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Old 09-02-2014, 09:29 PM   #1
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Maiden Voyage

First trip from dealer to home complete in our 2014 400bh with the 360hp upgrade. Upgrading from a 2000 Coachmen gas to this pusher is so much more than I hoped for. The power, suspension and overall feel going down the road is excellent.

Couple issues looking for input.

1. Two cracks developed from the drive home in the floor tiles. One by the fireplace and one in the bathroom. I will get this fixed but wanted to know if this is something that will just happen again and again.

2. Odd knocking noise driving at highway speed under steps. Almost sounds like something is flapping in the wind. Did not see anything obvious when stopping to check. It is rundown and doesn't happen on bumps.

3. The brochure says the assist handle next to the steps is supposed to be lit. Either mine is broke or I can't figure out how to turn it on. Any ideas?

4. I was clear when purchasing that we needed 6 seat belts in the back for kids. After we get home and load up for a short ride we realize there are only two belts at the dinette. There is a site online selling approved belts with mounting hardware. Wondering if we can just have those installed? Anyone with experience here?

Thanks everyone. Excited to be part of the FR family!
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Old 09-02-2014, 09:54 PM   #2
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On a bh there should be 2 additional seat belts built into the big sofa. It is on mine.
Good luck with your new MH and welcome to the forum



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Old 09-02-2014, 09:56 PM   #3
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Thanks mmnsc. We do have two in the sofa, but when detailing our requirements we were clear that we needed the two in the couch and four at the dinette for a total of six. Will have to see what options we can come up with.
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Old 09-03-2014, 10:22 AM   #4
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Thomas,
Welcome to the forums and congrats on your new Berkshire. As far as the knocking noise under the steps, look at the black wheel well liner. It is probably missing a screw that keeps it from flapping and banging when travelling. Also, the lighted handle should come on when you turn the aisle lights on. There is a bank of switches in the front bottom of the dash near the step well. One switch will turn on the aisle lights and the lighted handle.
Again, welcome and hope you have many safe, fun, memorable and trouble free trips with your coach.
Tom
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Old 09-03-2014, 11:13 AM   #5
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Tom thanks for the tip. I'll check these suggestions out tonight!
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Old 09-03-2014, 03:37 PM   #6
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x2 on the front wheel liner. I throughbolted a loose self tapping screw and drove in another self tapping screw in an abundance of caution. Peace and quiet at last.

If you have a jacknife sofa open it up. There may be seatbelts underneath it.
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Old 09-03-2014, 03:48 PM   #7
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Welcome to the club Thomas, I love your forum name by the way.

The cracks in the tiles are not normal. But just to clarify, it is the tile and not the grout correct?

I had some gouges made by a bolt that either fell on the floor or was left behind by some work done at my dealer. It was replaced free of charge and we cannot tell any difference in tile or grout color.

Many safe travels.
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Old 09-12-2014, 11:55 PM   #8
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Thanks everyone for the front wheel liner tip. Got under there and sure enough it was flapping all around.
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Old 09-16-2014, 10:14 PM   #9
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Welcome and best of luck with your new coach. Your dealer should replace the tiles that are cracked. They might use the spare tiles that came with the coach. I'm not sure the door handle will light up. I believe forest river stopped that a few years ago. I also have a 14 and thought the same thing according to the brochure, but found out it was discontinued in 2012 i think. The wiring is still there if you take the handle off, but you may need to but a new lighted handle if you want it to light up. It is illegal for seat belts to be in the rear facing seat of the dinette. You should have 2 in the forward facing seat and 2 or three in your couch. I do not believe the love seat has belts but you can lift the cushion and look.

