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I am getting ready to mount the racking for a large solar system and I am looking for some information on the dimensions of the roof framing.  I have photo I'll attach showing the basic lay out that can be seen when the snow on top was melting, but looking for something a little more detailed.  Particularly on the outside edges where the roof rolls down to the sides, as my "slush outlines" are lacking there. Can anyone provide any useful information?

THX!!!

Gregg

Did a quick search didnt see a mention from others about heating the battery bay after upgrading to lithium. I am about to install 900 ah of lithium and thinking about cutting a hole to the aquahot bay from the battery bay and insulating it to ensure it stays above freezing. Thoughts? 

Thanks
Jesse and Sara White
2001 Newell Coach # 581
Wasilla Alaska

Hey everyone, we are Chris and Paula.  We just bought a 2002 Newell series 450. We bought it from an original owner, been stored inside for over 20 years and used very little.  Has just over 17000 km on it which is around 10000 miles.  Yes 10k!   Has many problems that stem from siting.  I’ll be asking be asking for help once we get it home this week.      

Hello All
My name is Jeff Houpe from Gravette AR.  Short story long. I lost my home in a fire a week ago. Total loss. Roof over my head, cars, guns, motorcycles, everything. Has been pretty devastating. But God is good and nobody was hurt. 

My “snow bird” parents started heading home in their Prevost from FL when this happened. I went to visit with them a couple hours ago where the most amazing thing to ever happen, happened. They gifted me their beloved Newell. #504 Magnolia. Needless to say, I’m the proud owner of Newell (pipe dream until now). And, the best part, I have a roof over my head again. Looking forward to this forum. I heard it’s a wealth of knowledge. Fortunately for me, I call my wealth of knowledge, Dad.

Good evening everyone. I’m in need of some help locating a radiator cap. I have a 2003 with the caterpillar C12. The radiator cap that goes on the fill tank has gone bad and I’m not having any luck replacing it. Newell didn’t have much to offer the first time I called them. I was going to try them again next week if this post is unsuccessful. I have included pictures of my current cap with dimensions. Does anyone have a part number or a suggestion of a place to try?

I just wanted to share an experience we had this week while traveling in our 88’ Classic #180. While on the 2nd leg of our trip from Harborview Rv Resort in Monroe Mi. to home in the Branson Mo. Area. The Rear Differential in #180 basically self-destructed resulting in a no forward motion condition with a ton of Racket coming from the rear of the Coach, but it didn’t lock up so I was able to coast to the Shoulder on I-69 just outside Anderson Indiana. After a brief investigation I determined that the Ring & Pinion Area of the Differential was damaged, Initially I was shocked as this Coach has been extremely reliable over the last 18 + Years of ownership, only requiring a Starter, an Alternator, Tires and routine Service & Upkeep (not counting upgrades to the Furnaces’, Refrigeration, AV Gear Etc… )

This is where the story gets better. We found a repair Shop willing to work on the Newell in Anderson (Big Rig Repair. LLC) who were about to close but recommended a Towing Company to bring us into town (Lawrence Towing) Who did an excellent job with Zero Damage to the Coach (including removing the Axles prior to Towing, to prevent additional damage from occurring) They instructed the Tow Driver where they wanted the Coach parked, as they were closed when we arrived.

The next day a quick assessment was made to confirm my suspicions’, and a new Differential was ordered with next day by noon delivery (at no additional cost). They insisted we could overnight in the Couch, so we did, only Taking the Jeep out to explore the local area. The next day (Weds) The coach Rear Axle housing was disassembled, Cleaned & Inspected. The actually amount of Destruction inside was unreal.  When the New Replacement Differential arrived as promised we were reassembled (including New Spicer 1710 Series “Red Box” U-Joints as one of ours had a broken Grease Nipple, 5 Gals of Synthetic Gear Oil, New Axles End gaskets, Shop Supplies, All for a very fair price! We were quite pleased with both the Professionalism & Pricing! As the repairs were completed at 6:30 pm we choose to stay the night and got a fresh start this morning headed home. We’ve just pulled for the night in southern Missouri and will be home in the am. I don’t often share much of our Travels but I do read all of your posts, and thought this time I had something truly use full to all to add.

Again just wanted to share this experience with everyone and give my highest recommendation to both of these Fine Organizations

Duanne

1988 Newell Classis

“Show 488”

Hey folks! My name is Alan and my wife Melonie. We are both very excited and have decided an older newell will be itfor us.  Trying to look and learn. 
Thanks for the help upfront. 
We love the bath and a half floorplans and fond of the pre egr detroit 60s  but very open as these are well built coaches!
Alan

I have had my baby for almost 15 years.  I am just finishing up some things to have it ready.  I freshly polished, clay barred and hybrid ceramic coated it.  inside is completely detailed by my wife.   i detailed all the bays, the genny, the engine etc.  

