Like others, I've started a blog to chronicle my adventures with my new Roadtrek RS-Adventurous.
Check it out and make come comments at http://roadtreking.com.
I'm a journalist and story teller by occupation - and a pastor - but the mechanical end of all this RVing is going to be a real challenge.
I 'll write what I experience and see and do some videos as well.
If you have a Class B related blog, let me know and I will link to it.
It seems half the fun of all this is sharing our experiences. This forum is awesome.
I read your blog yesterday (from your profile link) and really look forward to following your adventures. Don't let the mechanical stuff spook you! You will find lots of help and answers on this forum. I have been a member for almost ten years and there are an awful lot of very knowledgeable and helpful folks that follow and post on the forum. A lot of us own Roadtreks and we can offer specific advice and comments that you may find helpful.
I have had two Roadtreks and the problems I have had with them over the years have been minimal, particularly when you consider you are driving a house going down the road. Enjoy.
Here's one thing that would help me a bunch. Even though our orientation session was three hours, I'm perplexe3d on the panel over the sliding door.
What do I turn on, when?
Should any lights be showing when the Roadtrek is parked, inactive, in the driveway?
When I drive down the road and want some power, do I turn the inverter on? When do I turn it off?
When I run the generator, do I have to turn anything else off or does it automatically switch from battery to supply owner?
I want the fridge on when driving. What do I do to make it happen? When on inverter (battery) r electrical hookup, do I have to switch anything in the fridge or does it do so automatically?
Maybe someone has an easy to do checklist they did they can share???
I so enjoyed reading your blog and can certainly identify with trying to remember how everything works. As you use the van, it will get easier. We have have a 05/06 LTV Sprinter and have thoroughly enjoyed the "B" life.
You will get great info from the helpful forum members and can always send us a pm. We would be happy to provide help since we have a similar B.
Roadtreking Mike wrote: Here's one thing that would help me a bunch. Even though our orientation session was three hours, I'm perplexe3d on the panel over the sliding door.
What do I turn on, when?
Should any lights be showing when the Roadtrek is parked, inactive, in the driveway?
When I drive down the road and want some power, do I turn the inverter on? When do I turn it off?
When I run the generator, do I have to turn anything else off or does it automatically switch from battery to supply owner?
I want the fridge on when driving. What do I do to make it happen? When on inverter (battery) r electrical hookup, do I have to switch anything in the fridge or does it do so automatically?
Maybe someone has an easy to do checklist they did they can share???
:-)
MikeI don't know what year yours is, but my Adventurous is a 2007. I think the panels are pretty much the same.There is a master battery switch on the panel, on the left. The batteries need to be on for your lights and other 12V items to work. If you need 110V power while you're underway, you can use the inverter, but only a couple of the outlets are powered off the inverter, one over the galley and the other in the entertainment center cabinet. When the van is plugged in, it's also important, and mine has a label that states, the battery switch must be on. The center switch in that panel is for the water pump and the other, on the right, is a "test" switch which, when pushed, shows battery level, LP, freshwater, greywater and backwater tank levels.When you fire up the genny, there is an automatic transfer switch which will connect all of your AC outlets to the genny after it's been running for about 30 seconds.Hope this helped a little. If you have any other questions, send me a PM in here. You've made a great choice in the Adventurous. We've had ours for five years now and it's a great rig that has brought us a lot of enjoyment.Cheers,Alan
Alan
2007 Roadtrek RS Adventurous
FMCA F386555
W1ALM
You're gonna love your Adventurous. We've had ours for 2 years now. Here is a good website for questions about the Sprinter part of the Adventurous. Sprinter. You may PM me also for any questions you have. I'll tell you my experiences. So far, all good.
Roadtreking Mike wrote: Here's one thing that would help me a bunch. Even though our orientation session was three hours, I'm perplexe3d on the panel over the sliding door.
What do I turn on, when?
Should any lights be showing when the Roadtrek is parked, inactive, in the driveway?
When I drive down the road and want some power, do I turn the inverter on? When do I turn it off?
When I run the generator, do I have to turn anything else off or does it automatically switch from battery to supply owner?
I want the fridge on when driving. What do I do to make it happen? When on inverter (battery) r electrical hookup, do I have to switch anything in the fridge or does it do so automatically?
Maybe someone has an easy to do checklist they did they can share???
:-)
If you are not using the Roadtrek or just doing local driving, keep the Battery Disconnect switch off. If you want interior RV lights inside or anything 12 volt, or are going to put on your generator, or turn on the inverter, or plug into shore power, put that switch to on. It will have a red light showing that it is on. I have reminder labels next to every switch that needs to have the battery disconnect switch on first - in addition to the large reminder sign that RT stuck on the wall.
If your Roadtrek is parked - like on the driveway - you should not be seeing any lights on inside (with the exception of one of the alarms near the ceiling in the back that has a pilot light on it that you will see when the battery disconnect switch is on). Your ceiling lights should be off, etc.
The only time you turn your inverter on is if you want to run something 110v with your coach batteries - TV, or something plugged in to the three or four outlets that are connected to your inverter. What do you want the power to run while you are driving? I have yet to use my inverter - though we have not dry camped yet.
Most likely you will want to run your fridge on propane while you are driving. I can't help you with the fridge as I don't have the stock RT fridge - I had it replaced with a compressor run, DC/AC only fridge - no propane. Mine auto switches depending on what power source is present. I am not sure if the stock 3/way fridge does that too.
When running your fridge other than when driving) you want to be sure the RT is "comfortably" level - "comfortably" I am told means if it is level to be comfortable walking around inside, it is level enough for the fridge. They sell a set of lego-like blocks that go under the tires and you can level the RT easily with these. They sell them at Walmart in the RV section of the auto dept. - and every other place that sells RV accessories. Get a good round bubble level, find a place that is actually level inside, and use that to level the RT.
If we turn on the battery disconnect switch to get power in the coach (when shore power is not present), why is it called a disconnect switch? What is it disconnecting?
Tkubaska wrote: If we turn on the battery disconnect switch to get power in the coach (when shore power is not present), why is it called a disconnect switch? What is it disconnecting?
When it is off it disconnects the coach battery. It is rediculously named.
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