RE: Furnace run time question
I have a 30,000 BTU furnce in a 24 ft 5er. First year the heat out of the ductwork was hot as a pistol; second year it seemed not as hot; this year it seemed downright cold. Took the furnace apart, and found that the nozzel had some debri in it, cleaned it (very gently, so not as to enlarge the hole in the nozzel), and it is back to hot. You may have the same problem. Your literature should tell you the pickup to expect on the furncae.
I would find the source of the propane smell!! That stuff is nothing to play around with.
Doug
RE: How Many Miles On Goodyear Maratthons
I don't think any of my Marathons made even close to 10,000 miles (all less than 3 years)before blowing out or tread separation.
Doug
RE: wave air dryer
Looked at one on the web. Sounds like its nothing more than a small electric heater; you could get the same effect by leaving a 60 watt bulb on. From what the ads say "warms and drys the air"; whenever you warm air it is dryer; DUH. $1.00 light bulb does the same, and gives you light to boot.
Doug
RE: Good Sam Emergency Road Service
Have had them for a few years, used them once in the middle of east-gosh-nowhere out west (actually on one of the reservation lands). Had a blowout that knocked the stem off the adjaent tire, so we had two flats to deal with. Took a couple of hours (did I mention we were nowhere), but arrived with correct tire; and hand operated equipment to break down the tire to replace the stem on second flat. Under the circumstances I felt we had received excellent service. I still have the service.
Doug
RE: AL-KO torsion axles
I have dexter axels, and had more bounce than I liked (nothing close to what you are describing), added shocks and they helped a lot.
Doug
RE: CD player usage while boondocking
My cheapo special AM/FM/CD player that came with our unit uses about 0.5 Amps when playing a CD. 4 hours a day use for one week would use about 15% of a typical #24 battery (14 AH of a typical 85 AH).
Don't know if there are any better or worse units out there, although this seems resonable.
Regards,
Doug
RE: Can a 1/2 Ton Truck Pull a Fifth Wheel?
There are a FEW 5er's that can be towed by the typical 1/2 ton truck. I have towed a 24 ft Trail Cruiser (5,000 dry, 7,000 fully loaded for long trips)about 15,000 miles across the country, through the Smokies, across the Mojave desert, over the Rockies, up into the Canadian Rockies, down to the flats of Florida. It starts, stops, and tows fine. There are plenty of 5ers that are labled 1/2 ton towable, but many are far heavier than what the typical 150/1500 truck can handle(you gave no specs on your truck); biggest problem being pin weight. If you would be happy with a SMALL, light 5er, you will be fine; anything larger will probably leave you unsatisfied(and worse unsafe).
Regards,
Doug
RE: Emergency exit window in bedroom of 2001 Cameo 5th wheel
Our emergency window has a bar that latches to a bracket that holds it closed. When opened, the bar has a notch to hold it open at about a 30deg angle. There is a screen that snaps into the frame, it has a large grab handle on it that you would pull it in with in an emergency. The window is hinged at the top outside, and the bar that latches, and holds it in place when in will allow it to be pushed farther out for exit.
Doug
RE: Thanks in advance!! 12v power question
If you are going to use a generator regularly I'd consider the Honda EU3000iSA with remote electric start. If your mother has medical problems, starting a recoil start gen is not going to help anything!!
Doug
RE: newbie with question about furnace
I don't know what furnace you have, but all I've seen work the same on 12DC or 120AC.
When the furnace is activated, you should first hear the fan run, after a short interval, there will be a small click, this is the solonoid opening allowing gas into the unit, you should then hear almost imidiatgely a low roar which is the flame, soon therafter you will feel hot air.
I suspect Gooseneck is correct that the battery voltage is too low without the converter powered. Check the voltage at the furnace with the fan running while on battery. I know mine will run correctly down to 11.0 V DC(at the battery), but I don't know what the minimum at the furnace needs to be.
Regards,
Doug
RE: LED Lights-What Works
I have fixtures with wedge based bulbs, Superbrightleds has a nice wedge based LED. It gives close to the same light as the original bulbs. We dry-camp a lot, and the LED bulbs are a great power saver; we can go a week on our 2 6-volt GC batteries.
Doug
RE: Can You Tow A Fifth Wheel With A Ford F150 w/ 5.5 ft bed?
