Copcarguy Have fun today

[tlhdoc]

Have a good time picking up your new trailer!:D

[copcarguy]

Hey thanks Tracy!
 
Unfortunately, the camper didn't make it home today... While doing the demo (popping up and down a few times) the lift system broke. I can't win. I am not mad, but only a little depressed. I really REALLY like this camper. The parts should be in Tues or Wed, and I'll have it by the end of the week. The people at the dealer were in shock / sad / couldn't believe it either. All I can do is laugh I guess. At least I got to see how everything works "inside" a PU now. I quickly posted a few pics on my webshots since no one would believe this... LOL! Click here for pics:
 
http://community.webshots.com/album/50757047CZRwDO

[tlhdoc]

So Rick what exactly broke?  Did you hear a POP?  Did anyone say the magic words "this corner isn't raising like the other ones"?  Was it hard to crank?  Better it broke today than on a camping trip.  Sorry you didn't get to bring it home.

[copcarguy]

Hey...

The first time I cranked it up it was super hard to crank.  It took 2 hands.  I immediately thought of your roof Tracy and that time at Pine Grove.  I said "this is really hard to crank up", to which they said "well a 12 foot roof weighs a lot more than a 10 foot."  OK, fine...  went through the whole demo, installed the vanity mate, and went to pop down.  Now the crank would not move at all.  The roof was also clicking going up, but if you let go it would fall.  Long story short, the part the you put the crank handle into stripped out, and also there is a little hard plastic washer clutch thingy in there too.  So when you crank up, it compresses all the parts to raise the roof.  When you pop down, they are loose allowing the roof to go down.  They are replacing the entire middle metal thing where the chain is in the picture.  I told them to just take it out of the Santa Fe, since we kinda scavenged other little things off it today anyway.  They just wanted to replace everything with new, which is better in the long run.  I was just really looking fwd to some backyard camping tonight and tomorrow.  I was there from noon till 4, all the time they were really putting in their best effort to fix it.  It is really just 4 bolts, undo the lift chain, and screw the rear panel back on.  Hopefully I'll have it next weekend.

[tlhdoc]

Don't you hate it when they tell you the roof is heavy.  When you know it should not be that hard to crank up.  I am glad they are fixing it with new parts.  Any idea WHY it broke?

[andym86]

Hi Rick and Steph
I really like that new camper of yours!
If you get it next weekend,you can pop up ,put a little tree in there
and celebrate Christmas .
Looking forward to going camping with you guy's.I seem to remember
that you possibly wanted to got to  Pine Grove in January.
Let us know if you like some company and we will join you,if the
schedule allows it.

Andy

[copcarguy]

Any idea WHY it broke?

At this point Tracy, and based upon past experiences, I think it broke because it was made by the Fleetwood Folding Trailer Company. LOL!
 
Yes, Andy... Tracy and I are planning to head to PG in Jan even BEFORE the winter madness trip. Should we call it the "PRE-Winter Madness Trip?" It would be great to see you! We miss you guys... How're Rocco and Charlie doing?

[jazman]

Hi Rick,

Bummer dude!

I guess the dealer was pretty red faced. It's a nice looking unit, and it seems to have a very generous trunk out front. I especially like the aluminum wheels. You'll have to see if American Racing has a similar design for new wheels on the van
 
I really hope that this is the only trouble that you and Stef have with it.

I just got in from doing an upgrade to the battery charger in my camper. It has an Iota DLS-45 charger, but it's only a 2 stage bulk charger and doesn't treat the battery well over the long haul. I added the Iota Smart Charger module that changes it to a 3 stage float charger with desulfating cycle. We'll see if I can leave the trailer plugged in without cooking the battery.

Best of luck with the new rig.

jazman & EZ

[copcarguy]

Hey all!
 
The camper is finally home! The dealer called at 11 this morning and told me it was done. I headed up there and told work I'd be an hour late. It is all fixed and the roof raised and lowered very nicely. I towed it straight to work, and then home.
 
I have just one question... Every once in a while the Prodigy will flash ".nc.", which I know means the trailer is "not connected". It will do this for like 2 seconds every 10 minutes or so. The lights and everything else work fine. If I step on the brakes when ".nc." is showing I have no trailer brakes. Otherwise they work fine. The 7 way on the trailer end is a little boogered up from sitting so long, so I am thinking I will just put on a new end. It looks like they left it sitting in water and dirt.  Tracy, I do remember you having some sort of similar thing happen. Was it the wiring going to the brakes on the axle? I don't remember...
 
 
Jaz - I am really interested in your mod. I am interested in a 3 stage as well. Let me know what you think of it.

[tlhdoc]

Hey all!
 
The camper is finally home! The dealer called at 11 this morning and told me it was done. I headed up there and told work I'd be an hour late. It is all fixed and the roof raised and lowered very nicely. I towed it straight to work, and then home.
 
I have just one question... Every once in a while the Prodigy will flash ".nc.", which I know means the trailer is "not connected". It will do this for like 2 seconds every 10 minutes or so. The lights and everything else work fine. If I step on the brakes when ".nc." is showing I have no trailer brakes. Otherwise they work fine. The 7 way on the trailer end is a little boogered up from sitting so long, so I am thinking I will just put on a new end. It looks like they left it sitting in water and dirt. Tracy, I do remember you having some sort of similar thing happen. Was it the wiring going to the brakes on the axle? I don't remember...
 
 
Jaz - I am really interested in your mod. I am interested in a 3 stage as well. Let me know what you think of it.

Rick you may have a 3 stage power converter on the new trailer.  What brand is it?

[dademt]

Hey all!
 
I have just one question... Every once in a while the Prodigy will flash ".nc.", which I know means the trailer is "not connected". It will do this for like 2 seconds every 10 minutes or so. The lights and everything else work fine. If I step on the brakes when ".nc." is showing I have no trailer brakes. Otherwise they work fine. The 7 way on the trailer end is a little boogered up from sitting so long, so I am thinking I will just put on a new end. It looks like they left it sitting in water and dirt. Tracy, I do remember you having some sort of similar thing happen. Was it the wiring going to the brakes on the axle? I don't remember...
 
 

Hey Rick, just an idea before you have to change the plug end, did you try some electrical cleaner on the contacts first?  Maybe just a little cleaning might do the trick.
 
Regardless, congrats on the new camper and I wish you all the best of luck with it.

[copcarguy]

Hey Rick, just an idea before you have to change the plug end, did you try some electrical cleaner on the contacts first? Maybe just a little cleaning might do the trick.

Scott...  you should know me better by now.  LOL!  I tried to clean them, but the plug was just too far gone once I opened it.  I had a $10 gift-card to the little local auto parts store in town, and with that plus my discount there a new end cost me $1.32.  I was just about to install it, but now it is raining...

[dademt]

Scott... you should know me better by now. LOL! I tried to clean them, but the plug was just too far gone once I opened it. I had a $10 gift-card to the little local auto parts store in town, and with that plus my discount there a new end cost me $1.32. I was just about to install it, but now it is raining...

I know the frustration.  It just started raining here and I was hoping to go home early today and work on my camper also.  I have the plate half way bolted to the camper for the second battery to sit on.  Arrrrrr.  Well, maybe tomorrow instead.  Maybe it is a good excuse to head up to camping world tonight for more stuff.     I am thinking of putting quick disconnects on both batteries so I can run one at a time if I wanted to.