Surveyor 220RBS owners - Page 3

Sequim2018 · 01-07-2016, 09:01 PM

I have a question? I am assuming, since I can't find one, that I do not have a battery shut off. Has anyone added this?
Since I cant plug in my trailer right now the battery has gone dead. Plan to pug it in this weekend but being able to shut off all the batteries can be worth having this feature.

Don

1oleman · 01-07-2016, 11:20 PM

Hello Don, you are right, there is no battery shut off. I have seen some where on this site where others have added one, might try doing a search on "battery shutoff"

Rich

mjones12 · 01-08-2016, 01:22 PM

Harbor Freight has one with a red T-handle. Can be attached to the battery cover. We love it. Never a low battery in almost 3 years.

armyfa78 · 01-08-2016, 06:42 PM

I just undo the white neutral lead whenever trailer is in storage. Tried a battery shutoff device but then had issues with getting the plastic battery cover to fit back on properly .

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pt1655 · 03-01-2016, 12:12 PM

Congrats on your Surveyor 220! We have had ours since April, 2013 and still love it. No problems other than what I have caused in my enthusiasm to mod and upgrade. One of the best things I ever did was the battery disconnect switch, you should consider it. Another great thing was taking the luggage rack off the back since we don't use it and moving the spare tire to the back bumper. I also got a dual 12v/gas water heater switch to replace the stock gas switch and that is really convenient.
Anyway, lots of great ideas and help on this forum, happy camping!

HappycamperJr · 03-01-2016, 07:20 PM

Hi there pt1655
Thanks for the idea inputs. I did get my battery switch but have yet to install it. As to the hot water heater. Mine is 2015 model & gas I believe is the only source?? - now I will have to go out and look for that. As to the cargo rack I plan to take my bike out and the rack affords that ability for me. That's probably my only use for the rack.

mjones12 · 03-01-2016, 08:07 PM

You should be able to find the switch for hot water electric element on the outside, behind the water heater cover. Hard to see, but it's an on-off rocker switch. Probably have to bend over to see it.

damann · 04-23-2016, 02:23 PM

We recently purchased a gently used 2014 Surveyor Sport. It has a fold down rack at the back that can be used for gear or bikes. Just wondering if anyone has a pic of their bikes on the rack? I'm not quite sure how they will stay put.

We aren't thrilled with the corner cushions on the dinette either, brought lots of toss cushions to use while cuddled up Will either re-configure (cut and sew the cushions flat, or just leave them at home next trip. Wondering what people are using instead of the bulky fold down table?

No mods on ours so far, but I did buy a cutting board from the Kitchen Dept (not the Market dept) at Ikea that sits nicely on top of the narrow side of the sink. Gives me an extra foot or two of working space.
Has anyone installed a fold down counter extension at the outside cupboard beside the sink?

I have a lot of ideas that involve screwing gear racks etc into the walls. Can anyone tell me what I have to use to anchor them properly to the outside walls of the wardrobe cabinets? Feels like a hollow wall to me.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. I am a bit OCD about organizing things, but a little scared to start drilling holes.

pt1655 · 04-24-2016, 05:19 PM

Hello damann,
We have had our Surveyor 220 for 3 years now and still love it. A couple of things we did that might interest you are we replaced the heavy, awkward and knee crushing factory table with a height adjustable plastic table from Bed Bath and Beyond or WalMart (can't remember which) that works quite well. When not using it we just stow it away. I also put up a countertop extension that is really handy. Since our bedroom wardrobe storage is limited I also put together a couple of shoe racks to hang from the bed box that has proven to be really handy. I just used left over lumber and dowels I had and cut some over the door plastic hooks to size, screwed them to the back of the shoe racks, stained them and there you go.
Have and fun and congrats on the new trailer!
Pete
Happy Camping!!

mjones12 · 04-24-2016, 06:03 PM

pt1655: What a great idea for hanging shoes under the edge of the bed. Ours usually go on the floor under there, but your idea is so much better and looks simple. I'm going to try it this week.

One thing we did to create more counter space was to rig up a bamboo cutting board that fits on top of the stove. We removed the folding stove cover so that the grate-work over the burners is exposed. Then we got some shower rod ends from Wal-Mart to be the "feet" on the bottom of the cutting board. Took some trial and error, but we got the four feet to fit so that they hold the board in place atop the grates. Won't slide around and can be lifted off when cooking with the burners.

