modifications

Enhancements and repairs to our coach.

Replacing controller for Tecma macerating toilet

Our motorhome has two toilets; an electric gravity toilet in the half bath, and an electric macerating toilet in the rear bathroom. Both have had their issues; in 2021 I needed to replace the flush switch on the half bath toilet, and in 2022 I needed to dismantle the rear toilet to clear out a blockage.

Recently, the rear toilet stopped working again, in much the same way as before, so I figured that I needed to clear a blockage again. Though it was a bit different this time; it would flush first thing in the morning, then stop working again. Which made me think something else was going on. Upon dismantling it, I confirmed that there wasn’t any blockage. Research indicated that the issue was likely the controller unit; apparently our vintage had a known issue where it could overheat and stop working.

So, I ordered a replacement controller. It’s the “Thetford 36398 Toilet Controller for Tecma Silence Plus RV Toilet”. I purchased it from Boat & RV Accessories, as they had it for a good price and could ship it overnight. But it is also available on Amazon from a couple of sellers.

But unfortunately this did not solve the issue. I thought it did, as the toilet worked properly for a few days, but yesterday as we prepared to leave our campsite, it failed again. It’s possible that the new controller went bad, but it seems much more likely to me that the macerator pump is actually the cause. So I guess I need to try replacing that.

On to the pictures. Here’s the toilet in the shower, prior to looking for clogs:

Toilet in shower

Paladin sniffing the sewer pipe:

Paladin sniffing sewer pipe

I looked where the blockage was before, after the macerator, but it was clear:

Removing macerator

So I fully removed the macerator; no blockage anywhere:

Removing macerator

The suspect controller:

The controller

Work in progress:

Work in progress

The new controller arrived, and even included a copy of the manual:

New controller

I put the toilet back in the shower (it had been back in place, though disconnected, while I waited for the part), and removed the old controller:

Toilet in shower

I added the new controller, and re-installed the macerator:

Re-installed macerator

Re-installed macerator

Then re-installed the toilet, and checked it:

Re-installed toilet

It worked for a few days, but as mentioned above, replacing the controller didn’t solve the issue. Stay tuned for a future post on my next attempt at repairing this toilet! We’re very glad that we have two toilets in our coach, so can make do with using the other one in the meantime.

Just another super glamorous aspect of RV life.

Slide glide replacement

I noticed one of the slide glides was broken on the front passenger slide-out. So we also got Coach Connection in Red Bay to fix that. The glide blocks help support the slide-out, but can break in time; this is the second time we’ve had to replace one (though a different one).

It involves slightly jacking up the slide to take the pressure off:

Jack under slide

The the glide blocks can be easily removed and replaced, mounted onto a metal plate:

Slide glide blocks

Entry door repairs

The entry door on our coach was not closing or opening very well, especially when in the sun. Apparently the door latch wasn’t the correct model. So we got that replaced by Coach Connection in Red Bay:

Replacing latch

Replacing latch

The door arm (that holds it open) was also sagging and catching on the door, so we got him to replace that too:

Door arm

Door arm

Both so much better now.

Sinclair Trails QR codes

I recently generated a QR code for the Sinclair Trails blog; scanning this code will take you to a variation of the About Sinclair Trails page, that introduces the blog and gives background info about us, our coach, and truck:

QR code

I bought a couple of large stickers with that QR code from a seller on Etsy (the same one I used for the big Sinclair Trails logo sticker), and added the smaller one between the states map and URL on the side of our slide-out:

Map, QR code, URL

From further back:

Map, QR code, URL

The QR code can be read from this far back (or a little further). Here’s a screenshot of the iPhone Camera app reading the QR code:

Camera app

I also added a larger sticker on the back of our coach. I have a ladder, but it was easier (and more stable) to back up our truck to the rear of the coach, and stand on the tailgate:

Truck backed up to rear of coach

Here’s the big QR code on the rear of our coach, so passengers can scan it while passing us on the road:

QR code on rear of coach

Roofline seal repair

We had some flaking paint and sealant along the roofline of our coach, which could potentially leak in time. We’ve been meaning to get it fixed for a while, and had an opportunity in Red Bay.

I don’t have any great “before” pictures, but you can see some flaking in this picture, just above the gutter that goes all the way across:

Roofline

We took our coach to Pro Finishes in Belmont:

Pro Finishes

Pro Finishes

We waited in their customer lounge while they worked on it:

Waiting room

Waiting room

They had Girl Scout cookies for sale, so we bought some:

Girl Scout cookies

Our coach in their shop:

Our coach

Our coach

Another coach, wrapped in plastic for painting:

Another coach

Back at our site, closeups of the repairs:

Repaired

Repaired

Much better.

