Please read first PLEASE LEAVE THIS RENTER’S MANUAL IN THE MOTOR HOME
Have a safe and pleasurable trip! This document is the property of ROAD BEAR RV and is for informational purposes only. ROAD BEAR RV reserves the right to change the documentation at any time without prior notice. ROAD BEAR RV does not assume any liability for the accuracy of any instructions or specifications contained herein. The document is not intended to describe the specific function of any appliance or item within a particular motor home.
Introduction Thank you for choosing ROAD BEAR RV for your motor home vacation. Your personal walk‐through may have been overwhelming or just too much information in a short time. Please take a few minutes and read this manual carefully. Familiarize yourself with the vehicle. This will ensure that you get the best use of the motor home. We at ROAD BEAR RV are committed to make your vacation as fun and trouble‐free as possible.
Driving Safety Be aware that you are driving a much larger and heavier vehicle than a car. This will cause the vehicle to react differently from what you may be used to. Failure to follow this safety information may result in an accident, injury or death. Obey all local, state and federal traffic laws. Plan your route in advance and know the vehicles dimensions and limitations! Refueling (Gasoline and Propane) Refueling of gasoline and propane releases highly flammable fumes.
Driving at night If you are driving at night, be aware that in many rural areas (especially in the open areas of the western states) wildlife and in some areas livestock can be encountered on the roads. Adjust your speed accordingly. Seat belts All passengers in the motor home have to be buckled up. Children ‐ typically up to 6 years or 60 pounds – need to be in a child seat (check with state laws).
Driveway entrances and rough road surface Enter and exit driveways SLOW and at an angle– the rear of the motor home could hit the ground. Drive slowly over ramps, humps, bumps, rough terrain and other obstacles of any kind. CAUTION ‐ Cabinets could open and objects fall out! Maneuvering & parking The rear of the motor home swings out wide and clips corners when you make turns. Allow for extra room when making turns and parking.
Loose items Secure any loose items or equipment before you drive off. In case of an accident or emergency stop, such a loose item could cause severe injury. Break‐in and theft Motor homes can be a target of thieves. Keep all doors locked while vehicle is in motion. Do not leave valuables like cameras, computers, etc. lying out where they can be seen. To prevent somebody from hiding in the vehicle, lock all windows and doors; open all curtains and remove the privacy curtain when leaving the motor home.
Traffic stop If a police car is following you with its flashing lights on, you have to pull over in a safe place as soon as possible and stop. Do NOT exit the vehicle and keep your hands visible for the officer. Follow the officer’s instructions and answer his/her questions. If you were issued a traffic ticket, call ROAD BEAR RV for further instructions. School bus If you encounter a stopped school bus with its red lights blinking you are required to stop fully until the lights are turned off.
Motor Home Safety Equipment Propane detector Propane is very flammable, heavier than air and smells like rotten eggs. It is used for heating, cooking and refrigeration in a motor home. For your safety, a propane leak detecting device is installed in each motor home somewhere near the kitchen ‐ just above the floor. A green blinking light shows proper function.
2. 3. Reset the alarm by pushing the mute/test button Open a few more windows and force fresh air thru the motor home A regular low pitch beep about every 30 – 90 seconds indicates low battery voltage. For further information consult the Troubleshooting Guide on page 48. Smoke detector Every motor home is equipped with a fire extinguisher near the entry door. It also has a smoke alarm mounted to the ceiling, usually in the kitchen area.
Vehicular Collision – Accident In case of a vehicular collision (accident), proceed as follows: 1. Make sure everybody is safe – administer first aid 2. Call the local police – in case of an emergency dial 911 (ambulance, police or fire department) – and have an officer take a report. Request the officer’s name, ID‐, case number and the phone number of the officer. If the police refuse to come, get the name, ID number and local phone number of the officer answering your call 3.
Damage In case the motor home got damaged in a maneuver, please call ROAD BEAR RV on the toll‐free technical hotline number on page 3 to report the damage and to get assistance in having the vehicle repaired ‐ if needed. Please return vehicle before 10:00 a.m. on your drop off day. Flat tire Do NOT drive with a flat tire! Even if there is a second tire on the same side, driving with a flat tire will overload the other tire and is dangerous.
