Part On Nationwide Backorder. Now What?

[@joezednick3197]

Started at 18 years old in the motorcycle business, worked 32 years, and retired. My wife and I then RVed for 14 years. Now we're in a retirement community.

[@jimmaster5342]

40 years as a city truck driver in Chicago IL. Retired now and a part time RVer. I love your videos.

[@chrism.192]

Nice video. 31 years in the automotive industry. Recently retired. Hopefully get 31 mores yrs at fishing and camping. Naw, that ain't happenin.😂😂

[@hillbillyrv]

I hope so too. It could happen.

[@46fd04]

I just retired after working 34 years for a City in Canada

[@2manytoyz123]

I retired in 2021 after working 37 years in the aerospace industry. The last 29 years was an electronics engineering technician in a biomedical lab. I did replace a thermostat in a previous RV, but it was the same analog model as the original. Now I’d probably install a digital one instead. Shame the new one didn’t come with a bezel plate to cover the screws of the larger original thermostat. If that was your personal RV, I’d offer to make you a black acrylic bezel made with my laser cutter.

[@hillbillyrv]

Seems like all the new thermostats are smaller than the old ones. Always leaves at least one screw hole exposed.

[@KevinCoop1]

Those T stats are sold by Coleman Mach for their AC’s. I almost bought two, but decided to wait. Why didn’t you check for voltage from red to white? You keep saying ground, but it really is positive and negative with DC. The AC ground is connected to the metal for the AC system. DC just uses the metal frame as a negative conductor. I worked from 1983 to 2018 in Electrical Design. The last 21 years was for a top 15 Privately held Electrical Contractor.

[@dankabes1081]

I have been in building maintenance for 30 years. I have been at my current job for ten years. I love what I do, I cannot imagine doing anything else.

[@FryeRVRepair]

You were lucky. My customer had changed out Coleman thermostat for a different one similar to yours. he cut the plugs off new tstat and had no picture nor original tstat. Wires coming out of wall were not the same color. I had to figure out what all the wires did, what a nightmare. I worked 54 years in prototype machining and maintenance. Worked on RVs part time about 10 years. Opened Mobile repair business in Jan 2022 at age 77. I am 79 now and still love working my mobile service. Of course I cherry pick what I do. Thanks for all your work. The videos have always helped. Charles

[@hillbillyrv]

You are an inspiration to me. Glad I can help.

[@terrywalker9904]

42 years in freight driving a truck, 10years with 1 company and 32 years with another when I retired in 2020....

[@Hugo-Hernandez]

Great video, im 36 years old. I currently own a check cashing store for the last 14 years and a insurance/tax preperation office for last 13 years.

[@chrishuebner2547]

40 years in the automotive industry 17 yrs and counting at my present job and hoping it will take me to the end in another 9 yrs

[@russellfogg7800]

I was a high school teacher for 33 yrs. Then a commercial HVAC (90% restaurants) installer. Now retired. I fix about 90% of broken things on my campers. I've owned 5 in the past 40 yrs. A 5th wheel, 2 5th wheel toy haulers, a class C, and currently an older class A. I really appreciate your videos.

[@JasonBlaylock]

7 years as an Audio Engineer and 27 years as an IT Analyst. Now thinking seriously about retireing to RV inspector and repairs.

[@brentsharp8234]

I've been an rv tech for 6 years now, just let my rvia lapse about 8 months ago .i tend to do more of the structural side of things floors, walls, and roof. I almost left the industry few yrs back because of attitudes I got on calls from people annoyed rv broke but ended up not doing as much on repair side and got into the structure part because most times if I'm doing floors customer isn't there and if it's a roof even better, 98% aren't coming up buggin me ! Kept my sanity by changing my expertise and it's worked well.

[@hillbillyrv]

Sounds like a good pivot. Going a different direction sounds like it worked out well for you.

[@billhillegass946]

Great job, 36 years in automotive industry . Now full time RVing .

[@scotthill1278]

10 yrs as a mechanic, 9 of which I had my own shop. 23 yrs driving truck, 9 yrs of that driving tanks delivering fuel. crushed my back in 2010, now I'm retired but not by choice.

[@RevGerryRM]

I was in law enforcement 28 years before retiring.

[@daviscrt]

Great job. At least they gave you some extra wires to work with. 13 years union painter, 29 years 8 months correctional officer. Going to RVTI this July to hopefully become a level 2 technician. Thanks Don

[@lorenrickey5481]

It Verks!! 38 years retired retail grocery. Also picked up plumbing, electrical and carpentry skills during that time and helped friends and family through the years. Own more tools than most and not sure if it’s a curse or not?

[@ipcamper9940]

40 years as a chemist, grew up on a farm and started fixing my own stuff before I was a teenager. Had a pop-up camper for 20 years and now a travel trailer for the last 2. Really appreciate your videos, lots of little details that just are not in the component manuals.

