Bill
Forum Replies Created
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I’m not sure if this is just for Liberty Coaches but we two ‘auto-start’ choices.
I can set the generator for ‘shore loss’. The minute power is interrupted, the generator comes on and will stay on until the shore power is restored. As I recall, the air units will come back on in both cases (genny or shore).
The other choice is to ‘Arm’ the generator. So, when the batteries reach a certain point, the generator will pop on to recharge. I don’t know if it runs by a set time or if it goes by the rate of charge. (still learning).
Since we have four inverters, each air has it’s own inverter.
Safe travels,
Mark
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
Steve,
The Aqua Hot heater has a engine coolant copper coil wrapped around the outside of the heater coolant tank that is immersed in a heat transfer mastic. The hot coolant in the tank heats the engine coolant in that coil. Either the engine coolant pump or the AH engine preheat pump circulates engine coolant from one end of the engine through the heater coil and back to the other end of the engine. Leave the AH engine preheat pump off unless heating the engine prior to starting in cold conditions.
The main engine heats the AH heater coolant tank going down the road all of the time the main engine is running. The AH preheat pump heats the engine before starting in cold conditions. As shared earlier, the two coolants never mix.
Hope this helps you.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
I might be overlooking a potential source for the problem, but three things that I mentioned earlier stick in my mind, but one has to be first ruled out.
When the AC is engaged I believe the fan does not cycle but is locked “on”. It is important that its operation is verified. The subtle clue is if the fan is not locked on you will see slightly higher temps whereas if it is locked on the temps will be cycling on the engine thermostat. If that can be verified you probably have an issue with the expansion valve. If it is not opening fully or as required the compressor may not generate enough system pressure at high idle, but at highway RPMs it is likely building excessive system pressures due to a restriction or failure to properly operate. I am assuming when the system was opened to replace the expansion valve a new dryer was put in place and the system was vacuumed.
Get a cheap set of gauges, hook them up and put a brick on the gas pedal to get the revs up to 1500, Make sure the inside of the coach is hot by running the Webasto or Aquahot, turn the AC on full and if the high side pressures are over 200 and suction side is low, like 25 or 30 it is likely the expansion valve. I don’t know what the high side pressure switch is set for, but it could also be faulty something your gauges will tell you if pressures are OK and the light comes on.
The reason the fan is my first place to look is because everything can be perfect, the charge, expansion valve etc, and if the condenser isn’t getting adequate air flow you are going to get high pressures. I just cannot imagine the fan cycling instead of locked up as revs increase.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
Steve,
With the Webasto running to heat hot water but the interior of the bus comfortable and the thermostats not calling for heat or even with the thermostats turned off, the interior will not warm up because the fans on the hot fan coils are not running. So no warm air from the registers (maybe a little convetion movement) till the thermostat(s) turns the fans on.
Isolating the engine from the heating loop when sitting saves the diesel needed to heat the big block. But turning the valves to include the engine for two hours should result in a coolant temp in the engine of around 50 degrees F and for 4 hours could get the temp up to nearly 100.
The Webasto takes cold engine coolant from front of engine and returns it to the rear stiring the engine coolant making for a easy start.
Hopes this helps you Sir.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
Tim,
The only times I have used it was when the temps were mid 30’s and below. On really cold nights where it was gong to be below freezing all night, I would leave the engine block heater on, bay heater on and the webasto on.
Not saying this is the right or best, but it’s how I used the heaters before started following proper temps.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
I may regret saying this, but so far an agressive program of maintenance has prevented a lot of problems that could have gotten expensive if they popped up on the road. I will freely admit there is a great deal of luck associated with my experience so far.When I have been lucky I took the lesson to heart because I know the next time luck might not be a factor.
Spending a lot of time inspecting the underside every 5000 miles has resulted in very early detection of things that could have ultimately required roadside service. I know Jeff does that and despite his excessive cost of oil it is the cheapest and most valuable maintenance you can do or have someone with Jeff’s skills do. I have been lucky beyond description. I walked into the garage one morning to hear the house water pump running and a dry water tank. An internal failure caused it to kick on bypassing the pressure switch and fortunately the broken water line was in the bay and not the house. That made me aware how important a back up pump wouild be, as well as showing me a runaway water pump can create enough pressure to blow fittings or lines.
A tire pressure check prior to a trip revealed a tire on the inside dual had a fist size chunk cut out of it, and it failed in the garage, not on the road. Another time a tire was down some pressure and a detailed inspection showed a nail in the sidewall, not the tread on the inside dual.Makes me want a Pressure Pro.
An air bag failed 1 mile from home on our first bus at 10 years of age. That created my 10 year replacement plan. If we were a greated distance away I would have been on the back of a trailer because I also learned the protection valve between the secondary brake tank and the accessory tank had failed so I was able to nurse the coach into our garage despite a pneimatic system that was barely holding air. Now I check their operation. Every problem is a lesson.
