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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: What tip do you have to save us money to keep camping?
"the hyper-inflation coming from money-printing"
THIS is what I lose sleep over!
I hope 2010-2011 doesn't mean the beginning of this. This is a real killer ... for everyone, but ESPECIALLY for those of us on partially or fully fixed non-inflation-adjusted incomes.
Deflation is great for fixed income folks, inflation is great for nobody.
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pnichols
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12/01/08 08:59pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: V10 - what/who can I believe?
"My original advice stands. Fill the oil to the full mark on the dipstick (class A, B or C)."
That's what myself and some others do and mine takes just under 7 quarts when I do. Hence the confusion originally brought up by the OP - the manual says 6 quarts and various service organizations' technicians sometimes are saying something else.
Anyone else care to add to the confusion?
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pnichols
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12/01/08 12:23pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: V10 - what/who can I believe?
Mark,
Well, I guess we can go back and forth forever - but I'll try one more time to show who's confused:
The OP has a 23 foot Class B+/C motorhome - I have a Class C motorhome .... so we're talking Ford's E350/E450 cutaway van chassis here .... which DO NOT get the 3V V10 in them as far as a bunch of us think, at least.
My Itasca Class C was built in September of 2004, so it's based on a "2005" Ford E450 cutaway van chassis. Mine has a 5-speed transmission with the Tow/Haul-labeled electric switching button on the end of it's gearshift.
Where in your 1st link above (Paragraph 11, "Class C Motorhome Chassis") does it mention the 3V V10?
Your 2nd & 3rd links above are about Class A motorhomes.
So ... I repeat almost word for word: Now I understand why the OP is confused. There's something fishy going on here with mis-information out in the field that seems strange for such a simple issue as oil capacity of a Ford (E350/E450 cutaway) truck (chassis).
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pnichols
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12/01/08 10:26am |
Tech Issues
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RE: V10 - what/who can I believe?
"If I let my V10 (04) drain several hours or over night it will take 7 quarts every time."
No waiting for mine to take nearly 7 quarts. Just a normal oil change I do in 15-20 minutes in the back yard.
"I don't think that's true. The 3 valve is part of the 2006 MH upgrades that included an increase to 362 hp and a 5-speed automatic transmission."
The 5-speed transmission started in 2005 - mine has it. However, I've never heard anyone (yet) talk about a 362 HP Ford V10 in their motorhome for any model year.
Now I understand why the OP is confused. There's something fishy going on here with mis-information out in the field that seems strange for such a simple issue as oil capacity of a Ford truck.
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pnichols
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11/30/08 11:06pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: V10 - what/who can I believe?
"The 3V V10s take 7qts."
Ummmmh ............ either I have a 2V that for some reason takes 7 quarts or I have a 3V in an E450 through factory build error and don't know it. If so (haha ... I doubt it), then why isn't my doghouse much hotter .... maybe that is why I have what look like some factory installed exhaust heat shields that many E350's/E450's don't have.
Did Ford ever build any E450's by mistake, or on purpose, with the 3V V10??
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pnichols
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11/30/08 06:03pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: V10 - what/who can I believe?
"The owners manual (which should be gospel) says 6."
That's what I thought was right, too, on my 2005 V10. However, the dipstick shows in the bottom 1/4 th when I only use 6 quarts. I now use close to 7 quarts when I fill it (along with a new oil filter). This amount shows near the full mark on the dipstick when cold.
I assume that the full mark on the dipstick (making sure the dipstick is pushed down hard for good seating) represents the amount that should be in my V10 engine. HOWEVER, my chassis is the E450, not the E350, so maybe (not sure) the E450 has a slightly larger oil cooling system. If this is the case ... "all V10's may not be the same".
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pnichols
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11/30/08 02:14pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: how efficient is your TC? shouldnt we ask for more
hisjr,
Did you respond to inquires above asking about how much you are willing to pay? I assume you want to get by on the cheap as much as possible (....like so many of us must do).
HOWEVER, on the outside chance that this is not your situation, I wouldn't mess around with the usual approaches for outfitting of a TC ... or for outfitting of any other type of RV.
I'd go with the really right way to do it, starting with a couple of these in parallel for power - teamed up with at least 500 amp hours of AGM battery power (or as much as you can fit along the truck's frame, etc.):
www.jmbadditions.com/newfuelcell.php
Next, I'd go over to this site to learn about other state of the art approaches for air conditioning, cooking, heating, and waste disposal - as practiced in the marine world but migrated over to the land vehicle world:
www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedition_vehicles/xvlt1_overview.html
But this do it right stuff,above, does cost $$$$ and DIY time.
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pnichols
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11/30/08 12:18pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: EZ Ramp Levelers
Doesn't Camping World sell Eazy Levelers? The last time I checked they carried one that sure looked like those in g0tr00t's 2nd link above.
I carry five 3-step leveling blocks that I made by screwing together three staggered lengths of 2x8 lumber. Each black has a carrying handle so you can grab it and easily slide it into postion. I broke plastic ones I was using on uneven/rocky ground. (I need five for the worst case of raising both rear duals and one front corner - a situation I seem to run into all too often in state/federal parks and when boondocking.)
