jbeletti's Sundance 262 RB

[jbeletti]

EQUIPMENT ADDITION - BACKUP AND SIDE CAMERAS

On my on-order 2019 F-150, while I love them on my F-450, I elected to not order the Ford Tow Mirrors. On the smaller truck, the tow mirrors just look off to me. While not a mirror replacement, though somewhat helpful, I plan to add some additional cameras.

What some who know me may be noticing is some simplification in approach to some of these planned new-RV projects. This change in approach is deliberate. I usually like to "roll my own" and cobble my own "thing" together. With this coach, my plan is to do some/less of that and pivot more towards use of off-the-shelf solutions.

GOAL
Improve sightlines down the side of the RV and add the ability to see directly behind the RV in specific scenarios (backing into campsites and prior to making lane changes).

METHOD PLANNED TO ACHIEVE GOALS
Obtain Furrion Vision S products and install them on the RV.
- Vision S Doorway Security or Rear Camera (to be used on rear) - link
- Vision S Side Cameras with Marker Lights - link
- Vision S 7" Display (for inside the Cab and inside the RV at camp) - link

PRODUCT IMAGES
MISSING IS THE MONITOR - COMING!
(link to more images)

INSTALLATION NOTES
I am still in the process of collecting all the required items and I don't get the RV until late May. I will document the install in this thread at that time.

INSTALLATION IMAGES
Coming in June 2019!

 

[TravelTiger]

Right - I sort of tore up all the packing and may have tossed it all. I plan to try this one.

I bet if you posed it for sale on a certain owners club forum, you could sell the 400.


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[jbeletti]

I bet if you posed it for sale on a certain owners club forum, you could sell the 400.

Probably right, but I made my bet, time to lay in it

 

[jbeletti]

ADDITION - WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING ANTI-SWAY HITCH

Well, the decision has been made. I'll be going with the Andersen 'No-Sway' Weight Distribution Hitch for the travel trailer.

I looked (online, reviews, videos etc.) at most of what's being offered out there. I really liked the models that attacked sway in a mega-engineered way - Hensley Arrow, ProPride P3 and PullRite. All fine looking solutions. Trouble for me is the cost. If I could get one of those monsters sponsored, now that I would consider

So after looking at all of the more conventional approaches, I selected the Andersen. Here's a couple pictures of it from their website. I've used the Equalizer way back - when it was the one to have. I won't miss the noise of it. This Andersen is purported to be silent




INSTALLATION
To be done in late May

INSTALL PICTURES
Coming in June

 

[CarterKraft]

Great choice on WDH.

My only suggestion is to make sure you include your 18v cordless drill (not impact) of choice to run the jacks along with one of these. Makes hitching a breeze.

 

[SNOKING]

ADDITION - WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING ANTI-SWAY HITCH

Well, the decision has been made. I'll be going with the Andersen 'No-Sway' Weight Distribution Hitch for the travel trailer.

I looked (online, reviews, videos etc.) at most of what's being offered out there. I really liked the models that attacked sway in a mega-engineered way - Hensley Arrow, ProPride P3 and PullRite. All fine looking solutions. Trouble for me is the cost. If I could get one of those monsters sponsored, now that I would consider

So after looking at all of the more conventional approaches, I selected the Andersen. Here's a couple pictures of it from their website. I've used the Equalizer way back - when it was the one to have. I won't miss the noise of it. This Andersen is purported to be silent

View attachment 60780 View attachment 60781


INSTALLATION
To be done in late May

INSTALL PICTURES
Coming in June

I question the force this system places on the couplers latch/lock mechanism. I would talk to the coupler manufacture about that. Something like the Bulldog coupler would not be a problem.

https://www.etrailer.com/A-Frame-Tr...ZZLk0uwBljMOdVh6Nx3RSfrlMFWyutlRoCN3gQAvD_BwE

However hitches with just a stamped metal latch tab might be another story.

Andersen colors outside the lines in a lot of cases, so talking to the coupler manufacture about the force this system places on the latch many be very much in order.

Just my thoughts, after looking online and at a neighbors hitch here in the snowbird park and understanding how it works. Some couplers like the one on our little guy trailer do not have a latch that can be replaced, as it is not removable.

Chris

 

[jbeletti]

Great choice on WDH.

My only suggestion is to make sure you include your 18v cordless drill (not impact) of choice to run the jacks along with one of these. Makes hitching a breeze.
View attachment 60782

I remember those from 2004 in my TT days. If all goes to plan, I should not need this with Ground Control Electric Leveling.

 

[jbeletti]

I question the force this system places on the couplers latch/lock mechanism. I would talk to the coupler manufacture about that. Something like the Bulldog coupler would not be a problem.

https://www.etrailer.com/A-Frame-Tr...ZZLk0uwBljMOdVh6Nx3RSfrlMFWyutlRoCN3gQAvD_BwE

However hitches with just a stamped metal latch tab might be another story.

Andersen colors outside the lines in a lot of cases, so talking to the coupler manufacture about the force this system places on the latch many be very much in order.

Just my thoughts, after looking online and at a neighbors hitch here in the snowbird park and understanding how it works. Some couplers like the one on our little guy trailer do not have a latch that can be replaced, as it is not removable.

Chris

Thanks for this info Chris. I will check into it.

 

[CarterKraft]

I remember those from 2004 in my TT days. If all goes to plan, I should not need this with Ground Control Electric Leveling.

