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01-16-2025, 11:31 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 12
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2008 Tropical LX TX39C - please help!
Hello! I am the proud owner of a 2008 Tropical LX TX39C. Thanks for reading!
I'm thinking I have bought an albatross, but I'm not sure.
It has 4 slides. It is the only 2008 I have heard of, as the company was going out of business very much at that time.
I have looked for a brochure for my RV online, and cannot find one. I don't know if the 2006 and the 2007 were the same. Found a 2006 manual online.
I did find a 2008 manual, but it is exclusively for the TC 33A dual slide, and TC 36C triple-slide. The manual I found only highlights these models. Not sure if that means they didn't produce a 39' in 2008, or if I just can't find the brochure.
I don't know if this is a T391 or T392, or what a 39C means (custom order?). I see those model numbers in the 2006 manual, but on the side of coach, it clearly says TX39C right by the door as a sticker under the passenger window.
The only way I know it is a LX is due to the huge graphics outside that say LX everywhere.
The interior appears to be the 'cherry' upgrade, maybe that is what the C in 39C means?
Slight signs of surface rust at lower edges inside some of the lower storage compartments.
The rear bed appears to have been an air bed of some sort - two holes in the wood panel the mattress should be on. The mattress itself is missing. Looks like a queen. Hoping I can get a King in there. Has the nightstand on the left/rear of bed, but the right side has some trim. For now, a queen is fine to get by.
The main cabin has the ultra-leather materials on 2 couches, which I believe have the air mattresses inside, but have not looked yet. I think this material was an option that year.
It does appear to have the dual directional slide-out storage tray below, which I think has the RV sewer line coiled up in it.
It does not have a 'conventional oven' option, which I believe would go below the gas range. I see no evidence of this.
If it was supposed to have a washer/dryer unit, I'm not seeing it.
There is a false wall screwed in to the left in a closet behind the monitoring panels near the bathroom. What is behind that?
I did not see a kingdome sat dish on top.
I did see what I think is 2 solar panels up there.
The unit is in covered storage and I can't pull out the slides yet.
In fact, has 5V charge in the 4 house batteries, and the chassis batteries have 11V, so I have not started the generator or the engine yet. Getting there - it is in a cold environment right now.
It does have the two fan-tastics, one in bedroom, one in living area. I think the 2nd was an option.
I think it has the polished wheels - hard to tell in photos - but that was an LX option.
I found a book for a freightliner chassis - think they all had that.
We found an Allison manual and an Onan manual in the coach.
This is where it gets odd...it had a Cummins manual that said ISB on the front I think, but I thought the 39' models had the C7 Caterpillar engine? Any easy way to ID the engine it has, or maybe the C means Cummins? Or Caterpillar C7? See I'm confused.
I think the exterior package is the 'riviera' according to a 2006 brochure.
It has a table, but the booth surround is missing, replaced with a recliner. So living area has 2 couches, a table, and a recliner. Assuming it had a booth to pair with that table, as I've seen some other units in other years that had those.
I have zero other paperwork that came with the RV. No records. Just clear title from probate.
When I turn the key, the dash lights up. Other than the passenger fan up top right near the door, nothing else would work that I tested. The auto step did come out and retract. So there's some juice left in the batteries, as I indicated above.
I did see that there was 150A circuit breaker on the batteries, and it is not popped.
The key to operate the slides was in the 'on' position - wondering if that or something else drained the house batteries. Wish it was parked in the sun instead of under a cover - that might have kept house batteries full. Maybe not at 80 watts of panels, though. In best of conditions that would have provided maybe 3 amps of charge for probably 3-4 hours a day.
Propane tank was 1/2 full. Think this only does the stove and a gas water heater - maybe a gas heater for the HVAC system.
It does have the class IV hitch and I see the 7 pin connector.
Everything appears to be there under the storage doors. Saw Xantrex inverter, the four 6V house batteries, and the two 12V chassis batteries.
When I travel to see the vehicle in person with some tools, what should I start with? I assume jump starting it. Is it two 12V batteries wired in parallel, or is it in series for 24V, in which case my truck won't jump start it?
I've only bought new RVs in the past, never diesel, and not this long. I have about 3 months to go through it and get it in shape/tuned.
Other than checking levels, air pressure DOT stamps on tires, getting it to start, testing generator and probably flushing/draining tanks, anything else you recommend?
I mean, a manual would be great :-)
I plan to upgrade solar, switch to LiFePO4 on house batteries, swap inverter if needed, etc. I was told it was simply plugged in and sat for 3 years; was unplugged and moved 3 months ago, and been sitting in 20 degree F cold
weather since.
Told an awning or two may be bad/missing/ripped. No room to open where it sits now.
Would love a checklist of things that I should inspect/check out. Like a pre-purchase inspection after the fact :-)
I am puzzled on the keyless entry option. I don't have any fob, and I have no way of knowing if it came with it or not without the original bill of sale I don't think. Any insights?
Appears to have central heat/AC with the vents I see on the top - the round ones. Guessing the return air is under the stove? Who makes this A/C unit, dometic? Saw a Dometic device under one of the lower cargo doors - not sure what it was, as it was dark.
If there were walkaround videos floating around to explain the compartments and controls, startup checklist, where to check fluids, etc that'd be awesome. I saw some stuff in back - think it was oil for trans and engine - not sure if those were fillers or dipsticks or both as I didn't remove the cover in the cold dark of winter.
After the vehicle came out of probate, it was driven 1200 miles and put into storage. The guy who drove it said engine was very strong, and it pulled to the right a bit. Not sure if air, alignment, or worse.
There are zero funky smells inside, the couches look new, the carpet is amazing, the exterior looks like it has been covered for its entire life. Might be a great rig for my wife and I, or may just park it and plug it in the way prior owner did.
The reviews I've read online of the National RV brand are pretty amazing. Seems people with lower trim models like the upgrades that the Tropical have.
Anyone know what the MSRP was on these when new? Can't tell if they were $220,000 or $92,000 - seeing mixed things online.
Thank you SO MUCH for reading, and your friendly responses in advance!
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01-17-2025, 12:41 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 12
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Possible manual found, but 2007...need 2008
Found this manual for 2007, which lists a 391 model with 4 slides at the bottom:
https://www.rvroundtable.com/wp-cont...alRVTRLX07.pdf
I think I'm getting closer; seems the RV Roundtable - I presume a competing site - has some resources saved over there. It is 3.08 MB, which seems to be too big for this page.
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01-17-2025, 01:00 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 12
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Switch?
I found a switch on the center console that I believe is to start the generator. Not sure if anything else needs to be done other than enter the vehicle, push and hold that up, and when it starts release.
It clicked is all - again, chassis battery at 11V.
Is there a switch that combines both battery banks (engine and coach) to start the engine when the battery is weak? If so, where and what does it read?
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01-17-2025, 07:14 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 31
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Hi! Welcome to the National family  These are really great rigs. I would suggest adding the National groups over on the Book of Face. I really want to get rid of that BUT the two groups over there are an INCREDIBLE wealth of information with dozens and dozens of saved files and 100's of members with years of experience. Those groups have saved my bacon a few times, especially when I run into issues on the road. RV Life and those groups have never not been able to answer one of my MANY questions after we bought our rig. Best of luck!
__________________
Deb, Scott, Grizzly and Bear
2006 34' National Sea Breeze 1350 (Ford Chassis)
Towing a 2014 Ford Fiesta
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01-17-2025, 11:11 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 12
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Facebook
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deb Lawson
Hi! Welcome to the National family  I would suggest adding the National groups over on the Book of Face.
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Not on FaceBook. But thanks.
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01-17-2025, 11:24 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Bohemia NY
Posts: 2,020
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I had an 04, T396. Loved it. Rusting of the compartments, framing behind the engine, and inside the walls need to be monitored and kept in check. The cross members above the chassis holding up the "box" can also be easily bent. Never drive with snow on the roof!
Being an 08, do you have the Cat or Cummins engine? With the rear radiator engine service is sometimes difficult and the radiator, charger air cooler are difficult to keep clean. Mine succumbed to corrosion and structural fatigue. The Tropi-Cal was their high end gas motorhome changing to Diesel around 2003. It was the near entry level under the Tradewinds.
AC is 2 units on roof ducted and there are probably 2 furnaces for heat. As an option the stove could have been replaced with range. Enjoy!
__________________
Dennis
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
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01-17-2025, 11:56 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d23haynes57
I had an 04, T396. Loved it. Rusting of the compartments, framing behind the engine, and inside the walls need to be monitored and kept in check. The cross members above the chassis holding up the "box" can also be easily bent. Never drive with snow on the roof!
Being an 08, do you have the Cat or Cummins engine? With the rear radiator engine service is sometimes difficult and the radiator, charger air cooler are difficult to keep clean. Mine succumbed to corrosion and structural fatigue. The Tropi-Cal was their high end gas motorhome changing to Diesel around 2003. It was the near entry level under the Tradewinds.
AC is 2 units on roof ducted and there are probably 2 furnaces for heat. As an option the stove could have been replaced with range. Enjoy!
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Thank you for the advice.
I am trying to figure out if it has a Cat or Cummins - came with little paperwork. I have a Cummins manual, and said IC something on the cover, but Cummins also owns Onan so wasn't sure what I was looking at.
The A/C are seperate units on the roof then for sure? Not central air or anything -just ducts from rooftop units into the ceiling?
Assuming heater is propane and not electric - not sure who makes that.
I did a big post above asking this and many more questions. Anything you can chime in on would be greatly appreciated.
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01-21-2025, 06:36 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Newport, WA
Posts: 454
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Cats are yellow. I'm pretty sure Cummins are green. Remove one of the engine access panels in the bedroom and you'll have your answer.
I wouldn't sweat not having a National owner's manual. It won't have any useful info on how the rig is constructed, and all of the appliances and features are all common between various RV manufacturers, so find the p/n for your water heater, furnaces, air conditioners, etc and search for manuals.
Is there a Freightliner badge on the steering wheel? If so, that is your chassis (frame) and Freightliner has all the info on suspension, engine, trans, brakes, etc. You can probably find an online manual (probably a Freightliner XC).
__________________
'04 National TropiCal T350 Behind the coach:
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02-16-2025, 11:28 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 20
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I had an '08 Pacifica (which I could of swore was the last one built LOL) with the bath and half floor plan (D). If you hit up the Pacifica group, these are very similar, the guys there can help you out a ton. Download a Pacifica pamphlet.
The CAT engine will be yellow. I had the 400HP Cummings.
But new 12v batteries if you've bought it or get a Diesel Road Service (trucks) to come out if you just want it jump started.
There should be an itemized list of all options in one the bedroom closets, check there. (Back of a door or on the wall) All Freightliner info will be in the cabinet over the drivers seat.
Most coaches did not have booths just a table. You might find the folding chairs somewhere in storage.
Gas heaters are separate from HVAC.
I used an aftermarket FOBS and solenoids to repair my keyless entry.
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