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RE: What are your thoughts on this refrigerator?
But they will also actually keep your food cold unlike the absorption type.
The 6A draw listed on the first one on the site is pretty high, there are better ones that are 2-3A when running.
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enine
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04/04/12 01:49pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Pop up TC roof is shot, want to rebuild it myself + Pics
I'd do the same as the side walls, thats how mine was. Its 1x lumber and then thin covering on each side. I'm giving up on the pop can thin aluminum and instead of cheap paneling I'm using 1/8" plywood on each side of 1x lumber (which is 3/4") so it adds up to 1". Home depot had 3/4" insulation with a slightly higher R rating than lowes so I used theirs (pink stuff). Its actually quite strong.
The roof was an upside down L shape made with 1x8 for the sides and 1x4's on top of those. I could tell that they sat the top of the roof on the sides as the thin ceiling covering was sandwiched between the wood. So when I replaced the 1x4's all around the outside I made two going across the center, one centered at the front of the lift arm mounts and the other centered above the overhead cabinets. I intentionally looked for two boards that were bowed in the middle and but that upward to give a slight rise in the center, then curved the front and rear to match.
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enine
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04/02/12 03:32pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Pop up TC roof is shot, want to rebuild it myself + Pics
I bet the 3/4 ply would bee too heavy.
I used cedar for the sides of mine, figured that if water did get in it wouldn't hurt.
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enine
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04/01/12 07:28am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Camper for 1/2 ton truck?
The first time I ever towed a little trailer with mine it had a lot of sway, after changing the P tired to D rated tires most of that was gone. I have pretty stiff rear springs, you can feel every bump, so tires and spring options can make a difference. The previous owner had it on one of those new Toyotas and even with air bags it sunk the back end pretty far, he was amazed when mine barely sunk at all, so differences in models of 1500's can make a huge difference which may account for some of the variances in answers.
Mine hauls, handles, brakes just fine, you can see the weight has barely sunk it, i've seen trucks leaving lowes and home depot with the rear sagging lower than that from a load of mulch.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/eugenenine/Camper/IMG_21737.jpg width=555
I've went up and down some pretty steep WV roads.
Anyone knows this this stretch of I70 just before Cabela drive http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cabela+Drive&hl=en&ll=40.061913,-80.577765&spn=0.026539,0.055189&sll=40.051928,-80.587292&sspn=0.026543,0.087891&hnear=Cabela+Dr,+Triadelphia,+Ohio,+West+Virginia+26059&t=m&z=14
I'm still passing minivans and subarus who have dropped below the speed limit.
We made the mistake of buying a Plymouth Vorager (dodge minivan) and coming down the route 7 mountain between Terra Alta WV and Kingwood WV would overheat the brakes, I had to stand both feet on the pedal every trip when we finally got into Kingwood and I had to buy new pads and rotors every fall after making a few summer trips, the truck and camper handles it fine. I've had many panic stops with the camper, people see a truck with camper or RV and assume its going to slow them down so rather than wait and get behind it they will pull out right in front (ask any OTR truck driver) so we've had to panic stop to keep from rear ending a couple people who have done that before.
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enine
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03/22/12 02:56pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Camper for 1/2 ton truck?
Todays modern 1500 trucks are capable of carrying more than 1/2 ton.
I picked up and older popup camper for $600 and it does just fine.
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enine
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03/21/12 03:32pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Pop up TC roof is shot, want to rebuild it myself + Pics
... that outer skin doesn't look like fiberglass to me...
My NorthStar pop-ups used a metal skin for the exterior surface.
Also- it appears to me that most all camper mfgrs. that produce pop- ups have the roof portion that lifts up seem to look exactly alike. Perhaps the camper companies buy these roof as components similar to how they buy refrigerators, toilets, doors, etc. that is: I do not think they make the roof (but I am not sure.)
if this is the case, then perhaps it may be worth looking into who makes them and maybe buy a whole complete assembly as opposed to repairing.
Yes, they are all pretty much the same, that crank system seen here is made by heco, some newer campers use a spring and cable system similar to a popup trailer. The back of those lift arms has a VERY string spring, be very careful with them.
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enine
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03/09/12 04:35pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: I know this might be a stupid question but....
I use them to access the tie downs on mine, then put in stuff.
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enine
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03/06/12 05:33pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Help with existing Battery Isolater?
If you get it working, get to make SURE the isolator doesn't drop too much voltage across it. Many do (drop too much voltage). Just a few 10ths of a volt, and you won't get a full charge in the camper batteries.
thats what the wire going back to the alternator is for, the voltage regulator ups the voltage to compensate for the drop.
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enine
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03/04/12 10:05am |
Truck Campers
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RE: new TC owner, not sur ehow to use these??
As others said,don't use them. Mine came with those and I used them to get it home and they twisted the metal inside the stake pockets a little bit.
Mine is a small popup so I just tie it down to the in bed tie downs.
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enine
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02/25/12 03:25pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Wiring color code standards in the TC 12 Volt system.
The trailer wiring is pretty close to the NEC 12v 2 wire grounded. I'm connecting mine via the 7 pin trailer wiring so I followed that standard, red positive and white negative, then the 120v stuff is black and white so that lets me tell the 12v from any 120v wiring (though I don't have individual 120v wires so it probably doesn't matter).
I used brown for all the marker then orange for various switched 12v such as overhead lights.
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enine
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02/24/12 07:01pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Wiring color code standards in the TC 12 Volt system.
