32KD Suburban Furnace replacement

[malmz]

For those that have followed in the other threads, I am getting closer to having a local trailer shop R&R my noisy furnace that DDRV did not complete before they went out of business. After some phone time, Suburban did send the replacement furnace to the new shop and I have been working on coordinating with the shop on an installation window.

Labor should be under warranty... The DDRV paperwork had a 1.2 hour labor quote. The shop thinks this is light. The install does not look that complex as long as the unit comes out and in easy enough, so this is probably a Dynamax question, but I am sitting here Friday afternoon, so my timing is off to call them. I am assuming, but not sure, Dynamax installs the furnace and then builds the vanity and walls around it (?).

How long is reasonable to remove and install the unit? Will the unit come out through the outside panel, or the large inside grill opposite? I can prepull the panels and the lower vanity panel to make it easier for the shop. The vent hoses and everything appear reasonably easy to access but any input there?

My other fear is that it has to come out from the outside, and that the outer trim ring will need to be removed which will involve being extremely delicate with the paint line because it looks like the coach is painted after the outer trim and panel are in place.

I understand most have not dealt with this type of thing on a 32KD, so I am hoping mostly for Brian to give his $.02 to make this go as smooth as possible. I have a possible date next Thursday, but the want to be able to keep it overnight if necessary.

[png31]

Originally Posted by malmz

For those that have followed in the other threads, I am getting closer to having a local trailer shop R&R my noisy furnace that DDRV did not complete before they went out of business. After some phone time, Suburban did send the replacement furnace to the new shop and I have been working on coordinating with the shop on an installation window.

Labor should be under warranty... The DDRV paperwork had a 1.2 hour labor quote. The shop thinks this is light. The install does not look that complex as long as the unit comes out and in easy enough, so this is probably a Dynamax question, but I am sitting here Friday afternoon, so my timing is off to call them. I am assuming, but not sure, Dynamax installs the furnace and then builds the vanity and walls around it (?).

How long is reasonable to remove and install the unit? Will the unit come out through the outside panel, or the large inside grill opposite? I can prepull the panels and the lower vanity panel to make it easier for the shop. The vent hoses and everything appear reasonably easy to access but any input there?

My other fear is that it has to come out from the outside, and that the outer trim ring will need to be removed which will involve being extremely delicate with the paint line because it looks like the coach is painted after the outer trim and panel are in place.

I understand most have not dealt with this type of thing on a 32KD, so I am hoping mostly for Brian to give his $.02 to make this go as smooth as possible. I have a possible date next Thursday, but the want to be able to keep it overnight if necessary.

Looking at the photos I took during the plant tour, the furnace on the Europa was installed before the exterior walls were put in place. It does appear the opening behind the interior louvered panel under the refrigerator is large enough to allow removal of the furnace.

My coach was definitely painted before the exterior furnace panel and associated mounting ring were installed. These parts were painted off of the coach. My coach was custom paint, so this may not be the usual process. In any event, it looks like you will not have to disturb the exterior panel mounting ring.

[png31]

[png31]

31SS. Don’t how similar the is the 32KD.

[bclemens]

It fits through the outside access panel.

[malmz]

Originally Posted by bclemens

It fits through the outside access panel.

With or without the trim ring?

[bclemens]

here is an installation manual. https://manuals.heartlandowners.org/...e_Suburban.pdf

[malmz]

Originally Posted by bclemens

here is an installation manual. https://manuals.heartlandowners.org/...e_Suburban.pdf

So I am assuming that the trim ring must be removed situation. Is the coach painted before or after the trim ring is installed? I can't do the install due to warranty, but want to drop it next Thur eyes wide open as they are concerned about the labor alotted by Suburban, and I am concerned the coach paint is not comprimised.

I will remove the vanity lower panel and inside grill myself to relieve them of that step and reduce chance of damage to those.

Thanks for answering on Sat.

[png31]

Zoom in to the furnace area. Hope it helps.

[malmz]

Thanks png31. Same but different. I was hoping it would come.out the inside hole but it looks like it has to come out the side based on Brian's responses.

One more. What sealant brand and color does the factory use? It looks a little more charcoal than black. I would bring the shop a tube to ensure oem match if I can buy and get it in time.

[bclemens]

There is a sealant schematic in the online manual (under care and maintenance) and someone on here has even posted a cross reference chart for other 3M sealants.

[malmz]

Sorry if I am a burden. I don't see a chart in the Europa online manual. https://forestriverinc.help/#/dynama...ultiple-676371

I did do a "dynamax sealant" search on this forum before posting the question and did not see anything specific. I just searched "dynamax 3m" but am not getting a clear result. I will switch to a computer to search more. I am sure it is out there already.

