FYI Newmar Academy Overview

[DennisT]

Well, the new Newmar Academy class happened to be the week before my scheduled maintenance at the mothership next week so I signed up. There are only specific coaches that are currently included.

We are the fourth class they have done so far.

They are doing one week a month (4 days of class) currently and looking to expand that. They are also looking to include all coach models as part of the long term plan.

They permit 10 coaches to sign up for the Academy to limit the number of people in the classes.

They do provide breakfast items as well as lunch throughout the week and class starts at 8 am so you get to be at the mothership and actually sleep in a bit

I’ll be adding big picture items that we go through each day for information.

I will say that, so far, I’m impressed with the information being provided. Just by my nature I like to learn as much as possible about things and have been working to do so for the past 2 1/2 years we have been full timing in our coach. Have learned a lot on my own but have learned a bunch more the first two days of classes.

 

[Richpatty]

Interesting…keep us posted on how it goes.

 

[Neal]

Thanks for the report. What is the cost?

 

[Richpatty]

Thread 'Newmar Academy'

Mar 26, 2025

FYI

• Neemer
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Newmar Owners Club

• 

 

[DennisT]

Day 1 of the Academy (Tuesday):

DISCLAIMER: These are from my notes and may not necessarily be the gospel. Always a good idea to call or check Newgle for the proper information

We went through the multiplex systems. Class was split based on coach model due to the differences in the systems used.

Classroom portion went through the overall connections for lighting, etc. and troubleshooting the actual modules that control items. Also learned that one of the modules has a battery that provides the power to the clock on my KIB control screen - good to know if the clock stops.

We actually connected items to a mockup of the coach and brought things up to turn on lighting etc on the coach mockup on the panel they have in the training room as well as tank levels.

Walked through the troubleshooting process for the modules to verify if it is a module problem or wiring. Everything is on a common wire setup daisy chained through each of the modules. Good info for troubleshooting a potential wiring problem.

If your main control panel for the air conditioning, heat pumps, furnace is not working (Silverleaf or the KIB like I have) you can actually take a Dometic Comfort Control 2 thermostat / controller, plug the cable into that from the heating and air conditioning control box, and actually get your air or heat running until you can get the main panel fixed or replaced. I’ll verify the actual model and provide the link to Amazon for the one that is needed.

They went through all the tank level indicators as well as problems we could have, troubleshooting, calibration, etc. Had the ultrasonic as well as the pressure sensor (black tank) so they could be looked at.

After lunch the groups swapped locations and we went out to a coach and discussed the systems further. Part of that discussion was going through the emergency retraction of the slides - good info. The emergency retraction is also part of the slideout discussion on the third day.

Last discussion of the day was Newmar looking for feedback from owners on their coaches, things we’d like to see changed / fixed, etc. We were lucky that someone was out and we had Casey as one of the individuals.

 

[DennisT]

Thanks for the report. What is the cost?

$999 plus tax at this time. With the info being provided (hopefully nothing ever breaks and not needed ) it could save more than that by being able to troubleshoot and fix things without hiring someone.

 

[Neemer]

Very interesting indeed.

 

[DennisT]

Here is the link to the thermostat that can be used in an emergency for either KIB or Silverleaf panel not working.

Did confirm this morning that it will also run the Oasis if needed.

Amazon.com

 

[DennisT]

Day 2 of the Academy (Wednesday):

DISCLAIMER: These are from my notes and may not necessarily be the gospel. Always a good idea to call or check Newgle for the proper information

First part of the day was going through Newgle and some of the changes they have made.

For those that may not have been out there in a while there is now a coach specific page you can go to directly from the main screen once you login.

This will take you to a page that has some model specific information, wiring diagrams, plumbing, 12 v diagram, etc. specific to your year, model, and floor plan.

They are also putting more information on the pages that you can get to for the individual components, some of which used to be the “Tech Only” items that we could never see previously. They are working on getting complete wiring diagrams and info like that made available to owners as well which will be great.

Next portion was the Electronics & Entertainment (Winegard, WiFi Ranger, & Starlink).

Lots of discussions on here already about the Winegard, etc. and I don’t have notes to add to those discussions. Did pickup good information for myself since we still have the Winegard router, etc. in our coach.

One item of discussion was the Starlink setup. People were having issues with them overheating and there are a couple causes for that when they are blocked.
— The Snow Melt option was recommended to be turned off if not needed.
— The other one that came up was with the High Performance dish. This dish will boost power when it cannot find a strong signal from the satellites. This feature is nice when there is tree coverage etc. however, they were seeing them fail when in storage and when they were in the service area. With the dish on and inside the building the system would go to max power to try and find the satellites - not going to happen in a metal building. They had them fail inside service and the recommendation is to turn off the Starlink power when putting it inside or not using just in case (specifically the high performance).
— They actually made a change to the processes on the line during build for taking care of these issues and preventing damage. Dealerships have also been informed since they may go inside when arriving at the dealership.

