Christmas Toys!

[jazman]

Hey Everyone,

Hopefully you have all recovered from your turkey induced comas...

Anyone get any cool camper stuff for Christmas?

My DW gave me a set of McKesh mirrors... Woo Hoo!  :sombraro:

It'll be nice to actually see behind me when I tow.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,

jaz

[tlhdoc]

Well I didn't get anything cool, but my camper got a gallon of blue toilet chemical, 2 new water hoses, hitch lube, and a blue water filter.  Now we just need to camp. (16 days and counting).

[dademt]

Well, we got some chemicals, an RV book, and a gift certificate for Camping World ( thanks to mom and dad ).  My DW also let me go outside and play modifying the trailer on Saturday when I should have been inside helping clean so that was also nice.  I managed to set up a second battery and redid the electrical to provide better control.  But at least I know I wasn't alone this weekend working on modifying their camper.  
 
Hopefully everyone else had a great Christmas and I am really going through camping withdraw right now.

[copcarguy]

Hey all!
 
Well my biggest gift was having the camper home and popped up. Yes, I was outside on Christmas Eve Eve playing as well. I installed a new 7 way connector and plug guard, a 2nd propane bottle, my big battery box, and re-did almost all of the wiring at the tongue of the camper up to Rick specs. For Christmas I and/or the camper got a few little things like a spare shower curtain, aim-n-flame, a new anode rod, an LED step light (that I'll need to install), and some really cool LED stop/turn/tail lights. The lights didn't make it here in time for Christmas, but they should be in by this Fri.
 
Scott - I wish I invested in some Wal-Mart EverStart stock before you did your install! Looks like you have 2 of their battery boxes, and a few feet of cable. LOL! I can't wait to see it in person! Can you run both batteries at a time or just one at a time? I wired my parents TT to run 2 Group 27's at the same time. They have about a week of power dry camping now before they get discharged.
 
Jaz - I read the manual and my converter is a 3 stage. I am assuming since you just installed one that a 3 stage is better. So I guess that's a good thing then. lol
 
Oh! I put up some pics of the inside here:
http://rides.webshots.com/album/556639813mguYEb
 
We will be camping before you know it.

[dademt]

Ok, LED lights, I am there. You have got to show those to me. That has got to be great. Is the step the one with the strip across the front or something else? Eventually I want to start switching out my interior lights with LEDs. Figure that could help save alot. I will hold off on that stuff until I check yours out for some better ideas. Speaking of LEDs, did I send you the link for the led strip that has the reverse, turn and brake lights on it?
 
Actually all I had to buy was a second battery box ( yes from walmart ) and some 6 ga wire and connectors from Carlsons Auto. The disconnects I picked up from Camping World. I can run them 1 at a time or both together, whichever I want. I used one of the batteries from before ( Marine Master dual use battery - 200 min @ 23 amps is the rating on it ). The trailer came with a new 27 battery listed as 600 cca and 750 MCA. I have to figure out how that translates into deep cycle ability. I think it would be about 160 minutes at 20 amps which after you count a 20% loss on both, I would still be at 312 minutes @ 20 amps when counting both batteries. I am still sitting on an Everstart battery rated at 115 amps and a smaller deep cycle that I have been using down the basement to run an invertor when I have had to kill the house power during the rebuild. You do realize that everyone else is shaking their heads saying we are both crazy. LOL
 
General question, when charging, has anyone else noticed that the batteries sometimes sizzle/bubble a little. I noticed it on both batteries when I put my head real close. Just curious.
 
I did put a couple of the battery pics on my webshots if anyone is wondering what Ric was refering to.

[copcarguy]

Scott - using my old charger, yes the batteries used to make some noises and/or boil.  Using my new "smart" chargers, they make no sound.  The batteries also are more charged.  I bought 3 of the smart chargers:  the smallest one to keep in the camper, and 2 bigger ones to charge both camper batteries at home.  They're made by Vector.    

You never sent me the link for the light.  For my step light, all it is is an amber marker light that gets screwed under the step shining down.  Very low-tech.  lol.

[copcarguy]

I picked up the LED tail lights today and just installed them...  Click here for pics:

http://rides.webshots.com/album/556710972bCuuxC

[tlhdoc]

General question, when charging, has anyone else noticed that the batteries sometimes sizzle/bubble a little. I noticed it on both batteries when I put my head real close. Just curious.

Scott it is normal and good for the batteries to boil.  

[dademt]

I picked up the LED tail lights today and just installed them... Click here for pics:
 
http://rides.webshots.com/album/556710972bCuuxC

So cool.  Almost would feel bad for the poor sap that tries to tailgate you, almost that is.
 
Tracy- thanks for the info on the batteries.  I wasn't 100% sure.