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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Honda 2000i Carb Job With Photos Must Read!!!!!
Why not empty the carb bowl?
Right on, that's what that screw that has a hose attached to it on the bottom of the bowl is for!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/AISURFFISH/genny/101_1861.jpg
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/12/13 07:21pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: How much solar?
We TC folks have a unique problem and that is roof area avail for solar.
First thing to do is get up on your roof and find out how much room you have.
Go to :
http://www.solar-electric.com/solarpanels.html
And :
http://www.solarblvd.com/
Look at the dimensions and wattage.
I wanted over 160watts and 2 panels. I made cardboard templates for the panels I wanted and found how they would fit... I was able to install 2 100watt panels. I wanted to be able to move around on the top of my camper too without crawling over panels. You can see by my pictures that I accomplished that.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D_cz4lchVVg/TUhfMWd92CI/AAAAAAAABPw/cOuZQfmJ7vs/s800/100_3533.JPG height=300 width=300
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rf-xiVOrEwc/TVG_N5VupjI/AAAAAAAABSk/bYCofARWNSg/s640/101_3809.JPG height=300 width=300
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C1_dGiNyhKA/TVG_DODuUQI/AAAAAAAABSc/B2-sCG0x1rA/s800/101_3815.JPG height=300 width=300
I would install a minimum of 120 watts.
Although we rarely use more than 20ah of battery a night even watching a movie and running the laptop we are able to recover the used AH. We like to be up in the mountains and along the coast so there are times that we have reduced sun intensity.... We rarely need to run the genny.
Before we added led lights, got rid of our tube tv and installed an led tv and installed a wave-3 heater we would gobble 30-40ah a day..
I am able to run with only 1 100ah agm lifeline battery now instead of 2 group27's...
We have been running this configuration for 3 years now. We do not think of saving AH any more...
There are several of us in the TC forum that are lean AH users and have less than 150ah of battery.
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/12/13 11:28am |
Truck Campers
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RE: RECALL - Lite Cylinder Company, ALL composite Cylinders
Who approved these cylinders?
Oh....Some Gubment organization like DOT etc.
Just another example of the incompetence we have come to enjoy..
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/11/13 08:35am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Battery shows 3/4 on shore power. Full on charger?
The fridge is a Norcold N611RT.
Thanks for telling us the mod #. You may not have an issue with anything in your rig and what you are seeing is just normal or your battery is in trouble.... So use this thread as a drill, learning to use that meter in the DC voltage mode!
According to the owners manual your moisture heater/divider heater is on when the fridge is on.
Norcold N6 N8 owners manual
You should make sure the fridge is off to test the resting voltage of your battery. You must wait 15 min or more to get a good resting voltage reading. You should not be hooked to shore power. There are other "loads" on your battery but we will get into that later if needed.
When on gas or 120vac (shore power) it will be using 12vdc power to operate. The shore power is only used for cooling, All the electronics, fan, lamp and this divider heater runs on 12vdc.
Here is a great website for manuals:
http://www.gasrefrigeration.net/norcold_manuals.htm
http://www.gasrefrigeration.net/
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/10/13 07:40pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Battery shows 3/4 on shore power. Full on charger?
You might have something that runs on the battery that is on.
Most of our fridges have a switch that removes door moisture.
It is located around the door frame/door. Check that first. If you can not find it turn the fridge off and see if the monitor recovers. It will not do it right away.. 15 min or so it should. Give us the model number/make of your fridge and we will tell you where it is located.
Most of us never use that option so it remains off.
Is your fridge a 3 way... 120vac/12vdc/propane? Turn the fridge off and see if the voltage recovers after 15 min or so.
You do need a volt meter. Simple to use and you can play with it in DC voltage mode with a any small battery...
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/09/13 10:02am |
Tech Issues
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RE: $500 Honda EU2000i ???
http://www.overstockcloseoutoutlet.com/product.php?id_product=333
Could find no complaints.. If you purchase with Visa they should take care of you if something goes wrong.
Looks like they are about to run out....
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/05/13 09:30am |
Truck Campers
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RE: dodge brakes
Well CalTrans has that section of Sonora Pass posted 28% and I can tell you with a big camper it is a grunt but not too long. The main thing is if you are climbing it make your gear selection (manual) ahead of time because if you decide to change gears while climbing you are going to be at a near dead stop before you finish the change.