Next portion of the day was Hydronic Heating (Oasis).

They have one in the classroom (gutted to make it easier to move around) for discussion.

There are lines running from the enging through a specific loop on the Oasis to heat the system while driving. Should be a valve in those lines to and from the engine coolant to turn that flow on or off.

They went through all the lights on the front of the Oasis as well as the indicators on the panel mounted on the wall with respect to troubleshooting and verifying proper operation.

We learned the process to bypass the photo eye that checks for proper flame as an emergency test to verify if that is the reason it doesn’t stay running.

For those that have Silverleaf you will also have a bubble wrapped item tie wrapped in the compartment with the Oasis. This contains an individual panel (like those of us that have the KIB normally use to control the Oasis (Burner, AC1 / Off / AC1 and 2 etc). If you have a problem with the Silverleaf this can be connected to the only multi pin connector on the silver box on the wall that fits. Then you can control the Oasis still while you get the Silverleaf repaired or whatever.

Some of the older paperwork for the Oasis says the fluid pH should be between 8 and 10. They have updated that to have a lower limit of 7.5 instead of the 8.

They also mentioned to check the overflow tank for the Oasis fluid periodically. Some have like a straw that goes from the lid to the bottom of the tank. This has come loose and dropped into the tank. Needs to be in place for the tank to work properly.

After the Oasis we moved onto Air Conditioners.

A lot of good information put out as far as testing, things to test and what they should read (currents, capacitance, resistance etc).

Looking at them from the perspective of someone telling you the A/C is bad and needs replaced they provided a lot of tests to verify that is actually the case and not a part replacement instead. Good information to have to verify a tech (or us if we do our own troubleshooting) to verify what the actual issue is before we buy a whole new unit.

They have moved from the Dometic to Coleman units for new builds. This is due to the contract for a specific number of units that Dometic wanted them to sign (as explained anyhow). Dometic is still making the units so if needed they are still available.

They went through the proper cleaning process for the units as well. NOTE: They do not recommend compressed air or spraying water - just a vacuum and a cleaning brush like below to clean the fins (it gets between them so the insides of the fins are cleaned as well).

Amazon.com

 

[Buster]

Great info, thanks for the summary for each day. Coil brushes coming my way now.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

@Neemer, excellent information. Interesting that Dometic is still making units when there has been a lot of discussion saying otherwise. @Chuggs spent a lot of time recently.

 

[DennisT]

@Neemer, excellent information. Interesting that Dometic is still making units when there has been a lot of discussion saying otherwise. @Chuggs spent a lot of time recently.

I’ll confirm that today so I don’t put out anything that is incorrect.

 

[Richpatty]

So it appears Coleman is the new standard for Newmar?

 

[DennisT]

So it appears Coleman is the new standard for Newmar?

As of this time that is correct, new coaches being built are getting Coleman installed.

 

[DennisT]

Texas Clodhopper said:
@Neemer, excellent information. Interesting that Dometic is still making units when there has been a lot of discussion saying otherwise. @Chuggs spent a lot of time recently.

I’ll confirm that today so I don’t put out anything that is incorrect.

They are still making them. There is a changed version coming out which has led to issues with the supply overall. The good news is the new model will be a direct replacement if needed to change one out.

 

[Chuggs]

The “New Unit” is the Freshjet 5. On the one hand…they say it is a direct replacement for the Penguin II. I would say YES if it is for A/C ONLY…AND…your RV uses a ceiling Air Distribution Box. Our Newmar Coaches do not use a ceiling mounted ADB…and our model of a Penguin II has the controller mounted in the rooftop unit. If they would go back to offering the controller “built-in” to the rooftop unit…it would be direct. The Heat Pump model, which hasn’t been released yet…it supposedly got a built-in controller but,,,of a new standard. It purportedly requires a new thermostat…and comm cables of RJ45 8 pin 8 conductor…vs our existing RJ11 6 pin 4 conductor. They will offer converters for your remaining Penguin II. I went back and forth with thier support team…and they would offer zero technical documents before its official release. I gave them a very hard time about not supporting Penguin II legacy users…hopefully, they will offer a version with the built-in CCC2 thermostat. But I don’t feel like Dometic will make the right decision on that point. Time will tell.

