Mini Lite 2511S Owners Thread - Page 37

Johnfort · 08-26-2021, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvflyer57

I have a 2513s, but same table. I’d have to measure for exact size, but it spans just shy of the theater seat width and about 20” across. It wouldn’t leave a lot of walking room when set up. We frankly haven’t used it yet since we prefer to eat outside. However, it would also make a good outside table for eating or meal prep.

Mine is in the garage. TV trays work well.

jsk125 · 08-31-2021, 10:36 AM

I asked this in the tech talk/electric section .. but I would really like to hear from 2511s owners. Answers were about finding breakers from panel to controller and controller to batteries - but no clarity in answers.

Long and short - how do you deal with the solar panel power input while replacing or removing batteries - to ensure no one is hurt and nothing is broken? And what do you do in winter (I'm in PA, so long cold winter)

Thanks .. original message below.

Hi folks ..

I'm picking up my new 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2511s soon. It's at the dealer. Regarding solar, I'll have the 190W panel on the roof, and I have a 100W portable panel. I also have the 12v fridge. Two deep cycle batteries.

My questions are:

If I need to swap out a battery, or remove for the winter, what is the process so I don't get zapped? How to "stop" the solar charging process safely? Remove fuses? Cover the panel? Battery shut off switch (built in), some combination of all of the above? And I assume when putting in new batteries, just reverse the process. Install batteries then "undo" whatever I did?

Related - I usually pull the batteries in the winter and take them home and trickle charge or check weekly or so and charge. Same topic as above, how to I set up so there isn't a charge going to the terminal wires all winter, and they accidentally touch? Etc. What is the right process to ensure safety? I guess I could also cover the panel during the winter with a canvas tarp? (I'm in PA, sometimes a long winter)

I'm starting off with two batteries, 1 from the factory and 1 I have that it in very good shape. I know that's not ideal, but for the remainder of this year it should work. I don't boondock often, though I have two nights in October. What are the best suggestions going forward, given that I don't boondock more than once a year? Stay with existing batteries till they clearly won't carry the load (save money). Go with two 6v golf cart batteries next year?

Any advice is good. I'm sure they will go through this during my pickup technical discussion, but I prefer input from experienced folks.

delseb · 09-02-2021, 06:46 PM

We find the lights to be to bright, so want to change bulb's to a softer tone. How does one open the light to make the change?
Del

2plus1 · 09-02-2021, 10:53 PM

The lens unscrews to reveal the LEDs. Counterclockwise does it. Don't grab the base ring, I use the flat of my hand.

Paul

delseb · 09-03-2021, 07:05 AM

Thanks Paul

2plus1 · 09-03-2021, 07:47 AM

You're welcome Del. I find them to be too bright most times also but there are times when these old eyes need all the help they can get. So we purchased a pair of these. We already have battery backups for our phones so these fit the bill, small, run for a week on a charge. They are not 'rechargeable', there are no batteries in them. We got ours for $9.99 ea.

https://www.amazon.ca/Night-Light-LP...rfy_rp_crs_0_i

delseb · 09-03-2021, 06:48 PM

Paul
I was able to get the cover off ok but not sure how the round led comes off. Because of health problems it's hard to look straight up. Does anyone know what it takes?
Del

jsk125 · 09-09-2021, 02:28 PM

Picked up our new 2511s from the dealer yesterday, and shot over to a local rv park to set it up:

The overall quality was quite good. We did not see anything except a small area above the bathroom window where the seam pulled a little on wall paper, and on the large slide out a gap at the bottom, but not a gap in the rubber gasket. They will fix it when we bring it in.

It poured last night, which was OK, as we checked for leaks and didn't see anything. Everything worked well, including AC and the tv antenna. I didn't setup the wifi ranger. The fridge worked very well, nice and cold. Inverter, controller all good. We checked the potable water tank, then city water. Awning excellent. connecting to bluetooth was fine.

Tips? Don't put heavy items like a large cast iron grill on the small counter pop up. Get pool tubes to push under the sliding doors while traveling. The external storage behind the 12v fridge is small than it looks. With no under the seat storage we had to get a bit creative overall relative to storage.

So .. first night/first glance we are happy with the build, quality, etc. We are going out for 3 nights later this month to re-organize shelves and storage, and continue checking things.

Do be careful that the steps are set even, and test by closing/opening the screen door, not the main door.

More to come ....

Ex-tenter · 09-09-2021, 08:53 PM

Nice!

jsk125 · 09-28-2021, 03:59 PM

Took the new 2022 2511s for a three night trip to Cape May

1. If new, check that your water connections are all tight. We had a leak under the sink. I learned how to take out the drawers, tightened it, and now all good

2. I'm having a bit of trouble with the drawer under where TV would mount in the bedroom. I'll take it out and check

3. Exterior storage doors do close tight, but you have lift them a little

4. Freezer - be sure to push closed, not just let it swing shut like a home fridge. If you push it, it does close tightly.

5. Lights are very bright. The one above the coach is almost unusable if you are sitting there after dusk. I'm going to look to line the inside of the plastic light cover with a tinted tape or something like that. We don't use the overhead much. I bought some nice UBS powered lights (work plugged in or after charged). We use those by the bed and one in the main area, it works fine.

6. I like the fireplace more than I thought I would. You can run it without heat, nice ambiance.

7. I don't like the power hitch lift as much as the bulldog one I had on my old camper, but it works

8. The external LED on under the window is cool, but bright

9. The tire pressure tool is hard to setup but works well

10. The fridge will automatically turn on when you put the battery disconnect to connect. Not a big issue, but be aware

11. We did get pool noodles to stuff under the sliding doors when we travel

12. The AC and Heat are soooooo much quieter than my previous camper. The ducted AC and heat is great

13. If you open a few windows and turn on the air max fan (I tried with both, in the bathroom and bedroom) it really pulls a lot of air in then out. You can feel it coming in through the windows

14. Shower is great, but if you not perfectly level on the slide out side, water will pool and you have to use a towel to push it to the drain, which is on the other side and not in the middle.

Overall, no substantial build issues. Solar works well. The storage is really good. I put a couple of large hooks over the back wall, and got some wire storage to place over the hooks. Works great for a bin for lubricants, etc.

The slider storage is not as big as it looks. But I put all the chock blocks in there, a bag with the hose connectors, my level, etc.

Pretty happy overall.

jsk125 · 09-29-2021, 10:05 AM

FYI gang .. the large drawer in the bedroom against the sink/hotwater tank - is really designed poorly. For mine (brand new) the drawer was not working correctly. I got the drawer out ... the screw holding the left slide came out, and slides are attached to two freestanding pieces of wood that are not bolstered against the walls - kind of floating.

To fix, I'll likely have to take out the kitchen drawers, figure out how to support the two 1x1 pieces that that slides attach to. Also I need to move the single screw holding in the lift slide.

Pretty cheesy construction. It's the only issue I've found so far though

RavensRoost · 09-29-2021, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsk125

I asked this in the tech talk/electric section .. but I would really like to hear from 2511s owners. Answers were about finding breakers from panel to controller and controller to batteries - but no clarity in answers.

Long and short - how do you deal with the solar panel power input while replacing or removing batteries - to ensure no one is hurt and nothing is broken? And what do you do in winter (I'm in PA, so long cold winter)

Thanks .. original message below.

Hi folks ..

I'm picking up my new 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2511s soon. It's at the dealer. Regarding solar, I'll have the 190W panel on the roof, and I have a 100W portable panel. I also have the 12v fridge. Two deep cycle batteries.

My questions are:

If I need to swap out a battery, or remove for the winter, what is the process so I don't get zapped? How to "stop" the solar charging process safely? Remove fuses? Cover the panel? Battery shut off switch (built in), some combination of all of the above? And I assume when putting in new batteries, just reverse the process. Install batteries then "undo" whatever I did?

Related - I usually pull the batteries in the winter and take them home and trickle charge or check weekly or so and charge. Same topic as above, how to I set up so there isn't a charge going to the terminal wires all winter, and they accidentally touch? Etc. What is the right process to ensure safety? I guess I could also cover the panel during the winter with a canvas tarp? (I'm in PA, sometimes a long winter)

I'm starting off with two batteries, 1 from the factory and 1 I have that it in very good shape. I know that's not ideal, but for the remainder of this year it should work. I don't boondock often, though I have two nights in October. What are the best suggestions going forward, given that I don't boondock more than once a year? Stay with existing batteries till they clearly won't carry the load (save money). Go with two 6v golf cart batteries next year?

Any advice is good. I'm sure they will go through this during my pickup technical discussion, but I prefer input from experienced folks.

I have a 2511S with two 6VDC deep cycle golf cart batteries in series. Same refrigerator you have. My TT is equipped with tank heaters for plumbing and the electric fire place. I got it last March, and when it got cold at night I just turn the heaters on along with the fireplace set to 50F. Never had a problem. I also plug it into house power (15AMP) but not sure if that is even necessary. I live in SE Virgina, not know for freezing weather.

jsk125 · 09-30-2021, 08:45 AM

Thanks .. unfortunately, I store mine in an RV lot. I haven't decided what to do about the batteries yet

krakalackin · 10-06-2021, 11:33 AM

Hi all! New to the forum and I've really zeroed in on this model. Is there a more detailed spec sheet for the unit? Like dimensions of the unit's furniture, appliances, slides, etc.? Are there technical/service manuals?

TwoKozy · 10-08-2021, 07:46 PM

I got this from Forest River/Rockwood engineering early on when we bought our 2020 2511S slightly used and we had to figure things out on our own.They might be able to supply the same type of drawings for 2021/2022 models.
Worth a phone cal to customer service.They have been very cordial with us when we needed to order parts direct.Hope you get one, we love ours.

krakalackin · 10-09-2021, 05:15 PM

Awesome. Thanks for the help.

jsk125 · 10-12-2021, 12:12 PM

Hey folks .. second update

1. I mentioned the large bedroom drawer agains the kitchen. Take it out and check the slideout screws and tighten, also I pull L brackets on the wood at the back end, that the brackets attach to .. Just awful construction, but easy fix

2. After my 2nd use, the 12v fridge shifted a bit, and has a slight lean to the left. Now the freezer door hits the side wood frame. I have to lightly push the fridge to close the freezer. Taking in for warranty work in November. It must have come loose

3. Had a water leak on my 2nd use. Under the kitchen sink. I took out the drawers and simply tightened the cold water attachment. I told the dealer they should have checked all water attachments and tightened, since I paid like $800 for their setup (part of the deal, couldn't cancel"

4. I did a weekend test on a sunny weekend, and the 2 12v flooded batteries held up well with fridge on the entire time. Did a 2 night boondocking in overcase/rainy weather - and barely had enough juice at the end, and that included turning the fridge off one evening, and using a 100amp portal panel as well. So sunny weekend, all good - bad weekend with both panels were barely pulling an amp or two, no good. We don't boondock a lot, so later I'll upgrade batteries, etc.

On the good side:

1. Everything else works great
2. Pulls wonderfully with my 2020 Ford Expedition with max tow
3. No other obvious issues with the build, everything is working fine
4. We did get foam toppers for the bed - works great
5. Amazing storage for it's size.
6. I got an adapter so I can use the griddle with the green propane tanks and not hook against the camper, worked fine
7. We bought two nice plastic TV trays and place one against the rear bathroom wall .. nice for extra storage. We can pull them to the couch to eat in, which we rarely do
8. I got a couple of hooks to go over the rear storage wall in the underside storage, then hung a few things (extenstion cord, etc). Just helped a bit. Great storage under there.

So far so good - a few problems, but nothing insurmountable.

jsk125 · 12-14-2021, 12:13 PM

Well .. the fridge bracing failed and fridge leaned slightly and the freezer banged the wood frame. That was quickly fixed under warranty .. along with a gap at the bottom of the large slide out below the seal.

Both were quickly fixed.

The first season was otherwise uneventful. We did find out that we can barely get three days, maybe 4 when boondocking on a rainy weekend when the fridge is running before the batteries get dangerously low. We don't boondock often, and we have a 2,000 watt generator if needed.

The only other quality issue was the crappy drawer support in the large bedroom drawer behind the sink, under the window. I had to add L brackets to the wood, and replace the slide screw, which came out.

Pretty satisfied with summer #1. The larger grey and black tanks are nice, as is the ability to drain the fresh water tank quickly. Storage is great. Our 2020 Ford Expedition with max tow pulls it like a champ. Gas mileage isn't great, but expected. We are looking forward to next spring/summer.

Happy Holidays!

TwoKozy · 12-24-2021, 01:26 PM

Has anyone else had issues with the wardrobe inside gaskets sliding up/down and falling off the metal channel it is supposed to grip?
my front one falls and folds in half every time we retract the wardrobe slide out.The rear inside gasket (closest to the bedroom door) comes loose where the upper slide out track crosses under it.
I have to reposition the rear one up or down and hold the top half of the front gasket in place while my wife opens the slide out because the upper slide out track knocks the gasket off the vertical metal channel that it is supposed to grip!
Is there a trick to getting that gasket to grip both side of its intended metal channel?
Very frustrating.
Any thoughts from other 2511S owners?

LostwithNikki · 03-01-2022, 08:22 PM

Thank you everybody for the help. I found what I had done. Lets start at the beginning. My wife and I got rid of the Class A which was a failure and a profit since we sold it for more than we bought it. I found that I had left the Unused refrigerator and the inverter ON. After the 350-400 mile trip and putting the RV on Base long term storage I found that the inverter and 12volt refrigerator was always on. The problem is now fixed. I have affixed three check lists to the exit. One for hey we are here for the night, two for we are here for a long time and THREE this is long term storage more than a week. Again thank you all for the help.

v/r

LostWithNikki

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