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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Recommendations for books on Motor Home systems
Post Info TOPIC: Recommendations for books on Motor Home systems
Rollindowntheroad


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Recommendations for books on Motor Home systems
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Can any one suggest book(s) that I can buy and study/learn about the various systems on Motor homes? Electrical, AC/heat, Appliances, etc., etc., etc. I am not very mechanically inclined so would like to learn as much as I can.

I am planning on full timing in a Class A - used gas motor home when I retire.

Also, do rv's (specifically Motor Homes) have as many problems as I see on these types of forums? Or are these forums just a concentrated area where people come with issues to find answers to? I am hoping that the latter is what it is. I know that with RV's there are going to be issues, just as you would have in a S&B.

Thanks for your help! 



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LARRY
RonC


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First let me say that I'm not an expert ... particularly on MH's ... but a good place to start learning regarding just about anything, is google. There are likely YouTube videos on "how to" just about everything you can think of. The best part ... it's all free.

Good Luck!

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Bill and Linda


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Larry:

This is a generic answer to both motor homes and 5th wheels and is my opinion.

All RVs - regardless of make, model, type or age (including new) have problems.  You will have problems.  How many, who knows?

As I oft say when helping people, and to steel a phrase - "Every time an RV is moved it goes through a level 7+ earthquake."  They are NOT houses.  They are nothing like a house. All things considered they have lots more issues then houses.  "Ask me how I know this;" I own both.

That said, and I hope many would agree, once you get them fixed, and one better be able to do some of the work yourself, they tend to "settle down" and become, somewhat, "reliable."  Reliable is a relative term in this case.  But few have a fully trouble free RV. They, regardless of price, do not have systems that are trouble free nor were they designed to be trouble free, IMO.  Some systems are marginal at best.

That does not mean one should not pursue the RV lifestyle.  We love it.  But that means one should go into it with realistic expectations.

This forum is an excellent place to learn.  Friendly people who like to help.

Welcome.

Bill

 



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Barbaraok


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There are many owners groups (iRV2 has several) and they are your best source of information. That would be a great starting point. So when you narrow it down to a couple of manufacturers and specific models, find an owners group and ask general question like: what are the known problems with year xxx model yyy?

Remember that when everything is going fine, people don't post "we haven't had a problem, things are ok". So you see MORE problems as people ask questions/rant/cry/shout about those problems.

On any motorhome, the appliances will all have separate manuals and they are generally the same no matter what brand (like Atwood or Suburban for water heaters). Chassis specific questions are where the owners groups are invaluable.

Barb


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Terry and Jo


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Just a thought on obtaining information by watching YouTube videos.  One still wants to be cautious.

We had a gentleman work on one of our old vehicles here at the retreat center where we are volunteering and he used YouTube to research the problem.  The trouble with that is that he did something recommended on one of the videos that ended up causing us problems later.  What he did was pull back the coil wire to the distributor to check for firing and to "create a hotter spark" to help the vehicle start.  That action actually damaged the distributor cap and other elements that cost the center a few hundred extra dollars.

Needless to say, that gentleman doesn't work on our vehicles anymore.

Terry



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LarryW21


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I agree with Ron....internet.

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