[p]Hello:[/p][p]
[/p][p]I am a long term boat cruiser/liveaboard who just got back into camping with a new Camplite 16 TBS. Years ago we camped throughout the western states with a lightweight 5th wheel and now we are just getting to know the Camplite and camping in the New England states.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I am also a retired chemical engineer, so that along with my boating experience means I may challenge [strong]tinkeringtechie[/strong] a bit. I do know boat mechanical/electrical systems well and RVs are similar. I have installed several solar panel systems, so I consider myself pretty knowledgeable on these as well.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I do have a good understanding of towing issues: TVs, towing weight and weight distribution/sway control hitches.[/p][p]
[/p][p]So far the only upgrade/modifications I have made to the LL are better mattresses (how can the factory sell those POS????), carpet squares to cover the industrial aluminum floor and a portable solar panel. That is probably the end of my mods as the basic unit fits our needs very well.[/p][p]
[/p][p]David[/p]
Welcome to the forums!
[quote source="/post/1844/thread" timestamp="1404411087" author="@david"][p][span style="font-size:10pt;"]I may challenge [/span][strong style="font-size:10pt;"]tinkeringtechie[/strong][span style="font-size:10pt;"] a bit.
[/span][/p][/quote]
ouch... Well I guess the gauntlet has been thrown :D
I'm always down for a good nerd-off ;) Seriously though, a good technical discussion usually boils down to some useful conclusion.
Welcome, David
We also have a 16TBS. We too upgraded the mattresses but put down interlocking vinyl flooring. We would like to get into the solar panels. I see you using the portable panels. We are a bit nervous about attaching to unit thinking that they would somehow compromise the unit, but were wondering if anyone has attached panels to the top of their unit. We were boondocking out on the Outer Banks for a week and a half (yes, we were evacuated due to Hurricane Arthur) and found that our battery kept running low. We hooked up to our TV to bring the battery up as we do not have a generator. We were worried about not being able to get the slide in. Does anyone know if there is a manual for the slide in case there is no power?
If your battery is run down and you can't move your slide in, all you have to do is plug in your TV and assuming the fuse is installed in the TV (not all come from the factory that way), start up the engine and let it run for ten minutes or so to put some charge in the trailer's battery and the slide should work.
I too have wondered about a manual way to move it, not so much for a run down battery but due to an electrical or mechanical failure.
For portable solar panels, I wrote a post a few days ago, go to- [a href="http://livinlite.proboards.com/thread/280/best-mount-solar-on-trailers?page=3"]http://livinlite.proboards.com/thread/280/best-mount-solar-on-trailers?page=3[/a], about how to rig up an inexpensive one. Should cost about $100 for the parts for a 30-50 watt panel, all from Amazon.
David
[quote source="/post/1874/thread" timestamp="1404582213" author="@david"]If your battery is run down and you can't move your slide in, all you have to do is plug in your TV and assuming the fuse is installed in the TV (not all come from the factory that way), start up the engine and let it run for ten minutes or so to put some charge in the trailer's battery and the slide should work.
I too have wondered about a manual way to move it, not so much for a run down battery but due to an electrical or mechanical failure.
[/quote]You don't even need to wait 10 minutes. The slide will run directly from the tow vehicle through the 7-way connector even if the battery isn't present.
Here are the manual override instructions for the slide:
[video src="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymt1Uesf0Pc"][/video]
Kinda tedious, but hopefully it won't be necessary. Make sure to bring that specially cut 2x4 with you :)
Interesting video. I will have to give it a try someday ;-). My previous slide out RV, a fifth wheel had a manual, crank out slide. From a reliability standpoint, I prefer manual. But from a convenience standpoint it is nice to push a button.
David
thanks everyone!!