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Post by laknox on Oct 7, 2018 21:25:46 GMT -5
I'd =still= prefer a manual awning.
Lyle
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Post by rvdude on Oct 8, 2018 19:23:17 GMT -5
I don't mind the switch to operate the awning like my 2015 had in it. That's all it was, just a switch. I just don't like all of the extra electronic junk they are putting on them nowadays.
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Post by Chuck on Oct 9, 2018 11:54:57 GMT -5
I'm with you Darrel, I like bells an whistles but they need to be on trains not trailers LOL Not that I am complaining about the leveling system that LCI has brought out, it looks like they have almost prefect such over the last few years an it has made me lazy for sure an I can now using my cordless drill for other things LOl But it seems that all the MFG are trying to outdo the other with such, why not put more energy into making a better improved suspension that last more than two or three thousand miles than making
a fancy awning that works only half the time if at after a rain  ARE YOU LISTENING LCI !!!! Safe Travels  Chuck |
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Post by laknox on Oct 10, 2018 9:48:55 GMT -5
I'm with you Darrel, I like bells an whistles but they need to be on trains not trailers LOL Not that I am complaining about the leveling system that LCI has brought out, it looks like they have almost prefect such over the last few years an it has made me lazy for sure an I can now using my cordless drill for other things LOl But it seems that all the MFG are trying to outdo the other with such, why not put more energy into making a better improved suspension that last more than two or three thousand miles than making
a fancy awning that works only half the time if at after a rain ARE YOU LISTENING LCI !!!! Safe Travels Chuck Chuck, there =are= better suspensions out there, they just need to =install= them, or at least offer them as an option. Hell, look at the suspension pics Robert Ryan from OZ has posted over on rv.net. Hell-for-stout true off-road independent suspensions that we could use on a goodly number of our =freeways=, let alone getting off-road. How about the MorRyde IS as an options? Everyone who has it loves it. Or an air ride suspension? They're out there. How about disk brakes as an option on lighter rigs, not just the ultra heavy luxury rigs? They're out there. Actual improvements need to be in things like the subject, awnings. IMO, awning bases need to be much more robust as do the awnings themselves. I'd love to see brace bars or =something= to help strengthen electric awnings (which I admit are d@mn handy) up to the same level as tried-n-true manual awnings. I could go on and on, as could we all. Lyle |
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Post by rtreptow7 on Oct 10, 2018 12:35:06 GMT -5
My smart arms are still not functioning. Dealer is getting a "different" wiring harness and then going to install new modules....again. currently just have the flashing green light on both awnings at the module on the awning arm. One awning is completely non functional. Can't control it from the module, inside switches, or the phone app. The other awning is partially functional where you can control it from the module on the arm but not the app or inside switches. I don't know how this is going to be resolved? I have to believe there are many others out there having issues too?
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Post by ChuckAB on Oct 10, 2018 14:07:03 GMT -5
I would have to see this NOW. I’ve been wondering about the placement of my Smart Arm awning as the end with the control module is right under the “downspout” at the end of the gutter. That means anything draining off the roof will hit the arm with the module dead center - like the condensate from the forward air conditioner. So far, it seems to be working okay, but I’m in the middle of a downpour and am watching the water pour into the mounting brackets on the side of the camper. I will, however, keep an eye on it.
