Campfire

[JudyJB]

I would tackle the water pump, but it is not very accessible. I would have up to stick most of my upper body into a storage bin and reach into a 9" tall pass-through. I am just too old for such contortions. Might ask factory service some day to place it in bin so I could reach it instead of it being in the pass-through. Needs a skinny person with very long arms--which hardly describes my body type!

[MandysMom]

JudyJB, you mentioned doing laundry, so you have a washer/dryer in your Tioga? That is handy.
We had water pump go out in our bus the first day of a several weeks trip in 08. Happened to be stopping for the night with an FMCA club group we had friends in up in far northern Ca and a guy we know loaned Mel a water pump new in box and supervised as Mel installed it , fortunately very accessible in the wet bay. When we got home, hubby sent for a rebuild kit and easily rebuilt our pump and ordered a new one to replace the one we borrowed and we kept the borrowed one, which gave us the rebuilt plus the new one friend gave us. My hubby has them both plumbed with a valve, so all he needs to do if the one in use fails is move the wires across, turn the valve and we would be back in business. Have not needed to but it's possible. I could just slap manufacturers who put a pump in an inaccessible place like yours. Hope you get this problem fixed once and for all, a brand new rig shoud not be eating water pumps! I say new because my newest rig is 10 and the bus turns 40 next year! Yours is almost new!
Velda

[snowball]

I've wondered the same thing Judy why you have had such a turn over in pumps
you got a new rig right? so it's not very old ...I still use the same pump and my 5th wheel
is 7 or 8 years old ...knock on wood would hate for it to go out but the way things are going
who knows...
sheila

[MandysMom]

One factor is certainly the fact that Judy fulltimes, but still a water pump is on to build pressure then should shut off. Not run constantly unless there is an air leak. Our original pump is fine in the van and that bus pump installed in 08 is fine and was used by the 3 of us on a 3 mo trip then.
Velda

[JudyJB]

It only runs constantly when it is not producing water. You are right that it is built to run only until it builds up pressure, then stop. And that is the way it works when it works! My problem is that if I do not use it for a week or more because I have city water, it won't prime. I have sent an email to the customer service rep at Shur-Flo asking about how long it should have to run before it starts producing water if I have not used it for a period of time. I was told by one mechanic I had burned the motor up by letting it run for too long without producing water. Well, I would not have to let it run if it DID what it is supposed to do!!

My first pump started out working fine and would produce water after only a couple of minutes, but pretty soon it took 5 and then 10 and finally half an hour of running to get started. Once it got started, it worked fine, but I got really tired of all the waiting. And when I replaced it, I had left it on an hour-and-a-half before I got water, which is ridiculous! I was told various things by various mechanics: 1) it must have a leak in the diaphragm, 2) it was my fault for burning out the motor, 3) these pumps fail all the time, etc. I have done the opening and closing taps to reduce trapped air and that does not work either.

I always make sure I have enough fresh water in my tank. (Had a mechanic accuse me of burning the motor up because I had let my tanks go dry. Mechanics seem to have a repertoire of excuses, don't they, for blaming women. ) I mainly use it when I drive between campgrounds or when I get to a campground without city water hookups. The thing is when you need it, you REALLY need it. Because it is so unreliable, I have gotten into the habit of taking jugs of water with me for toilet flushing on the road, and avoiding dry camping, neither of which I want to do.

And my cousin has had his motorhome for 14 years and has been full-timing for 10 years on the same water pump, so I do not understand this. My RV is three years old, and this is the third pump. The Shur-Flo guy has been very helpful. He even sent me some free most-commonly-replaced spare parts and told me to save the old pump if I had to replace it again, so I could put new parts in it and/or send it to them for inspection.

Next time I go to the Fleetwood factory service, I am going to ask them to reroute the plumbing and pump so I can more easily reach it. Even one foot closer would help. Then I could take the three screws out the rep told me about and replace the innards myself!! As you discovered, Velda, it is not that difficult. I think it is smart to have an extra one with you. Oh, and mine is in a dry bay, not the wet one. I think it makes sense to have it in a place where if it sprung a leak, it would not get everything wet. I store stuff in there, but ONLY in plastic bins because I am afraid of leaks.

