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Forum
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RE: 100 watt Solar decision
You guys are really something. An obvious novice comes on here asking about a beginner system and you have to show how superior you are by changing the subject to SiO2 Batteries without even telling the guy how they would be of great value to him. Only to you.
To the OP: The Harbor Freight or any other "Kit" may not be the best bang for the buck, but for pocket change they can introduce you to solar. Within minutes the kits can be providing enough energy to charge cell phones, etc. which is what you asked about.
As far as batteries, most Walmarts stock Group 27DC batteries (The DC stands for Deep cycle, not Marine starting) One 27DC has 109 amp hour rating. two have 218 AH which is almost exactly the same as 2 6 volt golf cart batteries at 220 AH. The advantage? The 12 volt batteries can be used as singles, doubles, triples and so forth with simple parallel wiring, not the zig zag and multiples of two required for the six volt units. And don't let the so called exerts turn you off on solar with their bragging. It can be fun, educational, and practical.
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TomG2
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06/29/20 12:59pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 100 watt Solar decision
There are dozens of helpful YouTube videos explaining and reviewing available aolar equipment. You will get nothing but bad comments on here about the HF stuff. They may be junk, I don't have any. I do like their Plug and Play concept. Checking polarity and finding out you have a positive ground system connected to a negative ground trailer may not be fun. I actually had to reverse the wiring labels on a Renogy panel to make it work with my controller.
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TomG2
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06/27/20 06:44pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Any new developments in hitches?
I read that you are still cranking up and down. Electric tongue jacks should be standard equipment and reduce the work by half.
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TomG2
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06/23/20 12:13pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Any new developments in hitches?
2500HD. That and an electric tongue jack reduces time and effort to almost nothing. Press the button, drop the coupler on the ball. Latch the coupler.
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TomG2
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06/22/20 06:57pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Progresso MX?
People are still visiting Nuevo Progreso for medical or dental reasons. Biggest complaint is for long waits crossing back over. 1-3 hours at times.
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TomG2
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06/17/20 06:49am |
Snowbirds
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RE: How do you know how much you can TRULY pull?
Whatever you decide, hook it up and take it for a ride before you commit. “Over hill and Dale” and see how it handles. It might pull the weight but you might prefer something with more power. Just my humble opinion.
Good suggestion. One thing NOT to do is test towing with a more competent tow vehicle than you purchase. You will regret every mile.
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TomG2
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06/15/20 08:35pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How do you know how much you can TRULY pull?
Tow ratings are best case scenarios, i.e. very little frontal area, near perfect balance and tongue weight. I use 50% of tow ratings, but I like having a little excess capacity. Even that 50% may be invalid if things like tongue weight are way off.
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TomG2
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06/15/20 04:53pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing a 4500lb TT with an SUV
An honest salesman guided me away from SUV's with the comment, "People have enough trouble keeping them right side up even without towing."
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TomG2
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06/13/20 04:59pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Newbie Towing Questions
Like I said, without numbers, all you are going to get are the same old opinions.
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TomG2
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06/10/20 03:15pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Newbie Towing Questions
Welcome to the forum and to towing a travel trailer. Although some will try, there is no way to troubleshoot your situation without a lot more information. Ratings for the tow vehicle and trailer. GVWR, Payload, etc. Actual weight of the combination. Gross weight, tongue weight, etc. With and without the Weight distribution hitch in play.
It is a numbers game and they are much more valuable than "seat of the pants" guesses. It is time for a trip to the scales.
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TomG2
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06/10/20 07:27am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Sway Problem / Need Help
Numbers.
Opinions ain’t worth much otherwise.
Very likely your rig also in need of help.
There are formulas which predict how WDH works. Basic engineering. Meet them first.
Anything that makes the day on the road easier ..is worth the trouble. Hitch rigging isn’t met with success by even 3% of owners.
Start over with what you have.
That is your opinion which is worth as much as you say it is. Where does your 97% failure rate come from?
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TomG2
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06/08/20 07:18am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Supplemental AC
My $1,500 carport took roof temperature down from 132 degrees to 95 degrees on a 95 degree day in South Texas.
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TomG2
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06/04/20 09:44am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Supplemental AC
A couple of more tricks:
Cover floor vents if so equipped. (Cold sinks into them)
If water is free and plentiful, I set a timer to "sprinkle" the trailer down three or four times an hour. (The evaporating water acts like a swamp cooler and brings the skin temperature down.)
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TomG2
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06/04/20 06:08am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Supplemental AC
Some people mount a window ac in one of the windows if they are going to stay put fora few months. The tilt out escape window is the easiest since it simply swings up out of the way. A 6,000 btu unit with remote will be under $200 and more than accomplish what you need. In fact, you will be surprised to find that it cools almost as much as your rooftop unit in a quieter way.
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TomG2
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06/03/20 11:41pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 12v Refidgerators
I have an Alpincool 12 volt freezer/refrigerator that I have been running for two weeks straight with a single 50 watt panel and a single group 27 deep cycle battery. The compressor types, like the Alpincool are efficient. It is only 20 quart but plenty for me. It actually uses about the same as my larger Dometic on propane, thanks to the control overhead.
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TomG2
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06/02/20 08:59pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Looking to buy, bunkhouse ~26ft, all advice welcome
I will third or fourth the positive comments about the Jayco brand, Not the most expensive but seem to be pretty good quality for pretty good price. Since I will never own another RV with slides, I like the 26BH or the lower priced twin 264BH. Slides can be troublesome, make a unit harder to heat or cool, and add to the cost and weight. I am buying something to travel in, not something to impress or entertain my neighbors.
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TomG2
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06/02/20 02:22pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: New on tandem axle trailer.
Like anything, there are specifications and limits for suspension twisting and turning. Bolts could be loose. Bushings may be missing. Just two possible problem areas. I would do some measuring and talk to the service department of your new trailer rather that ignore it because someone on the Internet said it was okay. I have seen that on our tandem axle dump trucks when the suspension was shot.
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TomG2
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05/31/20 09:30pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 6v vs 12v
"When you plan on replacing them two 6V golf cart batteries will usually store more energy and cost less."
I see this claim all the time. My group 27 12 volt deep cycle batteries are rated at 109 amp hours each which totals 218 amp hours or about the same as 220 amp hours often stated for two sixes. 2 amp hours doesn't seem like much. Price was about the same also.
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TomG2
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05/30/20 08:42pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 6v vs 12v
One thing nice about wiring 12 volt batteries in parallel is that additional batteries can be added in any combination of odd or even. Three makes twelve volts, four makes twelve volts and so forth. Sixes must be added in pairs.
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TomG2
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05/30/20 09:28am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: New and looking for a generator
That sounds sort of messed up.
What is messed up? Redundancy costs weight, complexity, and money. They could put both magneto and battery powered ignition on the generator. Champion makes great, easy to start, generators with consideration given to weight, complexity, and price. I suspect that somewhere in the owner's manual it mentions having a fully charged battery installed.
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TomG2
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05/27/20 08:00am |
Travel Trailers
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