eric@babin.com

Monday December 10th update.... All this framing done in one day! The tiny house looking structure will be the 12x28 storage building. It's pretty obvious what the four 8x8's are going to be.

Yes.... I am thinking of options to reduce the messy mess when it rains.... might build a deck that will come right up to the door.... or maybe artificial turf.... or the crushed granite.... but, I'll look into Dirty D too! EDIT: Is there another name for "Dirty D"? Can't find info.

I decided to start a thread regarding our RV pad we are building in the Texas hill country, specifically Pipe Creek TX. (about 40 miles north west of downtown San Antonio. I thought it might be nice to document the progress of said structure. We're putting in a caliche pad (concrete too expensive), with a 24' x 54' cover, and a 12' x 28' storage building. It will have 50amp service and well water. No septic. Due to high density of rocks the septic was going to run almost $15,000. We travel frequently so dumping every couple weeks won't be difficult. (we will be able to dump gray on site) If it becomes a hassle we'll add it later. Once we get the pad, cover, and storage building complete we're going to add outdoor kitchen and sitting area using flagstone, decking, lighting, and artificial turf. Attached are the pictures of the progress so far... which is just the caliche pad and footings for cover and storage building. I've also attached renderings of storage building and cover. As you see, this is not going to simply be an industrial metal cover and pre-fab storage. If anyone has questions I'll be happy to answer what I know. Lumber delivery December 4th.

Yes... we were there also... having our awning fixed.... they had to order the parts from when we were first there in October.

Dang... sorry it took so long for me to wrap this thread up.... Everything has been fixed. We got all the work done at Texas Custom Coach in Pipe Creek TX which happens to be the best in the region, and nearest to our "home base". $9,200 worth of work. Lots of work needed for alignment etc. Air suspension adjustments. (this is why it was leaning toward the passenger front.) New Mich. front tires. I guess we put something bulky in the washing machine which caused the damage to it????) Our shower sunroof has been leaking for longer than we've owned it apparently... entire ceiling in bathroom needed to be rebuilt. New controller for awning. 1 slide awning needed to be completely replaced. All the work for the 30,000 mile maintenance... blah blah blah… you get the idea.... Everything was fixed for our trip to Key West for our annual convention. (oh.. hey, we won EVERY award (all 5) that had to do with radio while there.... station of the year, show of the year, dj of the year... etc.....… this is us: www.RadioTropRock.com ) Anyway..... as I said...everything is working great now.... well, except for the cracked windshield we got coming back from Key West.... heck... if we didn't have something on the list "to fix" then we wouldn't be considered "full timers" right?

Great info. Thank you. More fantastic ideas. I love this forum. Thank you- Eric

I am very interested in taking an RV tech course. The purpose would simply be to be able to diagnose and fix many of the problems I run across on a weekly basis as we travel the country full time. I'd love to attend the 10 week course in Clearwater Florida, RV Technical Training. The advantage to this course is I'd assume since it's a 10 week course it is pretty thorough. Another advantage to this course it is approved by the VA so my GI Bill will pay for it. The disadvantage is my travel schedule with our radio station (Radio Trop Rock) prevents me from being able to stand still for 10 weeks in a row. We are booked out to early 2020.... so, right now, I intend to keep an eye on the class schedule and possibly attend in 2020. Here is the link to the 10 week course in Clearwater FL: https://www.rvtrainingcenter.com/ There is a 5 day course in Athens Texas. The advantage to this course is, since it's only 5 days, and we are based out of Texas, I can squeeze this course into our busy schedule. The disadvantage is my GI Bill will NOT cover this course. It will be 100% out of pocket. Here is the link to the 5 day course: https://rvtechcourse.com/ I've done some "google research" and I can't find any other "hands on" RV Tech courses. Does anyone have any they may know about? While I'd prefer "hands on" if I could find an online / distance learning course my GI Bill would cover I'd consider that. Any suggestions? -Eric

Best way to check load weight would be the self service Cat scales at truck stops? Sorry about the all caps.... that is a cut and paste from some notes I've made on a word doc. I'll certainly report back regarding the diagnosis. (I'm taking it in to Texas Custom Coach / Bandera TX)

are you asking if the right side is lower than the left? It is fine if we are on level ground.... they are pretty much the same.

We are full timers and will be bringing out RV in for a couple issues and scheduled maintenance. Below is my list.... Just wondering if there is some other things I should have them check.... 2014 ITASCA ELLIPSE 42QD CUMMINS 450 HP ISL9 ISSUES: COACH PULLS TO THE RIGHT RIGHT SIDE SUSPENSION SEEMS SOFT AND BOTTOMS OUT MUCH EASIER THAN LEFT SIDE WHEN A BUMP IS HIT WASHING MACHINE (SPLENDIDE AWRXF129W) ACTS AS IF IT IS GETTING NO POWER. WILL NOT COME ON. OUTLET POWER IS FINE. SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE: ENGINE OIL / OIL, FUEL, AND AIR FILTER CHANGE TEST COOLANT CHECK BELTS GENERATOR OIL / AIR / FUEL FILTER CHANGE (ONAN 10000 RVQD) CLEAN OUT SPARK ARRESTOR FOR GENERATOR LUBE AND CHECK SLIDE OUTS (X3) LUBE AND CHECK LEVELING JACKS AQUA HOT SYSTEM / ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CHECK BATTERIES CHECK FOR PROPER INFLATION OF TIRES WHAT OTHER ITEMS MAY BE NEEDED TO BE CHECKED AT 30,000 MILES / ANNUAL / PRIOR TO LONG TRIP?

Great info! Thank you all...…

Here is a picture of the damage....

RESOLVED: The Surge Guard Power Protection Transfer Switch Model 41260 was fried. Maybe from a power surge? I got the part from Dyers Online for under $200 new (very good price) and had it installed at Custom RV Service in Greenbriar AR by Keith 501-773-8676. 3 hours labor since it also fried just a little bit of my cord. I'm shopping for inline surge protectors to hopefully prevent this from happening again.

Any input on this? Basically a "hot spot" AND wifi extender. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BFRTCG9?pf_rd_p=d1f45e03-8b73-4c9a-9beb-4819111bef9a&pf_rd_r=9SMNHK584W00FVAX5E3F#customerReviews

I am having my ATS replaced this morning due to surge or low power at a park last week. I'll post pics etc on that page I started later today. I'm looking at getting some protections. My coach: 2014 Itasca Ellipse 42qd Which is better: EMS-PT50X https://www.campingworld.com/ems-pt50x-50-amp-ems-with-surge-protection?CAWELAID=120030630000022897&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt-HMmr3C3QIVh6xpCh1RTQv4EAQYAiABEgLYPfD_BwE or SURGE GUARD 34950 https://www.technorv.com/surge-guard-portable-total-electrical-protection-34950/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvd-t6LzC3QIVUL7ACh0rNQkoEAQYBCABEgKszvD_BwE I value your input! Thank you in advance- Eric Babin

I was actually in Oklahoma City... and there were no storms that night... well, rain, but no lightning / thunder that we noticed. Mobile tech is 90% sure it's the ATS. He didn't dig into it.... says there is no need, he's "sure" that is what it is.... I didn't mind... I was more worried about getting the full - length slide back in so we could travel.... he did the "over ride fault" trick with the controller and the slide came in... now, it seems the slide (for now) is fixed! We are at a different park now.... in Tulsa.... pedestal power seems fine, no power to coach... so, now it's 99% likely it's the ATS. I had a friend that is an RV tech look at it (but did not take off cover to ATS... he didn't have his tools). He also says it's the ATS... 99% sure. We're in Tulsa for an event at River Spirit Casino and will be boondocking 13-16 anyway... so I'm not concerned if the ATS doesn't work.... then we have to go to Nashville for an event...… on the way to Nashville I'll go by my buddies RV repair facility near Cabot Arkansas and have him replace the ATS.... I'm going to order the part and send it ahead of me. I'll let you guys know if that did the trick! I've still got my appointment at Texas Custom Coach Oct8 for all the scheduled maintenance and to check my suspension issue.

SurgeGuard 41260 oh... and now we can't get the drivers side slide in.... getting 4 red/2 green error code... manual says it is fuse or motor connection issue.... fuse is not blown.... RV Tech guy on the way! picture is slide out controller

I've never noticed before.... do you know if it should be showing "wiring status error" when not plugged in, and generator not running. Using inverter only. ???

On the ATS... it has a light "service required". That light is NOT on. Also, with generator off, and not plugged into pedestal, i'm showing "wiring status error" on my panel. With generator on it shows "wiring status ok"

I have a surge guard... all green lights.... I'm having a tech come out to verify...… seems my ATS may be bad.

The coach was plugged in and working fine.... then it stopped overnight.... Would this information make this less likely? Pedestal power seems fine.

2014 Itasca Ellipse 42qd plugged into shore power pedestal 50amp and it has power. no power inside coach. I've checked house breakers (main). Generator provides power just fine. Shore power, nothing. Inverter also seems to be working fine. ideas?

OK.... bringing this thread back to life.... no comments since December 2017.... wondering if there are any other opinions. What we would like to use it for is cel-phone reception booster, as well as wi-fi extender..... Looks like an upgraded version came out in Feb 2018! any experience with using this with Verizon?

True.... I'm only running numbers to make the decision when we have an option to plug in at a park..... Park cost vs. generator cost. Not only must the wife be happy.... but we have 2 dogs that must have a/c even when we are out for the day!

found it....