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Callumwh · 07-08-2012, 06:22 PM

New to the site and the RV community. An awesome site...

I picked up a 2002 Winnebago Adventurer (30K mikes) on Tue and drove 700+ miles from central CA to Portland Oregon.

Noticed a leak from the rear. Took a look underneath and I can see fluid weeping slowly from one of the hoses under the rear slide out. There are two separate hydraulic lines with a couplings joining each. The fluid is leaking from one of the cable housing - not the coupling joint.

I think the line goes to the hydraulic motor for the rear slider but it is hard to determine as the lines are routed between the A/C unit and the floor. I simply cannot trace it but its in the proximity of slider motor so that why I think it the slider hydraulic line.

I attempted to remove the A/C unit to gain access but due to time I did not complete. So before I go any further I thought I'd reach out and see if anyone can help.

Questions
1. Has anyone out there got some advice on how to proceed? - I wanted to fix myself but may have to take it to an RV shop. Would rather do it myself tho.
2. Where is the hydraulic fill tank for the slide outs and the leveling jacks?
3. Can you repair the line with anew coupling or must you install a new hose/line?
4. Anyone repaired a unit such as this?

Any guidance is appreciated

John

nightriderrv · 07-10-2012, 05:07 AM

Just try to trace the line back it will lead you to the pump and the tank, the slideouts and leveling jacks are 2 seperate systems, tanks for the leveling might be under the fender on the front run the levelers and look for the motor noise. do the same with the slides. You will have to remove the leaking line and carry it to a tractor shop they will test it and put new ends on it or if it's to far gone make a new one. I have worked on units like yours but they are all the same and do the same function. It' easy to remove the bad hoses just take your time you'll get it out

azpete · 07-10-2012, 08:49 AM

check the hose itself. if it has a dull finish, and HWH02 printed on it, hwh wants to know about it. they had some hose made by st gobains in france, that was a problem. the new hose is made by parker, and has a shiny finish. in either case, the hose can be replaced. get the AP number off the hose. its located on the end of the hose, printed on the white tab behind the fitting. if you replace the hose yourself, download a service manual, and be sure to read the section on re syncronizing the cylinders. its very important.
putting new ends on a hose can be done, just get an explanation of the warranty from the local company. my bet is that there will be none, since it almost never works.
if its a single cylinder, such as a bed slide, it does not have to be resynchronized. if its one of the hoses that run to the pump from a connection by the a/c, all you have to do is run the room in and out several times. email me at azpete@att.net if you need some help. i do work for hwh.

Callumwh · 07-13-2012, 05:22 PM

Just to let everyone know that I am working with hwh at this time and I am here to tell you that there are companies out there that will work to get you fixed. I'll post how this one ends but so far hwh have been proactive in working w/me on my issue. I have confirmed that I have the hoses that have the quality issue. Hwh are working with me to replace them.

Callumwh · 02-17-2013, 08:53 AM

Well, this one did not end as i would have liked. Despite being told that HWH would cover, I ended up in a corner with an $800 bill from the shop and HWH covering $80, parts only. Despite the hydraulic lines being identified as being the exact lines having the manufacturing defect and despite HWH acknowledging that fact with the repair shop, HWH refused to cover the full bill. On the plus side I no longer have drips of fluid on the ground, and i dont have to top off the resevior each month. I am also sleeping better in my MH as I no longer have to worry that the leaking lines would rupture. The shop was great as the labor involved to replace the 3 defective lines was extensive. The leaks were all around the rear bedroom slider which is a bear to get to.

Without going into the details of the almost comical response I received from HWH as to why they refused to pay, it boils down to communications withn the company. My bad for having faith in them doing the right thing. My bad for believing their rep emails and not recording our conversations.

I have not decided whether to pursue further. It would almost cost the same for a lawyer as I would recover in compensation. But on principal I may as I hate a bait and switch approach. At the end of the day stuff happens and i am a fair an honest person, but IMHO when a company identifies and acknowledes a known issue they should do what is right. My enthusiasm that I had such an engagement was muted when the bill was due. My learning and warning to you if you also are in the same situation is to get contact with factory (can be difficult, many repeated calls and emails required) and obtain their commitment.

Moving onward....

Pullin' Chocks · 02-17-2013, 09:15 AM

Callumwh, glad you all got 'er fixed

Have fun!

Jim_HiTek · 02-18-2013, 01:14 PM

You might consider contacting the state attorney general of both the US and the state where their headquarters are and register complaints. Also with the FTC, which is suppose to be the US consumers watchdog. This brings some satisfaction as a senior officer of the company is required to answer the complaint...and last I checked it takes 6 hours to fill out the paperwork. Not something a CEO wants to do. Underlings can do the research but an officer of the co has to sign it, attesting to the truthfulness of the document.

Just doing that sometimes brings immediate resolution of the issue for you. And you can do it on-line. Especially if you send the CEO an email listing all the agencies and RV'ers forums you've contacted.