RE: See my first modification. Tell me what your was!
Not my first mod, though first this year.... building a vertical kayak rack for the rear of the truck camper, mounts into the class V hitch. 80% done. Holds two Kayaks.
Sounds like a great idea. Will you be able to use the door while carrying the kayaks? Pictures ,please when done .
RE: Chalet's TC Washer and Dryer pictures
I was in that camper at the rally. It was.really a beautiful rig and the fit and finish inside was amazing. I especially liked the electric radiant heat in the floor as we took our shoes off while we were inside. The recliner was very comfortable. They hauled it on a DRW F350. The rig was very big. I would rather have an oven instead of the washer dryer myself. My exact thought was why? I would probably get a class c if given the choice.
written, "my exact thought was why?" (washer/dryer)
Why? Its generated alot of curiosity, read publicity, for the chalet brand. Its a stunt,for attention. Which is fine, the Chalet I checked out last year was a nicly built unit. They deserve attention. But if the washer/dryer combo a serious design concept from the new owners, my prediction is Chalet will be mismanaged into bankruptcy.
RE: quality control
Just this week I spotted 2 Lance employees playing Canasta when they were supposed to be doing the electrical. And I saw a lot of Lance employees playing slip-n-slide in the water pressure bay!
What has the world come to?
WoodGlue
Were you at the factory? Getting warranty work done??? What is really the story?
You do realize that Glue is joking....right?
Chalet's TC Washer and Dryer pictures
I dont think anyone posted a link to this yet but here is TC Magazines review of the Chalet triple slide with washer and dryer. With pictures.
Chalet Triple Slide
Personally at 6k #s Im looking at other rv types. I dont see the point of such a big heavy TC. But there are some really nice design features worth a look and adaptation to a more practically sized TC IMO.
RE: Lance truck campers TPO Nose construction
And...AZDEL a replacement for Luan.... I would pay as much as $3000 to have the "skin" on my 2003 truck camper replace with the replacement that Lance (and Others?) have come up with.
Those Asian sourced composites are common here as well for all sorts of RV construction.
I think the video said Azdel was a USA product. In any case, looks to be an improvement especially with weight.
RE: Truck camping on othe beach
You is you and Me is me, but personally I would never invest the kind of money you are talking about and then drive it on any beach. See the previously posted pics for worst case but to me all cases of vehicles and salty sand and salty air and salty water are taboo. I have seen many vehicles rot away over the years when living near the ocean. Sure, you can clean it, but you can clean your teeth too, but still pay the dentist office for professional cleaning and any vehicle on the beach will need professional cleaning often IMHO.
First the visual....................
http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/nycsteve/Fishing%20on%20Long%20Islands%20East%20End/CopyofP6110005.jpg]http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/nycsteve/Fishing%20on%20Long%20Islands%20East%20End/CopyofP6110005.jpg
http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/nycsteve/Fishing%20on%20Long%20Islands%20East%20End/CopyofP6120027.jpg]http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/nycsteve/Fishing%20on%20Long%20Islands%20East%20End/CopyofP6120027.jpg
http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/nycsteve/PA140064.jpg]http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/nycsteve/PA140064.jpg
The last shot was taken on the same beach that shows the TC in the surf on BobnDots picture. Democrate Point ,Robert Moses State Park. Ask yourself how on a beach of this size the truck and TC ended up in the water. If your thinking alchohol was involved, BINGO! The TC owner mixed to much beer with his fishing and spurred by a visit from the beach cops decided to take evasive action, and drove himself where he knew the police would not dare follow, the ocean.
As for not taking your investment to the beach, I bought my TC to use not to wax in my driveway. Beach camping damage to your rig can be lessened with prep and comman sense. Dont drive in salt water,ever. Stay on dry sand. Be aware of your surroundings, note the high tide line, weather reports, feedback from othe beach drivers. Have a professional undercoat your vehicle . I had mine done for less than 300 dollars, same spray that Toyota and Ford and other manufactoers use, plus a waxy waterproof spray was applied in all doors and voids using a thin spay wand through either weep holes or bolt holes. Wash the underside of your truck thoroughly after each trip.
