Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos
Another member suggested a new forum section with new products but it doesn't look like it will be feasible. So I thought I would post this here under General RVing Issues. If enough people post (even...
Forum Discussion
Decided I needed a few more Mods to add to what I posted on previous page.
My old camper had an off switch for the battery as part of the converter, didn't think I would miss it but there is enough low current draw items that if I don't drive the truck for a couple of weeks I could see the loss on the battery charge. I was also monitoring the battery with one of those plug in the 12 volt adapter meters and discovered it was very unreliable for actual battery voltage compared to my regular hand held meter. So I installed the following in the panel at the front of the camper, battery is on the other side of panel with the water tank.
Straight forward installation as you would expect accept I bought a switch that will allow two batteries and I only have one (may add another in the future). Not liking to have a switch not fully used, I wired it backwards so if it is in battery 2 position only the meter was attached to the battery probably not to useful but this means if I use the Battery 1&2 position I have the meter on and the camper powered and in the Battery 1 position the camper is powered and no meter. Not sure yet if I want the meter on all the time, 10 ma draw plus more things glowing in the night and I didn't have to add a switch for the meter.
I got the switch and meter off eBay. Switch is the most common one I saw listed. The meter was a real find, much smaller and easier to mount than most. Mounts through 1 1/8" hole with a large nut on the back, very thin. Here is a link to the fellows store, lots of interesting stuff.
The other mod is pretty specific to my needs. A couple of times a year I need to haul some long poles for a special setup (not important to the mod). The old camper I tied them to the fold up jacks, new camper no fold up jacks. I added a couple of strap brackets to the underside of the overhang. I use 1/4-20 oval headed bolts instead of the wood screws that came with them for more strength. Now I can strap the pipes up under the edge and let them extend beyond the back of the camper a foot or so with a couple of flat tie straps.
Couldn't take pictures of the last mod it is back in a cabinet where you can't see. I like having all the manuals and papers for the camper with me in case I need to do repairs on the road. They are usually in the way so I always try to find an out of the way place to store them. In this camper I had a cubby hole that had the camper framing exposed so I took a piece of elastic and put an electrical crimp on eye on both ends one small one large. Screwed the small eye to the far end of the framing and then put a screw on the next vertical frame member with a head small enough for the large eye to go over (don't screw in all the way in). I put the manuals in a large envelope and stuck it vertical between the framing members and pulled the elastic across it and over the screw to hold it in place. Completely out of the way but always along if I need it.
No more mods planned for now but have a 5 day off grid trip planned shortly, we will see what is missing then. :B
My old camper had an off switch for the battery as part of the converter, didn't think I would miss it but there is enough low current draw items that if I don't drive the truck for a couple of weeks I could see the loss on the battery charge. I was also monitoring the battery with one of those plug in the 12 volt adapter meters and discovered it was very unreliable for actual battery voltage compared to my regular hand held meter. So I installed the following in the panel at the front of the camper, battery is on the other side of panel with the water tank.
Straight forward installation as you would expect accept I bought a switch that will allow two batteries and I only have one (may add another in the future). Not liking to have a switch not fully used, I wired it backwards so if it is in battery 2 position only the meter was attached to the battery probably not to useful but this means if I use the Battery 1&2 position I have the meter on and the camper powered and in the Battery 1 position the camper is powered and no meter. Not sure yet if I want the meter on all the time, 10 ma draw plus more things glowing in the night and I didn't have to add a switch for the meter.
I got the switch and meter off eBay. Switch is the most common one I saw listed. The meter was a real find, much smaller and easier to mount than most. Mounts through 1 1/8" hole with a large nut on the back, very thin. Here is a link to the fellows store, lots of interesting stuff.
The other mod is pretty specific to my needs. A couple of times a year I need to haul some long poles for a special setup (not important to the mod). The old camper I tied them to the fold up jacks, new camper no fold up jacks. I added a couple of strap brackets to the underside of the overhang. I use 1/4-20 oval headed bolts instead of the wood screws that came with them for more strength. Now I can strap the pipes up under the edge and let them extend beyond the back of the camper a foot or so with a couple of flat tie straps.
Couldn't take pictures of the last mod it is back in a cabinet where you can't see. I like having all the manuals and papers for the camper with me in case I need to do repairs on the road. They are usually in the way so I always try to find an out of the way place to store them. In this camper I had a cubby hole that had the camper framing exposed so I took a piece of elastic and put an electrical crimp on eye on both ends one small one large. Screwed the small eye to the far end of the framing and then put a screw on the next vertical frame member with a head small enough for the large eye to go over (don't screw in all the way in). I put the manuals in a large envelope and stuck it vertical between the framing members and pulled the elastic across it and over the screw to hold it in place. Completely out of the way but always along if I need it.
No more mods planned for now but have a 5 day off grid trip planned shortly, we will see what is missing then. :B