No, I don't have a washer. Used the next-door campground washer and dryer.

So, seriously, how long do you ladies have to run your water pump before it starts pumping out water the first time you use it after several weeks? I would really like to know. And what brand is yours?

[JudyJB]

FYI - A new pump is only about $80 but at least to replace mine, I have ended up paying around $300 both times, but that included the cost of the pump. Obviously a lot of the cost is labor. If I could reach mine and could replace it myself, it would be a lot cheaper.

In addition to being barely reachable, it barely fits into the pass-through space top-to-bottom, so I would have to use a short screwdriver or one of those screw attachments that fit onto a ratchet handle to get at the screws. And there are a bunch of pipes and wires attached, which would also be hard to get at because of the location. I am going to take some photos and post them tomorrow. Bad design by Fleetwood, and I am going to complain next time I get there.

[Liz]

Judy, my pump works immediately...no delay in getting water., even after being hooked up to city water awhile. Seems like something is going on with the way your plumbing is connected that may not be the fault of the pump.

[bikerchic777]

Judy, Judy, Judy This is not a common problem...TRUST ME! You could have a leak on the intake side of the water pump and it's sucking air. OR....Do you have to switch over something on your RV from city water to gravity, or something? If you do, and don't switch that, the pump has nothing to pump. It shouldn't take more than a couple of seconds for water to come out your faucet. If it takes longer, then something is wrong and there's no sense in trying longer. I've had Myrtle for 5 years and who knows...she's a '98 and it could be the original pump. If your RV is still under warranty, I would definitely take it in to an approved RV mechanic and have them check it...and move it to that wet bay. I have a Fleetwood and whenever I've called them, they have been very helpful. It has always made me thankful I have a Fleetwood. Even Ford, RV Division, has gone above and beyond to help me, remotely, emailing wiring diagrams or whatever I need. I hope you get this resolved, soon!!!

I spent the day, working in the lodge, today. A few of the guys came up and helped move the furniture back, off of the dance floor and lanai. I dusted and got all the books organized and put back on shelves, vacuumed furniture, put pop back in the machine, etc. I think it looks much better in there, now. Tomorrow is the Mother's Day brunch and I guess Allison and I are cooking. I have to go in at 7:30 to prepare. I have no idea what we're doing, but she doesn't seem nervous about it, so I won't be, either. She said it's easy. I'm trusting she knows what she's talking about. So far, I have only been doing housekeeping and maintenance type work, so it will be nice to finally do something activities related.

The weather has been gorgeous, here in Napa! Wish it would stay like this all summer, but I'm guessing it will get hot. Ken told me there have been bad storms, elsewhere, and an RV park got wiped out, somewhere. I hope all were OK. I get no TV, here, so I'm out of touch. I also heard they have upped the terrorist threat alert. I hate that the world is so crazy, that way

[Bethers]

I agree. The problem is more than the pump. Mine always starts right away. Always did on my least rig also. It didn't matter how long between uses.

Ok, the possible one inch of snow is now predicted to be 12 to 24 inches from tomorrow afternoon to Sunday evening. Yes, possibly 2 feet of snow. Then by next Friday 70 degrees again. 2 feet? Hopefully Peaches will get a chance to enjoy it.

[JudyJB]

I agree something is wrong with the system. Shur-flo is in Southern California so if I am still having problems I will pay them a visit next winter -- crazy lady parking at their front door. Also driving past Fleetwood factory in October.

And I have no switch for going from city water to tank water. And well out of warranty period, unfortunately. The worst thing is that I just can't predict when the darn thing will work and when it won't.

And by the way, Napa gets the cool SF northern bay fog and breezes so it stays a lot cooler than the nearby Valley. Most days will be in 80s instead of 90s. Fifteen miles away in Fairfield, it will be 10-15 degrees hotter. And Bikerchik, you are even higher.