Being afraid of salt means you cant use your truck in winter on treated roads. Spraying a salt/slush mixture from the road into every nook and cranny of your trucks underbelly for hours on end cant be any less damaging that driving on the beach, maybe more so.
Nothing beats overnighting on the beach.
My 2 cents, start with a 350 4x4. The new 150s are good but a 350 better. And close in price I think.
RE: ?'s for the seasoned campers re roof top solar panels
Well that settles that sounds like panels on the roof are a good idea does anyone have any suggestions for mounting panels without putting holes in the roof like using glue on the brackets for mounting
Screw them down with available aluminum brackets, use sme butyl tape and then dicor, or just dicor around and under the brakets. Inspect once a year when you check the caulking around your vents etc, you'll have no problems.
RE: ?'s for the seasoned campers re roof top solar panels
I have 1 125watt panel mounted with brackets like the above picture. Complimenting 2 AGM baterries. Best mod I ever did for the camper. Dont worry about shade, more than 50% of the time you wont be able to get a shaded spot(full shade) anyway. Im sure the panel is one of the reasons Im entering my 6th season with the same batteries, which perform at almost the same level as they did when new. Get the panel!
RE: California Fire
Golden HVAC said
"Sorry,
But I spent to much time working for a city, and in risk assesment, though not working for the Fire Department. We did have to review each "Accident" and see if there was a way to prevent it from happening twice to a second person. "
I spent 24 years as a New York City fireman. The biggest and one of if not the busiest dept in the country. I take offense to you calling the fireman pictured "stupid" although this seems to be a habit with you , the camper owner is also labled by you as "stupid". So you spent "much time " working for "a" city in risk assesment. In other words a Suit. Paper pushing doesnt give you the experiance , or smarts to make the assesment you did based on a picture, nor do you show the respect needed to work productivly with men in the field to actually make a positve differance. You show all the earmarks of just another Bean Counter. You must have been tops in your field based on your "stupid" snap judgements based on a misenterpreted photo.
RE: Do I really need a Dually?
The limitation for any truck is the tires. With SRW the maxium load capacity for tires that fit on stock rim sizes are 3750 lbs. or 7500 lbs. for the rear axle less the 2700-3000 lbs. of the truck, leaving a maximum of roughly 4,000 lbs. for the camper and the tongue weight of the trailer.
You can easily put G or H rated tires on the truck that are no larger than stock tires for up to 10,000 lbs. NOTE: I'm not saying to buy a SRW, but the max isn't what you are listing above.
Are there limitations on the G or H tires as far as airing down for offroad use? Like a stiff sidewall that cant be run lower inflated without damage ?
RE: Trip reveiw to Gettysburg Pa
Looks like a good trip!
Im interested in insight from you on your trailer setup. Last year I put together a trailer much like yours to pull a motorcycle and kyaks. I havnt used it yet but plan on a long trip this summer. Looks from your picture you have a superhitch with an extension bar. How long an extension? If you dont mind sharing , whats the weight of your TC? Any comments on the handling of the 2 together?You mentioned being pushed around by the big rigs on the road.
I have a 40" extension. I'll have 1 bike (700#) and maybe another 300# of cargo in a 7x14 enclosed trailer. Maybe a 350# tongue weight? The TC is at least 4k. I just want to be confident Im in a safe range with the rear tires and axel. I figure I could always travel with minimal water and weigh about the same as I do now without the trailer when towing.
Thanks for the trip report.
RE: roadside assistance
I opted for the Good Sam program. If only because if I need a tow they will send a rig capable of dealing with a TC on the pickup. Plus its a good deal.
