Lifting the Fuse - Sumo Spring Option

Editors note:  This is a post from Arlene Cassels who has a 2017 Winnebago Fuse and is a member of the Facebook group.   She decided to lift her Fuse using Sumo Springs and was nice enough to share her experience.  This was already posted in the Facebook group.  Please comment in the Facebook Winnebago Owners Group so Arlene can respond to everyone directly:

Chapter 3, and hopefully our last chapter on raising our rear end on our 2016 Fuse with a T35 Chassis.  Took it in to Straight Line Suspension on Main in Mesa, AZ.  They looked at it and said the Sumo Springs would work.

Ordered them and installed.  This raised our rear end from 26 1/8" to 28". We can see the difference.

The frame used to ride low over the tires. Now rides just above.

They used Part No. SSR-121-54, if that will help.

Incidently, they said with the previous height, when we hit any bump, our left tire was hitting the fenderwell - not good! See pictures. Hopefully this will help some other owners.

Winnebago Fuse Owners Facebook Statistics

I changed the Facebook group from open to closed.   All this means is that you have to join the group to read the contents.  

This seems to be a good time to provide a status report on the group.  So to see where are and where we go from here.  It is time to get some statistics.

The "Winnebago Fuse Owners" Facebook group was started on 4/19/2016 and we changed it from open to closed on 4/2/2017.  The this around 11 months in operation.

We have had:
      767 posts
      126 authors
      154 commentators
      216 reactors
   3,000+ reactions
       28 shares
   4,200 comments

The two most commented posts both had 34 comments:
   The first one was by Lynn Hawkins and her meeting with the winnebago product team
   The second one was Patsy Stair and the problems she had with her Fuse order

And just so you get a since of activity in the group, a tool from sociograph.io provided this graph.  It gives a representation of daily activity in the group

Winnebago Fuse 23A Power Diagram

Dan Haug at the Travato Collaborative created a series of diagrams on the power systems in the Travato.  The vehicles are close in terms of the way the systems are laid out.   I was able to modify the Travato 59K diagram to show how the power sources in Fuse 23a feed the various systems.

PDF version of the diagram available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By_GWZtlcHblYXNxaTZ3RWxvUHM/view?usp=sharing

Pink Stuff Mod

Editors note:  I am going to post another mod from  Richard Kozloski who has a 2017 Winnebago Fuse and is a member of the Facebook group.  He has modified his Fuse to make winterizing easier.    Please comment in the Facebook Winnebago Owners Group so Richard can respond to everyone directly:

Here are pictures of a mod I made to the pump pickup line to allow pumping anti freeze (pink stuff) for winterizing. Needed on 2017.0 or earlier Fuse. Some early 2017.5 Fuses might also need this mod.

I'm not going to screw the rear floor back down to make it easier to get to the pump for winterizing as it is a snug fit already.

Unmodified line to pickup side of pump.

Unmodified view two.

Disconnect line from suction side of pump.  You will cut this line and might remove about 3 inches.

Parts needed:

• 3 ft of clear tubing
• fitting and cap for pickup end
• Three way valve
• Hose clamps

(Compression fittings off three way valve were not used because of difficulty getting them over the hose.  Would probably make a better seal if you have better luck than I did.)

Cut the pickup side hose at a location that will allow you to insert the three way valve and still get all the hose under the floor without binding. I removed a short length of hose equal to the length of the three way valve.

Make sure the three way valve allows flow to pump from from either the pickup hose or  tank hose only when selected. If you have pump on wrong side you can't blow through when pickup is selected.  Valve as shown. (When you blow into the pump side of the hose it should only go out the position you have selected.)

Assembled replacement.

Reconnect the new assembly to the pump and orient the valve to your convenience. Connect the other end to the hose from the tank. Tighten all the clamps and fittings.

In this view the valve is set to pull water from the fresh water tank.

In this view the valve is positioned to pull anti freeze from the pickup hose placed in the container.

 I recommend you try pumping water from the tank and the anti freeze line to check for leaks and to make doubly sure you have everything connecter correctly before you button things up.

Just for completeness here is photo of fresh water tank drain. It's function was not changed by this mod.

Lifting the Fuse - The Parts

Editors note:  I am going to post a series of emails from Richard Kozloski who has a 2017 Winnebago Fuse and is a member of the Facebook group.   He has decided to have his Fuse lifted and he is being nice enough to share his experience.  Please comment in the Facebook Winnebago Owners Group so Richard can respond to everyone directly:

Crawling around under the Fuse last week  and found these tags on the parts from my upgrade.

