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Forum
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RE: Winterized and got my bath too!
Every time I've drained the HTW I've had the same thing happen. Maybe we're not letting enough pressure out? Or we need to put on our foul weather gear first...
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Rockwood Camper
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10/28/08 07:09pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Water heater fail safe
Once again, John has the answer!
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Rockwood Camper
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10/28/08 07:06pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: WFCO converter - not charging at 14 volts
I did a little test today. I have a friend that owns an auto repair business. Instead of treating my AGMs to any abuse, I stopped over and grabbed an old battery he had. He threw it on the Snap-On charger and applies a huge load test to it to drain it. I put it in the trailer and measured the voltage at the battery and got 11.2. I plugged the trailer into shore power and got a reading of 13.67 volts inside and and 13.7V at the battery.
Can I draw any good conclusions from this? I'm thinking about trying to put the battery inside the trailer near the charger and hooking it up with the same gauge wire and then some bigger wire to see if that makes any difference. I could use wire that was two feet long for this.
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Rockwood Camper
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10/24/08 07:37pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: WFCO converter - not charging at 14 volts
I was going to try the furnace route as I've replaced about half of the lights with LEDs so there's very little draw from them. So I should take it to 11.8 with everything running? I know when you turn things off the voltminder jumps back up quickly.
I will also check the voltage at the batteries and the panel to see where I'm at.
Mr Wizard - I'll pick up an amp meter and see what's going on from that perspective too. My charger puts out 55 amps according to WFCO.
Thanks guys!!!
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Rockwood Camper
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10/21/08 02:44pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: WFCO converter - not charging at 14 volts
Does your unit have the 3-stage charger? If it does, it may not have been installed correctly. Also, are you plugged into an 115V AC outlet on your generator? Mark
It does have the three stage charger. And I am plugging the RV into the AC outlet on the generator using the shore power cable.
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Rockwood Camper
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10/21/08 01:09pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: WFCO converter - not charging at 14 volts
The voltminder connected to the CO detector power feed should be fine to measure the voltage at the distribution panel.
Yes the battery needs to be connected or it will go to 13.6 every time.
Page 6 of the manual (operational features) explains the voltage to go into bulk mode.
I'm pretty sure that the voltminder kicks right up to 13.6x as soon as I start the generator. It will do this even if the batteries are at 12.3V - a little over 50% charge according to Lifeline (12.20V is 50%). But the WFCO manual says below 13.2V will cause the converter to kick into bulk mode. My lack of electrical understanding is hurting me here yet again...
As the generator is winterized now, I should be able to turn on the furnace for a bit on battery power and run them down some and then plug into shore power to see what happens with voltage, correct? The generator or shore power will both charge the same way (at least I think so.)
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Rockwood Camper
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10/21/08 12:56pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: WFCO converter - not charging at 14 volts
The consensus I've picked up on is that the WFCO converter won't go into boost mode unless (1) The batteries are pretty low, below 50% for sure, and (2) There's a really heavy cable between the converter and battery. My new rig has a WFCO converter and it has never gone into boost mode. It's pretty frustrating to have the battery down 50 ah and not be able to pump more than 6 amps into it. I will be replacing it.
I may considering doing this. I hate to throw money at the problem, but running a new wire worries me as you won't be able to tell if you've nicked the insulation trying to make the 20' plus long pull. Can you replace the converter with a PD but leave the WFCO distribution setup?
Eco mode or not, the eu2000i will maintain an output voltage over 110 or it will shut down. If needed it will go to full throttle in eco mode. The only reason that eco needs to be turned off is to handle startup surges where the engine wouldn't be able to spin up fast enough to handle the surge. Once the startup surge has passed, the output voltage will be good regardless of the setting of the eco switch. The WFCO documentation says its minimum voltage is 105. Unless it's at the edge of overload, the eu2000i supplies at least 120.
Thanks to you and others that have said this. Makes sense to me.
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Rockwood Camper
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10/21/08 12:45pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: WFCO converter - not charging at 14 volts
You need to measure voltage at the distribution panel during the first minute of charging. 13.1 or less should put you in boost, 13.2+ and WFCO thinks the battery is fine and no boost is needed. If the voltminder is connected at the distribution panel that should work fine for measuring. I would leave econo throttle on.
Forgive my electrical ignorance - I'm a decent plumber but a lousy electrician!
Should I measure the voltage as shown here in the manual for the WFCO on page 5 but leave the battery hooked up while I do it?
WFCO manual
I actually have the voltmeter connected to the wires for the CO detector. It reads 0.1 volts low compared to a meter on the batteries, but I don't have to go out in the rain anymore. :-)
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Rockwood Camper
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10/21/08 12:22pm |
Tech Issues
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WFCO converter - not charging at 14 volts
I have a WFCO 8955 converter and two 6V 220 amp hour Lifeline AGM batteries. When we're dry camping, I hook up a 2000W Honda generator to recharge the batteries. I installed a Voltminder in the camper to make monitoring the batteries a little easier. I've never seen the WFCO kick up to the bulk mode - 14.4V. It will only charge at 13.6V. Any ideas on why this might be?
Also, the generator has an eco-throttle mode where it will only run at the required power output that it senses is necessary. Will using the eco-throttle function effect how the batteries charge? I wouldn't think so, but thought I'd ask.
Many thanks for all replies!
Bill
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Rockwood Camper
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10/21/08 11:32am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Dry camping - landing gear & slide operation
Thanks for the responses.
My question came from the fact that I went away this past weekend and I had the camper plugged in for several days before I went. After setting up my battery charge was lower than what I would have thought it would be. (I have some numbers I wrote down at home.) I have two 6V Lifeline AGMs.
