Best Of
Re: Tongue Weight Major Concerns?
Totally disagree. This video is a good primer for towing characteristics and loading. Too heavy of a tounge is just as bad as too light of a tongue.Denny16 said:A an increased tongue weight will not decrease stability, but the opposite. Depending on the trailer design you van go to 30% of total trailer weight on the tongue. As for frame stress, the trailer needs to be designed for the heavier loads. Not sure I would want to push a TaB tongue weight, due to its two part frame design with the joint in the front.Cheers
For what it’s worth European engineers are taught to design trailers with hitch weights of 4 to 9 percent.
Re: Keder rail
Yes it can. Anyone who is involved in any kind of manufacturing or construction will tell you that there are still many supply chain issues.CibolaSisu said:COVID can't be the excuse anymore.
Re: Deciding on the full tent or the awning...
We do an awning and a screened pop up depending on bugs, weather, where we're camped, and for how long. Advantage of the awning and a stand alone whatever is you can choose the location of the tent or the pop-up. If the tent only attaches to the T@B then your options are more limited. Stand alone tents can also be sturdier, more weather proof and better quality for the money.
Gosh I Like My T@B
At times all the various discussion issues/problems/calls for help can be depressing.
So just want to say . . . I really like my 320S . . .
Am winding down a short spring adventure and the T@B has been a real trooper.
No issues towing, nice an comfy with the Alde, more than enough water & black tank for solo'ing (no cassette here), and a real sense of home each evening.
Now only if my eBike had not had a major electrical failure,
if only my trip wasn't shortened because of the eBike failure
life would be 100% perfect.
So just want to say . . . I really like my 320S . . .
Am winding down a short spring adventure and the T@B has been a real trooper.
No issues towing, nice an comfy with the Alde, more than enough water & black tank for solo'ing (no cassette here), and a real sense of home each evening.
Now only if my eBike had not had a major electrical failure,
if only my trip wasn't shortened because of the eBike failure
life would be 100% perfect.
Re: Jensen radio will not pair with Bluetooth devices - SOLVED! See last post for detail.
I use a thumb drive on the Jensen for my music library along with my phone. What the Jensen lacks is a Bluetooth transmitter for a wireless speaker. The Jensen speakers are pretty poor quality and I considered replacing them but my Bluetooth speaker sounds great so I'd rather go they route. For now I use my phone to my wireless speaker but will be adding a bluetooth transmitter to the Jensen for Zone B output for my music library on the thumb drive so it isn't always phone dependent.
Re: Gosh I Like My T@B
We’re just opposite. My wife sleeps with her head under the cabinets on the passenger side. I’m the claustrophobic one so I sleep with my head by the bath. That also allows her to use the USB port to run a white noise machine. I’ve been known to snore a bit, or so she tells me!
Splitting one cushion back is a good solution. I’ll have to look into it. My upholstery skills aren’t that great though.
My wife and I enjoy the heck out of our trailer. I look at RVs on Craigslist for fun sometimes and just can’t imagine buying something else. Each to his/her own, but we are firmly a T@B couple and not likely to change. Part of it is the support from the folks on this forum.
Happy Camping!
Happy Camping!
Re: Does the solar keep charging the battery when the battery is disconnected?
I would contact that dealer and let the manager know what the tech person is giving out, is misleading information, that is dangerous. Always, Always tow with the battery switch turned On.CCC said:Thanks. The tech guy who did the walkthrough misinformed me of several things. Would have been better off not having a walkthrough.
Cheers
Re: Does the solar keep charging the battery when the battery is disconnected?
@CCC - as Scott14 indicated, you must leave the battery switch turned on while towing. Not only does this send a charge to the TAB battery, but, in the event of a total disconnect of the TaB from the TV, your TaB break-away brakes will be able to engage to quickly stop the TaB.
Turn off the battery switch to isolate the TaB battery from any parasitic drains during short or long term storage due to the CO/LPG monitor, AV equipment, USB ports, etc.
Your factory installed solar is connected directly to the battery and avoids the battery switch, so it is always charging with adequate sunlight.
Turn off the battery switch to isolate the TaB battery from any parasitic drains during short or long term storage due to the CO/LPG monitor, AV equipment, USB ports, etc.
Your factory installed solar is connected directly to the battery and avoids the battery switch, so it is always charging with adequate sunlight.
Re: Does the solar keep charging the battery when the battery is disconnected?
If I understand you correctly, you were instructed to turn off the battery disconnect when traveling? I would not advise that. The emergency brakes on your trailer require battery power to activate should the trailer become separated from the tow vehicle.
Re: DC-DC Charger
Dutch061 said:I don't believe that you will damage the alternator with a Standard Lead Acid (SLA) battery or an Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery. The amperage will be regulated by the size of wiring that was installed or the circuit protection (fuse or circuit breaker) that was installed with the auxiliary wiring. Plus, the resistance of either the SLA or AGM chemistry will closely match the OEM battery in your Subaru.
However, when you upgrade to a Lithium Battery it will become a must in order to boost the voltage to the required level to charge Lithium. In addition, due to the very low resistance in Lithium, there is a potential (based on wire size, length, etc.) to draw more amperage than your tow vehicle is "comfortable with" (IE blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker up to damage or life shortening of components). A DC-to-DC Charge Controller will limit this to a "comfortable level" (IE fuse or circuit breaker protection and damage prevention).
Brad
I am far from an expert on LFP batteries and their interaction with the electrical system of the TV, but have gotten quite an education from the techs at Batttle Born, and from the videos posted on trustworthy sites like Solar Solutions and DIY Solar Power. Here's a thumbnail sketch of what I've learned:
- The charging profile of LiFePO4 batteries is quite different than for lead-acid batteries, and very different from that of the starter battery on your TV.
- The alternator and its voltage regulation system is calibrated for starter batteries, and is not really appropriate for deep discharge and/or Li batteries.
- Lithium batteries have a large appetite for current (as distinct from the voltage of the charging profile) and this is what can potentially damage your alternator.
- The anemic wiring of the charging circuit of a typical 7-pole harness usually, but not always, limits the amount of current from the alternator to the house battery bank. This is why the TV alternator is not often damaged when charging LiFePO4 batteries.
- Even if the output of the TV alternator is sufficient to provide adequate current to charge an LFP house battery(ies), it is unlikely to to charge it/them fully (a side note, unless your camper's charge controller has a setting for lithium batteries, it too will not charge to 100%.)
- While from a functional standpoint it's not a big deal to have a less than fully charged battery, LiFePO4 batteries (at least those from Battle Born) require an occasional topping to 100% to allow their battery management system to stay properly calibrated.
- The use of a DC-DC charger will address the issues outlined above and help prevent damage to the TV charging system.
As I stated, I'm not an expert, and what I've written is only a summary of my takeaways of the information I've found on this subject. I know that there are quite a few folks on this forum who are experts however, aid will hopefully chime in to correct anything that incorrect.
