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Lotus54 · 02-11-2017, 05:37 PM

I installed my new house battery today.

I used an Excide AGM that would fit on its side and allow the use of a seat swivel (I hope)

To make it work, I needed to modify the stock battery holder. Pull out the plasma cutter and the two sides were off in a few minutes.
I used an old inner tube, cut up and fit to the shelf for a nice cushy ride. Anything much thicker and it would make the battery too high.
There is about 5mm clearance from the top of the seat platfom now.

I didn't take pics of the holder (darn it) but here it is installed.
Then new charger has Voltages right in the middle of the recommended Voltage for this battery. The new Voltmeter and switch should be handy to monitor quick and dirty.

InterBlog · 02-12-2017, 06:09 AM

It's a bit difficult to tell in a 2-D photo, but I'd take a piece of sheet metal or plywood and place it on top as a trial measure. If there are no resulting pressure points, the real deal should also work. There is a column in the center of the swivel apparatus, a wire conduit for seats that have power features, but I don't remember the underside of it extending past the plane of the sheet metal.

Lotus54 · 02-21-2017, 11:03 AM

A day trip to Fort Flaggler State Park in Northwest Washington.
This is right by the boat launch- looking toward Port Townsend.

Lotus54 · 02-22-2017, 02:15 PM

a better (perhaps) picture of the added USB charger, Power outlet, House disconnect (just for those devices), GPS, aftermarket seat heater controls, voltmeter, switch for Espar heater (running on house battery without engine running) and switch to have the voltmeter show house or starting (still has Fog lamp emblems on it)

So I can get the coolant warm (and warm the cab area) without starting the engine.
I can check the voltage of starting or house battery and have some extra outlets.
Right now I am running the GPS off the new power outlet, so I can just turn it off with the disconnect rather than plug it in and out etc.

I bought an extra 'dash grill' so I could cut the old one up but still have a new one. I like the mounting so far.
I do want to reroute the cable- the 'box' portion is for the wireless to the backup camera.

Lotus54 · 03-09-2017, 11:10 AM

Tis time of year the Interstate get used for day trips for motorcycle riding mostly.
The OSSA is mine (at the back of th van)

Lotus54 · 04-09-2017, 11:09 AM

We just got back from a week long trip. A fair amount of driving (about 2400 miles) and a lot more freeway than I really like. But early in the year (and some time constraints) made me go on roads I knew would be ok.

We had gone to Malta, ID awhile ago, so decided to visit Malta, Montana this trip. It is North and East- I'd never been in that part of the State before.
One of the apps (Ultimate CG) located a free camping site part way through Idaho that was pretty nice. Someone there in a tent- nobody else. COLD at night. (Rose Lake).

Next we headed toward Malta- got off the freeway partway, although didn't take the road I original wanted due to what looked like bad weather and maybe snow. It was just too far for me to feel like going that far, so found a neat F&W spot on the Missouri River. (Wood Bottom). I liked it.
Nobody around, parked right up to the river (I did put a chaulk against a tyre- just in case! I didn't want to wake up in the river). Lots of birds around.

Short day to Malta- stayed at a campground (needed water and dump tanks). Nobody at all there and took a spot overlooking the Milk River. Also looking right at the train tracks- but at least only the Amtrak stopped, the rest rolled through and it wasn't bad.

Off to an old Church on some gravel back roads (pics later)- then toward Livinginston on the side roads.
My Dad worked for a dentist there (he is a Dental Tech) around 1950 there, so I called him to see if we could locate the old office. Pretty fun.

Kept going (I wanted to go to the Caverns there that I went to back when I was a kid, but not open yet) to Bozeman.
We didn't like any of the campgrounds there (too crowded and full) so just stayed at the Walmart parking lot.
Hit the Museum of the Rockies in the morning (after a wonderful Mexican dinner night before) and then west.
We ended up near Moses Lake dispersed camping (really an OHV area). Super windy and sand blowing all over, but found a place out of the dunes and pretty quiet.

Next day the plan was to stay outside of Packwood were some friends were supposed to be- but never could find them. But had a great drive down the Canyon road, and over White Pass (Chinook still closed).
I thought about stopping, but home was only a few more hours and just came home.