My point is do whatever you can to insure mechanical reliability, and if your efforts are successful you have a significant chance you will never need a tow truck or service call. It helps if you have a little luck also.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
Andy,
We use a Kenyon and couldn’t be more pleased. I ran across the brand looking for something for the bus and they seem very popular in the big boat industry. I had never used an electric grill before we purchased the coach and was frankly a charcoal snob. Too many electric grills won’t get hot enough for a good sear. The Kenyon takes care of most of the problems mentioned in this thread. It is smokeless (really), the grate is nonstick, cleans up easily, and no extra fuel source has to be carried in the bus. If smoke is desired wood chips can be used for the flavor. It is available in 110v and 220v. Mine is 220, and will hit a true 500 degrees at the grate very quickly. Mine is built in but the same unit can be purchased as a portable and is easy to handle. Being a Texan I love my meat and smoke and I am intrigued by the Trager comments. I have eaten some great pulled pork shoulder cooked in a pellet grill. Grilling and smoking are not the same in Texas but both are definitely necessities of life. The Kenyon has been a good compromise from a wood or charcoal grill and I have used it just as much like a multi burner cooktop, especially cooking breakfast.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
We are in, see everybody at the Feb. AutoFest
Donald & June
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
I’ve done it at Q T in Adairsville, GA, exit 306 on I-75 because they have a wide apron and you can do one side then swing around and do the other side. It takes some coordination at the fuel desk to understand what your doing and the trucks think you’re nuts, but it can be done.
Or, you can go to Jeff’s and while your buying that cheap oil, just record the numbers off the lifts.:)
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
Jon, $80 is access for me and adds 10GB to the pot.
Video is about 2GB/hr, so a 2 hour movie is 4GB. If your paying $15/GB overage that 2 hour movie is $60.
Yes, Bryan, but there is no contract. What Diane says below is pretty much what I was told, but nothing in writing. Can he hold me to something? I don’t think so, but I want to make sure I don’t end up on the wall like Ben.
At home we had no problem burning through 150GB per month when we had DSL and they metered the usage. Now we have a WISP and it is unlimited so I am sure we are using multiples of that. Bus usage they told me this summer was over 100GB, which doesn’t surprise me at all. The only surprise was how we were suddenly expected to pay extra for it. I appreciate that what you were told jives with what I was told and hope to hear from a few more.
I think they oversold their capabilities. Frank told me today that he had no idea how much data video used and didn’t have time to look it up. Took me 10 seconds to tell him. You’d think he would make it his business to know that and, like I told him, tell someone adding a Roku AND and Apple TV to the bus that they would have to watch their usage. Younger people are moving everything towards streaming. No one buys a CD any more, all music, all video is in the web. Statistically Netflix accounts for 40% of ALL internet traffic. That doesn’t include Hulu, Vudu, HBO Now, etc.
Even with an accounting now, Diane, I don’t like being billed without an understanding before hand and I really don’t like changing terms when it is not advantageous to them. I was told it was “unlimited” and based a very expensive upgrade partly on that fact. Leaving me in the lurch now burns my butt.
I am looking into how I can move my system to my AT&T account. I have a 30GB plan with the same rollover, but would probably have to add more data still.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
Dick, arriving Daytona Tues. Test Wed, qualify Thur and race (2) Fri and Sat (1). Trans-Am finale Sat. Geo.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
I have the one With all the bells and whistles and no problems have had it for 5 years , the cheaper one is also very good too
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
Thank you all.
I got a call from Liberty parts and they offered to send the 4 decals free of charge.
Either somebody talked to them about this or they monitor the forum. Either way, THANK YOU !!
Another thing that will be done over the winter upgrade process…..So good to know that there is help through this forum.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
New England is my backyard so I must put in a good word for visiting. I do not know on which dirt roads Tom and Nancy were driving while passing through New England but I can assure you that most of the major highways and state roads are perfectly fine for travel. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont are beautiful states for a visit with lots of history and lots to see and do. If you are into hiking, that’s your destination. Most times of the year, you can open your windows and keep them open, too. That is BUS windows! You open yours, don’t you?!
I should also mention Massachusetts and Rhode Island since they are part of NE. I do not hesitate to drive around NE and neither should you! Of course, if you prefer to park your a*** in a resort and keep your AC running all day and night, then NE is not for you. To begin with, there are no fancy resorts in NE. Just campgrounds. NE is for those of you who enjoy the outdoors. Hiking, biking, swimming, walking. Ocean or lakes. Lots to do and see.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years. -
I use IOS 91. It’s not there. I think Jon & Tom as administrators have a different view than us normal folk.
2005 XL Thompson Coach
Rarely tow anything behind us.
Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years.