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liznleroy · 04-19-2010, 08:05 AM

We purchased a new Daman Challenger 348 in January. We went to Florida for 3 weeks in March. Shortly after, my husband had scheduled surgery. SO today we are taking the RV to the deler to get all the "problems" fixed. The new problem we found this morning the slides won't go in no matter what we try. The other problems we encountered were, the very thin aluminum closet rod collapased on the first day out, 5 fuses blew out, the shower leaked causing a flood in the kitchen, (not sealed at the bottom), The paint on the roof along the edge of the rubber roofing is bubbling and peeling, the self leveling system does not work, this is just the major problems. So disappointed in something new with so many problems. Hoping for a better day!
Anyone encounter any of these problems??

kayo · 04-19-2010, 03:21 PM

Don't know about the other probelms, but make sure that you did not accidently disocnnnect the house batteries (on my 2004 348, there is a switch just inside the door above the steps, along with some other switches that take care of the bay lights and the outdoor light). also the slides ( at least mine) will not move if the ignitiin is on

turtle2468 · 04-19-2010, 03:53 PM

Levelers may be just the switch between the battery and levelers. If the house batteries are low the slides won't go in.

gasser 38 · 04-20-2010, 07:50 AM

Batteries Low, Ign key on, house battery switch off, key lock on panel off, all will stop slides

doc · 04-20-2010, 08:19 AM

If the engine is running, the slides won't work. Also need to HAVE the engine running when self-leveling - takes a lot of juice to run them. We tripped a breaker on the front under the hood and jacks would not function. On our Essence, the breaker is just right of center facing the coach.

liznleroy · 04-20-2010, 08:26 AM

Everything is still under warranty, just frustrating that new things are falling apart. Just wondering if any one else had simmilar problems with Damon and Challengers, especially the paint bubbling.

wa8yxm · 04-20-2010, 11:22 AM

That has got to be a "Monday" date of manufacturer on that Damon.. Mine (An Intruder) has none of those problems.

Now... ON the slides.. Some motor homes need engine alternator power to move slides,,, Some (mine) insist that the motor be OFF (ignition interlock) and there is a hidden relay somewhere (I happen to know where in my rig but that won't do you any good) You have several fuses.. I'd have to be almost hands on to shoot the trouble.. way too much to type about save in general sense

In all cases.. If your house battery is disconnected.. Odds are no power to the slides (or lights, or water pump or.... anything) My converter MIGHT have enough power to move the slides... (it's an 80 amp) but I'm not sure.

First: 120 volt systems like the Air Conditioners:

I like to joke that many of us RVers have a few screws loose... The joke is that folks think "Mental" but in truth I'm talking "Metal" specifically, in this case, the screws that attach the wires in the circuit breaker box.

While NOT PLUGGED IN and with the generator OFF, open the breaker box

Apply the proper screwdriver (A #2 Square or Robson in my case) to each and every screw with a wire under it.. Some of mine took as much as one and a half turns (That's 540 degrees of rotation) to properly tighten.. This will cause all sorts of issues as the wires bounce around in the hole and make/fail to make, contact.

12 volt uses a different type of conneciton which is much stronger in my coach.. but you might check it too (Disconnect battery power, turn off converter breaker, use 120 volt trouble light before working on that panel)

Slides are 12 volt... I use a test lamp to shoot 12 volt issues. Now I have seen 12 volt test lamps for sale.. they look like an ice pick with a wire and a bulb in the handle and frankly... Most of the ones I've had over the years were junk.

The one I use now is a license plate socket, designed for a "Blade" type bulb (like a dash indicator light or even a clearance/marker lamp) the requirements are the socket has to have TWO leads.. Install matching bulb

On one lead I put an alligator clip

The other one got a few feet of flexible wire (20 or 22 ga stranded) Tape or heat shrink tube over the joint, and a second alligator clip on the other end

Way easier than a volt meter.. Here's why

Volt meter,, apply probes. turn head to look at meter, see ZERO reading, look back at probes and observe one slipped

Light.. Apply clips (Probes) Observe LIGHT, Ok we got power)

ANd then you follow the 12 volts till it goes by by.

KC1BUD · 04-23-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liznleroy

Everything is still under warranty, just frustrating that new things are falling apart. Just wondering if any one else had simmilar problems with Damon and Challengers, especially the paint bubbling.

Warranty or not there is a national warranty law called the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act http://www.free-lemon-law-guide.com/...n-moss-act.php

Read this to see if you have any recourse in this matter.