Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 25 total)
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    • #3418
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      I’ve just joined the group and this is my first post. I’m gearing up to tackle a substantial punch list for the Royal RV we recently bought. Since this is my first major RV project, I’m eager to learn a lot from this forum. My main focus will be on rebuilding the water and generator bays.

      For the water bay, the check valve on the water fill had a slow leak, which led to rotting the plywood underneath the water access area. Since I’ll need to dismantle part of it to access the check valve, I’m considering a complete overhaul. I plan to upgrade everything with stainless steel and make improvements similar to the more user-friendly designs I’ve seen on Liberty and Marathon RVs. I’m pretty handy, but some things are new to me, like the “Blow Out” connection. From what I gather, it’s for winterizing since it has an air compressor fitting. The fittings underneath were damaged by a high center and a leak from the black tank connection, so this is another reason to overhaul the entire area. I’ll also need to replace the insulating foam on the underside—any recommendations on what to use?

      I’d appreciate suggestions on what to add or eliminate during this rebuild. For example, should I consider adding a macerator? I’m also thinking of removing the filter for inbound water since it’s not used for drinking, which would simplify and free up space in the bay. Are there any experts who’ve done similar work that I could PM for advice?

      As for the generator bay, the soundproofing material is falling down, and given that it’s been 14 years since it was last serviced, I plan to pull out the generator for a thorough inspection. While I’m at it, I’m considering upgrading to new air bags and possibly adding a small air compressor to keep them topped off. The plywood walls in the generator bay have dust and oil residue, so I’m contemplating adding another layer of protection, such as aluminum flashing, high-density foam, or additional plywood. I’d love to hear about parts others have used and recommend. Also, would it be wise to add a fire suppression system? If so, what options are recommended?

      Thanks in advance for your help!

      #3420
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Welcome to the asylum!

      Aside from rebuilding a generator housing, I’ve tackled everything you’re about to face, including replacing a rotted floor caused by a small but hidden leak in a water holding tank.

      It might seem like a major undertaking, but with a good workspace and a willingness to invest time and effort, you can be very pleased with the results. Start by removing and replacing the floor. I chose to replace only the damaged section, making precise saw cuts to fit and secure the new piece to the frame members. Since the foam insulation was still intact, I bonded the new marine plywood to it and then screwed it into the frame. I finished by covering the floor with glued laminate and sealing the edges with RTV.

      I also rewelded the entire water tank and pressure-tested it before reassembling the bay. While everything was apart, I inspected and replaced any questionable components. For my current coach, I upgraded to a stainless steel water tank, added thermostatic control for the engine coolant through the tank heat exchanger, and installed a backup water pump. I modified the primary water pump’s pressure control to allow higher water pressure in the house system and added an over-pressure shutoff. I updated the piping, added service valves, and replaced all rubber hoses with new ones. My bus is the same age as yours.

      On the waste side, I modified the macerator discharge to share an outlet with the gray water bypass and reconfigured the cleanout hose fitting. It might sound like a lot, but with a few tools and careful work, you’ll be happy with the results. The water bay is one of the simpler parts of our coaches, and to my knowledge, none of them have high-tech systems that require special skills or tools.

      Remember, most converters do a great job designing logical systems. Before making major changes, get to know your setup and understand why the engineers designed it that way. You might find that small, simple modifications could be more effective than a complete redesign. I’ll leave it to Royale owners to share any specific changes they recommend.

      Have fun with your project!

      #3421
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Welcome aboard, Mark and Tracy! You’ve just made a great investment for $25!

      My Royale is equipped with three water filters: one for sediment, a whole house filter, and another for the fridge and dedicated drinking faucet. We drink the water and use it frequently from the fresh water tank. Even if you don’t drink yours, I’d recommend keeping the sediment filter in place. The air fitting you found is indeed for blowing out the lines for winterizing.

      It sounds like you’re on the right track to addressing your issues. If you need any assistance, feel free to reach out. Keep us updated on your progress!

      #3422
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Welcome, Mark & Tracy!

      We have a 2001 Royale XLII. While Ed doesn’t post much here, I stay active and keep up with the group. If you need any answers or if I can take pictures of our bus bays to help you out, just let me know. I’m good at asking questions to get the information needed to assist others. We’ve had two Royales and absolutely love them! I can’t guarantee that all answers will be perfect, but I’ll do my best to help. Just a heads-up: Truk learned all about Royales through me!

      Sandy

      #3423
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Mark and Tracy,

      Welcome to the forum! It’s great to have another Royale conversion of the same year with us. You’ll find a wealth of information here to help with both problems and upgrades.

      For upgrading your tank monitors, I recommend checking out SeeLevel gauges. The upgrade is straightforward and can be done using your existing wiring.

      Hope to see you at POG 10 in Austin!

      #3424
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Welcome, Mark and Tracy!

      It sounds like you’re diving into a significant project.

