RE: Question for the Battery Experts
The more that I hear from others, the more that I research on my own, and the more that common sense sinks in, I'm inclined to just keep the two 6v GC batteries that I have until they start to die their natural death.... And THEN replace with a bank of four!
Thank you for all of the input, Guys! It's like a good diner or bar discussion, only without the virtually, without coffee or beer!
RE: Question for the Battery Experts
I would load test the 12v gel battery to see if it is worth even keeping at this point. May be it will give you an extra day or so of power if brought along and swapped into the system once the 6v's gave up the ghost, might not be worth it's weight to even bring it.
You don't say how much solar you have but if you can make it for the 5 day trip without much issue and the 10 day trip is the only real concern, maybe renting/borrowing a Honda 2000 for that trip to help your recharging efforts might be the ticket this year.
I'm in agreement that not buying additional until you can replace buy all four together is the right answer for the benefit of your system over the long haul.
One other option is if you have a camping friend that wants to upgrade to a bit more battery capacity, give them a deal on your used 6v batteries and then go out and buy your 4 new ones together.
Enjoy your trips, sound like great times.
Think that I'm gonna get the gel-cell load tested... it may be junk, it's so old...
As for how much solar, it's in my signature block - 300W. I own a Yamaha 2400, just don't like to start it unless I absolutely have to....
I HAVE a friend who wants the two 6v, but on his new TT, the battery (single) is "sunk" between a-frame at the hitch, and if he raises it to the top of the a-frame for a double battery box, it blocks his ability to get the propane cylinders in and out of their molded nose compartment. Still working on a solution for that, as he really needs twin 6v for nighttime use of a CPAP!
As for buying in DE, what a GREAT idea! Not only will we be in DE for the race, but we travel through DE to get to Assateague, plus wife also usually wants to go to the factory outlets in Rehoboth Beach while we are in Assateague. Now I will have something to shop for!
Question for the Battery Experts
I have a pair of 6v CG batteries that I use to power the rolling home. Sam's Club, Ever-Ready's (220Ah). They will reach 3 full seasons about mid-season this year. They work flawlessly, and seem again this year, to be fine (I disconnect them with a full charge and store them in the basement of the stationary home for the winter every year).
I want to add a second pair of batteries, to take better advantage of my solar array, and to be able to run the microwave a bit more. Sam's has a newer version of the same battery, which will give me 240Ah additional capacity. I also have a several year old 12v gel-cell that came out of my parents old 5'er. It's got a full charge, but has been used for practically NOTHING for a number of years, 7 or 8 to be exact.
All three of the trips that we already have booked for this season will be boon-docking/dry-camping (GS/CW RV Rally in Syracuse, 10 days on Assateague Island, and 5 days at Dover International Speedway). Likely the fourth will as well, at a state park here in NYS. While we don't exclusively dry camp, a large percentage, many years the vast majority of our trips are without hook-ups.
So here are my options, as I see them:
1) Do nothing until the two existing batteries go bad. With the "smart charger" built into the Rogue controller, that could take a couple more years.
2) Add two new batteries to the bank.
3) Add the older gel-cell to the bank, then replace the gel-cell and the two GC batteries when something finally fails.
4) Buy 4 new GC batteries. (The "cheap' inside of me coils at the thought!!!!)
So what do the experts think?
Thanks for any guidance / suggestions!
RE: Good Sam Club’s 2013 RV Rally Syracuse, New York
Another question, for those who have been to previous rallies. When do they publish a lit of the classes that are available? I'd like to look it over in advance and get an idea of what i want to make sure that i see....
RE: I90 East to I87 NY.
Bill nailed it. If you are comfortable off the Interstates, it will save you some time and miles..... PLUS, you didn't say when you will be traveling, but the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Bridge — commonly known as the Twin Bridges, is being worked on, so there are traffic back-ups. The alternate route will bypass this bridge.
http://www.news10.com/story/21806388/northway-twin-bridges-construction-to-begin-again
RE: How Do I Charge, and Maintain 2 New 6 Volt Batteries???
Treat two 6v GC batteries as one big 12v battery and get yourself a good three stage charger. Don't forget that 6v CG batteries should NOT be filled to the ring, like a car battery would. If you fill them that high, they will spill over into the battery box. Cover the plates with electrolyte, but don't over do it!
