Shear Bolts Shearing on Motorhome Slide Outs

Shear Bolts Shearing on the Power Gear Slide Out Mechanisms

Country Tribute, Inspire and Allure models have Power Gear electric slide out room mechanisms that run one or more slide rooms in and out.  These mechanisms are connected to a drive shaft that is protected by the shear bolts.  The bolts are ¼” hexagon headed by 1 ½” long Grade 8 shear bolts. There are four shear bolts for every slide room, including one on either side of the motor and one at each end of slide room extension arms. 

When these shear bolts shear off, the slide room becomes inoperable and the bolts have to be replaced.  You can see these bolts by looking next to the motor and into the bay under the slide room arm. The two bolts located under the slide room arm are very difficult to view and gain access to. 

     There are several things that will cause these bolts to shear off and break. The most common problem is having the slide room overloaded.  Do not overload your slide room when moving the room in and out.  Coach owners often have the tendency to put furniture and things like dog crates in the slide room out of the way.  

 Just remember that these items need to be moved until the slide room is completely in and then they could be moved back. 

Another problem that could cause the bolts to become worn down would be the room becoming bound up and out of sequence.  When the gears that turn the shaft are not turning at the same sequence, say a few “teeth” are off then the timing will be off and the bolt will be over stressed.  The bolts are actually designed to take the pressure from the motor and the shaft so that the bolts sacrifice themselves to protect the motor drive shaft mechanism.   

Please also be aware that the nuts will sometimes come loose from the back of the bolt on their own.  If this happens to you, do not try to replace the shear pin with a bolt that is threaded that fits in the hole.  You must replace with a “shouldered” 1 ½” bolt. 

Carrying an extra set of slide room shear bolts is always a good idea. You can purchase shear bolts from a reputable service center, like the service centers who are CCFI business sponsors.

Thanks to the folks at the former Country Coach Corporation who originally shared this info with Country Coach Friends club members.

Motorhome Friends to Rally This August in Central Point Oregon!

In the Crossroads of the Rogue Valley at Central Point, Oregon is a new little RV Park that is just off I-5 adjacent to the Jackson County Fairgrounds. Southern Oregon RV Park is a great stopping point for motorhomers traveling the I-5 corridor northbound for the Motorhome Mecca of Junction City Oregon.  It is also a great place to linger and enjoy a rally with friends who share your love of the nomadic lifestyle behind the wheel of a luxury motorhome! Perhaps you'll join the Country Coach Friends Inc owners club as they gather for their annual Friendship Rally this August! Their club and its rallies are open to all brands of motorhomes. The more, the merrier!

Central Point, Oregon, home to the Jackson County Fair, and this year’s Country Coach Friends Friendship Rally is a wonder area to set up home base as you venture out and explore the Rogue Valley! That's what the CCFI Club will be doing August 15-20, 2017 at the Southern RV Park! It is a new RV Park with an easy off/easy on to the I-5 corridor. The crossroads of the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon, this area is a real gem! Wineries, jet boat adventures, touring and tasting fine wines and foods, fishing or sight seeing, there is something for everyone. Talk Radio Network, Erickson Air Crane, and Crater Rock Museum are located in Central Point. Rogue Creamery in Central Point makes some of the world's best cheeses according to judges at the World Cheese Awards and American Cheese Society Awards. 

Jerry OConnor (who grew up in the Rogue Valley) is the VP of Events for Country Coach Friends and he wishes to extend his personal invitation: "Come join us in Oregon this August as we come home to where this club was founded. Our loyal business sponsors are just north up the road a few hours too, so schedule early for your service, maintenance, and coach upgrade appointments!"

A rally registration information is found at the club's dedicated website: www.CountryCoachFriendsIncorporated.com.  

Motorhome Mantra: Don't Hurry, Be Happy!

Don’t Hurry… Be Happy!

The children are loving the overall laid back pace of their grandparents’ snowbirding location! I received a call from some family members currently in Yuma, Arizona enjoying Spring Break. They were dining in 77 degrees weather at a Taco Truck which conveniently had an  Ice Cream Truck next to it. A gentleman was even serenading them with live music.
I was reminded again how wonderful this lifestyle is which my motorhoming friends enjoy. Their traveling itinerary is usually wherever the road takes them.
They take their homes with them where they can retreat to the comfort of their own bedrooms they take along with them…and their philosophy of day to day living seems to be “Don’t Hurry, Be Happy!” Does it get any simpler than this? I like it!

For many of us as we built our careers and we simultaneously accumulated stuff. The fun kind of stuff.  With stuff comes the responsibility of storing and maintaining all that stuff.  It was fun for a season, and then your season changed. A new dream came into fruition.

You opt out of the stick home on your acreage and choose to motorhome full time. You walk away from closets full of clothes, book shelves full of once read books, and garages full of high-tech gear and bikes and big boy toys.

You begin to realize just how irrelevant and stress perpetuating it all has become to who you are today, in this moment. On the road, there are two bikes, a few easy care easy wear outfits, the comfortable shoes we need for traveling and exploring, our Ipads or laptops for our household business and keeping in contact with the kids… and you take little else. You can get what you need when you need it. Simplify is the goal, and uncluttered, unfettered living really does give you wings!

