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Date Posted |
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Fiberglass Repair Denver CO Recommendation
Anyone know a good fiberglass shop to repair a 2023 Bigfoot camper that i backed into my house roof overhang? 4 inch diameter gel coat missing and related stress cracks. Fiberglass mat minor damage in small spot. Looking for a shop within 100 miles of denver. Want quality repair with gel coat, not paint.
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tiptoptune
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09/17/23 08:53pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Water Heater Dometic 2022 Burning Rough Not Work Hi Altitude
This heater does not have the adjustable burner tube. Just ordered a new door and a stainless steel louver vent that is 5 inch square to cut into the door near the burner tube in hopes of giving it more air. Probably should have R&R orfice and cleaned it first. Anyone ever add a vent?
Other issue is the exhaust is turning the paint to slight brownish on the door and even looks like it may be affecting the fiberglass body and trim piece an inch above the exhaust. Going to contact Bigfoot on that one. Anyone seeing this on their newer rig with a heater like this?
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tiptoptune
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11/12/22 09:27pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: RV Fuel Issues & Prices - Post 'Em Here!
here is data from a 3300 mile 300 gallon diesel trip in a 2003 chev dually duramax all stock with a 2023 bigfoot 10.4 TC that just did. Nov 2022 Colorado to Ohio.
11 mpg average on trip computer, paper calc was 10.98 mpg. This is doing 5 over on interstates so quite a bit of 80 mph. windy one day for 6 hours. fuel was cheapest in colorado
CO high $4 to $5.40
Nebraska similar
Iowa and Wi $5.25 to $5.60
ILL, IN, Ohio $5.40 to $5.88
all were an avg of $1.75 more than lo grade unleaded.
The big truck stops Flying J and Loves were the highest cost by a lot and i found Phillip stations and BPs that were not large truck stops right next to the big boys that were $0.30 or more cheaper. THis high cost is hurting my retiring plan.
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tiptoptune
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11/10/22 09:00pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
thanks everyone for the interest and help early on and then help for posting pics. Please share any thoughts.
And if you want, check out my post in tech titled "water heater dometic 2023 not burning at hi altitude". Disappointing that mfgs make a product that will not work above 7,500 feet and we keep buying.
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tiptoptune
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11/10/22 08:47pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Water Heater Dometic 2022 Burning Rough Not Work Hi Altitude
should have added that the furnace and refrigerator work at the higher altitudes on gas so i do not think it is a system wide pressure regulator issue. I did call Dometic and they told me they are not designed to operate at the altitude i am at and had no recommendations other than take to a service center. We not wanting to do that.
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tiptoptune
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11/10/22 08:43pm |
Tech Issues
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Water Heater Dometic 2022 Burning Rough Not Work Hi Altitude
this is in a 2023 bigfoot truck camper, the Dometic water heater is a model WH-6GEA and 2022 year. It is gas and 110v.
bought unit at 7,000 feet
lit right away, burned what i thought was rougher than our 2000 model we traded in, and it went out after 30 seconds and relit automatically and stayed lit. Tried a couple times and it stayed lit, but to me was little rough burning, but flame was all blue
at 7,500 feet and above it lits, sputters for a few and then goes out, it shoots a small blue flame out the exhaust when it auto re lites. repeat and does not stay lit. i open the door and it stays lit, but is a bit rough but flame is blue.
At 500 feet elevation it lites, and stays lit, but a bit rough to me, flame is blue, and a few times it sputtered and shot the small blue flame out.