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Post by rvdude on Oct 10, 2018 18:10:38 GMT -5
My smart arms are still not functioning. Dealer is getting a "different" wiring harness and then going to install new modules....again. currently just have the flashing green light on both awnings at the module on the awning arm. One awning is completely non functional. Can't control it from the module, inside switches, or the phone app. The other awning is partially functional where you can control it from the module on the arm but not the app or inside switches. I don't know how this is going to be resolved? I have to believe there are many others out there having issues too? When the lights are flashing green, I have noticed that to operate the awning from outside I have to really push the unlock button really hard and for several seconds to make it work. But with these things, who knows? I just know it is a very ridiculous design and LCI needs to come up with a "real fix" for the problem. |
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Post by rvdude on Oct 10, 2018 18:12:48 GMT -5
I would have to see this NOW. I’ve been wondering about the placement of my Smart Arm awning as the end with the control module is right under the “downspout” at the end of the gutter. That means anything draining off the roof will hit the arm with the module dead center - like the condensate from the forward air conditioner. So far, it seems to be working okay, but I’m in the middle of a downpour and am watching the water pour into the mounting brackets on the side of the camper. I will, however, keep an eye on it. Not only is the awning a bad design, but the placement of the gutter downspout is definitely a problem as well. Like yours, the water runs right out of the downspout and into the vertical arm of the awning on mine also. That's a double whammy... |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 14, 2018 14:00:33 GMT -5
I'm with you Darrel, I like bells an whistles but they need to be on trains not trailers LOL Not that I am complaining about the leveling system that LCI has brought out, it looks like they have almost prefect such over the last few years an it has made me lazy for sure an I can now using my cordless drill for other things LOl But it seems that all the MFG are trying to outdo the other with such, why not put more energy into making a better improved suspension that last more than two or three thousand miles than making
a fancy awning that works only half the time if at after a rain ARE YOU LISTENING LCI !!!! Safe Travels Chuck Chuck, there =are= better suspensions out there, they just need to =install= them, or at least offer them as an option. Hell, look at the suspension pics Robert Ryan from OZ has posted over on rv.net. Hell-for-stout true off-road independent suspensions that we could use on a goodly number of our =freeways=, let alone getting off-road. How about the MorRyde IS as an options? Everyone who has it loves it. Or an air ride suspension? They're out there. How about disk brakes as an option on lighter rigs, not just the ultra heavy luxury rigs? They're out there. Actual improvements need to be in things like the subject, awnings. IMO, awning bases need to be much more robust as do the awnings themselves. I'd love to see brace bars or =something= to help strengthen electric awnings (which I admit are d@mn handy) up to the same level as tried-n-true manual awnings. I could go on and on, as could we all. Lyle Lyle
If you read in the Wish list folder an Upgrades an Modifications folder I have upgrade our suspension to the MorRyde SRE 4000
an X-factor cross members an wet bolt kit... Nvguy has also went to the MorRyde suspension an wet kit, Ronc has went to the IS suspension, so some of us are already upgrading such ....
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by laknox on Oct 19, 2018 10:12:03 GMT -5
Chuck, there =are= better suspensions out there, they just need to =install= them, or at least offer them as an option. Hell, look at the suspension pics Robert Ryan from OZ has posted over on rv.net. Hell-for-stout true off-road independent suspensions that we could use on a goodly number of our =freeways=, let alone getting off-road. How about the MorRyde IS as an options? Everyone who has it loves it. Or an air ride suspension? They're out there. How about disk brakes as an option on lighter rigs, not just the ultra heavy luxury rigs? They're out there. Actual improvements need to be in things like the subject, awnings. IMO, awning bases need to be much more robust as do the awnings themselves. I'd love to see brace bars or =something= to help strengthen electric awnings (which I admit are d@mn handy) up to the same level as tried-n-true manual awnings. I could go on and on, as could we all. Lyle Lyle
If you read in the Wish list folder an Upgrades an Modifications folder I have upgrade our suspension to the MorRyde SRE 4000
an X-factor cross members an wet bolt kit... Nvguy has also went to the MorRyde suspension an wet kit, Ronc has went to the IS suspension, so some of us are already upgrading such ....
Safe Travels
Chuck
Thing is, why can't the mfrs offer these as options, which would almost certainly reduce the cost of having to do them aftermarket and you don't have the hassle when you want to camp. I'd just =love= having to go to IN to have the IS installed (/sarcasm). Given the cost of a wet bolt kit is d@mn reasonable, how much cheaper would it be if a mfr offered them installed? How many less headaches would we have if they were installed at the factory? How many less suspension-related warranty claims would they have? How many less =other= issues would they have if our rigs simply =rode= better? Hell, most mfrs offer some sort of shock absorbing pin box as an option; why not other stuff that we'd all love to have? Lyle |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 20, 2018 14:11:03 GMT -5
Lyle
If you read in the Wish list folder an Upgrades an Modifications folder I have upgrade our suspension to the MorRyde SRE 4000
an X-factor cross members an wet bolt kit... Nvguy has also went to the MorRyde suspension an wet kit, Ronc has went to the IS suspension, so some of us are already upgrading such ....
