[hypoxia]

I've seen a few references here about a Newell Facebook group.  What is the name of the group that is discussed?  I applied for entry to the Newell VIP Group a month or two ago which has not been approved.  Is it the wrong group for technical discussions?  Is it active?

[HoosierDaddy]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/275904433163465/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1345737048835159/

I post to these two groups. I'm not sure why you didn't get a response from VIP.

[Richard]

Jim,

Not knocking the FB group in any way. It is my opinion this forum is more suited for tech discussion simply because it is searchable.

[encantotom]

i think the fb groups does something different than we do. it seems to be for chatting about things more than doing more technical things.

and we are formatted more for searching and in specific areas of discussion.

i will admit i am biased.

i do not look at the fb groups much.

tom

[MrE]

I agree with Richard. I also think a document to assist in searching would be advisable. There are tips buried in other posts. Perhaps on the forum home page above the "Emergency Coach Help Needed" there could be "Tips And Tricks For Using The Forum".

[HoosierDaddy]

I have found that many technical queries on the FB pages get directed to NGs!

[hypoxia]

I'm not a FOF (Fan Of Facebook) but some of the posts I have seen suggested they may have value. I'll not pursue it.

I do think there needs to be a separation of models in the tech forums.

[Fulltiming]

One of the difficulties with model separation in the tech forums is that Newell makes changes constantly so that most changes of equipment (engines, transmissions, slideout type) didn't fall at even a specific model year much less a specific model (Classic, 2000, 2000i, P2000i, 2020p, p50). As an example: the major change from Dana front suspension to ZF suspension took place during in the 2000 models in model year 2004 but there was a mix of Dana and ZF suspension coaches during 2004 between #671 and #694. I believe the slides were changed from HWH (hydraulic) to Valid (electric) during the 2003 model year (likely with #645-649 although there could be an exception outside that range that I haven't located yet). Even slides which to the best of my knowledge began with #436, a 1996 model 2000, yet there were no slide Newells being built in model year 1999.

I would concur that the systems in the 2020P's such as yours are much different than the early 1990 models.

[hypoxia]

How about a system subsection for manufacturer separation, HWH, Valid, ZF, etc.?  Whenever I have a system problem I find it difficult to sort out the wheat from the chaff.  If I look up a Valid slide problem the search is watered down with HWH pages.  To complicate the matter, the threads normally don't specify and each thread has to have time spent looking to see if it is pertinent or is a different manufacturer.

The 2020P is new enough that there are not many owners that repair them but time fly's and they will soon be another classic bus that needs a good source of documentation.  I plan to add documentation as I acquire it and would prefer to have a more specific documentation area for it.

I think I just hijacked my own thread    Perhaps there is a better place for this discussion?

[encantotom]

jim,

i added a subforum under slides for valid slides. hopefully that will help. great idea.

tom