I've noticed a lot follow the trailer wiring "standard" of white for ground and black or red for 12v
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx
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enine
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02/24/12 02:48pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Building a truck camper
I opted to buy a used one and rebuild. Partly because my wife didn't believe I could build one from scratch and partly to have something useable while I do the work.
I replace a section at a time, did the 4 sides of the roof first then the rear wall and then part of the cabinets, most of the wiring and now the kitchen.
Part of doing just one wall first was to test my construction technique
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enine
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02/23/12 07:28pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Building a TC, need some electrical advice
Reason I did this was I ran two main circuits from the battery, one to the trailer charge wire and one into the cab. The one in the cab I power extra ports for charging cell phones, the kids dvd players, cb, etc. Then the other circuit through the trailer plug and the camper just plugs in there, so nothing extra to hook up, just that one plug.
Oh, I see! Thank you.
Look here in my album if you want to see more http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/eugenenine/Camper/#!cpZZ5QQtppZZ16
The battery tray is a factory part used in the 2500 and 2500 trucks but bolts right on the 1500's. You remove the two brackets there and this takes their place.
Eventually I want to get one of the cooler style refrigerators like http://www.engel-usa.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=59
and just make a shelf for it in the camper where the propane fridge is now. Then with the battery always in the truck I can just put the fridge in the bed without the camper if I want to.
plus I don't need to worry about maintaining the battery when the camper is off.
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enine
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02/15/12 03:49pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Building a TC, need some electrical advice
The battery already under the hood of your truck doesn't mind getting wet, an rv deep cycle is basically the same thing.
If your going to put a tv in the camper why not use a 12v one there too? Or for that matter just watch tv on the laptop.
Thinking about it more, I've got plenty of room in the utility area of the camper for a battery or two, and I think I'd rather incorporate it rather than have a separate thing to hook up. Good thought though and I may revisit it, I've got time.
Reason I did this was I ran two main circuits from the battery, one to the trailer charge wire and one into the cab. The one in the cab I power extra ports for charging cell phones, the kids dvd players, cb, etc. Then the other circuit through the trailer plug and the camper just plugs in there, so nothing extra to hook up, just that one plug.
This was with a test fit, an old starting battery I had, a deep cycle is preferred. I used all factory style parts, found a fuse block that matches the j case (the square ones in your underhood fuse block) for the main circuits then the one in the camper and truck use the mini atc which match the rest of the truck. If you ever remove the drivers side fender brace and plastic around the fuse block there you'll see that its not sealed water tight, a little moisture on it doesn't cause issues, otherwise your alternator and starting battery would short out.
Remember batteries offgas when charging so you put them in the camper you need a vent, unless you use a SLA like whats used in a home UPS but a standard camper/rv battery or starting battery needs vented to outdoors.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/eugenenine/Camper/7_batteryin.jpg
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enine
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02/15/12 03:33pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Building a TC, need some electrical advice
For laptops and phones just get automotive chargers (12v), no need to have an inverter for those. In a smaller camper make every use of space.
I have an 04 Chevy 1500, I bought the second battery tray for the diesel trucks and it bolts in place on the passenger side. I keep my camper battery there rather than inside the camper.
So are you just making the wally plywood, no insulation?
More good ideas. I didn't really think of that, as dumb as it sounds, to just use 12v for everything; however, that doesn't account for TV and all that goes with that. I also like the idea of having the batteries in the bed, though I hope I wouldn't have to worry about water getting on them. Are they enclosed?
As for the walls, no, it's far from finished. I need to buy windows and all of my utilities, compartment doors, etc. before I can cut out a bunch of lightening holes. Then I'll start to insulate. It will have over 2" of insulation, including the plywood structure. It should be pretty light, strong, and 4-season capable.
The battery already under the hood of your truck doesn't mind getting wet, an rv deep cycle is basically the same thing.
If your going to put a tv in the camper why not use a 12v one there too? Or for that matter just watch tv on the laptop.
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enine
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02/14/12 08:05pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Building a TC, need some electrical advice
For laptops and phones just get automotive chargers (12v), no need to have an inverter for those. In a smaller camper make every use of space.
I have an 04 Chevy 1500, I bought the second battery tray for the diesel trucks and it bolts in place on the passenger side. I keep my camper battery there rather than inside the camper.
So are you just making the wally plywood, no insulation?
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enine
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02/14/12 06:48pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: crew cab short box(5.5) foot with 8' camper
I had a 1GPM and thats actually pretty slow, feels like just a small stream coming from the sink.
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enine
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02/14/12 04:19pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: crew cab short box(5.5) foot with 8' camper
I don't have an inverter or charge controller. I installed the second battery tray from the diesel trucks and put the battery there. Then split two main circuits off of that, one goes in the cab and the other I moved the trailer charge wire to, then used a 7 pin trailer plug to power the camper from.
I still have the original 120v to 12v converter in the camper to power it when in the garage but thats it.
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enine
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02/13/12 08:36pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: crew cab short box(5.5) foot with 8' camper
yes 6 and 1/2 or 6'6", so yours seems like its only 6" longer than mine then even thought the truck bed is a foot shorter which is odd because the camper should be 8'. Difference must be in the bed height which gives you a longer tailgate.
You can see the tailgate sticking out on mine
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/eugenenine/Camper/IMG_20110811_195122.jpg
And my rebuilt door, I used 1x pine from Home depot (3x4") with 1/8" plywood on both sides and just did a light poly stain on the inside.
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enine
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02/13/12 03:08pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: crew cab short box(5.5) foot with 8' camper
How far past the end of the tailgate is it, it looks like only about 6". Mine sits about 2" inside the tailgate.
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enine
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02/13/12 02:26pm |
Truck Campers
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