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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Should slide be let out for winter storage.
I put the slide out every time its backed into its spot, makes more room to load and unload, and on warmer weekends we have lunch in the camper, heck I even crack open a couple windows and vents, but thats because I keep it parked in my 40'x60' barn.:);):D
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goingnorth
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11/20/09 09:48am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Refrigerator Temp control
The temp control doesn't work well if you have a fridge fan, I put in a small fan wired to the light switch power lead on my dometic RM 2652 fridge and it runs 28~30 deg no mater where I put the sensor, when the outside temps are cooler. I may need to take it out of the plastic slide and stick it right in between the fins to warm it up or install a switch to shut the fan off, it gets power when the unit is turned on. I like running the fan because it keeps everything in the door cold. Mine works fine in normal summer temps but when it gets down to 50 deg outside or less everything freezes in the fridge.
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goingnorth
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11/12/09 10:15am |
Tech Issues
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RE: How many watts?
I vote the honda 2000, another thing to think of is in cold weather you can run 2 electric heaters, mine have settings of 600, 1000, and 1500 watt, that way if the furnace or propane regulator fails you still have a backup.
My first dry camping trip that I didn't sleep in a tent the regulator broke and vented off all the propane durring the night, camper was still better than sleeping on the ground in a tent, but with young kids now you can't have to many backup options.
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goingnorth
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11/12/09 09:58am |
Tech Issues
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RE: towing with a f150
I got a 09 Keystone Passport 290BH Actual weight when new was 5940# + 800# TW without anything in it. Loaded for a long dry camp 6740# and 900# TW, I do tow with an F350 but I plan on getting an F150 next time around. My new trailer is 4k# lighter than my last one so I don't need the big truck anymore. I have never towed with an Fl50 and with the F350 I forget my trailer is back there and I don't tow over 65 mph, so the newer models with the integrated brake controler and anti-sway should do fine.
Soon the F150 will have the new 6.2L instead of the 5.4L, can't wait.
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goingnorth
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10/23/09 09:55am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Sissor Jacks
I bought 4 30" no name jacks from here for $105 shipped to my door. I use UF struts so these can't unscrew on there own, I love not having to carry blocks around anymore. They don't compleatlly close but are stronger built than the no name ones that came on my trailer.
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goingnorth
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10/14/09 09:30am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Water Pump Keeps Going. Leak?
On my passport it takes a long time for the pump to shut off they use flo jet pumps and they slow down and speed up (I think there is an internal bypass) with demand there is an adjustment for the pressure switch under a cover to help prevent that. I added an accumulator tank and it takes a couple minutes before it shuts off because it runs slower as the pressure builds, this pump is better without an accumulator tank, I would rather have a shur-flo. Shur-flo's also have a pressure switch adjustment also, it might just take a small turn to adjust which ever pump you have.
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goingnorth
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10/14/09 09:21am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Winterizing problem - a new one for me!
Had the same problem with mine, single valve and a check, I just opened and closed the bypass valve a couple times and the check finally shut, I had the pump running with pressure in the lines. I migh change mine to 3 valves, I don't want to mess with this every year.
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goingnorth
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10/12/09 09:59am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How much propane is needed?
I just got back from a 5 day trip to northern MI. lows between 30~40 and highs 40~50, kept trailer at 60 deg F. durring the day (normally I keep it at 50 durring the day but brought a 9 week old GSP so I kept it warmer for puppy naps.)and 68 deg. at night, used about 35#s propane. BBQ, hot water heater, and 20K btu furnace ran off my 2 20# bottles. I only turn on hot water once a day and its good enough. We cook every meal on the BBQ and use a smoke box so it runs at least an hour twice a day. I have 2 group 29 interstate batteries and would charge them about 2 hrs a day off a Honda 2000i gen. maybee used a half gal. gas total. If temps stayed in the 20's I don't think the furnace could keep up, I planned to run gen and electric heat if it stayed cold. I also bring another 20# bottle for a lantern or spare if needed.
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goingnorth
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10/12/09 09:39am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Forrest Riv Surveyor or Keystone Passport Ultra Lite?
I also carry a 5 gal. water cooler for drinking water, I don't trust drinking the water from the tanks. With 4 of us we can make it 4 days on the blk and gray, any longer and you need a tote to dump or use the CG toilets and the trailers only for nightime.
