hpcbmw
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Re: Front hitch to carry motorcycle
Thanks for all the great input! I'll try the Reese 18" extension on the back and see how it works and if I can open my camper door with the bike on the mototote. I see many have put a motorcycle on the front of their truck with no problems, but it still makes me nervous. I might also try the Hitchmaster hi/lo as it looks pretty solid and is an easy way to test the front mount. It just "feels" a little wrong having the motorcycle up front, but it's worth a try with the hi/lo drop receiver. I have a small three rail dirtbike trailer that I often use when I have the camper on my truck, but then I have a trailer to deal with. Also, I have a fifth wheel trailer that I haul on occaision, and am looking for ways to bring the fifth wheel and a motorcycle.2.2KViews0likes0CommentsFront hitch to carry motorcycle
I've got a 2000 F250 diesel shortbed with a FWC camper. The camper sticks out about 12" beyond the bed of the truck, just enough that I can't use a rear motorcycle hitch carrier/mototote without some sort of extension. The extension adds wobble and reduces carrying capacity enough that it doesn't look like it's a good idea. I currently have a front receiver hitch that comes out behind the license plate of the truck. This is so high that my motorcycle on my mototote, and even bikes on a bike rack, are right at eye level, so too high to safely drive. To lower the height, I have to use an extension/drop system, again adding wobble and reducing carrying capacity. I have an option to remove my existing front hitch and install one that mounts under the frame, so it's about 10" lower. Before spending the time and money on this option, I thought I'd see how well it works for others. My questions: 1. has anyone used a front hitch for a motorcycle and if so, what problems do you run into? The bike I intend to carry is a CRF230l which weighs about 250lbs. Does this much weight on the front of the truck cause handling problems? 2. Has anyone used an extension/drop hitch system to carry a motorcycle or item of similar weight, and were there any concerns or problems? 3. Do you use extra headlights and turn signals up front, since the motorcycle is likely to block to these? Thanks for any input!7.5KViews0likes20CommentsRe: Harbor freight solar to keep battery charged
I was a little concerned about the solar without a controller. Tom M - thanks for the link to the $120 flexi panel - that is very cool and very tempting! I could just glue it directly to the roof. Anybody have experience with a cheap controller that works well? Something less than $40? Thanks!513Views0likes0CommentsRe: Harbor freight solar to keep battery charged
Thaks SMKettner, any idea how I tell if the panel has a blocking diode? I assume without a blocking diode, the panel will drain the battery when there is no sunlight. From what I've read, the HF controllers have a problem - they aren't supposed to allow discharge, but they do. Maybe I'll hook a panel and the charge controller to a spare battery for a few days and see if I can tell if it's discharging.513Views0likes0CommentsHarbor freight solar to keep battery charged
I've got a 6 year old harbor freight 45w solar setup. I've also got a 80w solar panel. The 80w panel is on the roof of my Four Wheel pop up truck camper, with a charge controller. This keeps my single deep cell battery in the camper fully charged and in good condition. However, it weighs too much and makes it difficult to lift the pop top, even with gas struts installed. I realize that I only really need the solar to keep the battery charged, not to really run any appliances. In 6 years, I've never used the camper without driving the truck every day (and using the alternator to charge the camper battery). I'm wondering if I install one of the much smaller 15w HF solar panels on the roof, is that enough to keep the battery charged when the truck/camper sits unused for weeks at a time? The diesel truck also has 2 batteries. I think I could hook up the solar before the battery separator and keep all three batteries topped off, if the 15w panel is powerful enough. I've read that the HF charge controller can often discharge the battery when the sun is down. Anyone hear of this, or have ideas for an inexpensive charge controller to control the one 15w panel?2KViews0likes10CommentsSurepower battery separator to charge truck and camper
I've got a Surepower 1314a battery separator. I had a 1314 and they sent me a 1314a as a replacement after a recall. I've got this in my slide in truck camper. I've got 2 batteries in the truck (F250 diesel) and one in the camper. The truck and camper often sit unused for weeks or months at a time, and at my new home it's not practical to run an extension cord for a battery tender. I've got an 80w solar panel on the roof of the camper, hooked into a charge controller. In the past, I kept the camper battery topped off via the solar panel. Now I'd like to hook up the solar charger to act as a battery tender for both the truck batteries and the camper battery. I'm thinking if I connect the wires from the charge controller to the same posts on the battery separator that connect the truck battery to the charge controller, then any time there is over 13.2v from the solar, it will charge both sets of batteries. If under 13.2v, the separator will not activate, and only the truck batteries will get a charge. Since I know nothing about electronics, and i'm told the surepower can get hot, I was wondering if anyone out there has some ideas if this will work and if it's safe. And what happens when the camper is disconnected from the truck, but the charge controller is still putting power to the battery separator? Thanks for any input!1.2KViews0likes3CommentsRe: septic extension question
Thanks everyone. I found this at camping world, which has the male and female bayonet fittings, so I can use this to hook to my rv, and then connect the one I already have to the other end. I just hope it's long enough. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/ez-coupler-hose-kit-with-15-hose/22062271Views0likes0Commentsseptic extension question
I've had my Fifth Wheel for a few years, but usually had it boondocked and would just empty the tanks a couple times a year when i moved it. Now I've got it at a friends house with a septic hookup about 30' away. I don't want to do a permanent hookup, since I might have to move it around on occasion. I want to be able to run a septic hose from where it sits to the hookup so I can drain it a few times per year. I have one standard hose, I think it's 15' long. How can I attach another hose, or a solid 3" pipe to use as an extension? I have 10' of 3" pipe left over from a season I stayed at an RV park and had to have a solid hookup. Thanks for any ideas!2.2KViews0likes9Comments
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