Rick i Carter

Thanks Kirk I will check that out

On my 2004 NationAl Tropical I have noticed when I am plugged into shore power for more than 4 days my starting batteries are low I have tried the battery boost an it did not help I had to use jumper cables from coach batteries to starting batteries to start the motorhome .when plugged into shore power does it also charge your starting batteries ? or just charges your coach batteries.I know I need to have my starting batteries checked an replaced if required .thanks Rick 

Here is a update on my driving of hwy 550 , left Ouray an drove into Silverton stopped and did the mine tour ,highly recommend this tour we then left Silverton an on into Durango where we will be for 4 days .Had no issues driving 550 it does have plenty of switchbacks an down grades we just took our time used the engine brake when needed did not go into first . I believe I can now say I have done mountain driving ?Thanks for all the input .Rick

Good morning a question for 2gypsies or anyone who has done a lot of mountain driving ,when shifting down an using the engine brake have you ever shifted as low to 1st gear .I have been shifting down to 3rd an when I turn on the engine brake it automatically shifts it into 2nd , an I have the flashers on in 3rd gear bur when it goes into 2nd the flashers appear to go on steady no more flashing not sure if  this ic common . Thanks Rick

Yes our next stop is Silverton,have been in Ouray doing some Jeepin an having a great time.My plan is to not connect the Jeep to the MH an will connect 25-30 miles down the road,thanks for the info.Rick

I am enjoying a trip in Colorado an will be traveling on hwy 550 through the city of Ouray I have heard the road is challenging ,I am driving a 2004 National Tropical with a 330 cat.has any body driven this road an there thoughts .thanks Rick

My motorhome is a 2004 Tropi/Cal T396 I am thinking of removing the carpet on the floor an leave the carpet on the slideouts ,but I have heard that some slideouts need carpet to slide on an if laminate flooring was to be installed it would scratch the flooring .Are there any Tropi/Cal owners that have tried this ? Thanks Rick 

Thanks for all the input ,I might go ahead an reinstall the thermal switch I thought by having the fans run all the time would help but know I am not sure hmmmm .I will wait a couple of hours before I change it due to being in Vegas an there are 35 mph winds . Thanks Rick

I am having trouble keeping the fridge cold my fridge is a Dometic New Dimension double door fridge .Does any body know if it is ok to bypass the thermal switch an have the fan run all the time ??I have done this thinking it would be good for the fridge .thanks Rick

 Good day does anybody have experience with Direct Tv hook up? I’m hooking up a G3 Wingard and in the main electrical compartment where the big cord is power cord I need to plug-in to electrical devices from DIRECTV  or Wingard. In a compartment there is a power tech power controller model number RL Dash 1009. Previous owner has the power disconnected from the power tech not sure why.  Why is there a power tech back in this compartment I know upfront where you plug your TV in there is one so you can’t watch TV while you’re driving which I have never attempted never plan on doing  trust me there’s a hockey game on I will pull over and watch it. My plan in the back compartment is to do way with the power tech wire in a double 110 receptacle and then I can plug in my to DIRECTV in Wingard devices. Any advice and assistance would be appreciated thank you

Good day we are planning a approximately 3 month trip an will be towing our Jeep an are thinking about taking 2 old mountain bikes .My question is for recommendations on good carriers ,I have looked on line an of course I get good an bad reviews your thoughts ,thanks Rick 

Thanks for all the input , I did go under an found the air tanks an found the lanyards all coiled up with zip ties an found the air dryer .I called several MH an truck shops an some even told me rarely do you change the air dryer .I then contacted Freightliner an they recommend change filter every 3years ,an advised me not to pull the lanyards due to it appears they have never been done an may stick open.Took to a shop an had them replace air dryer  an look into  the lanyards .They found the original air dryer an ran the 2 lanyards to the wheel wheels , where he showed me how to pull them an I could hear air.So I believe it was a good call .Know I have it home I wonder if the wheel well is a good location ? Any thoughts ? Thanks Rick

Good day some questions regarding air brake service on a 2004 Tropi- Cal on a Freightliner chassis .I would like to do this service myself but have not been able to find a video that gives the step by step procedure. I am sure I can find the dryer but the manual also talks about draining 3 lanyards an the tank . Have any of you guys done your own service or do you know of a good video ? Thanks Rick 

Well I have a 2004 Tropical with a kingdome  on it which I have never used only had rig since February ,I am told it is time to retire the Kingdome my question is which way to with a satellite buy a new dome for the roof or go with the portable style,I have heard if permanent on the roof an you get inference when parked you either move or ?? Which way would you recommend? Oh we have direct tv at home if that helps or not 

I was up on the roof washing it an noticed the factory tape starting to go bad an edges coming up , what brand of roof tape have you used an had good results with it ??