I purchased a 15k A/C only unit, it came with zero documentation other than an schematic of the hardware wired to the 6-pin molex…and decided not to try to mount a controller designed to go in an ADB in just any ol place. I scavenged my Penguin II controller and mounted it in the provided housing on the Freshjet 5. I had to rewire everything. The controller they recommend is basically the same as the one in our basement used for AGS starting. It is normally used for AGS and Air Conditioners…and can support heat strips. The built-in controllers are normally used, I believe with Heat Pumps…because the reversing valve adds two wires…and that means a 6-pin Molex connector would come up two short. The built-in controllers mostly use spade terminals… but still have plug type for two com ports, outside temp sensor, evaporator freeze sensor, and remote cabin temp sensor.

Regardless of what they do… I will try to find more information to support this..but I believe the Heat Pump can be wired to our existing models of a Penguin II controllers. Because really…the interior is just a compressor, a fan, and two capacitors and a PTCR just like the Penguin II.

 

[DennisT]

Day 3 of the Academy (Thursday):

DISCLAIMER: These are from my notes and may not necessarily be the gospel. Always a good idea to call or check Newgle for the proper information

The first part of the day was on batteries.

If you order the Lithium option from Newmar they are using Neverdie batteries. They are UL Listed, have a 7 - 10 year lifespan, and are rated for 3,000 cycles. They have a companion app to monitor them.
— The BMS on those is a separate component that is installed
— They have an internal heater for temperature control.

Normal battery maintenance, testing, etc. was discussed covering both AGM and wet cell batteries.

The next portion was a discussion with the Riverpart rep on the Xite radio.

Radios after 2020 are Apple Carplay compatible. They are still waiting for approval for the other.

One piece that was interesting on the Apple Carplay portion — If you are using the built in Nav and you are connected to Carplay, then turn on another Nav on your phone, the built in will stop. Something to do with the rules Apple has that only permits one app for navigation to be running at the same time.

For those that have been looking for a way to record the cameras while traveling, or while stopped - if you locate the box in the basement that the cameras connect through there may be an hdmi out connection available. This is on the HD camera systems (unfortunately mine is the analog system so no hdmi out). You can connect a dvr to that hdmi connection and record the video from the cameras.

For 2027 (planned model year at this time) they are looking to install an optional dvr when the coach is built so it will be available already. They are working out what to do with the front facing as well so you would not necessarily need to have a dash cam running. Interesting plans for the future at least and we shall see what all comes out.

For those that have the NavNGo navigation, the 3 years of free map updates starts when the coach leaves a Geofence that is setup around Newmar. This means that the time would start when the coach heads for the dealership or you do a factory pickup and travel outside that geofence. So you may not have the full three years depending on when the coach left Nappanee and when you purchased at the dealer.

For updates to the radio system overall, there is a usb port on the front of the box for the radio in the overhead of the driver area. That is where they would be loaded to the system if needed. You can reach out to Riverpark to see if there is one for your unit. Normally only updated every year and, for our 22, unless they see issues, there may not be a reason to update.

If you want to check, you can get the information from the radio screen as far as the software version you have and call or email them to see if there is an update. If there is they will send instructions on how to download and install the update to the radio.

The next portion of the day was slideouts and emergency retraction (hopefully none of us ever need that).

For electric slides, when there are multiple motors in play (full wall slide for example), there is an encoder on the motors (small round silver piece that is mounted to the motor housing). That is used to keep the motors in sync by counting the number of revolutions. There are screws holding that to the motor housing. One of the checks they mentioned was taking a screwdriver periodically and verifying those screws are not getting loose.

The slides with one motor use a force setting in the controller to determine when the slide is in or out.

For the single motor slides, if you ever need to replace the controller, ensure you get the proper one. Mine, for example, I have one rated at 15 amps and one rated at 30 amps (bedroom and living area respectively). Need to ensure you replace with the same rating - 30 amp on the bedroom slide could cause issues due to additional force applied from the controller.

We went through the emergency retraction process of both hydraulic and electric slides. If you do a search on Newgle and look for emergency retraction they have a complete document written up for both types as well as whether they are single or dual motor (for electric).

All I'll say is I am glad I have all electric slides . The process is a little easier for those than the hydraulic. But hopefully, will never be needed.

On the electric, if you ever need to loosen the tran torque bushing - another item they discussed as there have been issues when a mobile tech, etc. had to loosen that remove that for repairs.
— loosen a quarter turn then tap on the bushing with a hammer
— this will cause the internals to come lose from the inside of the shaft
— then it can be loosened the rest of the way

If you don’t tap the bushing before removing the rest of the way it could stay stuck to the internals of the shaft and you may ruin the bushing by removing.

The last part of the day was going through the maintenance items they provide when coming to the service center to get work done. Essentially what they recommended letting them do and what we all may be able to do ourselves.

 

[DennisT]

Day 4 of the Academy (Friday):

DISCLAIMER: These are from my notes and may not necessarily be the gospel. Always a good idea to call or check Newgle for the proper information

The first part of the day was the chassis portion. We split into two groups (Spartan and Freightliner).

