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1

General Discussion / Still here and now with a inverter question

« on: December 27, 2021, 11:22:24 am »

 
I'm still here, been lurking in the shadows. Thought I had a buyer twice but they didn't want to give me what I feel it's worth. And I'm really glad I didn't sell it and downsize to a small pull-behind or conversion van. Even happier is Sue and the two dogs and the cat since we're living in it for a month or two in Tucson.
 >:(And you thought you were rid of me

So the inverter fans have developed a mind of their own sometimes running normally and other times, usually in the middle of the night, making quite a racket until I give a good hard slap on the panel it is mounted to under the bed. I recalled from other previous posts to just turn off the breaker to the inverter at night.
My question...is there any reason to even have the inverter breaker turned on until you actually want to use the inverter say for the TV or other outlets when not on shore power?
I'm sure I'm missing the obvious.
Dougn
PS
I just discovered one oddity... with the inverter breaker turned off the GFI outlets in the kitchen and bathroom don't work. Second question why would that be?

2

General Discussion / Selling our 2010 2551

« on: November 24, 2021, 04:54:58 pm »

It's time for a change. Actually the change has already occurred. We just have not been using our coach enough this past year.
We bought a little lakeside getaway up north in our homeland, Minnesota. Last summer up there was exactly what we had hoped for, so we plan to spend summers in one place for awhile.

Our PC has been the best, most comfortable and reliable RV we've ever had, and it is hard to let it go. But....
I've only put it on Craigslist locally yesterday and already have a few interested folks. I thought I should let you good people on this forum know too.

Here's a link to all of the details:

https://westslope.craigslist.org/rvs/d/grand-junction-2010-phoenix-cruiser/7411595685.html

Thanks to all of you great contributors. There are some kind and brilliant souls here. And thanks for putting up with my odd questions and questionable answers.

Dougn

3

General Discussion / e-bike update

« on: December 25, 2020, 10:32:49 am »

Obviously I'm bored, still waiting for Santa to get here. He's probably stuck in that winter wonderland gripping the NE right now. Must be hard when the White Xmas includes power outages. Hope all of you are safe and warm. No sympathy for all of you sunning in S. Florida...

A while back there was some interest in e-bikes here. I found this great article from Wired:

https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-electric-bikes/?bxid=5cec24fcfc942d3ada069679&cndid=52165942&esrc=desktopInterstitial&mbid=mbid%3DCRMWIR012019%0A%0A&source=EDT_WIR_NEWSLETTER_0_GADGET_LAB_ZZ&utm_brand=wired&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_mailing=WIR_GadgetLab%202020-12-17&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl&utm_term=WIR_GadgetLab

4

General Discussion / House power from RV generator as back-up

« on: December 13, 2020, 06:29:38 pm »

Does anyone know of a way to safely supply whole house power from the 4000 Onan in case of power outage? I know I could run extension cords to alternately run the fridge, freezer, and a floor fan to circulate air from the NG fireplace.  I'd like to be able to supply power to the house thermostats and circulator pumps for the NG baseboard heat.
It looks like most backup systems are 220v, and the Onan is 110v.
Dougn

5

General Discussion / replacing dump valves on 2551

« on: October 20, 2020, 11:24:13 am »

I need to replace both Auto Drain mechanisms and I think that the black tank valve doesn't seal shut. It is also very stiff to operate manually. I want to install new valves at the same time I do the Auto Drains.

  My question is: do the valves just slip out after removing the four bolts, and are there any tips or tricks to doing this job on a 2551?
 
Thanks in advance!
Dougn

6

General Discussion / rear view mirror re-attaching

« on: September 11, 2020, 04:55:15 pm »

 
I used the Permatex rear view mirror adhesive the last time the mirror fell from the windshield. It stayed in place for about 18 months, so I must not have done too bad a job then.

Has anyone found a better adhesive for this situation? Adhering metal to glass with freezing to blazing is a tough environment.

Thanks in advance!
Dougn

7

General Discussion / Coach battery health indicators.

« on: June 22, 2020, 07:30:26 pm »

 Our 2010 2551 came with little history. It's two Lifeline 100Ah 12v AGM batteries are of unknown age, at least 3 years old, likely more as the elderly owners had been unable to do upkeep, it appeared, when we bought it on consignment.

It has a Blue Sky Solar charge controller and display. The display can cycle thru many indicators: input, output, voltage, battery capacity, etc.

Battery capacity had always been 100% after any manner of charging until lately. Now I can only get it up to 70% or so, either solar or shore power, or stand-alone battery charger.

I'm assuming this means the amperage is only 70%, and therefore the batteries are weakening?  I hope it is just time to replace them, if this is what is indicated.

I'm easily confused when it comes to electricity. I view it as magic, as no logic appears to be involved.

Thanks

Dougn

8

General Discussion / Marketing?

