Chinook RV

68camaro wrote: July 23rd, 2018, 3:36 pm
Called around to get clean water tank fixed, everyone booked up to a month out or longer.....looks like well be bring big juggs with us.

Blue~Go wrote: July 23rd, 2018, 4:14 pm

68camaro wrote: July 23rd, 2018, 3:36 pm
Called around to get clean water tank fixed, everyone booked up to a month out or longer.....looks like well be bring big juggs with us.

Have you checked the drain valve? That's the white pipe that hangs down underneath near the driver's side wheelwell. I think you said that's where it's leaking? In other words, there is a valve there just above that pipe on the inside (under the couch, by the water pump and the tank) that you turn to let the tank water drain to the ground (which it will do very slowly). If you turn it the other way, no drain.

Just curious if you have tried that.

RVA_Cascade wrote: July 24th, 2018, 10:06 am Congratulations on the new purchase! The Richmond Chinook contingent is at least 3 strong, though I keep my 2003 Cascade at my buddy's place in King William. Welcome!

68camaro wrote: July 22nd, 2018, 6:34 pm
Spent first night with daughter on quick overnight to Virginia Beach. Size of van is great, was able to go down main drag and find surface parking in lot no problem, next morning parked on metered street and was able to fit between lines.

Since temps were in 80's and humid we decided to go to KOA campground 3-4 miles away with electrical and water. Last camping trip before buying Chinook was in tent and we woke up in morning in the rain. Had to make quick breakfast and takedown tent, clean area before heading off with everything soaked or damp.

Chinook was cramped for two of us, she got bed (club model) and I slept on floor in rear, my air mattress wouldn't inflate but I was actually very comfortable slepping on deflated air mattress and thick blanket, way better than sleeping on hard ground. Went to bed with a/c at 68, woke up too cold at some point and had to turn down to 72.....such a glorious problem to have. I still need to fix my snoring though........

First morning in RV campground was waking up in rain. It was great though, since we pulled in about 10pm, we never went outside. It was raining when we left but all I had to do was unplug, put power cord away and off we went....nirvana to say the least.

At start of this post I list some negatives about my new to me van....below are the ones I listed and an update for each:

A few negative surprise
- Fan in bath opens & closes and motor works but fans blades started disintegrating when fan turned on...LOL....clearly not used much but I figured easy fix, no biggie.....Bought a new fan blade and motor - total was about $23 for both, not sure I need motor but good time to replace.

- black/gray water hose container cap will not stay on, had to duck tape closed for trip, should be easy repair.
New container pretty inexpensive...about $50.00

- Antenna crank broke, antenna looks good, just the crank in cabinet needs new part to work.
Bought new Wineguard Sensor parts to repair it.....$17.41.

- Couple cabinet struts need replacing
Replaced all - works great total cost $97.50 delivered.

- Passanger side curtain string on one side broke during travels, it was stiff and I forced to much so will look to restring or get new shades, opposite work great. It still works just doesn't open all the way to the top, stops few inches below.
Ha, found instructions to restring but gave me headache reading it....need to find place that does it or buy new one for passenger side.

Two issue I have fingers crossed on:
- water tank would not hold water when we tried to fill, it was leaking out of tube (vent tube?) which hangs down and stops just above axle springs behind wheel....Appears to be broken valve, will have fixed, I decided not to tackle.
Also when you turn pump on water comes "out" of city water fill tube. Before trip home, I had two local RV places look at and they said it was most likely a valve or two and both thought nothing serious....I hope its not serious since I already bought it knowing it would need to be fixed.
New valve was needed, cost $32.00, will install tomorrow. This should fix water coming out of City water hookup.

- Paint and clearcoat really nice shape except for a several hairline cracks which don't appear deep, a couple are 6" long but I am hoping this is clearcoat. Since I am pretty anal about this stuff I will want to get fixed, I hope this doesn't come back and bite me.....There was one area size of fist where it looks like someone did repair, it sheens more than areas around it, hard to see and need to be looking at right angle so pretty good repair.
Good luck here, I took to boat repair place and they confirmed it is just in gelcoat, getting quote now. There is crack over stripe so we'll ignore that since trying to match the paint stripe may not be perfect so it could be bigger blemish

Brakes make me nervous, will be ordering Power Stop Extreme tomorrow and get installed ASAP, with have them go thru suspension to see if anything needs changing, also read diff will be serviced. Once brakes are on and suspension gone thru, will decided on strategy for lifting it.

Oh almost forgot, had van detailed, including buffing and wax.....ford van really shines and camper looks soooo much better, the green racing strips pop-out, van looks way better.

Oh almost forgot, had van detailed, including buffing and wax.....ford van really shines and camper looks soooo much better, the green racing strips pop-out, van looks way better.

68camaro wrote: July 28th, 2018, 7:22 pm

68camaro wrote: July 22nd, 2018, 6:34 pm Chinook was cramped for two of us, she got bed (club model) and I slept on floor in rear, my air mattress wouldn't inflate but I was actually very comfortable slepping on deflated air mattress and thick blanket, way better than sleeping on hard ground. Went to bed with a/c at 68, woke up too cold at some point and had to turn down to 72.....such a glorious problem to have. I still need to fix my snoring though........