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RE: Narrowing down the new camper (DONE!)
Well I made an official offer. Sent my list of wants/needs . . . sounds like they can get it all done at a fair price except for on thing . . . the gel coat.
Yes I decided on the Host Everest and believe both Bill Penny at East End Campers and Dave Hogue at Host are top notch folk. Both really set a standard in my book and seem determine to work with me.
My big concern is the gel coat. It seems that some of the victims we don't hear about as much are the suppliers. The people providing the gel coat to Host are no more, and now after really looking forward to that upgrade it may not be an option.
Sounds like we'll know for sure on Monday whether we can wrap up this deal, but for now I believe the Host Everest will be the new shell on the F550 turtle.
Thanks for all your help and input. I guess if I count the votes it looks like the majority were pushing me this way. Although any of the four would serve me well.
Hope you enjoy that new triple slide... You have come a long way in 2 years!
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MrPhelps
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09/28/08 02:36pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Guides to get camper in straight?
The best suggestion I've seen and also use, is laying the driver seat down and looking over my left shoulder and backing under the camper. This work great for me and no tape, strings, poles or board. Try it, my work for you too.
I agree. I tried this and it worked well.
Truck Camper Mag Article
Loading Campers: The Bill Penney Method
There are very few people who can load and unload a truck camper faster than Bill Penney. The secret to his loading is what he calls the Bill Penney Method. It’s quite the show.
With the driver’s seatback lowered, Bill puts his right foot on the brake and turns his body so that his back and rear end are facing the driver side door. As he turns, he extends as far as he can over the seatback without losing contact with the brake pedal. Then he focuses through the lower right hand corner of the rear truck window and sights the line where the lower right edge of the camper should line up.
He then releases the brake and slowly backs the truck under the camper. While he’s backing the truck, he makes small corrections with the steering wheel if the camper strays from the line. Once he has the truck four-fifths under the camper, he puts the truck in park, gets out of the truck, hooks up the camper electrical cord, and uses the jack remote to lower the camper until it’s level with the truck bed. Once the camper is level with the truck, he backs the truck until he lightly bumps the camper. Tie downs, turnbuckles, and done.
Of course he makes it look so easy. When we tried the Bill Penney Method ourselves, it proved to be tougher than it looked. As with anything, practice makes perfect. To watch Bill load and unload campers, you know he’s on to something good. We'll get it down.
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MrPhelps
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09/20/08 04:57am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Considering new Dodge for TC
I have an 06 DRW (5.9) 4x4 w/ 6 speed manual and many options. I carry a large camper. It currently has 76,000 miles on it and I bought it new in September 2005. I had a defect in the manual transmission at about 55,000 miles and Dodge replaced it but I still had to pay about 20% of the cost (since I was outside the 36k warranty). I also had one issue with with my heat which I discovered also after my 36k warranty had expired which cost me. This low warranty mileage period for 2006 models was as it turned out, inadequate.
However, Truck gets 19-20mpg consistently if I drive it right. My mileage w/camper has been running about 13-13.5mpg recently, but that is when I drive under 62 mph. Mileage did seem to increase as engine broke in. I am very pleased overall with it. This is my 2nd one. I have a 93 D250 which my son now drives with about 250K miles.
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MrPhelps
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09/19/08 09:19am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Picking Up My new camper....
For what its worth..here is a new load case for a 1 ton DRW truck
Assuming you had a 1 ton Dodge DRW like mine and loaded with:
1) base curb weight of truck= 7,380 lbs
2) loaded weight of truck= 8,100 lbs
3) Same Center of Gravity over main rear axle location as Host Yellowstone for Everest
4) Wet camper weight = 5,500 lbs
Results:
92% of GAWR (Front).. 4,794lbs
94% of GAWR (Rear)... 8,806 lbs
135% of payload.....6,220 lbs
113% GVWR ...... 13,600 lbs
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MrPhelps
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09/16/08 04:49am |
Truck Campers
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RE: no fuel for TC's in Knoxville, TN area... Ike caused?
I just got back from East Tennesse: the Tennessee Vols vs UAB Blazers game and then some nice quiet time in Elkmont CG in Smokies.. Diesel prices were fine.. I got my last tank at $3.82. I did see some gas in Near Townsend, TN for $5.19/gal!
