What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

The Camper Thread

any updates on anyone's camper??

none on mine, I am thinking of just telling the guy that has it he can keep it and use it. on this lazy Sunday afternoon as I ponder the upcoming changes in my life, retirement and possibly the BIG D; I am looking at campers. if it is just going to be me, looking at the Travel Lite Rayzr series or maybe their 770 model with a shower.
 
Picked up this Thor Tahoe 33tb toyhauler a few months ago, living full time in it for now until the house gets built. Good shape for it's age, tows well behind the 3500hd and has a bit over 5200 lb cargo capacity rating. 34ft long so it's big but not massive and shorter in height than most new models even with the spring over axle change.

20200403_175837.jpg 20200505_201220.jpg
 
Going to use our 1959 Trotwood Camper for the 1st time this year, on July 4th weekend. By some miracle a car show is actually still happening while all the others seem to be getting cancelled. Vintage TorqueFest in Dubuque Iowa.

I have to fix the leaky roof vent. Also I'm thinking of scrubbing the floor and putting some coats of floor finish on it. Previous owner put down 12x12 VCT floor tile leftovers from a school. I'm a custodian at a junior high so I may sneak a pouch of wax home this week and the finish applicator to give it some shine.
 
red EOD said:
Picked up this Thor Tahoe 33tb toyhauler a few months ago, living full time in it for now until the house gets built. Good shape for it's age, tows well behind the 3500hd and has a bit over 5200 lb cargo capacity rating. 34ft long so it's big but not massive and shorter in height than most new models even with the spring over axle change.

View attachment 343659 View attachment 343661
Click to expand...
I didn't notice it before but I think I have the exact same trailer. Bought it from my in-laws.
trailer.jpg
 
Added some solar to the toy hauler back in June, along with moving the 2 electric buss bars over to it as well. The batts are about 15 years old and need replacement, but this use has stretched out their lives to max usefulness haha. Cables were routed better after the pic and the small inverter clamp was cleaned up. It's nice not having to run the generator regularly when currently living off the grid.

It's an ACO Power system. MPPT controller, able to handle a max of 720 watts input from the solar panels, 520 watts max output. With the 4000 watt inverter it can run everything in the 5th wheel (including AC) until the batts die. The solar at 400 watt capability (all I have for panels right now) is able to run the few 12v fans, small inverter, wifi, phone/speaker chargers all day/night and able to keep up with the desktop computer/42" TV screen for up to 5 hours.

20200813_165935.jpg 20200813_170000.jpg 20200813_170013.jpg 20200813_170055.jpg
 
Here's what we picked up this year for family adventure's. It sure has made road trips with the kids easier. It's a non stop list of projects however. I spent the weekend redoing seals on the roof.

It's a 2007 gulfstream conquest on a kodiak c5500 chassis with a duramax.

IMG_20200704_165126~2.jpg

PXL_20201003_214851285.jpg
 
She's ours! I really don't have to do nothing to use it but the ol lady already had me tare the carpet out of the bathroom. It's relatively clean. Three jack on the sides are new. The dually is 1 foot taller than paw paw so I'll have to build some plywood boxes. Surprisingly pawpaw doesn't mind it much other than the balance is a little too rearward bc it's for an 8foot bed. It's really light. Came with the dually extention plates for the Jack's, the custom horses, turnbuckles/original underbar, some happijac plates that will work with the existing mounts on the dually and some over the side brackets for the bed. Kinda stoked

20201008_172537.jpg

20201008_172515.jpg

20201008_172500.jpg
 
Awesome dude! I’d like to see some inside shots when you get a chance. I like to see the layout.
 
So after a torture test last weekend there's an obvious cut list of improvements. First being an r-6 insulation project.
We stayed on a peak of an actual wind farm that happens to be an atv park. Besides being creapy listeningto the mills, being dense fog and rain the first night we had some condensation on the ceiling.
The second night, Temps plummeted from 45f to 33f. We used the furnace but that may have cause worse condensation on the ceiling making it rain inside. We were warm however I just hope this helps.
It was kind of a worst case scenario with the humidity and temperature.

20201023_150210.jpg

20201027_191230.jpg

20201027_191235.jpg
 
No matter what insulation value you will get condensation. My hippie van has r11 fiber glass with wood paneling. This was done in the 70's and it lived at beach a lot. If I fix the the rust in roof and keep it I will redo the insulation with sheep wool from Havelock wool.
You need to have air flow. No matter how cold it gets out side, crack the ceiling vent, this will help with moisture. Havelock sheep wool is not a high r value but will help with moisture up against the inside of my vans roof, the reason for the current rust.

Is that Polysacyanurate board? Did you leave an air gap or glue it straight on the top?
 
Wes Harden said:
No matter what insulation value you will get condensation. My hippie van has r11 fiber glass with wood paneling. This was done in the 70's and it lived at beach a lot. If I fix the the rust in roof and keep it I will redo the insulation with sheep wool from Havelock wool.
You need to have air flow. No matter how cold it gets out side, crack the ceiling vent, this will help with moisture. Havelock sheep wool is not a high r value but will help with moisture up against the inside of my vans roof, the reason for the current rust.

Is that Polysacyanurate board? Did you leave an air gap or glue it straight on the top?
Click to expand...
Not sure it's like Celotex it's been a long time since I've been in the carpentry trade. It's aluminum backed on both sides and 1" thick. I used 3M super 90 spray adhesive to attach it directly to the fiberglass top. I don't recommend the "gorilla glue" brand spray that I picked up at the hardware store after the first can ran out. It was useless as hairspray. Good point on the roof vent I'll try that as long as it's not raining tomorrow night at the races.
 
Added on to the solar and have 1 more 210 watt panel coming, making a total rating of 1030 watts of panels. Charge controller is rated for 43 amps max output to the batts and with 820 watts currently connected over the past few months its usually peaked at 29-31 amps. Adding that next panel should get it up to the mid-upper 30's at max.

Being that the panels are mounted flat so not getting peak capacity, its not bad.

For everything but the air conditioning, its enough. Haven't touched the generator since late July and not tied into the electric grid here yet. When I eventually go to a newer toy hauler all the solar stuff is coming with.

20201014_185943.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom