gpchoochoo
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Posts posted by gpchoochoo
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Real nice looking job .
I hope to get mine in half as good a shape as yours is.
Keep up the good work and get out and enjoy it !!!!!
Have a great day
GP
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Good for you on getting the new Toy !!!! Ya might wanna make sure that the missing battery does not have wires that are live and gonna touch a ground.
Have great day
GP
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You could try tapping on it with a piece of wood while pulling up or take a longer piece of 2x4 and duct tape it to the pole down near the bottom letting a foot stick past the pole to give you some leverage, or put the wood on the seat bottom. A pad sander with no sandpaper makes a good vibrator to shake it loose while pulling up also. That is assuming there is no set screw holding it in. Mine does not have anything holding it in. The WD-40 is good idea too.
Have a great day
GP
Tried a bunch of times to pull the table bar thing up in my "dinette" area, but no go. Is it permanent? If so, why?
You can see the tricky table and my floorplan in this photo
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i see in a odyssey brochure about a steel reinforced roof, v6 engine and many other goody's but no date mentioned so --were all odyssey's built with a steel reinforced roof?
i have a 1986 odyssey and have tried to use a stud finder metal detector to find the answer --it picks up a lot of metal but the roof is covered with aluminum so that didn't work
good enough to find any pattern of any beams. it has a air conditioner and when i am driving from place to place i build a support from the floor to ceiling then remove it when i park.
if it has the advertised steel roof my support is just an over kill, but the roof has a slight bow. i have had it about 8 years---does any one know about steel reinforced odyssey roof's?
I have an 1990 Odyssey Mesa rear lounge and I am not sure about the roof but I have metal frame in the side walls. I am going to find out what the "stud" in the roof is soon as I am planing on making a hanging tv mount of sorts.
Mine has a slight sag but I am not worried at this point. All seems well around the A/C. My A/C is in the back hole and vent in the middle. When I get into the roof I'll let ya know what I find be it metal or wood. I can tell by the shape and the way the frost melts off it there is something there.
Have a great day
GP
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Our 1990 Odyssey rear dinette Mesa model does not have 2 slide out beds, only one , but the over the cab is 58 x 80. 58 in the middle and 56 maybe 56 1/2 at the ends. One thing is the front roof slopes down real quick. The wife says she's ok with it. We have stayed in it 27 nights so far and alls well. At 6'5 it might be a tad tough getting in as our bath on one side and the closet on the other make for a smaller opening to the Master Bedroom. I was thinking about finding another set of slides and making another couch so I can make the huge bed in the back. If anyone knows where I could find either the slides or a whole slide out couch near Maryland would be great.
Have a great day !!
GP
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Thanks Greg I needed someone to hold my hand.
GP
To change the order of the images in your album go to the album then select the button "Edit Album" and down on the bottom you can slect what order you want them to display. Also as a future note you can upload your image to the album etc then click on an image to open it then click on share image and copy the image link then in your post (story) editing window click on the picture icon (Insert Image) and paste the url into the box and the image will be inserted into the story line. Just another way to do it if you wish
There is an example.
Anyhow the installation looks sweet! Looks like the compartment was the exact size you needed.
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This is what I did to be able to do our 1,2 or 3 day hiking/biking trips without needing to plug in or start the genset which the boss doesn't like so much. It is working great and makes the little Toy just like home.
Was great to get back from a frozen waterfall hike and be warm and brew up a pot of coffee looking out into the Shenandoah Valley with nothing but the gurgle of the coffee pot. Being cold we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
I would be happy to answer any questions about how or why I did it this way.
PS I have tried to add explanation of each picture in the album but I can't even get them to load in order. I' ll get the smart one in the house to look at it if she can and see how to do it.. Sorry it's hard being dumb but I do it well.
After the much needed help of Greg I now have the pictures in order and with small explanations in the album.
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Hey we cooked a turkey boob in the oven while going down the road for Thanksgiving and had no problem except it made me hungry !!!
Have a great day
GP
I think that what you describe for propane use is about what you should expect for the appliances you describe. When we travel in cold weather, we leave the furnace thermostat set for 68 degrees until we retire, then lower the setting to 45 degrees(which is as low as the digital t'stat will go). When temps get down to 15 degrees overnight or so, the furnace will come on about every 1/2 hour and run for about 5 minutes. We will use about 2 1/2 gallons of propane in 4 days under these conditions.