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MrPhelps
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09/14/08 03:58pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
double posted by mistake
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MrPhelps
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09/10/08 12:40pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
So another post-issue question ..t.
On the topic of the 3 stage smart charger - they are great! They turn a "cheap" charger into a miracle worker. If the OP did not have one AND left his charger in all the time, that is why the original batteries only went 30 months - probably a converter going bad was what saved them from cooking out sooner. Converters without a smart charger don't know when to quit!
That is what concluded and ordered the smart charger module for my converter last night. I like the rapid charge capability and the potential longer battery life... all an investment of only $25.
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MrPhelps
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09/10/08 12:39pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
You think it is why your batteries died early? I would assume so....30 months isn't as long as they should last.
Yeah I think so...I thought 30 months seemed ok at the time when I replaced them.
This problem lets me know how green I am since I have had my TC for nearly 3 years (but camper was new) and no prior RV system or failure experiences.
I really got an education on converters and wiring systems dealing with this failure.. but man am I glad it is fixed. Last weekend at Lewis Smith Lake in Bankhead National Forest was great, but we really started to get worried about the batteries and our inability to charge them even with the generator. Now that I understand how serious the discharge was getting, I feel lucky we did not have any real issues.
I wonder if I had had the smart charger module plugged in (that was referenced in this thread earlier) if I would have been able to at least get some battery charge because of the higher input voltage?
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MrPhelps
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09/09/08 03:27pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
OK. Problem has been solved. It WAS a bad connection as you all correctly diagnosed, but it was INSIDE the converter upstream from the output terminal. The internal connector next to the interior fuse was fouled and not making the proper connection, looked like it was a result of over heat condition. Everything is up and running with batteries charging..
Thanks
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MrPhelps
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09/09/08 12:42pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
Do you have battery disconnect between the charger and the battery bank? Also, have you checked your cross-over cable between your batteries to make certain it doesn't have a break in it or a loose connector?
I don't think there is a disconnect between them but I can't phsically inspect the entire run to tell. I guess I will have to trace the wires to find out. I had assumed it was continuous wire from converter to the batteries..
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MrPhelps
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09/09/08 12:16pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
OK. Morning readings
10 hours charge per battery seemed to work. They were in better shape this morning.
Batteries Connected in system w/o Converter : (about) 12.25 V
Batteries Connected w/converter on 12.55 V
Converter output reading with batteries connected 13.55 volts
OPEN CIRCUIT (disconnected from batteries) cables (from Converter) 13.3V
Looks like a .25volt drop between converter to open circuit cables.. Does not seem like that indicates a high resistance point for the direct cable route from the converter to the batteries.
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MrPhelps
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09/09/08 08:07am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
With power disconnected at battery (while they are being charged tonight) I jumped the two battery terminal wires together (thanks for info Matthew B) and checked continuity at the Converter DC output (yes targaboat I do have a digital meter) and continuity checked; so there are no broken wires between, perhaps a bad connection at the converter output terminals where I took original readings. I'll plug it all in again with batteries and re-measure voltage at converter and batteries an d look at fuse panel in the morning.
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MrPhelps
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09/08/08 06:27pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
Wow thats harsh targaboat,
I have someone coming out tomorrow to examine the converter.. thus the 12 hour charge per battery. I need the batteries hooked back up to verify some level of charging has been accomplished and then test the converter...since I will not be there when he shows.
My understanding (and it may seems stupid to you but I would like to think I just am not schooled in converters) is that the original reading I obtained from the converter deceived me because there is a probable separate terminal that goes to charge the battery. There is no schematic and I am not at home to tinker all day to figure it out..
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MrPhelps
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09/08/08 02:27pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
Hey there,
No that is not what I have. I have two ways inside the camper to assess battery health. The first is a push button panel that has battery, black, gray and fresh water buttons. When you push it you get a display from Empty to Full in 1/3 increments via a little red light.
I also have a Solaris Photovoltaic Charge Regulator from my Solar Panel that is supposed to control energy flow from the solar panel to the battery bank. On this panel is a MONITOR of BATTERY VOLTAGE (health) and (when you depress a button) displays the energy (amps) from the panel to the batteries from the solar panel.
