What did you do to your camper today?

[DJ252]

"There was a sale on the long 100 watt panels but they are 86” long x 14” wide.
This one’s only 100 watts, too, but I wanted to try one before really committing to them. The 200 watt panels were in mid $400s or more."

Not always but most often, mixing and matching solar panels, has drawbacks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jejro4zkl8I

[N8DC]

Originally Posted by N8DC

New 6 inch round led tail lamps . The way it should have been done. Pic also shows the led under tailgate strip lights running up the back on each side of the ramp door. I use the backup part for ramp door lighting and they can also be used as backup lights if needed. I also modded the Jack-it bike rack by removing the upper section and adding a regular 2 bike post style rack that you can load 2 bikes easier from the front . The regular Jack-It mount is just to hard to mount a bike on the back side and my wife is no help with a bad shoulder and I aint getting any younger. I will add a pic or 2 later but I am leaving to Toledo Speedway tomorrow then Sunday were pulling down near Dayton Ohio actually the Lebanon KOA for a few days . Hopefully the bikes dont fall off

Well the Modified bike rack worked quite well although the morning before I left I lowered the main upright some. I just dropped it down after removing 2 bolts and re drilled. The jack-it mount allows for a bit too much movement while in transit with the bikes loaded for my taste so I am looking at another option for bracing. I also want to come up with a bit better system for attaching the bikes at the bottom but that's just the way I do things. Right now I am recovering (hopefully) from the flu so I am doing nothing. Summer colds and flu's really suck .

[mlafleur]

Hello fellow RVers,During our spring 2023 migration back from Southern California to Gatineau (QC), we stopped in Myrtle Beach (SC) for one week. We got very heavy rain for two days in a row, and we had some water infiltration in the bedroom, coming from the bottom of the slide out.
I found out that the side trim was detached from the bottom of the wall, potentially letting water seep in. I let the are dry for one day, and reattached the trim to the wall, put an adequate caulking bead, and hoped for the best.
Last week during a short trip to our home town, again during heavy rain, we had water infiltration, in the same area. Obviously my attempt to repair the slide out was a failure.
After having sustained a sleepless night of heavy rain, in the morning I set out to find, and fix the problem for good. The bottom of the slide out was showing delamination and when pressed, was soft and emitted swishing sound of wet, rotten wood.
Upon closer inspection, I found out that the bottom trip was no longer water tight, the caulk being dry and brittle. I started by disassembling the bottom trim and bottom of the slide out. The task was ardous, as the bottom part was going all the way under and inside the rig. I ended up tearing part of it various spots, but not enough to cause problems — I hope.
In any case, it turned out that the middle section and the sides are (were) made of chipboard glued to the upper plywood. Those chip board sections were rotting and all wet. In between the chipboard sections there’s styrofoam. I proceeded to remove the rotten sections and let the inside dry as much as possible. I only had the day to finish up, the next morning was our departure. Luckily, the side was facing south and it was full sun all day. I didn’t replace the material I removed, asking myself if there’s any reason to do it. I might use styrofoam to insulate the area later.
I closed back the area, using an insane amount of caulking, but knowing that when reach the California desert in the fall, I will reopen it again to really let it dry completely and finish the job for good.

[mmartin_tdc]

Installed a softstart on my AC and then tested with my Predator 3500 that I converted to run on propane. Everything worked as claimed. Prior to softstart, I could run the AC on the generator using gasoline, but when I tried with propane, it shutdown due to the high initial demand from the AC unit.

[BrandonSmith]

After 2.5 years full timing in my 2021 Shasta 18FQ, I said goodbye! Moving back home now that my temporary work situation is complete!

I ended up selling it for $15k, which I think was just right to get rid of it relatively quickly. As much as I despise Camping World, they ended up being my highest bidder… Very easy process.

It’s been good here, appreciate all the help y’all have been.

[Boomerweps]

Installed my CIGS solar panel. Only 100watts rated but putting out good power. So called tape mounting is black butyl rubber, VERY sticky. Five stripes the long way and a single the short way across under the connections. I stuck the short side at the very edge of the curved metal front dome and then took off all the other plastic strips and pressed them down. Had to get a towel to use to press it down because in the short period I was installing it, the panel surface got scalding hot.
I’ll likely be getting another. I’ll make a short connecting cord that I can leave connected while traveling. It’ll be held by 3M cable clips.
Just ordered some eternabond type roof tape. Going to put a strip of that across the top of the panel to prevent rain from getting under the panel. The other edges are sealed.

[MaDMaXX]

Looks good, you sure the front edge isn't going to start lifting at speed?

And yes, the 100w panels are pretty good, i used two of them for a few days, in series and replaced the overnight power usage and coffee pot usage before lunchtime.

[Boomerweps]

Originally Posted by MaDMaXX

Looks good, you sure the front edge isn't going to start lifting at speed?

And yes, the 100w panels are pretty good, i used two of them for a few days, in series and replaced the overnight power usage and coffee pot usage before lunchtime.