And it’s a culinary delight to prepare and cook whatever you fancy within your own motorhome kitchen. Then enjoy your dessert and favorite glass of vino beneath the awning of your coach enjoying the stunning views wherever you parked for the night.  Many of my friends have commented they enjoy cooking, dining, reading and working outside, as much as possible. After their years of being tied to a desk in their careers, the motorhome lifestyle affords endless opportunities for outside living.  For them, nothing compares to this vagabond lifestyle enjoyed in their condominium on wheels.

It’s a simplified, rejuvenating journey, this life on the road, I’m told. “Don’t hurry, be happy” is easy when you’re in the company of those who share your passion for a life on the move discovering what’s around that next bend!

As my son and family enjoy their time with their motorhoming parents and grandparents in Arizona this week, I am reminding myself ….Though I live here in this ‘other world’ still fettered with my stuff and stick home, nonetheless, those RVers friends are onto something…

I’m going to take more time to savor that sunset, hit up that food truck occasionally for dinner, and remind myself daily it’s not about the stuff, it is about the joy in the journey that brings true satisfaction.

Today and every day “Don’t hurry, be happy!”

TEXAS ON OUR MINDS! Visit Port Aransas this April for Motorhome Rally FUN!

Country Coach Friends will rally in Texas this Spring and there is still time to get registered!
Visit this active club of motorhome owners today and learn more!

WWW.COUNTRYCOACHFRIENDSINCORPORATED.COM

RV Air Conditioning

here is a NEAT little Piece 

we read ONLINE regarding the RV AIR CONDITIONING 

 written by Fred Smith as seen at www.lazydays.com/page/tech-talk-rv-air-conditioning

MAINTAINING YOUR RV AIR CONDITIONING UNIT

Summer means RVers everywhere are trying to tame the gods of heat and humidity with the divine invention of RV air conditioning. Here are a few tips now to keep your RV air conditioning system in shape through the upcoming sweltering summer months.

How an Air Conditioner Works: The Simple Explanation - An air conditioner essentially sucks air through its intake and extracts heat from it by running the air through an evaporator. The cold air that remains is distributed through the vents and cools the interior of your coach. The most important aspect of a well-running AC system is airflow. Maintaining proper airflow in your RV’s air conditioning system is crucial to ensure that your unit runs as it should.

Filters-Keeping your interior filters clean is a great first step toward maintaining airflow. You can replace your filters when they get dirty, or you can clean your filters and save the expense of buying new ones. To clean your interior AC filter, remove the filter, wash it with water, shake out the debris and reinstall it. A clean filter allows air to flow.

Roof Units - Your outside unit can accumulate dust, dirt and leaves that can inhibit airflow. It’s always a good idea to keep the unit clean so air can flow through it properly.

To clean your roof unit, you must first remove its housing. Then take a hose and wash the condensing unit by running water over the coils. The coils will dry naturally when you restart your AC unit. There is no need to use a spray nozzle or attack the coils with any kind of pressurized water, since this can potentially collapse the fins and reduce airflow. If you happen to collapse your unit’s fins, you can buy a fin comb at most auto parts retailers and use the comb to brush the fins back to their proper place.

Know When to Call a Pro - You got into the RVing lifestyle to have fun, not to deal with the intricacies of malfunctioning air conditioning systems. (Leave that to the technicians.) While it’s great to have a do-it-yourself attitude with your RV, understand that the inner workings of your AC system are complicated and best repaired by a certified RV technician. Remember that airflow is the most important aspect of a well-running AC system. If your coach is still uncomfortably warm after you’ve performed the tasks we’ve discussed in this article, call a professional RV service center and have your system checked out by a qualified technician.    Have Fun and Stay Cool!

MORE TIPS

What is a Thermistor? - A thermistor is an electronic sensor that reads air temperature and sends a signal back to your AC unit, letting it know how hot or cold the interior of your coach is. Your RV likely has several of these devices placed around the coach. Be aware that thermistors are sometimes aesthetically located in odd places, like inside cabinets or near light fixtures, which can lead to inaccurate temperature readings. Running fans inside your coach is a good idea. Fans promote airflow and help thermistors achieve more accurate readings, since flowing air is easier to gauge than dormant air.

Did You Know? -On average, a central AC unit in an RV can produce air that is 20-25 degrees cooler than the temperature of the air before the unit is turned on. So if it is 90 degrees in the coach when you turn the AC unit on, your RV should be able to produce air that is 65-70 degrees in temperature. By comparison, the AC unit in your RV’s dashboard can produce air that is 15-20 degrees colder than the temperature of the air when the unit is turned on.

Condensing Cleaner Caution - You should NOT use condensing cleaner on your AC unit, as it can corrode the clear coat on your RV and ultimately damage your coach’s paint. When certified technicians professionally clean a condensing unit, they will use condensing cleaner. However, they will remove the entire unit from the roof when they do this so the condensing cleaner does not damage the RV’s clear coat or paint. 

Shared as information only, please consult your own trusted RV Service Center for any questions you have regarding your RV A/C and its care and feeding. Country Coach Friends Club can provide recommendations for service centers too. Visit them online at Country Coach Friends