Mike


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Old 09-17-2014, 10:34 AM   #10
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I live 1100 miles away from my dealer, but FR has provided two authorized service centers within 15 miles. Will be visiting one of them shortly for some warranty work. My 2000 Santara has seat belts in the rear facing dinette. I wonder if that is a new law? Thanks for the response!
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Old 09-18-2014, 06:21 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thomaspartyof10 View Post
I live 1100 miles away from my dealer, but FR has provided two authorized service centers within 15 miles. Will be visiting one of them shortly for some warranty work. My 2000 Santara has seat belts in the rear facing dinette. I wonder if that is a new law? Thanks for the response!
Outlawing rear facing seats is insane, IMHO. All Air Force planes that have troop carrying capability (C-141, C5, etc) always have the seats installed backwards. I believe riding backwards is probably the safest way to go.

Boowho??
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Old 10-09-2014, 09:53 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thomaspartyof10 View Post
First trip from dealer to home complete in our 2014 400bh with the 360hp upgrade. Upgrading from a 2000 Coachmen gas to this pusher is so much more than I hoped for. The power, suspension and overall feel going down the road is excellent.

Couple issues looking for input.

1. Two cracks developed from the drive home in the floor tiles. One by the fireplace and one in the bathroom. I will get this fixed but wanted to know if this is something that will just happen again and again.

2. Odd knocking noise driving at highway speed under steps. Almost sounds like something is flapping in the wind. Did not see anything obvious when stopping to check. It is rundown and doesn't happen on bumps.

3. The brochure says the assist handle next to the steps is supposed to be lit. Either mine is broke or I can't figure out how to turn it on. Any ideas?


4. I was clear when purchasing that we needed 6 seat belts in the back for kids. After we get home and load up for a short ride we realize there are only two belts at the dinette. There is a site online selling approved belts with mounting hardware. Wondering if we can just have those installed? Anyone with experience here?

Thanks everyone. Excited to be part of the FR family!
I checked this last night on my 14' NO light bulb present; but the wiring exists and tucked inside the wall. I checked the circuit and the only way to energize is to turn on the Aisle switch. I'm going to look into modifying this.
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Old 10-10-2014, 03:03 PM   #13
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On our 2013 the assist handle wasn't lit. The wiring was there but there was no bulb in the handle. I purchased sockets and a high power led pushed it down into the handle and viola it's now lighted.

I believe Randy Houser tracked it down and said they had discontinued it in 2012.
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Old 10-10-2014, 04:27 PM   #14
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I'd like to know what type of bulb you guys install. I would like to add a bulb to mine.
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Old 10-10-2014, 04:41 PM   #15
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Bought this bulb on EBAY.

4 x JDM High Intensity White SMD T10 194 168 906 912 921 2825 W5W LED Light Bulb | eBay
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Old 10-10-2014, 05:26 PM   #16
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I have an 09 Charleston, and it does light with the aisle light lit...took me a few trips to figure out why it worked sometimes and not others......(hint...aisle light switch)..really neat looking at night, not sure why they would remove that........
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Old 10-10-2014, 05:30 PM   #17
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Thanks edge!
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Old 12-18-2014, 03:46 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edgewant View Post
On our 2013 the assist handle wasn't lit. The wiring was there but there was no bulb in the handle. I purchased sockets and a high power led pushed it down into the handle and viola it's now lighted.

I believe Randy Houser tracked it down and said they had discontinued it in 2012.
Going to give this a try myself, thanks for the idea edge!
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Old 12-18-2014, 03:53 PM   #19
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Quick Update

My punch list remains outstanding after 3.5 months. I bought my Berk in Texas at Motorhome Specialist and all the RV shops in my area (Northern, VA) don't seem to want to jump to help me since I didn't purchase from them.

I will be visiting family in Ohio which is two hours from the factory. Has anyone on here ever just gone directly to the factory for the warranty work? Seems like it might be worth the trip, but I can't afford to stay there too many days.

Thanks much!
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Old 12-18-2014, 03:55 PM   #20
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x2 on the front wheel liner. I throughbolted a loose self tapping screw and drove in another self tapping screw in an abundance of caution. Peace and quiet at last.

If you have a jacknife sofa open it up. There may be seatbelts underneath it.
Seeg, I tightened the self tapping screw, but it has worked loose over the last 1000 miles. I guess I will try your suggestion of a through bolt.

Thanks for the idea.
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