NOTE: I just posted some photos of my water pump location in the Maintenance area

[Redetotry]

Sometimes life is just isn't fair. My nieces' husband was fired from his job that he has held for 23 years. It is a big company so I doubt he has much chance for winning a law suit but I think he should try. He isn't the only older employee that has experienced this, there are several. One of the women who works in the office told him they had been after the ones working under an old contract that gave them full benefits. The reason he was fired was, one of the supervisors told him to do a comp alignment and wheel balance for a customer, then he denied telling him and accused him of doing free work for people. I just don't understand how anyone could do something like that to someone. They have two children one in grade school and one in last year of high school. His wife does work but doesn't make that much. The company also denied him unemployment!!! I I didn't realize they could do that! I feel so sorry for them. I think all the ones who were fired should get together and hire a lawyer.

[linann]

BJ,

It is sad what happened to your nephew. It seems there are two issues -- whether he was unlawfully terminated and whether he can collect unemployment compensation.

Your nephew should consider speaking to an attorney representing employees in labor law claims. The attorney can evaluate his situation and advise him if his case is worth pursuing and the best course of action. These lawyers often take a case for a percentage of any award, plus costs, so he may not have to pay attorney's fees up front.

The EEOC monitors claims filed under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which applies to companies with 20 or more employees and protects individuals 40 and older against discrimination. Companies often settle cases to correct mistakes because they will incur expensive attorney's fees whether they go to court or not. Settlement could range from rehiring your nephew and paying back wages, or a cash settlement, plus attorney costs and fees.

Unemployment compensation is administered by states, not a company benefit, although the state will charge the company for the program. The state will investigate a claim and decide if an employee gets the money. Generally, employees who work enough weeks are eligible unless they are fired for misconduct, and every justifiable discharge does not disqualify an employee from receiving benefits. The state UC office will follow a process when a claim is filed, so your nephew should not be discouraged, even if his claim is initially denied. What happens is an employee files a claim and the state UC office contacts the employer to confirm the person actually worked there and what occurred. The UC office then notifies the employee and company of the decision. Both parties should have a right to appeal a denied claim.

[JudyJB]

Companies do rotten things sometimes. A long time ago, just before I started teaching, there were no teacher's unions. It was common practice for school districts to fire their older teachers because they were at the top of the pay scale. They could hire younger teachers for a lot less money. I know this for a fact because my dad was on the school board in the 50s and part of the 60s and he told me so. Also discussed it with family friend who was superintendent of schools. That is why I support unions.

I was laid off from a job in 2001. They tried to deny me severance pay by telling me they were just changing my status to occasional part-time. When I asked HR to clarify that they were denying me, an older worker, severance pay, they backed off REALLY FAST, and gave me my severance.

You might suggest that he might also contact the state's Wage and Hour Division. It might have a different name, but every state has one. It's job is to make sure employees are treated fairly according to the law and not made to work extra hours without pay, etc. I had to go there to get an employer to give me pay for a month when she said she "just didn't have the money." (I got my money, even if it took several months.) There is no cost to the employee and they mostly do not need lawyers, but it has real courts that can protect workers.

And Linann is right that the company does not determine that he can or can't get unemployment benefits. First, they should have to prove he was fired for just cause instead of being laid off. Do they have documentation that he was a poor workers or broke the rules in spite of being warned? The fact that he has worked there 23 years is on his side.

I had a friend who was fired while she was on medical leave, which they cannot do. She sued and won a good settlement.

[Redetotry]

Linann and Judy JB Thank you so much for taking the time to post all that helpful information. I have forwarded it to the family. Not only will it give them the places they need to contact it will also give them much needed hope. I don't think they knew they could fight an unemployment denial and are really feeling rather desperate.

[JudyJB]

You are welcome. Don't forget to tell them that he was NOT denied unemployment! That is not a decision the company can even make. They are telling him that in hopes he does not bother applying, which will cost them money. He needs to get into the unemployment office right away to sign up for benefits.

A long time ago, I took a few graduate-level human resources classes in the hopes it would help my career. It never did and I eventually changed my plans, but it was helpful for handling my own job problems. I don't like seeing people cheated or treated badly.