Barrier cushions

There are a bunch of wires and stuff under the dash in our coach, which are too tempting for Paladin to play with when he’s in a bratty mood:

Under dash area

So while at Red Bay we got Lindsey & Winchester Drapery to make a custom barrier cushion for that space (something they do for many owners with pets).

Here’s a rough cut of foam for the shape:

Foam

And the final product, delivered later that week:

Barrier cushion

In place:

Barrier cushion

We also got them to make a small barrier for under the bedroom slide-out, to prevent Paladin from pushing things under there:

Barrier cushion

And a block for a larger gap in the corner:

Barrier cushion

These work great. Of course, we remove them for travel days.

Replaced SeeLeveL II panel

In the wet bay of our coach is a SeeLeveL II tank monitor panel, that shows the battery, fresh tank, grey tank, and black tank levels:

SeeLeveL II panel

The panel stopped working, and I had it replaced less than a year ago, but it got wet and stopped working again when doing recent wet bay mods, so I needed to replace it again. Rather than paying the inflated price the service place charged me, I ordered the panel from RVupgrades.com, and replaced it myself. I also ordered the correct panel for my coach — notice that the above picture has a button for LPG level too, but my coach doesn’t have any propane.

Here’s the back of the old panel, showing the connectors; power and tank level on the left, and the RVC network port on the right:

Connectors

The replacement panel, model 709RVC-NLP (RVC for that port, and NLP for no-LP):

SeeLeveL II panel

I also got a gasket to hopefully protect it from water intrusion a bit:

SeeLeveL II panel

The new panel installed:

SeeLeveL II panel

Easy.

Easy reach awning opener

A nice tweak: I found this easy reach awning opener at the Tiffin parts store, and bought two of them. Our coach came with a long pole to reach the window awnings, but it’s a bit of a pain to pull it out of the basement bay, and possibly go around to the other side to get it. With two of these compact extendable tools, we can more easily open the awnings. Handy!

Here’s an Amazon link for the product (probably way cheaper than whatever I paid at Tiffin).

Easy reach awning opener

Tiffin parts store

While at 1st Class Glass I wandered across the road to the Bob Tiffin Service Center, where new owners of Tiffin motorhomes can get servicing done. (We are not eligible, since our coach is a 2017 model; we use third-party vendors instead.)

Bob Tiffin Service Center

Bob Tiffin Service Center

I wanted to visit the parts store to pick up some items. It’s a huge area; I wasn’t sure where to go (and they don’t have great signage). I stopped by the Tiffin Allegro Club office, and they pointed me in the right direction:

Bob Tiffin Service Center

Bob Tiffin Service Center

The service center customer entrance is hidden halfway down this building:

Bob Tiffin Service Center

Bob Tiffin Service Center

Inside, they directed me to the customer parts area, though I had to ask again to find it. It’s a small caged area with a few parts on display, and a counter where one can ask for other parts:

Parts shop

Parts shop

Apparently it used to be much nicer, where people could browse the shelves for parts; now you have to request them. I could find all sorts of goodies if I could explore, but alas, this area beyond the gate is off limits:

Parts shop

Just a few items available within the cage:

Parts shop

Parts shop

Parts shop

Stay tuned for one bonus find, though, coming on tomorrow’s Tweak Thursday.

Windshield leak repair

Today would normally be a travel post, but we’re almost real-time, and it’s my birthday week, so I thought I’d do a week of modification posts instead, as my gift to you. Enjoy!

Another repair item. Our windshield started to leak a little in one spot when it rained, dripping down inside:

Leak

Leak

Obviously not ideal. While in Red Bay, we had an appointment with 1st Class Glass to fix that:

1st Class Glass

They also have an adjacent full-hookup campground for customers, though we didn’t use it:

Campground

They hooked up the power, and encouraged us to put out our slides and relax in our coach, which was nice:

1st Class Glass

They have a nifty platform that can be raised or lowered to let them conveniently work on the windshield without needing ladders:

1st Class Glass

1st Class Glass

1st Class Glass

A glimpse in the background of a windshield being re-attached to a motorhome:

1st Class Glass

They replaced the seal all across the top of our windshield, which does seem to have fixed the leak (it was possible the leak was actually coming from the marker light, but they found moisture inside the windshield seal, so were fairly confident that the problem was the windshield seal):

Re-sealed windshield

Re-sealed windshield

Yay for not leaking!