RE: What battery maintainers you guys Use?
I use BatteryMINDER Maintainer/De-sulpahator for the truck batteries and 2 x 75 W solar cells (with Morningstar Prostar 15 controller), for the camper batteries.
The camper batteries (2 x Trojan Group 27 AGM) are seven years old now and are still working very good.
So far so good!
;)
I also use the BatterMINDER, although not typically for my main truck or camper. It's a reliable and very flexible unit that can handle flooded, AGM, or gel batteries. I use it for the batteries in my tractor, generator, herbicide sprayer, other vehicle batteries, etc. Great unit.
RE: light weight camper
Not that revisiting a subject is a bad thing, but the Quickupcamper has been posted about before on the forum (quite some time back).
I agree with others though, the price point is really too high for what you get, but it is an innovative design. However, since it doesn't appear to ever have been in true production (other than a one-off unit here or there), it probably indicates that the marketplace for TC's has spoken.
RE: The story of Bear...and his eulogy
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/DECJ1/CanisMajor_zps80f39c88.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/DECJ1/Canis_Major_zpsde16c995.gif
RE: The story of Bear...and his eulogy
I'm very sorry to hear of your loss Dave. That was a very touching tribute to your good friend and family member Bear. We all have a lot of happy times in our lives, but this is unfortunately an example of the sad times that we sometimes have to face.
Don
RE: Have a 2007 or newer diesel and deleting. Think again.
Have you ever used one of those epa aproved wood burning stoves? It is not worth a crap. My friend has one and we cut all the baffles and stuff out of it just so he could get HEAT outa the thing. Just because it says EPA dont mean better. all the people that whine about the tuner/ deletes but still drive the pre emmision trucks are just as guilty as the folks that have tuned and deleted. unless these folks complaining drive a stock 08 up diesel truck they have no room to talk!! JMHO:(
It's a bit off-topic, but after initially having a non-EPA approved wood stove, I have had two Avalon EPA approved wood stoves since then and they burn just fine and put out a lot more heat than we need. It just goes to show you that not all wood stoves (EPA approved or not) are created equal. Just because your friend had a problem doesn't invalidate all EPA approved wood stoves.
Also, your point of saying that those who drive pre-emission trucks are just as guilty as those who drive post-emission trucks who have altered or removed already mandated pollution equipment is more than a stretch IMO. If your point is that both theoretically pollute more than a post-emission truck with its pollution control equipment in place, that could possibly be a reasonable comparison. However, the law does not penalize people who have an earlier model vehicle as long as the mandated pollution equipment for that model year is intact and operating correctly.
Going back to the EPA, I am not endorsing or approving of all of the things that the EPA has done over the years. But on the other hand, if you didn't have something like the EPA, the air we collectively breath, the water we drink, and a lot of other fundamental things in life that are easy to take for granted could be a LOT worse for ourselves, our children, and our families. Take a look at what is currently happening in China & Beijing as an example of a totally unregulated environment where anything goes.
RE: ExRocketScientist ?
I am a member of the Honda EU2000 Generators Yahoo Group and I noticed today that exrocketscientist had posted there yesterday about a grounded bonding plug he had come up with and said he was posting the information there "since I parted ways with RV.NET last Memorial Day" (presumably in 2012).
I don't personally know ExRocketScientist, nor have I communicated with him in any way, but when I inadvertently ran across this thread, I thought I would provide his comment about parting ways with RV.net, as that at least explains why you haven't seen any new posts from him since May 2012. (And no, I do not know, nor did he offer any additional info as to why he specifically parted ways with RV.net last year).
I have seen people come and go on RV.net over the years for any variety of reasons, so who knows, ExRocketScientist may well come back and start posting again at some point. Or maybe not. ;)
RE: How do you make your bed in a TC?
We use sleeping bags with a sheet inside. Just takes a few seconds to `make' the bed.
X2 except without the sheets.
X3 (without the sheets).
We got a couple of plain vanilla Coleman flannel-lined sleeping bags that zip together so we ended up with a perfect queen-size bag for both of us. We wear our PJ's, but never found the need for sheets while camping (probably from many years of ground & tent camping in down sleeping bags). As a bottom-line comment, I suppose we just don't personally associate sheets with any kind of camping, even in a TC.