More pics to follow.
AI worked great, mileage dropped at high speeds (75+ MPH) and VERY high winds. I didn't like the extremely gusty winds near Livingston and west of Bozeman. Dropped to around 21MPG at those speeds/winds/

Mark

Lotus54 · 04-09-2017, 09:52 PM

Wood Bottom

Scandic Church (south of Malta)

And near Vantage

Lotus54 · 04-10-2017, 05:45 PM

Rose Lake

Wood Bottom

Back road south of Vantage, WA

Lotus54 · 04-10-2017, 10:04 PM

I was incorrect.
Wood Bottom is BLM
4 sites. free

Lily&Me · 04-11-2017, 05:32 AM

You're finding some beautiful camping sites.

Maggie

Lotus54 · 04-11-2017, 07:55 AM

I figure that's what it is about. Stay in a great place.
Thanks

mrcolin2u · 04-11-2017, 01:09 PM

Enjoy reading your posts Mark we are moving up to Washington next year and it looks like some nice places to explore in our van
I also installed the PD-4655 but I needed a house battery fast so I just got a lead acid deep cycle battery from Costco to get me going. It's been almost a year and doing fine up to now but I am thinking of adding a second battery and perhaps solar panels at some stage

Lotus54 · 04-13-2017, 07:39 PM

What part of Washington?

Glad you are enjoying the posts- I was hoping some would. There are loads of great places to go around here. I was born right here, so know the most about the Peninsula, But Washington is a big place.
Plus all those years working for the NPS, I also worked in some pretty neat other Parks/Monuments around and saw some interesting areas.

Mark

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcolin2u

Enjoy reading your posts Mark we are moving up to Washington next year and it looks like some nice places to explore in our van
I also installed the PD-4655 but I needed a house battery fast so I just got a lead acid deep cycle battery from Costco to get me going. It's been almost a year and doing fine up to now but I am thinking of adding a second battery and perhaps solar panels at some stage

mrcolin2u · 04-13-2017, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lotus54

What part of Washington?

Glad you are enjoying the posts- I was hoping some would. There are loads of great places to go around here. I was born right here, so know the most about the Peninsula, But Washington is a big place.
Plus all those years working for the NPS, I also worked in some pretty neat other Parks/Monuments around and saw some interesting areas.

Mark

Whidbey island , near Deception Pass. Can't wait !!

Lotus54 · 04-13-2017, 10:20 PM

My Brother has a place on Whidbey (near Keystone).
Hope you enjoy it!

Boxster1971 · 04-14-2017, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcolin2u

Whidbey island , near Deception Pass. Can't wait !!

Nice! Whidbey Island is a great place. Lived there for about seven years during my Navy days.

Lotus54 · 05-17-2017, 04:09 PM

Mine had a 'updated' TV- but it was still pretty old (done quite some time ago I think) and only ran on AC.
So I checked around and found a pretty cheap 24" AC/DC TV that had better resolution, various inputs and would fit.

I ran a new pair of wires up from the converter/house DC fusebox. There was a couple of spare fuses after I udated the converter- so it has its own new fuse.
I just installed a cigar lighter in the small cabinet above the closet- then the blank plate that was right beside it I put two switches and a dual USB charger outlet.

It works quite well, has a built-in DVD player and draws VERY little current. It has a USB and SD card slot- but unfortunately it is quite limited. I was hoping I could pop in my Helmet Camera (Sony) card and play it- but no go.
I can take the HDMI out of the camera and play it though. Might be fun on rides to watch some video afterward.

seem most of the time I can't really get any channels over the air- but I like to watch movies.

Mark

bugsbunny · 05-17-2017, 08:45 PM

Hi

Do you happen to have the model name and number of the TV. I have been trying to find one of these like you have....

Thanks!

Katy

Lotus54 · 05-17-2017, 08:49 PM

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

SuperSonic 1080p LED Widescreen HDTV with HDMI Input, AC/DC Compatible for RVs and Built-in DVD Player, 24-Inch

Lotus54 · 05-24-2017, 10:04 AM

I went on a few day trip to Eastern Washington- I was competing in an Observed Trial.
There were a few options for routes- I choose going up the Columbia Gorge- most of the way up the Washington Side, since it is two lane. Crossing over later and staying at the quite nice Deschutes State Park. I stayed in the 'hookup' section, but after walking around may have picked further along for dry camping. Not may people there yet and even cheaper (plus further away from the train).
It was nice being right by the river though.

Van ran perfectly, I dry camped at the event location for two days (right beside a creek) and on the way home got too tired and stayed at the Casino parking area near Shelton.
Great trip.