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goingnorth
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10/01/09 09:56am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Forrest Riv Surveyor or Keystone Passport Ultra Lite?
If you fill the water heater before you leave home you will have 36 gallons, but you will need to be extremely careful to make it 3-4 days with 3. Thats 10 gallons each. you can always take extra water with you to fill your tank.
Not true, Passports come with 24 gal. tanks, they call it 30 with the water heater. I looked up the model # on my tank and it is 24 gal. I called Keystone and they use the same tank in most of there models. Itis not that hard to add a bigger or extra tank.
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goingnorth
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10/01/09 09:51am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: PD9260 converter
smkettner writes "The specs say max 1000 watts continuous and it is well known that the PD will not put out 60 amps at 14.4 volts"
If you hookup a PD or any other upgraded newer converter to standard junky RV wiring you will NEVER achieve full output. Standard RV wiring is often times too light of gauge for the over all length. The end result is excessive voltage drop due to poor wiring.
Run a heavier gauge of wire, keeping it as short as possible and you should easily be able to get the upgrade converter to near max output.
The first time I hooked up my PD9160 I used 5' of #6 wire and only got 40 amps to the batteries, changed to #4 and I do get full 60 amps for about 10 min. as the battery voltage goes up the amps go down on the batteries that were down to 12.2v to start. Usually takes 70 min for the amps to go to almoust zero, I then let the gen. run for 20 more min. before shutting it off. (2 group 29 interstate 12v deep cycles)
My jayco had #10 wire stock and my passport has #8. That is enough to run the tt from the batteries but not to charge the batteries from the tt. If you do any boondocking mount the charger as close to the batteries as you can and use at least #4 to the battery switch and then #6 to the batteries, and don't forget to add fuses.
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goingnorth
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09/22/09 10:09am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Before I install my dual-cam anti-sway....
I have the u-bolt style and have had it on 2 different trailers and the only time I need to take them off is if you need to unhitch while the tv is angled 45 deg or worse, because the hanger on the cam where the chain is mounted wont clear the end of the spring bar, because its pushed past the cam. At normal campgrounds I have never had a problem only when camping in the woods or when group camping, I alway's end up being the one who has to park the wrong direction to face the other campers and this can leave you wedged in some tight spaces.
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goingnorth
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09/21/09 10:06am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: PD9260 converter
I have put my PD9160 with charge wizard into 2 different campers, all I did was put the charger as close to the batteries as possable and pull the hot 120v wire frome the stock charger and use the wires to the batteries to back feed into the camper. With bigger wires going to the bat. you can charge at full amps and the stock wire should be fine to run the coach, and use the factory fuse panel.
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goingnorth
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09/17/09 09:57am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Dry hitch weight change, HOW?
I had a Jayco Talon ZX Toy Hauler that listed at under 800# tongue but actually measured about 1200# without batteries or propane bottles and nothing in the camper, maybee like a previous poster said, they can't lie as bad anymore.
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goingnorth
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09/15/09 10:49am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Swapping Electric Awning for Manual
My camper came stock with a 15' manual and I was comparing it to another one at a different dealer with the electric awning, both were willing to put a 20' manual on to be the deal breaker. I had it extended to the front and back, the holes at the top were filled in with sealent and the ones at the bottem were covered with reflectors and the dealer put reflectors on the other side to match. I am very happy with the awning, sunchaser 8500 A&E, I think the carefree that was on my Jayco had thicker awning and maybee better construction but the A&E should hold up fine. The rain gutter channel was full length on my camper so the awning could be positioned anywhere, the door on my passport opened 90 deg. because it would hit the awning arm so I had the new one moved forward so the door could open against the side of the tt.
I did not want an electric for the same reasons you gave, but most newer trailers are only coming with electrics.
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goingnorth
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09/15/09 10:31am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Here's one way to level it out...
That trailer in the picture could roll off those blocks even if the other side is chocked.
That's what I would be worried about!! Only a couple posts in this thread addressing that.
I had my wheels chocked with 2 bal single axle wheel chocks on the same side and the other side on 4"s of the yellow blocks and had the wheels roll back a little and the tounge slide sideways a couple inches once when I unhitched, I now chock all 4 tires, I wont let that happen again. I guess the springs loaded or unloaded, it was a very unlevel site.
