Gen. charging TC batts and using boonie AC power?
For many years I have used our Honda EU2000 generator to a 2A/10A/55A charger to charge the truck batteries, one at a time. I usually just charge the Camper battery as it goes down the fastest over 3 or 4 days of continuous boondocking. It takes about 3 hours and I usually just use the lowest amperage as newer batteries don't like a quick charge any more. This whole process seems awfully antiquated (albeit cheap) when I read about all the new gizmos available. When using AC items like hair dryer (not me, paleface, it's for the Queen), or coffee pot, or Margarita blender I just plug ea. appliance directly into the generator. What is to preclude me from plugging the TC main umbelical into the generator? It has better, filtered power than my Pacific Gas and Electric (PG@E) house current or any campground does. There are a lot of Electrical Gurus on this forum, so speak up, any of you with authority on the subject. I have the usual 3 batteries: Two under the hood and one with the TC, all the same size, group 27, 12V, starting batteries (not deep cycle) with a #6 power wire connecting front to rear. I do have he little cord supplied with my EU2K for direct-to-battery connections, but I don't like the looks of it.
So, to the querrie:
What's new in this arena? Is there anything quick and dirty that I can glom on to?
I did do a search both here and on Google, and am more confused than ever, which doesn't take much.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Which Spring Enhancement for Ram 3500 hd DRW crewcab longbed
I have had very good luck by doubling up the secondary springs (the ones above the main pack) and adding Stable Loads so all that weight bearing prowess will come into play sooner. I have had 5000 pounds of crushed rock in the bed and there was very little compression of the suspension and the truck was well under control. You are on the right track.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: 3rd trip and have one more planned
lap,
Considering the lack of responses to your post, I would counsel it never happened as there is no image evidence. 8<) We need pix.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Limits?
With a truck camper you get a 'feel' of how wide, how tall, and how long your rig really is. You learn to bob-and-weave around things that might tear at your siding and develop an eye about your own clearance. To mitigate the size/clearance problem I bought one of the narrowest, least tall, and lightest hard side campers i could find for a short bed truck. We have been some interesting places with Minum. Of course, everything, and I do mean everything in a truck camper set up is a compromise. With our smaller footprint and height clearance comes smaller tanks. The way you save on weight is with lighter materials and smaller tanks and appliances. Plus, leaving a lot of heavy, useless stuff at home; not pressing down on your suspension.
None of this 'off-road' travel is a free ride, however. Here is the list of stuff that went south while trying to negotiate routes that were slightly too narrow for passage:
1. Top bathroom small vent smashed by passing branch. replaced.
1a. Half of the aluminum luggage rack railing torn off. Sealed the holes and capped off the end that was left.
2. Fridge side vent torn off.
3. Side flood light ripped off.
4. Fridge roof top cap ripped completely off by a passing Joshua Tree. Replaced recently.
5. L. frnt. clearance light smashed, twice.
6. Large dent in the R. frnt. of the cabover from a passing unmovable tree.
7. Stove exhaust vent has been nibbled away by passing flora. Now also has a pivoting tab to keep it down in place.
8. many long, deep scratch marks on both sides of the camper.
9. Installed a latch on the water jug compartment floor-level near the rear door. Those six heavy 1 gal. jugs refused to stay put over undulating terra.
10. installed an improved freezer compartment latch after the orig. part broke.
11. Have not replaced the broken frnt window due to speeding AK truckers on gravel roads.
12. Replaced ladder on rr. after backing into a gigantic tree in Glacier N.P.
To wrap it up, you will soon find how far you can go. It's a period of adjustment we all go through.
I just hope nobody here winds up with my old Lance when I'm gone. Heaven help you.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: New Lance, Refused Delivery; Your Opinions Please
I'm afraid Miles is right about not using a lawyer. The only one who wins when you engage counsel is counsel. Tact may work here as he said. However, Miles is wrong about your 'trailer'. It's a truck camper.
I have a '98 Lance and while the roof looks a little different I do have a slight dip in the roof. Only about 1/4" however. (6.5mm for you Canadians) My camper has been subjected to the most snow load I've ever seen pictures of and still, only 6.5mm deflection. Did the stucture when you actually crawled on the roof seem spongy or broken? My stucture up there seems very sturdy even after sitting (mostly) outside in the weather for lo these 15 years.