Also rear leaf spring has a big “Ford” painted on it.

They are definitely Ford parts but I can’t say for sure they are Transit.  I haven’t been able to look them up at the local Ford dealer yet.

On Front Spring

On new extra rear spring leaf

Omnidirectional Air Conditioning Install

Editors note:  This is a post from the"Travato Owners and Wannabees" Facebook group by Greg Schultz.  The photos are his also.  I believe we have the same Coleman Air Conditioner.  This is reposted with his permission.   -  Please post comments on the Facebook group since Facebook is where it originated.

OMNIDIRECTIONAL AIR CONDITIONING GRILLE INSTALL. Today I received and installed the Coleman Chill Grille assembly with omnidirectional vents. It is definitely a big improvement but you'll have to determine for yourself if it is cost justified. Rather than wait for the ceiling assembly upgrade kit which will be coming out in May, (repair part number 9470-3501, price and content unknown), I went with the available whole ceiling assembly, model 9430D7153. $81.35 from PPL on line. When you look at the pictures you'll see - "whole ceiling assembly" is just that, the whole kit and caboodle. But, forgetaboutit. . all I did today was remove the existing grille cover and replace it with the new one so I've got extra parts for James. Pull off the two control knobs. Remove the two return air filter covers by pulling on the tabs and remove the filters to expose four screws holding the cover in place. Put the new cover in place and secure with the four screws. Replace the filters and covers and control knobs and pour yourself your beverage of choice to celebrate. (NOTE: It does nothing to make the unit more quiet - there are now two more places for the sound of the fan and compressor to enter the coach.) Actual assembly time, less than 15 minutes. Oh, and I can see value in this for both G and K.

Fuse Air Filter

Well it is Spring and time for some general cleaning and maintenance.   One of those things that has been on my list for a while is to inspect and possibly replace the engine air filter.

I have had diesel engines in vehicles for the last 15 years.  I am not a mechanic, but the one thing I do know is that if you want to keep a diesel happy you need to feed it clean fuel, clean oil and clean air. As long as you do these things it will last forever and run great.

My Fuse has about 10,000 miles on it now and when I had the oil changed at 5,000 miles I did not look at the air filter personally.  I doubt the oil folks took much of a look at it either.  So I wanted to take a look.  I also wanted to knock out anything in it since here in Tallahassee, the pollen is horrible in the Spring.

Before I did this, I purchased a new filter in case I needed one.    I got mine from Amazon.   It is a Motorcraft FA1916 Air Filter and was reasonably priced.   I thought about purchasing a K&N 33-5024 Replacement Air Filter.  It provides better air flow and will improve power and mileage.  I have a K&N in my Ford diesel truck and got 2mpg more than the stock Ford air filter.  In this case I decided to say with the Motorcraft parts.  The price difference was just not worth it.

Before you start you need a Torx T-20 screwdriver or bit for a ratchet.  I point this out in case you do not have one handy.  It is not something in every toolbox.

I found out quickly this was not going to be the easiest task.   Everything is pretty tight in the engine compartment and the air filter is tucked up in the left hand side.  So I got started.  

I first took a look at the owners guide.  It lays out the steps pretty good.  In my book it was on page 232.  Call me chicken, but I am learning to at least take a glance at the manual before you get deep into a project.

There were several steps.    Read the manual, it is really good about the steps needed.

1. Disconnect the big hose on top. (needed a standard screwdriver to loosen the clamp)
2. Take out the air flow sensor.  2 screws hold it in. (needed a T-20 torx driver)
3. Take off the air hose under the air filter top.  You need to pull firmly.
4. Pop the 2 clamps on the front of the filter housing
5. Push in a latch on the front top right hand side while lifting up slightly 
6. Pull slightly forward and then lift right off

But Huston, we had a problem.   I could not get the air filter cover out of the space.  There was just no way to twist it to get it out and no advice in the manual.   After staring at the problem for a few minutes I figured it out.   You had to take loose the window washer fill tube.  You know that tube with the blue cap in the photo.  It uses the same T-20 torx screw as well.  I took it loose, pushed it slightly to the side and then the cover could come right out.

After 10,000 miles the filter was pretty clean.  No need to replace it.  Well I swapped it with the new one anyhow.   I had it, so why not.  I put the used one on the shelf in case I need it later.  I like having a spare air filter on the shelf.  I have an entire selection of filters for the F-250 but that took a while to collect.

I then put it all back together.   You really do need to check the air filter on a regular basis so the scraped knuckles were worth it.