Ignorance ≠ bliss

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garyb1st

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In the 4 years since we began RVing we've learned a great deal.  I'd say knowledge wise we are probably on page 3 of a 100 page book.  :)  At least I hope it's only 100 pages.  Seriously, it's a bit overwhelming.  When I think about purchasing a motorhome, I keep reading about floor plan.  That's important but what concerns me is safety.  I prefer not to become an RVing statistic. 

Today I came across three threads that involve risks that can turn an RVing experience into a nightmare.  All are covered quite well in todays forum. 

The tire pressure monitoring system is one that I have read about several times but may not think of it when we purchase a motorhome.  The other two involve fire risks that are new to me and as such, there is no reason why I would even think of them when purchasing a motorhome.  First the IOTA transfer switch, whatever that is, and then the Norcold refrigerator cooling unit. 

Last week it was the thread on air brakes.  That one moved me back to the gassers camp, for a while.  Before that it was propane systems. That one actually eased my mind a bit. 

Bottom line, I need a motorhome safety checklist.  I've searched the Forum library but didn't find any articles that would serve as a good starting point.  My apologies if I have missed it. 

 
Well. One thing I am fond of saying is that getting out of bed in the morning carries risk, Staying in bed also carries risk. Heck, in some areas Breathing is downright dangerous,  So is not breathing.  Everything has risks, no matter which way you decide,  The key is to Minimize those risks, Some decisions, for example. are way risker than others.

Now to address your specific concerns.....

TPMS systems do sometimes leak, but a portable 150 PSI compressor such as both Sears (Very good quality) and harbor Freight (Unknown quality) sell can air the tire back up if it leaks, AND the TPMS will alert you to the leak.. Thus reducing the risk to a very low level.

IOTA transfer switches: My coach has an Intelletec switch, (The point is not all Motor Homes have IOTA)

Norcold Fridges (Absorption cooling units) Mine is a Dometic, (Same point)

By the way, Proper inspection and maintenance reduce the risk there too.  Dometic also has issues with fires, just they have (it seems) done a slightly better job of controlling it.

Next there is Mac the Fire Guy.  Thought I had his URL.. He (And others) sell a automatic fire supression system (Halon type) designed to be installed in the outer Fridge compartment.. A fire starts, it kisses it goodby very quickly (I have seen Halon systems at work, (At work fits in this line two ways Have seen them doing their thing, and it was at my place of employment).  Very impressive.

Some RV's now come with the optional "Residential" Fridge,, Many like this option since often there is MORE ROOM, MORE ROOM, MORE ROOM at the Inn They are BIGGER).  and both Norcold and Dometic have some new high efficiency all electric fridges that do not have the fire problem.. These power sippers more than double their power draw when you open the door (If you guessed it's because the light comes on you guessed right) They draw less than 50 watts running (door closed).

I have a chest freezer that uses the same technology, I normally run it full time on 12vdc, Don't even bother with the 120volt cord.

So the moral is this: Everything has risks,  But good and proper maintenance, Safe habits (Like not driving 90mph in a rig designed for 60 tops) and so on can reduce those risks.
 
garyb1st:
I?m confused?..
You start off saying ?It?s been four years since we began RVing?
From this I assume you own a Motor home?
And as I read along I start to get idea that you are looking to buy a MOTORHOME.

Then the questions you present indicate (to me) that you have no RVing experience, not even in a Travel Trailer or Truck Camper.
Is this correct?

Last paragraph ask for check list on safety issues during PURCHASE ?.. from our library.

If you?re looking to buy a Motorhome, you should be looking for a check list to ensure things are working!
Once you get ?experience? then safely operating STUFF will require reading and talking to members for knowledge.
Members?.., am I making sense or am I still confused??

Upon third time reading your post, I (think) you are concerned about buying a motor home with COMPONENTS having safety issues.
I now concluded that your SCARRED... hell, we all were and still can get that way (speaking for me). 

For what ever reasons you are not in a position to buy.... just keep on participating in our forum and when you get there (ready to buy) you will have the KNOWLEDGE to "take a chance " like we all have....

See ya on down the road!

 
Jim, sorry for the confusion.  Your third read is correct.  I'm not scarred.  But I am concerned.  Primarily for safety reasons.  My background is in Insurance and Risk Management.  Accidents happen.  Unfortunately, in spite of product liability litigation, most involve a significant element of human error.  Whether the consequence of a lack of knowledge, or just carelessness the results are the same.  People get injured.  I'm just trying to minimize the risk. 

 
John, thanks for the reply.  I'm not really looking for answers to those specific concerns.  Rather they represent what seems like an ongoing barrage of new information.  And as they say, it's not what you know that get's you in trouble.  It's what you don't. 
 
Gary,

For long time I worked in Quality assurance and Reliability of Aerospace equipment, Space Shuttle Orbiter to be specific.  Here is my take on a few things.

TPMS, good things to have, few problems.  If failing or leaking they seem to always provide an alert.  If anything, from what I have read on several forums, they seldom give a all safe reading when there is a problem but do give false negatives, i.e., low pressure when there is not. and seldom give adequate pressure when there is low pressure.

The Iota Transfer switch, first I have heard of this type of problem.  There have been a few problems with transfer switches in the past but these were failure to operate ones.  Small risk as it is known technology and few reported problems.  This one, the IOTA is something new.  Because of the nature of RVs, electrical connections should be checked occasionally and especially if something electrical is acting up.  Right after checking connections and as part of that are ground connections.  Lots of problems and potential problems in things electrical especially if there is the possibility of high currents.

Considering the "fixes" both Dometic and Nocold have installed, I would NOT recommend one of their absorption refers.  The "fixes" are bandaids to try and prevent damage should a failure happen.  They are not a positive fix but an attempt to divert attention from the real situation.  The design is either marginal, I believe this to be true, or there is lousy quality control or both.  I believe the quality is lacking also.  The combination is dangerous as displayed by the fires.

