| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: LED lightning
Ebay is the place to shop for affordable LEDs.
I bought some of the pricy ones (9LED boards)to use while boondocking and would replace one of the two bulbs in each fixture so I had the option of just LED or LED and incandescent. It's a good compromise between cost and convenience.
Shortly after that I found some very cheap 9 LEDs on Ebay and replaced all my basement and compartment lights with them. Yes I have forgot to turn off the basement lights once or twice. Now if I do forget, it's not a 20 amp/hr mistake.
I have a "link" amp meter on the house batteries and It's amazing the difference in draw with the LEDs. My math shows about a 4 year break even based on half my camping being boondocking. Plus the ability to NOT run the gen but once a week is great. Don't care for the sound of onan in the woods!
Les
|
lhatton
|
03/19/12 10:38am |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: discover motor home
Was that one of the questions?
Yes it will do fine.
Les
|
lhatton
|
03/10/12 09:09pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Texas drivers license?
In Texas...
There is not a Commercial (CDL) required, but there is a proper classified class required based on what you drive.
If your rig is rated over 26,000 on the DOT max weight sticker you need a class b license.
Unless they change the law, nothing anyone in Austin sayes changes that.
Les
|
lhatton
|
02/20/12 08:34pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: How long can you run a generator?
It's those who are preachy about courtesy who are blind to how courteous parking in WM is.
On a heavy travel day, I have pulled into the WM at close to midnight. Now imagine the racket I would create while settling down next to you in the "rv park" ( which for the most part is another parking lot, but with hookups.)
I HATE running the gen next to CAMPERS, out in the woods, enjoying the quiet. But in a walmart parking lot... in Texas in the summer, it's gonna run. I won't park next to you. If it worries you, the "park," you know the one, on the side of the freeway, with the train that runs behind it at 3AM, is just down the road.
Les
|
lhatton
|
02/18/12 07:10am |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Texas drivers license?
Lots of people confuse the commercial and provisional (non CDL) in Texas.
Both have classes based on weight with 26000 being the cut off for Class C.
However there is no such thing as a provisional air brake endorsement in Texas (there is one for CDL.)
The written for a provisional "B" does not test on air brakes, but some of the offices don't know you don't need the airbrake endorsement. The lady at mine wanted to give me the airbrake written. I asked about it and the trooper confirmed there is no such animal.
Get the books and read. It's all there.
Les
|
lhatton
|
02/17/12 09:49pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: How long can you run a generator?
My Genny running is the least of the noise you will encounter in a WalMart parking lot.
I don't pull up next to anyone, but I also can't complain to the "management" when someone next to me runs a generator.
Les
|
lhatton
|
02/17/12 09:40pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: max torque
And I thought this forum at least had a grasp of the obvious!
Les
|
lhatton
|
02/10/12 11:08am |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: max torque
It's been a few years, but if I remember right 1600 max torque and 3800 max hp.
I think you'll find you'll make out better with the motor turning up towards max HP numbers. Most soft grades I'd just knock it out of overdrive and I’d apply full throttle to hold speed as much as you can.
On steeper hills it will downshift to second at the appropriate speed and I'd manually shift to second as well so as to prevent it from upshifting unexpectedly if I need to let up momentarily. Again it will downshift to first when its ready and I’d match it with the selector. The gear ratios are spaced pretty wide, and most of the time if you are working it hard at higher elevations and you upshift under full throttle, it won’t accelerate in the new gear unless the hill is shallowing significantly.
If you get down to first this is very noticeable. You can wind out first and shift to second only to have it slow even with max throttle as it doesn’t have the torque to accelerate. I’d just hold it in first and reduce throttle to keep it at max HP (3800?)
If you are climbing big grades like this, just leave it in the current gear you were climbing in as you top a pass. My 94 Pace Arrow was no rabbit at 16,500lbs, but I never had a doubt as to it’s ability to reach the summit, but I did find myself wishing for more motor braking while descending the mountain in first.
So basicly, downshift and add throttle before the grade and then max power as needed to hold speed, unless you are stuck “between” gears, then let up to hold max hp rpm.
Others will do it different, but this worked well for me for 5 years all over the mountainous western states.
Les
|
lhatton
|
02/09/12 09:09pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Bought a 98 FW Discovery 36T.Now on to remodel & leaving TX
Join the Disco owners group!
Love my 2000.
|
lhatton
|
01/25/12 09:09pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: gasser in the western mountains
Yep a gasser should be able to go most anywhere. Keep the RPM up for both power and cooling.
My only concerns are the downgrades. I've had both the gasser and my Disco on steep enough grades that even first gear would not hold the speed in equalibrium. Go down the hill in the same gear you used to climb it.
