Hard-Closing Bay Doors
I have a problem with my 2004 Monaco Knight 38PST. I was having issues with the lower compartment bay doors hitting when they were being closed, so I took the motorhome to a repair shop to look into the problem. I was told that the frame is cracked on both sides, causing the back part of the coach to droop. Have you heard of any other problems of this nature? This is not the broken swing arm problem.
Rick Hall, F337461
Prineville, Oregon
My recommendation would be to contact Monaco Coach Technical Support, Parts and Warranty Assistance, now operated by Allied Recreation Group, at (877) 466-6226 first. You can schedule a factory service appointment at one of the company’s locations, in either Coburg, Oregon, or Decatur, Indiana.
Another option would be to contact Henderson’s Line-Up, Brake & RV Inc. in Grants Pass, Oregon, at (800) 245-8309; or visit www.hendersonslineup.com for more information.
30-Amp Shore Power Monitor
We have a new Tiffin Allegro RED motorhome that has 50-amp electrical service. However, we frequently stay at a facility that has only 30-amp electrical connections, so we must monitor our electrical use to avoid tripping the circuit breaker. Unlike our previous motorhome, this one does not have a meter/indicator that shows the amps being used when connected to a service with less than 50 amps. Is there some type of meter or device that I can add to our motorhome that will measure amps used at any given time? If so, could you offer some information about how such a device would be installed and used?
David Abrecht, F53949D
Los Osos, California
I do not know of any off-the-shelf monitors available for aftermarket installation. In order to read the amperage flow in a wire of alternating current, a pickup coil, known as a current transformer (CT), needs to envelop the wire to send a signal to a matching meter. To accomplish your objective, two CTs would need to be installed, one on each of the two legs of the 50-amp service and wired to two matching meters. This is further complicated if you want to see the amperage supplied by the inverter(s). (Some inverters have this feature built in; some don’t.) This may not be practical. I suggest that you visit the Web site of EKM Metering Inc. (www.EKMMetering.com). They have the parts necessary to make this work, but I would suggest that you have a professional do the job to be sure the CTs are placed correctly and the associated wires are connected properly. The parts could run from as little as $200 to as much as $1,000 depending on the equipment necessary.
You also should make a list of all the appliances drawing from the AC electric coming into the motorhome and add up the amps they require. That way, you know what appliances you can run simultaneously and not have the electrical system overloaded.
Equinox Electric Steering
I just read the “Lexus Lowdown” letter that appeared in the October 2013 issue of Family Motor Coaching (page 19). In the letter, Mr. Maggi describes a situation in which the front wheels on his Lexus oscillate from side to side when the vehicle is being towed. I have the same problem with my 2010 Chevy Equinox with electric power steering. Is this something common with all vehicles that have electric power steering?
Ray Serfass, F317504
Cresco, Pennsylvania
I contacted Chevrolet for more information about your towing problem. Here’s the answer I received from a company representative: “Front-wheel-drive versions of the 2010 Equinox can be dinghy towed at speeds up to 65 mph following the directions starting on page 9-73 in the owners manual. I can’t find anyone here who has heard of the oscillation problem. Most new vehicles have electric power steering, so it doesn’t seem to be inherent to that. One suggestion would be for the customer to call our customer assistance center. They are often able to sort out individual problems.” Contact Chevrolet Customer Service by calling (800) 222-1020 in the United States or (800) 263-3777 inside Canada.
I also had a few other ideas about your problem. As you may know, car manufacturers set the parameters for aligning the front end of their cars. But the parameters have a plus and minus feature built in. In other words, the alignment doesn’t have to be perfect to meet the manufacturers’ specifications. So, while your car’s alignment might meet the specs, it might not be perfect. Perhaps in your situation the alignment must be perfect in order to avoid the oscillation.
My first suggestion is to take the car to an alignment shop and ask them to exceed the car’s basic specifications and make all aspects of the alignment — including a high-speed spin tire balance — as perfect as possible (you may have to pay extra for this). Second, try different tire pressures. Start the test at the maximum tire pressure as listed on the tire’s sidewall, and drop the psi a few pounds at a time to determine whether the oscillation continues. If nothing else, talk with the Chevrolet customer service rep about these possibilities.
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