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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: NorCal Mini Truck Camper Rally - April 2023
I would like to reserve TC site 1 please.
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RickW
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12/02/22 06:43pm |
Truck Campers
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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.
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RickW
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09/25/22 03:46pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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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.
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RickW
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09/14/22 04:31pm |
Truck Campers
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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.
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RickW
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09/04/22 10:31pm |
Truck Campers
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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.
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RickW
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07/11/22 01:41pm |
Truck Campers
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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).
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RickW
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07/01/22 02:34pm |
Truck Campers
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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.
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RickW
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06/26/22 10:10pm |
General RVing Issues
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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,
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RickW
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06/21/22 11:31am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Lowering / raising with manual jacks
The "front high" recommendation is for rain runoff during storage. There is no technical reason to keep the front high during raising and lowering.
My front jacks have only one attachment up high. My rear jacks have an upper and lower attachment and are stiffer. I follow the front higher recommendation to reduce the lateral flex on the front jacks which carry the most weight.
I have also had my TC start walking when the front got lower than the rear on a slope due to the flex in the front jacks. Scary.
My practice is from facts and experience. Please show me your reference for weather storage.
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RickW
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05/25/22 06:36pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Lowering / raising with manual jacks
1. Most of the weight is on the front jacks. When you raise one of the rear jacks, the other will come off the ground. The jack you raised is temporarily holding the rear weight. Raise the other one just enough to have both jacks on the ground and go back to raising the front ones a few inches each.
2. It is recommended that you keep the camper level or with the front a few inches high when raising and lowering the jacks. Don't do it on sloped driveways.
3. Get a portable drill that is at least 12 volt (preferably 18 volt) and has 2 speeds. Use the lower speed with the higher torque.
HINT: Watch where the drill is in relation to your head. When your fingers slip off the detents and the jack screw suddenly locks, you can get a headache real fast (or so I have been told :o)
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RickW
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05/24/22 06:44pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Electric bikes !!
Right now, we need the exercise a regular bike gives. I'd be afraid if we had E-bikes, we wouldn't get as much exercise riding. Temptation would be to get lazy and let the motor do a lot of the work.
I converted my regular bike to an e bike about 10 years ago. I found my self doing fewer rides because of a couple of hills.
Now I still ride regularly and get plenty of exercise.
The temptation is to go faster and farther and get the workout that feels good to you.
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RickW
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05/09/22 10:12pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Jack Failure Disaster
The "rule" I learned is to keep the front level or higher than the rear, and don't raise (or lower) any one jack more than 4 inches at a time.
A corollary is don't unload on a downward sloping driveway or you may see a TC that tries to walk.
Two inches at a time works for me.
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RickW
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05/06/22 06:46pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Road tripping for used TCs
A phone call or message asking for more photo/closeups.
Things like under the bed by the nose, caulk seams at roof/wall/windows, jack brackets, under the wings, back of cabinets ceiling corners, etc. Also questions about maintenance and storage.
If they are unwilling, then you have another data point.
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RickW
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04/13/22 12:25pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Help with Skamper Heco Lift System Corner Brackets Setup
Sorry for the delay in posting. I did not take photos when I started this repair. I returned from a trip with part of the side roof buckling and separated from the skirt. The front was sagging slightly. Upon close examination, all the plywood support for the front roof was completely disintegrated. Over the years, water had leaked into the support channel and, with no weep holes, completely rotted the plywood. I recaulked the seam between the roof and skirt many times, but to no avail.
I decided to not remove the roof during this repair. In order to get access, I lowered the roof half way. I added clamps to the HECO track and supports inside and out to keep everything stable. I also supported the front to make sure there was no sag in the roof.
https://i.imgur.com/s56PrYcl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Y5ZPE3El.jpg
Shown below are the largest pieces I pulled out. The rest was splinters, rusty staples and dust for about 20 feet of roof perimeter. I had to scrape, chisel and sand the remaining wood and epoxy from the inside of the aluminum side roof.
https://i.imgur.com/eAvwd5ql.jpg
The original design is two 3-1/2 wide pieces of ½ inch plywood stapled and spliced together and epoxied to the aluminum roof. These wood pieces are inside a 1 inch wide channel in the aluminum skirt.
I decided to replace the side roof support with PVC trim. It comes in 3-1/2 lengths by ¾ inch thick. I also purchased lengths of ¼ inch thick lath to make the 1 inch thickness. A special order of 1 inch thick PVC is possible for $$$. PVC is not structurally rigid so I added a series of Simpson ties along the sides.
https://i.imgur.com/dbhGkwXl.jpg
As shown, I beveled the edges of the trim (and planed 1/8 inch off the bottom edge) to facilitate rotating into the channel. Liquid nails was applied to the inside of the trim and the inside of the aluminum roof. After the trim piece was inserted, the lath piece was inserted into the channel and everything clamped up until set.
After the glue cured, Simpson ties were attached along the inside of the sides to add rigidity to the assembly. From bottom to top on the right, the channel, the lath piece and the Simpson tie screwed to the PVC trim piece. On the left is the fabric of the top. The rusty looking part on top is Styrofoam that formed the curve of the roof when first assembled.
https://i.imgur.com/kbl5erfl.jpg
This photo is a front corner showing (from bottom to top) the aluminum channel, the lath piece and the trim piece. Kinda like a wedding cake. Corner braces were reinstalled after this photo.
https://i.imgur.com/kbVVEWkl.jpg
The rear of the roof is in much better condition but the roof lifting brackets have twisted somewhat from the tension. I will have to disconnect and lift the roof for this repair, hopefully sometime in the near future. I have already been camping with the repaired top. So far, so good.
Hope this helps
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RickW
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04/03/22 09:41pm |
Truck Campers
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