McZippie
USA
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Joined: 10/21/2009
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burlmart wrote:If any fellow B+ folk (especially the many TL owners) can add info about the wiring of the batteries, particularly the emergency start (solenoid, relay, or diode), please have a look at this thread and opine away!
Thread about my batteries with pics
It may even be worth your time to repeat some of the voltage probes I did to see if you, too, have a similar setup.
FWIW ... I designed the battery/electrical system in our new rig to tie all three AGM batteries together. There are no dedicated house or starting batteries or any need for a battery monitoring shunt amp gauge.
Rather all three batteries are protected, to allow enough reserve for engine starting with an automatic low voltage cut-off. That way we get the benefit of being able to utilize 'all' the batteries for house needs while camping.
Because AGM batteries can tolerate a high in-rush of charging amps we also have dual engine alternators (265 amps) for rapid recharging.
There is no generator or solar panels either, if camping without hook-ups we use an automatic engine fast idle controller for recharging. For a test, I ran the batteries down to a rested state, automatic cut-off of 12.01 volts and then recharged them with the fast idle controller, it took only 17 minutes for the engine to return to normal idle. I can't state the true State of Charge, but based on experience I'd estimate that they were approaching 90% full.
* This post was
edited 10/28/09 06:19pm by McZippie *
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burlmart
Baton Rouge
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Joined: 03/28/2005
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McZippie
I wondered why you never responded to the many posts about your rig as exemplar of a Personalized Low-profile C-Class.
With all the posts of not liking this or that, noise (rattles, etc), low quality workmanship, sloppy handling...your rig is the obvious answer for those who can go small and toadless. It represents the ultimate in customized vans which has always attracted touring people.
I think Turtle Top could do well to market their Terra Traveller with the PLC concept,
even despite the fact that no one on these forums, even this thread, seem very interested in expounding its rich potential afforded by its 'open-architecture'
What I love about your PLC is that you customized it your way, and as a result, you generally know how all the systems function - a GREAT advantage in the RV world.
Good info on the batteries, I wish I knew enough to at least understand what mine are doing - no one was able to solve my battery isolation issue.
2005 Trail Lite 213 B-Plus w/ 6.0 Chevy
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McZippie
USA
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burlmart wrote:McZippie
I wondered why you never responded to the many posts about your rig as exemplar of a Personalized Low-profile C-Class.
With all the posts of not liking this or that, noise (rattles, etc), low quality workmanship, sloppy handling...your rig is the obvious answer for those who can go small and toadless. It represents the ultimate in customized vans which has always attracted touring people.
I think Turtle Top could do well to market their Terra Traveller with the PLC concept,
even despite the fact that no one on these forums, even this thread, seem very interested in expounding its rich potential afforded by its 'open-architecture'
What I love about your PLC is that you customized it your way, and as a result, you generally know how all the systems function - a GREAT advantage in the RV world.
Good info on the batteries, I wish I knew enough to at least understand what mine are doing - no one was able to solve my battery isolation issue.
Thanks .... Ours is based on the Van Terra XL. It has a 20 inch longer wheel-base than pictured above.
Over the past few months I have wrote about our Rig on RV Net, on other threads, to a level being obnoxious, repeating the same info 3 to 4 times  If anyone wants more info, search under my former screen name "McZip"
On yeah, here it is again, unlike MHs, Turtle Top builds buses that must past safety standards. It's enclosed in a steel frame cage, that passes Federal role-over regulations.
Crash safety was the main reason we purchased it.
We understood that to have more safety, we'd have to forgo a lot of MH amenities. It's pretty bare-bones when compared to similar sized MH.
Two sofa/beds and dry bathroom with very limited storage and kitchen facilities. There's no generator, separate Air Conditioner or Furnace.
While camping to have heat or A/C would requires starting the main engine with the remote starter. Not the most fuel efficient way but it works and has the benefit of eliminates more systems that 'we' seldom used.
I'm pretty good with electrical stuff, I'll read your posts about the "battery isolation issue" and PM you if I have and questions or ideas.
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burlmart
Baton Rouge
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Zip
Thanks for any help on my battery stuff - it is probably too specific to how R-Vision builds.
I never thought you talked too much on your rig - quite the contrary, I asked you a few things myself as I recall. I noticed that like us here in this thread, you didn't fair well in the Class B forums either!
Did you know that the GWV Titan is a Turtle? Do you know if the Dynamax Starflytes were also?
* This post was
edited 10/28/09 02:28pm by burlmart *
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cheeze1
Morristown, NJ
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Burl, I am impressed! You are becoming the B+ Historian! We have Gene who is Librarian/Research Guru of this forum, and I guess I'm the Mad Scientist.
Chas Morristown, NJ
Trail Lite
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McZippie
USA
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burlmart wrote:Zip
Did you know that the GWV Titan is a Turtle? Do you know if the Dynamax Starflytes were also?
No, I did not know that the "GWV Titan is a Turtle"
The Turtle Top and GWV sure are similar on the outside.
I'd speculate they both purchase the fiberglass roof, rear cap, skirting, side door frame and cab to house transition panels from the same vendor.
GWV's literature doesn't mention anything about Steel Frame Cage construction???
Again guessing, from the web photos on GWV site and comparing to our Turtle Top, I'd speculate that the GWV doesn't use Steel frame constructions and uses Fiberglass side body panels for structural strength.
Turtle Tops side body panels are made from Alucobond
Alucobond wouldn't add much structural support.
Quote from Turtle Top's web site:
"A full roll cage like no other vehicles, including SUV's, all backed up with testing that complies and exceeds FMVSS safety standards"
Based on appearance (web pictures) I doubt if Turtle Top has anything to do Dyamax Starflytes.
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birdbybird
Southwest Ohio
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And the rest of us are just hanger-ons...that like to read interesting stuff.....
Christine
22ft BT Gulfstream MH
Chev 350 engine
and the four furry companions erschel, Stuart, Blondie and Remi
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Orion_42
Lakes Region, NH
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Joined: 11/24/2009
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Whew!! I just finished reading all 233 pages of this thread (took a few days). Very informative, especially with our recent acquisition of a 2001 Trail Lite 211. It was in need of a major refurb which we are nearing completion. We had to replace a section of the floor below the sink and bath area (yah, not the best area to replace). We have laid down vinyl flooring and carpeted on top of that.
We removed the old TV (noticed that unlike the later models, the 2001 had a full, deep, finished cabinet behind the TV) and mounted a 19" LCD TV on the fabric covered panel behind the passenger seat. It is on a wall mount swivel bracket which I secured to a 3/4" section of plywood that I mounted behind that fabric panel by attaching L-brackets to the three large bolts that hold the fiberglass nosecone clamshell together. This mount aint movin'! I may add another padded "storage" bracket which catches the lower part of the TV to reduce vibration while on the road though I believe the heavy-duty bracket I got would be OK.
I'll try to post some pics as soon as I can find a place to post them from.
----------------------
2001 Trail Lite B+ 211
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Gene in NE
Omaha
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Orion_42 - Glad you found this thread and Welcome to the world of B+ owners which really is a Class C as it is built on a cut-away chassis. I see that you are a new member as well. As you noticed, the 233 pages have pictures. We all like pictures to give us ideas. I have added you to my list of owners of the Trail-Lite brand. You are number 92. Many have come and gone. Have not heard anything from the original poster for several months. It was Daniel C.'s plain talk that convinced us that it was the unit for us.
2002 Trail-Lite Model 211-S w/5.7 Chevy
Gene
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burlmart
Baton Rouge
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Welcome Orion
Happy Holidays to all!
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