| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Time to swap the Refrigerator?
I hope you go that route and please report back your experience. I think you’ll be getting a quality product installed by the folks who make it.
I just made the trip to Shipshewana to get our fridge updated. JC Refrigeration is a great place to have it done. Took just under 1.5 hrs for the install. Cost is VERY reasonable and I am very happy with the outcome. They did it on the floor of my camper and afterward there was no sign they had been in my rig. The fridge is not silent any more but gets cool way faster from a cold start. Draws 7-8 amps straight from my batteries. Yes the freezer stays at around 10 deg but for us that is just fine.
|
SoonDockin
|
10/26/21 12:58pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Long Bed vs Bigger Overhang - off - roading
While your thinking long bed, consider dual rear wheels. Ups your payload quite a bit and adds some extra stabilization with the wider track.
|
SoonDockin
|
10/25/21 04:44pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Quality of new Arctic Fox TC
I guess we got our AF just in time. It was discounted pretty good in early 2019. I started to put a superhitch on my F450 but the Torklift Cannons hit the market and it works fine in my 3" stock hitch.
I have had no issues with my 2018/19 circa AF1140. Its well built and as I have been switching over to a big inverter and lithium batteries, I got to look over the wiring. Wires are well secured and bundled where in some I have seen spaghetti. Put about 20k miles on it so far. Not coming apart anywhere I can see. We do store it in out of the weather.
Good luck on your search.
|
SoonDockin
|
09/12/21 08:03pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Load center wiring
I have been going through my Arctic Fox wiring. The only other source of power I was seeing was from my 20 watt solar panel on the roof. It still manages to supply 12v in the shade but not enough amps to power anything. I disconnected it while working on it.
|
SoonDockin
|
09/09/21 11:59am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: New sink in 2016 AF811SB
Looks real similar to the one I put in our home a couple of years ago. We have a single bowl sink in our 1140 and don't see a need to change it. Yours looks great!
|
SoonDockin
|
08/20/21 05:57pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Arctic Fox Roof
Good to know. I will probably call them just to confirm when shopping for my solar panel mounts. Waiting on my batteries and inverter to show up so I can get the alternator charging working first.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/20/21 05:48pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Arctic Fox Roof
True, I don't think my OCD would allow me to put anything up there without screws.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/18/21 07:19am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Arctic Fox Roof
Well even more interesting ideas. I will call Northwood just to get their opinion. I have considered using 3M VHB tape with those plastic no drill mounts and eternabond on top of the edges to hold it down.
I like the idea of a elevated rack for a bunch of solar panels. I am focused on getting the rest of the system up and using my dual extra heavy duty alternators to start with. Solar will be the last thing I do.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/16/21 06:50pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Arctic Fox Roof
Good to hear you folks have had success. I was up on the roof the other day thinking I can get about 800 watts or possibly more up on that big roof.
Thanks!
|
SoonDockin
|
08/15/21 03:36pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
Arctic Fox Roof
I plan to install solar panels soon. Its a solid roof. Is there any reason I cannot just anchor stuff wherever I need to? A couple of screws and lots of dicor?
|
SoonDockin
|
08/15/21 08:05am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Battery box delete?
A lot of us in the Arctic Fox FB group install the inverter under the oven like I did.
In the 1140 the oven is on the slide opposite the sink. That would make it a bit bigger technical install.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/08/21 01:02pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Battery box delete?
I will be going after it with my Multitool shortly. Boy if I could replace the hot water tank with a smaller on demand unit, I would have even more space. I still have to fit the inverter and other necessary bits. Looks like I have a project on my hands.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/08/21 06:48am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Battery box delete?
I really want the camper self contained. So batteries need to stay in it. On my 1140 Arctic Fox its on the drivers side right after the water heater but in front of the center of gravity. Another reason I am trying to keep the batteries in the same place. The kitchen sink is right over the water heater and between it and the front wall is where the transfer switch, jack control, trailer plug entry and a bunch of other wires. Its quite busy under that sink/counter.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/07/21 07:53pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
Battery box delete?
Moving to lithium batteries finding space is a challenge. By removing my battery box, I can easily fit more batteries. Its under the kitchen cabinet which is full of all things power related. Its going to need to be cut up as there is no way to get it out in one piece.
I know resale will come up but I will be doing everything in a professional manner and doubt it would make it hard to sell. Honestly I got a real good deal on it and doubt I would care if it took a loss or made a bundle when (or if) I sell it.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/07/21 01:48pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: New, low cost 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 battery !
I ended up getting two 206ah SOK batteries based on Wills review and continued positive comments. Hope to have them soon. Now its time to remove the vents from my battery storage.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/02/21 03:47pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Time to swap the Refrigerator?
Well DW want to make a trip to Indiana soon to visit inlaws. I might just see if JC Refrigeration can do the install for me while I am bored.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/02/21 07:44am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Time to swap the Refrigerator?
I am looking at the Furrion 12v fridges. Only downside I see is they vent to the inside. I wonder how much heat one of those things can put out.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/01/21 06:10pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Time to swap the Refrigerator?
Well its kind of like two roads converging. I want to equip my rig so I can operate most 120v stuff from batteries. Switching to a 12v refrigerator is a logical move. In the end I am not out much with my fridge starting to act up. Just pushes that part of the project closer to the front.
|
SoonDockin
|
08/01/21 05:59pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Time to swap the Refrigerator?
I swapped the absorption fridge in my van to a NovaKool compressor and I will do in my class c even without lithium batteries. It’s night and day if you do it right, and the factories rarely do. You might also see if J.C. Refrigeration makes a conversion kit for your present unit. That’s the route I’m going in my c because the present fridge fits so well and ‘d have to remove a window to get it out.
I see they have a kit for my norcold N8XL. I thought it would be AC/DC but now see they just build DC or AC. Seems a DC unit would be the smart move. Still at the cost, I will look at DC fridges too. Getting it out of my door looks easy enough.
Thanks for the tip!
|
SoonDockin
|
07/31/21 09:09pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Time to swap the Refrigerator?
You camp unlevel?
I will confess, I never cared if I was off level when camping. Ya I get close but never bother blocking tires or running jacks down. I had a class C with a 7cu/ft dometic fridge that never gave me a bit of problems and I never tried to level that rig.
I had read that they needed to be level, but just assumed that was a "suggestion".
I spent this trip measuring every low storage spot to see just how many Ah I could fit. Seems like I can easily add 600Ah and only use up one storage hatch. I can probably fit 4-500 watts of solar on the roof, and my truck has the super duper alternator for charging on the road. We often camp in RV parks so charging batteries each night is easy. We like to go explore and on this trip visiting my kid in Colorado, we use it for everything. Probably ran the generator in places it was frowned on but when you need a microwave .....
The fridge is a big problem right now. It was hit and miss if it would cool, and clearly needs attention. As it does not use DC, I will be looking at the suggested retrofit options, and if necessary will replace it.
I would also like to lessen my need for propane. I have two 30lb bottles that are a bit heavy to lift that high. I would prefer to gt by with one or two 20lb bottles.
Thanks for all the support!
|
SoonDockin
|
07/31/21 08:46pm |
Tech Issues
|
