Vol. 5 # 1 - Tiffin Motorhomes

S e r i o u s T e c h T a l kseverely reduce your cargo carry capacity by increasingyour fuel tank size by 50 gallons. Thefront axle carrying capacity on the Allegro Busis over 2,000 pounds more than the Phaeton.Swapping a 150-gallon for a 100-gallon tankwould be impossible given the configuration ofother infrastructure. Adding an auxiliary tank isnot recommended.I purchased a new 35-ft 1998 Allegro Bus withone slide. I am concerned that the slide-outmight get stuck in the extended or retracted position.Can you tell me how to get to that motorif I need to fix or disconnect it?Bill GuertinFt. Lauderdale, FloridaDear Bill,The slide-out motor is located underneath the slideoutbox in the storage compartment. The manualwill show you how to disengage the motor andmove the slide-out in or out with a socket wrench.I read with interest the question from Pete Mowryregarding an electrical problem with his 2006 AllegroBay. I have the same problem with my 2007Allegro 30DA. It has been to Red Bay, a dealershiptwice, and the glitch is not resolved. Currently,the backup camera, slides, jacks, and power windowwork intermittently. I have not replaced thesolenoid you mentioned. Where is it located? Isthis a production or a design problem?W. R. (Bud) JenkinsCottonwood, ArizonaDear Bud,The unit that failed is an ignition solenoid thatbecomes hot when you turn on the ignitionswitch. It is located behind a black plastic shieldin the passenger’s side storage box near theconverter. It is a White-Rogers 12-volt, 3-postsolenoid, Tiffin part number 7860. This is not aproduction or a design problem. Solenoids burnout with extended use.While traveling the highways and by-ways of thewestern coastal states in our 2003 Allegro Bus,we often run into somewhat deplorable roadconditions. Our 27-inch television over the dashoften vibrates to the point that I am surprisedit still works when we arrive at our destination.Do you have any way to reduce the vibration andsolve this problem before the TV lands in ourlaps? Thank you for all of the good informationin your column.Bob YatesNapa, CaliforniaDear Bob,There are support brackets that go up to the roofand to the front cap. You will have to remove thetelevision to check the brackets. If they are properlyanchored, you should eliminate the vibrationproblem. The TV is heavy, so it may be advisableto have the work done at a service center.I have a 1989 Allegro M31. As others have noted,I too only get 5 mpg, regardless of whether myspeed is 50 or 65. The problem I have is when thelights are on and I turn on the dash lights: thetemperature gauge and the fuel gauge go to fullhot and less than half a tank respectively. I tookit to a dealer who was unable to fix it. Any ideas asto what is causing the two gauges to misregister?Billy J. Coley, Sr.Loxley, AlabamaDear Billy,It will be in the grounding system. If you cango to the back of the gauges and install a betterground wire which would be connected directlyfrom the instrument to a piece of the sheet metalor one of the structural members, I think youwill solve your problem.I have a 2004 Phaeton. When we get home inApril after spending the winter in Texas, I putour motorhome in our shed for three months orso. Is it best to plug into a 110-volt outlet to keepthe batteries charged? Or should I switch off thetwo coach batteries and the six chassis batterieswith the two red switches? Should I turn off the12-volt switch at the entry door? What is the purposeof the battery shut-offs? Would all memoryin the Phaeton’s computer be lost if I shut off thechassis batteries? Thanks for your help.Donald KlevenMarshall, WisconsinDear Donald,It is best to turn off the red disconnect switchesfor long-term storage. This will assure there willbe no drain on the batteries. This will disconnectthe house and chassis batteries, but your computershould retain its memory. If you decide to leavethe 110-volt line connected, be sure to check thebattery fluids every three to four weeks to preventit from evaporating the water and ruining them.I own a 2007 Allegro Bus with the Atwood levelingsystem. How should the Bus be stored? Should Iengage the leveling system to take the weight offof the tires and the air suspension bags?Charles R. ParrishKingwood, TexasDear Charles,I feel this is the best way to store your Bus. Itrelieves the pressure on the sidewalls.Jim and Kathy Beedle wrote to you in the Fall2007 issue regarding a problem with the hotwater pressure in their 2005 Allegro Bay andyou indicated that it was probably a broken ordirty check valve. We have a 2005 Phaeton. In ourcoach, the hot water pressure is fine, but the coldwater pressure is very weak. Is there also a checkvalve for the cold water?Jim and Janet ThomasSublimity, OregonDear Jim and Janet,There is a check valve in the cold water line. Thatparticular check valve is located where you hookin your water hose and another one is located inthe water pump. If it is this valve, then both yourhot and cold water will have low pressure. If it isnot the valve, then you probably have debris inthe line which requires a trial and error routineto track it down. That is probably a job for yourdealer or the Tiffin Service Center in Red Bay.Does the engine-driven alternator in my 2003Allegro Bay charge my two 6-volt batteries as wellas the 12-volt batteries used for cranking? WhenI am plugged into shore power, which batteriesare getting charged?Frank WoythalAndover, New YorkDear Frank,Yes, the alternator charges both the 6- and 12-voltbatteries. When you are plugged into shore power,only the house batteries are being recharged.Correct addressesIf you are receiving more than onecopy of Roughing It Smoothly, please callus toll-free at 877-538-7467 or emailfredthompson1941@hotmail.com.Three ways to change your address:(1) Use the USPS standard change ofaddress postcard. (2) Email us andput “RIS address change” in the subjectline. (3) Call our toll-free numberand select option 4. Speak slowlyand clearly stating your old addressfirst and then your new one.Dear Danny,You published a letter from Alice Lowrimore ofArlington, Texas, about the ceiling marks in her1995 Allegro Bus. We own a 1995 Allegro