Inspect the oil level in the generator every 8 hours of usage. Damages due to lack of maintenance are the customers responsibility. Use regular motor oil if needed. Ford Chevrolet Generator The engine coolant has to be inspected regularly and if needed, add drinking water. Check the coolant level when the engine is cold. Have the tire pressure checked regularly. Pressure information is found near the driver seat – usually on the door frame.
Operating Instructions Automotive Equipment FORD cabin (chassis) - Headlight & parking light control switch is located to the left of the steering wheel o Instrument panel (dashboard) illumination – turn wheel up or down to adjust Reading lamps → rotate wheel all the way up or push on lamp o For high beam push the turn signal lever forward - The steering wheel can be adjusted in height by pulling the lever on the left of the steering column and moving the steering wheel up or down - Fuel requirements:
- Tow/Haul—normally OFF. Tow/Haul ON → use this position when driving in hilly and mountainous areas. This will provide improved pulling power for uphill and engine braking with transmission downshifts for downhill driving. To prevent brake overheating engage the tow/haul mode any time extra braking is required. Higher engine speed and noise are normal in tow/haul mode. If you have to use the brakes for long periods of time you need to use the tow/haul mode.
CHEVROLET cabin (chassis) - Light control: rotate knob to desired position. Chevrolet vehicles are equipped with Daytime Running Lights. - Driver Information Center Chevrolet provides a driver information center on the dashboard.
recommended. If there are no engine performance problems such as lack of power, engine noise or vibrations you can drive on. If you notice any change in performance, noise, vibrations or otherwise – call the toll‐free emergency number on page 3. For further information please consult the Troubleshooting Guide on page 53.
Motor Home Equipment Introduction We provide this manual as a guide and it describes the operation of the motor home equipment in general. Due to differences between similar equipment and motor home models as well as changes from year to year, we cannot precisely describe every motor home individually, but the systems and operation are very similar if not the same. Please read the following information thoroughly. It will help you to avoid many problems.
Typical views – may vary depending on model For further information consult the Troubleshooting Guide on page 51. Electrical system The motor home has two different electrical systems: 12 Volt Direct Current (auxiliary batteries) Most of the electrical equipment of a motor home works with 12VDC: interior lights, fans, monitor panel, propane detector, water pump, furnace (heater) and slide‐out (if equipped).
120 Volt Alternating Current (on‐board generator or external power source) Some larger appliances, like the air conditioner, the microwave oven, some TV/DVDs and all regular wall outlets require 120VAC. If you connect the big black power cable to the campground or have the generator running, you are able to use these appliances. Campground connection Most campgrounds provide electricity and with the power cord you can connect the motor home to that power source.
If a 120VAC circuit gets overloaded, the circuit breaker will disrupt the electricity. A shows a circuit breaker in the ON position B shows a circuit breaker having tripped – interrupted the electricity due to overload C shows a circuit breaker is OFF To reset a tripped (B) circuit breaker, it has to be turned OFF (C) first, and then it can be turned back ON (A). Trying to turn the circuit breaker back ON directly will not work and keeps the electricity interrupted.
ON = breaker pointing towards the outside of the vehicle or to the left on certain models. Generators have a limited amount of electricity they can produce and using two appliances at the same time can overload the generator itself and shut it down. In such a case turn off or unplug every appliance before re‐starting the generator.
Furnace (Heater) All motor homes have a furnace (heater) for comfort heating. You can operate and control the furnace with the thermostat. A built‐in time delay keeps the fan run longer than there is actual warm air. Due to airflow conditions, the furnace should not be used while driving. The furnace runs on propane for heat and the blower of the furnace runs off the auxiliary battery.
Here a few tips to improve the efficiency of the refrigerator: - Do NOT put hot or warm food in the refrigerator - Do NOT overfill the refrigerator – the air in the refrigerator has to be able to circulate - Open the refrigerator for brief moments and when needed only - To increase the cooling capability you can put ice in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator The refrigerator operates on either propane or 120VAC.
Cook top While using the cook top, turn on the hood exhaust fan above the cook top and open a window for fresh air and to prevent the smoke alarm from going off just because you cook. To turn on the propane at the burners, push in and turn the desired burner knob to the LITE position. To light the propane, use the supplied lighter or a match. Some models have built‐in lighters – either mechanical or electrical.
Water heater The water heater operates primarily and most efficiently on propane. Some models include an optional electrical mode which exclusively works with 120VAC electrical hook‐up. We recommend operating the water heater on propane exclusively, since using the electric water heater in conjunction with other appliances may overload the electrical system and takes longer to heat the water. The water heater has a capacity of 6 gallons/22 liters. It takes about 20‐30 minutes to heat the water on propane.
