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: fatmanobx on 12/24/12 07:54am

Changed the oil in my onboard generator...nice easy job.. [emoticon]

2011 Lance 855
3.5# Minpin named Darcy RIP
Ford F250 Super Duty

Posted By: thundercloud on 12/24/12 10:04am

kerry4951 wrote:

btggraphix wrote:

kerry4951 wrote:

Installed basement heat and fan to work off of 110 volt if and when I camp with hook ups. Hit one switch in the hallway and I got both on.

Did you put it on its own thermostat? Could always instead just keep a thermometer in there to help tell you when to flip it on I suppose.

Bet you' will like it.

No thermostat. I found a 200 watt Lasko heater and a 110 volt cooling fan. Both together will use very little power, so Ill turn it on when it gets cold and leave it on. I heat the cabin with a 1500 watt ceramic heater when we have shore power, so I didnt want to go too big with the basment heater and have problems with the 30 amp hook up. I figure with the cabin heat, and the basement heater, the fan should be able to move ample warm air, and no issues with popping any breakers. When I get a chance I will post a separate thread with pics.

Looking forward to the separate post.

Happy TC'N,
David
____________________________________________
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 MegaCab 4x4 CTD 6-speed
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4SB, Xantrex XADC 60, AM Solar 200 watt SunRunner system, Mach8 Cub, Honda eu2200i, Rigid Industries LED lights

Posted By: Kidoo on 12/24/12 12:50pm

Added some insulation to my two fans openings. I used some white foam flooring mat, cut it to fit snug in the fan buttons. Also added some insulation to the air conditionning opening, going camping tonight!

Monaco Cayman 34 2003, Cummins 300HP
Bigfoot 2008, 10.4, F350, 2006, Diesel 6.0, Black, 4x4, long box, Air lift, Rancho 9000, Rear sway bar.

Posted By: JumboJet on 12/24/12 09:19pm

Loaded on the truck to head out for three days of deer hunting IN SNOW!

High temp predicted to be 40f with a low of 11f.

Posted By: Buzzcut1 on 12/24/12 09:19pm

I just couldn't take another smarmy Christmas program on the TV that everyone has seen every year for the past millennia so I powered up the TC. I'm siting here with the heater basting, surfing the net on my laptop, enjoying the peace and quiet away from my mother in law....

the old dawgs hanging out together
[image]

* This post was edited 12/24/12 09:35pm by Buzzcut1 *

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: Kidoo on 12/25/12 12:26pm

Just came back from camping, 11F this morning and everything was nice and coozy in the camper, especially with the heated bed pad. That pad makes a big difference at night. I let the temp go down to 55 and just keep the pad running all night. It does not seem to take much energy, it comes on for a while then after warm up, it just flickers on and off.

Posted By: billyray50 on 12/25/12 12:38pm

Hey What brand heated bed pad did you purchase? Happy Holidays!

Posted By: stumper92 on 12/25/12 01:52pm

Just finished winterizing... I am going to be gone for a month or so for work. I am already looking forward to early spring so I can load up and head out on my next journey!

Posted By: Kidoo on 12/25/12 07:40pm

billyray50 wrote:

Hey What brand heated bed pad did you purchase? Happy Holidays!

Soft Heat, I bought this one because it is more efficient and I do a lot of boonduck without shore power. This unit works with AC power and uses an AC/DC transformer. The transformer take 110 volt AC and put out 19 volt DC to the heating pad. This pad uses less energy than the normal AC heating pad, DC is safer than AC, and you do not have the negative effect of AC electricity, so is said on the advertizing.

I think most heating pad uses AC power, so when no shore power is available, you need an inverter. With the soft Heat, and no shore power, you still need an inverter to make it work because it must transform AC to DC. So this Soft heat pad is more efficient, but without shore power you will need tow devices, one inverter to make AC power, then the unit device that take AC to DC. You end up using two devices to make the DC power which I think uses more power than a straight AC power pad.

So.... to make this thing work with straight DC without the use of an inverter, I just cut the wires to the transformer and connected a DC/DC converter to uptake 12 volt to 19 volt and connected the system to a 12 volt outlet of the camper. A DC/DC converter is supposed to be more efficient than an inverter. This way I have the best of two world, I think anyway, I use an efficient pad with one efficient device.

http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Heat-Waterproof-Repellant-Low-Voltage/dp/B004FPXYOU/ref=pd_sim_hg_4

Posted By: wintersun on 12/26/12 05:12pm

Removed the Blue Sky 3024 controller and replaced the program chip and then reinstalled it in the kitchen cabinet and reconnected the solar panels. Will know in a couple days if going back to an earlier rev level of 3.20 fixed the operating problems. Now need for the rain to letup and some sun to shine on the panels.

Like the idea of the mother-in-law hideout. I can see where the concept could be easily expanded upon.

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