RE: Transfer Switch For Your House
Also... Many regions require a building permit for generator sub panel install. This permit is needed for both safety and home insurance reasons.
Hope this helps...
.
And for good reason. The boys on our electric co-op are pretty picky about getting these things installed correctly...LOL!
RE: Generator protocol. How do you guys use them?
Call me clueless (again), but I have no idea how an inverter works. Does it just tie into our TT batteries?
Yessir...the inverter will have terminals on one end that go to the appropriate battery terminals...on the opposite end will be the 120v outlet(s) and/or terminals to wire up a 120v box/outlet. Our inverter also has a USB port...
RE: Generator protocol. How do you guys use them?
I took it a couple of steps further as we dry camp most of the time. I added a 1500W inverter located in the front storage compartment and ran a couple of 2ga cables (with Fuse and Shut off switch) to the 2 6V golf cart batteries I swapped in on the tongue. I upgraded my converter to a PD9260 and added a switch to shut it off. Now I simply switch my shore plug from my Honda generator to the inverter and switch off the converter. I have all the 110v I need all evening well past quiet hours. I can watch a DVD or Direct TV and even run the microwave for a very brief time if I so desire. All of my 110V outlets are live with the generator or the inverter on so I can use them to charge my computer, cell phone, flashlight, walkie or any other batteries at any time.
I run my generator for a few hours in late afternoon and early evening and I never run out of battery.
Without a doubt, the biggest battery hog is the microwave, but I don't often use it with the inverter. The most common battery hog is the furnace on a cold night.
That's the *exact* way we did ours...very, very handy! Our 12v master switch uses a red key, so I added another switch just like it for the inverter right below the original switch (under the dinette), but only leave *1* key out...that way, either the inverter is on or the 12v master, not both. Did that on accident on installation, and the lights were fluttering...!
Quad bunks option: what years?
(I couldn't find a catch-all forum, so I dumped my question in here...move if needed!)
What years did the quad-bunks option become available, whether it be a 5'er or tt? We've got 4 kids, so a quad bunk would be *great*, but I'd kind of like to stick to used if I could...size/weight won't matter, we my daily driver is a Duramax dually and the wife drives an 8.1L Suburban!
Thanks!
RE: Generator protocol. How do you guys use them?
We aren't generator hogs. We use it to top off batteries, allow the kids to watch a movie when they (we) need some down time, and I also like to use some of our electric appliances to cook meals. Oh, and I do like to catch an occasional ball game on directv when the kids are asleep. :)
Same boat here...one thing we did was pick up a small (read: cheap!) inverter @ Radio Shack and run a short cord from it to a weather proof 30amp box (just like at a campground)...that way, if all we're wanting to do is watch the tv/dvd/sat, run the fan, etc, we can simply plug the shore power into the inverter/30amp box, and save the generator (and fuel) for the heavier stuff. Works out *real* nice with the kids & rest time...;)
RE: Branson area must-sees?
We will be travelling w/ a 5 y/o and 16 y/o and my 60-something parents.
The "Ducks" ride is always a crowd pleaser with us, especially my kids, but it's *very* interesting, as the tour guide goes into the history of the Duck itself, which leads to interesting side-bars about WW2 in general...in addition to the Ducks, they'll show you on the tour several other period military pieces, tour the lake, as well as several local attractions...only downside is the "quackers" they give the kids to blow in, but after a while it's laughable!
Silver Dollar City is fun for everyone, as there are *tons* of rides & games for the kids, and the older folks will be overwhelmed by the food, crafts, handmade stuff...just be sure and bring a good pair of walking shoes, as those hills can be brutal...!
Where do the locals eat?
Not on the strip! LOL!! Being from this part of the world we avoid the strip, and usually hit downtown when we do travel into town...there's a little cafe that I can't think of for the life of me (I could drive you right to it!) that is on the left headed up the hill from downtown that has excellent food...it doesn't have the pomp & show that Lambert's does, but once you've been to Lambert's, you appreciate a peaceful down home cafe even more!
One last thing: 465 is your friend! :D
RE: Duramax Diesel longevity
christopherglenn- One thing you could add to your list of Dmax items is the LB7 didn't have EGR, whereas all later models beginning with the LLY had EGR.
