01 General Information
Welcome to a Life of "Roughing It Smoothly"
Tiffin Motorhomes is excited that you have entered the world of motorhome travel and we believe that you and your family will enjoy this way of life for years to come. Your Tiffin built motorhome provides all the luxuries and comforts of home while allowing you to travel freely as you choose. But before heading out on the open roads, please make yourself familiar with this owner’s manual to learn more about the operations of your motorhome. Also, please work with your dealer to learn as much as possible about the functionality and features of your coach.
And remember - “wherever you go, we go.”
About this Manual
This operator/owner’s manual was prepared with you in mind. We want to provide you with the information you need to properly care for and use your vehicle and equipment. Please carefully read through this manual to help you understand how everything in your motorhome works.
NOTE: This operator’s manual describes many features of your Cahaba and includes instructions for its safe use. The manual, however, including its photography and illustrations, is of a general nature. Some equipment and features described in this manual may be optional or unavailable on your model.
The instructions included are meant to serve as a guide and in no way extend the responsibilities of Tiffin Motorhomes beyond the standard written warranty. The descriptions, illustrations, and specifications in this manual were correct at the time of printing and Tiffin Motorhomes reserves the right to change specifications or design without notice, and without incurring obligation to install the same on products previously manufactured. Many of the instruction sheets and manuals for the various appliances inside
your motorhome have been incorporated into this manual for your convenience. There’s also a flash drive in the information bag inside of your coach with instruction manuals to your appliances on it as well.
Delivery
Throughout the entire manufacturing process, your Tiffin motorhome has been regularly inspected by our qualified personnel to assure you of the finest product of the highest quality, without exception. However, the final inspection at our factory is not to be the last one. The pre-delivery inspection and system check that your dealer performs are the final inspections done to your particular motorhome prior to you actually receiving your new Cahaba motorhome. Your dealer is also available to assist you in understanding the warranties and completing the necessary forms to activate the warranties for the various appliances and accessories installed in your motorhome.
Dealer Responsibilities
1. A pre-delivery inspection and systems check is performed to assure a thorough inspection of the motorhome and to assure the proper operation of all factory-installed components.
2. A customer walk-through is performed to familiarize the new customer with the motorhome, its systems and components, and their proper and safe operation.
3. Delivery of the Owner’s Information Package which contains warranty cards and registrations for the vehicle and all factory-installed components from other vendors and suppliers to Tiffin Motorhomes. The detailed operation instructions and maintenance instructions on these components are also included in this package.
4. Assisting the customer in completing the registration forms to avoid loss of warranty coverage. The dealer should review the limited-warranty provisions with the customer to stress the importance of completing the warranty cards and registration forms for the components in the motorhome to enable the manufacturers to receive them within the prescribed time limits.
5. Providing the customer with information regarding warranty and non-warranty work on the vehicle and its separately warranted components.
Customers Responsibilities
The customer is responsible for regular and proper maintenance of the motorhome. Properly maintaining your motorhome will prevent conditions arising from neglect that are not covered by your Tiffin Motorhomes limited warranty. The maintenance guidelines in this manual and any other, applicable manual(s) should be followed. It is your responsibility and obligation to return the vehicle to an authorized dealer for repairs and service.
To assist you in avoiding problems with your motorhome, it is recommended that you do the following:
1. Read the warranty. Go over it thoroughly with your dealer to make sure you understand all the terms and conditions of the warranty.
2. Please ask questions about anything you don’t fully understand about your Cahaba. Tiffin Motorhomes is here to serve you and assure that you have all the information necessary for your safe and enjoyable use of your new motor home.
3. When you are taking delivery, set an appointment for adjustments. This appointment should be within two weeks after you accept delivery.
4. You are responsible for and expected to use your Cahaba in a responsible, safe manner. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the proper operation of the motor home and all its features before you attempt to use your motor home.
5. Once a year the roof seals need to be inspected and replaced if need to prevent leaks. This can be done at a Tiffin Motorhomes Service Center
Tiffin Motorhomes Limited Warranty
The Tiffin Motorhomes limited warranty was provided to you by your authorized Tiffin Motorhomes dealer during the pre-delivery inspection. When you inquire about your Tiffin Motorhomes warranty, please refer to this document. Should you need or desire an additional copy or other information, please contact:
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.
625 Fawn Grove Rd.
Winfield, Alabama 35594
Tiffin Motorhomes will be pleased to send you an additional copy or any other information requested, as may be warranted.
Major Equipment Manufacturers
The following list is a compilation of the vendors and suppliers of the major subsystems and components of your Cahaba. This list is provided for your convenience and is not meant as a complete substitution of the literature and accompanying “how to contact us” information supplied by those vendors and suppliers in your Owner’s Information Package. Where appropriate, website information is provided as well.
(INCOMPLETE)
• Contoure (888) 656-9317 contoureusa.com
• Elwell Corporation (360) 608-0916 elwellcorp.com
• True Induction (877) 862-7049 trueinduction.com
• Indel Webasto Marine (954) 984-8448 indelwebastomarine.com
• Volta Power Systems (616) 226-4222 voltapowersystems.com
• RV Products (Coleman A/C) (316) 832-3400 airxcel.com
• Precision Circuits Inc. (630) 240-9832 precisioncircuitsinc.com
• RV Safe (714) 934-8512 rvsafealarm.com
• Triple H (800) 237-4277 triplehelectronics.com
• Girard systems (949) 259-4000 https://www.lci1.com/
For those looking for more information (e.g., locations of authorized subsidiaries), the following web site, www.rvamerica.com/data/s_alist.htm, should be helpful. This site provides complete, alphabetic listings of all suppliers and vendors for all contemporary recreational vehicles and motor homes.