That black gunk is like tar, super sticky.
Unfortunately, they no longer have the compact tape version listed. Just the prepunched version. On sale for $219, still tempting. I bought some 2” wide industrial strength Velcro, thinking to use it on the so called flexible panels I had, so I could use that for mounting the non taped version. The thin long panels are VERY long, like 7’2”!
Just checked 27vdc on that panel. My TT is facing due south. This panel is far more efficient than my cheap flex panels.

[MaDMaXX]

Makes a big difference in output re the angle toward the sun, being able to keep them perpendicular to the incoming sunshine can really up their output.

Of note from my testing off-camper - i can also say that it takes next to nothing on a panel to really punt it's output, so i imagine taking something to clean off those panels when you get to your destination would be a really good move.

[chewie37]

Did for a second time something I should have done right the first time.

Right after we got our current rig, was transitioning stuff from the previous one over. Mounted the cell booster antenna to the rear ladder. Ran the cable across the roof to the junction/transition box up forward to bring it inside the coach.

I used those stick-on cable tie mounts, and while I was doing it said to myself - "You know, you should probably also use some self leveling sealant on these too just for extra grip." So of course I didn't do that.

Got to fix that today after work and redo the tie mounts along with putting self leveling sealant on them like I should have done in the first place.

[Littladyfinger2]

Installed new double roller kitchen drawer catches. It wasn't nice when they were flying open in travel.
Tomorrow I'm installing a small 8x10 cabinet door sample as a hinged pop up expansion to my basically non-existent bathroom countertop. It will lock up and fold down with 2 hinges that I got from Temu (cheap). I have to use 2 - 1 3/4" blocking under the countertop lip so the shelf will be flush with countertop. I'm installing it on the shower side of my 2017 Work & Play toy hauler.

[Boomerweps]

BOUGE finally got the tape mount compact solar panels back in stock. Ordered a second one. Had to strip off the raised LIMITED letters off the front of the TT for mounting the self stick panel when it arrives. Once mounted, I’ll have a better idea how I want to wire them in. Debating on routing the panel wires externally (to the side inlet with cable clamps) or internally (gland mount on front of TT).

[Boomerweps]

Got a 3’ SAE to SAE cable to mount using 3M cable clips for external solar panel wiring to my side solar inlet. Used several clips. Was using my 20’ extension for testing.
Will test roadworthyness today going to camp about 90 miles away.

[Bill and Gail]

Had oil and filter changed. Had coach battery replaced. Had front link pins replaced.

[JWood422]

Originally Posted by Bill and Gail

…Had front link pins replaced.

I have no idea what front links pins do but it looks like you were wise to replace them!

[Bill and Gail]

Originally Posted by JWood422

I have no idea what front links pins do but it looks like you were wise to replace them!

They connect the sway bar to the suspension

[Boomerweps]

Went camping Tuesday-Friday.
Removed the pivot bases for my rear rack. Rack in storage.
Carefully wrapped my long heavy garden hose into a storage tote. Was always in the way, carried for a macerator, never used.
Shifted to using my LYNX blocks for stabilizers vice screwed together 4x4s. Saving space and weight. Previously used LYNX blocks for leveling, now using crescent style wedges.
Sharpie marked 0 spot on my four bubble levels, one on each side, after perfectly leveling, as best measured, the TT on a blacktopped campsite pad. The levels’ green dye was gone this spring (5 seasons).
Removed ANOTHER never used frypan.

I treated both black & grey tanks for the outgoing trip with Happy Camper. No log flume action noticed in the clear extension during tear down, seemed all broken down, like very muddy water. I’m sold on this stuff. So I put in another treatment into the black tank after tear down dumping for the 100 mile ride home. I’ll let it work till next camp.

[D W]

Winterized and battened down the hatches on the rig and prepared her for the long winter nap. Another camping season in the books. Fairly successful for filling up the freezer with fish, however crab was a absolute bust. Oh well, just waiting on break up. In the meantime it's time to prepare for winter recreation.

[itat]

Took the new TT to a CAT scale on the way home from a camping trip last weekend. The only weight that’s anywhere close to the limit on my 2016 F-250 is the tongue weight on the stock receiver. The front bedroom slide out makes for a relatively heavy tongue weight but I’m 50# shy of its 1250# limit with the WDH.

[EdJunior]

Originally Posted by D W

Winterized and battened down the hatches on the rig and prepared her for the long winter nap. Another camping season in the books. Fairly successful for filling up the freezer with fish, however crab was a absolute bust. Oh well, just waiting on break up. In the meantime it's time to prepare for winter recreation.

Dang, no way man. We're still in the 100's here. We don't have much of a winter as it were anyway, but wow. I think this is the earliest I've seen a winterize post. And it just sounds weird when it's still so hot here. But. I do kinda understand. I spent 3 years in Alaska (Eielson/Fairbanks) courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. Beautiful summers, but the winters are just too cold for me. Way too cold. Anyway, hope you have a good winter, and see ya after breakup!