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Forum
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RE: Electrical Issue on a 10.2 rk SnowBird.
Some campers, like my Outfitter, have a battery isolator in the camper. Maybe SB/SR does, too, and it's not working?
You may not have the wiring diagram, but the next best thing is Bob the builder Mehrer. He hangs out at the other truck camper forum, so you could try asking there.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/27/09 03:36pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Norcold N300 Fridge Problem
So now my 12V works and the propane works but the fridge does not work on house power. A question. I leave my camper plugged in to house power so I can have a very small heater running to keep it moisture free. I had left the fridge on 110 as well for an extended period( 1 month) without use. Do you think this may have caused my problem? Should I have emptied my fridge and turned it off?
I"ve left my fridge on AC all summer long without problems. It should be straightforward to troubleshoot with a voltmeter. Just be careful, though. There are only three things in in the circuit: switch, thermostat, and heater. I would first turn the fridge up all the way, and see if 120V is getting to the heater. I believe the heater wires are screwed into a terminal block on the back of the fridge. If you are getting 120V, but the heater isn't heating, then the element is burned out. If you aren't getting 120V, then the problem is either the switch or thermostat.
Good luck!
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/27/09 07:28am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Should I sell the Outfitter and get a Northern Lite???
Steve,
Both are great campers. Both will work for the kind of camping you do.
One you already own...
Those are some great words of wisdom right there! Unfortunately, I'll be the first to admit I'm not always so wise... :)
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/20/09 09:07am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Should I sell the Outfitter and get a Northern Lite???
Thanks for all the thoughtfull replies! Of course this is a decision only I can make, but it's good to see things from different perspectives.
Sleepy - I have been bucking the trend over the last year and doing my part to stimulate the economy!
kohldad - thanks for playing devils advocate. These are all good questions and go to point out some of the trade-offs and compromises.
Silver - while it's tempting to get a used NL as they hold up very well, I really like the features of the newer models like you've mentioned - heki skylight, Dometic-seitz acrylic windows, nidacore floor. Don't forget that the Sapele wood veneer is VERY striking! The new models (I'm considering) all have the rear bumper with steps, so no more scissor steps!
I bought my Apex during their sale last winter, which saved several thousand dollars. I am hoping if I decide to sell that my loss will be minimal. I would likely hang on to it until the spring when the camper market is typically better.
Jev, thanks for the offer to check out your Pastime. For now, I am only considering NL as I believe their design is the right approach for a non-slide, efficient, and lightweight hard side. But that's just me!
Whazoo - I only wish I could keep both!
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/20/09 07:53am |
Truck Campers
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Should I sell the Outfitter and get a Northern Lite???
At the risk of sounding fickle, I am lusting after a Northern Lite. I've always loved the design of these campers (Bigfoot, too). Here's the realizations I've come to:
My Apex is a great pop-up and has been relatively trouble free in the year I"ve owned it, but it's not appreciably lighter than a similar sized NL (I"m thinking of a 9.6Q Classic or SE).
Of the 30 nights I've camped in the past year, there was only one site where I wouldn't have been able to get into with a hard side camper. There were other sites nearby, though, that would have worked. In fact, someone in a Bigfoot was occupying one of them.
The limiting factor for more hardcore remote camping is my truck (2WD long bed), but I love the truck and am not getting rid of it.
So, a Northern Lite 9.6Q classic is 20" taller, 10" wider, and the same length as my Apex. Weights are similar. It will be better insulated, more comfortable, and nicer to spend time in. I don't have to raise the top to camp. I can stealth camp more easily.
On the other hand, the Outfitter has a cassette toilet, which I really like (you can't get one on the NLs), has bigger fresh and grey tanks (unless I step up to the bigger NL's), and can fit under my deck at home. I can also carry things like kayaks on top due to it's lower profile.
Am I crazy for even considering this? Anyone have words of wisdom?