Bill
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What I got from the RV shop person is that when unlevel the flow stops and this makes the anti-corrosive stuff start to crystalize which then blocks the plumbing up. Once crystalized it will never return to its proper state.
I was told if you run it unlevel it's only a matter of time before it stops up. I then looked online some and it seems to be true. Good luck with getting it fixed whatever way ya go.
Have great day
GP
the 12vdc option only works when the engine is running - it is a high draw itmeem that will kill the cabin battery when the engine alternator is not online. That said it is a nice feature when you are traveling. My new frig uses very little propane so I just leave it unless i have the camper stored.
I understand these things are rather sensitive to being kept level - otherwise the ammonia/ hydrogen gets trapped and after 5-15 minutes bad things can happen. the R717 (ammonia-hydrogen) is reputed to be very corrosive. If I have to leave mine unlevel I turn the frig off until we get underway again.
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Hey John,
I just last week put one in my Suburban. $106 I think it cost. Make sure the sail switch does not touch any of the blade . I didn't and mine makes 1 ping sound as the first blade hits it before it moves out of the way.
Hmmm I assume <--- key word, yours has a sail switch. Just a mistake I made wanted to let ya know incase you have the same.
Have a great day
GP
HydroFlame Model FA 7916D
Blower motor # 31036
I'm a very light sleeper and I guarantee this squeal will have me awake every time the furnace kicks on.
Its 22 years old, so I bit the bullet and bought a new blower motor. There are a couple threads here and on other sites on how to replace it, Looks like maybe a two hour job.
I see many companies have them, I Paid just under $100 with shipping included.
This should be the last of the major expenses for the ToyHouse Overhaul.
John Mc
88 Dolphin 4 Auto
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I spend most of my time camping in large open meadows right on the edge of the forest (just goofing off),or camping along side of a river or stream (fishing).
Lots of open for the solar to work just fine, also at 7-10,000 ft the sun is brighter so the panels works even better.
I'm in the Rockies in Wyoming.
WME
P.S. Fishing is not goofing off, its hard work.
Man I am jealous !!!!!! I have to make due with the old wore away Appalachian Mountains over here on the right coast.
But the place we really want to get to is southern Utah. Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches State Park and places like that.
Hopefully we will get out that way before too long. We went to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia Nat parks in Oct. 09 and loved it there.
Well the non tourist parts anyways.
Good Luck fishing and have a great day
GP
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OK so memory is not what it used to be. Its a 31 size 100 AH AGM.
The solar panel is 62W
Well the memory thing I can deal with ok cause I figure I wont know I forgot it , it's the dang eye thing that kicks my butt (besides a foot).
And ya know it seems everything ya need to do is right at the tweener range when ya just can't see it for poop. And then there the neck strain
from try'n to get the bifocol in range. I think I might have to pay someone to hold extra glasses so I can swap them out as needed.
They would also be able to tell me where the tool I just laid down ran off too. Seems I spend half my time looking for what was just in my hand 2 seconds before.
I thought about solar but I,am not sure here in Maryland it would be worth it. Not enough sun 1/2 the year. And we use the Toy for hiking and often am parked in the woods.
What part of the world do you use your solar panel WME ?
Have a great day
GP
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Here is a picture of the 20 gallon ( so I have been told ) extra tank that lives behind my rear end.
I am gonna put a small pump so I can pump it up to the main tank once in a while so the gas for the genset doesn't get too old.
I thought about hooking them together but worry that one would overfill the other if parked on a hill and more then 3/4 full.
Besides it wont be that much problem to flip a switch for a few minutes.
Have a great day !!!
GP
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Thanks.
After looking at the drawing, I find it hard to imagine how anyone would work with it. I'm a retired mechanical Engineer and started out on the 'board'. I'd have been shot for turning out something like that!
I have to say I agree.
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This may be much ado about nothing.
By the time my alt has recharged the truck battery and the regulator is happy. The same voltage is sent through an isolator and a CB to recharge the house battery. It does not over charge the AGM battery. The solar panel regulator has an absorption, float function to top things off.