RE: Absorbtion refrigerators in Hot Weather
Check the sticky,Truck Camper University. Amoungst others is my thread on fridge fan placement. I found a fan at the top of the "chimney" pulling the hot air up and out is by far more efficent than one placed low. Also the is advantage to an interior fridge fan. Theres pictures.
fridge fan thread
Your observations on cooling fan placement match mine. I think the reason has to do with the thermodynamics of the airflow. Fans tend to create an airstream that is laminar and the naturally rising air column in the coils tends to be more turbulent in nature. A turbulent airflow has a higher efficiency of heat transfer which is the whole purpose of getting air to move over the cooling coils. Placing the fan at the top of the column helps accelerate the movement of the rising air column, whereas forcing a higher volume of laminar-like airflow over the coils reduces their efficiency.
People have had mixed results with the fan inside the cooling compartment and I suspect it's a matter of loading and placement of the fan. By nature the cooler air at the fins should migrate to the lower levels of the chamber naturally since cooler air is heavier, but this airflow can be restricted by the contents in the refrigerator. In this case the fan can help. But one needs to remember that the cooling fan itself is a heat source which is being placed in an area you're trying to keep cool. :-)
-bob
The heat created by the in fridge fin fan is negligable. The benefit is substantial.
Someone mentioned adding metal baffles, which I did, not sure if theres pictures in the thread. It was simple, took 15 minutes.
With the fans not only is the fridge cool in summer heat but less propane is used.
RE: Absorbtion refrigerators in Hot Weather
Check the sticky,Truck Camper University. Amoungst others is my thread on fridge fan placement. I found a fan at the top of the "chimney" pulling the hot air up and out is by far more efficent than one placed low. Also the is advantage to an interior fridge fan. Theres pictures.
fridge fan thread
RE: Arctic Fox owners beware.
Why am I being attacked? WTF?...I'm trying to give you all a heads up..OK I'm loosing faith now in what could be a educational expierience...
Everyone has an opinion, and sometimes they dont line up with yours. My opinion on this is you have conducted yourself well, better than I would in the same situation. I see no hint of brand bashing, just a statement of your experiance. I look forward to your description of the repair of your TC and wish you best of luck. If you share the details and pictures of your fix, we will all learn something.
RE: Arctic Fox owners beware.
Bottom line: The MAINTENANCE requirement for these campers is NOT expressed strongly enough by the Sales folk. I had my camper inspected by the RV salesman and he couldn't find the leak, so how do they expect us buyers to see or recognize a leak? I think they need to provide a MAINTENANCE video or training information and make sure that the buyer is aware of the leak potential. I was not aware, and the salesman just kinda brushed by it.
By the way, I had the WATER TANK SAG issue also, but AF did me right and repaired it for free. At least they did me right on that problem.
One thing i have found about AF, is it really depends on who you talk to in that organization...
I was lucky when I bought my Lance. While the guy that handled the sale didnt discuss maintainance , the service guy that did the walk through when I took possesion stressed maintaince. Caulking, inspecting and sealing seams with dicor on the roof, inspection of plumbing joints,and more. It started me off aware and already ahead of the curve with maintaince. Reading this forum further filled in the blanks, things like sealing the marker lights etc. So far its paid off, I have no water issues, and no delam issues.
I agree with the above, it would be helpful and resposible for TC manufactorers to stress the importance of regular maintainance and video would be a great help.
While Im no expert on TC construction, because a friend owns an AF similar in size and layout to my Lance, and we have traveled and camped together since I have owned my TC, I have seen differances in construcion methods between the 2 companies. My impression is AF looks great on the surface. The cabinetry ,fit and finish of the interior, detail of the interior design (storage) had an edge over te Lance. But it was under the surface in the not easly seen details that the Lance shone. My Lance was beefier and more solidly made than the AF. Alot of the underpinnings of the AF were not well executed. Things like the ventalation of the fridge, to skimpy water tank supports that gave way. Of course I dont mean this to be a blanket assesment between the 2 manufactorers, I only saw the 2 TCs closeup ,similar models and years.
