Cruise Lite 195BH Owners Thread

[Herdfan2005]

Hello All.

Not a TT owner yet but hope to be soon. This thread has been a great reference for the 195BH, which we never really considered because we thought it was too cheap which meant poor quality . We are / were very keen on the Mini Lite 1905 by Rockwood.

After reading this entire thread today I will be taking another look at the 195BH. We got two very young boys 4 and 1 so I think the 195BH may be fine for us for a few years at least and the entry price seems very reasonable.

I look forward to hearing about more mods and such. Thank!

[Golfnbike13]

Originally Posted by Herdfan2005

Hello All.

Not a TT owner yet but hope to be soon. This thread has been a great reference for the 195BH, which we never really considered because we thought it was too cheap which meant poor quality . We are / were very keen on the Mini Lite 1905 by Rockwood.

After reading this entire thread today I will be taking another look at the 195BH. We got two very young boys 4 and 1 so I think the 195BH may be fine for us for a few years at least and the entry price seems very reasonable.

I look forward to hearing about more mods and such. Thank!

This is our first TT and switched from tent camping. Our kids were ages 2 and 4 at the time we got the 195bh and after 2 years it's been great for us. Sure there's a few things I'd like as an upgrade but it's been the perfect starter TT for our family.


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[rvb]

Anyone added a DIY antifreeze intake between the fresh water tank and pump? I'm considering doing this on my Wildwood 195bh, but don't want to use the camco kit.

I have a couple questions here:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ve-116936.html

thanks,
-rvb

[TN_Cruise_Lite]

Here's a little explanation of how my 2 TVs are wired and a couple pics. I plan on putting a shelf in the "wardrobe" cabinet during the Winter to clean everything up a bit, I hate all the wires being exposed.
The antenna connection at the wall now leads to a two-way cable splitter inside the cabinet. This supplies a signal to both the inside and outside TVs. Strangely it will only supply a good signal to one TV at a time, I suppose a signal booster would help. The HDMI 1-2 switch allows me to use one blu-ray player for both TVs, but only one at a time. We went camping last weekend and I was watching football on the outside TV by antenna while my family watched a DVD on the inside TV with no issues. I used a Hillman Group 2-in Plastic Desk Grommet for the hole in the countertop, its item# 139343 at Lowes.

[Golfnbike13]

Here's my outdoor TV I just installed. We rarely use a TV but college football season is a different story, and this will be great for tailgating.
The 19" TV fits perfect but the bracket couldn't swing all the way inside because of fridge so I have to rotate the TV sideways to get it completely inside when closing door.
I still have to clean up the cords so this is a temp setup, but I have the cable running under the lip of the top counter and above the fridge to the TV. There's enough room around the fridge to pass a cable through on top. I will get a shorter cord to the splitter and probably cover all with cord tracking, or may do the desk pass through.
I had both indoor and outdoor TV's working fine together with over air channels. My indoor TV has built in DVD player to save counter space but don't need one for outside, that's just my football TV.
Also made a "remote holder" with some industrial Velcro.
Thanks for the idea TN_Cruise_Lite.




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[TN_Cruise_Lite]

Nice job Golfnbike13! I wanted to mount mine on the left side but on my unit that stud has a long crack in it. I may need to try a different splitter to see if that's my issue with the antenna signal.

[Camp4two]

Very nice outdoor TV mod Golfnbike13. Wish our 2016 195BH had that access door your 2013 has and we woud be doing the same install. Great use of that compartment for an outdoor TV.

[Golfnbike13]

I've blown this same few fuse 3 times now. Not consecutively, it just randomly happens. Just back from a trip and it was blown but everything still worked fine, to my knowledge, although I was on shore power. Any advice why this keeps happening or what it controls?


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[rtidwell]

Our 2016 CruiseLite 195BH has given us the same electrical issue since we bought it. The electrical outlets by the pantry and under the dinette work for awhile, and then just stop.

They are both labeled GCFI, but have no buttons.

I saw somewhere that they are connected to the GCFI outlet by the door/sink, but they are often off when it's on, and resetting it doesn't turn them back on- at least not consistently.

