Trip Report:southern France: Provence and Cote d'Azur
hello TC friends, last (Easter) week we travelled to southern France: Provence (the Inland) and Cote d'Azur (the coast line). I want to present some photos and impressions and hope you like it. As I told you at the end of last year we changed to a smaller rig (Nissan Frontier and "TrendUp"-full carbon composite camper. We thought that - due to the age of our children (19 and 15) in the future we would travel only two persons, but..... facts can change quickly: out adult daughter wanted to accompany us. So, this was our maiden voyage - with 4 persons. And all worked perfect, although it was very cosy inside the camper. :) Now I present you the first part of my pictures, in the region of Provence, inland of southern France. village of Sisteron: one way grill in use: yummm: reaching the entrance of Europes largest canyon: the Verdon canyon: good for para gliding: campground at the bottom of a dramatical impressive rock, village Castellane: some local goods in the market: speciality of the Provence are flavored products of lavender like soap: view from the top of the rock: do you see our TC ?: beautiful, little villages: and one of the tiny campgrounds: So long for the moment. Next chapter (when I will find enough time) will be the trip along the coast of the Cote d'Azur: hope you enjoyed our impressions until now. :) cheers Felix
Dometic Compressor Fridge Issue
I’m hoping to tap into the membership’s vast knowledge. I own a 2 year old Northstar TC650. It was optioned with the compressor fridge based on all the good reviews and pluses over the absorption models. It seems to have worked well until now. I started it up and after a few hours checked the temp in the freezer and fridge. The compressor was constantly running and the fridge never got below 50 degrees. The freezer got to -13 degrees. Thinking it might need more time to cool, I left it on for 24 hours with the same results. Clearly the cooling system is pumping but the coldness isn't making it to the fridge. I’m guessing the thermostat is somewhere in the fridge and it never gets cold enough to tell the compressor to stop. I turned everything off and let the fridge sit for a couple days and then fired it up again with the same results. I have done an internet search and very few problems with these fridges have been documented and none describe what I am experiencing. I’m hoping someone can shed some light on this. I have called a couple RV repair Techs and they have no knowledge of compressor fridges. I have reached out to Dometic and still waiting for a response. Thank you in advance.
California CVRA decal question
This question is primarily for CA registered vehicle owners, and I’m not looking for the weight police to chime in on “what is the safe weight my truck can carry”. Background information: Recently purchased a 2013 F350 CC. With a GVWR of 11500lbs. Rating. Traded in a 2006 F350 CC w/ GVWR of 11400lbs. This new truck puts me in a different (higher) GVW range (10,001-15000), which requires I place CVRA decals on my side doors. Didn’t have to place decals on the ’06 F350. I see a lot of newer trucks/camper combos (2011-2013), specifically F350’s and F450, and I don’t see them with the CVRA decals on. The question is do most people in this category of trucks, just not place the decals on the doors and hope CHP doesn’t stop them? Or what? 2nd question….I know normally pick-up trucks do not need to stop at CHP weight stations, but with the CVRA decal on, does that change things?3D Printing Success Story
The jack covers on our 2014 Lance 865 had gotten very brittle and I broke one of them when I was washing the camper. After an exhaustive search, I was not able to find any OEM replacement covers for the Atwood jacks. I found someone on Etsy that offered 3d printing services and I was able to have him print/create an entire set of new jack covers for not much more than one OEM replacement cover. OEM: 3D printed: There is a crack in the bottom part of the 3D part. I tried to stretch it around the jack when it was very cold, I am certain if I had warmed up the plastic it would not have split.