Good day ,in my rig we have a Voyager Vr180 2004 has anybody found a replacement stereo with Sirius XM  built into it an is close to the same size? 

Great input team thanks,I have found out my xantrex is a modified sinewave an to run the refrigerator safely it should be a pure sinewave .So on long trips I will turn on generator an then turn on fridge. I have been going to California desert for approx 34 years an have always cooled fridge down at home an then relight once to the desert an this has worked .We have recently retired an have bought a DP which had a inverter none of my other rigs had a inverter .And to clarify the fridge is not a residential style it is a Dometic runs on propane or ac power.I did just notice late last night the cooling unit on fridge was changed out in 2012 an my motorhome is a 2004.thanks Rick

On 5/11/2020 at 11:05 AM, oldjohnt said:

Rick, there are a few issues that need to be ironed out ...................

1) If your fridge is a combination LP Gas or Electric RV Absorption unit, NOT a 120 VAC Compressor, as I infer from your post;

     Many run them on LP gas while driving, while others don't for various safety concerns, but that's YOUR choice, it can work

     Some run them on 120 VAC using the onboard Genset while driving, AGAIN that's YOUR choice, it can work but its NOT my preferred method................

     NOTE if its an Absorption type, NOT a 120 VAC compressor power, a cheaper Modified Sine Wave MSW (or sure a  Pure Sine Wave PSW) Inverter can supply the pure resistive heater NO PROBLEM. The heater will work and supply heat regardless if MSW or PSW 120 VAC is applied. IE you can get by with a cheaper MSW Inverter if its only job is to power the fridges resistive heating element 

    HOWEVER if its a 120 VAC Compressor fridge I recommend PSW over MSW, even if MSW may work

    If starting from scratch I would definitely use a PSW Inverter to avoid worries in the future.

2) If its an Absorption unit and you choose electric over LP gas using your battery power and an Inverter while driving, the Inverter and your house batteries can power it PROVIDED your alternator has the capacity PLUS you have a system so your alternator is furnishing charge to the house batteries while driving. I prefer a DC to DC charger in that situation which protects the alternator plus provides a decent quality charge to the house batteries. 

 Are you set up so the Alternator (if it has sufficient capacity) provides charge to the house batteries when driving???? If so and its done properly to protect the alternator and furnish adequate charging to the house batteries while driving, sure you could use the house batteries and Inverter to run the fridge on electric when driving to avoid using LP Gas...  

FWIW My preferences if its a combination LP Gas or Electric Absorption fridge would be LP gas while driving, although sure its safer if you run it on Electric using your house batteries and Inverter PROVIDED THAT you have a system so the alternator is charging the house batteries while driving.  

PS some people just shut the fridge OFF when driving if not too long and turn it back on once they're plugged in at the campground. LOTS OF WAYS TO DO THIS. Or let the house batteries run the inverter and fridge without any alternator charging so long as they dont drop below 50% SOC 

Got it??

John T

Thanks for the input I will get a hold of xantrex an see if my inverter/charger is a pure sinewave .Rick

I have a 2004 National  Tropi-Cal T396 the refrigerator works on AC power or propane brand Dometic when going down the road I do not use the propane an the fridge is not connected to the inverter I have used the generator to power the fridge .Can the fridge be wired to the inverter safely ? Or does the heater on the fridge when turned on to ac draw to much power ? I am not sure of the size of alternator , do not have solar ,do have 4 interstate deep cycle 6 volt batteries . Your thoughts .thanks Rick

Great input but I believe we will try an stay out of California I hear a lot of places to stay at are closed , need to do more homework on that as things nowadays change quickly.thanks Rick

Good to hear thank you

Great map I was planning a trip up the west coast leaving from Yuma an found this map looks like this trip  stay out of Ca.Or an Wa .thanks Rick

Excellent info.thanks guys

Is it a 4 lane or 2 lane road an does it  have many steep grades ? Thanks for the spelling correction.