RE: Re-packing bearings
I like and use the E-Z lube method.
I predict, the inexperienced without some mechanical knowledge attempting to repack wheel bearings will cause more harm than good and that will lead to an early bearing failure.
Clicky: Best method for the inexperienced.
When you are not educated on subjects sometimes you pay the price.
I respectfully disagree, 352! The manufacturer specifically instructs people to service the axle in this manner. Following the manufacturer's instructions is generally the best way to stay out of trouble in most things mechanical....
Just because we've "always done it that way" doesn't mean that we've always done it the RIGHT way! We used to start cars with a crank through the radiator, too, but most all of us have moved to newer methods! ;)
RE: Adirondacks route
Rt 28 can wind in and through the mountains and numerous small towns.... can be very scenic, but takes time for the trip. Also hilly, so you'll likely burn more fuel than you would on the longer distance interstate routes.... some great little towns along the way, though....
RE: Upstate NY
Village of Lake Placid (Winter Olympics fame) is great to see, year-round, Wine Country in the Finger Lakes Region), Saratoga Flat Track (thoroughbred horse racing in the classic form), Cooperstown (Baseball HOF), 1000 Islands Region, what kinds of things interest you?
RE: Plugging in at home between trips
I keep mine plugged in to run the fridge, but the battery charger breaker is turned off, and my batteries are maintained by the solar controller, which is much "smarter" than the factory converter/charger. By having the unit plugged in, not only does the fridge run, but I have 120v at all of the outlets for any projects that i want to do.....
RE: Question for the Battery Experts
smkettner - Yours is one of the opinions that I was looking for, as I know that you are a bit of an SME. Repeatedly, folks post to replace all at once, but I know in fire apparatus, if a battery goes bad, we replace it. Most of the full-size apparatus, and many of the ambulances and smaller rigs have dual batteries, and changing one bad one is fairly common practice....Even if I only get four years out of the existing and the two new ones, I consider myself "ahead", because when was running one 12v marine battery I had to recharge almost daily, and I only got a couple of seasons out of them... three at best....
So, IYHO, adding another pair to the existing two won't cause problems?
RE: Question for the Battery Experts
The more that I hear from others, the more that I research on my own, and the more that common sense sinks in, I'm inclined to just keep the two 6v GC batteries that I have until they start to die their natural death.... And THEN replace with a bank of four!
Thank you for all of the input, Guys! It's like a good diner or bar discussion, only without the virtually, without coffee or beer!
RE: Question for the Battery Experts
I would load test the 12v gel battery to see if it is worth even keeping at this point. May be it will give you an extra day or so of power if brought along and swapped into the system once the 6v's gave up the ghost, might not be worth it's weight to even bring it.
You don't say how much solar you have but if you can make it for the 5 day trip without much issue and the 10 day trip is the only real concern, maybe renting/borrowing a Honda 2000 for that trip to help your recharging efforts might be the ticket this year.
I'm in agreement that not buying additional until you can replace buy all four together is the right answer for the benefit of your system over the long haul.
One other option is if you have a camping friend that wants to upgrade to a bit more battery capacity, give them a deal on your used 6v batteries and then go out and buy your 4 new ones together.
Enjoy your trips, sound like great times.
Think that I'm gonna get the gel-cell load tested... it may be junk, it's so old...
As for how much solar, it's in my signature block - 300W. I own a Yamaha 2400, just don't like to start it unless I absolutely have to....
I HAVE a friend who wants the two 6v, but on his new TT, the battery (single) is "sunk" between a-frame at the hitch, and if he raises it to the top of the a-frame for a double battery box, it blocks his ability to get the propane cylinders in and out of their molded nose compartment. Still working on a solution for that, as he really needs twin 6v for nighttime use of a CPAP!
As for buying in DE, what a GREAT idea! Not only will we be in DE for the race, but we travel through DE to get to Assateague, plus wife also usually wants to go to the factory outlets in Rehoboth Beach while we are in Assateague. Now I will have something to shop for!
Question for the Battery Experts
I have a pair of 6v CG batteries that I use to power the rolling home. Sam's Club, Ever-Ready's (220Ah). They will reach 3 full seasons about mid-season this year. They work flawlessly, and seem again this year, to be fine (I disconnect them with a full charge and store them in the basement of the stationary home for the winter every year).