Darlene says i have to thin the herd.  I have had 2 coaches for 18 months now.  

about 211k miles.   the genny says 8k hours and it runs fine and fluid samples fine.  i believe it was rebuilt totally before i got it as it was painted to look like new then.  and i found some receipts on it.  I am finishing putting in a new carbon fiber look dash and instrument panel.  the old one had a large homegrown newell backup camera monitor in it and it failed.  i replace it with a voyager overhead one.  so to fill the big hole in i have had a new one waterjet cut and I am just in the process of finishing it.  I have other things i am busy with so it might be a few weeks.  it is a bath and a half.  and full size cal king custom bed.  

will come with the silverleaf vmspc monitoring system.  

I am just putting this out there to gauge interest.  There are more pictures but that is all i am going to post for now.  lots of things have been updated, fixed and serviced over the years.  it has been stored inside in my shop for the past 12 years.  

price to be determined yet but will be open to offers.  I am not desperate in any way and will take my time to find the right person to take her.  but will be very reasonable.  If i dont sell it myself, I will have a broker friend sell it like he did my 99.  

This coach is well documented on this forum.  It did sit for quite a while when i had health problems but i have gone through just about everything on it since then.  Lots of spare parts as well some of which i will be posting on here for sale separately  .  air suspension holds for months.  as it sits in the pictures it has been for 2 months.  

Tires are the only thing it will need.  they are pristine, no cracking and low miles but are aging out.  all batteries are new.  has a magnum inverter i put in.  

i bought this coach from the Honda Indy car team.  it was a hospitality coach then.  and the andretti race team built it.  

i will be very honest and upfront about everything when talking in person.  I am not going to do a zillion posts explaining things on it.  it has some unique features.  

the basement airs work great  they have had the relay mods and rebuilt circuit boards  dash air works great.  etc, etc etc.  

It is not perfect.  but it is very nice.  any of you on the forum that know it, please feel free to comment on your opinion of it.  that is the best recommendations i can do.  

we have traveled for 6 months at a time in it and many other trips and just love it.  it is like getting rid of a family member.  

we all have to remember it is 25 years old and there will always be something to fix or upgrade.  

I am not giving up the rv life yet.  Have picked up another coach that I will tell about later.  darlene and i went to alaska with forest and cindy last summer in it.  

This is my 3rd Newell and have made so many friends from having it.  Starting and running Newellgurus has been one of the highlites of my retired life.  Many many gurus have seen and been in this coach and been here at our home.  and the offer is still there.  we have 2 full 50am hookups.  

Newellgurus will continue to thrive and help all of us out.

I live in Wittmann, Arizona, which is about 30 minutes outside the phoenix metro area by surprise.  in between surprise and wickenburg.  about 1 hour from phoenix sky harbor airport.  It will be available until mid april.  then it will either go too the broker or wait until fall.  like i said, i am not in any rush.  nice thing about being retired is to not be in a tizzy or rush.  eh?

contact me at [email protected]

Tom

Hi,
I'm interested in a Newell coach and wondering what projects have been done on Newell to get them fully off the pole and tanks (propane and diesel). During my eight years of owning a MCI bus conversion the bus is 100% powered by the sun. Residential solar panels and lithium batteries are the heart of the system. The roof on the Newell looks like plenty of real estate and plenty of bay storage for batteries.

What is the parasitic draw to keep the coach running while off grid? I read something about the slide air seals need air supplied to them, meaning some form of air compressor is using some energy. Besides the refrigerator, hot water heater, and AC, coach lighting, cooktop, what else draws energy while parked?

I'm designing for 3000 watts of solar and 12kWh of lithium as the baseline with the facts I have thus far.

I do include a backup generator as there are rare times where multiple days of low solar energy forces a charge up of the battery bank. So far it is rare: once where it rained non-stop for 5 days and once where fog never lifted for days on end.

I'm new to the Newell world and understand that Newell did not provide the full engineering documentation when a coach was delivered, maybe still same policy today.

I guess I've been spoiled as my bus conversion has complete, detailed build specs. Everything is documented, wiring, electrical, plumbing, heating system, etc. Every wire is numbered on each end and described in the wiring list. It has made maintaining the bus incredibly easy to track, trace, diagnose, and resolve any and all issues.

So, what reason would Newell have to block release of these documents? Has anybody been able to obtain a full set of build docs from them, even accepting all printing and pre costs?