Bayand had the same problem. It can easily be takencare of by using a 50–50 mix of bleach and waterin a spray bottle. Although it is a temporary fix,it requires no scrubbing and looks good after theapplication. First, make a test for color fastnessin a spot like the closet.We love our Allegro Bay. Just can’t seem to findenough time to spend in it. It is just so homey.Neal WestMichigan City, IndianaDear Neal,Thank you very much for your practical solution.I have enjoyed all of your columns in RoughingIt Smoothly. Since we had to sell our Allegro dueto illness, we would like to cancel receiving themagazine. It is a super magazine, but I am sure itis expensive to print and mail it.John TroxelRockledge, FloridaDear John,Sorry to hear about your illness. We will be gladto continue sending you the magazine. Just let usknow. Thanks for your patronage.Reader ResponseI was dismayed by your cavalier answer to thequestion regarding malfunctioning parkingbrakes (RIS, 4:4). “Purchase chock blocks,” yousay. This is an unsatisfactory solution to a serioussafety issue. . . .The Auto-Park brake on the Chevy chassis. . . has caused us untold grief and expense inthe seven years we have owned our Allegro Bus.Three different Chevrolet dealers were unable toproperly adjust the brake when the coach wasunder chassis warranty. The fix would last aboutthree days of travel before the brake would onceagain fail to hold. We rarely leave the coach withoutchocking the wheels.A Cummins service center rebuilt the brake ata cost of $1,500, an expense we should not havehad to incur since the brake never worked properlyfrom the beginning and while under warranty.Once Cummins rebuilt the brake, it held verywell. Then the Auto-Park rendered the coachcompletely immobile when an electrical problemprevented it from releasing. The coach had to betowed 50 miles to Cummins for yet another repair.A brake design that disables the coach completelyin the absence of electrical current is asasinine as they come.Now that the Cummins rebuild has been inuse for a few hundred miles, the coach is startingto creep again when parked on an incline. Now itis back to the chocks.Michael LeButtCheboygan, MichiganDear Michael,Chevy, Ford, and Workhorse used this brakingsystem for several years on a number of chassisthat were selected by many of the leading motorhomemanufacturers. Unfortunately, we wereone of those manufacturers. Mr. Tiffin has struggledmany times with problems on the chassiswe have used over the years. As a direct resultof those problems, Tiffin Motorhomes startedbuilding its own Powerglide chassis earlier thisyear. It is offered right now only on the Bus.I don’t think a single issue of Roughing It Smoothlycomes in that I don’t pick up at least one andusually more helpful ideas.The “News You Can Use” on the HWH jackssystem (RIS, 4:4) was most timely, at least in mycase.We own a 1999 34-ft Allegro Bay which webought used five years ago. About a week ago I didmy usual monthly check of all systems includinglowering and raising my 610 HWH System. Thenext morning I had an early appointment toaddress the Ford cruise control recall issue. Onstarting up and turning on my lights, I noticedthe jacks warning light was “On” (not the buzzer).I made a visual inspection and found all of thejacks retracted. No further problem occurredand I intended to explore the “On” light problemin the next day or two. On a rare occasion whiledriving, we have gotten the warning buzzer. Thefirst time it was quite frightening. But when ithappened again, it was always on a very roughroad and I attributed it to that. Simply hittingthe “On” and “Store” buttons took care of theproblem. But when the light came on this timewhile parked, it was more of a concern.Then in the mail that day was the latest copyof Roughing It Smoothly which told me exactlythe source of the problem. Since we bought themotorhome used from an individual, we did nothave a true “shake down” tour of all systems.I have to admit I had no idea the system hadto remain in the “On” position while retracting,until the warning lights and then the store lightwent off (which it did today in six minutes exactlyas your article said). Well, egg on my face,and as they say, “If it doesn’t work right, read theinstruction manual” — which is clearly stated andemphasizes your point!Many thanks for such a pertinent “put mymind at rest” article.C. C. Laborde, Jr.Lake Charles, LouisianaThe parking brake problem that Bob Stewardbrought to your attention in the Fall 2007 issueis the same problem I have had. This parkingbrake is simply a drum brake on the drive shaft.Here is what I did to correct the problem.Drum brakes are adjustable. (1) Lift the rearwheels off the ground. (2) Put the transmissionin Neutral. (3) Rotate the drive shaft until theaccess port is at 12 o’clock. (4) Remove the portcover. (5) Adjust the drum brake until a veryslight drag occurs. (6) Put the transmission inPark. The brake should now be able to repel anyattempt at turning the drive shaft.In my opinion, to state that a set of wheelchocks are needed is an admission that this is acase of poor engineering. But that is not to saythat a severe incline would not require chocks.I have fought with this miserable situationsince 1998. I even replaced the system with amechanical park brake and needed chocks atthat time. I then reinstalled the original parkingbrake system, made the adjustments listed above,and so far all is working fine.My next motorhome had better have a lockuptransmission or it is NO SALE!Joe TanguayMelbourne, FloridaDear Joe,Thanks for sharing your step-by-step methodwith our readers. We hope this will help Mr. Le-Butt and Mr. Steward solve the same problem ontheir coaches.For your information only. The metal end ofthe engine oil cooler line rubbed on the frameand leaked oil. I spotted this before any seriousdamage occurred. However, it was expensive torepair, about $500. I thought you might tie offmore of these lines. My Allegro has 50,000+ mileson it and this is the first real breakdown. Weenjoy our RV by taking shorter trips and stayinglonger because of the fuel prices.Joe RiceWills Point, Texas50 Roughing It SmoothlySerious Tech Talk 51