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Hittenstiehl · 08-07-2017, 06:42 AM

Also like the pictures. I enjoy the way you put the collages together.

AirMiles · 08-19-2017, 11:25 AM

Question: How do you connect your Champion Dual Fuel Generator to your Airstream?

I've read that some people just make a hose to plug it in without the large fuel controller and adjust the fuel mix with the 1/4 turn shut off valve. But I feel you need to keep the fuel controller to adjust the fuel mix. It took me two attempts to make it work.

My first attempt was to just make a 10' extension hose with a male LP tank connection on one end and a female LP tank connection on the other. I just connected this extension hose between the AS propane tank and the hose that came with the generator with the fuel controller with the 2" high-to-low pressure regulator. This setup did not work. There was too much restriction through the double tank connectors, so occasionally the generator would fuel starve after a short run (60 seconds). This hose is not pictured since it didn't work.

My second attempt (see picture) was to connect directly to the AS quick disconnect. I removed the small 2" high-to-low propane regulator from the larger fuel controller. I obtained the fittings to connect the rubber hose directly to where the 2" regulator was removed. On the other end of the hose, I added the fittings to terminate the hose with a male compression fitting. Then I made two different options to connect to the male compression fitting.

Option 1) I added a female-to-female compression fitting, another male compression fitting and then the male quick disconnect fitting needed to connect to the AS quick disconnect port. With this option I run the generator from the AS quick disconnect port.

Option 2) I bought an standard LP gas grill replacement hose with a female compression fitting on one end and an LP tank regulator connection on the other. I can remove the female-to-female compression fitting from Option 1 and connect to this standard LP gas grill hose (the short one in the picture). With this option I run the generator from a standard propane bottle.

My second attempt has been working perfectly and is pictured below.

Dave18134 · 08-19-2017, 12:35 PM

I basically used your option 2, and it works perfectly.

AirMiles · 08-19-2017, 12:55 PM

Dave, you basically use option 2, so it would be really easy for you to build the other option and have two ways to connect your generator. Thanks for sharing your results. I haven't run my setup enough to know it works at altitude, since I only found that my first attempt didn't work at altitude on my last cross-country trip. My next cross-country trip starts in two weeks and I'll be giving it a thorough test then.

Speaking of our next trip . . . we will be headed back to Wisconsin, via The Land Between the Lakes, and returning through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Lower Michigan. Then we will head over to JC and do the Airstream factory tour. From there we plan to pick up the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and take it south on our way back to Florida. Depending on how long and far this trip takes us, we may stop at Alumalina Fall 2017 on our way home. We already signed up for Alumalina, but we'll have to see if it fits into our travels.

AirMiles · 08-19-2017, 02:21 PM

The first time I washed my windows, the flimsy little connections on the rock guards stripped and I couldn't reattach them. Here is how I permanently fixed the window rock guard connections.

I basically copied the through-bolt method from the stainless steel rock guards. First I drilled out the rivets holding the rubber grommet connectors on the Airstream. Then I went to the hardware store and bought stainless steel screws, washers, and locking nuts that fit through the stripped out hole on the rubber grommet connector. One lock nut went against the washer on the rubber grommet. Then I re-riveted the grommet back on the Airstream and put the second locking nut onto the bolt after closing the window rock guard.

Now I can easily clean my windows and know they are securely attached afterwards. I highly recommend doing this improvement. These pictures are worth a thousand words.

kendrick.l.j · 08-23-2017, 05:38 PM

Thank you so much for sharing your tip about fixing the front window. I am going to have to do this myself and soon, road trip coming up and I was really worried that the right front window. Awesome. Again thank you.

AirMiles · 09-22-2017, 04:29 PM

We've been on the road for the past two weeks. We started this trip running from hurricane Irma. First night was in Tallahassee at a personal campground on a farmette. The farmette owner invited us there from a Tallahassee I-10 wayside free of charge with electricity. He had a beautiful five hookup personal campground. We then decided to move farther inland to Dothan Alabama. Again we were offered a free full hookup site at the Peanut Festival Grounds. Again we had to move further away and went to Paul B Johnson State Park in Mississippi for two nights. We then went back to Valdosta GA for one night to return grandkids to their mom and headed north. We went to a family reunion at our previously posted favorite boondocking site at my sister's in Wisconsin. We are now camping at Flandrau State Park in New Ulm MN. Our plan is to return to Florida via the UP and Lower Michigan. Go to the Airstream factory in Ohio and then take the Blue Ridge Parkway back towards Florida. I've updated my nights and miles through Flandrau State Park.

