| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: How 4-season are 4 seasons Lances?
^I get it. Whatever works best for you is what works best.
The big thing with moisture is volume introduced via external stuff (the wet ski gear) and the lack of good air circulation. The forced air furnace (mouse turd burner lol) does a lot to dry the air but trust me. Few people for a few days in cold weather in a TC will be a challenge to keep humidity and condensation under control. You can. It’s not prohibitive, just a bit of a challenge.
You can charge from the truck somewhat efficiently with a good size DCDC charger.
Still, your engineer sense should guide you from over complicating things like plumbing into the truck fuel tank. Besides those little heaters only use like a half gallon of diesel a day or something minuscule. Nothing a little fuel can and 5 min a day can’t keep full.
If I have any control over it I WILL be doing very similar to you again in the future. And having run a couple TCs thru the gamut from driving to AK to outrunning tornados in the Midwest and boonie docking in the Rockies and cascades, what you’re planning is a great setup.
Cheers!
I understand humidity. That's specifically why I was asking about the dehumidify feature on the new Truma AC that Lance is using. I was wondering if it was like my Canadian friends who use their AC in the winter (Run AC in the winter). When I asked my local dealer guy he had no idea. But if it functions that way? That's a game changer.
Worst case I think a small air-to-air heat exchanger could be fabbed to do air exchange and dry out the camper. Making it look good and fit somewhere is the only problem.
See this post for info on an air to air heat exchanger I made to fit in the sliding window under the bed. Sorry, photos were deleted by photo host. I have used it off and on for the past 10 years.
Heat exchanger for TC
Yeah I'd love to see pics, but I assume it's like a house cross flow air to air?
The design I have in mind would be more like a periscope with counter flow. My youngest has a 3D printer, so that and some square aluminum tube I could prototype some things pretty fast. A few computer fans, and an arduino set to keep delta below say 5 degrees and I think it could be pretty effective. Rough turn over on a computer fan might be 20-30 cfm per minute. Back of the napkin says an 1172 is about 640 cuft in volume. That puts me at 32 minutes per turn over (theoretical). If I could turn the unit over 3 times in a night I'd be happy. So it could run much slower of course.
Yes, mine is a plate exchanger with cross flow in a plastic box like an ammo case that fits in the sliding window. I did mock up a counterflow shell and tube exchanger, but fans with higher static pressure (and higher wattage) than computer fans were required for my design. (Maybe why cross flow exchangers are used in cold climate homes?)
At low flow, I estimate my cross flow exchanger is a quiet 3-5 cfm, enough to sleep comfortably in my TC without open vents and condensation. I also confirmed humidity removal by initially boiling water in the TC and measuring humidity for a few hours after. Sorry, I don't recall the data.
Please share your design and results when finished.
|
RickW
|
05/08/23 01:41pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: How 4-season are 4 seasons Lances?
^I get it. Whatever works best for you is what works best.
The big thing with moisture is volume introduced via external stuff (the wet ski gear) and the lack of good air circulation. The forced air furnace (mouse turd burner lol) does a lot to dry the air but trust me. Few people for a few days in cold weather in a TC will be a challenge to keep humidity and condensation under control. You can. It’s not prohibitive, just a bit of a challenge.
You can charge from the truck somewhat efficiently with a good size DCDC charger.
Still, your engineer sense should guide you from over complicating things like plumbing into the truck fuel tank. Besides those little heaters only use like a half gallon of diesel a day or something minuscule. Nothing a little fuel can and 5 min a day can’t keep full.
If I have any control over it I WILL be doing very similar to you again in the future. And having run a couple TCs thru the gamut from driving to AK to outrunning tornados in the Midwest and boonie docking in the Rockies and cascades, what you’re planning is a great setup.
Cheers!
I understand humidity. That's specifically why I was asking about the dehumidify feature on the new Truma AC that Lance is using. I was wondering if it was like my Canadian friends who use their AC in the winter (Run AC in the winter). When I asked my local dealer guy he had no idea. But if it functions that way? That's a game changer.
Worst case I think a small air-to-air heat exchanger could be fabbed to do air exchange and dry out the camper. Making it look good and fit somewhere is the only problem.
See this post for info on an air to air heat exchanger I made to fit in the sliding window under the bed. Sorry, photos were deleted by photo host. I have used it off and on for the past 10 years.
Heat exchanger for TC
|
RickW
|
05/05/23 08:44pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: NorCal Mini Truck Camper Rally - April 2023
I don’t have a lawn, and a bare minimum of un-landscaped area, so no such wacker in my garage…
3 tons
I can bring one for you to use.
Well, I’m glad you’re coming Rick :), just PM me when my site is all clear - lol !!