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Rockwood Camper
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10/14/08 11:18am |
Tech Issues
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Dry camping - landing gear & slide operation
When I'm headed out on a trip where I'll be dry camping, is it worth it to leave my truck running and the 5er plugged in after unhitching to operate the landing gear and slide out? I'd guess that will help with not running down the batteries but I'm not certain.
Many thanks for all comments!
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Rockwood Camper
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10/13/08 07:39pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Open Range Fifth Wheel Owners
But I decided I wouldn't touch those cable slide mechanisms with a 10 ft pole. Ever had a Coleman pop-up with the cable lift system???
I have. I never once had a problem with it.
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Rockwood Camper
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10/13/08 06:19pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range Fifth Wheel Owners
That's all I'm going to say.
Then why bother saying anything? Your post added nothing to the discussion.
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Rockwood Camper
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09/30/08 09:21pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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Water leak in the wall
I have a leak in the rear wall of my 2006 Rockwood 8281SS. DW noticed it while packing before our last trip. The covering over the wall is bubbling some in an area about one foot wide above the dresser that's in the bunkhouse. Of course, the trailer's out of warranty. I saw nothing obvious with the roof last night. I'm guessing it's getting in near where the roof and wall meet near the rain gutter. Further exploration will occur tonight after work.
If I can locate the area where the leak is occurring I imagine some caulk will cure that. Does anyone have any suggestions on fixing the wall? It's not too bad and I may leave it alone, but I'm somewhat worried about the structural part of the wood. I have no experience in removing anything like this. Luckily it's in a corner in the bunkhouse and not very visible.
Thanks for any suggestions.
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Rockwood Camper
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07/01/08 12:38pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 1/2 TON TV for 5th Wheels, any 5Wtrailers light enough...
My truck is an older (-97) 3/4 HD truck, with 8600 GVWR, and I am pretty much maxed out (both truck and 5th wheel loaded). Also the GCVWR is close to max.
So my experience is that if you want to pull a 5er similar to my Rockwood Ultralight, you want a GVWR of at east 8600# and GVWR of at least 15000#.
I understand the newer (1/2 ton) trucks have higher ratings. It doesn't matter if it is 1/2, 3/4, or 1 ton, as long as you are within the weight numbers (GVWR, axle, tires, GCVWR).
The advertised pin weigh for my 5er is 1089#, but the real pin weight, including battery, propane, and all the stuff loaded for camping, is about 1400#.
Finn
I used to have an F150 and towed the same trailer. It did OK on the flats but in the Adirondacks and Catskills I had difficulty on hills. I personally think this is too big a trailer for a 150/1500 truck - I know you have a 2500 - just want the OP to know where I'm coming from.
Be wary of the posted weights by the manufacturers. They were way light in my case. Tell them you want to have it weighed at a scale before buying to know what you're getting into. That way you're not doing what I did - buying a new truck a year later. Not that I don't love the new truck. :)
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Rockwood Camper
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06/19/08 01:17pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Cleaning an old black watertank?
I think I wiold put a good safe draincleaner in the tank then 10 galons of water and 2 or3 large bags of ice from the store in it. Then I would drive it around for about 50 miles of turns stops and starts. I think this would help the problem. Then I would drain it. After that I would go in thru the toilet valve with a high pressure washer and work it over. Last I would put in a new valve in the outlet. Hope this helps.
campermike60
This would be the method I would try as well.
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Rockwood Camper
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06/12/08 12:20pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: What wire gauge
Searching the forums for info on this question I found this thread.
I have a piece of 1 AWG that is the perfect length to connect my batteries and has ring terminals on it already. The wiring from the factory for the battery connection is 8 AWG. Is there any reason not to connect the two batteries with the 1 AWG?
Thanks!
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Rockwood Camper
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05/14/08 01:16pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 5th Wheel wind deflectors
Given what I sold that wing to him for, he will get his investment back in one season of towing at last year's fuel prices.
So based on current prices he should recover his money in one trip...
Sorry, just passed a sign for diesel not too long ago. It was $4.55 a gallon...
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Rockwood Camper
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05/14/08 12:59pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: spray- in-bedliner
I've had a Rhino liner in each of my last two trucks. It served me well but I've always preferred the appearance of the Line-X more. However, Line-X doesn't have a dealer where I live. I opted to drive 70 miles to the nearest Line-X dealer for my new truck and am very happy with the job they did.
IMO both are good liners and I don't think you'll go wrong with either one.
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Rockwood Camper
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05/12/08 10:59am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: RockWood Signature Ultra Lite series
I'm also looking at a new 2008 8281SS. I have seen used ones for the same price as a new one in Minnesota. On paper it seems like a great unit for the price. I really like that it is only 30' long but still has the bathroom up front and has basement storage. It looks bigger than 30'. Is Forest River off with weights and length? The back bunk room seems a bit tight compared to the 32'-34' bunkhouses. How do the kids like it back there? I think my 4-year old will love those big bunks. We have looked at about 20 different bunkhouse units but we keep coming back to the 8281SS because of the size,amenities, and price. Would you reccommend it?
The bunks will seem huge to a a four year old. My nine year old is comfortable but his fifteen year old cousin was cramped last year. Overall it's a little longer than 30' but I don't recall how much. That's including the pin box and the bumper. I think it's a great trailer for the money.
See my post above about the weight. I would not recommend towing this with a half-ton truck. Been there, done that. The new tow vehicle has yet to move it and is overkill for the job. But I will have no difficulties anymore for sure!
Feel free to PM me with any questions.
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Rockwood Camper
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05/08/08 08:38pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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