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pnichols
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11/29/08 04:01pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Unknowingly You've Created A Monster
"Onan 5kw uses 1.5 GPH."
That's a little high. The Onan 4KW consumes 0.7 GPH full load, so the 5KW should not be double that:
http://www.cumminsonan.com/rv/products/gasoline
Here's another power solution which would be real good to see in an RV soon ... the ulimate, IMHO, because who wants to camp in the sun if they have a choice (two can be paralleled):
http://www.jmbadditions.com/newfuelcell.php
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pnichols
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11/29/08 01:54pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Unknowingly You've Created A Monster
McZip,
Just about what you're talking about can be bought ready to go but it's not cheap. However, you can study their website carefully and see what they have so as to see where to start for a DIY project RV.
It's called the Earthroamer expedition vehicle:
http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedition_vehicles/xvlt1_overview.html
Here's some highlights, but you have to read carefully all their current information to get a real feel for what the vehicle is. They may have changed systems a little from what I list below from memory:
- All diesel based sourced from the main/large truck's tank.
- Can use biodiesel or regular diesel.
- Diesel stovetop cooking.
- Diesel heating.
- Huge AGM coach battery bank.
- Huge solar capacity (relative to the vehicle's size)
- No onboard propane at all.
- No onboard generator at all.
- Double truck engine alternators for overcast day AGM battery bank charging, if necessary.
- Water filtration system for drawing and purifying water from nearby sources such as lakes, streams, etc..
- No black tank toilet water system .... chemical toilet.
- And ... the Holy Grail of RV vehicles ... coach air conditioning powered from it's AGM battery bank.
- All marine grade system components.
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pnichols
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11/29/08 12:00pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: What tip do you have to save us money to keep camping?
"akgent wrote:
BHO promised there would be a redistribution of the nation's wealth. Have you already lost confidence in the new "change" in store for us? If he gets it done, we will be able to all go to the best KOA's every weekend."
Maybe YOU will be, but I'm in the "Take from" column. If BHO has his way, I'll be boondocking...
Of course it's a joke since no one believes that jive talker."
Well ...... I expect that many of us will NOT be in the "Take from" column since BHO has promised that the free ride will be from about $250,000 annual income on down -> at least those of us who are retired, since it takes a $6.25 million retirement portfolio at a conservative 4% withdrawal rate per year to yield $250,000 income per year. I'm looking forward to how my retirement income is going to go a lot farther (.... AFTER the hyper-inflation coming from money-printing goes away, way out in the future if I'm still alive). ;)
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pnichols
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11/28/08 05:25pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Economy Downturn
Popsie,
Well stated! You made my point almost exactly .... especially your last three(3) sentences.
After that, one can go overnighting, weekending, parttiming, fulltiming, or die in your rig with the major bases covered. But just in case, you might want to take both solar panels and a genny along.;)
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pnichols
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11/26/08 06:33pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Charging House Batteries
Sal,
I agree completely on having an ammeter in the circuit - my coach battery bank's ammeter is on the dash so I can keep an eye on charging as we travel. A four-place voltmeter is there just above it. Installing these myself was considerably less $$ than buying a Link, although the Link does show something very valuable too - elasped amps usage or replenishment.
I may have been off topic a bit, but was mostly trying to further explain the need for large cables to BFL13 (...he knows this already), as can of course be verified best, IMHO, by observing voltmeter readings on each end during heavy charging with existing cabling.
We've been in the SC Mountains for years, but do enjoy getting out to explore the West in our small rig .... mixing boondocking in with inexpensive camp grounds.
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pnichols
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11/26/08 06:25pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Charging House Batteries
"I have the notion that the line resistance of the booster cables was making them trip too soon,"
Now you have it!
It does no good to buy/have/use chargers designed for high boost voltages unless:
1) They don't simultaneously supply their maximum stated current at that high voltage. (This takes $$$$ to attain in a charger's design/construction, usually.)
2) You don't use cabling between their circuit board outputs and your battery bank so large that this high voltage is just about equal to the voltage measured on the battery bank terminals during high charge current times. (To accomplish this requires $$$$ and the proper logistics/room in your RV, usually.)
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pnichols
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11/26/08 01:24pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Economy Downturn
"If we can't handle the rig, we sure and heck don't want the work and headache of a house!"
One may require the EQUITY from selling an appreciated asset to meet at least some of the needs at the end that I mention in my posts.
"...how does that make us somehow unsavory people?
As I stated, what's makes one "unsavory" or not, at least partially so IMHO, depends in part upon the resources they have provided at the end so as to not burden others at that time.
If one sets themselves up ahead of time to address the above, then they have met their obligations and should feel free to fulltime in a recreational vehicle setting right up to the end.