TV & DVD player Certain motor homes are equipped with a TV and a DVD player which require either 12VDC or 120VAC electrical power. NEVER turn off the TV while it is in channel search mode – turning off the power can crash the TV’s software and render it useless. Due to the variety of TVs and DVDs only a general description can be made. Most TV’s will not operate while the vehicle is in motion, so that the driver will not get distracted. The law requires that the driver cannot watch TV while driving.
Do not forget the crank down the TV antenna before you drive off! TV reception will be different in each new location and a channel scan/search needs to be done before all possible channels are viewable. In the MENU of the TV go to the CHANNEL section, ensure the antenna is set to AIR before doing the scan/search. NEVER turn off the TV while it is in channel search mode – turning off the power can crash the TV’s software and render it useless.
Fresh (potable) water IMPORTANT: Use potable water for city water hook‐up and to refill the fresh water tank only! The motor home has two sources of fresh water: ‐ Fresh water tank ‐ External city water hookup Fresh water is available from the on‐board water tank during “dry camping” or while traveling. Water is transported to the faucets by means of the water pump. The ON/OFF switch is located at the monitor panel (some models have additional switches in the bathroom and/or on the outside).
Shower Before taking a shower, make sure you have plenty of fresh water and the grey water tank is not full. With full hook‐up, make sure the city water at the campsite is on and the drain valve of the grey water tank is open. The showerhead has a water saving feature with an on/off valve built into the shower head to reduce the water consumption during dry camping. For further information consult the Troubleshooting Guide on page 52. Toilet All motor homes are equipped with a flush toilet.
In most cases, the black water valve is larger than the grey water valve. The black water tank should only be drained when it is at least ⅔ full to flush out all solids.
Slide room The slide room (if equipped) is a great feature that allows you to greatly expand your living space while parked. Please follow these instructions before operating the slide‐out room to assure proper function: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Make sure the motor home is level front to back.
Cab‐over bed Above the driver cabin there are different kinds of beds. In the Class C motor home it is a permanent structure with a removable section for easier access to the driver area. Just lift or slide the removable section out of the way. On Class A motor homes the beds are moved out of the way to allow driving of the vehicle. These beds are operated electrically. Fleetwood: 1. Lower the front shade and close the curtains 2. Ensure parking brake is set 3.
Other models have actual table legs: 1) lift the table top off the legs; 2) remove the legs; 3) lay table between benches and re‐arrange cushions. Bathroom door It could happen that the bathroom door locks itself and needs to be unlocked from the outside. Some door knobs require a small flat screw driver and others can be unlocked with a coin. Ventilation While driving all roof vents and windows should remain closed to prevent damage and reduce interior noise.
2. Pull the release lever at the roller tube to the ‘roll down’ position, using the pull rod 3. Pull on the pull strap using the pull rod. Do not release the awning pull strap. The awning is under tension and could snap back against the vehicle! 4. Once the patio awning is rolled out all the way, move the rafter arm all the way up to the roller tube, stretch the fabric and tighten the black tightening wheels.
To keep the awning pull strap from getting dirty or lost, wrap it loosely around the awning arm closest to the release lever CAUTION: When it is windy or rainy, retract and roll‐up the patio awning! Remember – weather conditions can change rapidly. Especially in the desert and mountains! To roll up the patio awning into the travel position, follow the above steps in reverse. Ensure the travel lock clips and tightening wheels are engaged and tight.
Setting up and breaking down camp To help you think of all the steps to set up and break down your stay on the campground, we offer you following checklist. When you arrive at the camp site 1. Have a passenger guide you into the camp site to prevent hitting an obstacle and damage the vehicle (see page 6) 2. Park the motor home on a level surface. Otherwise use the levelers to level the vehicle from front to back (see pages 23 & 32) 3. Apply the parking brake before shifting into park (see page 17) 4.
