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Forum
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RE: Sightseeing in a C w/no toad
I am going to be no help here at all except that what I have may start some thoughts that work for you...
We have a very small old A (that is why I read the C forum) and at 23.6 (w/ spare), we can get to and park just about any place a large van can go.
We don't usually drag the toad just because it is not worth the hassle or cost.
We usually carry two folding bicycles under the dinette table because they are just too convenient to leave home unless we KNOW we won't want them. (They are clean and safe there - too.)
If we get to someplace and decide we really want a car, we rent one. That often has turned out to be less than the cost of the additional fuel that it would have required to drag the toad. (And, we didn't pay for the extra axles on the toll roads either.)
I hope this is some help.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/21/13 08:59am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Adding a second battery?
Carolyn,
What I fear you do not understand (don't feel bad) is that two 12V batteries in parallel will be hard pressed to give you capacity X 2. Even if they came off the assembly line together, they will never be that well matched after the second discharge. Also, real deep cycle 12V batteries are rare and expensive, but 6V (three cap) golf cart batteries are very available and very durable.
There is also a new twist to all this. Theft....
I believe that most often batteries are stolen to be used by the thief. As scrap, they only bring about 5$, but if you can replace you bad car battery, the relative value is much greater.
So, when they rip open your battery box and find batteries that won't fit under the hood of the wreck they are trying to drive, they leave empty handed.
I've been doing boat electrics a very long time.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/21/13 08:26am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: woman travelling alone
Critternut,
You have much less to worry about than many would think. First off - just by your writing, I would guess that you are WAY to the right of the Bell Curve.....
In our select group of owners of antique/classics, we have several women that travel alone. One did the trans-Canada rally last season.
Go for it.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/19/13 08:42pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Charging 12V Batteries in Parallel
If you put 12V batteries in parallel, you will be hard pressed to get capacity X2 from them. Lead acid batteries just do not play well together. If the two are not of the same line the same day. They will never both come to full density (charge) at the same time. And, if they are different ages - just forget it....
If you are stuck with it that way, separate the batteries for charging, but the weaker battery will still drag the better down while they are connected.
This is true of all banks of paralleled LA batteries.
IF this is just for a season, do what ever, but if you are going to replace either or both then go get a pair of golfcart batteries and put them in series for 12V.
I made a living do DC electric on expensive boats for many years.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/16/13 08:24am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Problems with batteries
With on hint what you are working on, it is kind of hard to even guess. If it is the solenoid that is hung up, then a tap with a hammer will usually make it let go.
Good Luck
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/15/13 07:08am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Need drawing of fuel tank set up??
I hate to tell you that I know exactly what your problem is. Everybody in our group of venerable old classics has dealt with this. All the hoses for fuel are shot. This is always an issue with old rubber parts, but the mandated alcohol in fuel has caused this problem to become much worse than could have normally been anticipated.
The smart move?
Get the tank(s) down and replace every piece of rubber you can find with new alcohol resistant material. Then go back and hunt for more rubber to replace, like all the fill plumbing, vent lines and what ever rubber is in the engine compartment.
Matt - BTDT (the Tshirt wore out and I lost the picture)
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Matt_Colie
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05/15/13 07:04am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Ohio, Kentucky, or West Virginia??
This is a bit of a stretch, but if you could get to Cherokee NC and start the Blue Ridge Parkway, you would get plenty of scenery and opportunity to hike your feet right off. You had better start working on the planning, there aren't many campgrounds along the BRP.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/14/13 05:20pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Boat or RV ?
Do you know the Difference between a Boat (Recreational Vessel) and an RV?
Water can leak OUT of an RV.
If you are not already a water person, don't buy a boat. It is just too easy to get into trouble you never imagined.
This from a lifelong waterman, congenital sailor and licensed mariner.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/14/13 05:03pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: A L T E R N A T E gas guage sender unit
My coach is a lot older and I have had many of the same problems, most caused by alcohol in the fuel. There are a number of crud and alcohol proof sending units out there, but none for a 6" deep tank (like mine). If your tank is deeper, then the extra tank just for gaging and one of these might work for you. Level Sensors
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/14/13 10:41am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Converter not charging gen battery in trailer
Kelley,
I often find things like this. The nearest I can figure, if you buy Package A - they install Package A. If you buy Package B - they install Package B. If you buy Package A and Package B, both get installed, but nobody looks for how they might be interconnected to considerable advantage for the owner....
In this case, I thing a thing called a combiner would help him a lot. This is a device that when either battery is above resting voltage (aka being charged by something), it connects the two together so both get charged, but as soon as both are not being charged, they are separated.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/14/13 09:59am |
Tech Issues
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RE: I can not get my fresh water pumping again
Bill,
A lot of potable pumps used in Rv and marine service air bind very easily. The air in the pump just does not push hard enough to close the check valves. If you can get to the pump and disconnect the discharge long enough to get water in the pump, the problem will probably go away. I have a by-pass fill that lets my put city water from the pressure feed back in the tank, and it works very well for this purpose as well.
