Long and Dusty Highways

After eight months of living full time in our 2007 Tiffin, we are finding it is needing a little tender loving care.

Since Montana, our tough old Tiffin has been sneezing and wheezing under harder loads, like up steep inclines or getting up to speed. After all the long, dusty highways that we’ve taken it down, the nuclear clouds it has stirred up could choke a horse. We ourselves have had bouts of sneezing, so I can only imagine how the motor feels. It was time to replace the canister air cleaner as it has been over a year since it was last changed.

Two days ago we made time to replace it. I wish I was a contortionist, (or 20 years younger, as my 50’s expire in one more week) as I had to squeeze in the tight space between the front passenger tire, the fender skirt and the engine, all while my bending my arms & hands in awkward positions to remove the attaching bolts and clamps. Getting the canister separated from the engine side proved difficult, but after some prying, I managed to get it unstuck. When we stood it up on its end, the pile of dust and dirt that fell out of it was excessive. I’m surprised it was getting any air at all.

It was time to put in the new one. With Tom pushing from the front, and me pulling, twisting & banging on the new canister, we finally got it to seat and rest on its mount. I got it all bolted in place and clamps tightened, then extracted myself from within. It felt good getting this minor item checked off our list. The next day we drove it to town to dump the tanks and the old beast didn’t sneeze at all. Let’s hope that changing the filter was all it needed to feel better. Maybe we’ll eke a few more miles per gallon out of it, too!

The other completed task was replacing the 30’ power cord with a 50 footer (upgrading the length since the casing was coming out of the now not-so-waterproof plug). So that’s two things marked off the to-do list, and a few days of necessary recovery time for these old geezers.

A few of the other things we need to address are a leak in the leveling system (got a replacement pressure switch ordered today); the main slide extends like normal, but when retracting, the front operates fine but the rear bangs and wont move without some lifting/pushing assistance outside; checking the drainage on the rooftop a/c units; find out why the surge protector hums & buzzes (and loses voltage under load, likely just going to replace it); checking the propane system for leaks; replacing the fuel filter; and figuring out where to get the cracked windshield replaced. There may be some things I’m forgetting, but this list is long enough! I baked cookies in case anyone wants to come lend their assistance!

Share your comments on Facebook or email us at roadfronts@gmail.com