I love my new Forest River… but…

[IowaRVer]

What were they thinking? They installed a pitch black, thick vinyl awning on it when they built it…. what the heck?#@!

It gets SO HOT under the awning that standing in the blazing summer sun is actually better!

Whatever happened to common sense… use a lighter colored fabric folks… what were you thinking?

Of course, the Lippert/Solera awning folks do NOT sell an acrylic fabric either (which is cooler and my preference)… so now I’m paying several hundred dollars to replace the black vinyl with lighter colored vinyl.

I’m going to fold the black vinyl up and ship it, or part of it, (even if it costs me a bundle to ship) to the the Pres. of Forest River and ask him to stand under it in the sun for a few minutes… to see how he likes it

 

[Rosy]

I can't remember for sure but I think the one on our Coachmen is black too. It still provides nice shade. Awnings used to be white but I think they're pretty much all that same black material now.

 

[IowaRVer]

I can't remember for sure but I think the one on our Coachmen is black too. It still provides nice shade. Awnings used to be white but I think they're pretty much all that same black material now.

shade and 1,000 degrees

 

[Rosy]

Took a look at ours again. The top is black but the underside is white.

 

[IowaRVer]

My replacement vinyl is on the way… worth a few hundred dollars for me to be able to use the awning

 

[IowaRVer]

Upgrades ordered and on the way to dealer!

These changes, though a bit costly, will make our RV much more enjoyable.

1) new toilet (Dometic 320 to replace the evil model 300, the potentially stinky and now-discontinued model that Dometic will replace for customers, but was still putting in new rigs as late as Dec. 2021 while they used up their inventory of 300’s). I have to pay for a portion of the upgrade… the 310 model is free… but we chose the ceramic 320 model.

2) new light colored Solendra awning fabric to replace the solid black (which made the awning useless in hot sun… since it cooked whatever was under it… including humans!)

3) new thermostatically controlled (wall thermostat to be installed) quiet model rooftop AC to replace the VERY loud non-thermostatically controlled model which came in the rig (that unit was either always on or off… fan ran all the time if unit was on)

just another way to pour some $$$ into my new RV

- transmission cooler was a bit pricey for my 2018 Honda Pilot
- weight distribution hitch was a bit pricey too

we are still thrilled with the rig and the way it tows ! And our entire family (especially grandkids) love it!

 

[BeaBur]

I can't remember for sure but I think the one on our Coachmen is black too. It still provides nice shade. Awnings used to be white but I think they're pretty much all that same black material now.

Ours is black on 2022 XLR Boost toy hauler but it leaks so can't put anything against the trailer if raining. Apparently only a "sunshade"!?? Never rains @ Forest River engineer's office?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Upgrades ordered and on the way to dealer!

These changes, though a bit costly, will make our RV much more enjoyable.

1) new toilet (Dometic 320 to replace the evil model 300, the potentially stinky and now-discontinued model that Dometic will replace for customers, but was still putting in new rigs as late as Dec. 2021 while they used up their inventory of 300’s). I have to pay for a portion of the upgrade… the 310 model is free… but we chose the ceramic 320 model.

2) new light colored Solendra awning fabric to replace the solid black (which made the awning useless in hot sun… since it cooked whatever was under it… including humans!)

3) new thermostatically controlled (wall thermostat to be installed) quiet model rooftop AC to replace the VERY loud non-thermostatically controlled model which came in the rig (that unit was either always on or off… fan ran all the time if unit was on)

just another way to pour some $$$ into my new RV

- transmission cooler was a bit pricey for my 2018 Honda Pilot
- weight distribution hitch was a bit pricey too

we are still thrilled with the rig and the way it tows ! And our entire family (especially grandkids) love it!

So you got me thinking! I camp in the forest at higher elevation. I can use an awning up there. Most of the time I wear a jacket when it rains or in the mornings. Black sounds warm!!!
In the desert winter winds preclude much use of an awning, so black is good!!!

I too installed a ceramic Dometic head, but it has a problem!!! The water passages at the top of the bowl are angled to assist counter clockwise flush!!! I don't live south of the equator

 

[TheLooks]

Honda Pilot........

 

[Rosy]

Honda Pilot........

Wrong thread?

 

[Buly]

Some people like black everything. We have a Newel in our complex that looks like black shiny brick?
I never understood why people paint their rooftop AC's, antenna domes etc. in black?
The condenser coils are trying to reject heat, compressor trying to cool itself, but they are placed in a black oven.
The little dome antennas have heat sensitive components. The black dome is 100% sealed. Wander how hot it gets in there?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Some people like black everything. We have a Newel in our complex that looks like black shiny brick?
I never understood why people paint their rooftop AC's, antenna domes etc. in black?
The condenser coils are trying to reject heat, compressor trying to cool itself, but they are placed in a black oven.
The little dome antennas have heat sensitive components. The black dome is 100% sealed. Wander how hot it gets in there?

And yet air cooled motor cycle engines are painted black to help keep the engine cooler. Radiators the same

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Wrong thread?

Yah I was wondering if this was tongue and cheek myself.

 

[TheLooks]

Wrong thread?

No, I would not tow a lawn mower with a Honda Pilot. And I think Honda makes great cars and motorcycles......but not tow vehicles. Hell, I have a trailer for my Honda Goldwing....but it ain't 18 ft. long and loaded with stuff....I probably have more HP then the Pilot......I see many combinations on the highway at 80 mph that cause me to either put them behind me or get way back.

 

[Rosy]

No, I would not tow a lawn mower with a Honda Pilot. And I think Honda makes great cars and motorcycles......but not tow vehicles. Hell, I have a trailer for my Honda Goldwing....but it ain't 18 ft. long and loaded with stuff....I probably have more HP then the Pilot......I see many combinations on the highway at 80 mph that cause me to either put them behind me or get way back.

And this has what exactly to do with black awnings?

 

[TheLooks]

And this has what exactly to do with black awnings?

The OP talks about toilets and transmission coolers and etc. You miss your coffee this morning?

 

[GTS225]

IowaRVer might just be TOWING the Honda Pilot, rather than the pilot doing the towing.
Did that occur to you, TheLooks?

Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Just sayin'.....Roger

 

[Rich W.]

Sounds like he’s towing the FR since an FSX 178BHSK is a travel trailer. Unless he’s pulling doubles…

So, towing with a Honda Pilot? I’d be very careful about staying within the the GCWR. The need for a transmission cooler tells me its already stressed.

If the Pilot is a 4x4 it can tow 5,000lb (according to 2018 specs) and the trailer dry weight plus max CCC is 4830. Add the WDH and you are getting very close to the max towing capacity. So it would be important to really watch the load and keep it at or under the published 1081 CCC. I like a little more margin than that.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

And this has what exactly to do with black awnings?

I guess the title of this post should be changed to " black shade awnings ", or maybe we should start staying on topic! I am confused! What is the topic?

 

[Rich W.]

I guess the title of this post should be changed to " black shade awnings ", or maybe we should start staying on topic! I am confused! What is the topic?

Started with awnings but Id say anything the OP brought up is fair game. Having seen a few TTs on their side with an undersized tow vehicle, it seems worthwhile to comment on that as well. Off the original topic, but a worthwhile discussion.