The shower rod ends I'm referring to are the round parts that go on a wall so the rod itself can be lowered into it through a slot. Two or three inches in diameter and made of plastic. They can be glued on the bottom of the board or screwed in after you've determined the placement of them. Had photos but can't find them now.

damann · 04-25-2016, 07:03 PM

Wondering if there is a water filter in a 2104 Surveyor Sport 220RBS? We haven't found one, and the Owner's Manual is rather vague on the topic (as well as several other topics). The instructions in the book for Winterizing without a compressor were completely useless. Told us to fill the fresh tank with several gallons of antifreeze (to the minimum level for the water pump, whatever that is?)

. A few minutes of internet exploring gave us the correct instructions using the mystery clear hose pipe and the water pump vacuum inlet. Ready to de-winterize, and wonder if we should be looking for a water filter, and if so where it might be found?

Lots more to learn.

mjones12 · 04-25-2016, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damann

Wondering if there is a water filter in a 2104 Surveyor Sport 220RBS? We haven't found one, and the Owner's Manual is rather vague on the topic (as well as several other topics). The instructions in the book for Winterizing without a compressor were completely useless. Told us to fill the fresh tank with several gallons of antifreeze (to the minimum level for the water pump, whatever that is?)

. A few minutes of internet exploring gave us the correct instructions using the mystery clear hose pipe and the water pump vacuum inlet. Ready to de-winterize, and wonder if we should be looking for a water filter, and if so where it might be found?

Lots more to learn.

My 2013 Surveyor 220 does not have one.

Sequim2018 · 04-26-2016, 02:31 PM

I am back to getting excited about taking the Surveyor out after the problems we have had with it. One more problem to go and I will be good!

I need to get an idea of how any of you tie down a bike on the bike rack. Pictures would be great. Is it as simple as a strap on the bar that folds up?

Don

Tharmann · 07-08-2016, 02:29 PM

We to have a SP220 in Wisconsin, we like it alot. I have done many mods to it, 120 watt solar panel, shower head on slide rod, 12 volt TV in the bedroom, LED light throughout, 12 volt ceiling fans with rain covers, added wall switches throughout and more.

pt1655 · 07-09-2016, 01:33 PM

Great mods Tharmann! Looks like a lot of work but well worth it I'm sure. Does your 2014 220 not have a swivel tv between the living room and bedroom? Our 2013 does so I was surprised to see you mounting a tv in your bedroom, but maybe because you sleep with your heads against the wall, not the front of the trailer as we do. One mod I did that was a bit of work but oh so convenient was to buy a dual Suburban gas/electric water heater switch and put that in so we could leave the outside water heater switch on all the time. (I tapped into the existing power lead to the electric side of the water heater in the power center under the stove.)
Anyway, great job and great post! Happy Camping!

mjones12 · 07-09-2016, 01:33 PM

Very nice work, tharmann.

Tharmann · 07-11-2016, 08:12 AM

Our 220 does not have the swivel TV between the living room and bedroom, it has the two pocket doors, yes we sleep with our heads to that wall so I wanted the doors and the wall to be the headboard of the bed. The added TV is 12 volts so it work even when we are not plugged in to shore power.

I too want to add the duel switch for the ele/gas water heater!

This weekend we added panels to a 5th wheel camper, the owner is a good friend.

Tharmann · 08-05-2016, 12:51 PM

Hello PT1665
I have a question on the dual Suburban gas/electric water heater switch you installed. On the 115 volt switch, did you use a relay? The switch is only a SPST switch so I would like to know how to wire that side of the gas/electric water heater switch. I have one, I think just like your pic but my is black.
You did say "I tapped into the existing power lead to the electric side of the water heater in the power center under the stove".
So you are running the hot 115 volt wire to the dual Suburban gas/electric water heater switch?

Thanks for you help.
Tim

pt1655 · 08-11-2016, 02:16 PM

Hi Tharmann,
I just found the wire going to the water heater from the 110v buss on the power panel under the stove and split it, running a new 2 wire lead up to the new switch; the bottom (or "off" position) switch wire going to the 110v buss wire (turn off power before doing any of this), and the top (or "on" position) switch wire attaching to the existing wire going to the water heater. Very convenient although I still leave the circuit breaker off when not using the water heater to lessen the chance of turning it on without water in it. Have fun!

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