rsbilledwards

Ian, In the WEST heading from Denver or our case Evergreen, Grand Junction is 235 miles west...too soon for a stop and a very easy drive, another 150 to Green River and nothing there so far as a n RV park. So it is a dry camp someplace. From there WEST nothing for a long ways if on I 70 except many places to Dry Camp I know many are older or younger than I am at 72. I can still roll a very long ways once, not day after day. 2012 I did 1196 miles in 15 hours, albeit in a Porsche and by myself and rolling West...fun and in a turbo Porsche. I will not argue it is much more difficult the further East one goes to make any kind of time. For the most part making time like the 650 for a couple days or three in a row is for guys like Joe with little time for seeing the same thing over and over heading for places unseen and with teens already impatient with not getting there yesterday. At his age recovery is quick. I still think I am fifty, it does not take long to find out that is not the case. It is like being married and looking at pretty younger girls and ladies. Just because I am on diet does not mean I can not look at the menu.

Yes Herman they do require a controller (Victron)as mentioned. As for growing feet, I have seen many on the ground and no one around and none that have walked away in our two years camping in the desert around Quartzsite, Arizona. Common sense should prevail based upon where you are and how long you plane to be away. That said there have been thefts of generators and other stuff in the area. But if you are out and away from the majority and are alone i doubt the thieves are looking for you. They want easy targets, quick getaway spots near highways. Those areas we have been like Alamo Lake, we leave all sorts of stuff out and no one has ever bothered anything, except for Mr. Jack Burro... There is a sort of unspoken watchful community amongst campers with like interests at many of these spots. I think you have a good idea using a steel cable through the frames. It takes a lot of effort to get through that stuff and there are locks, especially the round ones that are exceptionally difficult to hack. good luck

My two bits on this one. I too am a "wing it" traveler, even when in Europe. I have found it easy to do 650 miles during this time of year, actually March through September. That does require an 8 o'clock leave in the morning. It is easy driving with the cruise set at 60-65 and freeways. It is certainly difficult if one is on secondary roads. Now as for planning night stops, for us, we have had to many pre-paid missed and forfeited because we stopped to see something to do that any more, which for me listening to Janet grouse about the $ loss is stressful. The only time I do the long drive is when we are behind the time curve and have a specific destination and arrival date. We allowed two weeks to go from western Arizona to Sebring, Florida, nope not enough time. There was so much to see having never been across Texas, Mississippi and Lousiana before. Next time 3 weeks or more. Look, living in the West and having been across some sections so many times either requires a very strict schedule from the start time to hit paid rest stops that I find that more stressful than a long day to make up for lost fun time. We are dry campers so some miles off the beaten path is just fine. I would rather spend seeing the new area than supporting KOA and crowded spaces. That is why we carry food, water and waste services anad we still have our toddys. I have to thank Brett, Herman, Carl and Kay for their input on this years trip East. It was wonderful to say the least. B .i

I would suggest if you stop at truckers rest stops, find an out of the way spot from them. Trust me you will be a lot less likely to be one with a story about being scraped by a newbie driver. It likely will be quieter as well. I will say this as well, Walmarts are a whole lot quieter and just as safe. Enjoy the trip, so much to see and do. Take your time and smell the roses.

Looks terrific and like another, looks factory. Best part you did it!

Rich, looks like a name in change only. Over the years not a great list of recommendations, many unhappy people with products made by the Lippert family of products. Oh they have a lot of good stuff right and have cheapend a lot of them after acquisition. Makin money the name of the game. I try to find products away from the Lippert name...sometimes no choice since the acquired company products already on the coach. Just sayin

I too would concur on the airflow idea. I find also interesting that the temperature change occurs so quickly. Our 1200 will remain cold for most of the day if off and unopened, and driving or sitting. Yes temp will climb but not that dramatically, wow. The case surrounding the interior box is supposed to be a partial vacuum I think, as on our unit it cautions about puncturing the outer covering. Wonder if that could be part of the equation. As fpresto said "look at what has changed". At this point with the frustration level, and the fact that it is "NEW" under warranty, 962 miles looks like the easy way out and I am the consummate diys guy. On many coaches there is apparently to much space between the coil at the top of the units and the wall. It is strongly suggested this be reduced by a deflector, wall to coil, so all the air is directed through the coil along with additional fans to obviously increase the air flow. I like the old 1200 for dry camping as well. It is a love hate relationship. Once I get the solar to actually do what I expect and my over night drop where I think it should be perhaps then I will make the move to the "modern all electric" refrigerator.

