Aluminum Camper Forum

2o watts really isn't enough  unless it's a perfect day and the panel is getting full sun all day and your battery only need about 1/4 charge. 40 or more is good advice.  I use a 70 watt and if I were to do it all again I wouldn't go less than 100.

Mitch

You're absolutely correct!  I do that too, forgot to mention it and it's kind of important to keep the seal in good shape. Good call!

I skipped through the video you posted and it looks pretty thorough.  I have a 13QBB and do pretty much the same thing.  As Paul said, the small amount of water in the tanks is not really anything to worry about just drain them all as well as you can.  As for the lines and the pipes, once I've drained everything, making sure to open the low point drains and drain the outside shower, I close all the valves back up again.  Then, at the water pump, I unscrew the fitting that comes from the fresh water tank and attach my hose that goes to the anti-freeze jug. Turn on the pump and fill the system up with anti-freeze.  When the pump turns off (after about 1 gallon of anti-freeze) I go to both sink valves and individually open each up until I see anti-freeze come out.  I flush the toilet until I see anti-freeze and I run the shower. I then go outside and run the outside shower and finally open the low point drains briefly.  At this point I've seen anti-freeze at each water point so I know I have protected all my pipes and valves.  I dump a bit in each trap (sink and shower) and I'm done.  It sounds like a lot of anti freeze but it's actually less than 2 gallons total.  I do not put anti-freeze in my fresh water tank and the only bit that gets in the grey and black is from the process, I don't add any.  The water heater is in bypass so no anti-freeze gets in there either.  Hope that's helpful.

Mitch 

I'm in the same boat as you Paul.  Winterized the water system this past Saturday.  Very sad.

What is it?

I suppose we could go that direction, certainly more elegant and only a teenie tiny bit more complex.  Tell you what, I'll continue down the simple solution path and you tackle the servos and micro-mechanical sensors as well as the laser eye tracking. Let me know when you're ready to install it. 

I've been thinking about this some more (a dangerous thing), the problem is bounce. If I could fab a piece that connected the 2 mirrors as shown below it should fix that.  I'm thinking 4 pieces, two more or less permanently attached ends with slots for the mirrors then 2 rods with ends that would slide into the slots. The rods would have a turnbuckle type assembly in the center to allow me to adjust the length and  tension on the mirror. Any thoughts?

I'll be interested to hear if that makes a difference.

Quote from: PEIslander on September 03, 2015, 07:13:02 PM
Next time I think I'll try mounting them from the bottom of the Tacoma's mirrors. Perhaps that lower part will be more stable?? Worth a try anyways.

I have these mirrors also and I agree totally.  They are better but the bounce is still there, just less.  I've been trying to figure out a way to add a strut between this mirror and the actual truck mirror because I thinks that's all that would be needed to eliminate the bounce but so far I haven't come up with any ideas that would fit the bill.  I have a 3d printer so I could fabricate the parts, it's the connecting the two issue that I'm a bit stuck on.

Quote from: PEIslander on September 03, 2015, 05:43:26 AM
I've now gone on one road trip with the mirrors. They were a big improvement in extending the sightlines. They go on and off exceptionally easy, are easy to adjust, and don't interfere with the operation of the vehicle's electric mirrors. That good stuff said it isn't all puppies & rainbows...

Initially I had them sticking way out there like the photos above. Problem was the vibration. At highway speeds that vibration made it look like the trailer was bouncing like a pogo stick the day after Christmas. Seriously - you can get seasick if you try to actually watch the reflection! When bouncing you can still tell if a car was behind the trailer etc. so I suppose it does do its most important role pretty well -- but damn it doesn't make looking back as fun as I'd hoped.  For my 5 1/2 hour return drive I adjusted the mirrors closer to the vehicle's mirrors and it did lessen the bouncy views. It also reduced the rear viewing and still bounced -- just a bit less. The shorter cantilever seemed to reduce the frequency of the bounce to more of a vibration. Not as "buzz" vibration -- still a bounce but just less vertical magnitude and higher frequency.

I will still use them but I wish the experience was better.

Paul - You have the same mirrors -- what has been your experience?

I'd stop bathing, it's overrated anyway.

As we all know it's better to look good then to feel good, with that approach your mod is outstanding and incredibly worthwhile. 

Looks really nice, how much plumbing did you have to do?  New trap kind of stuff, I hate plumbing.

Quote from: WWBushhog on July 01, 2015, 01:40:23 AM
"I live roughly an hour north of Albany, NY which is very doable for the Second Annual International Livin'Lite Jamboree.  More importantly, if nothing serious changes between now and then my criminal record will still be clear.  I'll bring the booze."

Mitch, don't forget to bring your banjo!   

Thanks for the report and photos, Guys!  It's fun putting faces to the posts and sounds like we missed out on some great food and fellowship.

David, where in Texas did you live?

I don't leave home without it!  I assume moonshine will make me a better banjo player too. At the very least I'll think so.
 

Quote from: PEIslander on June 30, 2015, 04:39:00 PM

Quote from: Mitch on June 30, 2015, 03:19:58 PM
Sounds like it was a fun time, maybe next year my wife and I can join in since she's now retired.  Regarding Bourbon, it's a great food group, if you want something interesting try Apple Pie Moonshine.  Moonshine is usually corn based so I guess it's Bourbon, I'm not an expert, but nowadays one can get legal moonshine in a wide variety of persuasions.  Apple pie is very nice.

Mitch - where do you live? I don't think we can buy Apple Pie Moonshine here in the Maritime part of Canada. You will have to bring your Moonshine when we have the Second Annual International Livin'Lite Jamboree.

I live roughly an hour north of Albany, NY which is very doable for the Second Annual International Livin'Lite Jamboree.  More importantly, if nothing serious changes between now and then my criminal record will still be clear.  I'll bring the booze.

Sounds like it was a fun time, maybe next year my wife and I can join in since she's now retired.  Regarding Bourbon, it's a great food group, if you want something interesting try Apple Pie Moonshine.  Moonshine is usually corn based so I guess it's Bourbon, I'm not an expert, but nowadays one can get legal moonshine in a wide variety of persuasions.  Apple pie is very nice.