New Damon Owner & Forum Member

[wrongwayknt]

HI, new owner of a 1999 Daomn Daybreak (7.4L eng with full Banks Powerpak) with 63,000 miles. We (wife and 3 kids!) are taking a 3+ week trip from MI thru Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Moab, Colorado and back in the spring....

Any advice on things I should be checking on before we head out??

Planning on replacing shocks, servicing engine, transmission, rear end and replacing fuel pump besides pulling carpet and putting in laminate wood floor.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[TAZ]

Try some dry runs at home and/or take some short shakedown trips. It will get you used to the unit and probably uncover some things didn't think about. After 40 years of camping I still find things I didn't consider.

Good luck and enjoy the trip. Yellowstone is one of my favorite destinations. It has been 20 years but it is one of the first stops when we go full time.

You will get a lot of insight on this forum. Good bunch of folk here...

[DGShaffer]

Welcome. Good luck with the new rig. Sounds like you have a bit to do. I agree with TAZ in that taking a few weekend trips to local campgrounds getting used to all of the operations of your MH. Nothing better than having things come up when you only an hour from your house. My first night out was spent in our driveway. Everything we found we forgot and needed was just inside the house.

Searching the web will bring up a lot of useful checklists for all sorts of activities like de-winterising, departing your home, setting up at a campsite, and breaking down from a campsite. Good to follow the first few times out.

[Steve N Sal]

Glad you joined us. Enjoy your project and your trip. Be safe and Happy Motoring!!!

[gasser 38]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAZ Try some dry runs at home and/or take some short shakedown trips. It will get you used to the unit and probably uncover some things didn't think about. After 40 years of camping I still find things I didn't consider. Good luck and enjoy the trip. Yellowstone is one of my favorite destinations. It has been 20 years but it is one of the first stops when we go full time. You will get a lot of insight on this forum. Good bunch of folk here...

+1 Make some short trips and operate everything! Make sure you sanitize the fresh water system.

[John H...]

Welcome to the forum. I would check the tires for age. Recomended replacement at 6 or 7 years.

[wrongwayknt]

John, good tip...I lucked out with this unit...six new tires last year along with pads and rotors!

[John H...]

OK, Sounds like a good deal...

[Mody n Domy]

Might not hurt to check belts, hoses and u joints. And most of all enjoy family time. Going on a couple weekend trips before the big one will pay off.

[macadnphyl]

Laminate is not designed for the temperature range, or moisture levels in
a motor home. You will be unhappy. Carpet is a good sound reducer, and
is warmer underfoot, easy to install, and costs less. Porcelain tile is a good hard surface option. Ceramic is ok, but is not as stable.

[wrongwayknt]

M & D...had not thought about U-Joints...good idea, thanks. We are planning a couple weekend trips to get familier with the mh...thanks!

Mac'...I was thinking laminate as I've seen several M/H's changed over, even here on Irv2...definetly something to think about....thanks for the advice

Has anyone here had a bad experience changing to laminate??

Love the site, I have learned a ton and everyone is incredibly nice1

[wa8yxm]

Though I have heard some negatives,,, About the only really bad thing I can say about my Intruder (2005 377w) has to do with some of the appliances,,, They filled it with Dometic and the Microwave is really made by LG (As was the Zenith VCR) The VCR I replaced and I fixed the design flaws in the microwave. Can not blame Damon for either of those,, Domtic is normally a good product.

Enjoy, with the Banks pack on it I suspect you are gonna love that rig.

Oh, and if ithis is your first RV.. I'm fond of saying that many RVers have a few screws loose.. now being as yours is used, it is likely they have been re-tightened properly, but in my case a bunch of them were in the circuit breaker panel. Caused some strange electrical issues till I hit 'em with ye. old screwdriver.

And one more suggestion, Get a small can of spray paint (Testors) or a bottle of nail polish and find the house batteries,, All the wires hooked to a POSITIVE lead that run off to somewhere else (not to another battery) get RED paint.

(Optional.. black on the negative side)

You may thank me later (When you change batteries)