Campgrounds There are different kinds of campsites: - Full hook‐up sites – offer electricity, water and sewage - Partial hook‐up – offer electricity and water or one or the other - Dry camping – does not offer electricity nor water Campgrounds usually have a central dump station There are many different places to camp over night: ‐ National & State Parks ‐ US National Forest Campgrounds ‐ KOA & private Campgrounds For safety reasons, ROAD BEAR RV does not recommend “street‐side” camping, which is illegal in
Returning the motor home at the end of your trip 1. Return the motor home between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. No later than 10:30 a.m. for the transfer to the airport, airport hotels or designated areas (for a fee). Should the motor home have some damage, please return before 10:00 a.m. 2. At the last campground or overnight stop, before returning to ROAD BEAR RV: a. Dispose of any left‐over food and trash b. Pack your personal belongings and luggage c.
Measurement conversions A quick guide for our international customers Length 1 Kilometer (km) 0.621 miles 1 Meter (m) 3.28 feet 1 mile (mi) / 5730 feet 1.609 kilometers 1 foot (ft) 30.48 centimeters 1 inch (in) 2.54 centimeter Temperature 60 degrees Fahrenheit 15 degrees Celsius 70 degrees Fahrenheit 21 degrees Celsius 80 degrees Fahrenheit 26 degrees Celsius 90 degrees Fahrenheit 32 degrees Celsius 100 degrees Fahrenheit 37 degrees Celsius Liquids 1 gallon (gal) 3.
Vehicle specifications Model Gross Vehicle Weight Gasoline grade (minimum) Motor & generator oil Class A Class C Class C Class C 28‐32 ft 29‐31 ft 26‐28 ft 23‐25 ft 18,000 lbs / 8154 kg 16,000 lbs / 7248 kg 14,500 lbs / 6569 kg 14,500 lbs / 6569 kg 12,300 lbs / 5572 kg 14,500 lbs / 6569 kg Minimum: Unleaded 89 octane (medium grade or better) Noted on filler cap (if not available: 5W‐30 acceptable) Coolant / Anti‐freeze Ford: Yellowish / Chevrolet: Red (Dex‐cool) Tire pressure Automatic trans
RENTAL LOCATION ADDRESS LISTINGS Motor home return time is between 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. The shuttle departs at 11:00 a.m. to the airport or airport hotels. There are no shuttle transfers after 11:00 a.m. Business Hours: Monday – Friday Saturday Sundays & Holidays 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM (longer during summer) closed LAX (Los Angeles) 28404 Roadside Drive Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Tel: 1‐818‐865‐2925 Toll free: 1‐866‐527‐6876 Fax: 1‐818‐991‐2744 E‐mail: info@roadbearrv.com Sales tax: 9.
Location Maps Los Angeles, Agoura Hills, CA (LAX) Page 43
San Francisco, Hayward, CA (SFO) Page 44
Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV (LAS) Page 45
Denver, Commerce City, CO (DEN) Page 46
New York, Middletown, NJ (NYC) Page 47
Troubleshooting Guide Problem Foul smell in motor home while driving Foul egg smell in and/or around motor home Cause Lack of use of toilet chemical Back draft due to incorrect vehicle ventilation Possible propane leak in system After recent refilling of propane tank: Bleeder valve not fully closed AIR CONDITIONER – see page 22 Problem Cause A/C does not run No power source A/C not or weak cooling Circuit breakers may be off or tripped Evaporator coils are iced up Solution ‐ Empty the black and g
ALARMS (continued) Problem Cause SMOKE DETECTOR (FIRE ALARM) – see page 10 Smoke alarm going off Lack of oxygen while cooking Fire in coach Smoke detector “chirping” Battery voltage low COOK TOP & OVEN Problem COOK TOP – see page 25 Cook top burner will not light OVEN (Propane) – see page 25 Turned knob but oven won’t light Solution Out of propane or main valve closed Electrical or mechanical lighter faulty Fill propane tank or open main valve Use a match or manual lighter Pilot light must be lit m
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (continued) Problem RECEPTACLES / GFI – see page 20 No electrical power at receptacles Cause No power source Circuit breaker may be off or tripped Make sure you have power from the campground or generator Reset GFI (only possible with 120VAC power to vehicle) Reset breaker at power center Cause Solution Power switch off/circuit breakers may be off or tripped/fuse blown Turn power switch on/reset circuit breakers at power center/replace fuse Switch to DVD speakers on speaker switch