RE: NYC campground recommendations
The only thing really CLOSE to NYC is Liberty Harbor RV Park. Really not more than a secure parking lot with hook-ups, but it meets the needs of those wishing to visit NYC in an RV. There is/was a proposed RV park in Brooklyn, but I'm not sure that it ever got built.....
RE: which tablet?
In the last 8 months, I've COMPLETELY switched over to Apple/Mac and the iCloud. Now have a MacBook Air, an iPad Mini, and an iPhone5. Couldn't be happier with them. Dumped the Dell laptop, and the Android phone.... I'll never have to deal with Dell's off-shore excuse for a "customer service center" again!!!!
RE: Charge controller recommendations
Third season with my Rogue, with no problems at all! They have a new version of it out. Call there, and talk to Mark. He's incredibly helpful!
RE: Boat or RV ?
For me, an RV could be year-round, as I could be anywhere. Without the RV, I'd be in snow/winter for 4+ months per year, so I would get much less use from the boat.
RE: Suggestions for Gettysburg and Lancaster PA
If you like State Parks, check-out Gifford Pinchot State Park. We stayed there a few years ago. About equal distances to Gettysburg, Lancaster, and Hershey Park, so it was a great "base camp". Nice CG, well maintained. Kids loved the beach....
RE: Good Sam Club’s 2013 RV Rally Syracuse, New York
We got our info packet today, after registering on-line. It only had one name badge printed, rather than the two that we paid for. Did this happen to anyone else?
I called the 800 number and the guy that answered it told me that he'd have to get "her" (whoever her is) look at it, and get back to me.....
RE: Battery charging with Champion 20001 question
Turn off all of the 120v breakers inside the TT, plug into the generator. Once plugged in, turn the breakers back on one at a time. You should be able to identify the offending device....
RE: Rusty at backing up TT
Go to WalMart or Dicks and pick-up 6-10 of the cheap 12" orange cones for marking a kids soccer field. Use them to lay out driveways, camping spaces, and other backing-up situations. If they give you a target to shoot for, and if you run one over, nothing lost.....
We use traffic cones the same way to teach new operators how to back-up fire apparatus.....
RE: New Tent trailer owner:) just looking for advice and tips
Everyone's lifestyle is a bit different, so what I bring camping may not be what you bring/need. Try either "driveway" camping, where you set-up in your driveway, but "camp=out" to figure out what you need, or try a CG VERY close to home (or a WalMart) so that you can fetch anything that you've forgotten or really need.
RE: Trade offs of DC-DC vs. PWM for Absorbtion and float
Rogue is a very small, owner operated company. The lst time I had a question on my Rogue, I called and it was the owner, Mark, who answered the phone, was VERY helpful!
I'd call him and see what his answer is.
Assateague Island SP Anyone? Two sites avail., 7/25 to 8/4.
Two of the couples that had planned on camping with our "group" this summer have backed out, both related to new jobs and lack of available vacation time. We have two sites available, on the I-Loop (Beach side of the loop), close to a Bathhouse/Restroom, from Thursday, July 25 to Sunday, August 4. I-Loop has no on-site services. Water is available at the Bathhouse/Restrooms, and there is a dump station. I have solar. Others in the group bring generators.
We can return these site to the booking company, and they will snatched-up in a heartbeat, but I figured that I'd offer them to Forum members first.... Cost on the sites is $335 each, for the 10-days.
If you've ever been to Assateague Island, it's a GREAT camping location. You are literally right on the beach, with only yards to walk to the water. Great swimming, good surfcasting, kite-flying, and when you are tired of that you can go clamming, crabbing, bird watching, kayaking, etc. in the Back Bay. You are also only about 15 minutes from the Boardwalk in Ocean City, MD, so there is plenty of good family fun and adult nite-life.
If you are interested, send me a PM, and I can provide additional details.
RE: Looking for a TT that fits my family needs
Welcome to the Forum!
You are going to be hard-pressed to find a suitable floorplan to fit 2 adults, 2 children, and 2 dogs in comfortably, and still stay below that 5000# max threshold. There are a number of HTT (hybrid) floorplans out there that will accommodate, but it will be tight. The Roo 223 is a very popular floorplan that comes to mind, but that model, just partially loaded, will exceed 5000#.
Having already gone the route of having too small a tow vehicle (been there, got the tee shirt), I would suggest an upgrade to a to vehicle. Pick out the TT or HTT floorplan that REALLY suits your family's needs, than go for the tow vehicle that will safely and effectively tow it to your destinations.
