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New Kodiac owner

Yahoo Message Number: 675
Hey Guys My name is Cliff, I recently purchased a 2008 34' Four winds
Dutchman super C on a Kodiac chassis with the Duramax and Allison
combo. I was looking to install Power fans (fantastic or sureflow) to
my roof vents, and was wondering if anyone had any experiance with
this. There is currently no power to these vents and I was wondering
if any one had suggestions ? ? ? ? ? I do have 12v lights near by but
they are controlled by a wall switch and I was concerned about
overloading the circuit..

Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 676

Cliff,

What model did you buy, 34G or 34H? In my 33K the wiring was pulled thru the aluminum structural members, and large holes were cut where they pulled thru the wiring... if you check my blog at www.rvfactor.blogspot.com, you can see the way mine looks...

Denny

Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 677
Denny,

I have a 34H, I pulled the plastic shroud arround the vent and there
is an aluminum flashing material that boxes in the vent hole so its
not very easily accessible. I have yet to pull a light down to see
if they bored large holes through the structural members? ? ? ?

Cliff

-- In KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com
Quote
Cliff,

What model did you buy, 34G or 34H? In my 33K the wiring was
pulled thru

Quote
the aluminum structural members, and large holes were cut where
they pulled

Quote
thru the wiring... if you check my blog at
_www.rvfactor.blogspot.com_

Quote
(http://www.rvfactor.blogspot.com) , you can see the way mine
looks...
Quote
Denny

In a message dated 2/23/2008 1:18:04 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
cncolyer@... writes:

Hey Guys My name is Cliff, I recently purchased a 2008 34' Four
winds Dutchman super C on a Kodiac chassis with the Duramax and Allison
combo. I was looking to install Power fans (fantastic or sureflow)
to my roof vents, and was wondering if anyone had any experiance
with this. There is currently no power to these vents and I was
wondering if any one had suggestions ? ? ? ? ? I do have 12v lights near by but
they are controlled by a wall switch and I was concerned about
overloading the circuit..



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Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 678

Cliff, If you check my blog under "interior 12 volt lighting" the photos show the "workmanship."

Denny

Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 679

Cliff,

I assume you realize you have under 700 lbs of CCC in your coach, and 616 lbs for passengers? If you run with no fresh, gray, or black water, that gives you another 591 lbs...have you weighed your coach loaded with passengers and gear?

Denny

Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 680
Cliff,

We have a Four Winds 34h and have weighed it at a CAT scale.

Steer Axle 6840
Drive Axle 12400
Trailer Axle 5260
Total Axle 24500

RV weighed 19240. We were towing our Dodge Durango. Our 34H has the
Duramax Diesel engine. This was with full fuel. Almost empty grey and
black tanks. About 2/3 water and 1/2 LP gas. Clothes and stuff for a
10 day trip.

Two adults, 2 children and 1 dog, about 580 lbs.

Other modifications that affect weight.

Replaced 26inch TV with 26inch LCD. And removed the rear 19inch TV.
Added sway bar to the front and track bar to the rear.

I can't help with the wiring for the fans. The only problems I have
had so far were a couple of loose wire crimps to the side marker
lights and a loose ground for the taillights. And 1 broken drawer
latch in the wardrobe.

I have replaced the shocks with Konis and added a rear trac bar and
front anti sway bar.

I had a thread on RV.net
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20791758.cfm

David

Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 682
Denny,
I am aware that I am close to the GVW. I weighed in at about 19200
with 2/3 fresh water, 80 gal. Diesel, full LPG and fully loaded with
gear and my family. Soo need to be careful on what else I add....

Cliff

Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 683
Thanks for the info David,

Did you notice a big difference in the ride and handling with the
addition of the shocks, sway bar and rear trac bar??? I feel that
mine rides pretty nice, Considering I was used to driving a 24'
Class C with a very short wheel base, But the new dutchman does feel
a little "floatey" at times???

Cliff

, "dsteinman2001"
wrote:
Quote
Cliff,

We have a Four Winds 34h and have weighed it at a CAT scale.

Steer Axle 6840
Drive Axle 12400
Trailer Axle 5260
Total Axle 24500

RV weighed 19240. We were towing our Dodge Durango. Our 34H has
the Duramax Diesel engine. This was with full fuel. Almost empty grey
and black tanks. About 2/3 water and 1/2 LP gas. Clothes and stuff
for a

Quote
10 day trip.

