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RE: Satellite Dish
Dish mounted to a concrete cap block. Not too heavy, but heavy enough to keep the wind from blowing it over. Only about 3' high, it fits in a small space nicely. No set up, just set out. level adjustment is provided on site site by a pine cone or rock.
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Hiking Hunter
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05/15/12 07:51pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Curt or Reese
I have the Curt 16K slider and have had this hitch for 5 years - no problems.
It IS a sliding bar type, and I'm not sure what the advantage of a clamshell would be. I did paint the bar white so I could check it after latching just to be sure I was not high hitched (never has). The sliding bar locks well, and I have a lot of confidence in it holding once it is locked in place. If the engagement handle is properly seated, I really don't think the bar could not be locked.
My Curt has a 4 way tilt head which I highly recommend. I don't know if Reese offers this or not. It allows the head to tilt a few degrees left/right as well as front to back. This really helps when the truck is at a different angle as the trailer pin such as unlevel ground. Keeps the hitch from getting in a bind and not be able to hitch properly.
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Hiking Hunter
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05/06/12 03:35pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Good Idea?
The individual strands of 4/0 aluminum cable make wonderful repair ties for a chain link fence!
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Hiking Hunter
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04/21/12 09:55pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Ground cable replacment
Good to hear!
Look for symptoms of radio frequency interference (RFI) elsewhere, too. In radios it exhibits itself as a buzz (even if not connected to the same 12v source), in television receivers it would be a buzz in the sound and/or white "sparkles" in the picture if it gets bad enough. It is possible to filter the output of your converter if it is severe.
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Hiking Hunter
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04/03/12 08:24pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Ground cable replacment
One other thought - your comment about your body affecting the reception is indicative of an antenna problem also. If you haven't already, check the ground (if you can see it and get to it) or shield connections to the antenna coax, not just on the radio end.
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Hiking Hunter
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04/02/12 07:34pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Ground cable replacment
Your radio is getting power. Any RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) that would be caused by a bad ground at the converter or a "dirty" converter would most likely be heard as a buzz (off station and possibly on station). But your complaint is "poor reception", not an interference. So, I'm wondering if we are chasing down the wrong rabbit trail.
You said you rechecked and verified the antenna connection; that's where I would have looked next. And, you have eliminated a lot of other possibilities.
Are you working on the camper in a metal building? And are you comparing the reception to what you had before when it was out of the building? Just a thought...
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Hiking Hunter
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04/02/12 07:26pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Ground cable replacment
What are the symptoms of your "bad reception" on your stereo? Is this on your FM receiver? Is it a buzz or other noise, or poor reception?
I doubt the bad reception would be due to the wiring changes you've made. More likely, if it is an objectionable noise like a buzz or hum, it would be due to poor filtering in your new converter.
If it is a noise in the speakers, does it stop when you are on shore power? If so, it is likely coming from the converter itself. I doubt additional grounding would help - you didn't have the problem before, correct?
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Hiking Hunter
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04/01/12 07:15pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Mac or PC
I haven't had any problems syncing my iPad to my PC. If that is a concern, I wouldn't worry about that part.
Apple is moving (pushing) all their products toward using the iCloud and that may be a big difference. You don't have to use it though. The iCloud stores/syncs programs, data and media between Apple products that are under one iTunes account. I don't know a lot about the 'Cloud concept, except for the fact that I don't like it for various reasons. I mention it here because it may be something that YOU are interested in. I don't think this will work with a PC.
Apple is "heavy handed" with some of their concepts, and for this reason I prefer a PC (except I do like my iPad). Good to keep a leg in both worlds, especially if you use any business applications.
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Hiking Hunter
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03/04/12 12:03pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Campgrounds at the beach, East Coast/Florida?
If you are in the neighborhood of Northwest Florida, I recommend St. Andrews State Park in Panama City.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/standrews/default.cfm
Panama City is a real "teenager hangout" during the summer, but this time of year it's fairly tame. Even in the summer, the State Park is close, but isolated, from all the crazy-ness.
The campground itself is on backwater, but there is State Park access to the Gulf water and lots of beautiful beach. There are two different areas - one for swimming the other is best for fishing along the jetties.
The campsites along the water are RIGHT on the water - within 10 feet. Some of them in areas you can swin in, others not. There are lots of very tame deer in the park. Lots of good seafood in the area too.
One caution - If you select a site on the water, make sure it's long enough - some are not (on the water side).
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Hiking Hunter
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02/27/12 06:45pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Over Height
Here's a handy link if you can't get the height down.
Low Clearances
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Hiking Hunter
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02/14/12 04:18pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Streaming from computer to OLD TV
You asked in your original post if there was a way to display your computer on your old TV. Yes, there is, but I see you have given up on this requirement. Good idea because I think you would be very disappointed in the results.
Also, you are indicating now that you will only use the old TV for movies and such. The quality of the video from that interface box will still be the same if it is displayed on your old set (not any better) for the movies from NetFlix.
The Western Digital box is approx $100 and a converter is about $20 -$30.
I still suggest you might want to put this money into a replacement TV with superior HD quality. I'll be willing to bet once you get an HD TV that you will not be satisfied with the low quality of the old one even for movies. The tuner will already be built in so you won't need a converter, and it WILL display computer signals (be sure to get one with a VGA input, not all do). As far as Netflix goes, heck, if you spend a little bit more you can get a WiFi enabled TV that will get NetFlix and other movie services directly from the internet!
Good Luck!
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Hiking Hunter
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02/12/12 10:12pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Streaming from computer to OLD TV
Maybe now is the time to break down and buy a new HD flat screen that has a VGA input for your computer instead of putting any money in a 22 year old standard definition CRT type set that you said you expected to die anytime now!