Carl, I think that it "Lippert"

My Freedom in the 2001 Safari Zanzibar was not so smart and when one called Xantrex getting info was like pulling chickens teeth. Current Magnum inverters I think a better choice as everything can be changed easily. It has a better charging cycle I think...

We too and it will not happen soon enough. We plan a minimum of 3 months. Look at the Fantasy Tours for places to go. We are going to do it with no more than 3 total.

Why do you want to buy something that is under powered if you have something that is already under powered, just more of the same? There is a lot of stuff out there that is not. Just curious...

Well do not ask me haven't the foggiest idea...it is a Detroit not Cat...you know if it is Yellow it is a CAT if not it is dog.

Yes Herman they do and so have I many times, and carpet tooo. As I was thinking about this. If the panel is rigid, which it appears to be Styrofoam"s PL300 is suitable. Comes in a tube for a caulking gun it says "bonds foam to a variety of surfaces". Good luck

Test what ever glue you use as some/many are not compatible with the Styrofoam. Many will burn as in melt the foam. You could also "try" weld wood contact cement if you have a way to spray it. I have used gallons of it over the years but do not know if it will burn the Styrofoam. Call Styrofoam and ask the tech people what glue to use if the suggestions here do not work.

I get the message loud sand clear. Had not thought of that one Herman. B

Yea Carl you are just not as fast as you look, I got it right away too even though missing one letter. Doesn't always work that way.

I agree with Kay, Remove the screw as it will work it's way into the air chamber. I do not believe it is necessary for a patch as there is no leak. Just remove so there is not one. If it in fact it leaks after you remove it, yes patch inside. Good luck

It took a little looking and yes the mirror, drivers side is turned in rolling down the road. What can they be thinking or??????????busy having a good time? It was a photo op! GOOD CATCH

Speaking of running over debris on the freeway. A huge chunk of semi tire removable tread in the left lane for me to run over. No place to go as there was traffic on rt side. I tried to move over a little and it went under the left front and came out the right rear. It hit the suspension airlines and the secondary fuel filter. Now dead in the water. Took the car off the trailer went back 25 miles to O Rieleys and got a, Wix 2 micron filter, lucky me, put is on, fired it up and discovered the torn up air lines. Well I carry a smal coil of air line and Slip to connect fittings. The whole episode cost 1 hour. As has been pointed out It is nuts to drive side beside or directly behind any other rig be it a fifth wheel, a trailer, a semi setup of any kind and people do iy all the time. It appears to be music to their ears that thump, thump, thump of a tire getting ready to leave. Baybe they are waiting for an adrenlin rush. No you are not sick nor alone

Check your pedestal power breakers.

Boo Hoo nothing for so old a coach as mine, 1999 and still in the dark...

Very interesting guys Thanks

My bad..My apologies [.I failed to answer the time question...I would fully expect the Crowns or Trojans to last 8 to ten years assuming the charging system is working correctly. This is going to depend on the Inverter/charger and its charge settings. I switched my inverter to MAGNUM in order to get a charging cycle as recomended bythe manufacturer. The original Xantrex was not easily changed nor was Xantrex willing to help with oit a lot of back and forth. It takes effort to have them ;last like this expectation. but I have time and am as yet unwilling to spend for the AGMs. I think the technology will improve and we are still on the front end of the curve. Just sayin...

Currently the best on the market are U.S. Built Crown. I have used several sets of Crown 260s in solar installations including my own. A hot second would be Trojan 105s. Beyond that it is anyones guess. In the case of house batteries weight is you friend= power.

Guess that answers my long unasked question and a pair on them sitting in the tool box. When I got them my feeling exactly. Thank you for asking the question and J for answering