RE: Redneck Truck Camping?
he should have put cement board up around that thing and his stove pipe is too big.. i would never have used a propane tank for that i was just going to buy a sardine stove for a sail boat for mine... they are epa rated.. i doubt that old camper is sealed very tight anyway
Sardine wood stove ...
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/DECJ1/MiniWoodstove.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/DECJ1/sardinefrontdims.jpg
RE: Outfitter or Hallmark
John,
Historically, this used to be a highly controversial question when comparing these two competitors and their respective pop-up TC offerings. Those days are behind us now, which is a good thing.
While I own a 2007 Outfitter Apex 8 and am admittedly more partial to Outfitters over Hallmarks, I think you can be happy with a camper from either company.
As others have said, it would be highly advisable to take a trip out to Colorado and visit both operations, as they are located quite close to one another, and you can visit both in one day if you make arrangements ahead of time.
For quite a few years, both companies were about the same size after they split up from the same root company, although Outfitter seemed to clearly have the lead in terms of units produced, being more popular, and having a highly vocal brand-loyal customer base. However, when Hallmark moved into their new facility, they seemed to move forward with a better showroom arrangement, developing a number of new pop-up models, and making a conscious effort to claim the high ground on pre- and post-sale customer service and support. And there is no doubt that as others have indicated, the shop and fabrication areas at Hallmark are cleaner and more organized than Outfitter. Personally, I prefer to see a clean & well-organized shop, but that's not to say that you can't turn out a well-designed and quality camper in a shop that is less organized looking.
While Hallmark has made strides to catch up to Outfitter in terms of the level of true customization they are willing to undertake for their respective customers, I firmly believe that Outfitter still claims the high ground in this area, which for me, was a major consideration in my final choice. And while it may not matter to some, you couldn't pay me to put up with an east-west bed arrangement, and since Outfitter offers a great north-south option, that also shifted us towards Outfitter. We also wanted a true 4-season camper and the heated basement design offered by Outfitter was another big consideration for us with our 7000 foot elevation and high-altitude camping interests in mind. I also wanted the aluminum frame approach that Outfitter used as I wasn't sufficiently convinced that Hallmark's wooden frame would be up to the task of long-term, challenging off-road camping & travel that my wife and I planned to routinely do (although Hallmark now offers a selection of frame materials at different up-charges).
We have a standard marine toilet & black water tank in our Apex 8, but if the option had been available at the time, I would have preferred to go with a cassette toilet in hindsight. In terms of the composite siding problems you mentioned with Outfitters, I have the older Filon/foam core/luan design that one owner experienced what appears to be a blistering issue. I have had no such issues and the incidence of this was truly rare from the information that is available. At this point, Outfitter has gone with a different approach that appears to prevent any such issues from developing for the newer models (starting in ~2010). In terms of the crack that sf3291 mentioned in his post for the Outfitter owner from years ago (at the cab-over cantilever transition), that was the only reported incidence of this and the owner showed no interest in returning to the factory for warranty repair and as far as I know, he just chose to live with it as-is despite Outfitter vocally standing behind the issue on a no-charge basis.
Anyway, neither company nor their campers are perfect. A number of people swear by each company as being the best over the other, but it probably comes down to what you personally want, how you want it, and then ultimately letting your gut feelings steer you where you feel the most motivated or comfortable.
Good luck with your decision,
Don
RE: Redneck Truck Camping?
Well, he survived the first test - angle-grinding the front out of a full propane cylinder :B
Steve.He got lucky to find one that was empty I guess. :B
Ex-brother Bubba's first attempt ... :B
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/DECJ1/PropaneTank.jpg
RE: Redneck Truck Camping?
Looks like a good start on a mobile meth lab.
Well, at least that can be handled on a safer basis with this all electric solution:
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/DECJ1/EasyBake.jpg
RE: Redneck Truck Camping?
I really wouldn't worry about any serious competition to JoeChiOhki, as this guy likely won't be around much longer. Beyond the obvious fire hazard, the consumption of oxygen in an enclosed space along with the potential for CO and CO2 introduction into the living space, will probably yield a Darwin Award.
The guy calls it "Redneck truck camping 101" in his YouTube video. I think it should be called "Deadneck truck camping 101". :R
RE: AGM Battery
martyn8677,
You didn't mention what year or model Outfitter you bought, but keep in mind that most if not all standard Outfitter battery boxes (under the dinette seating area), are sealed (gasketed) and vented enclosures, so flooded lead-acid batteries work fine.
