Safety First With Our Clippers

[Clipper Joe]

Hello All Clipper Owners,

I Have Been Reading Many Posts, From Old & New Clipper Owners.

First Off These Clippers Are Reaching Golden Age, I Have Read That Some Clipper Owners Have Bought Clippers That Have Been Setting For Many Years, Etc. I Do Not Know If They Have Got All Safety Maintenance Records From Old Owners Or If These Clippers Were Well Taken Care Of In The Past..
  I Know Some Of Us Were Not As Lucking To Fine A Well Serviced One, Like Myself, Being Handy I Have Been Able To Bring Wilson So To Say ' Back To Life '.

Getting Back To The Safety Side, I Wanted To Touch Base On A Few Items I Have Read, Remember I'm Not Singling Any One Clipper Member.

These Clippers Have A Lot Of Weight About 5 Tons & Carry Large Amount Of Gas & LPG (Propane),   
So First Of, Our Clippers Should Be Checked On A Regular Basic, Or By A Tech. Mechanic Or RV Tech.
If You Can Not Do This Task.

Here Are A Few Easy Safety Checks; Brakes, Tires, Lighten System, Make Sure Each Trip Check, Turn,Brake, Hazard Warning Flasher, Clearance Lights & Do Not Forget Those 2ea. Little License Plate Lights. These Are Important That Others Are Able To See Our Beautiful Clippers Coming Down The Road. 

Make Sure All Levels Are Up To Level In Engine Compartment; Engine Oil, Radiator Anti-Freeze, Power Steering Level, Brake Fluid Level In Master Cylinder, & Batteries Checked For Proper Level,If Applied, Remember Use Distilled Water 1/4-1/2 Over Battery Plates, Also Check House Battery Or Batteries @ Same time.
 
Next, Check All Belts, & Pulleys; A/C, Alternator, Powers Steering, Check For Tension & Cracking Do To Age, Also Check Radiator Hoses Top & Bottom, For Age Or Wear. Note; If You Do Not Know How Old These Are It Would Be A Wise Idea To Have A Spare Set Or Install New & Document Date When Installed. Make Sure You Do A Start-Up Check Before Each Trip, Open Hood, Listen For Different Form Normal Sounds, Run A/C, Have Someone Turn Steering Wheel To Check Power Steering Travel End Stop To End Stop Each Side Left/ Right. You May Get A Small Squeak At Ends No Problem, If You Hear As Turning Loud Noises, May Have Loose Or Worn Belt Or Belts Or Bad Power Steering Pump.

I Have Read Some Members Have Lost There Belts Due To A Problem With A/C Clutch Or Broken Or Mis-Aligned Pulleys, So Please Keep These Items Checked.

You Know None Of Use Want To End A Trip Having To Have Our Clippers Stranded On The Side Of The Road, & Tow Companies Charge So Much For A Tow Now On Days, Some Are Lucky To Have A Good Tow Emergency Service, AAA or Good Sam Club. Hope We Never Have To Use Them..

Please Feel Free To Add To These Safety Items, I Know I May Have Missed A lot.

Have A Safe Trip, For You & Others,

Joe

[Toedtoes]

Hmmmm, I wonder whose experiences might have encouraged this post...   

I do agree with all of this.  I'd also recommend that you get your fuel lines checked out and replaced if needed as one of the first things done with a clipper upon new ownership.  Mine had not been touched for years and there were minute holes throughout the entire run of line - holes too small to actually see the fuel leaking, but when we did a "smoke test", the smoke was coming out of every inch of line.

The other item I would have checked out on day one is the propane system (and generator system if you have one).  It's another area that not catching a leak or faulty regulator can literally mean death. 

[Clipper Joe]

Hi Toedtoes,

I Knew I Did Forget Somethings, You Have Had Your Clipper Checked Regularly By A Good RV Mechanic, The Smoke Test On Fuel Line Is A Must, Also, I Forgot If There Is Any Rubber Fuel Line In Doghouse Area, To Carburetor, I'm Using Steel Tubing, From Fuel Pump To Carburetor, I Have A Rubber Fuel Hose From Gas Tank To Generator I Replaced & Also, Installed & Wrapped My New LPG (Propane) Hose  When I Had LPG System Checked Last Year.

Also, This Is A Good Thing To Check Is Oven/Range LPG Connector, Furnace Connector, & Refridgerator LPG Connection.

I Have Heard Some Bad Fires In A RV, I Also Bought A 12VDC  LPG/ Carbon Monoxide Sensor, Have It Hard Wired In Clipper House Next To Power Center.

Thanks Again For The Fast Response.

Joe

Ps; Hey Clipper Owner, Please Post Some Feedback, This Is A Very Important Post For All Of Our Safety.