Community Forums

DebbieMH · 02-11-2014, 10:34 AM

Just as an fyi - I talked to my RV guy (not affiliated with the dealership) - he has been in the business for a long time and when he was younger, was actually taken under Fleetwood's wing and was trained by them for a couple of years as a specialist (who would have thought!) Anyway, he said the squeaks up by the windshield and in the front of the coach is normal for a new coach. It may take it 6 months or a year before we will notice that the squeaks are almost gone. Said that to take the "stuff" out of the front so it doesn't squeak is not a good idea - they purposefully sandwich them together so tight so that as the coach ages and those "styrofoam" stuff rubs down, it will quit making the noise. But that stuff is needed for insulation and to marry the dash/windshield/etc. together.

Said that if all that squeaky stuff is taken out - then there is no insulation and it will be very cold in the winter on your legs!

So, thought I'd pass that little bit of insight on .... said most coaches that are new squeak up front. And just live with it for awhile and one day - you will say - Humm --- doesn't squeak anymore!

**NLOVNIT** · 02-11-2014, 11:15 AM

Mine still squeaks....8 years later. So I guess I'll take the RV guy's statement w/a grain of salt. However, it only squeaks when it's cold & the roads are bumpy.

L-

Horst SE MI · 02-12-2014, 07:02 AM

Hello Debbie, from experience with 3 prior motor homes I can tell you that your 'expert's' opinion is wrong, I would even like to say 'BS'. So, your contribution here was and is not helpful at all, it is misleading. I would suggest, if possible, to have it deleted.

Please, be not offended, I only feel that the experts opinion is wrong and therefore misleading. We had our squeaking fixed by removing some or most of the Styrofoam type material. Now, at 28 degrees on the way to Florida, our foot on the accelerator 'turns into ice'! I brought this to the attention of a Fleetwood representative at the FMCA rally in Seffner, FL last month, and he commented that the big problem with the Excursion is an inadequate heating system. It is not strong enough to keep it warm even at a high heat setting with a full blower fan setting. He feels that it might have to 'go back to engineering' to get it changed. That naturally would take effect with future models, and I hope that the change will then be retrofitted to our Excursion.

So, the squeaking problem 'migrated' now to an inadequate heating problem. On the way back to Michigan a week ago we drove with a blanket over our lap reaching down to the feet (especially the one on the accelerator).

I have since talked to our salesman, and he was very surprised about my comments about our new Excursion with now 64 squawks. You can imagine the words which I used, which I don't want to repeat here (BS, here, was bad enough, LOL).

Sincerely,
Thanks,

DebbieMH · 02-12-2014, 10:48 AM

Ok delete it then. Sorry ...

DebbieMH · 02-12-2014, 10:53 AM

I just sent this to "contact" on the forum - so hopefully they get it deleted soon. fyi ....

The fellow on the Fleetwood Owners Group is requesting my posting of Excursion Squeaks be deleted. Please do so - I never meant to mislead anyone - was just saying what an RV tech told me. I apologize, please delete the entire thread.

**NLOVNIT** · 02-12-2014, 11:46 AM

There is no reason to delete this thread. Just because it is mis-information, does not mean it's not valuable. As a matter of fact, it is actually a "teaching moment" our members can learn from. We all need to watch what we're told by self-proclaimed knowledge experts.

It also serves to have members come here for input & advice on such information. Although we can be wrong as well.

Lori-

PatStab · 02-12-2014, 01:10 PM

My old 92 Eagle doesn't squeak much, now it will if I go over a lot of hard bumps, bad railroad tracks, and really rough roads, that are the washboard type, but going down the road she is pretty quiet.

I had new hoses run up front and I suppose back to the engine, they were all deteriorated and rotten I'm sure, also had a new AC unit on the engine, it was no good when we bought it, didn't even have a belt on it. I get heat up front now but not real strong like a car or truck would be, but if the outside temp is in the 20's and 30's I'm ok. Of course I'm wearing warmer clothes anyway. If its really cold I start the genny and put my small electric Voronado heater upfront and run it.
I haven't been in intense snow or anything to see if the onboard system keeps the windshield and all defrosted, on milder days it does. But I will just run the furnace or heater if need be to stay warm. If I find the windshield doesn't stay defrosted, will just move the heater up on the dash, but haven't had to do that. You can position it so it blows on your feet. Now in my gas Winnie, my accelorater foot got really hot in the summer and froze cold in the winter. I think this would help. I also ran a fan in summer on my feet which helped. The old Eagle is pretty comfortable. Of course having the engine in the rear really makes a lot of difference. I don't like cold or very hot feet!

DebbieMH · 02-12-2014, 02:11 PM

for what it is worth ... here is a reply I just got from Fleetwood -

Thanks for taking the time to respond to our survey. The squeaks you mention are most often attributed to plastic or fiberglass trim pieces rubbing an adjacent panel. This is something that can be eliminated by a dealer identifying where the sound is being generated from and then adding a cushioning material in between the two pieces that are rubbing.
Typically we use a neoprene gasket material to accomplish this. It also could be expandable foam we apply under the dash area. Again, a dealer would need to identify the source and address it as needed. Thanks for your time.

Denis Rumschlag
Senior Owner Relations Rep

PatStab · 02-12-2014, 03:20 PM

Expandable foam? Won't that just rub off? Neoprene, ok I can see that for awhile.

Since I can't stand stuff squeaking, I know I'm really really lucky, really lucky.
Hope you can stop it.

dondar · 02-13-2014, 03:42 PM

DebbieMH, I had the squeak in the front part of the dash by the passenger window. This is an assembly flaw which allows the L bracket that runs the length of the inside of the dash to rub against the fiberglass. The dealer fixed it by bending it slightly so it no longer came into contact with the fiberglass. They also replaces the styro foam with another foam type sealant.

Squeaks on a new motorhome are not acceptable and are covered under warranty. It took a few trips to the shop, but mine now has no squeaks or clunks. It's so nice traveling down the road without any weird noises.

You paid over a 100K on your Excursion and it has a warranty, please use it for every little issue you have.

As for your expert, he may be willing to live with squeaks, but I'm not.

Happy motoring

mojoracing · 02-15-2014, 01:00 AM

Pat stab, I think you misunderstood what the letter from fleetwood stated. they said It also could be expandable foam we apply under the dash area." By that they mean during assembly they use expandable foam to insulate the dash area. I think you took it to mean they use it as a "fix" for the squeak. I would think the foam could be trimmed or removed if it is causing the squeak.

94-Newmar · 02-15-2014, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dondar

DebbieMH, I had the squeak in the front part of the dash by the passenger window. This is an assembly flaw which allows the L bracket that runs the length of the inside of the dash to rub against the fiberglass. The dealer fixed it by bending it slightly so it no longer came into contact with the fiberglass. They also replaces the styro foam with another foam type sealant.

This is 100% spot-on. The dealership I work for is a Fleetwood dealer and I have dissassembled numerous dashes completely on most all models including Bounders, Excursions, Expeditions, etc. While not always the bracketry mounting the dash assembly to the fiberglass front cap the squeaks also occur in the vertical tubing used to frame the front window as well. In each case it's a process of removing the foam they use with a small air powered saws-all and using a softer foam who's surface does not setup quite as hard. The surface texture of foam Fleetwood is using in this area can be compared to the texture of a piece glass. It's surface becomes very shiny and hard - thus causing the most annoying (fingernails on a chalk board) type of squeak rubbing against anything aluminum, steel or fiberglass. It's even worse if the foam condensates after being parked for awhile in the cold and then heated up while driving - the sound can then be equated to rubbing your wet fingers across the rim of a wine glass of water.