It's not a breaker. And resetting the breakers also doesn't turn them back on.

Anyone had this trouble and found a fix?

[Drew.v]

i made a list of all the 12V Fuses and whats on them, could not figure out anything on that one though.

[Drew.v]

Originally Posted by TN_Cruise_Lite

Nice job Golfnbike13! I wanted to mount mine on the left side but on my unit that stud has a long crack in it. I may need to try a different splitter to see if that's my issue with the antenna signal.

Once you remove the tv wall plate there will be a 2nd tv outlet already split in there run that down the wall then from the wardrobe then through the wall to fridge wall. Both of those are powered antenna jacks, plus there is a cable in jack there too.

[TN_Cruise_Lite]

Originally Posted by Drew.v

Once you remove the tv wall plate there will be a 2nd tv outlet already split in there run that down the wall then from the wardrobe then through the wall to fridge wall. Both of those are powered antenna jacks, plus there is a cable in jack there too.

Great tip, thanks!

[TN_Cruise_Lite]

Got the Blu-ray moved inside the cabinet. Used some of the old dinette table for the shelf.



Here are pics of what I used the rest of the original table for;

this at the end of the bed


and next to the couch, which I have posted before.


Believe it or not there's like a 6"x8" piece remaining that I'll probably use for something.

[Camp4two]

Nice mod and pics TN_Cruise_Lite. I will be doing the same with our DVR box to get it inside the cabinet. Thanks.

[Camp4two]

We recently completed 12 days dry camping in Idaho. This was our longest dry camp in our 195BH so far. Needed to keep our battery charged up.

After much research and talking with two friends who own them, we bought a Renogy 100 Watt (two connected 50 Watt panels) portable solar suitcase with controller from the Renogy factory (same price as on Amazon). The current model has a 30 Amp charge controller (upgraded from the earlier 10 Amp controller).

This solar suitcase worked great! We kept one 27 Group RV/Marine battery fully charged in good sun.

What we changed: The supplied 7 ft. 12 AWG wires with alligator clips on battery is way too short. We purchased 20 ft. 10 AWG 45 amp rated zip wires with power pole connectors from PowerWerx online. I followed the YouTube video "Renogy Mod 3 3" by Rob Nada for the correct PowerWerx wires and power pole connectors. Note: This change may void the warranty but it is necessary to get the solar panels away from shaded areas.

For the 12 days, our biggest drain on the battery was our 24" LCD TV (62 watts) and Direct TV DVR box (34 watts). We ran them for 5-6 hours each evening using a 175 Watt Go Power inverter. By morning our 27 Group battery was 12.2-12.3 volts (60-70% charged). Our solar suitcase took about 6 hours to fully recharge the battery in good sunlight. It will also charge in partial sunlight, but it takes more time. You have to keep moving the panels each hour or so or position it where it will get the maximum sunlight if you leave your campsite for awhile.

We have a backup 27 Group battery, but not sure we need to connect it in parallel to the other one. We conserve power, so the one battery seems to take care of all our electrical needs (lights, TV/DVR, cell phone charging, bathroom fan, pump, water heater ignition).

Hope this helps anyone looking into a portable solar setup. Questions?

[TN_Cruise_Lite]

Nice setup, I may have to borrow the disconnect switch mounting idea. I've hauled that same switch around for two years in my toolbox.

[Terier]

Originally Posted by TN_Cruise_Lite

Nice setup, I may have to borrow the disconnect switch mounting idea. I've hauled that same switch around for two years in my toolbox.

Having an disconnect switch installed was one of the first mods I had done on my unit back when it was new It was worth the investment and the end result is so simple to use. Not a big deal to some people but it was for me.

[Golfnbike13]

I've always just opened the lid and took the negative cable off the post to disconnect....

[daybreak]

Originally Posted by Golfnbike13

I've always just opened the lid and took the negative cable off the post to disconnect....

This.

[Terier]

Originally Posted by Golfnbike13

I've always just opened the lid and took the negative cable off the post to disconnect....

Of course for many members that method works well but not for this gal.

Due to the angle of the trailer and the position of the battery its really a tight fit and I had trouble getting the lid off or back on.