[milkman55]

The online manual for 2024 Europa under Care and Maintenance shows the sealant chart. Is says “Force” and M2 at the bottom, but I am sure it’s the same sealants they have used for awhile. I don’t see a marking for the furnace, but in my Isata 5, it shows clear silicone for sealing around the outside furnace access.

https://forestriverinc.help/#/dynama...ultiple-709362

[malmz]

Thanks milkman55. I did find a 2020 forum reference to Project 1 brand pure silicone. Not on the furnace either, but assume it is the same. I think I have everything I need to know going in now.

[NewToTheForce]

Chart

[malmz]

Thanks NewToTheForce for the reference. That is a good reference for then other sealants. I see the Force sealant diagram just shows black pure silicone for a lot of the secondary seals but lists no product number, so it looks like any quality brand pure black silicone is all it needs.

All good.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by malmz

For those that have followed in the other threads, I am getting closer to having a local trailer shop R&R my noisy furnace that DDRV did not complete before they went out of business. After some phone time, Suburban did send the replacement furnace to the new shop and I have been working on coordinating with the shop on an installation window.

Labor should be under warranty... The DDRV paperwork had a 1.2 hour labor quote. The shop thinks this is light. The install does not look that complex as long as the unit comes out and in easy enough, so this is probably a Dynamax question, but I am sitting here Friday afternoon, so my timing is off to call them. I am assuming, but not sure, Dynamax installs the furnace and then builds the vanity and walls around it (?).

How long is reasonable to remove and install the unit? Will the unit come out through the outside panel, or the large inside grill opposite? I can prepull the panels and the lower vanity panel to make it easier for the shop. The vent hoses and everything appear reasonably easy to access but any input there?

My other fear is that it has to come out from the outside, and that the outer trim ring will need to be removed which will involve being extremely delicate with the paint line because it looks like the coach is painted after the outer trim and panel are in place.

I understand most have not dealt with this type of thing on a 32KD, so I am hoping mostly for Brian to give his $.02 to make this go as smooth as possible. I have a possible date next Thursday, but the want to be able to keep it overnight if necessary.

The outside case of the furnace is called the plenum. It's a sheet metal box that has all the output ducts and also contains the firebox, electronic ignition circuits, and a motor with blowers to draw in return air from the trailer and tubes to draw in fresh air from outside for the firebox, and exhaust burned fuel to the outside. Changing all this is a huge amount of work, as you suggest. They won't do this.

Instead, they will keep the old plenum with all the ducts in place. This is a passive assembly and there's nothing that can really go wrong with it. They will draw out the guts (firebox, electronics, blowers, motors. intake and exhaust tubes) as a single assembly, and replace them with the equivalent assembly for a new furnace. This really can be done well in 90 minutes. I've done it. Here are the steps:

• Turn off propane at tank(s).
• Remove return air grille.
• Disconnect propane line (usually easiest with a crowsfoot socket)
• Label and cut or disconnect four wires (+12 volts, ground, and two thermostat wires).
• Remove front plenum cover (two screws)
• Remove plenum anchor screw (one screw)
• Pull guts out.

Just reverse these steps with the new assembly.

The equivalent would be having an engine failure on a new automobile or truck. You would replace the engine, but not the hood, front fenders, or transmission with it.

[malmz]

Excellent info Larry, makes sense. So since the plenum stays in place, if done this way the exterior trim ring stays in place and the guts should clear it? Or removed for the guts to clear it?

Just to add content, my original defect is the heating chamber "oil cans" loudly when burning every 45 seconds. Suburban said they only see a few of these a year, thus are replacing the whole unit as it makes no sense to do individual parts.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by malmz

Excellent info Larry, makes sense. So since the plenum stays in place, if done this way the exterior trim ring stays in place and the guts should clear it? Or removed for the guts to clear it?

Just to add content, my original defect is the heating chamber "oil cans" loudly when burning every 45 seconds. Suburban said they only see a few of these a year, thus are replacing the whole unit as it makes no sense to do individual parts.

Thanks for the information. It makes sense. I'd never heard of the firebox doing that, although the side of our range in the sticks-and-bricks house does it exactly at 375°. If you set bake at 375°, the beep and clunk are nearly simultaneous.

The "guts" of the furnace includes the firebox, igniter, control board, motor, and two blowers. Even if Suburban sent an entire furnace, I think it would be doing the customer a favor to just swap the guts. No worry about recaulking as well as the factory did or changing the outside appearance. But that's an outsider's view.

From Suburban's view, they have complete units in padded boxes ready to ship, and the outside case, fabricated sheet metal is a very small fraction of the cost, so I can see why they would ship that replacement.

[malmz]

Job done. Thanks for the input and information, they did the install today leaving the plenum in place so as not to remove any ducting or the trim ring. With the bedroom duct on the 32KD I don't think there would be access to do the plenum easily at all.

The weather cooled down to 99 so I was able to do a 5 minute test. The loud metal pop every minute is gone and problem is solved. I will send a thank you to Suburban for replacing the unit.

One more issue off the list, the main slide water ingress is next.