I can see going either way with this one. If you accept the rig and keep after them until they fix it to your specs, it's, for them like being pecked to death by ducks. My wife is the grand master at keeping after re******s and the shirk bros. Not a good way to go. That would require sustained effort on your part. The more I read about folks woes with NEW campers the luckier I feel with my used Lance.
1. I decided to get a light weight camper.
2. The same day, I looked in the Recycler (in my L.A. daze)
3. Found a 3 yr. old Lance, went over to see it and bought it, cash: $6500. In a few hours it was all over.
4. A few days later I put the truck tie downs and wiring plug on and went to Orange Co. and picked it up from the former owner's storage lot.
5. It looked like it was used two or three times. The battery was dead. I think he left the thermostat on and the heater came on in the winter.
6. We have slept 200 to 240 nights in the thing on the road somewhere.
7. No regrets; no surprises.
8. As I said: LUCKY.
Oh, the snow load?: wet, heavy Sierra Cement:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN1842.jpg
There might be literally a ton of snow on this truck camper.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: '90 Chevy 1/2 Ton 305 V8
mkirsch,
aka: Matt,
I like the way you think. You have an ocean of experience that shows in very fine way: no offending remarks to the unwashed; just some helpful hand holding.
Having been on here almost 10 years I see the same queries asked over and over, with the same cadre of efficient, helpful, experienced people answering those same questions, over and over, helping the Alpha neubies get over that bumpy road in one piece.
I'm more than a little sad that I won't be able to meet all you fine people in my lifetime.
jefe
RE: TC in South America / Design choices
Yeah, Henrik,
The folks at Expo should have hired you to do a presentation. I'm hoping that the people that do the talks scheduled are as impressive as you are. Besides, we're just signed up for the presentations, basically, as we don't need a class on winching your Land Rover out of the mud.
RE: TC in South America / Design choices
Henrik,
Do put a presentation together. Are you going to be at the Expo in Flag in a couple weeks?
There will be lots of presentations similar (but not as extensive) to your trip during those three days.
The bottom line is "run whatcha brung". I have been a hard-core off-roader and rock crawler since 1965 when I did my first SOA (springs-over-axle) on a 1949 Willys ute wagon. We slept in that wagon for many years as our 'RV'. That was also the first year we toured Baja California when just south of Ensenada the pavement ended; and ended big-time. Man, was it primitive. Pemex had just doubled the price of diesel fuel to $.16 a gallon. Yes, it WAS $.08 a gallon just before we got there.
I would have no fear of running an older diesel/ TC south of the border with a smaller hardside truck camper, because I can work on it and know the yeahs and the nays of older rigs. The 10 foot elevation of the TC is lower than most of the loads on Japanese and German over-the-dirt-road trucks you see prevalent in Mexico and S. A. Same with the width. The trucks are wider than just about anything you could take down there. I only saw one parking arcade on your blog that would stop my rig.
It was interesting to see that you used 4WD so little. I think you were there at a good time of year or waited till the mud dried. I have been in Baja Sur during a Chibasco, and even with 4WD we were sweating it, so to speak, crossing all those rain swollen arroyos.
I'm just so impressed with the way you thought out the trip; nit picked every little detail, and researched all the destinations with as little experience in doing so that you had available. Here is a pic of our 1970 Toyota L.C. FJ55 in 1976 in the doldrums of Baja's Vizciano Desert ( singularly the most remote place I have ever been) where the springs on our jeep trailer let go and we decided to take the axle off and lay the hulk on the Tomba Burro and tongue on the roof driving with the doors open all the way back, 150 miles to Guerro Negro to get it fixed:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/jefe15_jpg.jpg
regards, as always, jefe
RE: California Fire
When I see my own model Lance and my own model white Dodge pickup burning to the ground, I get the shivers.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Where are all the Truck Campers ?
I see a lot of them here on the West Coast. Of course, you tend to see more of what 'you' are driving on the road. Besides Lance being in CA; instant proximity; my guess is there is a very long 'camper season' here with a whole lot of natural features and beautiful places to visit any time of year, that are perfect for a TC
The N.P.'s have an old 20 or 22' limit in many of their camp grounds. That lets out,
1. Moho's
2. 5-er's
3. most Class C's
4. leaving small class B's and Truck Campers as the RV of choice that will fit and work without hookups.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Modding an F-350 up or an F-550 down for TC
Just Jeff, just Jeff here too.
