Drew Callahan · January 4, 2026
Diesel Engine Oil Service for NEWMAR KING AIRE If I pull the dipstick on a King Aire that hasn’t seen an oil change in two years, what I find tells the whole story: oil the color of burnt coffee, thick enough to coat the stick like tar, and a smell that’s part diesel fuel, part … Read more
Drew Callahan · January 4, 2026
Slide-Out Hydraulic Service for NEWMAR KING AIRE “Drew, my King Aire slides are moving like they’re underwater. One’s getting stuck halfway out, and I’m losing fluid somewhere underneath. Is this something I can handle myself, or am I in over my head?” That’s the question I got from Mark at a rally in Arizona last … Read more
Drew Callahan · January 3, 2026
Diesel Engine Oil Service for FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY I’ve got my socket on the drain plug, and I can already feel the heat radiating off the oil pan—this Fleetwood Discovery’s diesel has been running hard, and the oil coming out is going to be thick and dark. I’m going to walk you through exactly what I’m … Read more
Drew Callahan · January 3, 2026
Air Brake System Maintenance for FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY A Fleetwood Discovery air dryer cartridge runs $180–$320 depending on which OEM supplier you call, plus another $400–$600 if a shop does the job. But that number isn’t really about the part—it’s about what happens when moisture and contamination eat through your brake system unchecked. I’ve watched owners … Read more
Drew Callahan · January 2, 2026
Air Brake System Maintenance for FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE Most Berkshire owners run their air brake systems until something breaks, and by then the damage is already done. I’ve watched moisture-logged dryers tank compressors, seen slack adjusters wear past the point of adjustment, and pulled air lines so corroded they flaked apart in my hands — … Read more
Drew Callahan · January 2, 2026
Diesel Engine Oil Service for FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE A single missed oil service interval on a Forest River Berkshire can cost you $18,000 to $35,000 in engine replacement — and that’s if you catch the damage before the block cracks. I’ve walked through enough engine bays across my 80,000 miles to know that diesel pushers … Read more
Drew Callahan · January 1, 2026
Air Brake System Maintenance for THOR PALAZZO I was three days into a late-October run through the Colorado Rockies, climbing toward Vail in a steady drizzle, when my foot brake started feeling mushy. Not catastrophic—just soft, like I was pushing through cotton instead of steel. I pulled over at a rest area, killed the engine, … Read more
Drew Callahan · January 1, 2026
Slide-Out Hydraulic Service for FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE Walk into any RV dealer service bay and ask about a sluggish Berkshire slide-out, and you’ll hear one story. Post the same problem in an online forum and you’ll hear another — usually the opposite. One camp says “top off your fluid and bleed the air,” the other … Read more
Drew Callahan · January 1, 2026
Diesel Engine Oil Service for THOR PALAZZO The Thor Palazzo diesel pusher sits at an awkward middle ground — it’s heavy enough to demand real diesel maintenance discipline, but just small enough that owners sometimes treat it like a gassed-up Class C and skip intervals or grab whatever 15W-40 is on sale at the truck … Read more
Drew Callahan · December 31, 2025
Cooling System Service for THOR PALAZZO I’ve got the radiator cap off and I’m staring down into the PALAZZO’s cooling passages, and what I see tells me everything about why full-timers blow engines on these rigs. The coolant in there is the color of weak tea—not the bright red or orange it should be—and when … Read more