I do not want to rejet for hi altitude even though the majority of use is 7,000 to 10,000 feet. I do travle to sea level so need it to work there too is reason i do not want to mess with jetting. I think the big issue is the way the vent is designed. it is one vent top exhaust and bottom intake. it is too small of inlet and it is cut into the door at the top of water heater and burner tube where it needs air is at bottom of the door. Compared to our 2000 year model the intake vent area is about half. We have used it about 20 times and it is already turning the white metal cover a little brown just above the exhaust vent. I am thinking making a new temp cover and experimenting with adding a vent at bottom of heater near the burner tube. anyone have any ideas?
pic of cover
https://i.imgur.com/6BLp1jEl.png
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tiptoptune
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11/10/22 08:40pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
this one is frame completed. ended up being 13-6 tall using the mid level pitch fittings form ysbw that i think are 110 degrees. I used 2 inch diameter heavy wall 40 galvanized fence posts for the piping. wall thickness is about 1/8 inch. they come in 21 foot so cut in half for 10-6 tall on each side. added collar ties using 1 1/2 galv light weight pipe, and knee braces to give roof more support for snow load using 1 x 1 x 1/8 angle iron, both collar and knee braces attached to 3/16 thick tabs of steel I pre welded to pipes and have 3/8 hole in them for bolting in. Driving in and out is easy, however it is going to be a tight fit height wise when canoes on top, however i plan to excavate a 4-6 inches out in center of gravel to gain clearance. Was just out for 2.5 weeks so now need to complete the awning material. hoping by December we have awning on it but you know how that goes. we already got snow and cold temps here and the short days make for slow progress.
https://i.imgur.com/hF9IVqtl.jpg
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tiptoptune
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11/10/22 08:13pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
grade in the base rail pic has a swale in it for drainage. Pic posting - i took the plunge and used the hosting url and still could not get past the blocked page with mozilla and norton, used chrome and could.
We pre assembled the roof frame trusses on the ground with the peak fittings and the roof to wall fittings attached and then when I realized how heavy they were i was scratching head how to erect this thing. Few ideas, but in end building a crane that reached about 15 feet worked. Pinned crane to jeep to tow bar brackets with 1/2 inch bolt, chained it back to roll cage to set boom angle, ran winch cable up through pulley at top of crane boome. Tried lifting 3 trusses at once, but could not get height due to truss hitting crane boom so had to do one at a time. we would set truss where it needed to go, position crane over it, raise up, stick tubes in the socket of wall fitting and slipped pipe over the 3 inch stub on base rail. then secured with temp ropes to trees and other to support as built on more. WIfey gave me s#$t that i had to build a crane, but doing off ladder or scaffold would have been a pita. It worked well and i have other project for crane down the road.
https://i.imgur.com/1jLRNpwl.jpg
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tiptoptune
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11/10/22 08:11pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
base rail of 2x3x3/16 rectangle tube in place. A "U" viewed from above, welded sides to ends and torch cut holes to go over 1 inch threaded rod. Welded 17 posts of 1 1/2 diameter by 3 inch tall to base rail at locations where the vertical pipes would be. Pipes go over the the posts and are cross drilled with 5/16 bolts and have a drain hole in. base outside dimension is 12-6 wide and sides are 27 feet long. I initially was going to do 12 wide and am glad i increased to 12-6 wide so can open doors on truck. If had room one of the 14 wide commercially available would be nice. This is in a tight spot so i can still back in and access it.
https://i.imgur.com/T7QzwmVl.jpg
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tiptoptune
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11/10/22 07:51pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
setting 9 anchors 24 -30 inches deep. Anchors are semi truck brake drum with large rotor welded to face with 4 inch steel tube riser welded to rotor then a 1 inch threaded rod welded to riser and set to protrude 6 inch above final grade.
https://i.imgur.com/g8fVvnjl.jpg
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tiptoptune
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11/10/22 07:41pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
how can i post pics? I do not have a URL or dropbox or other. Just saved on my computer.
Open this link. Drag and drop the photo. Copy and paste the link that it returns. (This link is thanks to the user named 1492.)
http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=1
Dang it! the link gets blocked by my virus software with message that it is "known dangerous site not highly recommended to proceed". Any other ideas to post a few pics?
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tiptoptune
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11/09/22 08:39pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
Thanks you Guys! I will try to upload pics using the link when I back to laptop and not on my phone. I on the road for a bit and limit my use. Old school and cheap so I can retire. Gonna be middle of next week before I can try. I think u will find my method interesting and creative.