I have a 2007 Apex 8 and went with two, 6-volt Trojan T-145 batteries, which was admittedly an old school approach, but with a Xantrex Prosine 2.0KW charger/inverter/converter unit with 220W of solar power (in addition to charging from our truck when its running), we have never had any problems and rarely use our Honda EU2000i generator, even with extended boondocking and rough off-road travel along with a Tundra/Dometic compressor style fridge.
That said, I will likely switch to AGM's when it's time to replace my T-145's, however, they are still going strong after almost 6 years in operation.
Don
Don, I bought a 2004 Apex 8 from a dealer in Phoenix. Shipped it to Texas using UShip.
Sounds good Marty. I also responded to your PM.
RE: AGM Battery
martyn8677,
You didn't mention what year or model Outfitter you bought, but keep in mind that most if not all standard Outfitter battery boxes (under the dinette seating area), are sealed (gasketed) and vented enclosures, so flooded lead-acid batteries work fine.
I have a 2007 Apex 8 and went with two, 6-volt Trojan T-145 batteries, which was admittedly an old school approach, but with a Xantrex Prosine 2.0KW charger/inverter/converter unit with 220W of solar power (in addition to charging from our truck when its running), we have never had any problems and rarely use our Honda EU2000i generator, even with extended boondocking and rough off-road travel along with a Tundra/Dometic compressor style fridge.
That said, I will likely switch to AGM's when it's time to replace my T-145's, however, they are still going strong after almost 6 years in operation.
Don
RE: There Used To Be A Lot More Activity On The TC Forum??
Sure somebody could travel in a Jetta TDI or Prius and get around 50 mpg and stay in a inexpensive motel/hotel and perhaps save money over owning an RV. But, that is not the point of RV ownership. If it was all about cost the RV would not be a favorable alternative. Some of us like to take dogs, some like to sleep in our own beds at night, some like to go places where hotels/motels are not available, and some like to go off road and camp in solitute not in a building with tens or perhaps hundreds of others. An RV is not everything to everybody but for many it is a choice made for what they want to do. I have found that when folks start looking at what things cost then they are no longer an RVer at heart. Lets face it, a $50,000 pickup and a $30-40,000 truck camper buys a lot of motel rooms. But that is not what RVing is about.
Well put. When my wife and I were first looking into getting a full-sized truck/camper rig, we did go through a similar discussion and some back of the napkin calculations as to comparing the costs of traveling by car, staying in motels and eating all of our meals out while doing day hiking & recreating in the area versus going the route of a truck/TC rig. And you're right, when you do that, the economics of the latter sure pays for a lot of motel rooms.
However, we still chose the truck/TC rig route hands down as we have been campers & Jeepers for essentially all of our adult lives and we weren't willing to give up that recreational lifestyle. We wanted to go where we wanted, we wanted to stay away from crowds and the typical tourist stuff, and head out into the remote off-road areas for our camping & recreating. We also briefly looked at Class A's & Class C's in the process, and while better than the car & motel approach, they were still too limiting for our desires to mostly travel and boondock off-road.
RE: There Used To Be A Lot More Activity On The TC Forum??
But, I am not into sharing what I had for lunch or that I just took a shower.
Yeah, I just love that "stream of consciousness" stuff. :R
While Twitter perhaps fosters that type of thing a bit more, a couple of prolific bloggers I know also do that.
RE: There Used To Be A Lot More Activity On The TC Forum??
I opened a Facebook account a few years ago. Found I did not like it but you can not delete your acct.......:M
Oh yes you can. Can't remember how I did it, but I am a recovering facebook person. :) Felt GREAT!!
After a few months of various people "liking" me, I had enough. Search the FB site using the word delete. You can do it too. :W
John
You can only "appear" to delete your account.
Facebook still keeps a record of it.
I'm pretty sure that you could re-activate your original account if you wanted.
I know this from experimentation with their platform.
Yet another reason to just not get involved with FB in the first place. It will be one cold day in a very hot place before I ever get involved with either FB or Twitter.
RE: There Used To Be A Lot More Activity On The TC Forum??
height=360 width=240We do need more trip reports with pics and details.....that is my favorite threads to read! (I understand that for many people this is the off season)
You seem to be using a non-standard (IMG) link character string ...
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o655/rwdIII/0836B6B5-1B7A-4F13-A9B2-46379A4D0159-1563-00000696B0D3CB79.jpg
You also need to resize (reduce) your pics.