I want to add a second pair of batteries, to take better advantage of my solar array, and to be able to run the microwave a bit more. Sam's has a newer version of the same battery, which will give me 240Ah additional capacity. I also have a several year old 12v gel-cell that came out of my parents old 5'er. It's got a full charge, but has been used for practically NOTHING for a number of years, 7 or 8 to be exact.
All three of the trips that we already have booked for this season will be boon-docking/dry-camping (GS/CW RV Rally in Syracuse, 10 days on Assateague Island, and 5 days at Dover International Speedway). Likely the fourth will as well, at a state park here in NYS. While we don't exclusively dry camp, a large percentage, many years the vast majority of our trips are without hook-ups.
So here are my options, as I see them:
1) Do nothing until the two existing batteries go bad. With the "smart charger" built into the Rogue controller, that could take a couple more years.
2) Add two new batteries to the bank.
3) Add the older gel-cell to the bank, then replace the gel-cell and the two GC batteries when something finally fails.
4) Buy 4 new GC batteries. (The "cheap' inside of me coils at the thought!!!!)
So what do the experts think?
Thanks for any guidance / suggestions!
RE: Good Sam Club’s 2013 RV Rally Syracuse, New York
Another question, for those who have been to previous rallies. When do they publish a lit of the classes that are available? I'd like to look it over in advance and get an idea of what i want to make sure that i see....
RE: I90 East to I87 NY.
Bill nailed it. If you are comfortable off the Interstates, it will save you some time and miles..... PLUS, you didn't say when you will be traveling, but the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Bridge — commonly known as the Twin Bridges, is being worked on, so there are traffic back-ups. The alternate route will bypass this bridge.
http://www.news10.com/story/21806388/northway-twin-bridges-construction-to-begin-again
RE: How Do I Charge, and Maintain 2 New 6 Volt Batteries???
Treat two 6v GC batteries as one big 12v battery and get yourself a good three stage charger. Don't forget that 6v CG batteries should NOT be filled to the ring, like a car battery would. If you fill them that high, they will spill over into the battery box. Cover the plates with electrolyte, but don't over do it!
RE: NYC campground recommendations
The only thing really CLOSE to NYC is Liberty Harbor RV Park. Really not more than a secure parking lot with hook-ups, but it meets the needs of those wishing to visit NYC in an RV. There is/was a proposed RV park in Brooklyn, but I'm not sure that it ever got built.....
RE: which tablet?
In the last 8 months, I've COMPLETELY switched over to Apple/Mac and the iCloud. Now have a MacBook Air, an iPad Mini, and an iPhone5. Couldn't be happier with them. Dumped the Dell laptop, and the Android phone.... I'll never have to deal with Dell's off-shore excuse for a "customer service center" again!!!!
RE: Charge controller recommendations
Third season with my Rogue, with no problems at all! They have a new version of it out. Call there, and talk to Mark. He's incredibly helpful!
RE: Boat or RV ?
For me, an RV could be year-round, as I could be anywhere. Without the RV, I'd be in snow/winter for 4+ months per year, so I would get much less use from the boat.
RE: Suggestions for Gettysburg and Lancaster PA
If you like State Parks, check-out Gifford Pinchot State Park. We stayed there a few years ago. About equal distances to Gettysburg, Lancaster, and Hershey Park, so it was a great "base camp". Nice CG, well maintained. Kids loved the beach....
RE: Good Sam Club’s 2013 RV Rally Syracuse, New York
We got our info packet today, after registering on-line. It only had one name badge printed, rather than the two that we paid for. Did this happen to anyone else?
I called the 800 number and the guy that answered it told me that he'd have to get "her" (whoever her is) look at it, and get back to me.....
RE: Battery charging with Champion 20001 question
Turn off all of the 120v breakers inside the TT, plug into the generator. Once plugged in, turn the breakers back on one at a time. You should be able to identify the offending device....
RE: Rusty at backing up TT
Go to WalMart or Dicks and pick-up 6-10 of the cheap 12" orange cones for marking a kids soccer field. Use them to lay out driveways, camping spaces, and other backing-up situations. If they give you a target to shoot for, and if you run one over, nothing lost.....
We use traffic cones the same way to teach new operators how to back-up fire apparatus.....
