Breathing new live into my 2000 Dutch Star

[DHudson]

12/01/2020
I am starting this thread to chronicle what I've done on my coach.
Here is what it looked like when I brought it home. 12/1/2020.

I just bought a 2000 Dutch Star 3858 DP. 40,000 miles.
300 HP Cat, Allison Trans, Freightliner XC chassis.
Runs and drives great. Drove it 100 miles from seller to home.

Here is what it looked like when I bought it.

 

[DHudson]

12/10/2020
So it had 2 group 27 marine batteries on it .. No Starting batteries.
SO GLAD I own a NAPA Auto Parts.

2 group 31 HD Batteries
4 2GC #8144 6 volt golf cart Batteries. New battery cables.

week after work and 2 weekends, A LOT of help from friends and this forum members (Which I am greatly appreciative of) and battery wiring is sorted out.
Another week trying to figure out for sure which battery cable went to the inverter..to figure out, I don't have a inverter..

 

[DHudson]

12/11/2020
My 93 year old Mom got covid. See was sick.. After arguing with her doctor for an hour to give her more than "fluids", finally demanded that he give her
hydrochloride. He did with a steroid, antibiotic, zinc, D, & C. 2 days later she is kicking Covids ASS! THEN she got pneumonia.. Kick it in the butt also! She is tired but doing good.

12/24/020

 

[DHudson]

12/20/2020
Fixed the illuminated door entry handle. Robbed a side marker light socket from a 68 Nova parts car I have.
Also fixed the release latch rod on rear engine hatch.

 

[Retired]

What is the roof condition?

 

[DHudson]

1/1/2021
God I hope 1/6/2021 works out!

Sealed what I hope was the leak in the roof that dumped about 2 gallons of water inside from over 12" of rain new years eve.
This is Central Texas. I don't like 36 degrees, rain ALL day and night, and windy.

Replace 3rd brake light with a bigger one that looks nicer that I had at the store.

1/2/2021
Sun FINALLY made a appearance.
Sunday actually was sunny and in the low 60's

Spent the weekend installing Christmas presents.
New rear camera and new stereo system.
Had to modify the dash a little for the new camera.
Radio has a "floating screen" that fit into the original hole.
@ hours running the cable for the camera. But it's secure, safe and a clean instillation.
I made a reinforcement panel that fits behind the dash for more support for the heavy radio screen.
Looks pretty good I think.

I have my camera on 1 screen and can have "MAPS" open on radio screen. It pairs with my phone, so can have hands free phone use, and pretty good radio.

Vacuumed up what water I could from carpet. Have had a fan on it 2 days now. I rigged a hose off the shop vac to pick up air from the fan and blow into the ceiling area that got wet after I got as much insulation as I could out.

 

[DHudson]

What is the roof condition?

I thought it was good..NOT. Hope I hope I stopped a leak until summer and dry weather, so I can replace it.

 

[Neemer]

That looks like an ambitious project. Good luck to you! Glad your mom is doing better too.

 

[NWIP]

Glad to hear your mother is doing better, hope improvement continues. It took 20 years for the coach to get into the condition you bought it, hopefully you can get it back in shape faster?. You’ve made a good start. Thanks for sharing your progress.

 

[DHudson]

That looks like an ambitious project. Good luck to you! Glad your mom is doing

That looks like an ambitious project. Good luck to you! Glad your mom is doing better too.

Thank you

 

[DHudson]

Glad to hear your mother is doing better, hope improvement continues. It took 20 years for the coach to get into the condition you bought it, hopefully you can get it back in shape faster?. You’ve made a good start. Thanks for sharing your progress.

Thank you

 

[Jim]

I love to see these old coaches come back to life. And sure glad to hear you mother is going to be OK!

 

[DHudson]

I know this isn't the place probably to share, but it's kinda my way maybe talking to GOD. My Mom was put on Hospice Monday. She took a down turn and she is too weak to bounce back. I try to sit helplessly by her side to comfort her. I try to put on a strong front for her. I am mad, sad, and lost. It breaks my heart to leave her side. My back is killing me. I have a business that must be kept a float. I am so tired, but can not sleep. I am stressed. Am I going to even have a business in a week,in this messed up world.
But I feel so guilty, not staying by her side. Because I will probably not have my Mom in another week.
Lord please take her pain away and make her whole again, be it with me or with you.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I know this isn't the place probably to share, but it's kinda my way maybe talking to GOD. My Mom was put on Hospice Monday. She took a down turn and she is too weak to bounce back. I try to sit helplessly by her side to comfort her. I try to put on a strong front for her. I am mad, sad, and lost. It breaks my heart to leave her side. My back is killing me. I have a business that must be kept a float. I am so tired, but can not sleep. I am stressed. Am I going to even have a business in a week,in this messed up world.
But I feel so guilty, not staying by her side. Because I will probably not have my Mom in another week.
Lord please take her pain away and make her whole again, be it with me or with you.

Our prayers are with you. This is a very difficult time, with all of the Covid-19 restrictions and social unrest. It is made even more difficult when a family member is ill. Please know that God hears your prayers and He will lead you through this difficult time.

TJ

 

[SherryB]

Prayers for you and your mom.?

 

[DHudson]

Started a new adventure today. I think I have stopped the water leak for now. Until I can put a roof on it. I hope. Tore out the section of ceiling that got damaged. Man that foam on the back of the vinyl can hold a lot of water. Figure I will leave it out until the roof is fix.
Also cranked up the generator so I could vacuum up the debris. Fuel line is leaking. Easy fix. And the freaking muffler fell off! That I will take to the muffler shop and reengineer what the factory did. Don't like the muffler and pipe hanging down so low and don't want to hear it running. I am going to put a larger car muffler on it and tuck it up under the chassis.

 

[DHudson]

Thank you for the prayers and thought for my Mom. She went to be with my Dad and the Lord a couple of weeks ago. She is well again and happy.

 

[DHudson]

This makes so much more sense to pass wires and cables through a roof or side wall than just running a cables through a hole with a globe of sealer.

 

[DHudson]

34 degrees and raining in Corsicana Tx..(65 miles south of Dallas)
Supposed to be down in the teens by the weekend and wet most of the time. :{

 

[DHudson]

Rained most of yesterday evening. 28 this morning. High supposed to be 30. ICE everywhere. Wrecks everywhere on I45.