In addition to no egr, the Federal emissions LB7s (ie, non-California) trucks came *without* a cat as well...
What alot of the (loose the kitty & dpf) croud forget to mention is the power went up with each engine model. Higher power means fast uphills, mean more fuel burned for the same job.
Tuning the timing/pulse-width can also net results in performance & economy...while most guys just like to throw lots of fuel at it. And, a touch more power can sometimes keep you locked and in overdrive, without the trans having to unlock & downshift...which is gonna help a tad with economy.
We have 2 crew cab duallys, an '02 LB7 and an '06 LLY/LBZ...both have their pluses & minuses, but both are great trucks. I've seen lots of HotShot Duramaxes with over 300k miles on them...it seems there's usually a couple on Ebay at all times.
RE: Need ne GPS, what to get?
No love for the Magellan Road Mate? I think we've owned 4 different GPS brands, and the Magellan is our favorite, hands down...started with a Garmin, hated it, asked around, and the majority said Magellan...in fact, I believe it's what Hurtz puts in there rental cars?
Anyway, we currently own *3* Magellan RoadMate 760s, if that tells you anything...!
RE: Chevy camper mirrors
06 2006 Silverado/Sierra Power/Signal/ Tow Mirror LH. Looks like the mirrors with the signals did not come out until 06 and if that is true you would have to run wires to the mirrors to get that option to work. He has them for $139 each + shipping but again if your year didn't come with that option then you will need to wire it in. It's not a big deal just will take about an hour per mirror to do. Remember the OME mirrors are 1000 times better then after market clip on ones!
Don
Those aren't the OEM mirrors in the link above...the picture below is of the good GM OEM mirror w/turn signal:
http://www.discountautomirrors.com/catalog/images/prodimage/images/kool_vue/GM73EL-S.jpg
You can retro-fit the GMT800 trucks (2001-2007.5) with the good tow mirrors...you can buy them plug & play ready for cheap from discountautomirrors.com...after driving our '06 with the good mirrors, I got a set ($132.77 for the PAIR!) for our '02. I may be mistaken, but I *believe* the turn signal mirrors started in '03(?), so if you wanna wanna spend the extra money for the turn signal version it should just plug right in & work on an '03+, but on the older stuff you'd have to run a wire, but that ain't a big deal.
RE: Highway 465 Branson MO?
465 is the way to go...like jwb said, it's 4-lane and is usually wide open when I hit it, and it's not any more hilly than the rest of the roads in our part of the world. Plus, it gets you away from 76 & 248, which is a plus any way you look at it...a poke in the eye beats having to drive down 76, much less pull a trailer through that mess.
RE: New truck report. WOW!
I have similar feelings about their choice of Allison. GM's truck transmission engineers were top notch. Ever hear of a TH400 failing? That was a bombproof transmission. They could have done like Ford did by adding a planetary to the TH400 to get 6 speeds, dump the hydraulic shifting for ECM shifting, and be done with it. Instead they have Allison design a transmission from the ground up.
Except for the 6-speeds, that is what the 4L80e is, and electronic version of the THM400...and as a guy that ate *3* of them in my last dually, I'm THANKFUL that my newer trucks have the Allison! It's not even close...my wife drives an 8.1L/4L80e/4L85e Suburban and I drive an 8.1L/Allison truck, and the Ally setup in the truck is head & shoulders above the Suburbans'...
RE: Keep your eyes out....Truck Camper Sewage Dumping
All of the liquid in the pond must be pumped and processed through the local sewage treatment plant. That part, it seems to me, is petty straight forward and not terribly expensive, depending on how many gallons of liquid must be transported and how far it is to the sewage treatment plant.
Why transport it? Doesn't the school have a sewer system, which is hooked to the treatment plant?? Couldn't they just pump it directly into the sewer and save everyone a lot of time/energy/money???
