Yes, another new guy

[KKV]

A neighbor of mine owns five RV dealerships in the Midwest. He told me business was up 300% since Covid and he’s a little conflicted over it. He’s a good man.

Aside from that we just closed on a 2017 30.2. We have 7, 8 and 10-year-olds so the bunkhouse works great.

We’ve gotten to know the black tank. We got to know all about clogs. My wife and I dug deep on the parking maneuvers to keep our grace intact. Our first night away I actually had a dream that one of the kids had stuffed a pool noodle into the bowl. Yes, we are all in. Mind, body and spirit!

Here’s my help list. Maybe one of you has all the answers. Maybe a few of you have some of the answers. I’m pretty sure there are answers:

1. Has anybody upgraded the general suspension of the unit? I wasn’t expecting Lexus handling but I don’t wanna drive a sponge either. Can anybody offer direction on springs or budget friendly upgrades you’ve done to take some float out of the boat?

2. While intimate, I have to ask: Are these relatively frequent toilet clogs normal? I understand there is 30 inches of radiused 45° PVC involved, but we’ve had a few “no drain moments” that were unsettling. The auger is our friend, but is this regular? (Pardon the pun)

3. Climate control enroute: What is the lesser sin? Running the generator simply so these first world kids can have cool air or run the chassis climate control and make everyone suffer? MPG or generator hours?

4. Our unit has a big single left side slide out. I really don’t wanna make it angry. I can appreciate over application of lubricant will actually draw in debris so can anyone smarter than me (and that’s easy) advise the service protocol for the slides?

I have 13 more questions but maybe another episode as part of the series.

Thanks in advance for any counsel you offer.

Peace.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by KKV

A neighbor of mine owns five RV dealerships in the Midwest. He told me business was up 300% since Covid and he’s a little conflicted over it. He’s a good man.

Aside from that we just closed on a 2017 30.2. We have 7, 8 and 10-year-olds so the bunkhouse works great.

We’ve gotten to know the black tank. We got to know all about clogs. My wife and I dug deep on the parking maneuvers to keep our grace intact. Our first night away I actually had a dream that one of the kids had stuffed a pool noodle into the bowl. Yes, we are all in. Mind, body and spirit!

Here’s my help list. Maybe one of you has all the answers. Maybe a few of you have some of the answers. I’m pretty sure there are answers:

1. Has anybody upgraded the general suspension of the unit? I wasn’t expecting Lexus handling but I don’t wanna drive a sponge either. Can anybody offer direction on springs or budget friendly upgrades you’ve done to take some float out of the boat?
Sumo Maxim springs, rear track bar is all my coach needed.


2. While intimate, I have to ask: Are these relatively frequent toilet clogs normal? I understand there is 30 inches of radiused 45° PVC involved, but we’ve had a few “no drain moments” that were unsettling. The auger is our friend, but is this regular? (Pardon the pun)

If the toilet is on the right side (passenger's side) and there is not enough water used in forms a POP due to the shallow depth of the tank under the toilet. There is no problem is the toilet is on the left (driver's side of the coach).

3. Climate control enroute: What is the lesser sin? Running the generator simply so these first world kids can have cool air or run the chassis climate control and make everyone suffer? MPG or generator hours?

I run the front A/C and dash air anytime the ambient is above 80 degrees. Generator uses 1/2 gallon an hour or about 7% of what the engine uses


4. Our unit has a big single left side slide out. I really don’t wanna make it angry. I can appreciate over application of lubricant will actually draw in debris so can anyone smarter than me (and that’s easy) advise the service protocol for the slides? Once upon a time Lippert recommended a CRC dry lubricant containing PTFE. When owners began using sticky substitutes, Lippert changed to no lubricant is better that the wrong ones. You are lubrication the slide's guides and the roller just below the guides; not the motors or the metal tracks

I have 13 more questions but maybe another episode as part of the series.

Thanks in advance for any counsel you offer.

Peace.

Keep on asking, we have lots of answers. Some might even be correct.

[paulwadley]

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the purchase. We are here to help you out so ask away. There is a lot of expertise on this forum and many have been there and can lend a helping hand.

Paul
Good Sam Member, Thousand Trails Member, Sumo Springs and The Equalizer Hydraulic Level System.

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to our campfire! Have your kids go cut some marshmallow sticks; and we can all swap some stories.

About the clogs: LOTS of water is your best friend!

[coachray]

Welcome to the forum. My only answers are that we are retired and travel by ourselves so we just use the chassis ac: As for toilet clogs, so far we have not had one: I don't need any mods as far as handling goes, but if you do a search there have been discussions on the topics in the past.

[lwmcguire]

Welcome and add 5 gallons or so of water after flushing and certainly add a little water each use thereafter when flushing

[KKV]

Thanks for the feedback. Good stuff.

[KKV]

Originally Posted by Beau388

Keep on asking, we have lots of answers. Some might even be correct.

Thanks much!

[rudyhehn]

Welcome to the forum. We've found it helpful and fun.
Suspension- My rig is different so not helpful on that one.
Toilet - We avoid the clog issue by holding it for the entire trip and not going #2. Just kidding. If you have the typical RV toilet the key is to add water to the bowl before using it. Partially depress the foot pedal till a quart or so of water is in the bowl, do your thing, then flush for 5-6 seconds. That should work. If you are still getting clogs you may have a poorly fitted drain connection. If you or a friend have an endoscope attachment for your phone you can snake it down and check. They are not expensive, around $25.
AC - If its really hot your generator uses about 1/2 gallon for 1 hour of run time. Even with wear and tear on the gennie its $2 per hour. That's worth it to us. We agree with Beau388
Slide - We had ours repaired at the Lippert center in Goshen. As noted above they recommend no lubricant on the slide gear track or motors. On the under slide rollers is OK.
Intimate Questions - No problem, we've all been there.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by KKV

1. Has anybody upgraded the general suspension of the unit? I wasn’t expecting Lexus handling but I don’t wanna drive a sponge either. Can anybody offer direction on springs or budget friendly upgrades you’ve done to take some float out of the boat?
Google CHF (Cheap Handling Fix) and get a steering stabilizer. Check your tire air pressure and front end alignment.


2. While intimate, I have to ask: Are these relatively frequent toilet clogs normal? I understand there is 30 inches of radiused 45° PVC involved, but we’ve had a few “no drain moments” that were unsettling. The auger is our friend, but is this regular? (Pardon the pun)
This is a common problem when the toilet is on the curb side of the RV. As others have said - use lotsa water.

3. Climate control enroute: What is the lesser sin? Running the generator simply so these first world kids can have cool air or run the chassis climate control and make everyone suffer? MPG or generator hours?
Many people use the generator and house A/C to keep the box cool when traveling in the heat. One of the main uses for your generator. Use it and don't seat it (pun intended).

4. Our unit has a big single left side slide out. I really don’t wanna make it angry. I can appreciate over application of lubricant will actually draw in debris so can anyone smarter than me (and that’s easy) advise the service protocol for the slides?
I use the previously recommended by Lippert lubricants on my big wall slide. I also lubricate the rollers the slide sits on frequently which seems to help the most.

I have 13 more questions but maybe another episode as part of the series.

Thanks in advance for any counsel you offer.

Peace.

Many more answers available. You just need to sort through them when you ask.