TravlinMan · 09-24-2017, 07:52 PM

Nice, AirMiles.

AirMiles · 09-26-2017, 02:34 PM

We traveled to the Upper Pennisula of Michigan and stayed two nights at Little Girls Point County Park. We got a beautiful waterfront campsite. We then visited nine waterfalls in the Western area with pictures attached of all the over 20' falls. The best waterfalls we're on a ten Mile stretch of the Black River. The five waterfalls on the Black River are a must see for waterfall hunters.

We are now at City of Hancock Campground for two nights to hunt waterfalls on the Keweenaw Pennisula.

Hittenstiehl · 09-26-2017, 04:08 PM

Airmiles really like how you did the photos. Nice way to get lots of images in.

AirMiles · 09-29-2017, 06:35 AM

We've now seen 19 waterfalls in three days. Been to the end of US-41 which was basically a logging road for the last 7 miles just past Copper Harbor. Been staying at City and County campgrounds. Here's a picture from L'anse City Campground. Just beautiful!

Lily&Me · 09-29-2017, 06:59 AM

Mmmm, Copper Harbor.

Those small local campgrounds right on the Lake are the way to do it.

Travel safe,

Maggie

AirMiles · 10-16-2017, 03:19 PM

Today I got my Airstream back from Tampa RV after bringing it to them with my first long list of warranty fixes. I am ecstatic to report that the service department completely exceeded my expectations! I was blown away by the positive service experience and follow up communications. They didn't quit working on my problems until they were fixed.

OK, here is the long version for those who want the details:

I brought my Airstream to Tampa RV on Thursday with a list of problems including a ceiling leak, shorted out overhead lights, banging water pump that wouldn't hold pressure, leaking refrigerator, and several smaller items. They called me Thursday and said the items were fixed, but they wanted to keep it overnight to verify the refrigerator was fixed after it got really cold. Wow! didn't expect that. On Friday, they found that more work was needed on some of the fixes. Again they worked on it on Friday and called to see if I wanted it for the weekend or if it was OK to leave it there until Monday to again insure everything was fixed. Today (Monday) I went to pick it up. They had the unit plugged in and demonstrated that everything on my list was fixed to my satisfaction. I was blown away by the great service!

From what I can tell, Tampa RV has decided that the service department is going to be a priority going forward. I'm happy to report that Florida Airstream buyers can now buy in Tampa and get great prices and great warranty repair service.

Thank you Tampa RV!

AirMiles · 10-22-2017, 10:25 AM

I slipped a bit on updating our return trip from upper Michigan. We did not go to JC or take the Blue Ridge Parkway home as planned as the need to return home started to over take the need for adventure. The hurricane that we waited out in West Virginia also made us wonder about the condition of the Blue Ridge. So we just headed for home. Attached is a Google Map of our trip. We stayed in 15 different places with 5,036 miles of towing out of 6,170 total miles. We saw 20 waterfalls in Upper Michigan. As you. An see on the map, we did a fairly thorough job of exploring upper Michigan.

AirMiles · 03-21-2018, 08:01 PM

We are gearing up for our 2018 summer travels. The plan is to go out west and then up north again. We plan to travel all the way to Seattle this summer. We're not sure if the route is via California or a more direct route at this point. We will decide the exact route as we go and then will work or way east to visit family in Minnesota and Wisconsin. But before we begin this adventure, Miles is in need of a battery system overhaul.

Even though we tried to maintain our original batteries, they have bit the dust after only 10 months. Miles never sat for more than 30 days without being plugged in for multiple days and the batteries were less than 1 month old when we purchased Miles. Miles was used nearly 100 out of his first 300 days. Sitting around with dying batteries was not the cause of the problem. We believe the cause was due to having low-amp-hour batteries with a low-cost power converter. At first, we considered adding a full solar package with 300AH AGM batteries under the bed before our summer travels. But then we decided to take the improvement in stages.