Les
|
lhatton
|
01/12/12 12:03am |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Unrealistic Seller Expectations--Buying and Selling an RV
True, but you could drive an older unit and repair a major item on it for far less than a new unit.
I'm always amazed at people who would balk at putting $500 into an otherwise good diving older car, but who have no problem with the same $500 a month on a new car note.
Les
|
lhatton
|
10/20/11 12:41pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Switching to a electric fridge - what brand / model
we drycamp/boondock full time with a residential fridge, many people do
we need the generator for the vacuum cleaner and the hair dryer and sometimes power tools, so the batteries get some charge each time the generator runs
we CHOOSE to use the generator at breakfast for coffee & MW, this also charges the batteries
our 321w of Solar adds to the batteries,
when the heat gets above 90F we use the A/C this means the batteries get charged
our batteries and inverter have NO problem keeping up with the fridge, the TV, the PC and cell phone chargers etc..
the only one who will have any problem is the person who is Phobic about using a generator
you can PAY $$ for a resort parking spot with full amenities,
or you can spend less $$ for generator fuel
------------------------------
I don't pay for either when I boondock. My idea of boondocking doesn't include sitting in the house in the A/C (I have a house for that!) The coach gets me to places that don't require A/C in the middle of August. And it ain't about being cheap, I use my go juice to GO.
With the conversions to led lights, and low powered TV's etc, I can go a good four days to a week without running the gen. It makes the conversation during my visits with neighbors much better when they can be heard, and arn't chapped at me for running the genny while they were laying in the tent! And even when camping without neighbors (my favorite,) I (me, moi) prefers to sit outside without the sounds of mister Onan.
THAT is why a residential fridge just won't work for me. Like I said before, if you plug in most of the time, GO FOR IT!
Les
|
lhatton
|
07/25/11 03:01pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Switching to a electric fridge - what brand / model
The estimate of wattage can not be easily calculated from the annual KWH. Too many variables:ie , running time is not constant, therefore some may run shorter or longer depending on usage annd ambiant temp.
-----------------------------------------
That's why you use the AVERAGE...to take in such variation.
|
lhatton
|
07/25/11 02:51pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Switching to a electric fridge - what brand / model
By the way, for those worried about energy use, my EMS shows 2 amps with the reefer running vs 5 with the Norcrap plugged in
--------------------
But the Norcold never ran off your house batteries, your new one does!(and that will be more like 20A 12v)
|
lhatton
|
07/25/11 02:46pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Switching to a electric fridge - what brand / model
Here are some electrical figures for the naysayers. I will let the electrical experts draw the correct conclusion. Our new GE 25 cu. ft. fridge in our house has an energy label. Consumes 570 KW a year. That is approximately 1.5kw a day or 62.5 watts per hour. If my calculations and electrical theory is correct that would be an hourly draw of .625 amps. That is all AC voltage. Running a propane fridge on electic consumes more power than a real fridge.Today's fridges are much different than say 20 years ago. The compressors are small but run more often. They do not have big draws when the compressor kicks in.
Moisheh
That's 124 ah a day. With a 4 golf cart bank, you've used over a quarter of the total capacity on the fridge and you really shouldn't run your batteries to more than 50% down before rechargeing. So with a 100A charger, that's 3 hours of gen every other day, or 1.5 every day.
That's fine if you plug in everywhere, but I wouldn't use a residential unit if you plan on boondocking much.
Les
|
lhatton
|
07/20/11 09:31pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: OIl Experts chime in
I've heard high ZDDP can make you repeat yourself! 8^)
|
lhatton
|
07/20/11 01:39pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: Koni FSD Shocks - Where's the best deal?
------------------------------------
Time to order front and rear Koni FSDs. Any input as to who has the best price currently?
------------------------------------
Skyjackers, Fabtech and Ranchos are good too, but he didn't ask about them, did he?
Les
|
lhatton
|
07/20/11 01:36pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: another residential fridge question
A 12 cu ft residential refer has to draw less than 360 Kw a year to be listed as energy star rated. Thats 986w a day, and at 12 volt, 82 Ah a day assuming no inverter losses.
That's roughly one fifth of my 440 Ah bank and an hour of generator a day just to keep up with the fridge.
Still seems like too high a draw unless you sit plugged in or think the "quiet" onan is the sound of the great outdoors. (I don't like to run mine even when I need to.)
Les
|
lhatton
|
07/20/11 01:22pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
|
RE: License Requirement
Texas over 26001 lbs requires a class B as stated, and a trailer over 10,000 lbs requires a class A but there is no such thing as an air endoresment on a TX classified (non comercial) license.
If you have or want a CDL, then you must have an air endorsement driving an airbrake equipped rig.
Les
|
lhatton
|
07/19/11 02:50pm |
Class A Motorhomes
|
