Is there a group of Astoria Owners?

[a1snowman]

My wife and I have a 2008 Damon Astoria PE 3772. It is a beautiful coach and we are glad we have it.

So far, we have about 29,000 miles on it. We get between 8- 8.5 mpg pulling a 2008 Honda CRV.

I have tried 105, 110, 115 and 120 psi in the tires and like the way it drives best at 120. That just happens to be about all the air pressure I can get out of my compressor, so it works well for me.

I have had to replace the Xantrex invertor, they thought it might have been caused by an electrical surge.

My front A/C unit has a fan that started to make terrible noise. They don't make A/C units for RV's anymore so I took it apart, polished the shaft and greased it, then put it back together. It is working for now.

Last summer on a trip to Yellowstone, I drug the bottom on the back bumper and knocked the electrical connector off the RV and yanked the wire out of my Honda. The mechanics in Yellowstone are nice and ASE certified, but the don't know wiring for an RV well at all. I am still trying to get that back the way I want it.

Now, I am kicking the breaker on the converter again and I think it may be bad batteries or dirty terminals. If I can baby it home I think I will check it into an RV hospital for a few days.

My technical knowledge is going up quickly, the result of several miscalculations on my part.

Why is finding technical information so difficult?

Glad to know there are others out there to share information with.

[dsbear]

A trailer shop should be able to get the connector put back together. I have had mine moved up and inserted in the back cap so it is now very protected.

[SteveOGilroy]

Arlie,
Did you receive all your equipment manuals and the little Damon carry bag too put the in. We did, however, I have had to go online for most components specs. Are dealer folded in 2009. TrueValue RV has been good for parts.

We are over 40k miles in our 2008 3786. Only a few problems, but so far fixing was easy. Next big expense shall be new tires. We keep ours at 110psi, which was the recommendation at Hinderson's after they did a four point weight check.

We've had our Astoria to Alaska and across the country twice + several westcoast coastal trips.

We now have a list of mods we want to complete before next spring. Mods include pulling out the sofa bed and put in a desk/workstation and added storage, upgrade the driver and passenger's seat (to include a foot rest for the passenger), and look for a better (larger) shower stall!

For the money, we really enjoy the coach.

If you have specific technical pubs you need, Thor CS may have them.

[Jim Estes]

You can get that connector...as Bear says...I had to replace mine...ordered from CW... It plugs/unplugs via a standard AC Delco connection...not hard to do at all...

[Britcanuck]

Our 2011 Astoria has been running on 100 psi for a while and it feels OK. That's the pressure our local big box tire store recommends. What's the advantage in running a higher pressure. Is it longer tire life or a smoother ride? Personally I would go for ride over tire life but at mega bucks a tire I'd like to hear some persuasive opinions.
Hey! the season is upon us it's time to head south!

[Jim Estes]

I suspect your tires will succumb to old age before you wear them out with mileage...I run 110 lbs...figure on loosing about 1.5 lbs per month...as she gets down to 105 or so...ride is right nice!

[SteveOGilroy]

The tire pressure depends on the type of tire and weight of M/H. At a lower tire pressure, the tire will heat up more, and your fuel economy may be slightly lower. I don't know if 100psi vs 110psi makes much difference. If you can get your rig weighed by axle or better each wheel you can go to the tire manufacture's specs to compute the "correct" pressure. Again 100 vs 110 probably will not make a safety difference. Our roads are in such disrepair out here in central California the ride is rough at any pressure. We count the miles to the state line to smooth out the ride.

Heading south? Enjoy, we'll winter at home.

[Jim Estes]

Steve...if my memory serves me correctly you pulled your water tank out and are familiar with our waterpump...not easy to get to...I am getting ready to winterize and I assume the valve between the waterpump and fresh water tank should be closed...to take suction from the winterizing port...plan to draw the solution out of the gallon jugs it comes in. Also...pretty familiar with my Norcold fridge plumbing...but wondering about getting the solution all the way up to the icemaker...seems like when I disconnect the icemaker water hose...to drain...not much water flows down with gravity...would like to get the solution all the way up to the icemaker...do you cycle the icemaker...assuming I was successful in getting the solution all the way through the small water line that feeds the icemaker? The instruction on winterizing dont go into much detail...

[Jim Estes]

Tessie is winterized...Once I got all the water drained out..and used the water pump to suck all the pink stuff up in the lines...I turned the fridge on...the icemaker eventually sucked the pink stuff up in it...so I think that is good to go. I was not able to get the water tank completely drained...although she is sitting pretty darn level...I suspect about 2-3 gals are left in it...but I dont think that will hurt anything if that freezes...its a 100 gal tank...

[Britcanuck]

Sorry to read that you Astoria owners aren't spending the winter where you don't need to winterize. Here in the southern part of the BC interior the overnight temps are touching the freezing mark so it's time to head south.
Any Canadians out there who are noticing an increase in health insurance?
Two 70 ers are running around 3 grand for 5 months. Ouch! I guess I shouldn't have blown my nose 6 months ago. Now I'm 'unstable'

[SteveOGilroy]

Is that your government insurance rate. I think we are closing in on you quickly.

[Jim Estes]

Leak! Attached is a photo of directly underneath the radiator... The hose clamp was loose...leaking antifreeze...have not broke the manuals out but I think it is the transmission cooler..not sure...I got multiple turns on it and the other two elbows as well...this would explain where my antifreeze went earlier this summer...any guesses as to what the component is? It is in direct proximity and behind the 7 pin trailer plug???

[Britcanuck]

No, Our government insurance only covers us in Canada. $100 a month for everything except prescriptions and dental isn't bad but only at home. To travel abroad we have to buy insurance from company's that specialize in that. As the cost of health care in the US is amongst the most expensive in the world and probably amongst the best they analyse the risk and charge accordingly. In ones 70's the risk is higher and so is the premium.
The way we should have run our lives would have been to be wealthy enough to retire in our 40's and started enjoying the snowbird life then.
Funny how it doesn't seem to work out that way

[LEZM3]

Need some fellow Astoria owners expertise. Our ACs drip runs down sides and windows. Has anyone created a good water runoff gutter or system? We've tried Different gutter extensions but it seems our 3470 doesn't have much of a gutter track. Unsure if that is normal? Appreciate comments and recommendations. Vince