2010 September » tgif: let's RV

Baby Got New Shoes

RV DIY & Mods, RV Equipment No Responses »

Sep 302010

Headed to Discount Tire today to get new tires on the trailer. It was fitted with Maxxis ST205/75R-15 load range D tires. The old Towmax tires were made in China and trailer tires made in China are lovingly called "China Bombs" as they are just as likely blow out as they are to hold air. I went one winter with them but was not willing to chance a second winter.

The Towmax tires were load range C tires but I decided to step up to a D range on the Maxxis'. I really don't need to extra carrying capacity but since I was getting new tires I figured I'd spend the extra 10 bucks a tire to get what should be a more durable tire. On the short drive home the trailer felt more stable and it even appeared to have less bouncing.

Battery Box Project Completed

RV DIY & Mods No Responses »

Sep 292010

After work I started on enclosing my battery bank in the trailer. The batteries have been sitting out in the open and exposed. Anything could have fallen across the terminals and shorted them out. I didn't go with a sealed battery box as I'm using AGM batteries that do not vent potentially explosive fumes like lead acid wet cell batteries can.

So all I did was to take some plywood and make a couple of sides to protect the batteries and then made a removable top to cover them. I needed to make the top easily removable as I disconnect the power leads from them so they won't get discharged while the trailer is not being used. If power was still going to the trailer things like the LP Gas Leak Detector can run the batteries down. Two projects down.... about a half dozen more to go!

I Got Inverted

RV DIY & Mods, RV Equipment No Responses »

Sep 282010

Started work on my trailer today and one project is now checked off my list. Got the inverter installed and hooked up. An inverter takes the 12 volt DC voltage out your battery and converts to 110 volt AC so you can power your AC equipment. Many things on a trailer runs on 12V DC or LP gas (lights, frig, water pump and furnace) but I also have a few things I need to run on 110v AC such as the television and computer/phone chargers. I could have gotten a 12v tele and phone chargers but having an inverter just gives me more versatility.

My system is setup with two Sears Platinum group 31M AGM batteries and a Prosine 1800 watt pure sine wave inverter. The Sears Platinum batteries will give me a total of 200AH of capacity and being AGM (absorbed glass mat) means that they will not leak acid or vent explosive gasses like regular lead acid batteries can. The Prosine 1800 watt inverter is a pure sine wave inverter that can supply up to 15 amps of 110 volt AC with a surge of 45 amps.

Time For An Update

RV Day to Day Life No Responses »

Sep 272010

I know, I know, I haven't posted anything new for a few months. It's not that I haven't been out and about, just that I've had a lot on my plate. But it's now time to start updating the blog again as winter is just around the corner. I still have some articles to move over here from the old blog and I'll do that over the next couple of weeks.

My original plans for the winter was to head to Cape Coral Florida to stay at my sister's house. They just moved down there is August and have a large driveway that I could have parked in and have easy access to electric and water. Because of this there was no hurry to complete some projects on my 5th wheel trailer as I wouldn't be needing most of those projects this winter. But some further investigation found that they have local zoning laws that would only allow me to stay 10 days in their driveway. That presented a problem as I have no intention of paying the exorbitant lot rents that campgrounds/resorts in that area charge.