If I were buying today, I would get the MH with a residential refer, a TPMS system and check the manufacturer and content of the transfer switch.  In the switch, I would look for known quality brands for the contactors and the quality of the switch assembly.  I recognize that you may not have the technical knowledge to evaluate the switch but you can copy down the names on the contactors, Potter-Bromfield, etc and also look for the UL label.  Then check with an electrician and get their opinion.If all  else fails, check back on the forum before finalizing a deal.

Just my quick thoughts.


 
GaryB,

We've been motorhoming for 35+ years and have never encountered the problems you've mentioned.  That's not to say we won't, but the likelihood is relatively rare.  You just take prudent actions, like installing a TMPS and sanitizing your fresh water tank, and get on with your life.  You don't worry about what might never happen.  Besides, when you do encounter a situation or problem, the chances are it will be something you never thought about simply because it's impossible to foresee everything.  This is life.  We've had all kinds of things happen but none of them were serious enough to stop motorhoming.  To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, "There you go, overanalyzing again."  You know you want a motorhome, so find one you and Maria both like and go for it.

ArdraF
 
Ardra, with all due respect to Ronald Reagan, you can't overanalyze something you aren't aware of.  That said, Maria tells me when you check the definition of "overanalyze", the dictionary includes a picture of me.  :)
 
Just a thought....

Around twenty years ago, I start in a self help group, and I hear for the first time (and see as they had signs around room).......
"THE PARALYSIS OF ANALYSIS"     I understood and could relate.
Oh...., I'm still in that "Self Help" group. They have another saying:
Nothing changes, if Nothing changes.

THE MOST INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD HAS SAID: (In an Advertisement)
"Stay Thirsty, My Friends" I have to avoid that thinking.
For me, I hear  " Live Life fully, My friends"
See ya on down the road Jack, or Bill, or Sam or Mary.

 
There are many things in an RV that deserve some attention and respect, but really not much to be alarmed about.

You know about the propane fuel system, which is actually quite safe because of the NFPA 1192 standard.

Then there are two major electric power systems - 12v and 120v - with the attendant concerns about loose or damaged wiring. Because an RV moves around a lot, the connections are subject to a lot more wear and tear than in a stick house, so you need to stay more aware of any signs of problems, e.g. flickering lights, intermittent outages, odd burning smells, or excessive heat in wires or batteries. A periodic check of major wire connections would not be amiss.

And of course the fuel system in a motorhome, as you would in any vehicle.

You mentioned the Iota transfer switch, which is subject to recall NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 11V577000 and affects about 6000 trailers made by Keystone.    Basically that piece of gear, as installed in certain Keystone brand trailers, suffers from loose connections that can lead to arcing and sparking. As best I can understand, there is no defect in the switch itself.

The Norcold fridge thing is a comedy of errors, with several recall fixes that failed to eliminate the danger of fire. It  was a very popular product for several years, so many thousands of RVs have Norcold fridges.

How do you protect yourself against defective products? One is to make sure the RV manufacturer is aware you are the current owner, so that you will receive any recall notices.  Another is to stay active in a group like this to improve your chances of hearing about potential problems & recalls.

 
Gary RV Roamer said:
How do you protect yourself against defective products?

Not going to happen.  Gary and AndraF have said it best.  Being cautious is one thing.  But being over cautious and letting that fact stand in the way of your goal and what you really want is going to hinder you.

Do the research into brands and models first.  Find some you like.  Once narrowed down, look at available floor plans.  Again, note which ones you like.  I think accessories are negotiable.  I know they are on TT's on down.  As for those, the line build list is long and "distinguished" (personal opinion).  You may be able to tailor your needs and wants.  Don't be afraid to inquire.  This is assuming you are talking about looking at a new rig.  If considering a used rig, it's a crap shoot.

Bottom line is no matter what you decide on.  You are going to have problems most likely.  Nature of the beast.  Don't let that deter you from getting what you want.  Forums such as this one helps you when these hiccups occur.  Otherwise, there would only be about 12 threads available to look at when you log in!  It's really no different than buying a new car, and a part made in whatever country is causing the thing to burn to the ground.  But the make and model has a 5-star rating.  What you going to do?

You gotta be realistic about it. 



 
You got a lot of good info here. If you are looking to buy I would suggest buying the best quality RV you can new. Researching and trying to put together a list of the best products will just drive you crazy. There is always something better, someone thinks they know better, but buying the best will give you the best chance of a good RV though you will pay for it. The top RV companies have money in mind and money talks and they will only get top dollar by building and using the top equipment. And once you have this unit follow the service recommendations for all products in your new unit. And don't assume anything, ask and don't ignore anything that changes in use such as sounds, and time it takes to operate, when things work correctly they operate consistently the same all the time. Now just enjoy!!!!!
 
ironrat is on the right track.  Do some research, do some checking, ask some questions, decide what works for you and your family, go for it. 

The rest is collateral damage.  Hopefully, none to be had.  If there is some, speak up and with any luck, the answers are either with your dealer (if a new RV) or on the forum. 

Take your time is the key.  Gather, then decide.  You can always refute a statement stated.  It's much harder to refute the statement, sign the bottom line anyway, and then say that you were misled.  Do it right the first time.
 
I am a relative rookery compared to some on hear. I think when you look at how many RVs of all types are out there and how few problems you hear about it is kind of amazing. Yes you will have things come up, just this last trip I was using the sprayer in the bathroom and noticed my hand was wet and there was a small puddle on the floor. I did a little investigating and found out thankfully it was a crack in the spray head. $2.99 at the local hardware and 5 min to change it out and we are as good as new.
Bill
 

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