Warranty Repairs

[Chulinw]

tdharley do you know a good place to put the valves? I guess you will have provide that information after you do the installation. You do have a good idea on the electric valves. Thanks for providing the information.

 

[tdharley]

I will have a better idea of the installation after I take the bottom panels off this weekend. Also the motorized valve replaces the exsisting manual valves, by removing the 4 bolts that sandwich them in. It is a easy install as long as I can get to the valves.

Although I do not do alot of "dry" camping I do go to a "kickoff" weekend and will need a full tank of water. I keep reading about this siphoning problem and will investigate that with the bottom exposed. I have had many other units that did not ever have that problem and were vented back to the water fill.

I also want to see about the fresh water supply dip tube not reaching the bottom of the tank?

Things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmmm?????????

 

[cdbMidland]

tdharley

At last year's rally, a factory representative from Fantasic Vent was present and suggested that the MaxAir covers are not needed with their product and could interfere with the maximum cover opening.

Someone who was there, please correct me if I am mistaken.

 

[nhunter]

I wasn't there but remember hearing about clearance / other issues.

 

[tdharley]

I have had the covers on all my rigs and although not needed I have found them to be quite handy for the following reasons:

1.Ventilation in the rain, especially the bathroom (really needs it after I am done). The bedroom needs ventilation during EVERY shower to avoid moisture buildup.
2. If for some reason I need to leave them open while driving , they are more substantial than the cover and IMO are less likely to fly off.
3. Leaves and debris on the screen & fan while camping.

I do not think they are any higher than my AC unit (see my signature pic for comparison).

As I said I have had them installed before and have not noticed a significant decrease in c.f.m due to the covering, but that could be true. I will take the tradeoff.

 

[jpmorgan37]

Chuck;
You are not mistaken. That is what he said, but I also understand what TD is saying. With some of the wind that we have here, I wouldn't dare leave ours open and I don't have the MaxAir covers. I don't worry about the rain because our rain sensors work well, plus we haven't had hardly any rain in the past six months.
John

 

[tdharley]

Options install

Well I did not get as far as I thought I would today. Did not get to the valves yet.

I forgot I have toppers to install also

2 new fantastic roof vents
2000 watt Zantrex inverter with remote
4 105 batteries
B&W hitch for the truck..............................DONE
3 maxxair vent covers
Zaxxis landing gear remote...........................DONE
King dome sat. system
Ref. vent cover replacement.........................DONE
Remote control for the ceiling fan

 

[jbeletti]

tdh,

Share some pics with us of your upgrades when you get a chance. I'd be interested in your wiring plan for the inverter. I designed a plan for a trailer that could be in my future. It may be overly complicated though. So I'm trying to learn from everyone.

Jim

 

[Jim_1899]

TD, tell me about the fantastic roof vents. I took Bighorn to my dealer, Coleman Country Campers for a few minor repairs. I am having them replace the standard fan in the bedroom with a fantastic fan. I have always planned on a second air in the bedroom but I really don't need it and I know my wife would want to use it on full and I would freeze.

I have a MaxxAir vent over the bathroom fan. I was unsure about putting a MaxxAir vent over the fantastic fan, because I did not want to restrict the airflow, but what does the fantastic vent do.

 

[ct0218]

Like John, both my Fantastic Fans have rain sensors and I don't need the vent covers, but, my fan covers open very high and I would think it would hit the inside of the Maxxair long before it was fully open. That would have to be hard on the gears.

 

[trdeal]

I installed the cover over our Fantastic Fan on our Mt. Rushmore and Clark is right, when the FF cover raises up it does hit the cover I installed. But the FF is designed to stop when it hits an obstruction. The instructions say do not use as it will obstruct air flow. Since I already had it installed I wanted to hear it straight from the "horses mouth" so to speak before I took it off. When I called they put me on the line with a tech. who said that air flow would be somewhat restricted but not enough to damage anything.Do what I wanted to do about taking it off. He said if we had the rain sensor the best thing to do was to clean the screen filter and fan and to spray some 303 protectant on both. I do have the rain sensor,so I took the cover off and bought some 303.

 

[tdharley]

I too have the rain sensor, but want the option to leave the vent open in the rain.

If the weather holds out here in New York (high 50's, sunny ) I am going to tackle them today and will let you know how it went. Also if I remember correctly on my last rig there was an adjustment to stop the cover from touching the enclosure.

Either way I will see today and if it is too much interference I will rethink my decision.