[@redc8783]

34 years as construction / Tunnel safety representative & 23 years USN (10 active 13 reserve) just plain old retired U-tubing watch Hillbillies work. 😂😂😂😂 Aw you be the man

[@askmslynnllc5363]

I was over 20 years in my first carrier as computer programmer/analyst. After children grown a few years as church events child care worker. In January/February of 2022 got certification at NRVTA. Serviced my first RV customer on my 59th birthday. Last summer lost most of the summer due to injury so basically restarting business this year. Business is a little slow because just after getting my certification I developed vertigo and can not do roof work including A/C.

[@hillbillyrv]

I understand vertigo. Been fighting it for years.

[@robertwidders2965]

43 years as truck driver, retired 2 years.

[@paulschuenke9529]

20yrs. Auto body painter , 28 yrs owner of a window co. 2 months retired 25 yrs doing the rv/ camping love your vids learn something new when ever I can

[@tlnelson7598]

30 years

[@henrymorgan3982]

That thermostat is as basic as it gets. The bluetooth initially is kind of slow, but it works. I will take it over the manual version. Great video!

[@RobertSherwood-n6y]

Worked in the automotive industry as a tech since 1976. Retired a couple of years ago.

[@douglasmayherjr.5733]

I have worked almost 25 years in Commercial HVACR, 12 years with my current contractor. Pretty Good Video, Kenny. Glad the wiring recommendations worked out. Thanks for the videos. Have a good week.

[@roysims7710]

14 years at wrecker an recovery was lot of fun an nasty work . Put in 10 years at parks an recreation maintenance for the county . Retired

[@Sam-blackwidow7329]

hey Kenny, been watching your channel for a while now and enjoy it and learned alot from you and i also watch my rv works too, i been in the concrete supply industry for 34 years and over the this past winter i took the NRVTA on line course and im signed up to go do the full course in May 26th of 2025 in texas and quitting a 6 figure job to pursue the mobile rv tech business, i started my business already (legit) back in march of this year, i figured get everything i need while i make good money so when im done with school i can hit it hard... just doing it on the side for now and word of mouth no advertising yet due to my current full time job, but bought my service van and stocking up on service parts when i can, did a few jobs just recently and really enjoyed it. im a diy kinda guy so always worked on my own rigs....my wife works from home so the plan is be here in PA for the summer months and head to florida for the winter, i have a few friends that do the same thing and they do really well so im very excited and also nervous to start this new adventure but i think i will do very well with it, thanks for all your videos keep it up my man

[@hillbillyrv]

Awesome Sam. Good luck with the mobile RV business.

[@MitchellBurgher]

39 years retired Elevator Constructor. All with Otis

[@hillbillyrv]

That business is just up and down, right?

[@andreajackson2417]

52 years in electronics/instrumentation. Happily, retired now. :)

[@Capt-John-T-Moore]

25 years Towboat Captain was Medically Retired (not by choice) 10 years now classified as disabled and it sucks!

[@earnestburditt9867]

I've always did mechanical type tinkering and repairs since I was 10 years old with my father and his friend. I'm 66 now and medically retired. While in High school I started a a small garage working there for a couple of years. Then went to auto mechanic trade school for a year to learn the theory of how things worked in Electrical, fuel, steering, and so on. Worked on small aircraft, had a garage for several years, worked on Fire trucks and Crash tucks for 13 years, took a brake from mechanics for three years, (got burned out from working 50 hours a week) during the three year break from mechanics I learned how to silkscreen and open a shop. Daughter was getting ready for college in a couple of years so I went back as a mechanic at her school working on bus, lawn mower, tractor, all types of maintenance vehicles, for three years, then worked on construction equipment, then when the building industry died in the late 90's I got laid off. With in a few days I got a job at the transit company in San Antonio working on buses and handicap vans, and most of their vehicles. My body finally gave up and became disabled, I couldn't walk more than thirty feet before I had to stop and let the pain go down so I could walk some more. The company medically retired me in 2018, I don't do much mechanics any more just my own and friends stuff. Had hip and left knee replaced, three back surgery, (still need other knee replaced and more back surgery) other than that I'm good. Now my grandson is working for Holt Caterpillar in San Antonio. I'm gifted him some of my tools to help him, he just started. My son was a mechanic, then got a Safety Supervisor job out of it because of his training with the fire department certificate.

[@freezeframejlp1]

30 years as a commercial HVAC technician. The last 15 years doing building automation tech.

[@KLCJr]

39 years Parts Manager 18 wheeler dealership.

[@davidjohnson8988]

I did industrial HVAC/R work in a meat processing plant for 39 yrs, before retiring. Also served on the advisory board of a local HVAC tech school for 10 yrs. Enjoyed my last day as much as my first day.

[@JohnnyRacerX]

I have that exact thermostat on my Lance (Coleman Mach 3) and it works well. I spent 39+ years in the Telecommunications industry before retiring in 2021. Love your videos and commentary Kenny !

[@richarddorman1374]

I retired this year from automotive parts 47 years

[@hillbillyrv]

Dorman, I have used a lot of your parts. Ha ha

[@richarddorman1374]

😂

[@rogerdeeter4364]

48 years in small engine/outdoor power eqt industry. 20 years at current job for our local government parks department. Before that 15 years owning lawn & garden dealership. Took outdoor power eqt repair at JVS .

