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Date Posted |
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RE: Pulling boat behind fifth wheel?
Ceeyahd1,
California premits triple tows with a maximum combined length of 65'. Brakes are required on trailers >1500 lbs, safety chains, and a breakaway systems. I would guess that both trailers, if >1500 lbs, require brakes, chains, and breakaways. Sounds pretty complicated to make it work right in such a short package, but I guess it can be done. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/22/12 02:36pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Damon Challenger question
Lizle1,
The wipers are driven by a single motor through a common shaft. The individual wipers are held on to the shaft by a nut. If the wiper is removed, there is an knurled insert that keeps the wipers aligned. Sometimes if the nut is not tight, the insert can loosen and then the wiper rotates around the captured insert and wear the knurls off. These can be purchased or ne wipers can be pruchase at NAPA other parts store. Hope this helps. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/22/12 06:02am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Transfer switch
Roachcoach,
In my 2008 Challenger, the transfer switch is under the head of the bed, under the part of the bed platform that does not pivot when openning - about a 24 inch wide space. Hope this helps. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/22/12 05:49am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Dometic trips GFCI.
Gau 8,
Glad you agree with me, but I think its a good move to replace the element. as you said cheap fix. Note, the reefer in my RV is on a Non-GFCI circuit. See you down the road. I see, my two cents cause someone else heartburn, not you. Good Luck!
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teddyu
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05/21/12 04:17pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Dometic trips GFCI.
Gau *,
Here's probably what is happening to your reefer. The problem is that many of the heating elements are either exposed or are clad but with open ends. Moisture will impregnate the refractory insulation when the unit is off. When the unit is first powered up, there can be quite high leakage to ground. As the elements heat up, the moisture dries out and the leakage dissipates. Most of this equipment is designed to be hard-wired on a dedicated circuit where any leakage is normally conducted away by the hard-wired ground. The problem arises when such an appliance is corded and operated on a GFCI protected circuit. The initial leakage will trip the GFCI and never allow the unit to warm up enough to quit leaking. Once you switched to a non-GFCI, the moisture burnt off. You may not have a problem now requiring replacing the unit.
As for running the RV off of a GFCI house supply: Because of the numerous sources of spurious trips in an RV, it is a bad idea to try to supply shore power from a GFCI outlet. When the RV is occupied, the trips are little more than a nuisance; but if the RV is unoccupied, the trip can thaw the reefer or allow the unit to freeze. The NEC recognizes this and has an exception for RV-type 30 and 50 amp outlets. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/21/12 08:51am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Over all length
Maryland,D.C. and West Virgina have the shortest Maximum Combined length of 55 feet. Not sure if they have reciprocation. Never seen a sign at border entrance either. Maybe the law applies to vehicles registered in that state. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/19/12 06:45pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Attention All Electron Chasers
Gunns,
Just found an article that could explain what is happening. Link is - http://personal.cha.bellsouth.net/j/o/johngd/files/rv/gfi.pdf. It is long in explaining and must be read by top of column 1 past the picture to the bottom of column 1, etc for columns 2 and 3. The last page talks about reefers and A/C. It also advises NOT to run the RV off of a GFCI. Hope this helps. Going to bed; will follow up in the AM. Now more than "Just my two cents..."
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teddyu
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05/17/12 10:23pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Attention All Electron Chasers
Gunns,
This problem is perplexing to say the least. I'm wondering if an inductive or capacitive kick is causing the tripping. Sometimes, not always, turning off my beard trimmer causes my home bathroom GFCI to trip. I guess the stored energy in the armature is enough to ADD current into either the HOT or NEUTRAL to unbalance the sensing circuit in the GFCI. About 5mA, not very much, is the sensed differential current to actuate a GFCI. My thoughts are that a slight imbalance exists in the trialer system's HOT and NEUTRAL, then the reefer or something else adds this kick, causing the trip. This could explain why plugging the reefer directly into the GFCI does not trip it.
I hate to troubleshoot by replacement, but GFCIs can wear out. You might want to replace the GFCI that is installed with a new unit and see if that solves the issue. It may be cheaper than the cost of a few bottles and more than one headache could be eliminated. I'll still noodle on this. I'm subscribed and wishing you success with fair winds and following seas. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/17/12 09:47pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Attention All Electron Chasers
Gdetrailer and the OP,
The point I was trying to make was something changed to cause this event. Things typically to not fail during static conditions, some type of change occurred. The simplest thing can make the difference. That is why I suggested the extension cord, or was a heater pluged in, or did it rain into the trailer. I could go on and on postulating the what ifs. I'm sure the OP will figure it out; I hope he will share the cause with all of us, no matter how simple or complex, funny or obtuse. This is how we all learn; this is how we help each other. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/17/12 05:43pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Attention All Electron Chasers
Has the OP checked the wiring to the house GFCI with a receptacle tester? Improperly wired Hot and Neutral could cause a problem. Also, a different, homemade or a repaired 120v extention cord could have place the Hot & Neutral on the wrong prongs. Some of these simple things can cause the the biggest headaches.
