Problems, problems, and two more problems

[Wrascal]

OK, me misses finally made some time and we went camping this past weekend. http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/milcamps/20-alabama/24-engineer-beach-rv-park

Problem 1: I had to turn the camper around, by myself, in the woods. Apparently I snagged a high branch and tore off one of the high-up running lites.

Problem 2: hooked up the electrical TV cable and had no lights (brake, turn, running). Brake controller worked. As we were only going 15-20 miles we chanced it.

Problem 3: once on-site, I couldn't toggle the awning thingy that selects up/down on the awning.

Problem 4: all but two of the interior 12V lights were in-op. Later, while sitting there - one flickered, then came on. Toggleing the others on they would flicker all that were on -then stay on. After awhile they all went out and stayed that way.

Ref. Problem 1, I'll try and not repeat.
Ref. Problem 2, at hookup (to go home) all the rear lights worked properly.
Ref. Problem 3, need a ladder and some P Blaster to free things up.
Ref. Problem 4, got to chase down a bad connection somewhere.

But other than that, we (to include the dogs) had a successful trip.

 

[renoites]

Wrascal
It is always something.
No significant issues to deal with.

military campgrounds.
Need a current ID from military?

hope you had a good time.

Last time we went camping we took 2 dogs and our 18 year old camper cat. All went well.

steve

 

[Wrascal]

Campground Information

Authorized Users:
Active, Retired, Reserves, 100% DAV, DoD Civilians.

USA, RET (1990).

 

[69hilo2]

Time

Glad to hear that you had a good time. The small problems were there to give you something to talk about and something to fix.
Enjoy.

Later Tim

 

[Wrascal]

Problem 3 resolved - another self-repairing incident.

Yesterday I passed by the parked camper and as the top was lowered I could easily reach the awning selector switch. This time I had no problem operating it back and forth. Guess I've now got the magic touch.

I won't look at the flickering internal light problem until it cools down considerably. I don't need no stinkin lights.

I also went into the woods and found the missing marker light cover. I appears to be 98% intact, so I'm thinking I can reuse it (after I replace the still missing bulb). Hooray for duct-tape!

 

[69hilo2]

Duck Tape

I think that duck tape has solved a lot of your problems. LOL

Glad to hear that you made it there and back again and had a good time and now are fixing a few of the minor problems.

Good Luck on the lights. Yes, you do need them.

Later Tim

 

[Wrascal]

Returning to this once again

I wasn't planning on looking into the flickering lights problem (due to high heat), but 69H shamed me into it (combined with my wife announcing that we were taking the grandson camping later this month).

1st I pulled 1/2 of the bed to better access the electronics on that side. Manipulating the DC panel distribution box I immediately recreated the problem/ lucky me, first shot at it. I double checked the connections snugness and afterwards wasn't able to recreate the problem so I closed things up. If need be I'll attack it more aggressively if needed.

In further testing I discovered another false idea I had. Over my small dinette are two separate lights. I toggled one forward and the other backward thinking one or the other would be on. Nope, they are physically reversed in their mounting direction, so I either had them both on or both off (I don't know which way now). So another redneck solution came to mind ... I went thru the entire camper with a perm. marker and labeled each light with one's and zeros (1-0 for those who speak binary). Next time I'll know at a glance.

Now on my way to the superstore for a spare bulb and more duct-tape. I have yet to tackle the external busted marker light - and with the top again elevated I'm not about to bother with it.

 

[69hilo2]

enjoy

Enjoy taking that grandson out camping with you. Good Luck on everything else. Grandson is the most important. Not sure about that ask your wife. LOL.

Later Tim

 

[Wrascal]

OK, now I'm expecting really great things....

while procuring the above light bulb I remembered that the 2 AC filters were both pretty rotten so off to the filter department I went. Nothing there but, in the plumbing section (?) I found some replacement air purifier filters. One looked quite promising as a substitute ... but I needed two. Most fortunate they were marked down (from $9 each to $7 each - wow, they were proud of them). It was basically a thin charcoal impregnated mesh filter, 20" X 4.5".

I purchased two, brought them home and cut them to fit/ tamping them until they quit dropping particles; so now I'm quite sure that by morning my camper insides will smell like the Rocky Mountain Highs that John D. sang about.

I think it's time for a cold Coors, y'all come on by and join me.

 

[69hilo2]

cold one

"""I think it's time for a cold Coors, y'all come on by and join me. """
Sorry not heading up North for a few weeks Thanks for the invite away.

Enjoy camping with the grandson.

Later Tim

 

[sam-HILO]

Duct tape/ Gorilla tape

Recently found a small size roll of gorilla tape in Walmart. It is narrow and black. This works real well to store in the HiLo. We used some to tape our old shower curtain to the exterior door during repairs. Had to put cleaner and scrape some residue of tape off when we removed the tape. The finger nails worked good as the scraping tool.

 

[Wrascal]

I've heard good things of their glue

but have never heard of their tape; I just may pick up a roll. It sounds potentially like another staple item (big hammer, screw-putter, sharp/pointy things, etc).

 

[69hilo2]

remember

Remember on some of the smaller and finer items you just might need a far larger hammer before you need the glue and tape.

Enjoy camping with the grandson.

Later 42rocker

 

[Wrascal]

About problem #1, the busted running light.

As previously mentioned I found the original lens in the woods, it had just a chip of plastic missing from the edge. Yesterday I pulled off another one to match the missing bulb and headed off to the store. A two pack was $5 (holy mackerel) but my discounted price was $2 something. I replaced the bulb, snapped the lens on and dismissed it.

Today I pulled the camper up to the house so tomorrow I can plug up the fridge (for weekend use). Remembering the marker light I turned on the headlights and ... ready for this?

It worked, so did all the others. Truly I lead a charmed life. Give me another beer.

 

[69hilo2]

Well

Glad to hear that it ended well.

Later Tim

 

[Wrascal]

To my ears

ending well will occur if the grandson is happy & giggling, rather than fussing about the gnats, campfire smoke, meals, etc....
Oops, I forgot Momma, she too needs to be happy!

 

[69hilo2]

Disney

You need to come down South here and visit Disney.. Your grandson will love it and after you get over the cost you will to.

Later Tim

 

[Wrascal]

The bride and our oldest daughter are talking about taking this same grandkid camping there next spring. I hope not because that'll mean I have to go (drive/hitch etc). and I'm a stay Close to home kind of fellow now-a-days. Anything interesting for the dogs, like live catch and eat??

What kind of $ is the camp ground? Maybe that plus towing gas will change her mind.

 

[Wrascal]

Revisiting item 4 (above)

Flickering lights ... I now believe it remains unresolved. Today I raised the top, plugged it up to AC power, and turned on the fridge + air conditioner.

At first I had no 12v lights, then they did work - provided I only had one on at a time. Maybe I'll look at it tomorrow, maybe I won't. Maybe it'll fix itself once again!

Too much junk already pre-packed that's in the way of again removing the bed.

 

[69hilo2]

wrascal
""""What kind of $ is the camp ground? Maybe that plus towing gas will change her mind"""
It's the whole campground kind of thing that's so different. Can't do it quickly. Or at least it was. Get on the net and check it out.
You can always find "cheap" hotels around Disney or stay in Disney and pay more and it's a different kind of trip.

Later Tim