      Regarding adding another “layer” of plywood to the generator bay, just be cautious about the space around the generator. If the bay is sealed when closed, there might be a minimum required cubic feet of clear space for proper cooling and ventilation. Make sure to verify this requirement to avoid compromising airflow.

      Other than that, have fun and enjoy your bus!

      #3425
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Welcome to the group, Mark!

      You’ve got some great projects lined up. For detailed info, use the advanced search bar near the top of the page and search for “GENERATOR BAY REBUILD.” Check out the eighth post down first, and then explore other posts that catch your interest. Reading through as many POG posts as you can will be valuable!

      Keep in mind that this site is more of a “momentary discussion” rather than a “how-to” or Q&A resource. It’s a collection of what members choose to share at any given time.

      Be mindful of spelling and grammar, as there’s a silent patrol observing. The more specific and precise your questions are, the better the responses you’ll get.

      Pictures are always helpful and appreciated for both questions and answers.

      Feel free to explore all the forum settings—nothing can be broken (though not everything may work perfectly with our newest V Bulletin).

      Remember, there’s a lot of good-natured ribbing here, so don’t take anything personally unless you choose to. Think of POG as a pie—some days you’ll enjoy the filling, some days the crust, and other days, the whole thing… unless you’re more of a cake person!

      JIM

      #3426
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Welcome to the group, Mark!

      You’ve got some great projects lined up. For detailed info, use the advanced search bar near the top of the page and search for “GENERATOR BAY REBUILD.” Check out the eighth post down first, and then explore other posts that catch your interest. Reading through as many POG posts as you can will be valuable!

      Keep in mind that this site is more of a “momentary discussion” rather than a “how-to” or Q&A resource. It’s a collection of what members choose to share at any given time.

      Be mindful of spelling and grammar, as there’s a silent patrol observing. The more specific and precise your questions are, the better the responses you’ll get.

      Pictures are always helpful and appreciated for both questions and answers.

      Feel free to explore all the forum settings—nothing can be broken (though not everything may work perfectly with our newest V Bulletin).

      Remember, there’s a lot of good-natured ribbing here, so don’t take anything personally unless you choose to. Think of POG as a pie—some days you’ll enjoy the filling, some days the crust, and other days, the whole thing… unless you’re more of a cake person!

      JIM

      Jim,

      You’ve just been caught by the grammar/spelling police…

      #3427
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Paul, it was the silent patrol and you outed yourself.
      JIM

      #3428
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Mark,

      We’re approaching six years with our 2000 Royale and have had a few minor issues with the water system, but overall, the setup has been quite manageable. It seems like the design had some thought put into it. The Headhunter pump and toilet plumbing are easy to access, and the blow-out connection is for winterizing. We also have a bus wash outlet and black and gray tank rinse valves in the water bay.

      For tank sensors, I use a sight tube on the fresh tank to monitor levels, with markings at 1/4 increments. The Headhunter sensors for the black and gray tanks stopped working within the first year. We rarely fill the fresh tank to full capacity unless we’re dry camping for a week, as 170 gallons of water adds significant weight. Keeping the fresh tank at half full usually prevents overfilling the waste tanks.

      Our Royale has two filters and a softener in the third bay. One filter treats the water before it fills the tank, and the other is a taste and odor filter that treats all the house water except for the toilet flush water. Hope the grammar police are lenient!

      #3429
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Thanks for all the replies. I’m going to donsome searching on the topic within this forum as suggested.

      More later.

      #3430
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Rather than starting a new thread—when we rebuilt our OTR, we had to remove the generator set and all its sound-deadening lead foam. Upon reinstallation, we lost a significant amount of its effectiveness.

      I really don’t want to pull the set again. Does anyone have suggestions for installing sheet material over the old foam without removing the set?

      #3431
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Contact Dick Wright at

      http://www.wricointernational.com/

      #3432
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Thanks for all the help so far.

      There’s some discussion about Headhunter toilets, which are reputed to be the best. My 97 has a Microphor that I’m not very happy with. If I’m redoing the water bay, would it be a good time to upgrade to a Headhunter brand? I’m not keen on tearing into the holding tanks; my main goal is to update the exterior access bay. I’m planning to remove all the filtration, levers, and copper and replace them with something more functional, like an electric pressure washer pump or a hose reel. My bus doesn’t even have a good spot for storing the waste hoses, so I might add some storage for that as well.

      I’m considering a nicer faucet and stainless trim. I’m in Central Florida—are there any locals who could help me review what I’m planning and assist with sizing up a drawing? Or should I just dive in and use logic to figure it out? I don’t want to get stuck in any pitfalls, and you all know so much more about these things. Can I tackle this confidently, or are there major concerns I should be aware of?

      #3433
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Try Donnie Myers RV in Sanford,he works on a variety of Prevost also all of the sponsors that are in Florida could do it also.

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