So we picked up our new 36QBOK a couple weeks ago and after a quick trip back to the dealer to fix our front slide that would go in or out we are on our maiden voyage.
First up an explanation about the front slide. I wish I could find the thread again where someone has sent their unit back to the factory for their front slide problems. I think this would be helpful/pertinent for them as well. Our front slide was only screwed into the plywood floor instead of the metal supports (there wasn't a metal support in ours). It actually wouldn't retract during the PDI so we left and grabbed a meal but they called us and said it was just a matter of some washers that weren't installed and that they had it fixed. So back we went, put the slide in and out several times and sure enough smooth as butter.
We take it home and start transferring all our gear from the previous trailer and the slide won't retract again. This time I'm hearing crunching and splintering wood. Finally by lifting and pushing while my son holds the retract switch we get it in. Back to the dealer where they disassemble the front of the unit to access the underneath portion of the slide only to find no supports or metal plates. So the motor just pulled right out of the plywood which is the wood splintering that I heard. So the sandwiched the plywood with metal support plates and secured the motor to the metal. Tested it several times works great. Take it home pull the floor again and now the metal plates are shifting ever so slightly as it goes in/out. So my guess is after X number of in/out operations we are going to have trouble again. The real question is the value of X...? Not sure what the final fix will be but if yours doesn't have the metal supports, it's likely a ticking time bomb. I wonder if we had added a metal plate prior to the wood being so badly damaged if this could have been avoided?
So our last trailer was clearly a Friday unit, which I won't go into, but I was so focused on certain areas of the PDI that I clearly missed some of the basics this time.
Not a single drain was tightened and every single one of them leaked. One of them wasn't even attached at the trap. Nothing major but clearly I missed testing the sinks! My worry is that the shower drain is also loose. What is the best way to access/check that? Where would I notice the water first?
The kitchen sink supply lines are also leaking, I have tried tightening them, we will see if I can get them to stop leaking.
I think the city supply is leaking but I think it is on the back side of the port. Is that easily accessed somehow to tighten it?
The Bluetooth potion of our iRV radio/media center won't keep a connection and skips extremely bad when it does play. Is this normal or do others have better luck with the Bluetooth?
We had 4 of the outdoor latches that wouldn't stay shut even when locked but I know how to fix those from this forum. Until I can get a few parts I just loosened the screws added washers underneath and retightened which lifted the plates enough so the latch fully engages.
We have a possible electrical gremlin but I started a separate thread for that one.
Now on to the good. The bike rack is absolutely solid. I had the wife follow me for a short trip through the neighborhood and she said the rack didn't bounce at all. The bikes didn't even so much as wiggle. I did modify the arm a touch by adding some washers to keep it from being so loose. It's now a bit hard to get in and out but it doesn't move at all when installed.
The slides haven't leaked at all and we have had some good downpours and steady rain for a full day. No leaks anywhere.
Everyone loves the extra space and layout. At one point we had 8 people that all had to come inside for a meal due to the rain and with the back bunk table set up we weren't even cramped while eating.
It was a bit cool this week and with the fireplace providing so much warmth in the central area the propane has far outlasted what we would have expected based on our last trailer. That includes using a modified Coleman XLL grill on the propane as well.
My wife absolutely loves the amount of storage cabinets and utility of the pantry. The can pantry is a great feature. I'm have some mixed feelings on the bunkhouse. The kids absolutely love the extra space but I've noticed that they have spent a little more time indoors than in the past. I think it's partly due to the weather, but mostly due to the great space for them and their friends back there.
We had a washer/dryer combo installed in the front closet and absolutely love it. It does shake the trailer quite a bit but as long as we don't use it while anyone sleeps I don't think it will bother anyone. We actually timed it so that it would end just before bed time last night and the extra heat it put into the bedroom was perfect considering it got cold outside again. One of those unexpected benefits in the cool weather that will work against us in the summer. But we knew it would add heat to the room. We have the second airconditioner installed.
