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1

Adventure Anywhere / Re: Dreaming of Alaska Road Trip

« on: April 09, 2022, 07:57:11 am »

Canada is open as long as you have proof of vaccination. The one unknown yet is if they will open the Poker Creek border crossing. That crossing has been closed the past two years. So far nothing is shown on official sites, but perhaps updates will happen in May.

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Tips and Tricks / Re: Garmin 890 and 1090 Mounts

« on: May 21, 2021, 02:10:29 pm »

Hi Mike! Thanks for the additional info on mounts. I have changed the topic name to include the 1090 so folks can find the info. I am looking forward to using the 890 on our next trip. For one, I can do most changes with voice command which will be safer than fiddling with the GPS while driving. I know the 770 had some voice commands but could never remember them. I am used to using "hey Google" so its easy for my aged brain to remember "hey Garmin"! 

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Tips and Tricks / Garmin 890 and 1090 Mounts

« on: May 20, 2021, 05:43:08 pm »

I have updated from the Garmin 770 to their 890 for the additional features. Unfortunately, the 890 does not fit on the driver’s side corner of the dash as the 770 did on our 2017 E450 based RV! 

So, I rigged up a mount using the Garmin supplied ball mount adaptor together with a cup mount and some RAM style connectors.

Here is the part list I used:

Heavy Duty 1 Inch Ball Cup Holder https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YZVQJK2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

6" Aluminum Arm with Dual 1" Ball sockets
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B082YFP982/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

iBOLT 25mm / 1 inch to 25mm / 1 inch Composite Extension Ball
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B07KFP5673/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

RAM 2.42” Double Socket Arm
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B002L9LW00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This puts the 890 at an eye level for use and verbal commands.

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General Discussion / Re: Original A/C Unit

« on: February 27, 2021, 03:28:47 pm »

I don't recall the brand of air con I had on my previous RV but I was able to buy a replacement cover off of Amazon.

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General Discussion / Re: Softstart

« on: February 18, 2021, 12:10:09 pm »

I installed an EasyStart fall 2019. The only view I have of the input current is the inverter display. Unfortunately, PC wired the inverter to be on any time there is AC incoming.

So with that in mind, the input current for the air conditioner and the inverter after the EasyStart was installed is at 17A. The inverter is probably over an amp and the converter is probably using around an amp, so the EasyStart is probably having the aircon run current close to the 14A many say it should be.

I don't have a way to measure the start up surge current.

I had installed the EasyStart as we had a Mexico trip planned for the following winter and thought it would allow me to run the aircon on the poorer Mexican hook-ups. As it was, I never trusted the connections to do that.

I also hoped that it would allow me to run the micro when running the aircon. Due to no travel since the Mexico trip, I haven't tried that as yet.

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Adventure Anywhere / Re: Dreaming of Alaska Road Trip

« on: February 18, 2021, 11:32:36 am »

Yes it is odd to ban cruise ships to a year out but continue to extend the general border closure to non-essential travel on a month to month basis.

Canada has also just ruled that being vaccinated doesn't mean you can cross the border for non-essential travel.

I had hoped to take an Alaskan trip this summer but it takes time to prepare for one. For me, past mid- April would be too late to try and plan a trip. I am not expecting Canada to change their position before then and so have been working on plan B.

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General Discussion / Re: Flip our Phoenix

« on: February 09, 2021, 11:21:21 am »

We never make reservations for the long haul.  Only the day of or the day before arrival. I don’t like being restricted once reservations are made on how long I’ll be in an area. When the day comes I have to plan a multi state trip in booked reservations I’ll sell the rig and stay in hotels. 

I feel the same way. There is no sense of freedom when you are tied to a schedule. If it gets bad, I would see if I could get the DW to accept RVing in a much smaller rig so we could free/stealth park in places. Otherwise I would give up and go the hotel route.

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General Discussion / Re: Crank battery charging

« on: January 19, 2021, 07:41:58 am »

By the way, the other thing I learned in that first year was that it's a very bad idea to leave the house plugged in all the time while in storage.  That dumb Parallax converter the PC came with cooked $300 worth of house batteries.  After replacing the house batteries with AGM's, I replaced the Parallax with a smart converter (Progressive Dynamics PD9245CV Inteli-Power 9200).  But I still don't leave it plugged in all the time.

You can leave the house batteries plugged in if AGM and using a smart charger. (I have done it for years) If you have standard lead-acid batteries you would need to keep an eye on the water level.

I was really surprised that the Parallax was still the standard charger being used by Phoenix when I ordered my 2017. As you mention, it can easily burn up your batteries. A smart Progressive Dynamics is not much more. I had them switch to the PD charger for my build.

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General Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself!

« on: January 05, 2021, 07:39:41 am »

Congrats your new rig! Hope everything gets fixed quickly for you.

Hadn't heard of the Battleborn bundle before. Where do they put all of those batteries? Did it come with solar as well?

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General Discussion / Re: Holding tank sensors

« on: December 26, 2020, 08:59:42 am »

Mike (Gandalf) asked me once before about how they were installed on the foil-wrapped black and grey tanks--and I don't know if we ever followed-up with the exact answer.  On those two tanks, Phoenix trimmed the foil wrapping exactly on each side of the sensor/sender boards, and the sensors are applied directly to the tanks.

Interesting info. Thanks! 

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General Discussion / Re: Holding tank sensors

« on: December 25, 2020, 06:49:31 am »

I asked a See Level factory rep one time about installing them in our PC considering the tank insulation type used and he said no. Yet, I have seen that the PC folks have installed them in some units. I thought whenever (if ever) I get by that way again I would ask the factory about the feasibility of installing them.

I have always done similar to RVRunner's reply in that each year I buy a 8 1/2 X 11 monthly calendar (similar to a mini desk calendar) and use it to mark when I dump. That way I can look and see how long its been.

I also use the calendar for other things such as tracking mileage and stops on a trip.

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General Discussion / Re: LOOK WHAT OUR KIDS ARE BUYING

« on: November 23, 2020, 09:28:10 am »

On the Ekko I like the permanent beds, large garage and the convertable shower which solves the dry bath in a small RV issue but I am not a fan of cassette toilets. We would have to dump them far too often.

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General Discussion / Re: Leak in sewer pipe

« on: November 21, 2020, 01:04:40 pm »

Glad to hear others call it plumber's tape. I went to Home Depot and ask a person for it last week and he showed me some kind of wide plastic tape. When I described what I was looking for he told me that was called strap and directed me to it. It's been so long since I had bought some, I thought I was getting senile and had forgotten the name. Good to know I am just old and the melon still works! 

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General Discussion / Loose screws on door latch mechanism

« on: September 22, 2020, 03:00:42 pm »

When I closed the RV door I heard something fall and found a screw had fallen into the doorstep. I found it had fallen out of the door latch mechanism (indoor side) and the other 2 screws were very loose as well.

This is just a note for something to add to your periodic checklist. 

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General Discussion / Re: Accumulator Tank

« on: August 28, 2020, 08:43:30 am »

I initially tried a 2 gallon tank and couldn't get it to fit where I wanted it ..under the bathroom sink of our 2552. Went with the smaller sea flow tank. I was hoping it would reduce the cycling of the pump but didn't notice a change. So, for me wasn't worth it. The larger tank may have made a difference but no room for it for us.