GENERATOR (continued) – see page 21 Problem Cause Generator runs but no power Circuit breakers may be off or tripped Circuit breaker trips Power cable unplugged Overloaded circuit Stops when driving around corners Low fuel MICROWAVE OVEN – see page 23 Problem Microwave oven will not operate Cause No power to microwave oven Door not properly closed MONITOR PANEL – see page 18 Problem Monitor Panel is off Monitor panel shows holding tanks to be full or registers more than empty after dumping Cause
PLUMBING SYSTEM (continued) Problem SHOWER – see page 30 No water at shower head Cause Water backs up into shower while running kitchen or bath faucet Gray water tank is full Open valve at shower head Turn on pump, check city water hookup or tank level Empty the gray water holding tank Water backs up into shower while using it Gray water tank is full Shower drain basket is plugged Empty the gray water holding tank Clean out shower drain basket Empty waste tank Drain pipe plugged Check for water in
SLIDE ROOM – see page 32 Problem Slide room does not extend or retract Cause Safety inter‐lock engaged Slide room switch/lock off Engine off (certain models) No power supply Circuit breaker tripped WATER HEATER – see page 26 Problem Water Heater not working illuminated switch not lit DSI/Pilot light turning on or Out of propane or main valve closed Cause Solution Parking brake may be on Brake fluid may be low Brake & ABS warning light ABS sensor malfunction (Brake on system operates without ABS) CHE
AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS (continued) Problem ENGINE OIL LIFE SYSTEM “Change Engine Oil Soon” Message in Display “Oil Life 0%” Message in Display GEAR SHIFTER – see pages 15 or 16 Cannot get shifter out of park Cannot remove ignition key Cause Solution Engine computer calculates the oil life in time and not miles. Not reset at last oil change Engine computer calculates the oil life in time and not miles. Not reset at last oil change To reset: turn ignition ON.
AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS (continued) Problem ENGINE COMPARTMENT Clear water under engine Brownish/Yellowish or Reddish water under engine Brown/Black or Red oil under engine or vehicle Cause Solution Air Conditioner condensation water This is a normal by‐product of the cars air conditioner Turn off engine and call the emergency number on page 3 Turn off engine and call the emergency number on page 3 Potential coolant leak Potential oil leaks of engine or transmission Fuses and Relays FORD: Under dash board
Engine compartment: 1. – 11. Relays 12. Run/Start 13. Starter 14. Run/Start 15. Chassis battery 16. – 22. Spare 23. – 25. Relays 26. – 27. Empty 28. Back up lights 29. Compressor clutch 30. Brake light switch 31. Spare 32. Blower 33. ABS pump 34. Spare 35. PCM 36. Ignition lock 37. – 40. Relays 41. – 42. Spare 43. Fuel pump 44. – 45. Spare 46. PCM 47. ABS coil 48. Trailer turn/stop lights 49. Wiper motor 50. – 52. Spare 53. ABS 54. Fuel pump 55. – 56. Spare 57. – 58. Trailer lights 59. Empty 60. – 61.
Engine compartment: 1. High beam – left 2. Fuel pump 3. Empty 4. Spare 5. High beam – right 6. Empty 7. Low beam – left 8. Stop light – right 9. Low beam – right 10. Daytime running lights 11. Fuel pump module 12. Daytime running lights 13. Spare 14. Empty 15. Fuel injectors 16. Stop light – Left 17. Emission system 18. – 19. Empty 20. PCM 21. Spare 22. – 27. PCM 28. – 29. Empty 30. Instrument cluster 31. Empty 32. Brake switch 33. 12VDC on dash board 34. Airbag 35. Trailer 36. Steering sensor 37. PCM 38.
Index Introduction Technical Hotline Emergency Phone Number Safety Information Refueling Side Winds Following Distance Hills and mountain driving Driving at night Seat belts GPS – Navigation System Overhead obstacles Driveway entrances and rough road surface Maneuvering & parking Tunnels and narrow roads Mobile phone use while driving Loose items Break‐in and theft Emergency exits Hot surfaces Slippery when wet Risk of falling Traffic Rules Emergency vehicles Traffic stop School bus Traffic lanes Hand signa
Overloading the circuit Ground Fault Interrupter Fuses and circuit breakers Generator Air conditioner (A/C) Furnace (Heater) Microwave Refrigerator / Freezer DOMETIC® Refrigerator NORCOLD® Refrigerator Cook top Oven (Propane) Kitchen counter & dining table Water heater In‐dash radio TV & DVD player TV antenna Cable TV Plumbing System Winterization Fresh (potable) water Shower Toilet Waste water Slide room Cab‐over bed Dinette Bed Bathroom Door Ventilation Patio Awning Setting up and breaking down camp Campg
