1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild updated 1/13/2022

Have you made changes to your coach? Improvements? Remodel? New technology? Tell the story and show some pictures here.
ZoNiE
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2020 4:17 pm

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild

Post by ZoNiE »

Wow. Not sure I'd ever take that on.
Thanks for all the photos, helps tell us where stuff is.
Do yourself a favor, if you are going to keep roof airs, run ducts and use ducted units. Much quieter and work better.
1996 Sahara Center Door
TDJohn
Posts: 552
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild

Post by TDJohn »

stuplich@ymail.com wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:01 pm Joeoren
And I thought I owned a coach with a lot of problems.
I good luck with that project.
Mel,

He already completed this project. :shock:

I have a lot of respect and admiration for people who have the guts and tenacity to go through with massive daunting projects like this.
It is also interesting to see the skeleton of the coach and how it was built.

Joe, truly amazing job! Can't wait to see more pictures, especially of it finished.
John
'95 Serengeti, Cummins C8.3-300
Allison 6spd.
Joeoren
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:08 am

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild

Post by Joeoren »

orginal roof truss
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we basically remade the exact shape truss out of plywood same as factory, orginally they used a notch for the wiring with a metal plate i went a different route for a little more strenth youll see later.

the rv also had roughly 32 trusses from front to back i think we added well over 40 and doubled up in high stress places such as the ac and front and rear caps.

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sorry for the limted amount of new roof shots we did this in florida and were in get it done asap mode.

we also added that side wood under the aluminum side rails to which made the roof roughly a inch higher and prevents water from ever sitting on top.
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we also added 2x4s between trusses for added strength and let me tell you the roof feels SOLID it even when jumping up and down on it.
Attachments
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1990 safari serengeti High Tech editon 8.2T Detroit AT545
2009 Subaru outback xt - Toad 1
1999 mazda miata - Toad 2
Joeoren
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:08 am

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild

Post by Joeoren »

so instead of notching the trusses i decided to drill holes in center the only way a screw could ever hit a wire is if a longer than 2 1/2 inch screw is used so i know never to do that now when working on roof. i also doubled up on more of the trusses with the orginal non water damaged trusses because overbuilt is better than underbuilt?
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roof completed with the superflex rv roof rubber. you can see some uneven spots but they really have become less noticable if i were to do it again i would use double the amount of glue i used but i know this should last atleast another 20+ years as is.
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side shot of roof i actually pulled the material down the side covering the fiberglass side caps to further water proof.
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roof acs on the orginal coleman super machs still work to this day blowing 39C air! in 90+temps i will be very upset when they decide to die.
you can see i eternabonded around the vent fans the company makes drop in replacement units and the bracket is basically protected from the elements so should virtually last a very long time.
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i used a rubber coating on the front and rear cap because i saw mirco pinholes of sunlight coming through the fiberglass end caps.
where the endcap stops and roof material starts there is a aluminium band i ethernabonded over this aswell as it seems to really be a leak prone area on most rv roofs.
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1990 safari serengeti High Tech editon 8.2T Detroit AT545
2009 Subaru outback xt - Toad 1
1999 mazda miata - Toad 2
Joeoren
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:08 am

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild

Post by Joeoren »

so the floor: its held down with about 50 or so carriage bolts that are TIGHT but thats the only thing holding your house to the chassis the rot probably helped us with removal aswell as grinders, chisels and every type of prying tool known to man.
the orginal floor goes under the actual wall its impossible to get it back under so we had to get as close as possible and add new channel against the wall for the wood to sit on.
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the black sheet is a moisture barrier with a piece of underlayment between it. mine was all rotted out so i just removed the underlayment so now you can see the sheet. we ran about 500 fender washers from the bottom up so it never comes loose.
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my 225hp detroit 8.2 in all its glory. a cummins should have been there...
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no steering wheel or dash there has to be over 20000 wires on this thing, new plywood i went with 3/4 THE FLOOR IS SOLID now i mean took that rv spundgyness completely away.
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used wood to metal self tappers that self level below wood. factory used like 4 screws per sheet i used probably about 40-80?
the orginal styrofoam was garbage not sure if i would even have called that styrofoam i replaced with higher density stuff, this was my wifes favorite time in the project she got to cut hundreds of custom sized peices with a hot knife.
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1990 safari serengeti High Tech editon 8.2T Detroit AT545
2009 Subaru outback xt - Toad 1
1999 mazda miata - Toad 2
Joeoren
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:08 am

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild updated 1/13/2022

Post by Joeoren »

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first wall up in the drivers area we also added a backing to the wall aswell as went with wood instead of styrofoam to hopefull deaden the roadnoise and to be honest it really worked its 50% quieter than it was.
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passenger side walls up!
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driver side walls up! we also resealed all the windows because they were leaking.
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my wifes a hippie she decided this would be our shower pan.
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bathroom wall frame.
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bathroom seperated.
1990 safari serengeti High Tech editon 8.2T Detroit AT545
2009 Subaru outback xt - Toad 1
1999 mazda miata - Toad 2
TDJohn
Posts: 552
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild updated 1/13/2022

Post by TDJohn »

Great! Keep them pictures coming as you have time and data...
John
'95 Serengeti, Cummins C8.3-300
Allison 6spd.
demingboy
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2022 11:01 am

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild updated 1/13/2022

Post by demingboy »

I gotta tell you that is way outta my league and I have been in construction all my life. Really appreciate the photos. Now I know what is behind walls and roof.
We have a 1991 safari Rv ivory hi tech. I saw your comment about the detroit diesel. Although it is underpowered it does do the job. Had mine up to 80 before on highway slight downhill lol.
All the info I found was negative on that motor. My experience is that they are durable if maintenance done. We have about 90000 on the speedometer and expect much more. Going to Alaska from New Mexico soon. Will tow a car for first time using his coach.
The chassis is a rough ride but new shocks ,new steering stabilizer and new bushings in anti sway bars helps a bunch.
Best thing we do is travel with water tank full. Ours is above front wheels so the 800 lbs. help on the bumps.
Had a guy work on it up in Oregon who said it looked like a cement mixer truck with all the leaf springs.
Anyway wanted to thank you. Its worth saving for darn sure.
TDJohn
Posts: 552
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild updated 1/13/2022

Post by TDJohn »

demingboy,

That engine actually did really well in the marine service, often going 40k hours without rebuild, which is a lot. My guess for the reason that they did so well in the marine service, is the engine had a higher capacity cooling system.

As for the ride, leaf springs are hard to tame, but I would also suggest having your coach weighed with all your stuff you take with you when you hit the road. Once you have the axle weight results, you should adjust the tire inflation pressure according to your tire manufacturer's load inflation chart. If the tires are over inflated for the load your carrying, that you will get a very poor ride and poor handling.

If you can, please post some pictures of your antique coach.
John
'95 Serengeti, Cummins C8.3-300
Allison 6spd.
chuckster
Posts: 286
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2020 4:53 pm

Re: 1990 safari serengeti - Full Rebuild updated 1/13/2022

Post by chuckster »

OMG. What a project!!!! *wince*
Chuck & Mitzi
'01 Safari Zanzibar 3646 (side entry)
Cat 3126B / Allison MD3060
Magnum M-Series "Blue Max" chassis
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland toad
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