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/19/09 09:01pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Outfitter Apex Filon Problem
does anyone know, off the top of their head, any other RV manufacture that uses the fiberglass only filon? be it fifth wheel or tralier. ITs such a good product I wondered if anyone else uses it.
When I was picking up my camper last December, Outfitter owner Bob Ward was saying that he wasn't aware of anyone else using it as it was 5x the cost of the regular luan backed filon. Due to the size and shape of the Outfitters, they were able to use it efficiently with little waste, so it made sense for them.
I would love to see the industry move away from the crappy luan backed filon.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/19/09 07:37pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Outfitter Apex Filon Problem
I"m pretty sure they switched from the luan based filon to the
fiberglass only filon when they re-vamped the design in 2005 or so. They also went to TPO roofs and fiberglass molded tubs at this time. The cabover area has a fiberglass insert instead of wood of the original. I'm willing to bet that your Apex is using the updated material.
Bill,
Just curious, but did Outfitter offer any information as to when they dropped the luan backer and went with FRP? I had heard about this in general previously, but did not know what model year the switch was actually made.
Thanks,
Don
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Murgatroid
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11/19/09 04:39pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Costco 6V Batts
I've yet to see these 6V batteries in the Costco's I frequent in the SF bay area. Are they with the regular 12V batteries? Are they special order?
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/18/09 12:57pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Transporting a TC EEEEOOOOWWWW!!!!!
The trip is part of the fun! I went out to Denver to pick up my Outfitter last December. I have a 2WD truck, but I did bring chains. I lucked out and managed to hit I-80 thru Utah and Wyoming between storms so the roads were dry. I kept a close eye on the forecast, and the highway webcams.
I came back the southern route - I-40, but I was still trying to stay in front of a big snow storm. It was snowing on me as I drove thru Flagstaff, but wasn't sticking just yet. I pushed on until I got to Kingman. Ah... The memories! I did have a great time.
I ended up having to use the chains when I got back home. The snowstorm I stayed in front of in AZ dumped 2 feet at my house in the Sierra Foothills.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/14/09 02:44pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Norcold N300 Fridge Problem
I"ll try this out on my N300 this weekend and report back.
Mine operates like c.traveler's - I don't need 12V for propane to work.
Still have yet to hear back from the OP. Swando - did you resolve your N300 problem?
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/14/09 02:30pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Norcold N300 Fridge Problem
Then explain why the safety valve for the propane portion won't open unless there is 12VDC to the 12VDC terminals on Norcold N300?
I"ll try this out on my N300 this weekend and report back.
Matt - does your propane shut off (and meter go back to the left) if you disconnect your battery while running on propane?
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/13/09 03:41pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Norcold N300 Fridge Problem
Correction to the last post. The Norcold N300 requires 12VDC when running on propane to keep the gas valve open and the flame sense circuit working.
Interesting. This differs from the wiring diagram in the service manual, as well as the trouble shooting flowchart. It does make sense that you would need 12V to power a few of these components. I'll have to check this out this weekend.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/12/09 04:16pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Norcold N300 Fridge Problem
Here is an N300 service guide that should hopefully help you figure out what's going on.
The fridge is even simpler than I thought. Gas, AC, and DC are all separate circuits. 12V is only used when set to 12V power. From the diagram - when set to 12V, there is no thermostat. The 12V heater is on as long as there is power/battery. Gas uses no 12V or AC - it's all generated from the thermocouple like old wall heaters.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/12/09 03:55pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Norcold N300 Fridge Problem
push the on off button and hold it for a few seconds to reboot the circuit board. Wait a few minutes. Insure propane bottle is not empty. Fire up the unit.
The N300 does not work this way and I'm not sure it even has a computer to reboot. It's a very simple fridge.
First check all fuses and breakers. I know the Dometics need 12V to power the circuit board, and maybe the N300 does, too, so be sure to check the 12V fuse.
It's easier to debug using 120V than gas, so start there first.
