trailertraveler

I think it depends on which model you have. Look at the TRC website. The current 30amp Model 34830, will shut off power if there is an open ground. This is a new feature that the Model 34730 did not have. I had a 34730 and it would give an error code when connected to the Yamaha 2400 inverter generator but would pass the power. When it died doing its job in a lightning storm, I replaced it with a 34830 which was all I could find locally at the time, which was over a year ago. The TRC website says that the Model 34730 is discontinued. The 34830 gives an error code when connected to the generator and will not pass the power. The Model 44260 product information says it tests for open ground and indicates it, but says nothing regarding any shutoff features. I have no first hand experience with the Model 44260. Looking at the Progressive Industries products they mention open ground detection for two models and protection for one. I am guessing that protection means the unit will not pass power. No personal experience with any of these units.

Some of the surge protector/EMS systems will not pass the power from some of the small generators that do not have the ground and neutral bonded. Others will pass the current but display an error code. There are some folks that recommend making a plug with the ground and neutral connected and inserting that in one of the generators outlets. Yamaha recommends against doing this on their small generators that do not have the ground and neutral bonded. My old surge guard was one that would pass the power and display an error code. I used it all the time with no problem. The replacement when it failed will not pass the power so I now use the generator without it.

US Carburetion has kits for Honda generators. They use to sell Yamahas already converted, its hard to tell from the website whether they still do. Propane Carbs also sells conversion kits for the Honda generators. Champion has some dual fuel inverter generator models.

Another issue with altitude is that the too rich mixture will fowl spark plugs. The Onan 2800 genset that was in our previous Class C had an altitude adjustment that seemed to work great at various elevations from sea level to 11,000'. Unfortunately, I think they are one of the most expensive gensets on the market.

You may already know this, but make sure you turn off the breaker for the converter/charger. If you don't, the converter/charger will be pulling power from the battery through the inverter and converting it back to 12 volts and attempting to charge the battery. This process is not 100% efficient so the converter charger will be drawing more power from battery than it returns.

This is basically the option I chose. Instead of running the extension cord directly to the outlet in the RV; I installed a Marinco 20 Amp inlet where there was an easy run to where the outlet(s) were to be located. I connect the inverter to the inlet with a 20 amp extension cord. This setup also gives me the option when on shore power that can support both a 30amp and 15/20amp hookup at the same time to use the outlet to power a second electric heater without worry about overloading the 30 amp main service. With this use in mind, I installed a 15 amp breaker between the inlet and the outlet.

deleted, apparently I miss understood the topic. Sorry!

Sounds like the dealer did offer a replacement the spare.

Tireman9 and Kirk, If this post by freestoneangler is about the same trailer: The manufacturer may not have had anything to do with the difference in size of the tires on the trailer and the size of the spare.

To carve miniature decoys and song birds, I carry a few wood carving knives, replacement blades, chisels, a sharpening stone and a wood burning tool. They all fit in a very small plastic tool box. Although not just for wood carving, I also have a dremmel tool and a flexible shaft for an electric drill that can be used for some wood carving tasks. The primary use for the electric drill itself is to raise and lower the jack stands and tension the weight distribution bars on the trailer hitch.

The Endurance is so new that I doubt anyone has had all that much experience with them and there has been enough time to establish a track record. If your rims can handle 65psi, the Kumho 857 previously mentioned has a long track record, Load Range D rating and 99MPH speed rating. These are basically commercial tires used on European style delivery vans made available for trailer use in the USA. The 195/R14C is a good replacement for the ST205/75R/14. I had them on the previous trailer and put 20,000 miles on them in 2 years and they were in good condition when I sold the trailer. In ST tires Maxxis and the Carlyle Radial Trail both have good reputations. The Carlyles have an 87MPH speed rating compared to the 65MPH rating of most ST tires. I have had both and had good service from both. I would suggest that you search some websites with more travel trailer owners than participate in this forum.

As already mentioned, only one ST trailer tire is manufactured in the USA. There are brands manufactured in countries other than China. Maxxis is one of them and they have a pretty good reputation. The Carlisle Radial Trail has developed a pretty good reputation since its introduction in about 2010 and is speed rated to 87MPH. If you stick with 14" tires, I don't think you will find an LT tire with the load capacity you want or need. As mentioned, tire diameter can be an issue. Depending on the size of the wheel well, tire width may also be an issue. With a single axle trailer, you will not have to worry about the distance between the axles/tires. You may be able find a metric size tire like the Kumho 857 that will meet your needs. They are speed rated to 99MPH. Not sure what sizes are still available in the Michelin Agilis line, If you switch to 15" rims, you will have a few more choices, but still not as many as in the 16" and larger tires.

Welcome to the Escapees Forum!!! There are a number of antisway devices on the market and all seem to have their devotees. With a 27' Travel Trailer, you will likely need a weight distribution hitch and sway control. Many sway control devices attempt to control sway by friction or other damping means. The Hensley Arrow, Propride Hitch and Pullrite Hitch actually change the leverage point of the trailer on the tow vehicle making it more difficult for sway to occur rather than trying to dampen the sway. They are more expensive than the other combination weight distribution and sway control hitches. Again, welcome to the Escapees forum!!!

A boat is a lot more aerodynamic than most travel trailers and the trailer will have a significantly larger frontal area. To use a boating analogy think dragging a sea anchor.

Another undefined term is what is meant by Does moving from one location in the winter to one location for the summer qualify as travel? Does moving from one workamping/volunteer position to another two to four times a year with few if any stops more than overnight in between qualify as travel? I have been told a number of times on this forum that fulltimers really do not travel that many miles. Yet it is my observation that many newcomers considering RVing and asking questions about budget, express a desire to "travel and see this great country". From what I can gather from various topics and posts, we travel more than many on this forum. We rarely stay more than a week in a single location when not at our home base. We have visited all of the lower 48 states and have visited 89 sites administered by the National Park Service. I have not kept track of all the state and National Historic Register sites that we have visited. We have stayed for more than two nights in 41 locations just in New Mexico. Our fuel costs for 2014 and 2015 were $5053.69 and $3192.45 respectively. We did not intentionaly change our travel style between the two years, so most of the difference is the effect of a general reduction in fuel prices of a dollar a gallon in just about every location we visited. Our campground costs for 2014 and 2015 were $4,363.95 and $3,700.37 respectively for 162 and 148 nights in public and private campgrounds/RV Parks ($26.94 & $25.00/night).

I tow a 9,850# travel trailer with a 2008 Chevy 2500 Duramax with the 6 speed Allison transmission. Average on long cross country trips is 11-12MPG. The Allison transmission will go into 6th gear even in tow haul mode. 60-62MPH gives the best fuel economy. At 50-55MPH the transmission is in 5th, engine RPMs are a little higher and fuel mileage is actually a little worse(10MPG) than at the higher speeds.

If the RV never moves, why would it have to have a current registration?