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tiptoptune
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11/04/22 09:39pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: On Demand Propane Hot Water Heater
From a RVer that lives and camps alot for 20 years in Colorado at 10,000 feet - just replaced a 2000 camper that the 6 gallon propane water heater worked fine for years. Think it was a Suburban brand. Recently got a 2023 camper with a Dometic 6 gallon water heater and it will not stay lit above 7,500 feet. It will if i open the exterior cover over it to give it more air. Called Dometic and they pretty much told me now fix for that high of altitude. I thinking of adding another louver on my door to add more air. Sucks that we let mfgs. get away with building stuff that does not work. I was told they typically see more issues with the furnace, however mine works at 10,000. My 2 cents and sorry no help on your exact question.
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tiptoptune
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11/01/22 08:25pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
how can i post pics? I do not have a URL or dropbox or other. Just saved on my computer.
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tiptoptune
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11/01/22 07:46pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
WOW! Calling me out! I have always liked this forum for the down to earth help. A bit disappointing. But i understand pics help and i like pics too. Just a busy boy here and not ever posted pics. Trying to post pics tonight. I actually did what i said i did. You want to see in real life, pm me and bring good beer. i be happy to show ya. We have learned a lot from this group since 2003 when we went fulltime for 2 years at age 35, some 20 plus years ago. At that time it was called open roads forum but think evolved to RV.net. We learned so much from the helpful group here and so i try to help by sharing my stuff, asking for input and end results. The reply to check shelter logic alone was helpful to me for this one. I did not know of the company's that made these. I never made one before, but done a lot of building and fab work. SO here are pics if i can figure out how to.
Thanks everyone for the interest and feel free to critique.
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tiptoptune
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11/01/22 07:41pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Covered Storage of RV In Driveway
framework is completed and the cover is glued to the overall size. Need to glue in straps to secure to frame and grommets set for rope securing to frame at ends and along sides. Cost - i was a bit off, a lot off. $4k and a lot of work. if a pre made one of size and strength i needed (tight spot i had to put it in) was available i would have given it a close look. I ended up using canopy fittings from ysbw.com, heavy gauge galvanized fence pipe. Made a 2x3 x 3/16 rectangle tube base 27 feet long and 12.5 feet wide. Buried class 8 truck brake drums with large brake rotor welded to bottom 24 inches in the dirt with 4 inch square tubing welded to base of rotor and 1 inch threaded rod welded to that to stick out of gravel drive about 6 inches. each of the 9 assemblies weigh approximately 200#s for about 1,800 #s of metal scrap buried in my gravel drive. Then bolted the base rail 2x3 tube to that, welded 3 inch tall x 1.2 inch diameter stubs to base in 8 spots each side and one on closed end, built roof sections on the ground and raised up roof sections one at a time with homemade 16 foot tall crane boom on a 1946 Willys jeep, inserted wall pipes into roof section and over the 3 inch stubs. then drilled 400 plus holes to pin it all together with 5/16 bolts. I had a buddy plasma cut 72 - 3/16 steel tabs with holes in them that i pre welded to the galvanized pipe to bolt in collar tie at the peak, knee braces at roof rafter pipe to wall pipe, and at wall pipes for angle bracing for racking support and a few along the outside of wall pipes near the roof rafter for braces anchored to ground to give it side to side support looking at it from the entry end. Frame is solid and if it blows out of the ground, look out! there will be some metal flying. Tarp is 18 oz vinyl coated polyester that comes 60 inch wide. Bout 140 feet of it or so. glued it together with 2 inch overlap for an approximately 19 foot by 30 foot tarp. WHew - if i had to do it again, i would buy a tarp pre made. The whole project was great marital bonding exercise. The whole reason i doing a canvas type tent is there are a dozen others in my neighborhood so how can i be told to take mine down. Yeah mine is the tallest at 13-6 tall, but who's counting. Hope this helps someone other. I dealt with ysbw because they actually answer the phone verse some other internet suppliers of fittings. Base metal was $850, canopy fitting $850, pipes $1,500, canopy mtl, glue, bolts, paint, beer $1,000. Hope to have canopy on in a few weeks.
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tiptoptune
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10/30/22 04:59pm |
General RVing Issues
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