My Manual for our 2015 Berkshire 34QS

[gordonsick]

I have posted earlier versions of my manual on at thread at http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1965748

However, that thread started with a title indicating that it was for 36QS manuals, and that is an older coach. I think it is worthwhile having my manual in a thread of its own rather than mixed with other manuals. The contents have some relevance to coaches and even trailers of similar vintages and Berkshire coaches of several vintages.

This is a pretty major revision. I'll probably make more revisions in the future, and I'll see if I can persuade the Forum Moderators to keep them together in this thread, so that you can find them by bookmarking this thread.

As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.

–Gordon

[gordonsick]

Here is the December 2, 2019 revision of my personal Berkshire 34QS Owners Manual.

It is up to 73 pages now.

One update is a discussion of water filters. I have found lengthy threads discussing water filtration and they seem to generate more heat than light. I've provided links to the ANSI/NSF standards on water filtration for homes to help shed more light.

Another update involves chassis and engine maintenance. It discusses how to find the correct filter numbers and how to solve subtle problems with oil changes and fuel filter changes.

– Gordon

[hvstorck]

Thanks Gordon! Great info.
Harvey

[shepardmike]

Gordon,

After reading your manual I am realizing that my walk-through with the dealer was pathetic. I have learned more from this than I did from the dealer. One question on the roof AC filters. How do you pop off the covers to clean?

[gordonsick]

My walk-thru was also pathetic. When I bought the coach, the salesman credibly explained that he always hired one of the technicians to do the walk thru. Sadly, he was no longer with the company when I took delivery. The sales manager did the walk through and was really pathetic.

After we agreed on a price for the coach, the dealers finance rep slipped in an extra $10k for a useless extended warranty and stuff that I had declined. The salesman supported me in the dispute, and I conjecture that this led to his being fired. I always thought that was the reason for my useless walk-thru, until I heard of many reports like yours that shoddy walk thrus are pretty common in the industry.

This was part of the motivation for writing my manual.

I should put in the cleaning of AC filters for the next version of the manual. I’ve got Dometic AC units, which are pretty common. When you are inside the coach, look up to the large grille on the unit. It is the input air grille. There are two tabs on one side. Push them aside and the grille comes down, with the filter. Wash the filters.

There is another smaller grille on the AC unit with a slider to open and close. When opened, the cold air comes out that grille. When closed, the cold air is forced into some roof ducts, from which it is released throughout the coach. I use the latter system, because it is quieter and spreads the cooling.

[gordonsick]

Here is the latest version of my manual. It is up to 84 pages. I cleaned up some typos and tried to clarify a few things. Major additions:
• Towing a TOAD Dinghy
• Television and Sound Bar systems

The manual has a Table of Contents with hyperlinks to the text, so you don't have to scroll through everything to get what you want.

Although the manual is specific to my 2015 Berk 34QS and my modifications to it, there are many things that are relevant to other RVs, including trailers. The closer your RV is to my Berk in age, body style and feature list, the more relevant will be this manual.

Comments are welcome. If it is a major issue, please post on this thread. If it is minor, just message me and I'll work it into a future release.

–Gordon

[gordonsick]

I've had a bit of time to update the manual with Covid. It is now up to 87 pages.

I've added bits of information in various places, including a discussion of the Battery Isolation Manager, motivated by the information provided by GoneSouth in another thread.

–Gordon

[feedfold]

Thanks Gordon
I had your last copy saved on my phone for reference. Now I have your lastest version. Well-written with some good information.
John Dickman, 2016 34QS

[gordonsick]

The manual is up to 92 pages now.
I've introduced a discussion of how to access the engine from the bedroom.
I updated my discussion of adding plugs to the power cords.
Discussed coolant change procedure.
Minor updates and typo fixes.

[gordonsick]

This manual will be useful for a lot of people:
• New users of a motorhome or RV can focus on driving procedures, setting up camp and breaking camp.
• Experienced users will find a lot of little surprises, such as details on how air brakes work or why castor makes a TOAD follow the motorhome when towed 4 down.
• Users with common problems will find solutions or links to solutions.
• I’ve made a lot of updates to my Coach and the manual discusses the updates and how to use them, as well as links to how to do the same for yourself.
• Information on maintenance and repairs is provided.