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goingnorth
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09/10/09 10:44am |
Tech Issues
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RE: RV Awning clamp usage with new awning
Get the awning lock for $39.99 plus shipping. It works just fine and installation is very easy. The great thing is that it looks like part of the design. The last time I used the lock it took three tries to have the hole and lock line up just right but when we were traveling home in a strong cross wind I realized that the little extra time securing the awning was worth the peace of mind. I sent them a check and received the lock in the mail. I would definetly recommed this lock. By the way my neighbor at the campground lost his awning traveling the week before. Scared the s*** out of him and damanged the side of his rig. He checked out the lock and said he debated the purchase until it was tooooo late. Smart that you installed the lock - he told me.
I'll take the contrary view and just look at the awning lock ...
http://awninglock.com/Assets/lock0595crred.png
That dinky pin goes into the roller tube and as you have discovered it won't always line up. Also if you believe those two puney sheet metal screws won't either give way or the pin pull out from an awning that is now loose and trying to unravel your faith is better than mine. I just think that lock is a look good - feel good solution and hasn't been designed to take the forces or torque that a loose awning trying to unroll will put that again what I call that very short and small diameter pin and the flimsy mounting of the bracket to the awning arm. Now what I did can't fail unless enough torque is put on a 5/16" bolt to shear it and rip the whole awning off the side of the trailer.
Plus my solution was about $1.50 for the bolt and the other poster was about that since he went high tech with SS, but I bet he had that tubing on hand anyway.
Of course you have to make the call and hope that your decision was right if ever needed. I just think my solution or any variant on it is the best and most fail proof.
Larry
This awning lock has worked for us for 3 years now.
The only way to find out if what you, me or anybody else did is to have the factory lock/ratchet fail and see if the extra lock you did holds up, I hope I never find out if mine will work!
Now if I can scrounge up some solid SS bar I could use it as a fire poker while camping. :h Dual purpose awning lock and fire poker, I might have to try that and open an internet company to sell them, what would be a good name? :h
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goingnorth
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09/10/09 10:30am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Here's one way to level it out...
I was at a state park in July and a guy with a brand new Keystone 5th wheel put his camper on stacked 2x4s and unlocked his hitch without putting down the landing gear or using chocks and the camper rolled backward off the blocks and crushed his new 30 gal tote, plastic bedliner and a little damage to the bed rails and front cap of the camper. He thought the landing gear was already down, I guess he hit the button and thought it was automatic? Said he never needed chocks with his prevous 5th wheels.
I helped him jack it up with bottle jacks to get some wood under the landing gear to get it off the truck. He didn't bother trying to re-level and just left it as is, about 4"s low on that side, stayed about 4 days like that.
That trailer in the picture could roll off those blocks even if the other side is chocked.
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goingnorth
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09/10/09 10:08am |
Tech Issues
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RE: RV Awning clamp usage with new awning
I did close to Larries but used 5' long 8mm stainless tubeing with some clear hose over it and a clamp to keep it on. I also use the velcro strap from an awning saver clamp to keep the rod on. I didn't like the aftermarket ones I have seen, time will tell if my set up will hold it together if the factory ratchet fails. Hope I never have to find out.
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/goingnorth/IMG_5154.jpg height=400 width=600
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/goingnorth/IMG_5046.jpg height=400 width=600
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/goingnorth/IMG_5155.jpg height=400 width=600
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/goingnorth/IMG_5153.jpg height=400 width=600
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goingnorth
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09/09/09 09:36am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Simple little mod.
...I just shove the hose into the fill hole and put the jug on my shoulder and pour, no spill or second person.
You forget - the "average" RVer is middle aged and is in failing health.
Hefting 7 gallons onto their shoulder is difficult.
Don't believe me? Then why is it that every RV magazine is filled with photos of retirees? ;)
Hey! I resemble that remark! Well luckily except for the failing health part ;)
Actually I was being nice, I have a Y adapter in the hose and have 2) 7 gal. jugs, 1 in each hand, and shoulder.:);):D
I also have a drill pump that hooks onto a cordless drill that can be used to pump the water out, they only cost $5. I have not needed it yet but still carry it.
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goingnorth
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09/03/09 09:50am |
Travel Trailers
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