Aluminum Camper Forum

Had to replace the Dometic awning on our camper.  It was tired and starting to rip at the top seam.  It was a power awning with LED lights.  The linked YouTube video IMHO is the best technique for swapping out your power awning.

The challenge we had was the LED lights were sown into the awning and this required cutting off the plastic light track that was preventing the awning to slide out of the track.  Otherwise, the awning brackets would have had to be unscrewed from the camper to allow an easy slide out.  Once I found the right place to cut the plastic for the lights it slid right out of the track.  I will use the existing LED light power supply and install some LED lights later.

We purchased a ShadePro awning through Amazon.  ShadePro has good instructions on how to measure the awning size you need.  We had no issues installing the new awning.  Very pleased with the ShadePro product.  Well one issue my 30 year old pop rivet tool stopped working.  A quick trip to the hardware store got us back to replacement.

It is very important to mark your awning tube for valance, awning and motor position along with pining the spring retraction side of the tube too.  The gas struts also have to be secured too.  The video does a great job of pointing all this out.

https://youtu.be/J9RQiX5_Jpo?si=6spiugoSzWkhR_vJ

RV Trader also has one BHS for sale: https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2017-Livin%27+Lite-CAMP+LITE+21BHS-5035631685#sid=638789

Not mine.  Just sharing the information.  2014 so it is pre-Thor. 

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2014-Livin%27+Lite-Camp+Lite+21RBS-5036885364#sid=261405

I did a google search and a few you tube videos showed up on how to remove an antenna but not your round one. 

I purchased our camper used and the first owner went to a camper manufacturer in Indiana and had the rear bumper strengthened.  They added the Swagman receiver with a steel plate that is under the Swagman mount and screwed into the rear frame crossmember next to the black tank.  I use a Kuat bike rack that you tighten down in the receiver so it has no play or bounce.  Our ebikes weight in at 42 lbs each.  I remove the batteries from the ebikes to bring the weight down too. 

Been told that Arctic Tern windows will work for the kitchen window on the LL campers: https://ternoverland.com/Windows

They also are expensive. 

Beautiful but brr. Back in the day I was a winter mountaineer.  Snowshoeing, XC Skiing, Arctic Soldier and Paratrooper.  Now in my post 60 years I have lost my joy of being cold. Got a brother in Vermont who still loves the cold but my old bones don't enjoy it anymore.

I was able to find the VE Shunt settings on YouTube.  The YT screen shot does not show that I set the discharge floor to 15%. 

Aware that you can't charge the LiFePO batteries below freezing.  I do not plan on camping for any extended times in below freezing weather.  I am a classic snowbird winter camper in the Florida Keys.  Usually we get one to two days of below freezing weather on the trip down.  The Navy campground has way more dry camping sites than FHUs especially since active duty military can now live in the campground for their entire tour at NAS Key West. I was dry camping for five weeks this winter and the 8 year old LE batteries couldn't keep up. 

Fan of the Bluetti too we have the AC 180 with 200 WT solar.  The AC 180 worked great for running the DC powered Starlink at night and for making toast in the morning without having to fire up the generator. 

I made the conversion from lead acid to Lithium Ion Phosphate battery with our 21 RBS.  After dry camping in the Florida Keys for 5 weeks this summer with 8+ year old golf cart batteries it was time to replace them or upgrade to li-ion battery. The old batteries, two 6 VT, did fine running the camper but could not keep the Starlink and TV going in the evening without a taking the batteries below 50%.  Both TV and Starlink are 12VT. 

Went with the "LiTime 12V 280Ah Plus Deep Cycle Lithium Battery with Low-Temp Protection" that fit in the existing battery box.  Upgraded the converter-inverter with the "Progressive Dynamics Replacement Converter Inteli-Power 4000 Series 45 Amp Power Center" vs. replacing the entire inverter-converter. This is only five wires to change out.  Then added a "Victron Energy SmartShunt Battery Monitor (Bluetooth) - 6.5V-70V, 500 amp" with "Victron Energy Temperature Sensor BMV-702/712" to monitor the battery status on the phone app.

I have not had the chance to give it a good shakedown because I got FHUs the last two weeks in the Keys where we did the conversion.

I am told we increased by battery capacity by three times and lightened the tongue weight by 40 lbs. 

I will give an undated report later on how it goes.

 

Nicely done!

After retirement back in '21 we did a long trip out west to visit sites and friends.  I still want to go back to Alaska one more time, we were stationed there '86 - '90, and still have friends there. 

We have become true Florida snowbirds.  Will be headed south to Florida in late January to visit friends and my Mother along our way to Key West for February and March.  Then reverse the travels in April to back home in Pennsylvania. 

No summer travels planned yet but I would like to visit Maine again too. 

Happy Trails! 

A pre-Thor 16 TBS for sale in Florida.  https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2015-Livin+Lite-CAMP+LITE+CL16TBS-5034183418?cmp=email_rv_search-alert

Neighbor up the street brought home a brand new InTech Sol Dusk with the Rover Package and with the solar option.  Very nicely made.  I am not a fan of the 12VT DC refrigerator vs. propane.  It does not have a grey tank and everything dumps into the singe black tank.  I explained to our neighbor that our campers are cousins since Scott Tuttle was involved. 

https://intech.com/rv/models/sol/dusk/

I found our 21 RBS on RV Trader by setting up a saved search and alert notification.  You might have to travel some distance to find the trailer you want because this things are turning into unicorns.

Yeah I have the range hood fan/light not working.  It was intermittent but now it is out completely.  I am assuming I have a short somewhere.