Best Of
Re: lithium battery
I just went lithium as well. Over the weekend I installed a Battleborn 100Ah battery and a Victron SmartShunt. I previously installed a Victron Smart Solar MPPT solar controller (I have the factory solar panel on the rooftop). I have not changed the OEM WFCO converter. As others, I mostly boondock in a temperate clime, so the deep discharge capacity of the Li battery appealed to me when it came time to replace my SLA battery. Right now the battery and SmartShunt are both in the propane tub, but I am considering moving them to the storage space under the passenger bench seat. I think I will get more use out of the increased storage space in the front tub than I will lose by placing the battery in the inside storage area. Has anyone moved their Li battery to that space in a 320?
Re: lithium battery
I am hoping to take the D@wghouse out this weekend for its first boondock experience with a BB LiFePO4 battery. Hopefully I will have results that are just as good. I am kind of miserly with my battery usage anyway, but maybe I will splurge this weekend. Should be full sun where I am camping, so plenty of amps to be captured.
Re: lithium battery
Update after my first trip out with the new lithium battery: I can hardly believe my battery monitor. After a 48 hour boondocking trip in mild winter conditions, the battery still registers 100% charged. After my last experience with a totally dead wet-cell, I was miserly with my battery usage, but after 24 hours I realized that I could use the LED lights all I wanted. I ran the fridge and Alde on propane the entire time. I know the Alde uses some battery while running on propane, but even so, it didn't make a dent in "100% charged".
Re: Mattress topper - 2021 TaB 320 Boondock
It is nice to see that my "sloppy" bed making is more common than I thought. I gave up trying to "make" a bed in the trailer, and just kind of spread a flat sheet over everything, and use my sleeping bag as a blanket. If it gets cold, zip the bag up and climb in. I did break down and buy one of the Mattress Insider items, and I like it much better than the Thermarest I was using.
@Bclarke here is a link to the "tall guy mod" threads.
Re: how do you cook in your tab?
@Sharon_is_SAM
LOL! Yes, I remember the old electric percolators very well. Fond memories of mom in the kitchen while I was taking on a bowl of Jets cereal and watching Touche Turtle and Dum Dum.
Yes, by all means. I do pack Cuisinart electric drip but this is my go to pot on the road:
Just have to watch it. Once it starts percing up throught the glass knob, turn down the gas to slow boil, otherwise it get a bit messy. Ask me how I know. And, it's entertaining! You can watch the color of the coffee change in teh glass knob and shut it down when you like.
Ah yes...nothing like a good cup of camp coffee! Been known to throw a wee bit o' whiskey in me cup as well...when the morn' is a bit nippy!
LOL! Yes, I remember the old electric percolators very well. Fond memories of mom in the kitchen while I was taking on a bowl of Jets cereal and watching Touche Turtle and Dum Dum.
Yes, by all means. I do pack Cuisinart electric drip but this is my go to pot on the road:
Just have to watch it. Once it starts percing up throught the glass knob, turn down the gas to slow boil, otherwise it get a bit messy. Ask me how I know. And, it's entertaining! You can watch the color of the coffee change in teh glass knob and shut it down when you like.
Ah yes...nothing like a good cup of camp coffee! Been known to throw a wee bit o' whiskey in me cup as well...when the morn' is a bit nippy!
Re: how do you cook in your tab?
Protein breakfast (eggs, precooked meats and potatoes) and coffee (old fashion percolator) inside on stove, most dinners outdoors on Camp Chef or Hibachi grill. No heavy proteins inside (steak, fish, etc.). 10,000 miles to date and still smells new.
Alde 3020 - heat only from bed vents
I’ve had my tab before hundred for three months now. It was heating wonderful even in the mid 20s. Two days after changing propane tank it stopped heating properly.
Only the vents from the bed were working.
Could not get over 65°.
I thought at first that maybe there was air in the propane tank but the cooktop works and I was getting heat from the bed vents.
Compensate compensate I bought a little electric handy heater. It’s done the trick except for the bathroom lol however it doesn’t solve the issue.
The glycol is circulating properly and it is at a proper level.
Anyone ever have this issue or have any idea of what could be wrong?
Thank you
Installed a wireless backup camera on my 2018 clamshell. DoHonest 5" digital camera, from Amazon.
I just installed this backup camera, and it was really easy and clean. I have no connection to the company. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GDKFH9V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I tapped into the 12V power for the license plate light. So the backup camera comes on when the headlights are turned on. Here's what the back of the license plate frame looks like.
The camera mount fits nicely behind the license plate, and the camera pokes out the gap just above it. I routed the power wires through an existing, but unused hole in the frame. I had to enlarge it slightly with a screw driver. The electrical tape is just to temporarily hold things in place before I put the license plate back on. I also put electrical tape on the black connectors, to keep out water. The thin black wire is the antenna.
The camera conveniently came with splice connectors. The green wire is positive, white is negative. I staggered the splice connectors so they would fit in the space at the edge of the frame. After taking this photo, I wrapped the splice connectors in electrical tape to keep out water.
The 5" screen is mounted on my windshield with a very high quality suction cup that was included. The screen attaches to the suction cup via a magnet. So you could theoretically use the suction cup for something else, like a phone mount, if you wanted to. The screen also came with a different mount that it slots into for mounting on top of the dash. Power for the screen comes from the cigarette lighter plug. The picture is pretty decent quality, thanks to the digital wireless signal. At rest, the video reception and frame rates were flawless. I haven't had a chance to test it on the road yet, but will report back when I can.
So far, I'm pretty happy with it. Seems like a bargain for $90 (with the $20 "coupon" checkbox).