Towable Battery Assistance
I read the “CR-V Battery Problems” letter that appeared in the August 2011 “Tech Talk” column in which Bill Shaw wrote about the battery drain issues he was having. I’d like to share some information that I think could help people who are experiencing similar battery problems. I bought a Clore Automotive (www.cloreautomative.com) jump-start box (JNC660) with a 12-volt-DC accessory outlet to plug my Roadmaster Even Brake into when towing. I set it on the floorboard by the Even Brake, and it completely eliminates any drain on the towed vehicle’s battery. When we get to our destination, I charge up the unit with any 120-volt-AC outlet and it is ready for the next trip.
Glen Anderson, F267905
Mechanicsville, Virginia
PSI Info
I had my Tiffin Allegro Open Road weighed by a local mechanic who recommended following the Michelin RV tire chart: front tires at 95 psi each and the rear dual tires at 80 psi each. When I took my coach to a Tiffin-authorized service center, the mechanic recommended following the manufacturer’s plate inside the motorhome, which recommends that the front tires be inflated to 105 psi each and the rear dual tires to 95 psi each. Which recommendation should I follow?
Phil Burdick, F417611
Redlands, California
If you double-checked the local mechanic’s recommendation against Michelin’s weight chart and it was correct, I suggest you follow those tire pressure recommendations. The original Tiffin tire pressure recommendation may not have taken your motorhome’s actual traveling weight into consideration. The psi recommendation on your motorhome’s vehicle weight plate is based on each axle being loaded to the maximum gross axle weight rating. A motorhome that weighs less requires less pressure in the tires.
Clean Tires
I have read so many articles about keeping your tires clean to extend life. It’s often stated that it’s important to keep moisture, dirt, and grime off the tires. Okay, on rear duals, how do you clean all four sides of both tires? Even on the front tires, who climbs under and brushes and washes the insides of the front tires? Let’s face it: if there is dirt on the outside of both front and rear tires, it will cut down on sun rays on the rubber. Can you provide more specifics on why keeping the tires clean is important?
Gary Lewis, F340150
Brooklyn, Wisconsin
I’ve attended many tire seminars over the years, and one of the recommendations stated by tire manufacturer reps on how to extend the life of the tires is to keep them clean using only soap and water. The reason for this, according to information from both Michelin and Goodyear, is that cleaning the tires removes road oil that can cause the rubber to deteriorate, along with the dirt buildup that can hold the contaminants next to the tire.
As for cleaning the insides of your tires or between the duals, I don’t really think you need to crawl under the motorhome and scrub the tires. Use a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle to wash off the dirt on the inside sidewalls and/or between the dual rear tires. Do not use a pressure-washer, as the excessive water force could damage the tires.
Tire Valve Extensions
I want to put tire valve extenders on my 2007 26-foot Born Free motorhome that’s equipped with dual rear wheels. Is there a special way to do it, or should I leave it to the tire pros? What problems have you seen in the past?
Bob Oliver, F413604
Surry, Virginia
You can do it yourself. Simply stop by an RV supply store and pick up a dual tire valve extender kit. Make sure you use metal extenders and not rubber ones. Follow the instructions on the kit’s package and you’ll do fine.
Glass Mat Batteries
I have a 2006 motorhome that came with absorbed glass mat (AGM) house batteries. First, what life expectancy should I expect from an AGM compared to a regular deep-cycle battery? Second, is it better to keep the AGM batteries fully charged (via a battery charger, solar charging) or allow them to run down and recharge?
Les Ewer, F380840
Cal-Nev-Ari, Nevada
An AGM is still a lead-acid battery, and the longevity will be proportional to the way it is used. Repeated deep discharges will shorten its life. For longer lifer, never discharge the battery more than 50 percent. As for keeping the batteries charged, use a three-stage charging system and float the charge at around 13.3 volts. My AGM batteries were 6 years old this past March and are still very strong. I seldom discharge below 12.2 volts, and I leave them on charge when we are not traveling.
No Backing
I own a 1997 36-foot Dolphin on a Chevrolet chassis with the auto park brake. After I had the motorhome for a few months, I was having trouble backing up after we were on the road for a while. I tried everything I could think of to get it to go into reverse. I finally took it to a transmission shop where they dropped the transmission, put it on a bench, and took it completely apart. They found that in the rear servo where the shoe drops on the drum to allow the motorhome to back up, there are two springs (one inside the other). The springs are supposed to wind in opposite directions, but the springs in my transmission were wound in the same direction. When the springs got hot while traveling, the inside spring would expand and intertwine with the outside spring. This prevented the shoe from dropping onto the rear servo, thus keeping the motorhome from backing up. But when the springs cooled, the inside spring would contract and drop the shoe. After the springs were changed, I had no more trouble. I hope this information can help others who may be experiencing the same problem.
Walter Terry, F187061
Union City, California
Thank you for sharing this information.
Remco Offers LP-FORD Lube Pump
Remco has made available the LP-FORD Lube Pump for all Ford vehicles equipped with the 6F35 six-speed automatic transmission. This transmission is used primarily on 2009 through 2011 model-year Ford Escape and Fusion and Mercury Mariner vehicles.
While Remco acknowledges that Ford has approved vehicles equipped with the 6F35 transmission as towable four wheels down, there are towing restrictions indicated in the “towing section” of the vehicle owners manual for these vehicles.
The LP-FORD kit will allow vehicles equipped with the 6F35 transmission to be towed without any restrictions. According to Remco, the LP-FORD Lube Pump has been tested and meets all of Ford’s manufacturer specifications.
For more information, contact Remco at (800) 228-2481 or Ford Customer Service.
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