I will arrange to have a site clear for you to park by Sunday afternoon. ;)
|
RickW
|
04/17/23 11:24am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: NorCal Mini Truck Camper Rally - April 2023
I don’t have a lawn, and a bare minimum of un-landscaped area, so no such wacker in my garage…
3 tons
I can bring one for you to use.
|
RickW
|
04/16/23 08:18pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: NorCal Mini Truck Camper Rally - April 2023
Hi all, hard to believe we are getting to be so close to the rally. Excited to see you all again soon! Creek has been flowing well. This is a pic a neighbor shared, she took it at a bit of a weird angle but still quite a nice sight!
https://i.imgur.com/076oqI7l.jpg
Everyone attending please bring your bathing suit so we can get a group photo under the waterfall. ;)
|
RickW
|
04/12/23 03:33pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: NorCal Mini Truck Camper Rally - April 2023
I would like to reserve TC site 1 please.
|
RickW
|
12/02/22 06:43pm |
Truck Campers
|
 |
RE: Adding simple fan, Looking for RV vent fan bracket...
Get a gutter downspout strap at the hardware store. Bend to fit in a vice.
|
RickW
|
09/25/22 03:46pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Do you know what brand/model this bed camper is?
Welcome to the TC forum and good luck with your new project.
Please post periodic renovation updates with photos.
|
RickW
|
09/14/22 04:31pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Apple car play or XM radio
I replaced my old 2004 terrestrial/xm radio with a newer touchscreen unit with AM/FM radio, carplay/phone, gps and back up camera.
I mostly use the iheart app to listen to my favorite radio wherever I have cell service, otherwise just listen to the playlist or saved podcasts. If really remote, I have a portable weather radio for updates.
As a bonus, I also installed a backup camera on the TC connected to the new unit.
|
RickW
|
09/04/22 10:31pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Looking for recommendations on a two bike rack
I use a glideaway rack on the back hitch with an extension tube. I can move it out of the way of the TC door without removing the bike.
The bike(s) hang from 2 horizontal bars. A temporary cross bar would be needed for a non crossbar bike. This might not be suitable for heavy ebikes. I shortened the bars on mine from 4 bikes to 2.
I travel with a cover on the bike and also attach 2 camcleat straps between the rack bars and the TC rear jacks to reduce bounce. I use anti rattle clamps on each hitch connection.
|
RickW
|
07/11/22 01:41pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Pop-up Truck Camper Peeps - question for you...
In yellowstone, the "no tents" (no canvas) camping area is because of the presence of bears.
In other parks, (eg Yosemite) tents only require a short walk from the parking lot to the campsite. No vehicle camping in the small, dense parking lot.
In Zion, I spoke with the gatekeeper of a tents only campground. It was a matter of environmental impact and camping equity. At this one, he had a placard of vehicle profiles that were not allowed, tent or no tent, including trucks with TCs, vans and other custom RVs. Basically, if it has propane, plumbed water, a heater or a refrigerator (easily seen from the outside) it is not allowed in tents only parking.
I have not encountered RV camping that restricted pop ups (except Yellowstone).
|
RickW
|
07/01/22 02:34pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Do NOT blow air into onboard water vent
I know you experts know better. For everyone else
We don't normally use the onboard water. I give it a spring run-through, forget about it.
In a couple weeks we will use it. So, I figured a bit of bleech and a good flushing was called for.
For some reason the vent/overflow screen was on the ground. I reinstalled it. I noticed right away that even low flow of water was causing back-flow. I briefly thought of running a coat hanger into the vent...or maybe hitting it with a blast of air. Luckily, my inner self suggests I remove the vent hose. Flushing it outside of the trailer.
Whatever it was...reminded me of a miniature version of the gunk that clogs the shower drain.
Imagine blowing or pushing that BACK INTO the fresh water tank.
The good news is....tank does its job, pump works. I filled/drained it several times. Gave the system a good flushing. Still probably drink bottled water, but at least I know the toilet will be using safe water.
I had mine clog a few years ago. Started to poke, then decided to disconnect the tube from the inside. A mason bee had laid 4 eggs in the tube. Now I have a better screen.
|
RickW
|
06/26/22 10:10pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Electrical Help pls
I have an uber safety conscious son who won't run the Little Buddy at night. I guess it could be worse. I could have a son who juggles knives or something. :)
Yes, it's the breathing the frigid air that keeps me up.
Good for your son! I almost succumbed to CO poisoning in a TC as a teenager and am uber careful too.
If it is breathing cold air that is the main issue for you, find a way to warm just the air near your head when sleeping. Maybe one of the aforementioned small defroster heaters. Even a light bulb in a box and a small computer fan may work for you. You may also need earplugs to mitigate nearby fan noise.
Edit: A few years ago I built a small heat exchanger that brought in fresh air and retained 80% of the heat from the exhaust. It used 1-1/2 inch diameter plastic hose to put the incoming air where I wanted it. The fans and exchanger were in a standard plastic ammo box. The same style box, fan and hose could be designed with a light bulb in the ammo box to put warm air where you want it.
Hope this helps,
|
RickW
|
06/21/22 11:31am |
Truck Campers
|