Good Luck
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/14/13 09:02am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Wisconsin Dells
I'm afraid I only sort of agree. The Dells is a lot like Pigeon Forge and not as good for adults as Branson. It is mostly tourist stuff and largely for younguns. Everything is expensive.
House on the Rock was also expensive and left me completely cold. It is a great example of artists gone wild for no particular reason. That was twenty years ago and maybe it has improved.
If you are going that way, the circus museum at Baraboo is not expensive, but it is a lot of walking. It would be a bargain for just the circus wagon barn, but if you get there when they are doing shows (not year round) then you get a special time.
If you are a aircraft fancier, you have to stop by the EAA museum in Oshkosh. There is also a warbird annex that I could not make on my last trip.
There is a lot more to see if you have the time.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/14/13 08:50am |
Family Camping
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RE: Gad...how stupid...
I have one just about as good.
I had discussed batteries with an owner. (I often do this and encourage them to do low technology and value jobs rather than involve me in something I think it simple.
One owner called me back to say things were great at first, but a few lights went out for some reason and now things weren't so good. When I started to look things over, I saw the problem pretty fast. He had traded off the two 12V batteries for golf cart batteries in series, but one had three caps and the other had four. (Yes, some golf carts use 8V batteries.)
He settled it with Sam's somehow. I never asked.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/14/13 08:20am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Electrical testing
Rick,
This is easy to do in AC because you can use a "Current Transformer" but DC is transformer proof. There are clamp-on DC current pick ups available (the one I have is relatively old and was quite expensive at the time), and some are priced within the reach of a normal guy. The problem is you have to go looking for them.
If you hit Ebay or other, read the specifications carefully and be certain that it says it will read DC Amps in the range of 100+. I also have meters that read to fifty, but you have to break into the circuit to do that. At 100+ that is simply impractical.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/12/13 07:53pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Route 23, Catskill, NY
We drove 23 across the north edge of Catskill SP, and DW (the driver) was not all that impressed. We have a 40yo Class A and avoid blue roads when we can and try real hard to by-pass toll roads.
As you are from the north country, you have to be accustom to non-straight roads.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/12/13 10:07am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Dearborn MI: Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
Well,
You got some real good information, but what nobody said is that drive time in the area of HFGV is much less time span than in most urban areas. Morning is over by 9AM and evening is pretty close to 4:30 to 5:30~6 (just wait for the Museum/Village to close then drive).
We have been members there for many years and I would really suggest that you plan at least two days and wear very comfortable shoes. The indoor museum is about 9 acres and the village 260.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/12/13 09:56am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Dump station at Cabala's in Dundee, MI
Most Cabela's have dumps. But as you infer, many are closed during the cold season. For some reason, they rarely have potable water available.
They are also usually better places to over night than most Walmarts. The only real problem is that we seem to target a store that is having a sidewalk sale with great prices that one of us can't pass up.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/12/13 09:42am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Allegro 12volt issue
Mark,
I don't know specifics of this coach, but most likely the house bank is shot. the lights get bright when you turn on ignition because the charging solenoid crosses the main engine battery to the house. This may also be why the breaker was tripped and could be the source of a sulfur smell.
Get the house bank checked before you do much else. You might just buy batteries and save some of the weekend.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/11/13 09:34am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Battery charging with Champion 20001 question
Thomas,
Your problem is not that uncommon these days.
Inverter type generators have no "sense of humor".
Depending on the type and age of you converter and batteries, the system could very well exceed the 16.5 amp limit for several milliseconds (plenty of time to shut down the generator). The 30 amp converter/charger should draw a maximum a lot like 3 amps at 120V, if it is a newer switching type, it can blast the supply if things aren't right.
It still might make it if there are no other loads. So, I suggest that you root around and look for where the other things plug in to the 120V. You may find things you did not expect. When you find them, make notes and label the power cables. Make sure that the water heater is off.
These things can be a pain to locate.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/11/13 09:28am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Internet Access on the Road
Tim,
There are two very easy ways (and maybe more by now) to do what you really want to do.
PDAnet with Foxfi
Easy Tether
PDAnet now includes Foxfi so, it does both a cable and a WiFi tether. If you use the wifi tether, you had better have power to the handset or it won't last long.
Easytether is cable tether only and it powers from the computer, I just have to remember to shut the screen down or the phone battery gets low.
Both are buy-once and then look out for your data limit (instead of 30$ a month and watch out for your data limit).
When we are traveling, I can burn 3g a month even if I can't find any 4G.
Matt
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Matt_Colie
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05/10/13 08:53am |
Technology Corner
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