If I leave home with the house battery at full charge, drive for 8 hr and dry camp for 3 days, drive home. My AC powered smart charger still goes into the bulk mode for several hours before it goes to float.
I use the stock Toy Alt so it takes awhile to charge an 105ah AGM Trojan battery. The battery is going on its 4th year..
According to the Trojan web site they don't make a 105 AH AGM battery. They make other size AGM but not 105AH. 105 AH are wet cell battery. So what are we talking about here?
Have a great day
GP
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I got the fax of the tank size. Jacob said it's 35 gallon but you might only get 32-33 out of it.
It's in the images place I think. Hope this helps.
GP
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Well I think I know a little bit about batteries because it is part of my job, we maintain around 200 batteries mostly gel cells that back up the locking system for the jail, computers, and AGM's for the emergency use police radios in our mobile van (charged by an alternator), fork lifts and fire alarms. So I guess you could call our batteries sort of life support but I guess you are right I don't know too much about Lifeline batteries.
With your vast knowledge of batteries I am surprised you don’t know about Lifeline whose parent company Concorde Aircraft Battery developed the AGM technology in the 80’s.
Have a great day GP
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Since you've already got a dialog going with Jacob, how about asking for the plans he offered. Might be useful info to have in the Files. Maybe someone could find another (cheaper) source. My son lives in Hong Kong. He could probably get them for $12.79 (if we ordered 5000!). Sure would be nice to have a drawing of the standart 17.2 gallon tank to compare it to.
Sorry Derek I don't have a fax set up. I asked if he could email it and he said no. I was thinking the same thing about adding it here. If you give me a number to have him fax it to I'd be happy to call them back.
Have a great day
Gary in Maryland</SPAN>
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Going through some old stuff and found my paper Aero Enterprise auxiliary tank catalog from about 10-12 years ago. It shows 4 tanks that may be of interest here.
1980-1999 Toyota Pick Up Long wheel base 2WD & 4WD, Diesel & EFI. 26 gallon replacement tank (we guarantee 20 gallons it may be possible to get more), we make and install this tank at our facility only. Part number 1324A.
1985-1999 Toyota Motorhome, gas, diesel & EFI. Replaces factory tank and uses dead space in front of factory tank. You do not lose spare tire. 30 gallon replacement tank. Part number TOYMH-30.
When I look on their website I do not see them listed anymore. Maybe someone will volunteer to call and report back to the forum. http://aerotanks.com/index.html
They also show 1980-1998 Nissan/Datsun applications. Part numbers 26 gallon - 1322A and 30 gallon 1322
I just called them and spoke to Jacob and he said they would be $650 for one and it would take more then 10 to get a discount which might not be much and the kicker is they never shipped any of these because they are a major pain to install.
They did the install at thier place. He said he can fax the plans for the tank.
Have a great day all !!
Gary in Maryland
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I could not agree more but they are talking about a fixed charging system your alternator does a very good job of regulation and as the battery voltages rises the alternator current falls. Unlike a generator that has to regulate current the alternator by design drops the current as the voltage rises down to a trickle charge. If any thing I would be concerned that your little Toyota alternator would not be enough to fully charge two 120 amp batteries and the truck battery at the same time. AGM batteries are used in solar systems as are flooded cells the solar regulators do not know what they are charging they just regulate. I hope Greg chimes in he has used an AGM battery in his MH for some time now with no problems.
Maineah, I am not sure why you want to argue a moot point but maybe since you know better than the battery company you should contact them and set them straight so they stop telling people the wrong stuff. http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/
Then you can find who ever named it an alternator and tell them it’s really a battery charger. But everyone in the battery business that I spoke to said an alternator makes a poor battery charger so it might take you awhile to set that straight.
Just going on your last comment let’s say that the little Toy alternator can’t charge the batteries fully so I plug in my spiffy new inverter which charges them all the way up to the tippy top. Now I leave for a 3 hour drive to our hiking spot and the alternator is over charging the already full batteries the whole way.
If you understand the workings of the voltage regulator and alternator then you know it will raise the current to maintain the preset voltage (in most cases 13.8) which is ½ volt greater than the batteries should get while in float stage. If you don’t agree with this then you need to find someone else to argue with because there is nothing else I can say.
