Update on Fleetwood Motorhome restoration

OK, we have finally been able to squeeze some time in during busy tourist season. We have have a chance to test nearly everything and do some repairs. Heres what we know, please feel free to chime in with any suggestions, since we are avid sailors some stuff like 12 volt and waterproofing has come easy, the rest is kinda greek to us...we still refer to the rear as "aft" and left is port and right is starboard...seems easier to us.

We thought we had all the leaks but after 7 inches of gale force rain monday we had a couple pop up, but wind driven rain is a bugger as our insurance co tells us after every hurricane lol

All 12 volt lighting is now complete and all electrical is working, we are adding an entertainment center and a flip down ceiling mount TV DVD combo with surround sound.

All plumbing is OK....except the waterpump is not working right sometimes, think we will just replace with a marine grade

Good news!! The genny fired right up and only has 74 hours, I was worried about it.

The 454 fires right up, but we still have not replaced the belts can't figure out how to get to them and it has a nasty manifold leak, but otherwise seems strong with 71 k miles

We now have 5 Marine batteries in her and the charger is working great.

The fridge is working great, better than the ones on our boats.

BIG PROBLEM ! the A/C comes on but only the compressor is working, I found a big fan motor in the basement but have not tested it, since we will probably not travel out of Florida, Tammy wants a new one, I want to fix it, they are fairly cheap...but are they hard to remove and install??

The front tires are new or seem fairly new Goodyear radials, the rear are Bridgestone with some minor cracks, not sure what I will do here, have not priced them.

More bad news, the PO told me the reason the brakes felt bad was because of the missing belt, said they were air, my buddy said he thinks I was smoked by the PO, found the brake fluid to be low, a little scared of the cost to make right.

Still no reverse, but most think it is a fairly simple solution, could it be the brakes not allowing it, otherwise she shifted fine after warming up when we drove her home, not trying to repair it here just get everything right before she goes in the shop.

I repaint every boat I restore and am quite good, since the MH is fiberglass should I use a good marine paint? Or what should I use?

Will take some pics manana and post, looks fairly easy. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

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Permalink Reply by Pat Daly on February 6, 2010 at 5:58pm: Hi Larry & Tammy! Just put wifey on the plane to Miami and I'm here shoveling snow. Saw your post and have a few points before our "experts!" chime in too.
A. House water pump. RV pumps are all low pressure and maybe cheaper to buy than something from West Marine.
B. Change oil on the jenny and fire up and put under load AFTER it's warmed up at least once a month, like turn on the airconditioner to put it under load. Clean terminals too.
C. Hoses & Manifold. If you are going to do the work yourself just pop open the front or remove it, take off and tie up hoses and pull the radiator... it probably needs to be rebuilt or flushed anyway. Have someone talk you thru the airconditioning hose before you remove it. This will give you easy access to everything. Drain all fluids, replace all hoses, plug wires, spark plugs and distributor cap while you are at it (doesn't cost much and you'll be good for 50,000 miles. I would also look into a HIGH CAPACITY RACING water pump for your 454 engine. They are notorious for overheating, warping heads and... yep, cracking exhaust manifolds. Don't let this intimidate you. It's just a bunch of wrenching, a gasket kit or two and a torque wrench for the exhause manifolds. Once it's done, it's done and you don't have to worry about overheating. Be sure to replace the RADIATOR CAP with the absolute correct one. It's wayy important on 454's in motorhomes. Also, don't know if you have a low speed fan in front of the radiator, but the brain seems to go out on these just as you are entering heavy friday night traffic when it's 100 degrees. Replace that part too!
(Note: picture of wifey and I at top of good old rv's home page is pic of us doing what i mentioned here in the back of a campground when OUr 454 overheated and cracked the right exhaust manifold. Would have been wayyy better to do it next to the house at home with all my tools handy.)
D. Cracked tires... even a little and/or of unknown age - look for tires on sale and replace them! A blowout in a motorhome is somewhat like loosing your prop shaft 80 miles offshore.
E. Install a real mechanical engine temperature gauge. Costs $20 bucks and could save you from doing this again.
F. Dispose of all fluids, particularly radiator fluid appropriately, of course.
G. Rig a roller furler on the bow... hmmm, nope wrong kinda craft so scratch that comment.

That's all I feel confident in commenting on based on way too much personal experience.

