| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: LiFePo4 lithium battery charging questions
A DC-DC charger is required if you want to use the alternator to charge the battery. LiFePO batteries have very little internal resistance, and can overheat your alternator, causing it to die an early death.
Battle Born batteries says not so: YouTube Presentation
|
bighatnohorse
|
01/26/22 08:07am |
Tech Issues
|
|
Exterior dash cam for rear view?
I'm basically looking for a traffic dash cam (with chip that continuously records) that is weatherproof.
No monitor - just a simple recording device - always on.
Anyone have such a thing on their camper?
|
bighatnohorse
|
12/24/21 09:08am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Purchasing Warped Roof 1997 Bigfoot 2500 9’6”?
It looks risky to me. A friends 2003 Bigfoot delaminated on the inside and failed due to hitting pot hole - insurance cashed him out for $10,000 - this was about a year ago - so there's an ball park valuation for you.
When the internal wood to fiberglass frame separates (delaminates) you will see a difference on the interior when the camper is on the truck and when it is on jacks. --- If the frame is damaged the flex will show up as a gap between cabinets or stove on the interior.
You'd need to see it on the truck bed - inspect the interior - and on jacks and really look hard for spaces opening up on the interior.
|
bighatnohorse
|
12/10/21 05:05pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Camper Battery doesnt charge while going down the road
The fridge could be switching to DC power - the vehicle charge is not enough to keep up with the power drain from the fridge is running on DC power.
That's the first thing that you should check.
Second, after the truck is warmed up and running for a few minutes, check the camper battery (with a VOM) to see if it actually is getting charged from the truck.
After that, you can do all that other stuff that was recommended.
|
bighatnohorse
|
12/07/21 07:31am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: So many questions
A useful pass-through window and a shady place to sit outside.
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/19/21 07:16am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: I think I am beginning to understand...
When considering any type of truck camper, bear in mind that "the truck is everything".
Never buy a truck camper without first studying the truck requirements for safely handling the camper weight.
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/16/21 07:24am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Garmin Basecamp Problems
I've been going to chime in on this to suggest you start in Google maps, import that route to Basecamp, and then to your device.
That's a good technique and it's what I use.
Finding stuff in Google is very easy-so is developing a route.
Once that's done, export the file to the computer - then use Basecamp to import that file to Basecamp - "then to your device".
However, I would suggest learning Basecamp basics first.
I avoid the Basecamp Trip Planner (as described in my earlier post).
Thank you to who posted the video tutorial - every bit helps.
Another tutorial that can be downloaded to a pdf and studied at leisure is https://www.newenglandriders.org/learn-basecamp/
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/09/21 07:40am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: When do Snow Birds head south??
10/8
Left early to avoid winter weather and campground closures.
Currently thinking that a summer cabin in northern Arizona and winter home in the valley might allow us to become full time AZ residents.
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/08/21 07:32am |
Snowbirds
|
|
RE: Garmin Basecamp Problems
dsteinman
Basecamp does not follow the route that I made with waypoints. At times it will just go wandering around the countryside and finally get back to the last waypoint that had placed.
There are two possible causes for that; 1) you have not optimized the route with a specific end point and start point.
2) you have specified a vehicle such as truck, bicycle, RV when you should have it set to car.
"Tracks" are not the same as "Routes" and will produce different results for downloading.
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/05/21 08:56am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: lithium question
. . . and I can just swap to lithium and keep using the factory WFCO charging system that came installed in my Wolf Creek?
Apparently so according to their website: https://wfcoelectronics.com/lithium-solutions/
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/04/21 09:01am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Garmin Basecamp Problems
I download maps to my Garmin Nuvi from Basecamp all the time.
But I don't use Trip Planner.
See if this works:
Create a list, pick your locations (keep it simple with just 3 or 4 points, add each one to the list.
Your waypoints will be listed in the bottom left window pane.
Select all of your waypoints so that they are highligted.
Right click on them. Then select "Create Route using selected waypoints."
You'll see your route created at the bottom of the list of selected waypoints.
Right click on you're route. Select "open".
A new window opens showing your waypoints. Drag the last stop to the bottom of the list and then select "Optimize"
Exit that window and your route is now ready to download to the Garmin.
Also, you need to check the "options" under the "Edit" menu and make sure that you have appropriate "Activity Profile" selected.
This is a rather brief explanation but I hope it helps.
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/04/21 08:37am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: lithium question
Can you charge lithium batteries with a regular charger or do I need to buy a special charger?
What do you mean by "regular charger"?
The factory supplied solar/battery charger built into my 2021 Artic Fox will charge lithium batteries, AGM, etc.
I'm not sure about the automotive battery charger in my shop - it's pretty ancient and I would not use that without further information.
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/04/21 08:13am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Camping 3 months with single 100Ah Lithium
Thanks for the report. I looked into the AmpereTime 100Ah 12v LiFePo4 and found the price / performance very attractive.
However, reviews state that the battery does not have low battery cutoff and can be damaged by charging below 32 ° and while we try to avoid climate extremes temperatures are not an obstacle.
Our present camper has a Zamp solar controller which, to my knowledge, doe not have low charge voltage cutoff.
|
bighatnohorse
|
11/01/21 08:18am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Need your help, ideas
We carry a small folding step in the Jeep for our now older friends.
And we use the same folding step for the camper when the first step is more than a single step.
You'd have to pick it up after each time she gets in the truck.
https://www.campingworld.com/e-z-foldz-folding-step-stool-12quot%3B---black-67053.html
|
bighatnohorse
|
10/07/21 03:38pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: 4 season package?
True four season campers should have double pane windows. Double pane adds more weight but will reduce outside noise.
If you press your finger against the outside glass while looking at it from the inside, you should be able to see if it is single or double pane.
|
bighatnohorse
|
10/03/21 05:28pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Solar panel mounting; screws or toggle bolts?
Go to YouTube and search for well nuts.
I've used well nuts on two campers and consider them the best way to attach solar panels.
|
bighatnohorse
|
10/03/21 05:25pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Nowhere to go
Some places stop taking reservations in the fall and become first-come-first-serve - and their website shows "full" on their campground map.
But if you read the alerts, they will tell you so.
Other sites, like forest service campgrounds simply close and they too stop taking reservations.
|
bighatnohorse
|
10/01/21 11:55am |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Charging a towed vehicle's battery
I'm currently installing an Invisibrake system and I have run a charge wire from the truck battery to the tow'd.
The hot wire is fused at both the truck and tow vehicle batteries.
The hot wire is always hot.
|
bighatnohorse
|
09/25/21 07:54am |
Dinghy Towing
|
|
RE: Border
There are thousands of PHD's in the US of which most work in private institutions.
You make it sound like all are government employees - they're not.
Secondly, it would be foolish to overlook the fact that science is progressing at a furious pace.
Adhering to old world process and procedures may be reassuring, but could be ignorant and mistaken.
|
bighatnohorse
|
09/24/21 08:34am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
|
|
RE: Border
Of course they are lying.
Worse, they are lying and they don't even know it.
|
bighatnohorse
|
09/22/21 07:45am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
|