I tow a light 5er with a 06 F150 SCAB with 6.5' bed; the 5er has an extended pin box which helps with clerance. There are a few light 5er's out there that are good matches for a 150/1500 (properly equipped) truck. The problem with short bed is turning clearance. I have a slider, and don't often use it, but its there (I don't think there is any time I couldn't have actually managed without it). If the trailer had an extended pin box you could probably manage with a standard slider, others have mentioned superglide with an extended slide(I think they're pretty expensive). If you have an extended pin box, the extension can cause damage to your tailgate when slider is moved back, so you may need to remove tail-gate or get V cut gate (I don't think I have to tell you how I know this). Also measure the height of the truck walls verses the height that the 5er is when level, the F150's after about 04 are pretty high. Of course you must check pin weight and towing capacity; with a 5er, pin weight is going to be the limiting factor.
Good Luck,
Doug
RE: Energy-efficient lighting options for 12V lighting
Have any of you that used the 1156-PCB-XWHP9 from SBL compared them to the rigid lights?
YEP
I have installed 15 of the SBL bulbs the WLED WWHP 10-D; they are the same as the 1156-PCB-XWHP9 from SBL but have a wedge base.
I have one of the rigidindustries RV bulbs installed. The SBL LEDS have a voltage control circuit that prevents them from dimming in lower voltages and I suspect prevent premature burnout in high voltage conditions(charging/equalizing batteries). The rigidindustries does not have this circuit; the light output changes with voltage, so I installed two 1N4004 diodes in series with the power feeding the rigidindustries bulb (drops the voltage about 1.5 volts)to prevent overvoltage.
The SBL bulbs were $15 each and the rigidindustries was $25. The SBL's with the wedge base were a perfect fit for my fixtures, I had to modify the fixture for the rigidindustries bulb. The SBL Leds work great for us, the rigidindurtries bulb gives more light, but without the voltage regulation I don't feel comfortable with it.
I also have one small two tube florescent fixture, it gives about the same light output as one of my fixtures with two of the SBL bulbs, but uses almost twice the power(still WAY less than incadescent would use)
The rigidindurtries bulb circuit with control circuit from SBL would be PERFECT.
I am TOTALLY satisfied with the SBL bulbs; time will tell how the rigidindustries bulb works out. Neither bulb has enough red light output to match a standard incadescent bulb.
Regards,
Doug
RE: Is an accumulator tank necessary
I would recommend a 2 gallon water heater expansion tank. They are about $40.00 from either Lowes or HD. I installed one with the original Sruflow pump in my 5er and find it helped a lot with noisey pulsing and prevents the pump from short cycling at low flows.
Regards,
Doug
RE: 5er
I have an 05 Trail Cruiser by R-vision. I had some initial problems, but all are now fine. I am very satisfied with my unit. These are not high-end units, but if the price is right, I wouldn't hesitate to buy annother. Our unit is an 05 which we bought (new last years model) in 06. Interior fit/finish is certainly not high end, but the frame and exterior seem to be well constructed. We've towed unit from the east coast to west, up through Canada, down to Florida, up and down the eastern shore, to and from the mountains and beaches of North and South Carolina . The biggest tick me off was the GoodYear Marathon tires; all 5 of which failed (usually while real inconvenient)and been replaced(no failures since). We are the type who buy and keep; I fully expect to have this unit for 10 years.
Doug
RE: Age Old Question - New or Used
jimw606 has it right.
"if you buy a used RV, you will have to work on it. And if you buy a New RV, you will have to work on it."
I bought a new "last year's model"; and of course had to work on it. I had extensively searched for a used model that fit our bill, but could not find one; otherwise I would have bought used.
We'll keep this rig for a long time, so the depreciation will not be that bad a hit; but if you can find a used rig to meet your needs, I'd definately go for it over new.
Doug
RE: Nice product reveiw from CW
Did you really think CW was willing to allow all honest evaluations ??? You will only find positive reviews; as you now know, they aren't worth listning to.
Doug
RE: Tank fittings for new grey tank needed
My concern is not the piping, I've done lots of it; my concern is the fitting to connect the polyetheylene tank to PVC piping.
Doug
Tank fittings for new grey tank needed
I'm adding a new grey tank to my trailer, and need to know how to add fittings to the tank. I need to add two 1 1/2" fittings to fill and vent tank(3" drain fitting is on tank). Local RV shop has fittings that appear to need to be glued, but clerk was not sure! Has anyone added fittings to a grey tank; what did you use?
Thanks,
Doug