I'll watch to see what the pros say.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kenneth Harlow on February 24, 2010 at 10:00am: Well here is a check list that I try to follow before each trip and I recommend it for anyone buying a used RV:
1. Check the tires, motor belts, hoses, and all other rubber items. 2. check the brakes, lines, and master cylinder. 3. check the fuse panel to see how bad of a birds nest it looks like from people wiring in all sorts of things the wrong way. 4. fill the fresh water holding tank if equiped and monitor for leaks. 5. check the fresh water pump for proper operation. 6. Fill the gray and black water holding tanks and monitor for leaks. 7. Make sure that all level guages for fuel, fresh water, and holding tanks work. 8. Check the propane tank and lines and check for leaks with a gas detector. 9. Check the A/C and heater for proper operation. 10. check the hot water heater for leaks and rusty bottom. 11. check the fridge and stove for gas leaks and proper operation. 12. check thouroughly the toilet for leaks even ifyou have to unbolt it and look under the carpet for sighns of long term leakage thru the wood under the carpet. 13. check the walls and celing next to all vents, windows and doors for discoloration spots and soft spots that push in real easy of which indicates long term leakage. 14. I almost forgot this one of which is to make sure that the transmission will go forward and especially in reverse with no clunking or high RPM's to get it to move and check the fluid level and monitor the mileage for filter change (same for the engine and rear axle). 15. the real big one is to look under the dash and under the chairs and coach seats for rusted springs and mounting bolts of which can be a sign indicating that the RV was involved with a flood. I could go on and on of things to check but I think thesse are the major items that are important. I have been accumulating items from all the RV blogs and hope to be able to publish a free buyers/owners/rebuilders guide that will help all RV'ers.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Larry and Tammy Neese on February 24, 2010 at 7:47pm: Thanks guys, a few more updates: Since all I am good at and trust myself on is the small stuff and 12 volt wiring, the coach is getting pimped out much quicker than the rest. I have installed a in the wall sound system with alarm clock in the bedroom, got it on Ebay and love it. I have replaced all the lighting with new fancy lights I got at a weekend flea market, in fact we got new vwnt lids and lots of things we probably would not have replaced but this RV booth had awesome prices and is just a few islands up the Keys. I removed the pull down bed in the bow and am building an entertainment center there, bought one of those outside radio/cd with speakers and a 110 outlet behind a warerproof door that I am installing where the starboard power outlet is. Anew dash sound system and new speakers aft as well. I will install bamboo flooring as soon as the mechanical work is done. Thats the good stuff, now the expensive stuff.

We pulled the tranny and since we have no reverse and the fluid was burnt we are rebuilding the tranny which is not an Allison as we were told, a GM 400 I think they said, was able to trade a van that was damaged during Hurricane Wilma for much of the labor. As recommended by Pat and Ken we are replaceing everything we can on the 454, and a fancy tranny cooler since we don't leave the islands during winter we expect this will help keep the whole thing cooler when traveling hot mainland roads, Tammy has pimped out the bedroom and bath and is ready for it to be out of her yard where it has sat since I tried to back her up and ran over her prized palms....still not out of the doghouse. Problem, we do not have any tire stores except Sears on Key West, where can I pick up a couple tires without getting.....screwed? was thinking about a trip to the mainland next month maybe Ken knows a discount store in Dade or Broward. Thanks for all your suggestions, we think about them as we slug thru this project......hmmmm I think me likes working on boats better, less mechanical parts. lol; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kenneth Harlow on February 25, 2010 at 10:51am: Hi Larry & Tammy, I replaced all 6 of the tires (mounted and balanced + front end alignment) on my RV last year at Family Tire Distributors 2817 Pembroke Road, Hollywood, FL 33020-5649, (954) 922-8473 for less than $900. They were very reasonably priced and real good quality RV tires. Call them in advance and be sure that they have the size you need in stock. They may have a store closer to you that would shorten your trip. It's quite a haul for you to have to go that far but trying to get them in the keys would be way too expensive. I have a friend in Islamorada and he had them ordered for his Itasca and it ended up costing him $1500 for 6 tires mounted and balanced down there.

I agree working on boats is so much easier. I have 2 of them to keep up with.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Daly on February 25, 2010 at 11:27am: ok, guys what's this port and starboard stuff? Now I guess I'll have to teach wifey to watch the bow and see how I'm doing backing up without a stern camera! They're all fun aren't they!!. Here's my last boat restoration. Never lift up a tarp at a boat yard...took 6 years to finish. Wood is good (if your kinda nuts like me about them)
52 Tancook Whaler from Nova Scotia just was sailed offshore from San Francisco to Mendacino... which, by the way, is GREAT RV country. Bonefishing stinks though!; ▶ Reply to This