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ThomB87

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Posts posted by ThomB87

    Will the Norcold refrigerator/freezer be able to chill down my "blue ice" pack?

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    2 hours ago, dhaig said:

    @Nancy_D, we have a Norcold 3-way refrigerator and use it to freeze the blue freezer bricks.  We typically use 6 bricks, in 2 groups of three and rotate the groups as needed to refreeze them.  Typically this is a daily rotation.

    We have added supplemental fans mounted at the rear of our Norcold refrigerator, which make a significant improvement in the cooling capabilities of the Norcold refrigerator, especially when outdoor temperatures are high.  If you encounter problems with you refrigerator, I recommend use considering the Beech Lane Refrigerator Fans

     

    Top or bottom vent? How easy to attach and wire up?

    • Like 1

    Alcan hwy

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Get the latest edition of the Milepost. It will come in handy on the road.  Good to have something that doesn't require internet. We stayed in RV Parks mostly. But lots of folks boondock and there are place to pull off at the side of the road that allow it. There are also at least two facebook groups that we joined. They are useful for the latest updates. In addition BC, AB and the Yukon have websites dedicated to latest road conditions.    (When you have service.)

    • Like 2

    Hang onto your doors!

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Traveling from New Mexico to Amarillo in the wild west Texas wind. It was blowing 30 mph with gusts to 60! Since it was a tail wind I was getting the best gas mileage ever. We pulled over into a parking area off the I40 for a pit stop. As my wife was exiting the trailer a gust hit, jerked the door from her hand and slammed against the rubber stopper. The good news was no damage to the exterior fiberglass or frame. The bad news was the pressure against the door was strong enough to crack the interior panel. The same result is we need a new door. In the meantime I found some white duck tape to cover the cracks. 

    I know I am not the first to have an issue with the door in a windstorm. So a reminder to be careful out there. 

    Now a question. Anyone who has had to overnight at the mothership while they work on their trailer, have recommendations for a place to stay that will allow a dog? 

    Thanks

    trailer door2.jpeg

    trailer door1.jpeg

    • Like 1
    • Sad 2

    City water intake leak.

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted · Edited by ThomB87
    add information

    Thanks exactly what I needed to know. Planned trip to hardware this AM to get an allen wrench and keep it in my trailer tool box.  I have spare washers. 

     

    Fixed. But two trips to the hardware store. First was the 1/2 hex to add to my socket set. No 1/2 inch allen but they had one for a socket wrench. The second trip was for a O ring. When I pulled the fitting off, the seal was a O ring not a washer. I now have a spare. 

     

    Thanks for all the input. 

    • Thanks 1

    City water intake leak.

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    Ok my set of allen wrenches doesn't go to a 1/2 inch. Trio to the hardware store. But manvered my phone behind the fitting to get a picture of where the leak is. Not a great picture once I enlarge it. But if you can see the black rubber protruding behind the fitting. That is where the leak is. 

     

     

    original_f1cd4090-1253-4150-b3be-f582a6d9d5db_PXL_20230621_004402454.jpg

    City water intake leak.

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    42 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

    And - 

    Exactly where might you be feeling around?  Outside the hull?  Inside the hull?  How bad is it leaking - stream or fast drip?

    Do you have a !/2 inch Allen wrench handy - like THIS?  Do you have spare hose washers handy?

    Bill

    Outside the trailer where the hose screws in. The best I can describe is where the connector spins around to screw on the hose meets the solid post. The protubing rubber must be part of the seal for the rotating female connector to the hose.  It is a slow stream at this point. At first it was fast drip but got worse.  

     

    I do have a 1/2 inch Allen wrench and spare hose washers. 

    Thanks

    City water intake leak.

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    City water intake has developed a leak. Fortunately outside the trailer but large enough to make me not popular with any campground. When I feel around where the water is coming out, there is a small bit of rubber sticking out.

    Anyone replaced one of these? Doesn't seem to have any access from the basement. 

    Are these standard parts I could get at any RV part store? I could not find one online that matched  I have not reached out to Oliver Service yet. But I am in Alaska and a long way from home for them to ship. 

    Appreciate any advice before I pull out my screw driver. 

     

     

    PXL_20230620_162038124.jpg

    Canada National Parks Campground

    in Campgrounds & Parks

    Posted

    Campground Reservations

    FYI for anyone planning to head to Canada. Canada National Parks is updating their reservation system. If you have ever had an account with them you will need to set up a new account starting March 3rd. 

    The good news is for this year it is not too late to make reservations. The system is doing a staggered roll out. Reservations for this year open at different times based upon Provence and Park. For example Jasper National Park opens March 16th and Banff National Park March 23rd. Leave it to the Canadians to do it in a civilized fashion. Instead of midnight, the reservations open at 8 AM in the time zone of the park.   

    • Thanks 5
    • Like 3

    Anchorage or bust

    in Campgrounds & Parks

    Posted

    18 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

    Do you have the proper adaptor,  and have you tested it? (Zamp reverses the sae connector, for safety reasons.)

    100 watts isn't a lot, but it can be great for the last bit of slowed down charging. And, def better than none. 

    Wete it me, I'd take the Honda, use it in the morning,  and let the portable top off.

    2 12v agms may be enough, if you're careful, as we are, and monitor your power consumption closely. Caveat, which fridge do you have? 3-way, or dc? And, do your batteries charge from the truck while driving?