« on: June 19, 2020, 04:56:23 pm »

I saw that La Mesa RV in Phoenix is a proud new PC dealer.
If this:

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2021-Phoenix+Usa+Rv-PHOENIX+CRUISER+2552-5012923116?zmc=search-alert-listing

is La Mesa's idea of Marketing, PC is in trouble. Could they have made less effort???

9

General Discussion / TRX Ford Transit Owners Comments Request.

« on: June 05, 2020, 06:33:39 am »

I keep wondering what is the perfect rig for the two of us (and our newly rescued elderly Pomeranian and Border Collie, Suchi and Annie,) and have recently become intrigued by the TRX Transit twin sofa plan. Our 2010 2551 is awesome, tricked out, totally reliable and comfortable, well maintained and runs like it, and clean as a whistle (what is it about a whistle that is actually clean??,) but maybe a bit bigger than needed.

We came to PC from a Pleasure-way Sprinter, nice to drive, but it's a Mercedes with no local dealer, and too small for comfort on long adventures.

I'd love to hear honest reports from actual owners of PC TRX Transit, pros and cons, MPG, drive-ability, reliability and service issues, wish they had done this or that, "what the heck were they thinking" sorts of comments now that a few miles have been had.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Dougn

10

General Discussion / Generator exhaust hangers

« on: April 29, 2020, 08:11:02 am »

While changing the generator oil yesterday I saw that the exhaust pipe hangers are rotten and actually only look like they were doing their job. Looking at the pics attached, Hanger #1 is a stock Onan hanger and readily available.

My Question: Is Hanger #2 original, and if so does anyone have a source for it?    I've searched and can't seem to find one. It is not shown in the manuals, but it notes that the pipe should be supported every 3'.

Thanks in advance,
Dougn

11

General Discussion / Fun from SCT

« on: April 17, 2020, 09:38:12 am »

Here's a link to some fun stuff from STC Performance...The car museum links are great, and the movie suggestions bring back many memories for the gear-head in us.

https://info.sctflash.com/en/sct_gearhead-in-quarantine?utm_campaign=Coronavirus%20Quarantine%20Activity%20Campaign%20&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--9jNRNUvXNZZjqJiiAJNHC6XW4r_zDeG3nPW1AvHQ-ZJ0Sdj1kFp41zoJ_QD_tE3BL8rGbksm1bw42W-9IR9wKCVvOQg&_hsmi=86452513&utm_source=hs_email&utm_content=86452513&hsCtaTracking=e14ab37f-577b-4075-881e-77f206b0f1a9%7C06821a14-f367-4978-a011-3e2c7c75bcb6

I did the STC X4 performance enhancer just before our last trip this Spring.  I was completely happy with the results...smooth shifting especially a real treat.  Faster acceleration, more power, and all around performance made the trip seem shorter and more relaxed.  No change noticed in MPG tho, likely because I drove harder and faster.

Hunkerin down,
Dougn

12

General Discussion / Something to calm the noise

« on: March 29, 2020, 11:07:21 am »

Put one of these webcams on your screen and relax with a beverage.

https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/ocean-voyager/

Peace...ya, I'm an old hippy, now in disguise.
Dougn

13

General Discussion / old as the ages question "where to put the TP holder"

« on: March 11, 2020, 03:32:43 pm »

Two years plus after getting our gently used PC, I found a spot for a TP holder and the hardware (for our 2551 at least.) Maybe I'm not the first for this location, but my search had turned up nada.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079B3MKKV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just the right recess for the thickness of the wall between coat closet and curbside bed.  Position centered on bed framework for a solid screw attachment. Only downside is it is too small for the mega-size Northern tissue rolls we like, so we save a few 1/3 used from the house for the PC.

14

General Discussion / Adding 2nd water pump switch

« on: March 02, 2020, 10:50:51 am »

I want to add a water pump switch with indicator light in the bathroom of our 2551, likely placed near the tank heater switch. Looks easy to get wires to the pump under the closet bottom. Is it as simple as adding a hot lead to the switch and pump since the pump is already grounded? Does the indicator light add some complexity or will it only illumitate when switched on ( and a ground is established?)
Electricity and magic are equally bewildering to me...
Dougn

15

General Discussion / Happy New Year and Thank You Forum!

« on: January 01, 2020, 10:00:30 am »

I've only had the pleasure of being part of this fantastic group of serious Phoenix Cruiser enthusiasts for nearly two years, but the advice and insight I've been able to gain by participating is priceless. The members here are so willing to share their knowledge in so many diverse fields. We  can ask stupid questions and receive helpful answers without judgement. The ideas presented here inspire other creations. The sharing is free flowing and boundless.

Not only are we lucky to be proud owners of one of the best RV coach makers in the USA, we have this great community to be part of and learn from. PC is lucky to have this forum as probably their finest sales force. While nothing is perfect (definitely none of us,) having a great company that wants to stand behind their great product borders on perfection. (I hope they are listening...)

Thanks to you all and Happy New Year!     

Dougn Sue