No matter which way you go, it’s either over charging or undercharging, both of which are bad and that’s why I am not hooking up to the alternator.
I think we will have to agree to disagree here and move on.
Have a great day
Gary in Maryland
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Sorry Maineah I have to go by what the battery maker says. I figure they know best. Quote
"The most efficient method of charging Lifeline® AGM batteries is to use a 3 stage charging
profile. In the first stage, a constant current is applied until the voltage reaches a pre-set limit.
The first stage is often called the Bulk charging stage. In the second stage, the voltage is held
constant at the same pre-set limit until the charging current tapers to a very low value, at which
point the battery is fully charged. The second stage is often called the Absorption charging
stage. A voltage limit of 14.3 volts ± 0.1 volts (7.15 ± 0.05 volt for a 6 volt battery) should be
used when the battery temperature is 77°F (25°C). The battery is fully charged when the
current drops below 0.5% of the battery’s rated capacity (0.5A for a 100Ah battery). In the third
stage, the charging voltage is reduced to a lower value that minimizes the amount of
overcharge, while maintaining the battery at 100% state of charge. This third stage is often
called the Float charging stage. A float voltage of 13.3 ± 0.1 volts (6.65 ± 0.05 volts for a 6 volt
battery) should be used when the battery temperature is 77°F (25°C)."
The charging system in most cars will generally produce a voltage between 13.5 and 14.4 volts. All higher then the float voltage called for by Lifeline.
Have a great day
Gary in Maryland
Good site from a solar company they are stating that there is nothing special about charging AMG batteries. Some even say an AMG will take every thing an alternator will throw at them. http://www.windsun.c...ery_FAQ.htm#AGM, or Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries
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Well I did find a ARS-5, 12V, 3-step voltage regulator which would fit the bill for not over charging the batteries with the alternator but at $270 I am not sure I will need it.
Just what the doctor ordered for charging with the alternator in 3 stages and not over charging.. Hmmm I do have a birthday coming up though !!!!!
I can send my address to anyone who may be feeling generous or maybe just bumped thier head.
Gary in Maryland
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Waiter that formula is for a perfect operating alternator under ideal setting and speed. When in real life the "Efficiency of automotive alternators is limited by fan cooling loss, bearing loss, iron loss, copper loss, and the voltage drop in the diode bridges; at part load, efficiency is between 50-62% depending on the size of alternator, and varies with alternator speed."
Quoted from
Horst Bauer (ed.) Automotive Handbook 4th Edition, Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, 1996, ISBN 0-8376-0333-1, page 813
Thats the problem with trying to use an alt to charge the batteries, there is no way of controling what it is doing. Besides being about voltage its also about amps which you can't control in the manner that the AGM batteries call for.
746 Watts per HP
An Alternator putting out 50 amps at 14 volts
P = I x E
P = Watts
I = Amps
E = Volts
700 = 50 x 14
Just a little under 1 HP when the Alternator is pumping out 50 amps
John Mc
88 Dolphin 4 Auto
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The point of not hooking to the truck alt was so I didn't overcharge the AGM batteries which it would. The alt output is higher then the float charge for AGM's so at some point you could start to overcharge.
The folks in the business that I spoke to all agreed that overcharging is bad and is the only way AGM's will outgas. It's important due to where I placed everything that the batteries do not outgas. So unless I can
find a reasonable 12 volt source smart ( 3 stage) charger I think it's best not to hook to the alt. The saving a little gas is just away of justifying my lunitic thinking.
Have a great new year
Gary in Maryland
Slides for the couch/bed
in General Discussion
Posted
This is same as I posted on the other site too.
Anyone know where I can get the 3 slides they use for the couch to bed option? I could use the whole thing but I am sure it would be easy enough to make the wood parts. Just have to copy whats on the other side now. But I haven't seen where to get the super strong slides that my Toy came with. I have the rear lounge with barrel chair on one side and the Boss and I figure that the dual slide couch thing would suit us the best. That way we would be able to make it one big bed with a memory foam topper that we would store over the cab. I think while in the cold winter nights sleeping up higher really helped on those 10 degree nights, in the heat of the summer being lower where its cooler would be better. Thanks in advance.
Have a great day !!!!
GP