RE: Getting ready for Summer

[DC]

 
Where can a guy get a good deal on bunk end lites?  I have a 02  Coleman and the light near the bunk has a plug-in for another light.  Some were a fan/light combo that could plug in.  Coleman wants way to much it looks like.
 
 Also, the existing lights seem to be very bright, specially when carrying in the kids for bed and ya need a light on.  Is there any way to mess with the switch to turn only one bulb on at a time?  If not I guess I could just unscrew a bulb.
 
 And another thing.....We are looking to get a 00 or 99  Mercury Mountaineer(Sister to Ford Explorer) this Spring.  An AWD version with the 302 engine.  Sounds like the one for us and the engine is easy to modify.  They are rated at 288 ft-lbs of torque and with a performance chip, new intake and exhaust I could be around 330-340 ft-lbs torque or more.  Plenty!
 
 I imagine I will need sway control and brakes.  I know there were a lot of previous posts, but what would be the best way to go.  Is an equalizer hitch the same as swaycontrol?  Our two weeker this summer is going to the ocean crossing about 4 mtn passes...I want to get the best set-up I can.  Any idea s on cost?
 
 I m gonna have a lot of questions coming up.  Getting ready for summer.  Mods on the camper such as extra battery/Propane tank and grey water collection.
 
 Thanks Guys,
 
 

[tlhdoc]

 DC
Look for the light/fan combos on E-bay.  There was a guy that sold them for aprox. $25 or so plus shipping.  I lost his e-mail when my computer crashed, but his name was 9mmruger or something close to that.  The fan/lights were shipped from the Palamino factory.  As for the existing lights being so bright, you can put a lower watt bulb in the socket.  The 2003 Colemans have a 3 way switch.  My old 1987 Coleman had that type of switch too.  I don t know if you could buy different light switches for your trailer or not.  I have a 2002 Explorer.  I use a sway bar when I tow.  When I had a Windstar I did not.  The shorter wheel base of the Explorer makes the sway bar a needed item.  I would not tow without brakes.  I don t need an equalizer hitch with my Explorer.[]

[mike4947]

 DC
Good God, I spend the day taking the Christmas tree down and watching about a foot of snow fall and what do I see a post about getting ready for summer. I m still not ready for winter much less summer.
 
 
 So as to your questions, someone somewhere (these multiple forums really screw with my mind as to where I saw something posted) just posted a chart of bulbs for ceiling lights with the lumens, and amp ratings. You can replace the fixtures fairly cheaply with either single bulb or the two bulb switchable ones or like you said just take one bulb out.
 Brakes? Definitely. I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy controller, it s the top of the line for a reason. It s the best, easy to install with their pluig & play cable, doesn t need to be reset for differing speed or road conditions, and unlike a lot of cheaper controllers you don t get the lockup when set for highway speed and you in stop & go traffic.
 Equilizer hitch/sway control  The equilizer or Weight Distribution Hitch is mainly used to correct an overloading of the TV rear axle. It forms a fulcrum and transfers some of the weight to the PU and front TV axles and also it s stiffness smooths out hobby horsing. The Reese WDH350 does come with sway control and even comes in a specific model for use on Coleman PU s to clear the jack, their WDH400 does not come with sway control. If it doesn t specifically say it got sway control it doesn t.
 The Reese friction sway control is a nice unit, a DIY easy installation with their optional under ball plate so you don t need to weld anything.

[SheBantam]

 DC

Brakes? Definitely. I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy controller, it s the top of the line for a reason. It s the best, easy to install with their pluig & play cable, doesn t need to be reset for differing speed or road conditions,

 I called the Camping World today, about 11 miles up the road, they have the Prodigy on sale.  When I asked about the Ford OEM cable, they said I woudl ahve to talk to Ford.
 
 The parts manager at Ford does not know what I am talking about. He wants me to come by and take a look at what he has.  Like I would know what I was looking at[8D][]
 1. Can I get the Ford cable through Camping World?
 2. What would be the likelyhood that the cable on the present Brake controller is what I need and all I would have to do is disconnect the old controller and connect to the Prodigy??
 3. Is there a proper name for this OEM cable?
 
 Thanks for any help clearing this up for me.

[TomToCamp]

 DC
Go with the Prodigy
 You can get the cable from a number places online.
 I will do a search and post link/s.  This is where I bought from last spring.
 You will get wire to splice to old but OEM is nice just plug it in. $8.50
 http://www.brakecontroller.com/
 Just looked in C World Cat. Ford harness # 17654  $9.89 member

[tlhdoc]

 SheBantam
Paula do you have a Tekonsha controller now?  If so you should be able to unplug the controller you have now and just plug in the Prodigy.   I have the Ford cable made by Tekonsha.  I doubt that the Ford dealer will have a cable that will work with the Tekonsha. []

[SheBantam]

 DC
What I have now is not plug and play and I do not think that it is tekonsha, don t really know what the dealer threw in, but I have not been happy. I think the wiring I have now is what the Ford dealer has in stock.  This brake controller is one of those where the line between stopping and being pushed is so fine that I cannot find it.
 Camping World want $55.00 to unhook the old one and plug the prodigy up. I think not, unless I cannot figure out how to get the old one out.

[Pick 6]

 DC

Where can a guy get a good deal on bunk end lites? I have a 02  Coleman and the light near the bunk has a plug-in for another light. Some were a fan/light combo that could plug in.

I got two fan/light combo s from K. Dobson last year for $37.76 each. I bought the first one from him off e-bay, liked it so much, I bought a second one. Here s his e-mail address: 9mmruger@core.com. Nice person, good service.