I have climbed a steeper one but it was short, on the way to Trinity Lake. It had the added attraction of going around a sharp curve and besides the TC I had a boat. It was a second gear climb and that was when I had my motor pumped an extra 150 hp and on diesel not biodiesel.
Two of us have said it now!
Amen to GRUNT with a 460 gasser with my 3000lb+ Bigfoot, that 28% with a hairpin turn is a monster. Would not want to stop and then have to start again...
I actually met a Class A Motor Home, coming down, on one of the steep near hairpin turns. His brakes were smokin! No jake brake/exhaust brake when you are going 5mph down hill making the turns on this section of the road.
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/03/13 05:05pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: dodge brakes
Sonora pass has long sections of 25%+
S-
I said long sections, not miles...
I read the signs along the way they posted 26% grade.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora_Pass
How the heck can I give you exact corrdinates for GPS!
The site I referenced has a picture and this statement:
Not much needs to be said here...on the left, we've found our 26% grade, or at least part
If you are coming from the east there is nothing like a 20%+ grade and a hair pin turn.
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/03/13 04:59pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: dodge brakes
An actual 25% grade for 4 miles total distance? Unfortunately, I question that part of the OP's statement!
....me, too. The steepest grades built on the Western half of the United States are from 5% to 7% (in Alaska, there are gravel mountain grades attaining 12%, called Dalton Atigun, however it is only 12% for 2 miles, and extremely washboarded almost beyond driveabilty!).
Interestingly, the Eastern half of the USA has the absolutely steepest roads in the Lower 48; for example the Whiteface Mountain road (fairly nearby to us) is about 10% for an 8 mile stretch; and also Mount Washington carriage road (also fairly nearby to us, I've driven this numerous times at an astounding 11.6% grade for a few several mile stretches; there are dozens of vehicles with smoking brakes littering this road at any given time of day!)
Where is that ~4 mile long 25% grade gravel road ? What is its USGS road number designation? I want to check it out (1st hand with our camper; we've done a lot of the "steepest roads" including our driveway {at over 30%!}, and filmed the endeavors).
S-
Sonora pass has long sections of 25%+
The pass, 155 Evans rd over the Serria's near Lake Isabella is 17%+
My old f250 5 spd 4:11 gears with our BF on the back went down this without much brake assistance. Just compression and low gears.
Reddog1 has a 96 ( I think) Dodge/cummin's, auto with 3:56 gears... I would not want to see him go down that hill. He use to have a gearvendor (or the other make) "underdrive:.. That worked well with his exhaust brake. The underdrive gave up so he has the stock ratio's now.
Sonora Pass:
http://www.chainreactionbicycles.com/sonora_pass.htm
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/03/13 10:12am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Inexpensive cover structure for T.C.?
bigfootford, was a permit required?
Wayne
No permit. I did get the certified to 90mph one though. Comes with engineering drawings etc. Who knows what the county will require later on.
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bigfootford
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06/01/13 03:20pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Inexpensive cover structure for T.C.?
I would start here : You will have to call them..
Decide on the size and style. I would order the roof style that makes the water run off on the sides rather than the ends. My carport has full sides. Really great for keeping the sun off your rig too. You can order just about any configuration you want.
My pad is 30X13 and the cover is 30X12X10(walls).
As you can see my roof corrugation runs lengthwise... I was not thinking about water runoff. Water runs off and splashes onto the trucks front....
Most of these MFG/dealers install the Carport, included in the cost.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1437/6215710/15223706/230289603.jpg
http://www.allsteelcarportsdirect.com/carports-metal-steel-california-ca-carports.html
You can see the build going on with my Bigfoot Cave here:
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/15223706
Jim
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bigfootford
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06/01/13 10:42am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Oh "Snap"
Wow, we do see this every so often on the TC forum.
I have Airlifts on my truck...They have been on 2 trucks. I run 75lbs on each when loaded. Total mileage loaded the bags and camper have almost 200,000 miles on them and no bending of the bracket or bolts breaking. This leaves me scratching my head.
I do know that Reddog1's were Firestones not Airlifts..
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/27/13 10:47am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Eco-worthy 20a MPPT controller
I use this device for testing... It provides about a 13 amp load.
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/small_image/160x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_21891.jpg
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-auto-heater-defroster-with-light-60525.html
11 bucks...