[@stevelange819]

It's nice to learn something new everyday especially if that knowledge is actually useful in the future - as in this brand+model thermostat is a potential replacement for other brands+model. Thanks for sharing your diagramming process. Aerospace industry 43 yrs, retired and miss the challenges but not the corporate/office hierarchy and politics.

[@hillbillyrv]

Not sure. It worked on this Coleman.

[@madjack7979]

Nice work sir. I would have been wondering if mixing the items would have worked myself. Just hit 36 years doing the Brinn Trans.

[@hillbillyrv]

That's a long time.

[@TheBuddy1939]

On my 2020 Northwood 5th wheel I have the Coleman AC with the same controller. Go figure

[@rickdewoody-fe7fj]

2 years in rv before 37 years

[@chetusher444]

Thank you for the video Kenny. I always learn something from you.

[@criticaltemperature3343]

Thats it, just throw caution to the wind. I do it all the time. Worst that can happen is something will go pop or boom. Lol

[@paulshannon4576]

Long term jobs don’t seem to exist. 17 years in Ford Dealership parts. 13 years bartending in restaurant. 9 years managing a nonprofit bookstore in a national park. 17 years driving semi’s. I think I’m permanently retired now.

[@timk.9827]

42 years construction 1 company, Now retired

[@Greghc48]

Kenny, I had good luck replacing a Dometic thermostat with a MicroAire. Worked great.

[@JamesBoatfield-x7u]

I was at my job for 35 years retired

[@andrewmiller159]

I taught college biology for 35 years

[@chrisenglish2681]

Our 2018 class c rv came with that Airxcel thermostat. Here, in low humidity Arizona static shocks are common. While camping, I went to adjust the thermostat and heard a static snap as I touched the thermostat and poof.......no more working Airxcel thermostat. Factory rep said " Yes, that could happen"

[@patrickstiltner1207]

30 years law enforcement. Retired and now just a green rv tech.

[@barnettbilly85]

ANOTHER great repair.

[@Re-engineer_everything]

I had a Dometic a/c that I switched to a Coleman and a house thermostat. All I needed was a ground from the furnace.

[@coreymerritt7742]

Right on Kenny nice fix 😊

[@julianreynolds9299]

37 years with the Air Force / Air National Guard

[@deancoleman3900]

I had one like that in my 5th wheel.just installed a residential thermosat and it works fine

[@ROHDESONTHEROAD]

22 years Army 13 years Postal. Totally retired now as of 2019.

[@paulshannon4576]

I’ve replaced the thermostat in my Alfa with a Hunter programmable. My current fifth wheel is more complicated and I’m not living in it full time so the A/C doesn’t see near the use.

[@andrewmiller159]

Could each switch comes back from the control board with ground?

[@juliesheets2560]

21 years. Semi retired 🙂

[@marlonkelch9050]

43 years at 1 job

[@MegaDrfc]

Kenny airxcel is Coleman.

[@thorhammer6040]

34 years and counting for both

[@jerrywiese9722]

Awesome Dude!

[@JamesBoatfield-x7u]

Good job

[@rickdewoody-fe7fj]

Great job brother

[@RLBS61]

Put a MicroAir in my Forest River Grey Wolf Works Great

[@dennisballew3029]

Great job and video

[@mcleadb]

I just did that for a customer yesterday. Mine was a cool only.

[@rlmc29er]

Most Coleman (AirXcel) AC relay boards are compatible with the old analog and digital t-stat. Dometic not the case.

[@diverm2371]

I wanted to see the Bluetooth functionality. Also would this work on a Grand design?

[@teresam3291]

47 years for one aircraft company

[@ericschwarz9718]

Is the green wire fan

[@donitaarender7839]

I don't like that thermostat that you're having to replace it with. Wonder if you could use a house thermostat? Like the Nest? Or Ecobee?

[@ScottDLR]

Interesting responses here. Are all of us Hillbilly watchers a bunch of old farts?

[@hillbillyrv]

A LOT are

[@criticaltemperature3343]

I don't consider myself an old fart, despite what my kids say. Lol

[@jimmysisson1479]

I'm finding some places don't take in older motor homes! State park Fed parks , do ! How can RV people live in our RVs. Get legal support, for camping sites. Without being an ass about it

[@howardwatts4238]

Got colman mach 8 have been thinking of going that way. Does it work better

[@jefferyton8853]

Actually today I worked in a Colman/airtex AC unit that had that odd exact thermostats branded as Airtex. Now a question. The unit works on low but won’t kick into hi but when I put 120 to the hi side wire, the fan kicks on. Replaced the board and still no hi fan. I’m stumped

[@tommybaez5260]

Ebay

[@dannwuoti2431]

Did I miss the part where you shut off the power before cutting the old tstat out?

[@hillbillyrv]

Cut power? What is the fun in that?

[@jimmysisson1479]

Mirage 94 Ford ..