Just a note, a GFCI works by measuring the current differential between the Hot and the Neutral IN THE RECEPTACLE from the receptacle loads and any slaved receptacles in the protected circuit. If an unbalance occurs, the GFCI trips. When a GFCI is tested, the test button inserts a solid ground to provide the inbalance between the Hot and Neutral lines. Newer RVs have the Neutral and Ground including the power cord isolated. Neutral & Ground are tied in a House Main panel or in a campground pedestal. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/17/12 11:37am |
Tech Issues
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RE: towing 2012 Chevy Equinox
After your purchase, please read the owner's manual concerning flat towing of unit. It will save your a lot of headaches. Consider the purchase of a "fuse switch" unless you are electrically savvy for installing a switch. Good luck. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/14/12 05:19pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Dinghy towing has someone been pull over being to long
Just checked my copy of RV related laws (unofficial) and found that Oregon has the shortest Combined Length of 50' max length (60' w/special permit); next is Maryland with Combined Length of 55' max length. Hope this helps. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/05/12 06:27pm |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: Toad Brake-a-way
In response to the OP thread; in 2011 I observed a receiver failure on an Winnebago Gas Pusher. I was first on the scene. Some of the bolts attaching the receiver to the frame were missing and some were backed out, the receiver mounts were torn, the receiver also had broken welds. The receiver had partially disconnected from the frame and was dragging on the pavement. The break-away cable was mounted to the semi-detached receiver. The electrics were pretty fubar. Looking further, the TOAD braking system and break-away were powered from the MH. We had to connect the TOAD battery to start and move the TOAD off the road. After observing this incident, I sound my receiver and baseplate bolts once a year and I remounted my break-away cable to the MH frame away from the receiver. Hopefully I won't have a problem in the future. Once, I almost caused my own incident. During a bug-out, I forgot to install one of the locking pins. About 50 miles down the road, the pin fell out of my pocket onto the floor of the MH. Couldn't stop the MH fast enough. The attaching pin was still in place, but the next good bump probably would have shaken it loose. I've been towing for the last 15 years and thought I was experienced and something like that couldn't possibly happen to me. Now I would surmize that operator error would probably be the most likely cause of any TOAD event, probably not material failure, but it can happen. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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05/03/12 01:31pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: vacuum motor problem
I'd check in the area where your heavy handed tech was. He/she could have dislodged a vacuum line that goes to or come from an accumulator. Jusy my two cents...
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teddyu
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04/23/12 10:12am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Pulsating Pump
Had the same problem, the pump would cycle quickly when kitchen all-in-one faucet was openned fully. Determined that the faucet had several restrictors in the hose, one in the hose base and one in the head. Removed the one in the base and problem solved. I think that the faucet could not pass the water fast enough due to the double restrictions, so the pump was building pressure, turning off, the pressure would drop due to the faucet being open, then the pump would restart. The faucet, with the one restrictor removed, allowed the pump to run below the pressure switch setting until the water was turned off..the pump would then build up pressure and cycle off. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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04/15/12 07:17am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Receptacle fuse?
If the GFCI is tripped, you will have no power to that receptacle and a receptacles powered from that GFCI. I'd pulled the GFCI from the wall, and check for voltage "TO" the GFCI (line). Check for voltage to the neutral and the ground. If no power there and there is power to the unprotected receptacles (assuming 1 common circiut) then there is an open in the cabling. A tone generator is a special tester that sends a tone on to a wire; with the detector you can track the signal on a cable to find out where is is lost. Hope this helps. Just a note, I don't think that blade type fuses would have been use in a 120VAC circuit. They are typically use in 12VDC circuits due to the voltage rating. Good luck. I'm monitoring this thread. Contact me again if you think I can help.
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teddyu
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03/29/12 08:57am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Receptacle fuse?
Did the problem just start? Have you checked for voltage at the receptacles with a receptalce/GFCI tester? My guess is that either a lead has loosened opening the circuit. Since there is power to the reefer and hot water heater receptacles and only one breaker, I would surmize that the circuit starts at the breaker goes to either working receplacle then the other with the GFCI being the third in the circuit. The tester will let you know 1) if 120VAC is available at the GFCI, or 2) if there is an open neutral to the GFCI. An open ground would not cause the described condition. If the GFCI has voltage and the circuit is complete and other other receptacles either have no voltage or and open neutral the problem could exist in the GFCI (will not reset) or the cabling from the GFCI has a problem. Hidden junctions are bear to find. Probably need a tone generator to help find the problem. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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03/29/12 07:36am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Electrical problem
Some friendly advice. Sharing information on a forum may not provide sufficient details for anyone to help making an assessment. In this case, how were the voltage readings taken? My guess is line to ground vice line to neutral. A line to neutral reading should have provided a 0 VAC (open or incomplete circuit condition) under any condition. If I have a receptacle problem at home or in the RV, I analyze the condition first with a receptacle/GFCI tester (available @ HD for about $8). The load is minimal from the device and will not skew the results. This would have identified the problem quickly; locating the problem may have been more problematic (hidden/unknown) junctions. Just my two cents...
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teddyu
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03/29/12 06:26am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Toad and tow bar
Chevy HHR and Cobalt are under 3500 lb and towable 4 down even with auto trans.
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teddyu
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01/17/12 10:00am |
Dinghy Towing
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RE: F-53 Brake issue
The rubber and steel keeper pins are directional - that is they look like a keystone and must be correctly inserted or they will bind the calipers. Check the brake shoes for unbalanced wear but it does sound like the master cylinder is bad. Just my two cents
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teddyu
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09/22/11 11:46am |
Class A Motorhomes
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