Safe Travels
Chuck
Thing is, why can't the mfrs offer these as options, which would almost certainly reduce the cost of having to do them aftermarket and you don't have the hassle when you want to camp. I'd just =love= having to go to IN to have the IS installed (/sarcasm). Given the cost of a wet bolt kit is d@mn reasonable, how much cheaper would it be if a mfr offered them installed? How many less headaches would we have if they were installed at the factory? How many less suspension-related warranty claims would they have? How many less =other= issues would they have if our rigs simply =rode= better? Hell, most mfrs offer some sort of shock absorbing pin box as an option; why not other stuff that we'd all love to have? Lyle Lyle
As stated in my post in the other thread the cost of upgrading to a MorRyde Suspension an wet bolt Kit is $1200 (installed),
add $200 more for the X-Factor cross members to stiffen the suspension which LCI could do them self's if ask by Kz ... Thus you
have a good stiff frame an a better suspension that you can grease an not plastic bushings that ware out, but brass bushings that ware way longer... At the time we bought our trailer if offered we would have spent the money on the spot to do such ...
A couple of other MFG have the MorRyde king pins an suspensions with wet bolts with Lippert frames so again I know that Kz would like to stay in the mid range market of trailers but an up-grade to MorRyde to me wouldn't make much of a price jump an would be a great sales pitch ... As stated before make it an option if they don't want to add such so the buyer can choose between the two, don't want to spend the money LCI, want more go with MorRyde ...
Again let me say I love the trailer it's self, I love the light colors an layout, I believe it is well built, but it's the suspension
I was not happy about
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by laknox on Oct 22, 2018 10:17:08 GMT -5
Thing is, why can't the mfrs offer these as options, which would almost certainly reduce the cost of having to do them aftermarket and you don't have the hassle when you want to camp. I'd just =love= having to go to IN to have the IS installed (/sarcasm). Given the cost of a wet bolt kit is d@mn reasonable, how much cheaper would it be if a mfr offered them installed? How many less headaches would we have if they were installed at the factory? How many less suspension-related warranty claims would they have? How many less =other= issues would they have if our rigs simply =rode= better? Hell, most mfrs offer some sort of shock absorbing pin box as an option; why not other stuff that we'd all love to have? Lyle Lyle
As stated in my post in the other thread the cost of upgrading to a MorRyde Suspension an wet bolt Kit is $1200 (installed),
add $200 more for the X-Factor cross members to stiffen the suspension which LCI could do them self's if ask by Kz ... Thus you
have a good stiff frame an a better suspension that you can grease an not plastic bushings that ware out, but brass bushings that ware way longer... At the time we bought our trailer if offered we would have spent the money on the spot to do such ...
A couple of other MFG have the MorRyde king pins an suspensions with wet bolts with Lippert frames so again I know that Kz would like to stay in the mid range market of trailers but an up-grade to MorRyde to me wouldn't make much of a price jump an would be a great sales pitch ... As stated before make it an option if they don't want to add such so the buyer can choose between the two, don't want to spend the money LCI, want more go with MorRyde ...
Again let me say I love the trailer it's self, I love the light colors an layout, I believe it is well built, but it's the suspension
I was not happy about
Safe Travels
Chuck
Bet the cost of the upgrade would easily be < $1k if offered as a factory option. Bet it would be <$750 if a mfr offered it as standard equipment, due to bulk buying power. Lyle |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 23, 2018 11:23:14 GMT -5
Lyle You do not have to go back to Indiana to get the IS suspension or the SRE 4000 or 3000 an X-Factor cross members put on, MorRyde has dealers all over the place... I have three such only 15 miles from me, one of which put my SRE 4000 an X-factor suspension on even thought I bought it at the factory ... The other point here is that while touring the MorRyde factory we saw about 6 trailers in the lot from a high end MFG of 5th wheels getting the IS suspension's put on before even being painted ... So Kz workers wouldn't lose any time in the build only the transportation of the trailers going back an fourth to MorRyde an the coust of the hardware an labor at MorRyde which I believe could be negotiated between the two to keep cost down for the buy as well as Kz ...