The manual has a hyperlinked Table of Contents and contains many hyperlinks to other parts of the manual or external websites. Naturally, this only works if you are using the digital PDF version of the manual on a computer or tablet. But, there are lots of times that a printed copy is convenient. I carry both versions in my Coach.

A rainy camping day gave me the time to do a lot of the updates to my manual. It is now 103 pages long (up from 92). New items include:
• More information on the water pump.
• Updates to the Coach that make flushing the waste tanks easier, including my cross-feed backflush system for cleaning Black Tank sensors.
• The procedure for checking the Transmission fluid level, since I keep forgetting the temperature for hot and cold checks.
• Authoritatively reference information on Super-chlorination for making water potable.

[caflorin]

Added a copy to my local electronic library. Thank you for sharing.

[feedfold]

Originally Posted by gordonsick

This manual will be useful for a lot of people:
• New users of a motorhome or RV can focus on driving procedures, setting up camp and breaking camp.
• Experienced users will find a lot of little surprises, such as details on how air brakes work or why castor makes a TOAD follow the motorhome when towed 4 down.
• Users with common problems will find solutions or links to solutions.
• I’ve made a lot of updates to my Coach and the manual discusses the updates and how to use them, as well as links to how to do the same for yourself.
• Information on maintenance and repairs is provided.

The manual has a hyperlinked Table of Contents and contains many hyperlinks to other parts of the manual or external websites. Naturally, this only works if you are using the digital PDF version of the manual on a computer or tablet. But, there are lots of times that a printed copy is convenient. I carry both versions in my Coach.

A rainy camping day gave me the time to do a lot of the updates to my manual. It is now 103 pages long (up from 92). New items include:
• More information on the water pump.
• Updates to the Coach that make flushing the waste tanks easier, including my cross-feed backflush system for cleaning Black Tank sensors.
• The procedure for checking the Transmission fluid level, since I keep forgetting the temperature for hot and cold checks.
• Authoritatively reference information on Super-chlorination for making water potable.

Nice work, I will update my files with this pdf.

[Eric B FR Diesel]

Great Manuel, This is not the first time I have seen it, and Gordon Always appreciate the value you add the forums.

[gordonsick]

Eric,
Thanks for the endorsement. That kind of thing keeps my interest up in revising it.

–cheers, Gordon

[sgil]

First, want to thank Gordon for his efforts. For most of us, keeping our coaches up is a labor of love (with a bit of misery tossed in for good measure. Your comments, your ever expanding document and your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

The other topic I want to put here is a thank you to the members on this forum who go out of their way to not only be helpful but just plain nice. It is really good to be able to exchange ideas and notes in a place where the group all share respect as well as our knowledge.

Just because, Gordon, hopefully we will cross paths one day - I owe you a meal for some of the time you have saved me over the years.


Steve
2015 Berkshire 400QL (40XL)

[gordonsick]

Steve,
Thanks for the kudos.

I do like using this forum for getting useful information. The threading of the topics is more useful than posting comments on a more linear forum, like Facebook It is searchable by Google, and other motorhome owners use our forum for useful information.

I also like that the forum is followed by Forest River people, who chime in with useful information that we couldn't find elsewhere.

I agree that people behave politely on this forum. I've bailed out of forums on other topics (like DPReview for cameras) when trolls took over. This forum has a very high signal to noise ratio, compared to many other forums that I see on various topics.

–Gordon

[gordonsick]

Here is another update. I fixed some errors and cleaned up some of my explanations. There is a discussion of my updated solar system and my water bladder for ferrying water. More photos, and more hyperlinks. Better writing cut the page length to 102 pages.

This is a longer time since my last update since I'm running out of new ideas and issues to deal with.

–Gordon

[DogFather]

Thanks, much, for documenting and sharing all this, Gordon!

I'm sure that I and many others will find this very useful.

[hvstorck]

Thanks Gordon. Great information!
Harvey

[shepardmike]

I have gone to this document several times over the years. Many thanks Gordon!