When set to 120V power, check the heater area in the back to see if it's hot. If it is hot, but you are not getting cooling, then the cooling unit may be bad. To check the cooling unit, disconnect the 120V heater from the control board, and wire it directly to a 120V cord and plug it into an outlet. This will give you maximum cooling. Check back in a few hours. This removes any ill effects of the control board. Hopefully you are getting cooling as a bad cooling unit typically means replacing the fridge.
If it's not getting hot back there, and all circuit breakers and fuses look good, it's probably the control board. You'd need to poke around with a voltmeter to be sure.
Given that the fridge does not work on both gas and A/C, I would tend to suspect the control board or power to it.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/12/09 03:32pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: New Product "Sumo Springs" from the maker of Super Springs
since when is Outfitter not a paid sponcer of tcm there name and link are on the home page of TCM look at bottom right of sponcers just under neeth phionx and above palomino you should look at the sponcers list be for makeing comments and TCM does not require you to be a sponcer to get a right up just be willing to answer the ? being asked
You're right - they are now. They weren't when they intro'd the Juno. I asked Bob Ward why there was no mention in TCM and he said they weren't a sponsor. I then had an email exchange with Gordon where he hemmed and hawed around the issue of not covering news from un-sponsored manufacturers. Just look on TCM's site - you'll find lots of news about Hallmark's new campers, like the K2, but nothing on the Juno, other than the recent buyer's guide.
As another example, I also see no mention anywhere of one of the most innovative camper designs on US soil - the XP Camper. Marc Wassmann has sent Gordon a number of articles but he won't publish them. He does publish articles sent by Carl Isner, who built something sort of similar with a custom Alaskan, but Alaskan is a sponsor.
Overland Journal has published an article on the XP Camper, and Marc didn't have to pay them anything. They are also a print magazine.
Gordon rarely covers any news from un-sponsored manufactures. Just ask him yourself.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/11/09 07:47am |
Truck Campers
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RE: New Product "Sumo Springs" from the maker of Super Springs
TCM apparently will sell their soul to the highest bidder. As in no really critical look at the product.
All magazines which depend on advertiser dollars to say afloat do that. It's almost impossible to find a bad review of anything in an advertiser supported magazine.
Brad
Tis true. However, TCM won't usually cover noteworthy news about truck camper mfg's that don't advertise, like Outfitter. I think their Juno pop-up is very unique, and pointed it out to Gordon, but Outfitter is not a paid sponsor. I sort of lost respect for TCM right there.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/10/09 02:55pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: outside steps
Very cool, Steve! I like it. I've gotta check out your uber Outfitter sometime!
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/07/09 11:56am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Heartland Cyclone 3010 Fifth Wheel
Will be installing some of the "new" improved features this weekend. If I can figure out how to post pics I will. I have tried several times with no luck. When I click the image icon it asks for a URL. The pics are on my desktop so not sure what URL it's talking about. Any hints?
Many forums, like this one, do not allow you to upload pictures. You have to upload your pictures to a picture hosting site, like photobucket.com. Photobucket is free and easy enough to use. The URL would be pointing to a your hosted pictures.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/04/09 07:03am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Question about Fleetwood TC power converter, see photo.
The Fleetwood Elkhorn 9T I had had the converter in the same spot. My converter died one day. I can see that a previous owner just wired in a new converter to replace the broken one and didn't bother with the fuse/breaker panel. Since the old Magnateks' are a simple design, I found that mine had a blown power resistor, so I replaced it and it worked just fine after that.
I would look into replacing the converter with a more modern 3-stage one.
And, yes, Fleetwood really did design the camper with the electrics at the bottom of the fresh water tank. It probably would not meet with UL approval...
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/03/09 11:03am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Tiger Motor Homes?
While 4x4 class C's like the Tiger, earthroamer, Unicat, etc are technically not truck campers, the owners have much more in common with the folks on this forum than in the class C forum. I personally enjoy discussion on any form of RV that takes you further into the boonies.
-steve
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Murgatroid
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11/01/09 03:09pm |
Truck Campers
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