RE: 1" Gas powered impact wrench
Maybe try an electric? They can get pretty stout and are usually more affordable...we have an electric 1/2" that we use at the shop the majority of the time over all of our air units. Handy thing is, we can throw it in the trailer, and if we have trouble any 120ac source will run it just fine (we have generator on board)...plus, you don't have to listen to the compressor run! HA!! :)
RE: Opinions wanted - 2002 Chevy CrewCab 2500HD w/ 150000+ miles
My 2500HD 8.1/Ally truck is @ 160k with zero issues...a lot less trouble than our Dmax...and my wife's 8.1L Suburban is @ 140k with zero issues. Only thing I might be leary of with the 6.0L is the trans...with the 8.1L you get the Ally, which is darn near bullet proof. I munched several 4L80e's with our previous dually (eventually swapped in a manual trans) so I'm a bit leary of them in a regular tow rig. Also, the 6.0L will get the same, or at best just marginally better mileage than the 8.1L...
RE: 2004 Chevy 2500 HD 8.1 ltr. w/Allison trans
My opinion is, the 8.1/Ally combo is the best bang for the buck out there in the GM HD world...'01-'04.5 Duramaxes had the injector troubles (and will continue to do so for the life of the trucks) so to step up to the LLY or newer means significantly more $$$. Often times you can pick up a comparable 8.1/Ally combo for half the price of the Dmax. My wife drives an 8.1L Suburban everyday, my daily driver is an 8.1/Ally ccsb, and we also have an '02 Dmax/Ally cc dually...from a dig, my 8.1L will run off an hide from the Dmax, even with the Edge in tow mode...out on the road the difference is negligable, but the fuel mileage is a lot closer between the 2 trucks when towing than what a lot of folks will lead you to believe.
Someone mentioned the 6-speed Ally above, and how a 5-speed Ally can be converted to a 6-speed, as the hard parts are all there...this is correct, for a Dmax...I inquired about a 5-->6 conversion for my 8.1L, but they said they didn't offer a TCM for the gas Ally...sounds like a winner to me, no?
RE: Generators
We recently picked up a new Onan/Cummins gas generator...when dad told me what it cost, I told him he was crazy, as we'd been borrowing an el-cheapo generator and I thought there'd hardly be a difference noise wise...boy was I wrong. The Onan/Cummins unit is QUIET...under full load you can literally hold a normal conversation standing next to it...we've gotten more compliments on that generator than the trailer or the car inside the trailer! Folks are just that darn impressed with it...
RE: Refurbished GPS ?????
The units that fail early go back, are repaired, and are sold at a discount. I have a high-end Magellan GPS that I bought refurb'd for $99 + shipping. Works great!
Roadmate 760 possibly? We bought a Mag 760 new from Crutchfield a few years ago for about $500 or so...just a few months ago, we ran across the same make/model for sale on Ebay for $90...we bought 2 or 3 of them, and they've been just as good as our $500 unit. We took it on our vacation to Florida to use in the rental car, and some friends were with us and were so impressed by it that they had me buy them one...so I did, had it delivered to them, they get it and open it up, and the model/serial number had been scratched off, there were scratches on the face of the unit, and it never could find the satellite and kept showing them as bieng in Texax (they were in Missouri)...unfortunately, they didn't open the package until they were going down the road on a mini-vacation to Branson, so they didn't know it was junk. Anyway, it was in the case, had all the accessories, and was sealed in a plastic bag just like our previous ones...I called the place, and had to eat the shipping back to them, but they're supposed to be replacing it. Lady on the phone told me it wasn't there responsibility as to whether it worked or not, but it was the manufacturers! But, for under $100, you can't beat it...but ours have been flawless so far.
BTW: this is our 3rd different GPS (had a Garmin oringally and another brand) and the Magellan is head & shoulders above the rest, IMO...
RE: Aux Fuel Tank For Gasoline Trucks ???
I had an auxillary tank in my '91 454 dually for years, and now have a 90 gallon aux tank in the bed of our Duramax...an aux tank will SPOIL you!
RE: How to align Dish 500
Sounds like a wiring problem and not an aiming problem. Sat receiver's don't like splitters or 12v RV antenna boosters. I suggest you test it by running a complete seperate line from the dish to the receiver, if it works you'll know your wiring is jinxed.
Happy Travels!
I'll give it a shot, but there is no booster (it's just a coax wall pass through) and I didn't have a splitter on it...sure was frustrating!