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/19/13 08:45pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Happijac lubrication
Just received the top assembly. One word of caution, the pin would not go in the top hole when trying to assemble the new unit. I took it appart, where the spring meet the two parts clutch, and there was TWO washers on one side of the bearing, very small washer but the pin would not go, took it off and no problem.
Did you contact Hjac to let them know about the issue?
I would be interested why they had 2 washers.
Did you just remove 1 washer?
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/18/13 07:34pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 20 Year Old Plus Lance Squire Camper-Refrigerator Advice
I always am concerned when a dealer says "to expensive to fix", really how much is too expensive if you want it to work and not have to switch out the entire thing????
I had a similar issue last year with my fridge packing it in. I ordered a new one but because of shipping damage refused it. Then I rebuilt my cooling unit, why? I really liked the fridge and the fact that it uses no power when running so I paid the cost on the new cooler - really have not had a lot of chances to try it, will see this year if the money was worth it.
What did they say was the issue? On older units there is not a lot to go wrong (honestly on most newer units they are pretty simple). If it is the cooling unit and you are in the states there is a company that sells new units that are suppose to be amazing, contact them and get a price.
**side note - for anyone that follows the happenings on the space station, imagine changing that ammonia cooler out! I wonder if they had three quotes from a repair company before doing it themselves???
Ditto this, the older units were very simple, no electronics to go bad. Parts are avail to fix almost anything.
Many on this forum have repaired their old fridges and they are still running!
What Make and model is it?
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/12/13 10:22am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Want to add a battery to my truck camper - help please
The fridges that have the 12vdc cooling capability will pull well over 20 amps when in cooling mode...They are not very efficient in this mode so it will trying to cool most of the time..
If you have the ability to run it with the truck via a wire, it needs to be very hefty... Remember that you have to charge your camper battery (s) too.. In this instant your are into big amps..
I do not have a 3 way fridge and would not even consider it.
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/10/13 08:52am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Want to add a battery to my truck camper - help please
Torquelift just came out with this product...
http://www.torklift.com/o.php?w_page=hiddenPower
http://www.torklift.com/images/A7703.png height=640 width=480
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/09/13 09:18am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Camper jack would not stop
Just for some information:
Do not know about other jack controllers but the Hjac's will time out if any command is continuous for over 30 seconds and you will have to do a reset by depressing all up and all down at the same time.
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/08/13 12:01am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Camper jack would not stop
I installed a 50 amp switch right by the back door to turn on and off the power to my jack controller!
I do not like the thought of the controller having power to it while I drive down the road.... With over 50 years of working in the electronics world I have reason to come to this conclusion.
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/05/13 09:55pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Replacement Converter PD9270v
At a typical 80% efficiency and 0.7 power factor, a maxed-out 60 amp converter will draw over 1,500 VA, and a maxed-out 75 amp converter over 1,900 VA. You can get away with higher than 60 amps on an eu2000i if you're willing to make sure the battery doesn't get highly discharged, cut other loads when necessary, and/or manually kick the converter out of boost mode when necessary. If you really need the bigger converter, a power factor corrected model might be justified.
Thanks . . . . good info. I am not sure, but I think that you are saying to get the 70-75 amp converter.
How do I manually kick out the boost mode on a converter? Is that a special option on some converters?
We don't boondog much, but I have a Harbor Freight 3000 generator, and I plan on doing some boondogging where I will need to use the generator.
I went through Bend 40 years ago, and fell in love with it. I remember one gas station and one diner. A guy at the diner said he shot a buck off of his porch. I returned to Bend 15 years later, and decided to look elsewhere.
ken
The PD "Progressive Dynamics" product line is the only moderate cost converter that provides this ability. In my and many's opinion one of the best features avail for charging our batteries.
Sometimes when one starts charging and the batteries are cold they will cause all converters to not go into Boost/bulk mode. Thus charging will be slow. If one has the PD with the controller he can switch modes to bulk by pushing a button.
Another is if you have a big battery bank and a high amp converter 60+ and are trying to charge using a smaller genny you can switch modes to a lower charge rate, ABSORB or Float until the batteries have charged enough to allow the higher charge rate of bulk mode.
Another is when your batteries are hot 95deg+, because of hot weather . You do not want to charge very long in bulk mode with any converter. The PD allows you to switch modes to a lower setting and thus not boil your batteries.
Jim
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bigfootford
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05/02/13 12:13pm |
Tech Issues
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