Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Doneworking on March 17, 2017, 07:46:53 pm
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Going over our PC2350 today doing all my annual maintenance stuff.
I took off the spare tire cover to check the spare's pressure and thought I would pass along what else is back there. Many may do this also, but if you don't it is a thought for you. I keep a heavy duty long length set of jumper cables and a fifteen foot spare water hose (for the macerator pump/dump) wrapped around the steel tube that supports the spare tire. I haven't needed either since we got the PC three plus years ago but you never know....particularly the jumpers. It is a great place to keep those two seldom needed items. Exterior storage in our PC is limited so every little bit helps. Also the interior of that metal tube is a neat place to keep something small that is seldom needed, maybe a can of Slime or something like that. Emergency type stuff.
Paul
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GREAT suggestion! (I've never even looked in there.) :-D
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I keep an old XL "T" shirt inside that tube figuring if I ever need to change the tire, it will come in handy either to wear to stay clean, or to use as a rag.
I used to keep my indoor/outdoor clock-thermometer transmitter inside the rag, but was inconvenient when changing the transmitter batteries. I since keep the transmitter inside the rear storage compartment in the holster it came with.
Hey Carol, I gave you a "Neighborly" to hit the Helpful Rating 100 mark. Congratulations!
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A neighborly nod and a thank you to you, Ron. :)(:
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Thanks for the reminder to look in there. Since purchasing our's a year ago, I haven't opened that area and should, but kind of apprehensive about it having read some of the problems
in doing so, here on the forum. Our rig didn't come with a jack or lug wrench and was wondering if maybe they were in the spare tire area. At the very least I should check the spare tire
for inflation and just know how to do it if needed on the road.
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We've had ours open a few times and had no trouble opening or closing it so go for it. It's best to find out there's a problem sitting in the driveway then out on the road somewhere.
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I check my spare at the beginning and in the middle of the travel season. Folks might be observant of the retaining nut on the inside of the cover (the one that holds on the lock and handle hardware). Mine had worked really loose. I should have put some thread lock on it before I tightened it back up. You really have to remember that this is a fiberglass or similar material that the cover is cast in and can break fairly easily. Also, you can chip the paint easily on the cover when removing it if you are not mindful.
I do think, however, it is a neat place to put the spare and thus create the bump out on the back of the coach. That allows also for the big door and shallow storage area back there. Pretty cool design, really. That bump out and "continental kit a la Phoenix" makes a PC very distinctive from the back. Take a look at most Cs and what you see is box of Premium Saltine Crackers on its side with six wheels under it.
Paul
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I agree with you Paul,
Phoenix's rear wall with integrated spare tire and storage compartment are exceptional. Of coarse there is always room for improvement, but I am not complaining one tiny bit. Still, I'd like to share my thoughts for improvement.
1) The spare tire compartment designed such that it could be utilized for either a spare tire or a pair of zero gravity chairs.
2) The lock for the spare tire key'd the same as the rest used elsewhere on the PC.
I re-key'd that lock to match the others. I also re-key'd the deadbolt lock to match the regular lock on the main entry door. So I carry 3 keys now instead of 5. Unlocking the entry door is so much easier now.
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The key used for most of the locks on the PC is the most common key in the RV industry. I for one prefer the lock on my spare tire to be a little less common, like it is now. Having said that most locks are easily picked by any good thief. pyho
I question putting to many heavy things in with the tire as that is the farthest place back from the axel. I prefer to put heavy items in the side compartment behind the batteries, in the middle of the coach.
This is just my way of doing things.
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We store a 10' sewer hose around the spare tire. We were very glad for it the first time the macerator would not work. Very light weight so no added pounds in the rear.
Just saw in Costco a very small lithium power bank made for jumping car batteries.
https://www.costco.com/Lithium-Jump-Starter-And-Portable-Power-Bank-.product.100312116.html?catalogId=10701&langId=-1&storeId=10301&krypto=BbExLyjFAg%2FHB0n%2BDxeeboAx%2F7lXKz1LvLM7mTE1pJ5mYfXMpOXQsplyfYN4NpDgdHYxt%2FTq7Yej%0AR9mdOCepvguBItorlvOvC01O6WYUt5zX3u6jb04cXTC%2BXN77AL8B
Anyone know if this works? Beats the size and weight of extra long jumper cables.
Nicki
PS to Ron: I am traveling but thank you for the detailed instructions on how to can just say "Click Here." Will study once I am home and have time.
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Nicki: We have a similar power bank (can't tell you which one as it isn't within easy access at the moment) and it works great. We've jump started our PC once, someone else's RV and two cars. Very easy, safe and has a small footprint.
- Mike
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Thanks Mike. Good to know. Will probably check on various types/brands then get one each for PC and car. We head to Alaska this summer and I am scrambling on cutting weight but still having every thing we consider essential. This will help a lot.
Nicki
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My son bought us this one: https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB40-UltraSafe-Lithium-Starter/dp/B015TKUPIC for Christmas. Have not used it yet, but seems well made, includes a flashlight and charging ports for cell phones, & other USB stuff. I have it in the car. Was going to put it in the PC, but with all the power sources available there I'm not sure it makes sense so I leave it in the car.
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Are there any concerns about the Lithium Ion batteries in these devices igniting and/or exploding like the one in the headphones worn by the lady on the plane, or hover boards or e cigarettes? :)(:
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"Lithium Batteries" should be treated as a generic term. There is at this time several different chemistries in use. Some, obviously, less than perfect. :) Lithium-Iron is one that is now being used for large battery banks in RV's for example, with good success. Unfortunately unless the manufacturer explicitly says what chemistry is being used it is difficult to know.
In this case, with only occasional use and the battery itself wrapped in a sealed case I am not concerned. I am always careful to charge lithium batteries where there is lots of air movement around them.
It should be remembered that jump starting a lead-acid battery is itself a dangerous activity. And based on my personal experience, lead-acid is far, far more dangerous than lithium. I've been burned twice by exploding lead-acid batteries. The difference is that lithium is used in myriad small devices that we all consider 'safe' and lead-acid is used in car engine compartments where we know 'dangerous' things live. So when a lithium battery goes bad it is front page news, but when a lead-acid one explodes it rates not even a mention.
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Good lithium batteries have 2 things going for them:
The are stored and charged where the have room to expand. That's why the Samsung Note 7 had an issue. No room to expand, so they distorted... and shorted out internally... thus blew abd caught fire.
They should also have a built in current limiter so they don't overheat.
There's other good ideas such as only use the manufacturer's charger and so forth.
Lithium ion (or otherwise) batteries are perfectly safe as long as they are from a reputable manufacturer and properly used.
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We have the little Costco jump starter and it works great. Thinking about carrying one in each vehicle so we don't find it is in the other vehicle when needed. It has been a life saver when the toad battery decided to take a vacation.
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Just checked our PC and jotted down the info of our charging device.
QuipAll (modelPCAJS400)
It's a pretty versatile device. Can charge a number of different things and had the capability of providing power thru the OBDII connection in order to save settings while changing or disconnecting the vehicle battery. We received the unit as a gift a couple years ago and really love it. It can be found here.....
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Quip-All-595-PCAJS400-Mini-Charge-All-Intelligent-Jump-Starter/186386018?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1148&adid=22222222228057841484&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=161636337592&wl4=pla-270590567945&wl5=9032049&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112562587&wl11=online&wl12=186386018&wl13=&veh=sem