David And David Davis Of Davis Motor Homes In Memphis, TN
OK…so once our paperwork was all in order we were able to leave Davis Motor Home Mart in Memphis, TN but unfortunately we had to head right back to Red Bay, Alabama and the Tiffin Service Center. We had a few issues that needed attention.
Tiffin was able to get us in right away as we had just left the factory. Sorry to say that this is not always the case as it is a real busy time of year for the service center because a lot of snowbirds are headed back up north for the spring and they usually make a stop here in Red Bay on their way through.
So what does one do while they are in a service bay? Well, you could go to the customer lounge and watch tv, visit with other rvers or read. Or you could do what David did and install an LED light strip down each side of the underbelly.
David Putting Silicone Under The Rig For The LED Strip To Adhere To
Silicone Strip Under The Underbelly Waiting To Tack Up
We had LED light strips underneath our previous coach and we knew we wanted them on this coach as well. Tiffin does offer this as an option however, they only have blue lights. We wanted a multicolored strip so we had to install our own after the fact.
No problem there though. David is very handy and he installed the previous set that we had. His trick…silicone. He doesn’t attach the light strip using tacks or anything like that. He doesn’t want to put any unnecessary holes in the coach. Heavy duty double sided tape doesn’t stick to the silicone sleeve the light strip is in. The only thing that really sticks to silicone is silicone itself. So he places a bead of silicone all the way down the coach. The trick after that is to wait a few minutes until the silicone starts to get tacky.
David Putting LED Light Strip Under The Coach
LED Light Strip Installed
Then you take the LED light strip and push it into the silicone. At first you may need to secure the lights with tape just so the lights don’t fall from the weight of them. However, once the lights are secured into the silicone, you can remove the tape and Whalla! You have your very own LED light strip.
Tiffin Service Center
Inside The Service Bay
While here you can also get to know your neighbors. Everyone here likes to compare notes and see what is going on with each others rigs. One of the advantages, if you could call it that, to getting service done here as opposed to a general service center on the road is that you are around all sorts of Tiffin coaches. So the odds of someone having the same coach as you are pretty good.
It’s nice to see how others have decorated or what modifications they have done to make their coach their own. Some Tiffin service workers also work after hours and they will build and install some modifications that you may have seen on someone else’s rig. So that’s handy to do while you are here.
The neighbors all tend to gather in the evening for cocktail hour (BYOB as this is a dry town), sharing spicy catfish cakes (like crab cakes but made with catfish), buffalo chicken dip and anything else that may be brewing in our kitchens.
The weather is finally starting to get more Sping-like so David took the opportunity to get the quadcopter out of it’s winter hibernation and flew over the service center.
David Flying The Quadcopter At The Tiffin Service Center
David Flying The Quadcopter At The Tiffin Service Center
He always attracts a crowd. Below is a quick video that he did Sunday night while the sun was starting to set. It was a beautiful evening spent with new friends and a nice way to take our minds off of the fact that we are all sitting in a parking lot waiting for service.
While you’re in Red Bay waiting, go visit the Coon Hound Cemetery. It’s worth the drive plus it’s in a wet county. Some of the the movie Sweet Home Alabama was filmed there. Just ask anyone there for directions.
We have heard about Coon Cemetery but we have not been. Maybe one of these visits.
What a wonderful video. I must get me one quadcopter .like yours.
All the coaches in the video are waiting for service?
Bob Foisy
Sorry to say but yes, most of these coaches are waiting for or getting service done. Some may be here for upgrades and mods.
Glad you like the video. I know David enjoys making them.
Love the way you attach your LED lights!! We have a similar set up on our Phaeton…Terry actually developed a kit for folks that he sells…because everybody wants them….it’s a nice hobby for him. The silicone is a great idea…he might add that to the kit concept. We have them on the bottom edge of slides as well…that’s a whole other installation. So sorry you guys aren’t here for the rally…we were really looking forward to meeting you. Take care…hope you aren’t there much longer. Where next???
I also added LED’s to the bottom of the main passenger slide. Did not see a reason to do the driver side however as it did not make sense for the work involved. We use an RF system vs the IR ones so we do not have to go outside to change the color mode or turn them on or off. (Though I also have a power switch for them on our panel.) And yes, we are totally bummed we are not their. We just found out we will be hear at least another 2 weeks as we need to wait for a new fan clutch and new fan that is being developed.
David, is this different than a hydraulic one normally used on side mounted radiators. I would like to hear more about this prototype fan.
Hi..The clutch currently being used is the same one they have used for a long time. The new one is more robust to handle a larger so the clutch will not self destruct under the load. I do not know much about the new fan as I have not yet seen it. I was told it only needs 1/16th the spin up force of the current fan.
Love the video… It almost makes me miss the service center! But, wait, where have all the winter parkas, hats and gloves gone?! You wouldn’t have seen folks hanging around and enjoying a glass of wine when we were there!
Take care!
We have made some good friends here. So that is what we will miss when we do finely get done.
The two of you have spent so much time at CRB that it only makes sense that one of you should run for Mayor. How much longer do you think you’ll be in Red Bay? We anxiously await your thoughts on the new bus.
Seems like it would easier to commission a submarine! Good luck David and Brenda!
Awesome video