Snake River, WA
Walker Pit Habitat, ACE Free Dry Camp
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Thanks
qhumberd
Moderator
Thanks
qhumberd
Moderator
Best Of
The Robertson Screw
Just came across this video and thought of the TaB forum, so I had to share.
You know those square headed screws used on the TaBs that Americans find so odd…here is a humorous, adult explanation by a very funny Canadian.
Enjoy!
Sharon
Enjoy!
Sharon
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Thanks for being a T@B forum member and contributing to the community!
qhumberd
Moderator
Thanks for being a T@B forum member and contributing to the community!
qhumberd
Moderator
Re: How do you handle your wet bathroom floor?
I took a chance with with a pack of RUNNEN wood patio flooring from IKEA. Snapped them together and traced the floor pattern. Cut it out and fortified a few of the smaller pieces. It is a prototype of sorts and I will see how it lasts. It fits well and the plastic grid underside keeps it off the base and is softer than the base, so it should not scratch. Looks and feels pretty good for $25 and some labor!
The wood is attached to a plastic lattice in two places each. For the smaller pieces I heated up a small nail and pushed it into the plastic mat and then drove it into the wood. Held the nail with needle nose pliers and put it in a torch flame for 1 or 2 seconds. That worked pretty well.
After verifying the fit I flipped the mat over and permanently bonded the squares together by ironing the joints with an old travel iron I used to use to wax my skis
The wood is attached to a plastic lattice in two places each. For the smaller pieces I heated up a small nail and pushed it into the plastic mat and then drove it into the wood. Held the nail with needle nose pliers and put it in a torch flame for 1 or 2 seconds. That worked pretty well.
After verifying the fit I flipped the mat over and permanently bonded the squares together by ironing the joints with an old travel iron I used to use to wax my skis
Winter Trip to Florida
Well I wanted to check out what the snowbird thing was all about so I took a couple weeks and headed south. Stayed at my first Harvest Hosts on the way down, then Manatee Springs SP, O'Leno SP, and then an entire week at Fort Desoto. It was a great time-did some fishing, took an airboard ride, met up with friends and family, and got out of the cold weather. I think I'm become a believer in the snowbird life!
Re: Post up some shots of your T@B set-up at the camp site! #3
Ok, I'll play. Quick shakedown run an hour from the house, along the Metolius River.
Power Station Build
I'll have to eat some crow here. When forum or Facebook threads come up from members using power stations, I'll chime in saying that an onboard battery upgrade is a better option if you don't need the power station for uses outside of camping. Now here I am building a power station. 
This started because I upgraded our onboard 100Ah batteries with newer, more compact 300Ah. That left me with two LiFePO4's with a lot of life in them. We carry a 12V compressor fridge in the back of our Wrangler and keep it set as a freezer. Works great for keeping frozen foods for longer trips along with making ice cubes for drinks. I've used different ways of powering it, but wasn't satisfied with them. Repurposing the old batteries made sense.
We won't be able to give the system a good test until we head out for our first longer trip at the beginning of May, but I have my hopes up that this will be worth the time and cost of the components used. We had the little 375W inverter that we used for blowing up an air mattress when tent camping. It probably won't get much use mounted in this build, but we'll see. The solar controller was left over from when I upgraded our rooftop panel and needed a new larger controller for it. I also already had the NOCO charger. Everything that I needed to purchase came to about $220. I'm not sure about the overall cost benefit, but it was a fun project that should be useful.
2 x 120V AC Outlets
120V Power Inlet (for charger)
12V Volt Meter
Type C and QC 3.0 USB Sockets
Cigarette Type Port
Anderson 45 amp Port (output)
Anderson 45 amp Port (solar input)
Disconnect Switch
This started because I upgraded our onboard 100Ah batteries with newer, more compact 300Ah. That left me with two LiFePO4's with a lot of life in them. We carry a 12V compressor fridge in the back of our Wrangler and keep it set as a freezer. Works great for keeping frozen foods for longer trips along with making ice cubes for drinks. I've used different ways of powering it, but wasn't satisfied with them. Repurposing the old batteries made sense.
We won't be able to give the system a good test until we head out for our first longer trip at the beginning of May, but I have my hopes up that this will be worth the time and cost of the components used. We had the little 375W inverter that we used for blowing up an air mattress when tent camping. It probably won't get much use mounted in this build, but we'll see. The solar controller was left over from when I upgraded our rooftop panel and needed a new larger controller for it. I also already had the NOCO charger. Everything that I needed to purchase came to about $220. I'm not sure about the overall cost benefit, but it was a fun project that should be useful.
2 x 120V AC Outlets
120V Power Inlet (for charger)
12V Volt Meter
Type C and QC 3.0 USB Sockets
Cigarette Type Port
Anderson 45 amp Port (output)
Anderson 45 amp Port (solar input)
Disconnect Switch
Re: Purchasing a used Tab 320: Experience purchasing from seller who is still financing the camper?
Worked out fine. Got the title hassle free. Seller was very helpful and honest. Nice to know those folks still exist.
Full electrical upgrade!!
[Cross-posting - sorry.]
--------------------
There.
--------------------
There.
Electrical system is finally complete (2021 320S):
* 1200Ah (15.4kW) Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries in tongue box
* 400W rooftop solar input
* 200W portable solar input
* 3000W inverter/120A shore charger
* 50A tow vehicle charger
* Thermostatic cooling fan
* System display/controller
* New 120V AC switch/breaker panel
* New 12V switch panel
All components located in drivers side wheel well locker. New AC and 12V panels/switches located on forward-facing front panel. Made a new face panel on drivers locker in order to have different cutouts for exhaust fan and air conditioner cutoff switch. Remote solar input plug located in Nautilus compartment. Battery bank size and 12V mini-split should give 3-4 days of air conditioning with no sun, depending on ambient temperature.
Will document in separate detail posts:
* Batteries-in-tub installation details
* 12V mini-split air conditioner installation details
* Inverting shore power plug transfer switch with custom cable to plug into house and use trailer battery bank as home backup generator.
Because it will be asked -
* I am about $6K into it for parts/batteries/components and about 40-50hrs of my labor.
* With batteries and AC evaporator, the tongue weight has increased from 220-240lbs to 340-360lbs, depending on gear load.
Because it will be asked -
* I am about $6K into it for parts/batteries/components and about 40-50hrs of my labor.
* With batteries and AC evaporator, the tongue weight has increased from 220-240lbs to 340-360lbs, depending on gear load.
Next up - galley and head modifications!