    No installed solar so no adapter needed. Attaches directly to batteries with alligator clips. Have tested both generator and panels.  Norcold 3 way fridge, so runs on LP. Yes, batteries charge while driving. In a real pinch can charge via truck. Done that in the pass to get boast. 

    Anchorage or bust

    in Campgrounds & Parks

    Posted

    Thanks to everyone who responded. Good information. Confirmed what I already was thinking. Will definitely aim for some extra time at Jasper. BTW once I get to Anchorage I have a driveway to camp in. In Seward I have a spot on the beach at a friends property with water and electricity. Well as long as they don't have another mountain slide that cuts off access.  The city has a dump station.  Wish us luck. 

     

    • Like 3

    Anchorage or bust

    in Campgrounds & Parks

    Posted

    I saw some others planning this trip this year. We will be heading out from Colorado the first of June. Have the newest edition of Milepost on order. We will be sticking to what passes for major highways in the Yukon and Alaska. Will be spending a couple of weeks around Anchorage and Seward. Our 2018 Elite II does not have solar. I do have a portable panel for charging. We will probably boon dock two or three nights in a row. But then I will be looking for hookups, full size showers and a dump station.  Plus around Jasper and some other places I will want more than one night. I really want to have an open itinerary.  

    Anyone who made this trip recently please comment. How hard to find places the morning  of or the day before? 

     

    I know where I live reservation especially if hitting the weekend are 6 months out. 

     

    Thanks 

    • Like 3

    Mysterious shore power outage

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    15 hours ago, Liana said:

    We literally *just* had this problem. As we were troubleshooting (including trying to find the EMS errorcode chart), someone walked By asking if we were having Power issues.  The only other Time we've had this kind of issue we were hooked up to shore power in a campground. I stuck the voltage tester in the outlet At the pedestal And no joy.  So, my guess is voltage dropped Below EMS threshold so it shut itself down.  I pleaded with spouse to just abandon the electric hookups,  we are totally fine with our new LiFePO4 batteries so why risk the rest of the trailer electronics?

    Liana, That is what the EMS is suppose to do. But in reading the manual and the video on Oliver University the display in the upper cabinet should be showing the error code, not blank.  Once the issue is corrected the EMS is suppose to restore power automatically.  Once hooked back up and normal it should show a PE code for a previous error. I should have been able to use the by pass mode even though it is not recommended. None to that happened.

    The error codes are printed on the EMS box under the seat at the dinette.  You have to be able to read upside down. 

    You do not need to abandon shore power. The EMS will protect your electronics. Like I stated about I would recommend a extra external surge protector at the pedestal.  Peace of mind and it serves as a test unit before you plug in the trailer.  

    When you tested at the pedestal was there no power at all or low voltage? 

    • Like 1

    Mysterious shore power outage

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    Mossey - At home or in a friends drive way I have a 110 to 30 amp adapter plug. I plug the adapter into the 110 outlet then the surge protector into the adapter. 

    ScubaRX - No rain but a heck of a lot of wind that night.  Keep plastic bags to cover any exposed plugs if the forecast call for rain. 

    There are no issues with using an external surge protector in addition to the EMS onboard one. Jason at the rally said that is something he would recommend. It has been a while but I can see if I can find the thread on another forum.  The guy had pictures of a chard end of a power cord and chard receptacle where it plugged into the RV. The on board surge protector saved the trailer and its electronics. But the power cord and the plug in on the side of the RV both had to be replaced.    

    The EMS seems to be working fine now. This may not be a  big deal. But my concern is this something that will return. I would have thought turning the power off and back on would have reset the EMS if that was the problem. 

    • Like 1

    Mysterious shore power outage

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    Mossey, Yes. I always hook a surge protector to the pedestal then plug the power cord into it. I do the same at home. 110 adapter, surge protector then power cord. So the set up was the same.  

    My external surge protector is a less expensive Progressive Industry model. I had it with a previous trailer. The internal Progressive Industries EMS will protect the internal electronics on the Oliver. But I started using the external one because of horrid stories where the power cord, one of its plugs, or the trailer receptacle got fried due to voltage issues while the trailer was ok. 

    Thanks  

    Mysterious shore power outage

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    I would like the thoughts of the collective wisdom of this group. 

    2019 Elite II, no solar. Camping at a KOA in Salina, KS on the way home to Colorado. Plugged into the 30A outlet and everything was working fine.  Some time in the night the AC quit. Not sure how long, but my wife woke me because the trailer was getting warm. I could tell there was electricity on in the campground.  Checked my EMS display and it was blank as if the trailer was not getting any shore power. 30 amp breaker under the dinette was ok but reset it anyway with no change.  At the pedestal my external surge protector was all green lights showing power with no problem indicated. The power cord green light was on, showing power was on there. Using the breaker, turned the power off  and back on at the pedestal, no change. Unplugged and used my 50 amp adapter to change the power source at the pedestal. Still no change. In the morning we packed up and went home. Read the manual and checked the forum. Saw two threads about a circuit board and a whole unit needing to be replaced. With heartburn over how hard it would be to replace the Progressive Industries EMS,  I plugged the trailer into my house circuit to do a double check and maybe some trouble shooting. Everything is fine! Display shows E0 and no PE codes showing a previous error! AC works and 110 outlets show power. What was not working is now working just fine 24 hours later.  According to the manual if the EMS shut itself down there should be a PE code the next time you turn it on. But I have no PE displayed. 

    Do I write this off as a one time glitch? Gremlins in the trailer? Was there something I missed in the trouble shooting at the campground? 

     

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