The Freightliner rep went through the information they put out when you take the class at the National or other rallies. They also went through information provided by Michelin for the tires.

One item I found interesting was Michelin recommends max pressure in the tires when storing the coach. They also recommend placing a barrier (rubber mat, cardboard, etc) between the tires and the storage surface.

They also recommend tire covers to protect from UV if outside stored or longer term at a campground.

From the chassis perspective they discussed the drain lanyards for the air tanks. Should do every 6 months if you have them.

After the chassis portion we had the lead for the customer support team and the lead for the group that works with dealers for a discussion.

The support team is now from 8 am to 8 pm that there is someone available to answer the phones and not have to wait for a call back. They are working to modify the hours to be able to assist west coast and other timezones more efficiently.

For the dealership side, there is a rule in place - when the dealership submits paperwork for a warranty repair Newmar has a four hour turnaround time to get a response back to the dealer. So, if the dealer is telling you they are still waiting on Newmar day after day, they are probably not telling you the truth - or they have not submitted what Newmar has requested in a timely fashion.

They have Diamond dealerships that do change periodically. This is based on the level and quality of service they provide. If you go to the Newmar website (Find a Service Center) you can put in your location and will get a list.

The above list will have Diamond service centers listed. There are some that have lost their Diamond status and some that have gained that level from Newmar. This “should” get you to a dealership where you will have the best service experience. You can see the Diamond Servicing in the below pic.

If you have warranty work done at a dealership, you will get a survey after the work is completed. This is important to respond to as that is what Newmar uses to rate the dealership service for the Diamond status as well as pushing dealerships that are not doing work as well.

After those discussions we had our graduation.

Hopefully the above summaries have provided good info and an overview of the Academy they started.

From my perspective it was well worth the cost and I did not hear any of the people in the class say they should not have taken it. I think I can safely say that everyone in the class learned things and were more than happy to have the additional information to help take care of their coach.

I would recommend taking it to any that feel like it may help them in their Newmar journey (no I’m not getting anything for getting others to sign up ).

 

[Neemer]

Thanks for taking the time and effort to report on this!

 

[au176]

Day 4 of the Academy (Friday):

DISCLAIMER: These are from my notes and may not necessarily be the gospel. Always a good idea to call or check Newgle for the proper information

The first part of the day was the chassis portion. We split into two groups (Spartan and Freightliner).

The Freightliner rep went through the information they put out when you take the class at the National or other rallies. They also went through information provided by Michelin for the tires.

One item I found interesting was Michelin recommends max pressure in the tires when storing the coach. They also recommend placing a barrier (rubber mat, cardboard, etc) between the tires and the storage surface.

They also recommend tire covers to protect from UV if outside stored or longer term at a campground.

From the chassis perspective they discussed the drain lanyards for the air tanks. Should do every 6 months if you have them.

After the chassis portion we had the lead for the customer support team and the lead for the group that works with dealers for a discussion.

The support team is now from 8 am to 8 pm that there is someone available to answer the phones and not have to wait for a call back. They are working to modify the hours to be able to assist west coast and other timezones more efficiently.

For the dealership side, there is a rule in place - when the dealership submits paperwork for a warranty repair Newmar has a four hour turnaround time to get a response back to the dealer. So, if the dealer is telling you they are still waiting on Newmar day after day, they are probably not telling you the truth - or they have not submitted what Newmar has requested in a timely fashion.

They have Diamond dealerships that do change periodically. This is based on the level and quality of service they provide. If you go to the Newmar website (Find a Service Center) you can put in your location and will get a list.

The above list will have Diamond service centers listed. There are some that have lost their Diamond status and some that have gained that level from Newmar. This “should” get you to a dealership where you will have the best service experience. You can see the Diamond Servicing in the below pic.

View attachment 29281

If you have warranty work done at a dealership, you will get a survey after the work is completed. This is important to respond to as that is what Newmar uses to rate the dealership service for the Diamond status as well as pushing dealerships that are not doing work as well.

After those discussions we had our graduation.

Hopefully the above summaries have provided good info and an overview of the Academy they started.

From my perspective it was well worth the cost and I did not hear any of the people in the class say they should not have taken it. I think I can safely say that everyone in the class learned things and were more than happy to have the additional information to help take care of their coach.

I would recommend taking it to any that feel like it may help them in their Newmar journey (no I’m not getting anything for getting others to sign up ).

Are there informational handouts that we can keep from the seminars? How many notes did you find yourself taking? This seems like it will be a worthwhile experience.

As a retired technician, I was intrigued when I read that they discuss "encoders" in the class when talking about synchronizing motors. I had a "work-flashback"!

Thank you for your daily summaries!

-Tom