The first stage was to put flooded 6V golf cart batteries in the original battery box with a blade battery disconnect. We like the idea of having easily replaceable batteries that only cost a couple of hundred dollars while on the road. If we have a battery problem, we can just stop in the next town and replace the batteries, like we do with the 20# propane tanks we have on Miles.

But even with the taller battery box on the 2017, we had to do a modification with 1" square aluminum tubing to fit the blade battery switch above the Duracell EGC2 230 amp hour batteries. These Duracell batteries are actually good-quality Deka East Penn batteries with a history of good performance. Attached is a photo of the battery box modification with the batteries and blade shut-off switch. The square tubing is riveted from underneath. Now there is about 3/4" of clearance over the battery switch. Notice the Deka East Penn label on the batteries and improved wiring layout allowing for easier battery maintenance. The new batteries will provide many more usable amp hours than our original batteries.

The next stage was to improve the charging system with a Progressive Dynamics 4655VL Multi-stage Converter. This converter was designed as a plug-and-play for our existing converter. It took less than an hour to make the change and fits nicely underneath the original cover. No fabrication needed for this upgrade!

The final stage will happen when we are traveling out west. We will have AM Solar install a SunRunner Victron 30MPPT/6 Core with four SP-100 panels and a Victron BMV-712 Battery Monitor. This install will take only two days and require a one night stay in a motel. Then we will give our new solar system a good workout on the return trip.

We have big plans for this summer's travels and can't wait to get on the road!

AirMiles · 05-09-2018, 01:17 PM

There was a slight change in plans for our summer travels. Our plan included a two-day stop at AM Solar in Oregon to have a 400 Watt Victron SmartSolar 100/30 MPPT solar system installed. In the process of selecting and planning to have AM Solar install the system, we decided to attempt to self-install it with the option of having AM Solar finish the installation later this summer if it did not go according to plan. We are happy to report the self-install, using the factory pre-wire, was a complete success and therefore we will only be stopping in at AM Solar to say "HI" as we pass by.

Here is one of my wife's photo collages documenting the installation process. The installation only took about 16 hours spread over a few days. The job was completed without even going up on the roof by using the scaffolding shown in the pictures. The output of this system using the factory pre-wire was impressive with over 350 Watts of solar collection and 23.9 Amps of battery charging from the four 100W panels lying flat as shown in the pictures. A series-parallel design was chosen to minimize voltage drop, allowing for use of the 10 gauge Airstream factory pre-wire. We are ecstatic about these results and look forward to using our solar system throughout our summer travels.

Hittenstiehl · 05-09-2018, 03:50 PM

Looks like a very nice install and photo collage.

HiHoAgRV · 05-09-2018, 05:37 PM

That is a very nice install with no shading issues!

**wulfraat** · 05-09-2018, 05:42 PM

Very nice. That is an impressive yield from 4 panels!

My 30’ is currently in Hood River where Lew is trying to fit 8 - 100w panels on the roof.

It should rock and roll with output if he can cram everything up there [emoji4]

Love the victron product line - vertical stack integration!

thiel · 05-09-2018, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirMiles

There was a slight change in plans for our summer travels. Our plan included a two-day stop at AM Solar in Oregon to have a 400 Watt Victron SmartSolar 100/30 MPPT solar system installed. In the process of selecting and planning to have AM Solar install the system, we decided to attempt to self-install it with the option of having AM Solar finish the installation later this summer if it did not go according to plan. We are happy to report the self-install, using the factory pre-wire, was a complete success and therefore we will only be stopping in at AM Solar to say "HI" as we pass by.

Here is one of my wife's photo collages documenting the installation process. The installation only took about 16 hours spread over a few days. The job was completed without even going up on the roof by using the scaffolding shown in the pictures. The output of this system using the factory pre-wire was impressive with over 350 Watts of solar collection and 23.9 Amps of battery charging from the four 100W panels lying flat as shown in the pictures. A series-parallel design was chosen to minimize voltage drop, allowing for use of the 10 gauge Airstream factory pre-wire. We are ecstatic about these results and look forward to using our solar system throughout our summer travels.

Looks great! I'm using almost exactly the same configuration and gear... only differences are that I'm going full parallel to a C box, then coming down the black tank vent pipe into the bath.

Where did you mount your charge controller and shut off switch? Mine are going in the front curbside storage compartment.