Jim, I bought the Xantrex with 2 circuits and automatic changover so it should be as simple as rerouting those out of the circuit panel & running a 110 wire to the inverter (hopefully). I plan to run the kitchen & entertainment center to the inverter. I will possibly also junction the bedroom circuit to the kitchen for the TV only.

Does anyone know how to disable the onboard charger since the inverter has a 3 stage charger built in?

 

[jbeletti]

tdh,

As an FYI, I was told by an RV tech that the AC panel used in the Landmark (and presumably the Bighorn) are 220 type and therefore can be split. If true, running 110 VAC only as we do, you "could" split your loads up within the single AC breaker panel and power 1 side from the inverter in order to save running an external panel. Just a thought.

Have fun working on the trailer today. It was about 60 here in Chicago yesterday so I drove out to my CG to check on the unit and measure the patio up for a potential concrete patio pour. Trailer was still there - apparently rodent-free too.

Be well,

Jim

Jim

 

[tdharley]

Good idea Jim I will look at that when I go back out.

I came in to go to the Inelipower website which is the converter/charger I have . There website was no help so I emailed them.

I did find that the Maxxair DO interfere with the vent covers by about 2", I am rethinking them.

More important someone mention that they would add to the overall clearence. I brought up my surveying laser and pole. My rig is level and the height to the top of the AC unit is 12'11" and to the top of the maxxair would be 13'1". Another reason to rethink the covers.

Well back outside , talk to you tonight

 

[ChopperBill]

TDH, I wired a small rocker switch, next to my inverter on-off switch, on the neutral side of the converter where it comes into the panel. If I dont shut the converter off the ATS (auto transfer switch) keeps clicking on and off. I could just turn the breaker off for the converter but wanted to make it simple for Renee. When you turn the inverter on you turn the converter off. And Vice-versa.

 

[Uncle Rog]

tdh, you will really like the xantrx / T-105 set up, it gives you nice quiet power, and if you use it sparingly the batteries sray up surprisingly well, especially if you equalize the system prior to going out for an extended stay. I get a little static on my TV so I am requesting an upgrade on my dish receiver to aleviate that. Let us know if you think the Zaxxis is worth the investment? UR

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

Like John, both my Fantastic Fans have rain sensors and I don't need the vent covers, but, my fan covers open very high and I would think it would hit the inside of the Maxxair long before it was fully open. That would have to be hard on the gears.

The installation instructions for the standard max air cover tell you it's not recommended to be used for a fantastic fan. I'm not sure why. I have used them over a standard manual fantastic fan with no problem but the fact that it limits the cover opening may reek havoc with the rain sensor fantastic fans. When you set the thermostat on the wall for the fan, the cover opens automatically and stops at a certain point. The standard max air cover would stop the cover from opening too soon and may damage the gears or motor.

 

[tdharley]

Well I am out from under the rig and found out alot.

I fixed the cable on the drain, a simple loosening 2 screws, reinserting the cable and tighten up.

All the drain valves are accesible for my electric drain valve modification.

My spare tire is mounted directly under my water tank. I am gioing to remove the mount & weld some heavier angle iron to it. When I reinstall it I will chock the tank to the bottom port which in my opinion is quite high. The water that is in the bottom of the tank is frozen. I am 100% sure I "power drained" it properly before storing it. I am also going to tee off the bottom outlet with a manual drain valve. I also see the problem with the vents, the vent hoses are lower than the top of the tank. I think since I have the bottom exposed I am going to tee them together to a 3/4" vent higher than the top of the tank. Not sure excactly how I am gonna do it but I will sleep onit. I do my best thinking when I am sleeping. Dont laugh it's true.

Heres alink to my photos:

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/558121896znMZtb

Also thanks for all the advice.

 

[Uncle Rog]

Good pictures, your water tank does not appear to even have the light straps supporting the osb. The only thing frozen here is in the freezer, it is 90 with 10% humidity, ho in the sun, chilly in the shade. I like the key box idea, I guess door locks are different, in Furnace creek we discovered that we could open every storage / eqipment bay in the valley...Good job and great ideas...............

 

[tdharley]

Rog

Thanks for the comments.

I would like to know more about the "ho in the sun". Is she good lookin.... And is chilly her sister?

My tank has one strap connected to the 2 main supports, you cannot see it in the picture.

Also can anybody tell me why we need 4 vents on the water tank? I have looked around and found the water kit below. It shows a drain, supply and vent line. The vent line usually goes to the back of the tank fill which is high enough to not let water out. I think our tanks have more vents to choose one to make the piping easier and plugging the rest.