Warranty Service
Mercedes-Benz covers Roadside Assistance for the full term of the bumper-to-bumper chassis warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Tiffin Motorhomes warranties its utilized construction for three years and its laminations for three years. Any service work performed after the expiration of the Tiffin Motorhomes warranties WILL NOT be covered under the conditions of the implied Tiffin Motorhome warranty. Exceptions may be made on an individual basis, to this deadline on account of the unavailability of parts and/or service appointment time where work is to be performed.
Neither Mercedes Benz nor Tiffin Motorhomes provides warranty for the motorhome tires. Please refer to the tire manufacturers guide provided in the Owner's Information Packet for any warranty information. However, do not rely on the possibility of an exception: please schedule any desired in-warranty work before the expiration of your motorhome warranty.
Owner's Information Package
The Owner’s Information Package includes valuable documents about your Cahaba and its components and systems. By consulting the booklets and instruction manuals included in the Owner’s Information Package, you will learn how to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot these items safely and effectively. The Tiffin Motorhomes Cahaba Owner’s Manual does not cover every possible detail of equipment— standard and/or optional—installed on or in your vehicle.
As with all valuable documentation, please keep them in a safe, secure place for your later use and consultation. When you complete and mail to the respective manufacturer(s) any warranty/guaranty registration card(s), make a photocopy of both sides of each card prior to mailing and keep the photocopy in your permanent records for your Cahaba motorhome.
Customer Relations
If you wish to schedule maintenance or service or wish to order parts, you should notify your local authorized Tiffin Motorhomes dealership to set up an appointment. If you are unsure of the location of your nearest authorized Tiffin Motorhomes dealership, please access the Tiffin Motorhomes website at www.tiffinmotorhomes.com and then click on the “Locate Dealer” button, then enter in the appropriate search criteria such as state and retail sales, then click on the red ball located on the map to find dealer information in that area.
Specification Labels
There are two main numbers used to identify your Cahaba. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the legal identification of the completed vehicle. The VIN is the number used by the state for vehicle identification and registration.
Another label affixed to your Cahaba is the Recreational
Vehicle Industrial Association (RVIA) label for Tiffin
Motorhomes, a manufacturer member of RVIA, has the
obligation to disclose the following information, at minimum,
to the purchaser of the motor home:
• An indication of the contents of the motorhome weight label affixed to the motorhome.
• A concise explanation of the following items: Vehicle Weight (VW) distribution and Proper weighing techniques to be used to weigh the vehicle.
• Specific definitions for the following terminology:
Gross Vehicle-Weight Rating (GVWR) – This is the maximum permissible weight of the motor home when it is fully loaded.
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) – This is the weight of the motor home, as built at the factory, with full fuel, engine oil, and coolants. The UVW does not include cargo, fresh water, LP gas, or any dealer installed accessories.
Cargo-Carrying Capacity (CCC) – This is the maximum weight of all occupants including the driver, personal belongings, food, fresh water, waste water, LP gas, tools, tongue weight of towed vehicle [if any], dealer-installed accessories, and the like. The CCC is equal to or less than the GVWR minus the UVW.
Gross Combination-Weight Rating (GCWR) – This is the value specified by the chassis manufacturer as the maximum allowable loaded weight of the motor home with a towed trailer and/or vehicle [if any].
Sleeping-Capacity Weight Rating (SCWR) – This is the maximum weight capacity of the combined number of persons (i.e., number of people multiplied by 154 pounds per person) permitted to sleep within the vehicle.
Gross Axle-Weight Rating (GAWR) – This is the maximum allowable weight for an axle; the
GAWR considers the weakest link in the tire, wheel, brakes, hubs, axle, springs, and attaching parts. To illustrate, if the axle is rated at 15,000 pounds and the tires are rated at 3,200 pounds each as a dual installation; then the maximum GAWR would be 12,800 pounds for a four-tire vehicle.
Weight Procedures
To weigh the motorhome properly, the motorhome should be level when the weighing process is performed. Your Cahaba motorhome has been designed and built in compliance with the recommended limits of the major-component/system suppliers to provide a realistic CCC. It is up to the final user to provide even distribution of the loads brought into the motor home to prevent uneven loading. Once the vehicle is loaded, it can be taken to any certified drive-on scales or individual-wheel scales to determine that the final weight is within specified limits for the motorhome. The procedure that can be used is as follows:
First, drive the motorhome onto the scales so that all wheels are on the scales; this provides the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of the vehicle and can be recorded as such. The GVW should not exceed the GVWR specified for the vehicle.
Weight Distribution
To assure the maximum stability of the motorhome under static (i.e., parked) and dynamic (i.e., moving) conditions, the distribution of the items to be carried and stored within the motorhome should be performed in such a manner to strive for reasonably even side-to-side and front-to-rear dispersion of the weight of the stored items.
This process will assure that the motorhome is not “lop-sided” in weight distribution (i.e., all the stored weight on one side and/or mainly towards the front or the rear).
Keeping a center of mass of the motorhome essentially centered on a front-to-rear and side-to-side basis will also provide better control of the motorhome when it is in motion.
Safety Messages
Please note that several labels listed in this manual represent items that need your attention. The Danger, Warning, Caution, and Notice labels alert you to precautions that may help you avoid damage to your motorhome, its equipment or your personal safety. Please read and follow them carefully.
