[tom]

Tom, I am forwarding your comments to Joe.

Tom C and I are frustrated to say the least. But as issues arise we will keep pounding away until they get fixed.

[tom]

I fully agree the coach control system or lack of one that Karl mentions is a personal choice. He is correct. He also should read my previous posts about how I feel about pneumatic pocket doors.

Karl however is of the age where he never knew life without a computer. He has likely never rolled up windows in a car. He certainly has never had a TV with knobs for volume and channel selection and no remote. I am of the generation in which nobody ever went out to dinnner with another couple and had the convesation interrupted by a cell phone. His generation will have two couples who will be using their cell phones throughout the meal. In other words we are completely different in our views on electronic devices and their role in our coach.

But I don’t believe any volume motor home converter has built a coach within the last 10 years that did not have Crestron or equivalent, and as Karl points out those that are now 10 years old are reaching obsolescence. My two previous coaches had switches. They worked, they were conveniently located, and 10 years from now or even 30 years from now they will still be working and even if one fails the coach owner will not spend a gazillion dollars upgrading, updating, replacing systems, or trying to find source codes. The owner will go out and buy a switch.

Technology is great, but there are consequences and as a lot of Country Coach owners know a digital dash is nice, but when one pukes Silver leaf is getting a phone call and an ipad will become the dash. At least until the ipad is no longer supported. In the meantime the steam gauges will just keep on working.

[tom]

I am not sure why, when this topic comes up, that we can’t just see that other people’s preferences are their preferences and let it go at that. If Jon likes a myriad of switches everywhere so be it, but I will put out there that the logical extension of his argument is that he should do away with the powered doors entirely as manual doors work just as well, he should do away with remote switches because you can just walk over to the bare bulb and pull a chain to turn on the light, and that you can go back to the original remote control on the TV, i.e. walking over to it and turning a knob.

I love the Crestron system that we just put in and we did it to make it as much as possible like the ones on the new buses. There are a few limitations because of the other hardware in our now decade old coach (sensors are old style or just not part of the system) but it’s pretty much like the new ones. I like that. I like being able to start my generator from anywhere inside or out of the coach and then get a text message that it is accomplished, I like being able to dump my tank or fill fresh without opening a bay, I like being able to switch between two different satellite systems and Sirius radio (with the Sirius guide on the ipad screen) on each of three different entertainment centers while sitting in one spot, and I like the large, clear, video from each of the four cameras that can show on my iPad while I am driving (or not). Andrew, per my instructions, even set it up so that I can have all four show at once for security purposes! So, my preference is for as much automation and consolidation as possible, but that’s my preference. It is as valid as anyone’s.

The Crestron itself is rock solid. The old unit hadn’t failed, but was just unable to do what the new ones do. Since I have purchased every iPhone model except one since inception it was no big deal for me to conceive of upgrading the Crestron brain once in the time I am likely to own the coach. But then, the real magic was Andrew working through my efficient and organized tendencies. I had already had Liberty move many of the buttons in coach so that they were logical and organized, i.e. bottom right switch in a bank opens the door for the room you are in, top right turns on the lights for the room you are in, other switches became banks of lights or actions (open door, galley table slide, etc). I then had Andrew move everything around in the Crestron system so that it at least roughly mirrors those banks of switches and patterns of use have emerged. It is now much easier to find what I want to do and activate without a lot of searching. That lack of organization is an unusual departure from Liberty’s otherwise excellent planning.

So now, rock solid, organized and simple, faster and better looking as well as more functional than before. I would have it no other way.

[tom]

I agree Tom , Jon both coaches I had before this one where great pull doors ,manual blinds , light switches at the lights no crestron , you could control both tv’s with the remote Tom shows and manual dump valves , I really liked those coaches, so since we are always on Tom to get a new coach ,maybe it’s time you got a new coach with all manual stuff ,but you are going to have to trade down no slides and a XL

[tom]

Just wondering why someone would want chrome wiper arms. The risk of the sun reflecting on them would bother me.

Occasionally, the sun will hit the top of the mirror arms and blind me. I have put down the passenger mesh shade to block the blinding glare.

I have also had the sun hit the driver’s mirror arm as well and I’ll just put a piece of paper at the window to block it. I’ve thought about putting black gorilla tape on top of the arm but haven’t yet.

Mark

[tom]

Available at camper supply places. Just need length. they come preloaded and you release tension by pulling pin.The fabric just slips in grove on coach and tube/might have screw or pop rivet to help retain fabric/has plastic expander like rope inside full length. Have our trip delayed but hope to meet you soon.

[tom]

and I like it. The Crestron controller is bulky and too heavy to carry around comfortably, and the one in the bedroom is difficult to access unless you are lying in the bed. I wanted to buy an Ipad for the coach anyway, so we went forward with the project.

The conversion was initially pitched by a service center that did some work on my coach right after I took delivery, and before I had any bus ownership experience. The service center was confident that they could obtain the necessary codes from Marathon and program the system. They provided an estimated cost for the conversion. As it turned out, they were very wrong on both issues. I ended up having to take the coach to Marathon for the programming, which cost me more money and more time.

While I like the converted system, I cannot say I would have proceeded if I knew how much money it was going to cost in the end. By the time the service center figured out that they could not program the system necessitating Marathon’s involvement, I was already committed. I also had to pay Marathon to program for a new TV in the bedroom. If you are thinking about changing any electronics, do it before you get the system programmed.

[tom]

Hi All,

Well, now I know why my entry light was burnt out – it won’t go off!

When end I close the door, the stair hand rail light goes off but the entry light doesn’t. This is with the entry light switch off.

And clicking the entry light switch doesn’t do anything.

If if anyone has any ideas… I’m all ears.

Walt

[tom]

Had the behind the air gauge leak last summer on the road had to watch it all the way to Janesville wi . have truck repair there bought a new fitting air lines to gauge very tiny

[tom]

Andy, my experience with a digital signal is that you either have it or you don’t. If the signal is strong enough to prevent drop-outs, then you have full quality.

We have a wifi hub up and running in the coach and use Logitech Harmony remotes to do wirelessly what a Crestron system does for AV stuff. It certainly simplifies controlling existing components.

We use a Winegard Trav’ler dish for TV and have a receiver/tuner in the bedroom and front salon. To avoid having a third reciever/tuner for the outside TV, we use a powered HDMI splitter to feed the salon output to the bay TV. It has worked flawlessly for the last two years and with the Logitec remote, it is easy to change channels, etc.

Wireless switching, streaming, and controls of all sorts will reduce the need for a Crestron system dramatically. All of the latest “smart home” systems utilize wireless IP controls. Hardwires may be needed to power devices but not control or send the signals to them.

[tom]

I forgot to buy our ticket so it looks like we have to continue to grow our own food and split our own firewood.

I was really looking forward to having my people do that kind of stuff.

[tom]

Tim, ours is right next to the water heaters. by the water pump. curb side.

[tom]

Michael, how much was the starter installed, if you don’t mind sharing. Geo.

[tom]

Tom,

Thanks for the perfect example. Scenario #2 is ideal! I tend to forget that #1 and #3 AC’s are on the inverter. So running #2 & #4 only, when we are leaving for a few days, makes perfect sense in case of a power failure!

Thanks!

[tom]

I got all new LED upper marker lights from a truck place that fit right in the original cut outs. Just used butt splicers to wire them in and good to go.

About 11 to 14 dollars each.

Bill should have them in his inventory, they were from TruckLite company.

Did not see the previous post above but those are the lights, 25250 R and Y.