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MrPhelps
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09/08/08 01:59pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
OK Just got back from battery place where I bought them. Specific gravity test indicated so low they expressed concern that the batteries need charging BADLY. I was so concerned at how low they were I was afraid I might not be able to get the jacks to work to remove the camper. He suggested that when they got this low a 24-48 hr charge at about 5 amps. I have a 6 volt 6 amp charger which after disconnecting the batteries, I hooked to first one. After about 12 hours I will charge the 2nd one then re-connect the system in the morning and see how it looks.
It is clear I am using more than any charge I might be getting back from the Solar (if in fact it is helping). So I still think the converter could be the problem. I believe the point of measurement of the voltage may be going to the distribution panel and the smart charge take off point to the battery is probably defective.
Hopefully the batteries will charge back.
30 months on the prior set ... I probably had this problem develop which killed them early ..
Thanks by the way for all the help.
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MrPhelps
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09/08/08 11:23am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
Here is the converter info (only spec info I could find).
Progressive Dynamics 9145
I sent an email to Progressive Dynamics.
Here is what they said about the 13.6VDC and 12V at battery.
If there is a higher voltage at the converter there is current flowing and they are charging.
As the charge tapers off these voltages will equal out , little current flow, trickle charge.
If they do not charge up then there is possibly a bad cell in the battery.
Trouble is these do not equal out so.. maybe there is a high resistance point in the line from converter to battery. I thought that since the converter had a smart charge output (can't tell where to measure it) this portion of the converter may have failed and solar is only charging I have working.
I do have an automotive battery charger that I can put on the batteries to see if they can be charged. I try that this afternoon. I have camper on the truck so I thought I would take it by the battery place to have them looked at. I am parked in full sun hopefully charging them.
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MrPhelps
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09/08/08 08:11am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
No jump 12.19V unplugged to 12.22 V plugged in..
I guess the conclusion is the converter is not charging the batteries properly..
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MrPhelps
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09/07/08 05:30pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
OK, good. With those readings at battery terminal, immediately something is wrong. It appears that your charging voltage (13.55) is just not getting delivered to the battery array.
Can you hold your meter on the batteries with your converter unpluged, then while eye-balling the meter, have someone plug your converter into shore?
What was the voltage jump?
I can do this but let me ask a question while I am out doing it. I got the impression that the converter's intelligent charge system to the battery may apply the full 13.6 VDC to batteries???
The PD9145A, 45 amp power converter is designed to provide reliable filtered DC power to all recreational vehicle 12-volt lighting and appliance circuits. The PD9145 converter also provides safe and rapid recharging of RV batteries. Built-in features such as electronic current limiting, reverse battery protection, high voltage protection, low voltage operation, and over temperature shut down ensure long term reliability. The built-in TCMS (Total Charge Management System) connector allows the RV manufacturer, dealer, or owner to easily add the Charge Wizard. The Charge Wizard is a microprocessor-controlled system that constantly monitors the battery voltage and
use to ensure a rapid; yet, safe, recharge. The Charge Wizard can select one of three charging voltages and one of four operating modes depending on the condition and use of the battery.
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MrPhelps
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09/07/08 05:26pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
Ok at your suggestions I just went out and plugged in to shore power.
Solaris battery meter inside camper on panel says battery= 12-12.1V
Output terminals of converter 13.55V (Spec is 13.6V)
Meter reading across 2-series 6V batteries 12.25V
I'll go back out and check individual battery voltages..
6.11v and 6.13v
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MrPhelps
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09/07/08 05:14pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Did I buy 2-bad replacement batteries for my TC ?
Sir
I also would question the batteries- per your profile your camper is two years old- your batteries should last 3 to 4 times that long.
Look at Trojan or Lifeline batteries- my T105's are 4 years old and I have not had a problem- all the cells are very close to each other ( specific gravity)
These are NEWLY replaced batteries. The prior set lasted a little over 30 months before I replaced them with the same U2200's. I keep the camper plugged in continuously so figured this might have shortened the life a little.
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MrPhelps
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09/07/08 04:51pm |
Truck Campers
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