Overall we love the unit. Just hoping to get some of the water system leaks under control and then it will be perfect.
First up an explanation about the front slide. I wish I could find the thread again where someone has sent their unit back to the factory for their front slide problems. I think this would be helpful/pertinent for them as well. Our front slide was only screwed into the plywood floor instead of the metal supports (there wasn't a metal support in ours). It actually wouldn't retract during the PDI so we left and grabbed a meal but they called us and said it was just a matter of some washers that weren't installed and that they had it fixed. So back we went, put the slide in and out several times and sure enough smooth as butter.
We take it home and start transferring all our gear from the previous trailer and the slide won't retract again. This time I'm hearing crunching and splintering wood. Finally by lifting and pushing while my son holds the retract switch we get it in. Back to the dealer where they disassemble the front of the unit to access the underneath portion of the slide only to find no supports or metal plates. So the motor just pulled right out of the plywood which is the wood splintering that I heard. So the sandwiched the plywood with metal support plates and secured the motor to the metal. Tested it several times works great. Take it home pull the floor again and now the metal plates are shifting ever so slightly as it goes in/out. So my guess is after X number of in/out operations we are going to have trouble again. The real question is the value of X...? Not sure what the final fix will be but if yours doesn't have the metal supports, it's likely a ticking time bomb. I wonder if we had added a metal plate prior to the wood being so badly damaged if this could have been avoided?
So our last trailer was clearly a Friday unit, which I won't go into, but I was so focused on certain areas of the PDI that I clearly missed some of the basics this time.
Not a single drain was tightened and every single one of them leaked. One of them wasn't even attached at the trap. Nothing major but clearly I missed testing the sinks! My worry is that the shower drain is also loose. What is the best way to access/check that? Where would I notice the water first?
The kitchen sink supply lines are also leaking, I have tried tightening them, we will see if I can get them to stop leaking.
I think the city supply is leaking but I think it is on the back side of the port. Is that easily accessed somehow to tighten it?
The Bluetooth potion of our iRV radio/media center won't keep a connection and skips extremely bad when it does play. Is this normal or do others have better luck with the Bluetooth?
We had 4 of the outdoor latches that wouldn't stay shut even when locked but I know how to fix those from this forum. Until I can get a few parts I just loosened the screws added washers underneath and retightened which lifted the plates enough so the latch fully engages.
We have a possible electrical gremlin but I started a separate thread for that one.
Now on to the good. The bike rack is absolutely solid. I had the wife follow me for a short trip through the neighborhood and she said the rack didn't bounce at all. The bikes didn't even so much as wiggle. I did modify the arm a touch by adding some washers to keep it from being so loose. It's now a bit hard to get in and out but it doesn't move at all when installed.
The slides haven't leaked at all and we have had some good downpours and steady rain for a full day. No leaks anywhere.
Everyone loves the extra space and layout. At one point we had 8 people that all had to come inside for a meal due to the rain and with the back bunk table set up we weren't even cramped while eating.
It was a bit cool this week and with the fireplace providing so much warmth in the central area the propane has far outlasted what we would have expected based on our last trailer. That includes using a modified Coleman XLL grill on the propane as well.
My wife absolutely loves the amount of storage cabinets and utility of the pantry. The can pantry is a great feature. I'm have some mixed feelings on the bunkhouse. The kids absolutely love the extra space but I've noticed that they have spent a little more time indoors than in the past. I think it's partly due to the weather, but mostly due to the great space for them and their friends back there.
We had a washer/dryer combo installed in the front closet and absolutely love it. It does shake the trailer quite a bit but as long as we don't use it while anyone sleeps I don't think it will bother anyone. We actually timed it so that it would end just before bed time last night and the extra heat it put into the bedroom was perfect considering it got cold outside again. One of those unexpected benefits in the cool weather that will work against us in the summer. But we knew it would add heat to the room. We have the second airconditioner installed.
Overall we love the unit. Just hoping to get some of the water system leaks under control and then it will be perfect.