first maintenance

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   So we've had the 178 home a week & this is the first free time that I've had to play with it. Unfortunately.

 My first mod: drilling a drain hole in the battery box. I was somewhat disappointed to not see any water run out.

 Then I went into maintenance mode:

1. I sprayed the stabilizer jack screw threads & pivots with penetrating grease(it goes on thin like WD-40, then thickens to a goo.)

2. I went around & pulled all of the marker light covers off, removed the bulbs & greased the connections. The rear side marker & license plate lamps were starting to get a bit of green corrosion in them. Then I pulled the cover on the porch light & did the same. Finally, I pulled the cover on the hitch light. There is a stain inside the lamp that shows a high water mark about half way up the inside of the lamp. Also 1 of the soldered connections on the switch is green, but intact. I tried switching on the light & no joy. The inside of the bulb socket looks fine, since it was above the water line. Has anyone else seen this? I have the camper plugged into shore power. Is there anything that I'm missing to turn on the hitch light? Or should I call my local Forest River dealer?

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Hairy Podders Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Mar 2014 Location: Northwest Ohio Online Status: Offline Posts: 217	Topic: first maintenance Posted: 06 Apr 2014 at 6:24pm
	So we've had the 178 home a week & this is the first free time that I've had to play with it. Unfortunately. My first mod: drilling a drain hole in the battery box. I was somewhat disappointed to not see any water run out. Then I went into maintenance mode: 1. I sprayed the stabilizer jack screw threads & pivots with penetrating grease(it goes on thin like WD-40, then thickens to a goo.) 2. I went around & pulled all of the marker light covers off, removed the bulbs & greased the connections. The rear side marker & license plate lamps were starting to get a bit of green corrosion in them. Then I pulled the cover on the porch light & did the same. Finally, I pulled the cover on the hitch light. There is a stain inside the lamp that shows a high water mark about half way up the inside of the lamp. Also 1 of the soldered connections on the switch is green, but intact. I tried switching on the light & no joy. The inside of the bulb socket looks fine, since it was above the water line. Has anyone else seen this? I have the camper plugged into shore power. Is there anything that I'm missing to turn on the hitch light? Or should I call my local Forest River dealer?
	Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

CharlieM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797	Posted: 06 Apr 2014 at 7:12pm
	You're not missing anything obvious. Check all other 12V lights, the fan, the thermostat, the propane detector. If they all work the light should come on. I don't recall which circuit that light is wired to. Rock the switch several times to make sure it didn't fill with water and corrode. If all works except the hitch light it must be defective or miswired. Then either seal the light fixture or drill a small hole in its bottom. Sometimes it's easier to let water run out than to keep it out.
	Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

outermostpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 06 Nov 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 43	Posted: 07 Apr 2014 at 11:18am
	my hitch light didn't work either - hadn't worked since delivery. I looked at the existing bulb and the filament looked intact. Checked the switch - no corrosion. Wasn't interested in driving it 2 hrs back to my dealer for such a tiny issue - but it was bugging me nevertheless. I got a new bulb (was replacing all of them with LEDs anyway, so grabbed a couple for the outside lights (porch light and hitch light). Put the new bulb in the hitch light, and voila it worked! Try a new bulb - it might do the trick.

David and Danette Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1219	Posted: 07 Apr 2014 at 2:04pm
	By what I have read and our own experience the hitch lights that Forest River uses are not waterproof. Drilling a small hole in the bottom like Charlie has said may be a good idea. I thought of putting a sealant around the cover but thought that may make it difficult to replace the bulb. Drilling a hole I think is what I am going to do.
	2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab

Hairy Podders Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Mar 2014 Location: Northwest Ohio Online Status: Offline Posts: 217	Posted: 08 Apr 2014 at 1:37pm
	I am too. As soon as I get it working. I cycled the switch on & off a number of times & the light lit about 4 different times. Maybe some contact cleaner sprayed into it....
	Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon