What did you do to your camper today?

[FirstTracks]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

It hit the adapter just right to spin it off without breaking a thing.
So I never considered it before but maybe I should consider a deflector shield.

You were lucky! I'll post pics of my new "skid plates" once I get the trailer back, but we opted for 1/2" steel bar instead of a shield-type plate due to the potential for a plate to get, uh...rather yucky courtesy of the plumbing it's protecting. Drip, drip.

I didn't want to go here because it's rather embarrassing, but a few weeks after the incident that gave rise to this week's repairs, I was backing into a spot at The Wedge, a boondocking area in the Utah desert at San Rafael Swell. It was a tight spot, and both my wife's uncle and I were watching what we thought was the tricky side, and not paying enough attention to what we thought was the easy side. Sure enough, there was a juniper branch sticking out horizontally low to the ground that took off my dump valves lickety-split. Repeat the pogo-stick routine.

Thank God we were just arriving for the first night of a four-day trip, otherwise that would've been rather messy. We just dug cat holes for the trip instead. I didn't damage the tanks, but that was still over $900 to have fixed. After just filing the insurance claim for the aspen tree damage, I decided to eat that one myself.

That type of situation, and low-clearance rocks on unmaintained western roads is why I'm adding the skid bars to protect the valves even though I already have decent ground clearance and my axles are already flipped. And my repair guy made a good point that should the skid bottom out on a rock it could force the other side of the trailer down, thus we're duplicating the skid bars around the stairs to protect those, too. As I imagine is the case for most folks, those are my two most vulnerable points.

Yup, "those inanimate objects jumping out at you" are for real. At some point I'll surely stop making these rookie mistakes.

[18CrewDually]

Rookie or not things happen, to all of us. Besides, you need something to talk about around the fire. The key is to keep the costs of the repairs down.

[Evereddie]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

...... The key is to keep the costs of the repairs down.

The key is to have good insurance.. No,...great insurance.

[FirstTracks]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Rookie or not things happen, to all of us. Besides, you need something to talk about around the fire. The key is to keep the costs of the repairs down.

I seem to be incapable of doing anything half-a.

Originally Posted by Evereddie

The key is to have good insurance.. No,...great insurance.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure I'm employed by their parent company, but my experience with the claims department at Foremost has been wonderful (they're the division of Farmers that underwrites specialty vehicles like RVs, motorcycles, etc.).

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by Evereddie

The key is to have good insurance.. No,...great insurance.

Yes. Got that. Used that once. Yes, an inanimate construction post skipped down the side of the 5er one evening coming home. 6k+ estimate later Progressive cut me a check and I ordered parts and did the repairs. That was the worse feeling when it happened but Progressive were a pleasure to deal with.

[FirstTracks]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Progressive were a pleasure to deal with.

Another solid insurer.

[Evereddie]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Yes. Got that. Used that once. Yes, an inanimate construction post skipped down the side of the 5er one evening coming home. 6k+ estimate later Progressive cut me a check and I ordered parts and did the repairs. That was the worse feeling when it happened but Progressive were a pleasure to deal with.

That's good news. We just switched to Progressive.

[m35a2]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Had it already but had a repair shop extend it about a year ago.

My rig has an outside kitchen and a grill on the bumper, but I didn't get a propane hose. I need to figure out what kind of connectors I need.

That's a pretty slick setup you've got there.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

Jeff has been ... bored, or busy ... so with a rainy day today, time to post up some recent mods.

- Stainless 8-32 Bolts and T-Nuts on Converter / Water Pump / Slide Controller compartment panel - this is for future control and status panel build
- Brass 10-24 Bolts and stainless T-Nuts on L5-30 AC Inlet



- work light in Water Pump/Converter compartment - DC power from Slide power - provides breaker status
- Water Pump re-mounted, raised, additional vinyl bushings added for quieting, dress power cables
- Remounted Lippert Slide Controller off-floor and dress Slide-Out Controller cables



Added Two Dual 15-Amp Circuit Breakers to provide separate AC circuits for
- Refrigerator (existing breaker, other outlets removed)
- Dinette Quad Outlet (removed from Fridge circuit)
- Bedside / Night Stand Outlets (2) (removed from Fridge circuit)
- Power Converter (separated from Bathroom breaker)
- Kitchen and Right Side Outdoor Outlet (removed from Bathroom GFCI circuit)
- and a pretty label for all the new circuits
(Yes, a power shed for the A/C is in the works .... )



- Dinette "Decora" Outlet replaced with Quad Almond color NEMA 5-15R Receptacles
- Bedside / Night Stand outlets replaced with Almond color Decora Receptacles
- "Lead" Kitchen outlet replaced with Ivory color Decora 15A GFCI





- "AC ACTIVE" indicator added to Refrigerator 120 Volt AC plug - also replace black outlet with Ivory color



- LED Fridge Light - "Festoon" style lamp



- Added switch to disable fridge door heater



( continues in next post ... )

[Jeff_and_Abby]

- Single T10 - W5W - 194 - 168 LED's replace LED arrays in two lights over head of bed
- All "Dual" Euro Overhead Lights modified to High-Off-Low switching and appropriate LED's
- Single Light over Bathroom Sink replaced with Dual High-Off-Low as above
There is more information about the High-Off-Low mod in another post:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1578448



- work light in Water Heater (back) compartment - DC power from water heater / CO-Propane Alarm circuit - also provides light in under-sink area



- Simple DC Voltmeter / 3-Amp USB Charger in behind-TV 12-Volt receptacle
- Simple AC Voltmeter joins Line Monitor in behind-TV AC receptacle



- added "Wingman" to Winegard "Sensar" Television Antenna



- Hooks at entry door for two retractable dog leads



- 2-Gallon Water Pressure Tank added under Bathroom Sink - source is Tee at Pump Output



- Oxygenics Shower Head - Love It
- Quarter-Turn handles replace original water knobs in shower



- moved original / added second battery box
- new pair of 6 Volt Golf Cart Batteries
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f46/2-new-6v-batteries-help-us-not-screw-them-up-140665-3.html#post1581359

[aeblank]

I really wish the pictures worked!

[Jeff_and_Abby]

Originally Posted by aeblank

I really wish the pictures worked!

Well, isn't that not fun ... the "preview" function feeds of the cached version (using firefox here) ...

Will try and fix 'em ... ... thanks for the heads-up.

----

Edit - think they are working now. Don't know how to disable or get around the "attachment preview" business.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by m35a2

My rig has an outside kitchen and a grill on the bumper, but I didn't get a propane hose. I need to figure out what kind of connectors I need.

That's a pretty slick setup you've got there.

I would see if the dealer can provide it for you. If they included the grill, seems like they should provide a way to deliver propane to it. I got one with my outdoor cooktop and got a new one with this kit.

[A32Deuce]

Did three mods today. The two AC runs, blocked off after last ceiling vent. Much more air flow now. 2, ran an HDMI line from the sat. box to bed room tv. Suprise, the remote works the box in the lroom. 3, a while back I bought another wall control panel. Got tired of forgetting to turn propane hot water side off and getting an alarm from the heater getting hot driving down the road. To fix I used the water pump switch from the spare panel and it lights up the whole time the propane water heater is on. We don't leave it on all the time anyway so that's a win in my book.

[mn camper guy]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I just used some eye hooks, u-bolts and bungee cords:

Why dont you use the rear bumper to carry the sewer hose?

[A32Deuce]

I don't know about the inside of your bumper, but mine is full of sharp welding slang from when the flat steel was welded into a square tube. Tears up sewer hose quicker then, yo know. Unless,you were lucky and got a smooth one!

[wana65stang]

Originally Posted by dbarr

Spotted this Toyota spare tire plastic hard cover lying along side the road and had a thought. After a quick u-turn I claimed my prize.

Now that is a great idea!!!

[pbandrb]

I think my incident occurred on our 3rd trip, not as much damage. I have to navigate the tree, mail box, and parked cars. Sometimes if i get the angle of truck and trailer to much the WDH round bar on passenger side will drop out. DW stands by the tree now to let me know when trailer is clear. When truck is hooked up to trailer the front of the truck is about 2 feet from road. Here are my pics. I did not know i snagged the tree until we got to the campground and i went to connect city water. I saw some leaves in the trim so i called my neighbor to see what the damage was to the dogwood tree only one limb

[Jay2504]

Jeff where did you get that switch that you put on the refrigerator light. I just fished out the plug through the light hole for the heater and unplugged it. I don't know if I will ever need the heater or not this weekend is our first trip out after I unplugged the heater. Jay

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by pbandrb

Sometimes if i get the angle of truck and trailer to much the WDH round bar on passenger side will drop out.

Can you just hook up the WDH bars after you get out to the road?