Well, today we continued our “fix it trip” to Goshen. We had several items on the list, new slide topper for the living/dining room slide, and landing leg repairs.
The landing legs have been acting up since the first fall Rally. We actually took Tana over to Lippert that weekend, and of course, it would not fail. But, of course!
Since then, it would go for months and we had no trouble, then, we would try to raise Tana for hooking up and click, click, click. Then, it would not happen again for maybe a week, then, click, click, click. Well, you get the idea, it was not a consistent failure.
Well, when we came home from our little 6 day jaunt over to the park with the twins last month, total failure. We barely got unhooked.
So, this trip is to get this problem resolved.
Yesterday Lippert replaced the electric motor and the gear box. Thought it was fixed. Got to the Fairgrounds to spend the night, unhooked, and yep, you guessed it, CLICK CLICK CLICK.
So, back we go to Lippert this AM, EARLY AM, pure misery for ole “I don’t do mornings” Carol.
Anyway, they replaced the electric motor again, actually with a motor that was a bit stronger. They replaced both legs, even tho they did not think it would help. They were right, CLICK CLICK CLICK.
So, Al asked about that sound, what IS that sound, they told Al that it was the clutch slipping, the fuse does NOT blow, the clutch just slips. They even said it did not do any damage for the clutch to slip like that.
They brought out the neatest scales. Put one under the pin (this was not first, but, I am reporting first, it was 3020 pounds, about 30 less than we have had when loaded for the winter.)
They also weighed the weight on the landing legs. This was really quite interesting. The electric motor is rated to lift 5000 pounds. We came in at 4780. There was more weight on the curb side of the rig.
Lippert could not explain to us why we still had the click click click after replacing ALL the parts, on both sides.
Their fix (which made our wallets a lot thinner, sighhhh) was to put another electric motor and gear box on the street side. Yep, two motors, two gear boxes.
AH HA, no more CLICK CLICK CLICK.
We also have TWO buttons to push, they are wired independently of each other. You need to push them both at the same time, UNLESS, you want to level with one leg about 1 to 2 inches different. Yep, they said we could extend one leg about 2 inches, NO MORE, further than the other one, if we got somewhere and the ground is not level. How is that for different??
Lippert said they have done this 2nd electric motor install with heavier units quite a bit.
After all this fussing, spending, and moving parts around, we ran over to Fox RV in Middlebury for the awning. WOW, nice people! We have to say, they can fix ANYTHING there. For those who may be interested, they can and WILL do a total carpet replacement for you, including the slides.
OKKKK, so, you know, we are gonna ask Fox about this 2nd electric motor install. Yep, they do them, on heavier units, but, they have never done one on a Montana. He really could not explain it either, why we needed it, why parts replacement would not work.
So, yesterday Al was handy with his hands, got that concrete out of the duel tires. Today, he was handy with his $$. Sometimes ya gotta pay. Next week new shoes for Tana, she needs tires, more handy with the $$.