You'll appreciate the better picture for television, and the computer display will be MUCH MUCH better than a converted VGA to composite then modulated signal.
...and you won't have to fool around with converters, modulators, cable boxes, lots of cables and poor quality pictures!
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Hiking Hunter
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02/09/12 10:29pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Major electrical problems
I just picked my camper up from the dealer, it was being repaired (warranty work). There was a recall also where the microwave and the AC could not be on at the same time or a fuse would blow, I have no idea if they fixed that or not.
To perform the modification related to the microwave and A/C, the dealer may have either added a breaker or swapped around some "loads" (output side) of a couple of breakers to provide some load balancing. In the process, he may have inadvertently disconnected the 120 volt connection to the inverter. Look real good under the breakers to make sure there is not a wire disconnected. This would be a black wire that would connect to the breaker that feeds the converter.
Can't tell by your picture...
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Hiking Hunter
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01/16/12 10:43pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Major electrical problems
When I got it back I did notice there was a breaker tripped, but I reset it. Nothing happened.
Since it was tripped, there may be something wrong with the converter.
Did it reset properly or trip again? You might want to turn this breaker off, then on again just to make sure it reset properly.
If it trips again, or if it stays on and your trailer is plugged in and you still are not charging your battery, then it's probably a bad converter.
Unplug your truck when you run this test so you can tell for sure by the indicators if the converter is charging the battery.
Good luck
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Hiking Hunter
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01/12/12 07:37pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Major electrical problems
I agree, it sounds like your converter is not charging your battery. Your battery charge idicator will read 4/4 lights when the trailer is plugged into your house or generator and the battery is charging.
The converter is usually housed in the same metal housing that your circuit breakers are in. This is frequently a hinged metal panel approx 9"x9" in size.
Like skipnchar said, the first thing to do is check your circuit breakers to make sure the one for the converter is not popped. The breakers are for the AC circuits, not the 12 volt.
Since your trailer was recently in for electrical service, the dealer's service guy may have accidentally left the breaker off that feeds your converter. Try resetting any breaker that is off or tripped.
When you open the panel to check your breakers you will see the converter and all the fuses for your 12 volt system. The problem is not likely to be a blown 12 volt fuse.
If the problem is not simply a circuit breaker, I would take the trailer back to your dealer and explain the symptoms.
On second thought, there might be one 12 volt fuse that would cause those symptoms. That would be the fuse that feeds the output of the converter back to charge the battery. It would be a large fuse (in amperage rating). It would be located along with the other 12 volt fuses on the circuit board thats visible when you open the panel. It may have an LED indicator in it. Any fuse that "lights up" is bad; so check those while you have the panel open.
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Hiking Hunter
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01/12/12 07:14pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: First outing in the morning!
There are several ways to winterize a camper. But, if you intend to winter camp like we do, you will want to winterize your camper so it can be used again without a lot of hassel. You are a little farther North than we are, so your weather may be a little colder.
Probably the best way to protect your camper water lines is to fill them with antifreeze (RV type - not automotive). The method for doing this is described in lots of places on this forum. The problem with that is it takes a long time to flush the lines when you are ready to go again.
What I usually do is to open all the faucets and blow the lines out with an air compressor. I limit the compressor to approx 20psi. It doesn't get all the water, but I've never had a problem with temps down to 15 degrees or so for longer than 10 hours (not very often here in Alabama). Also remove the water pump - two fittings and a couple of wires. This keeps the camper ready to go in about 30 minutes.
If you need a quick get away, I've been known to leave the pump in and lay a trouble light (incandescent light bulb) against the pump and leave it on all night for warmth. Never had a problem with this either.
Either way, pour RV antifreeze in the drains and toilet enough to fill the P-traps. I usually don't do anything until the temps are forecast to get below 30 and stay there for more than 2 hours.
If you are camping and it gets cold, usually the only thing that will freeze will be your outside hose to the water supply. We usually just disconnect and drain the hose before it freezes and bring it in for the night, operate from the fresh water tank and reconnect it in the morning. Some people wrap it in insulation.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and enjoy the winter camping!
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Hiking Hunter
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12/29/11 10:53pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Can't log in to two forums
Weird.
I was going in through RV.Net, so I went to Trailer Life and it worked OK. When I came back to RV.Net, it's now working properly! No other change... curious.
Oh well, unexplained, but if it works... leave it alone!
Thanx.
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Hiking Hunter
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12/23/11 08:55am |
Forum Technical Support
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Can't log in to two forums
After a valid login, if I go to "Beginning RV" or "Tech Issues" forums, I automatically get logged out. If I log in again after getting automatically logged out I am returned to the "My Forums" page so I can't ever get back to those forums without getting logged out again. This doesn't happen to other forums; I stay logged in when going to them. I am entering through the "Open Roads Forum" page.
I've tried clearing my temp files, cookies, history, and all the usual stuff without success.
Is it just me or is there something going on with the site?
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Hiking Hunter
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12/23/11 08:37am |
Forum Technical Support
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RE: Help, water spraying everywhere!
Those quick connect fittings are just about foolproof.
Either they are not the right fittings for the tubing that you have, or you have not seated the tubing in the fittings.
haddy1 is right, but also I've had problems with pex fittings leaking if the tubing isn't clean or if there is a burr on the tubing.
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Hiking Hunter
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11/15/11 09:50pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Harbor Freight Battery Maintainer issue
An in line diode would work to prevent discharge, however, there is a .6 volt drop across a silicon diode in the forward biased direction, so the batteries would not charge to their proper voltage.
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Hiking Hunter
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11/14/11 01:28pm |
Tech Issues
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