Again I will say that Kz builds what I believe to be a very solid trailer an it is well layed out with allot of though put into them in most case's ... Yes the placement of light switches, carpet in some case's leaves something to be desired an as we been talking the suspension's in the larger heaver 5th wheels but overall the structure
is pretty darn good an I am an I would buy another Kz 5th wheel in a minute
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by Chuck on Oct 23, 2018 11:27:16 GMT -5
We have gotten off the path on this thread for sure Ugh !! Anyone have any news if they have come up with a permit fix for the Solera Awning Smart Arm yet or are they still wish they could find one  Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by laknox on Oct 23, 2018 15:44:21 GMT -5
Lyle You do not have to go back to Indiana to get the IS suspension or the SRE 4000 or 3000 an X-Factor cross members put on, MorRyde has dealers all over the place... I have three such only 15 miles from me, one of which put my SRE 4000 an X-factor suspension on even thought I bought it at the factory ... The other point here is that while touring the MorRyde factory we saw about 6 trailers in the lot from a high end MFG of 5th wheels getting the IS suspension's put on before even being painted ... So Kz workers wouldn't lose any time in the build only the transportation of the trailers going back an fourth to MorRyde an the coust of the hardware an labor at MorRyde which I believe could be negotiated between the two to keep cost down for the buy as well as Kz ...
Again I will say that Kz builds what I believe to be a very solid trailer an it is well layed out with allot of though put into them in most case's ... Yes the placement of light switches, carpet in some case's leaves something to be desired an as we been talking the suspension's in the larger heaver 5th wheels but overall the structure
is pretty darn good an I am an I would buy another Kz 5th wheel in a minute
Safe Travels
Chuck
So far, I'm not disagreeing (too much) with you, Chuck. My comments were meant more as generalities to the industry. I didn't see my old Komfort until it had been on the dealer's lot for 3-4 months, and there were no real issues with it. The few I had were minor and easily fixed. Only 2 weren't 100% fixed; one, because it was intermittent and didn't always happen (leak on the fresh water inlet for the toilet) and a pocket door that didn't latch. If I'd gotten energetic, a small file would likely have taken care of that, but we didn't really =need= the latch, so I just let it go. Had to have a second strap put on that door, though, as it would swing with only the original strap and come off the track. Simple solution that my dealer took care of for me. My KZ, though, had some glaring issues that the dealer had 10 months to fix before we ever set eyes on it. That, I put on the dealer, but I also put on the factory, because it was just poor build that caused the issues in the first place. Mostly loose trim, the worst being the trim over the bedroom pocket door, but there were other trim pieces that needed a few more nails. Had to have the slide adjusted as it was coming in so far that the lower edge was hitting the island and caused scarring of the trim on the slide edge. Doesn't seem to be hitting now, but I fault the dealer for NOT re-staining the trim were it got scarred up. A bit of Old English dark took care of it, but it should have never happened; the slide should have been adjusted more carefully at the factory, OR the island is a fraction of an inch out of position. Given that we've not used our KZ all that much, I'm pretty pleased with it and will certainly keep KZ in mind if/when we get another FW. I certainly would have bought another Komfort, based on our old one, but Thor FUBAR'd the line, IMO, when they put it under the Dutchmen label after shutting them down for a couple years. The newer ones are =nothing= like the older ones and were too big for my needs anyway. Lyle |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 26, 2018 12:38:44 GMT -5
Well I'm glad they figured out but for those of you that already have these awnings I wonder if they will replace such ... I would hope that if they have to replace such Lippert would pay the bill for their bas design !!! Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 26, 2018 13:05:45 GMT -5
Lyle You do not have to go back to Indiana to get the IS suspension or the SRE 4000 or 3000 an X-Factor cross members put on, MorRyde has dealers all over the place... I have three such only 15 miles from me, one of which put my SRE 4000 an X-factor suspension on even thought I bought it at the factory ... The other point here is that while touring the MorRyde factory we saw about 6 trailers in the lot from a high end MFG of 5th wheels getting the IS suspension's put on before even being painted ... So Kz workers wouldn't lose any time in the build only the transportation of the trailers going back an fourth to MorRyde an the coust of the hardware an labor at MorRyde which I believe could be negotiated between the two to keep cost down for the buy as well as Kz ...