I was actually suggesting this arrangement for the Pro Pride hitch jacks. (suggested in the index earlier in the thread)

I see there is some discussion of the Anderson hitch, I have no experience with that hitch but I can't suggest the pivot point projection hitches (3P & Hensley) enough.

Edit: I see now you posted moments before me on Friday.

 

[jbeletti]

I was actually suggesting this arrangement for the Pro Pride hitch jacks. (suggested in the index earlier in the thread)

I see there is some discussion of the Anderson hitch, I have no experience with that hitch but I can't suggest the pivot point projection hitches (3P & Hensley) enough.

Edit: I see now you posted moments before me on Friday.

Yeah, I switched gears last week. The ProPride is about $3k. Probably worth it too for what it does. But I don’t have $3k to spend and could not obtain a sponsorship. No worries.

So I will try a more conventional approach first. If I need something better, then I’ll reconsider these other hitches.


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[JWalker]

Any chance of Anderson making an appearance at the Goshen rally?

 

[jbeletti]

Any chance of Anderson making an appearance at the Goshen rally?

Yes! A very good chance. The invitation has been given and it's being discussed on their end.

Also a high chance they will be our next Heartland Owners Club Vendor Partner which will be great news for those in the market for an Andersen hitch. Wheels are turning...

 

[JWalker]

Yes! A very good chance. The invitation has been given and it's being discussed on their end.

Also a high chance they will be our next Heartland Owners Club Vendor Partner which will be great news for those in the market for an Andersen hitch. Wheels are turning...

Very nice.

 

[porthole]

EQUIPMENT ADDITION - BACKUP AND SIDE CAMERAS

On my on-order 2019 F-150, while I love them on my F-450, I elected to not order the Ford Tow Mirrors. On the smaller truck, the tow mirrors just look off to me

You know the cabs are the same now

 

[jbeletti]

You know the cabs are the same now

Never really thought about it but if the SuperCrew in the 2019 F150 is similar to my F450, I'll be pretty pleased

 

[Jesstruckn/Jesstalkn]

Same cab just less cup holders in the center console. And no storage box over the glove box. It's a dumb open space, 2 water bottles will pop in there.

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[AlwaysOnLiberty]

Jim,
Though pricey, you won't regret investing in the Battle Born lithium ions. We love them. 10 year warranty. Life of battery 10-15 years. The furthest we took our 6 down was to 17%. Amazing! Friends of ours Matt and Diane from Adventurous Way took theirs down to 0. If you'd like to talk to him about his system, I can connect you guys. They have an Outdoors TT. He's quite the Victron guru. His setup looks like Star Wars. Pretty amazing.

-Lisa

ADDITION - Energy Storage System (ESS)

8-Feb: This is a planned project at this time. No gear has been ordered. Some of the gear will be sponsored.

GOALS

1. To have the ability to power some AC devices on travel days and an occasional boondocking night
2. To have the ability to run main coach refrigerator (DC refer) for multiple days in a row w/o shore power

ESS PLAN

• Install some amount of solar panels on the roof (maybe 300-400 watts - most times, shore power will be recharging the battery bank, so dependence on solar recharging is minimized in my use-case)
• Install Victron of some other brand of Solar Charge Controller to manage battery charging from panel power
• Install up to 4 ea Battle Born 100 amp hour LiFePo4 Lithium batteries
• Install Victron MultiPlus 12/3000/120 Inverter/Charger (feeding it with shore power L1 and AC output to AC breaker panel L1 loads - will also move loads between L1 and L2 to achieve desired results and still have decent leg to leg balance for shore power)
• Install Victron or some other brand of system monitoring and control - will likely be Victron Color Control GX Display
• Install Victron BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitoring System

Focusing on my goals, I welcome your feedback. Whatever I go with, once it's installed, I will do a follow-up here with pics and a write-up with pics in the Solar sub-forum.

 

[jbeletti]

Jim,
Though pricey, you won't regret investing in the Battle Born lithium ions. We love them. 10 year warranty. Life of battery 10-15 years. The furthest we took our 6 down was to 17%. Amazing! Friends of ours Matt and Diane from Adventurous Way took theirs down to 0. If you'd like to talk to him about his system, I can connect you guys. They have an Outdoors TT. He's quite the Victron guru. His setup looks like Star Wars. Pretty amazing.

-Lisa

Thanks Lisa - I'm already subbed to the YT channel and today, based on your post here, I headed over to their website and read parts 1-3 of their battery/inverter design/install. It's very similar to my plan.

 

[jbeletti]

Jerrod - take a look at Matt's DC to DC converter install from his Ford to his RV batts to charge them while driving, obtaining crazy amounts of power versus what the 7-wire pigtail provides - LINK.

How he got high-current DC from the engine battery to the rear bumper was already on my list of things to do and exactly as he did it. My application was to power the Viair compressor at the rear bumper and also be able to use the same connector for jumper cables when needed.

But now, after reading why he installed this on his Ford, I too want to connect my truck to my coach batteries with the DC to DC converter in the circuit.

 

[Jesstruckn/Jesstalkn]

Thanks Jim, I will check it out.
I have all of the parts at home to tackle this project just haven't gotten around to it.
My plan is to use this HD truck coiled cable.
Here's a few pictures I have in my phone. The rest is at home