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pnichols
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11/26/08 01:07pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Charging House Batteries
Using just a voltmeter, you CAN tell if line resistance (between the charger's terminals and your battery bank's terminals) is killing you:
Under charge conditions, just measure the voltage right at the charger's terminals and then measure the voltage right at the battery bank's terminals. The bigger the difference between these two voltage readings, the more drop you are getting due to cable resistance. Make this difference as SMALL as you can under heavy current charge conditions by installing as large cabling as you can afford and fit between the charger and the batteries.
Of course, many general purpose commercial portable types of chargers have built-in cables coming right out the front of them, so you can't measure the voltage on the "charger end" of these cables. In this case you just have to live with whatever the line resistance is of these cables supplied with the charger that you clip onto the battery bank's terminals.
Keep in mind, that measuring these voltage differences on both ends of the charge cables between the charger and the batteries must be accurate and repeatable. You SHOULD use a digital voltmeter for this (NOT one with just a needle meter) - and if possible one that measures voltage to two(2) places to the right of the decimal point. My cheap $40 digital voltmeter is like this, so I'm not talking about spending big bucks on a voltmeter - just use the right kind.
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pnichols
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11/26/08 12:52pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Bought a Lifeline battery
"If one wanted AGM, why stop at anything less than less than Lifeline?"
Well ...... I've not seen any hard performance data proving Lifeline was "the best" AGM battery. They get a lot of word of mouth advertising here in the forums, though. I do know they have competition that I wouldn't think twice about trying if competitor's pricing beat Lifeline's prices. AGM batteries are big in the solar building world and they have other brands they use outside Lifeline.
Here's what I have a couple of in my rig, and as I understand are used in large fixed installation solar battery banks - the Interstate (made for them by C&D Technologies) DCS-100:
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/www_2001/content/products/product_mobility.asp
Here's the website for the same battery in the C&D Technologies version DCS-100:
http://www.cdstandbypower.com/application/battery/other_app/deep_cycle.html
Here's another brand that appears to offer a lot of AGM battery value from Universal Power Group, in that it's rated for 110 amp hours - a very large AGM stated capacity for it's group size:
http://www.apexbattery.com/universal-battery-ub121100-12v-110ah-battery-sealed-lead-acid-batteries-universal-battery.html
I charge my Interstate batteries with the RV's built-in single stage converter or the engine's alternator, with no special treatment as they charge so fast and accept a large range of voltages. Three stage charging is not absolutely required at all for them. I take them off charge for long periods when the RV is in storage at home, because they hold their charge so well that they don't need to be floated for months at a time.
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pnichols
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11/26/08 01:26am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Charging House Batteries
Regarding use of the alternator on newer Ford V10's to charge your coach batteries:
- It takes about 0.7 gal per hour to idle the V10.
- As mentioned by others above, according to it's curves the 130 amp alternator can supply around a healthy 70 amps at engine idle rpm speeds.
- And here's the big one for many ... with our V10, it's VERY QUIET when idling ... quieter than any idling inverter small Honda portable generator I've heard in campgrounds. It can hardly be heard 4 feet away, and even then it's a very non-irritating low frequency "swooshing rumble" sound.
I idle it about 1/2 hour at over 14 volts to bulk charge the batteries then finish off with a couple of hours at 13.6-13.7 volts from the stock converter with either the Onan or a small Honda portable. That's about all my AGM bank usually needs, but probably wouldn't be enough for wet cell coach batteries.
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pnichols
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11/25/08 06:32pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Economy Downturn
". as a fulltimer I can't imagine ever wanting to go back to a S&B or a rest home for that matter.."
I guess we're blessed in having both a beautiful S&B location to live in such that there is no reason to have to excape from it, while also enjoying exploring in our RV for weeks at a time far from civilization.
Regarding a rest home, we/you/anyone may not have a choice as to living in a "rest home situation" or not for X number of years - maybe due even to some form of dementia while health may be excellent.
So I guess my position is that, IMHO, one should not be fulltiming at the expense of resources which should have been available so as to easily quit the fulltiming for whatever reason(s) and not be a time, energy, or finances burden on loved ones or friends when the time comes that you cannot fulltime any more.
Probably most fulltimers have their lives arranged so as to have no problems in situations such as the above.
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pnichols
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11/25/08 03:39pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Economy Downturn
We plan to RV off and on as long as our bodies allow. Then ...... we have our S&B on acerage with grazing deer and blue sunlit skies and rocking chairs waiting for us when the RV trip is over - along with our friends and family (who don't RV) right there physically and emotionally close.
As of now, we can't conceive of RV'ing ad infinitum without a S&B home to also come back to for some R&R variety in our lives. Of course the S&B home (and RV) most probably will have to go to pay for rest home living near the end so we don't burden our loved ones physically or financially at that time. This viewpoint in no way minimizes our love of the foot loose and fancy free RV lifestyle we partake of in bite sized chunks - we adore nature and walk/photograph/fish in it as much as possible on our RV trips and otherwise.
(I even backpack occasionally on week-long trips -> thank heavens I have a S&B home to return to after these!)
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pnichols
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11/25/08 12:20pm |
Full-time RVing
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