Again I will say that Kz builds what I believe to be a very solid trailer an it is well layed out with allot of though put into them in most case's ... Yes the placement of light switches, carpet in some case's leaves something to be desired an as we been talking the suspension's in the larger heaver 5th wheels but overall the structure
is pretty darn good an I am an I would buy another Kz 5th wheel in a minute
Safe Travels
Chuck
So far, I'm not disagreeing (too much) with you, Chuck. My comments were meant more as generalities to the industry. I didn't see my old Komfort until it had been on the dealer's lot for 3-4 months, and there were no real issues with it. The few I had were minor and easily fixed. Only 2 weren't 100% fixed; one, because it was intermittent and didn't always happen (leak on the fresh water inlet for the toilet) and a pocket door that didn't latch. If I'd gotten energetic, a small file would likely have taken care of that, but we didn't really =need= the latch, so I just let it go. Had to have a second strap put on that door, though, as it would swing with only the original strap and come off the track. Simple solution that my dealer took care of for me. My KZ, though, had some glaring issues that the dealer had 10 months to fix before we ever set eyes on it. That, I put on the dealer, but I also put on the factory, because it was just poor build that caused the issues in the first place. Mostly loose trim, the worst being the trim over the bedroom pocket door, but there were other trim pieces that needed a few more nails. Had to have the slide adjusted as it was coming in so far that the lower edge was hitting the island and caused scarring of the trim on the slide edge. Doesn't seem to be hitting now, but I fault the dealer for NOT re-staining the trim were it got scarred up. A bit of Old English dark took care of it, but it should have never happened; the slide should have been adjusted more carefully at the factory, OR the island is a fraction of an inch out of position. Given that we've not used our KZ all that much, I'm pretty pleased with it and will certainly keep KZ in mind if/when we get another FW. I certainly would have bought another Komfort, based on our old one, but Thor FUBAR'd the line, IMO, when they put it under the Dutchmen label after shutting them down for a couple years. The newer ones are =nothing= like the older ones and were too big for my needs anyway. Lyle
Lyle
As we all know even in cars every so often we get the car, truck or even trailer that as some people say was built either on a Monday or Friday an needs allot of TLC ... As you have stated the trailer you bought was placed in the back of the lot an forgotten an as stated had to have the roof repaired... But the dealer I bet when receiving that trailer more than likely either didn't care an told the RV tech doing the PDI to fix things later because they had other trailers to inspect or work on or just didn't care ...
As I said in another post, I don't care if it's a $140,000 trailer there will be something wrong, as I said before when buying our trailer I saw high end trailers at the show we were at with trim already falling off, lights out, door ajar etc ... I saw none of this with our 5th wheel we bought at the show after people had been thought it for two days ....
Is Kz trying harder, I believe so, we all have seen changes in the last few years that owners at the Kz rally have suggested... I know along with many of the owners that attended the kz rally that Kz kept saying they were listening, did they put on a good dog an pony show for owners, possibly ... But what I saw along with many owners was they were committed to making their product the best it could be an they stood behind it with repairing things way beyond what was needed ...
Safe Travels
Chuck
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Post by kjruzicka on Nov 10, 2018 20:32:56 GMT -5
I have a 2018 !500 Durango 259RDD. My dealer in Wisconsin just fixed my Solera Smart Arm by removing it and rewiring the awning to be operated only by the interior pad. This was after replacing the original Smart Arm controller with a different one via the recall that failed. They did this free of charge and it took the two of them about 30 minutes. They have had to do numerous RV's this way and will not accept any new K-Z products that include this failed product. I am very please with this action.
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Post by laknox on Nov 12, 2018 11:10:08 GMT -5
I have a 2018 !500 Durango 259RDD. My dealer in Wisconsin just fixed my Solera Smart Arm by removing it and rewiring the awning to be operated only by the interior pad. This was after replacing the original Smart Arm controller with a different one via the recall that failed. They did this free of charge and it took the two of them about 30 minutes. They have had to do numerous RV's this way and will not accept any new K-Z products that include this failed product. I am very please with this action. Maybe if more KZ dealers take this approach, KZ Corp. will stop using that junk. What would happen if they simply sent all Solera awnings back to LCI for a refund? Nah, too much incest going on in the RV world for that to happen. :-( Lyle |
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Post by Chuck on Nov 12, 2018 11:56:38 GMT -5
Lyle Not only Kz, but many of the other brands are having the same problem with the smart arms, I read the forest river form, Good Sam, Montana forms an they all have owners complaining about the smart arms ... I'm pretty sure that LCI is feeling the crunch of their bad design ... Problem is that the dealers are the one's sort of eating the repairs somewhat with man hours even thought it's only a few minutes to replace or repair they still have to put someone on it to do such ... Safe travels Chuck |
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ARE YOU LISTENING LCI !!!!