What is the registration difference between a 350 and a 550? In CA the 550 must gulp down a larger share of the state's tax burden.
Otherwise, I would opt for the kind of rig you noted as your first choice on your pin page. I was happy to see the mug of my own measly rig on there too. You are used to a lot more 'wallerin room' in your present RV. It's always a shock when people move 'down;' to the space of an even large truck camper. If you're going this route, get used to it. One good thing about the F-550 is it comes stock with 4.88's. You can then install taller/larger off-road type tires without having to regear the pigs. Plus, it seems they finally have an engine that won't self-destruct. Remember, after about 2006, domestic diesels are verboten to use Mexican fuel, if you are going to Mexico ever.
I saw a used Dodge 5500 C and C recently and it had all the good stuff, IMHO. MB 6 speed manual, HD transfer case, stiff frame, 650 pound feet of torque. With the legendary Cummins, a great platform for what you are trying to do.
It's never too early to devise your dream rig. Good luck on your quest.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: TC in South America / Design choices
K and H,
What a fine travelog you have done! I have read a lot of Sud Amerika trip reports, but none have the width and breadth of yours. Kudos. Even in retirement, I would find it difficult to slow down and smell the flowers for as long a time as you have. Congratulations!
I especially like the methodical, sweeping way you prepared and executed your excursion into terra ingognita. While I would have made different decisions regarding the truck and camper, based on my own experience and capabilities, I do have respect for your excellent outcome.
You are true overlanders of the first water (crossing).
The rest of us are true poseurs.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Roof clearance
There is no absolute space between the cab over and the truck cab. There are some clues though. The longer the frame of the truck, the more twist can be present and the more clearance is needed. So, a short bed truck seems to twist less and thusly need less clearance. It may only be my experience, but I've noticed the Ford frames (especially older ones) twist more than Chevy or Dodge frames of more-or-less the same length.
I think my short bed Dodge/Lance Lite has about a 5" minimum clearance at the tightest place, at rest. I believe this is an average number. Another clue for me was the loosening of the rear tie-downs while off-roading, which makes the the camper frame follow the front of the truck frame and bed allowing less differential between the rocking camper and the truck cab. I use a thin, 3/8" rubber bed mat and that's all. The TC has never come into contact with the cab.
YMMV.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Angle of front tie down
Beag,
ARe you sure it's not the entire bed rocking? I had this problem and found out one of the front bed bolts had pulled through of the frame perch, tweaking the bed and lifting the front of the camper as you describe. I use a thick fender washer and it seems to have solved the problem. Do not just tighten the tie downs tighter.
The bed is held on by four looks-like 3/8's bolts and a tiny little washer.
Not good.
I checked this after our Mojave Road Trip and it's still holding.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Extreme TC - with everything!
El Tigre,
Why?
Somebody had a lot of time on their hands and wanted to make a statement.
But what is the statement?
Beats me.
Too extreme for me.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Spring Break on the Oregon Coast
goro,
Beautiful pix and trip. I especially like that long shot with the sandy spit in the background.
Great.
-jefe
RE: 7 Bros On The Mojave Road Trail,part1
This trip had a lot of drama. First, for 2bro, it was his last. He died 10 days ago. 2ndly, it was a trip for the 4 Reynolds' brothers, plus my Son Matt (who has essentially the same DNA), cousin Reynald, and Alex who was supposed to come with his brother but had to cancel last minute. Everyone but Alex had a proximity DNA. This is how the bros trip came to pass. I'm glad it did.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: 7 Bros On The Mojave Road Trail,part1
Dave,
Yes, that's the interior tub from a washing machine. Many holes for breathing, baked on or stainless steel finish, 3 bolted on round cast iron stancheons with threaded center holes to accept 3, 12" nipples with caps as legs. The legs come off for travel. Cheap/quick/dirty. The forest service likes these instead of a campfire.
Nice to relive the trip again.
fine job, Alex. Thanks again.
regards, as always, jefe
