liaft
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Re: Exposed Battery
I left it on a 6 Amp single mode charger for about 5 days by accident and I have brought the battery to total flat about a dozen times before I realized that the propane detector ran off of it. Now the battery will last less than a day running the camper instead of the 3 - 4 days when it was new. I have been considering an alkaline conversion for it. RK481Views0likes0CommentsRe: Exposed Battery
Dakota98 wrote: You best determine why that battery burned up before you go any further or you'll be buying more. Also, get 2-GC 6-volt batteries instead. JMO These big box mart batteries typically only last a year, so my 18 months usage is a bonus IMO. I shouldn't really say that the battery is burned. It still holds a charge, but its capacity is isn't what it used to be. I also know that I am the reason why. I put it on a manual charger and forgot about it. Fortunately, the plates did not get exposed, but I know I picked up some sulfation. Yes, you are correct. The battery size I am looking at is 2GC, not LC2. RK481Views0likes0CommentsExposed Battery
When I bought this trailer here, it did not come with a battery. I bought a cheap deep cycle from the big box mart and it is almost burned up. I expected it to last a year and it exceeded that. When I bought the battery, I also bought a marine battery box to protect it from the elements. I was planning on fixing up the trailer, but four months of unemployment meant that we almost had to move into it for shelter and not much has been done. Recently, I have restarted the project and I did a lot of repair work to the exterior and we are planning on doing the interior demo work next weekend. New house batteries are on the shopping list and as I've done research, I found that the stock tray will hold two LC2 batteries. Not finding battery boxes for LC2 batteries, I considered building one. I stopped at a RV sales lot to see how new RVs were set up and many of them had batteries exposed to the elements. Is this OK to do? Granted all of them were indoors, so there was no damage happening, but I always thought you had to cover batteries. RK3.8KViews0likes12CommentsRe: A dilapidated FEMA trailer - My first RV
ependydad wrote: What was the name of the campground? Sounds like good people. It was Duncan's Family Campground. If I were to write a review, I would give it 4 of 5 stars. The WiFi was the only thing lacking. I bought a range extender and put one of the antennas outside. http://www.rvparky.com/location/duncans-family-campground523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Non twist lock 30 amp inlet
CCKitty wrote: I want to upgrade to 30 amps in my old trailer. I ordered a 30 amp inlet which I didn't realize was a twist locking type. My adapters and my extension cord will not mate up with that. How do I go find a 30 amp inlet that is just prongs with not twist lock prong? You need to search by the NEMA number. There are several styles of 30AMP connectors depending on voltage and application. You most likely got a NEMA L14-30 30 Amp, 125/250V Twist Lock socket. What you need is a NEMA TT-30R for the socket or a NEMA TT-30 for the plug. Do NOT use a NEMA 10-30, it is an old electrical specification that may cause damage to your RV or its appliances by not providing a proper ground. The NEMA 10-30 looks really similar, but one of the blades is "L" shaped.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: A dilapidated FEMA trailer - My first RV
Jerallen wrote: liaft wrote: Posted By: liaft on 10/22/14 02:34pm Jerallen wrote: liaft wrote: Fortunately, I live in South Carolina where they do not require titles or plates for trailers, so I am road legal You may want to check on that. Pretty sure that applies to utility and boat trailers. I did. When I went to the DMV to try to get it titled, the lady there told me that because it was less than 7,500 pounds, I didn't have to title it or plate it. FROM THE SC CODE OF LAWS SECTION 56-3-720. Fees for camper or travel trailers; distinctive tag. For every camper or travel trailer the biennial registration fee is ten dollars. The Department of Motor Vehicles must include in this classification every trailer not more than thirty-five feet long and eight feet wide primarily equipped, designed, converted, or used for private living quarters and towed by a motor vehicle. The department shall design a distinctive tag which must be displayed on the exterior of the rear of the trailer in a conspicuous place. HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-35.6; 1968 (55) 2453; 1977 Act No. 63; 1993 Act No. 164, Part II, Section 22N; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 139. The law says that the DMV must make a special plate for campers. The plate costs $10 for 2 years or you can get a permanent one for $89. As it was explained to me at the DMV, it is to keep you from being pulled over if you travel out of state as a convenience. There is no requirement in SC to title or register any trailer under 7,500 pounds or a camper shorter than 35 feet long. I have also confirmed it with a friend of mine who is a LEO here in town who told me that, because of reciprocity, I am legal in all 50 states, but expect to be pulled over once in a while.523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Propane furnace battery usage
I dry camped in a 200 sq ft camper in a brutal winter. Temps were single digits to low 20's with high winds and lots of snow. I bought a programmable thermostat from Wally World for $20. I set it to 42F (the lowest setting) during the day while I was gone beginning at 830AM. An hour before I got back, it was set for 72F. It would then drop to 55F at 11PM and back up to 72F at 6AM about 30 minutes before my alarm went off. My battery is a $69 Wally World special (100ah) trolling motor battery. The battery would last me three days before it needed to be charged. That included powering the lights (incandescent, not LED) and charging my cell phone on an inverter. Propane, on the other hand, was a different story. 10 pounds a day even with this low usage schedule. Propane furnaces are not very efficient. I recommend that you use a catalytic propane heater to augment your furnace. You can even refill the 1 pound bottles yourself. You can go on YouTube to see people who dry camp in winter in North Dakota and how they survive. Also, same source you can see how people refill the little 1lb propane bottles.485Views0likes0CommentsRe: A dilapidated FEMA trailer - My first RV
2012Coleman wrote: Wow - what a story. Seriously consider the money you will spend on gutting this thing - maybe you could do better on a non abused unit from Craigs List. I thought FEMA trailers were smaller. I haven't spent a lot on it. I think I'm into it for less than $2,000 total so far including the cost of buying it. Material costs to gut it and replace the OSB sub-floor with plywood, linoleum flooring with hardwood, and fiberboard wall panels with cedar planking is less than $1,000. I haven't priced new ceiling panels yet and I am sure I will have to replace some studs and spars. The siding and roof are in good shape, so all they need is some cleaning and sealing. Overall, gutting it will probably cost $2,500 all said and done. All the appliances work (except the fridge, but I already got a new one for free), so there's no need to replace the expensive stuff.523Views0likes0CommentsRe: A dilapidated FEMA trailer - My first RV
Jerallen wrote: liaft wrote: Fortunately, I live in South Carolina where they do not require titles or plates for trailers, so I am road legal You may want to check on that. Pretty sure that applies to utility and boat trailers. I did. When I went to the DMV to try to get it titled, the lady there told me that because it was less than 7,500 pounds, I didn't have to title it or plate it.523Views0likes0Comments
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