Two adults, 2 children and 1 dog, about 580 lbs.

Other modifications that affect weight.

Replaced 26inch TV with 26inch LCD. And removed the rear 19inch TV.
Added sway bar to the front and track bar to the rear.

I can't help with the wiring for the fans. The only problems I
have had so far were a couple of loose wire crimps to the side marker
lights and a loose ground for the taillights. And 1 broken drawer
latch in the wardrobe.

I have replaced the shocks with Konis and added a rear trac bar and
front anti sway bar.

I had a thread on RV.net

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20791758.cfm

Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 684
, "cncolyer"
wrote:
Quote
Thanks for the info David,

Did you notice a big difference in the ride and handling with the
addition of the shocks, sway bar and rear trac bar??? I feel that
mine rides pretty nice, Considering I was used to driving a 24'
Class C with a very short wheel base, But the new dutchman does feel
a little "floatey" at times???

Cliff

Cliff,

These items definitely help the ride and handling. But, we live in
New Mexico and do a lot of driving in the mountains on 2 lane roads
without shoulders. So, any improvement is very helpful for these
roads. I don't have any previous motorhome experience to compare it
to. We towed travel trailers before. If you are happy with the
handling than you might not need these. They are kind of expensive,
but I installed them myself and my tendency would be to do whatever
improvements to the handling that I can.

I still have not installed the front trac bar yet. On the freeways
there is some wandering with gusty side winds and ruts. Also, I think
the Durango is large enough to contribute to this. And my problem is
trying not to overcompensate with the light steering.

David
 

Re: New Kodiac owner

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 686


Cliff
But the new dutchman does feel
a little "floatey" at times???

It is hard to explain the dynamics of roll steering on the Kodiak chassis. A large pitman arm is vertically attached to the front steering assembly, we have an I-beam front suspension, with leaf springs. We also have a high center of gravity. All these components come into play when we are driving. For example, if the coach rocks to the driver's side, the springs depress more on the driver's side. This moves the driver's side axle back slightly, which causes the wheels to turn slightly because the pitman arm is stationary (in theory). We feel that motion of turning, so we compensate by correcting the steering. If the vehicle rolls to the right, the opposite happens. This is the "floatey" feeling Cliff mentioned. You don't get this axle shift with IFS.

Beefing up the suspension does help this problem because we are stiffening the ride and reducing the "roll," but it will NOT fix weight/load distribution problems.

My "one man campaign" concerns the weight/load distribution of our coaches. Even though our weights are within the GVWR "limits" per axle, we are not necessarily within "safe" limits. I had my coach weighed on the four corners a few weeks ago by RVSEF, and my steer axle was 5975, and the drive axle was 13,450. I was within the "limits," but I was overloaded on my driver's side rear axle by 70 lbs for the tire capacity. To compensate for the over weight condition, I was told to increase the tire pressures. What RVSEF did NOT tell me was that I was 300 lbs over on my axle capacity for that side!

My goal is to find a way to make the RV industry accountable for "weight distribution" on our coaches, and we can then be responsible for the "load distribution." My coach weighs 1800 lbs more on the driver's side when my fresh water is full, without any other cargo or people in the coach. I am within 50 lbs of the axle limit for that side before I add people or cargo.

I would encourage anyone that owns a Four Winds Super C to have the four corners weighed with people and cargo in the coach. Most Cat scales have a wide and level shoulder that you can drive on with one side of the coach. Doing so will give the axle weight for the opposite side. Then simply drive thru and drive on the opposite shoulder to give the other side weights.

If you are lucky enough to find RVSEF to weigh your coach (they are in Pomona, CA this week), I will pay for the $49 to have your coach weighed (if you own a Four Winds, Chateau, or Dutchmen Kodiak Super C, any year or model). Why do I want the information? I am compiling the information for other owners to be aware of the importance of four corner weight distribution, and I have also filed a petition with NHTSA to issue a Final Ruling requiring the RV industry to provide the four corner "weight distribution" information on every coach they sell, and to publish this information in their web sites and brochures. Your weighing record will help encourage NHTSA to address this issue. A few weeks ago NHTSA did issue a final ruling to have the labeling on every RV changed to provide more information, called the May Petition... that petition was filed in the year 2000, so NHTSA does NOT move very quickly unless encouraged to do so by the public.

Denny




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