THE CAPE COD STORY !

 The van:

We rented RAM 3500 Promaster Lexor CLASS-B- Camper Van for our RV trip to Cape Cod.
This is a demonstration that a basic tool Box can save the night ! This unit was equipped of a full bathroom/shower, kitchen appliances, a generator, Inverter, heater, TV antenna etc.

After our short stay at Race Point Beach near the village of ProvinceTown we took our shower on board
the van and got ready for the ride in town for a sweet diner.

This van is equipped with conductor and passenger seats that can rotate 180deg to face the back of the van. These have sensors to make sure they face fwdr when traveling.

You have guessed !

When I started the van I got a PASSENGER SEAT NOT LOCKED message in the dash and that prevents
putting the transmission in drive mode.
A few rotary action of that seat did not cure this problem .
We got stranded at the beach for a 1$ micro-switch !

I called the rental service back in St-Eustache , QC. Canada for a solution.
The technician had no clue what I was talking about and was not even aware of that feature that can
become your nightmare and kill your vacation.

The tool box :

This is where my basic knowledge in electrical system saved the situation.

I finally found the battery compartment located right under the conductor floor base.
I assumed I had at some point to remove +12V power to find this problem.

And yes I had my elec. tool kit.
After an hour to dis-assemble the seat I got finally got to the internal part of the base where was
hidden this micro-switch. My guess was I just had to insert a jumper to simulate a locked seat in fwd position. That was the trick !

I than restarted the van and the message got away, and got into drive to finish our night.

After our trip upon returning this van to the rental service, I spent 30min. explaining the story.
3 service tech. were listening like I was a escaped nut case from a mental hospital !
they had ZERO knowledge of this kind of feature on recent models.
To close the deal I had zero reduction on my rental fee !

My conclusion:

When you leave in vacation with your RV or travel trailer, get to know well your equipment and built
a complete tool box including electrical items, ie: DVM, elec. tool kit, 120V line tester, spare fuses,
shrink tubes, elec. tape, 120V extension cords, flashlight, batteries, tyraps, TT-30R to 5-15P outlet adaptor …

Take a basic course on RV equipment and how to maintain them.

That can save your night ! Happy camping,

 SWIVEL   SEATS

 TYPICAL TOOL KIT