The test drive was the first time driving a mh so i couldnt really tell if it was good or bad.

I saw the best ride improvement with the rear track bar. BIG improvement. It will be interesting to see what the sumos do when driving on the freeway. Time will tell if it was worth the $450.

Jerry

[David1912]

Arrived Elkhart to pick up our 2018 ACE 29.3...coach is in the shop now for chf, safety plus, rear trac bar and alignment prior to delivery.....hmmm, good news but also I will have no before/after comparison.....I'll report back after we get on the road for any length of time in the coming 10days...oh, and the mechanic re-greased the bushings....thanks to Jerry and ithers for recommendations!

Now, need to decide if I add another battery..there is space for 3 in my batt compartment...hmm, anither to match the ones coming with the coach, 3 new 100 ah AGMs or two, flooded 6v golf carts? Hmmm.

[halfprice]

Originally Posted by David1912

Arrived Elkhart to pick up our 2018 ACE 29.3...coach is in the shop now for chf, safety plus, rear trac bar and alignment prior to delivery.....hmmm, good news but also I will have no before/after comparison.....I'll report back after we get on the road for any length of time in the coming 10days...oh, and the mechanic re-greased the bushings....thanks to Jerry and ithers for recommendations!

Now, need to decide if I add another battery..there is space for 3 in my batt compartment...hmm, anither to match the ones coming with the coach, 3 new 100 ah AGMs or two, flooded 6v golf carts? Hmmm.

I say use tge battetied you have until they die. If you okan to do a lit if dty camping get 2- 6volt

[halfprice]

Sorry last post was messed up.

If you plan to dry camp get the 6v

[David1912]

Hmmm, will probably dry camp 10-20% of the time....must admit this solar system thing is going to be a bit of a toy and experiment.....maybe I just add a third el cheapo standard battery to the two I get for now...kick the can down the road..

[halfprice]

Id stick with the two stock batteries. See how the solar works out. You can also charge your batteries when using the generator.
I dry camp a couple weeks a year. The generator charges fine and i dont have solar.


You maybe worrying about a problem you dont have. Use the coach and make adjustments/purchases as needed.

Jerry

[jtroop]

Well, today I did an unexpected mod. I ran down to Sam's Club to fill up the rig for our upcoming trip. Drove back home and parked in the center of the driveway to wash the rig with Meguiars Ultimate. I stepped out of the rig and.....BOOM!! The steps came crashing down onto the driveway. All four nuts came loose. I was only able to find 3 of the nuts and their washers on the driveway. Now these are lock nuts, the fact that it appears all of them ( or at least three, maybe there never was a fourth) came off at the same time is odd.

I went down to the hardware store and bought another lock nut and 4 lock washers. Using a bottle jack, I was able to position the step up to their corresponding lag bolts and torque all four nuts. I do not anticipate these nuts loosening up again, but will check them periodically. I'm not sure, but it appears Thor did not have the nuts very tight and may have left off the fourth nut. I'd advise all to check the nuts holding your steps up periodically.