bghouse wrote:

Before I put this to rest - I need to make sure I've given the Cruise America model a fair analysis. There are currently a couple things that make me pause, and I need to understand if there are potential solutions that I can live with - or move off CA for good.

1.) The single battery vs dual battery. I'm concerned that in the future if I want to add solar and an inverter that the Cruise America 23A will not allow it. Are there other options for the battery (even if it costs more) to be able to add the second one somewhere? Hanging bracket under the coach? Somewhere inside with Lithium maybe? I don't plan to boondock immediately - I'll be at campgrounds. Anything else that the single battery limits me on? Can I still run A/C or the microwave on shore power?

2.) Backup camera. I read somewhere that someone tried to install a backup camera on the Cruise America coach and couldn't run the wires, so had to go wireless - but the wireless was buggy and cut out. Is this true? A backup camera is high on my list for safety as a new driver.

3.) Anything else that is non standard that would be critical to know? Am I limited in what can be install on the roof? Does the hardwired electric cord cause any "gotchas". Stuff like that.

4.) Do the CA rigs have the black water flush like the Coachmen Leprechaun I've been looking at with El Monte RV?

Hopefully some of the folks that bought from Cruise America will be able to let me know if I'm worrying for nothing. The pricing difference for me is substantial, even when I add back things like the awning. Since the difference is roughly 5 months of living expenses on the road - I really need to make sure I'm giving the CA rig a fair evalution.

Snowman9000 wrote:

bghouse, do you recall that I wrote a week or two ago to your question about adding a second battery?

craz z wrote:

Ive got an older 23a. Ive got 2 batteries in it one outside in the normal spot and 1 under the bed both agm 400ah. Did a full solar setup 2 panels. 3000 watt full sine. Huge welding cables ran it down near the shower vent. Morningstar ts45 with temp sensor and remote panel to my door entry. Works awesome! Runs everything but ac microwave and fridge.

Never without power i boondock exclusively.

Convertor is always turned off and only use power or genset for ac and convection microwave.

Flush is not on them and not needed. I use a camco swizel stick for sensor cleaning u can put a tank flush on but u have to drill the tank. Reviews arent that hot on them for me to poke a hole in the tank.

I anchored my panels with lags into the roof with plenty of dicor same procedure as roof vents non issue. I used eterna bond for cable runs to the shower vent nothing had moved since installation.

bghouse wrote:

Before I put this to rest - I need to make sure I've given the Cruise America model a fair analysis. There are currently a couple things that make me pause, and I need to understand if there are potential solutions that I can live with - or move off CA for good.

1.) The single battery vs dual battery. I'm concerned that in the future if I want to add solar and an inverter that the Cruise America 23A will not allow it. Are there other options for the battery (even if it costs more) to be able to add the second one somewhere? Hanging bracket under the coach? Somewhere inside with Lithium maybe? I don't plan to boondock immediately - I'll be at campgrounds. Anything else that the single battery limits me on? Can I still run A/C or the microwave on shore power?

2.) Backup camera. I read somewhere that someone tried to install a backup camera on the Cruise America coach and couldn't run the wires, so had to go wireless - but the wireless was buggy and cut out. Is this true? A backup camera is high on my list for safety as a new driver.

3.) Anything else that is non standard that would be critical to know? Am I limited in what can be install on the roof? Does the hardwired electric cord cause any "gotchas". Stuff like that.

4.) Do the CA rigs have the black water flush like the Coachmen Leprechaun I've been looking at with El Monte RV?

Hopefully some of the folks that bought from Cruise America will be able to let me know if I'm worrying for nothing. The pricing difference for me is substantial, even when I add back things like the awning. Since the difference is roughly 5 months of living expenses on the road - I really need to make sure I'm giving the CA rig a fair evalution.

Quote:

I have a single 12V house battery and thinking of purchasing a portable 50 or 100W suitcase solar panel that attaches directly to the battery, or replace the small solar panel with a larger one.

Regarding back up camera. I just had a wired model installed. It is on the rear bumper and the wiring goes under the rig. It was not possible to have a wired camera installed at the top of the rig.

bghouse wrote:



Thank you 510dogmom - this is helpful. I truly have no idea if I'll even need the dual battery setup any time soon. For the backup camera, why wasn't it possible to be installed at the top of the rig?