Newbie Questions
Background - My GF and I have decided to go Full timing for the next couple of months. In the past I have owned a 40' Fifth wheel and 35' TT. I really want something easy to use, tow, and set up. We have decided to try our hand at a truck camper. I want it to be really simple and have narrowed my choice to a Lance 1130 or 1140. I really like the lay out of the 1140 but they are hard to come by in good shape. So mostly likely will end up with a 1130. I think I have found a 2004 1130 in really good shape with a few upgrades with all the available packages when ordered new. I have two large Thule boxes for the top. We also have a 2005 toyota Rav4 5spd with blueox baseplates/tow bar and a braking buddy. I planned on ordering torklift brackets. Almost forgot -my tow vehicle is 1999.5 F350 crewcab 2wd DRW 7.3 auto Questions- first off - Is the 1130 enough space for two active adults not to kill each other? 2. is there some interior mods for baskets or more space for clothes? I remember seeing one but can't find it anymore. 3. we will be TCing in the mountains and I plan on adding insulations to cabinets and and outside storage areas. Anything else I can do to help? within reasons and not pulling off the underbelly 4. did 2004 include storm/double pane windows in the all weather package? 5. Can I use my OEM class IV to tow the toad with a hitch extension? 6. I have bed liner, What else do I need to put TC in my bed. I have read about a bed liner but wondered if insulating sheets would be better. And do I need 2x4 in front of the bed? 5. Where can I get a pass through window gasket? I think that is all for now.. Thanks!! in advanceLargest Lithium AMP Hour Battery - 2023 Arctic Fox 865
My wife and I are soon picking up a 2023 Arctic Fox 865 to replace our trusty 2005 Lance 845. We almost exclusively boondock so I am gathering all the pieces I need to add ~500 watts of solar on the roof, victron equipment, and now trying to figure out how large of lithium battery I can get into the Arctic Fox battery compartment. I’m fine with removing the Northwood sliding battery tray to accomplish this. Does anyone know the dimensions of a late model Arctic Fox 865 battery compartment? Can I get a 300 amp/hr lithium battery in there? We are buying our camper 3 states away and unfortunately dont have access to an 865 on a lot anywhere near us. Thanks for the help. Update: Going back and adding the oem Arctic Fox 865 battery box measurements for others that may want them. The limiting factor is the battery compartment door which is smaller than the inside of the battery box. Battery Box: Once sliding battery tray is removed, inside dimensions of battery box are: 17” deep by 17” wide by 12.5” tall. Battery compartment door opening: 14.75” wide by 11.375” tall by 1.25” deep.
Photo Thread - Post a Photo of Your Truck Camper Here
Post photos of your truck camper on this thread. Any photo with a truck camper in it is allowable; any brand, any year. If you have a couple of nice truck camper photos from your vacation, feel free to post them here. But, if you have 10, 20, 30 or 130 vacation photos you would like to post, this is not the thread for them. Just start a new thread and post all of them you like there. If you would like to also post a couple of the better TC photos on this thread, that is fine. This thread is for Truck Camper photos only. But feel free to post comments on posted photos. Because this thread is very long, I will occasionally clean it up by removing the older posts that do not have truck camper photos and other off topic material. Also, please limit photo width to 640 pixels. Please do not post thumbnail size photos, they are just too small to see and will be deleted. Please post photos, not just a clickable link to a photo. Please limit the photo file size to reasonable size. preferably less than 100k, but absolutely less than 200k. Large size files just take too long to download. Register at photobucket.com (free), download your pictures (takes a while), hi-lite and copy the URL, then use the "image" icon to paste the photo URL. See the links below for help with posting photos. PhotoBucket.com - Free Photo Hosting Posting Photos Help Thread Posting Photos Brad's Way Another Good Thread With Photo Posting Info Technology Forum Posting Photos on the Forum - Help Thread More help with photos More help with photos (2) Photo Bucket Photo Hosting Site NetBoy's Thread on Compressing Photos Can't See the Photos? Click Here (The Mad Norsky) BradW :) :)Can you have your cake and eat it too?
Hi everyone New forum member here with a odd ball can you have your cake and eat it too question? I'm about 3 years out from retirement and in the planning stages of putting together a rig that can meet all my needs. Some background on me I have owned a couple Class A RV's over the years for both full time and part time use as well as tent camping in my younger years. My next camping adventures will combine ATV's on a occasional basis and several trips to the South/Mid West. I'm drawn to TC's for their simplicity and compactness but the truck payload weight limits gets eaten up quickly going up in size than adding cargo. I'm not looking to drag 30' plus foot of equipment behind my truck so trailers, 5'ers and Toy Haulers are a non starter with me. Everything seems to start in the 27' range for entry level RV's that seem to me anyway to be cheaply built. So I said if you can't find it just build it. How about a custom built 22' (floor length) trailer with a 5th wheel hookup. I can place a 10-11' TC on the front and have 11' left on the back for a ATV or Side by Side or Golf Cart. I know the Rock Crawler guys do this with 40' equipment trailers so it should be doable. I'm not talking something thrown together but a well thought out project that is custom built around a TC I choose. The smaller footprint trailer still gives me access to a lot of campgrounds and I have more flexibility for dry camping. My tow vehicle is a 2019 Silverado Dully Duramax. What are your thought on that setup? Thanks Dennis
1978 Fliteway Truck Camper
My DW and I bought a 1978 Fliteway last year. When the camper isn't on the truck, we've been working long and hard at refurbishing and updating it. Other than locating a company (Fliteway Co., Inc. in Manawa, WI) that existed in the late '70's I have not been successful at finding any information, including pictures on this camper. Anyone out there have any knowledge, pictures of, or experience with this one? We're almost done with the interior, and previous owners repainted the exterior - left one logo and the serial number plate untouched. We'd like to find more information on the company and camper - how many were built, if the company still exists & under which name (if it does) and where we can get pieces and parts to finish the refurbishment. Thanks for any information you can supply.
