Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: So what did you do to your Truck Camper today?

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Topic: So what did you do to your Truck Camper today?

Posted By: meatwagon on 04/02/13 11:20am

Refilled my propane tank, seems that I get 5 nights of heating + cooking eggs, perking coffee & dinner each day. Should go allot further when not running the furnace once the weather warms a little more(low of 40" in Payson last weekend).

LINN
06 chevy xcsb 4x4 2500hd dur./allison(air bags,hellwig sway bar,front hitch receiver,reese titan & 24"ext.hitch,timbren fr. ses., bfg a/t 285/75 16"
13 lance 825(3 battery bank,honda 2500w. generator)
07 rhino/look 7x12 cargo tl.
95 stratus fish&ski

Posted By: Reddog1 on 04/02/13 11:34am

Mello Mike wrote:

Gave my truck and camper a much needed bath.

Now that you are experienced, maybe you can drop over and do mine. [emoticon]

I'm needing it for a trip next week.

Wayne

Posted By: Mello Mike on 04/02/13 02:09pm

Reddog1 wrote:

Mello Mike wrote:

Gave my truck and camper a much needed bath.

Now that you are experienced, maybe you can drop over and do mine. [emoticon]

I'm needing it for a trip next week.

Wayne

Sure thing! For a small "fee." [emoticon]

2016 Northstar Laredo SC/240w Solar/2-6v Lifeline AGMs/Dometic CR110 DC Compressor Fridge
2013 Ram 3500 4x4/6.7L Cummins TD/3.42/Buckstop Bumper with Warn 16.5ti Winch/Big Wig Rear Sway Bar/Talons w/SS Fastguns
My Rig
1998 Jeep Wrangler
US Navy Ret.

Posted By: Photog101 on 04/02/13 07:29pm

I just upgraded an upgrade that I did when I first got the T/C. I needed a storage spot for my 4 cell flash light and I bought a fishing rod holder and placed it next to the fire extinguisher, the same day that I bought the camper.

[image]

Today, while I was in Dick's Sporting goods, I saw a fishing rod holder for 3 poles:

[image]

Now I have a place for the flashlight and my combination broom and dustpan.

[image]

Posted By: Buzzcut1 on 04/02/13 08:04pm

meatwagon wrote:

Did you stay at Flowing Springs? In my youth we camped up in the caves on the cliffs above the Campground on the Verde

2011 F350 6.7L Diesel 4x4 CrewCab longbed Dually, 2019 Lance 1062, Torqlift Talons, Fast Guns, upper and lower Stable Loads, Super Hitch, 48" Super Truss, Airlift loadlifter 5000 extreme airbags

Posted By: meatwagon on 04/03/13 08:53am

Buzzcut1 wrote:

meatwagon wrote:

Did you stay at Flowing Springs? In my youth we camped up in the caves on the cliffs above the Campground on the Verde

stayed southeast of Payson, near canyon creek. my beagle had a great time treeing squirrels, it's what he lives for.

Posted By: big whitey on 04/03/13 03:37pm

Mello Mike wrote:

Gave my truck and camper a much needed bath.

X2,filthy after our 4 weeks in Fla.

Posted By: freddypinak on 04/04/13 05:15pm

De-winterized the unit and am now sanitizing the water system. Tested the hot water heater, lights, and furnace. Checking off each step puts us closer to our trip to Alaska for the summer!

2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4x4
1998 Lance SquireLite 165

Posted By: mark_be on 04/05/13 11:36pm

Was finally able to finish the job that I have started before new year.

I was changing the charge wiring to 1/0 AWG, but had to wait for the surepower relay. Mine was recalled and took a long time to get a new one. I asked them for an upgrade while changing it in and got it 4 free. [emoticon]

Previously I had a 1315-100amp, but changed that to 1314-200amp, wich was much better with the 1/0 wiring and to uni-directional for solar. The recall came at the right time. [emoticon]

By the time it got here, the truck was gone for a transmission rebuild. I got it back Wednesday.

So yesterday I placed the 1314-200amp relay and connected it, placed and connected my 200A shunt and A-meter, connected the "emergency start" switch, the "emergency cut-off" switch and two led-lights.
Then I placed our extra battery in a hiddenpower from Torklift. We now have a total of 315AH from 3 trojan 27TMX batteries.

When all this was done, I tested my two-way-usage-with-a-one-way-battery-separator-theory. (omg) And it worked! [emoticon]

The reason is: I only want one-way charging, because I don't want to loose solar power to charge the truck batteries. When I'm on shore power, I can choose to charge the truck batteries anyway by using my theory. In other words, I can use it semi-automatic bi-directional if I choose so.
The theory was to hold the emergency start switch for some time (which seems to be 12 seconds) and then release it. After this time, the one-way separator stays closed because it sees more than 13.2V at the truck side. I saw 5 to 10 amps of charging current going from camper to truck, so this is the amount that would get lost by solar if I kept the bi-directional separator.

Some pictures:

[image]

The ammeter works as soon as the separator makes a connection, so I can see when the batteries are charging and by how much. "Plus" means that the truck alternator is charging the camper batteries. "Minus" means that the camper is charging the truck, which is the case in the pictures.

And now I'm going outside to dewinterize and install a water saving shower head.
Greets!

* This post was last edited 04/06/13 12:29am by mark_be *

2001 Ford F350 7.3 Diesel (DRW Crew cab Long bed)
Sonnax TQ and Sonnax 4R100 rebuild - 6.0 transmission cooler and OTW cooler.

2011 Arctic Fox 992 - 2.5kW propane generator - 315AH Trojan batteries - 2kW pure sine wave inverter - 140Wp solar

Posted By: mike mck on 04/07/13 03:34pm

mike mck wrote:

jamminalong wrote:

mike mck wrote:

Bought a F550 XLT to put under it

Pics please!! [emoticon]

Now I need to learn to add images [emoticon]

I think I figured it out. Truck and a shot of the Dana 135
Will load the camper next weekend.
[image]

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