|
|
07-12-2017, 09:22 AM
|
#21
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwilly.
Thanks for your detailed post. We bought a 2017 Interstate a year ago and have 16000 miles so far. I would echo most of your views on the machine now that we have resolved most of the quality control issues at Airstream. We have only tried a couple days of boon docking due to concerns about the batteries. I am very interested in your installation of the solar controller. Did you do it yourself? Which model Renogy did you install?
|
I used the Renogy 20A Commander w/ MT-50 remote. The ONLY reason I chose this controller over something else is because it uses the same Cat5 wiring that's used by the Atkinson so I didn't have to pull new cable through the coach to put the remote in the same cupboard as the rest of the control panels (Magnum, tank levels, etc). This made the install super easy, and yes I did it myself. See my thread here: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...pt-166498.html
Note that there are other ways to go about doing this, and one popular alternative is to use the Victron Bluesolar MPPT 100/30 and a Bluetooth dongle to allow you to manage the charge controller from your smartphone. Personally I prefer having a remote hard wired into the controller so I don't have to go looking around for my phone to check on the solar, but some people like this approach.
|
|
|
07-12-2017, 09:24 AM
|
#22
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxster1971
A/C freezing is a common Sprinter problem. It usually only happens when hot and humid above 100degF with fan on high speed. Solution as you found is to turn off A/C for a few minutes to let ice on the coils melt and then is will work again.
|
Thanks Mike. I thought I had read something about this on this forum but I couldn't remember if it was a current problem or only applied to previous models. I guess I confirmed that it's still an issue, although it's not really that big of a deal. Frankly I like how cold the AC gets even in those blazing hot conditions, so if this is the price to pay for that, I'm ok with it.
|
|
|
07-12-2017, 11:42 AM
|
#23
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
WHAT BROKE OR CAUSED PROBLEMS -
Thankfully, surprisingly little.
First to go was the hose reel. Yep, same failure as pretty much everyone else. Pushed Retract, and nothing. I just coiled up the hose in the bay and didn't bother with it for the rest of the trip. It works fine as-is, but as time permits I'll figure out why it died. It may be as simple as a blown fuse, we'll see.
The HDMI switcher, while flexible, is vexing. Everything worked perfectly for the front TV, but the rear TV was having issues. The trouble seems to be syncing an active signal from the source (specifically the DVD or our Apple TV) through the switcher and into the HDMI input of the TV before the TV "times out" and decides there's nothing coming into that port. I vaguely remember wrestling with this when we first got the coach, but it proved to be totally unwilling to push a signal through to the rear TV on this trip. I'll fiddle with it and figure out a better, more reliable way to make it work.
The little "TV" output jacks for the second row of seats (I have the Lounge model) didn't seem to output any audio. I tried switching the "TV Speakers" switch in the media bay on and off but that did nothing for the little audio jack (but it did indeed turn off the TV speakers). Maybe someone here has the magic sauce for how to get those jacks working? It would have been nice to not have to listen to hours of Scooby Doo videos blasting into my ears since the front TV is right behind the front seats and its speakers are aimed right at the driver and passenger's heads.....
That's it! Everything else worked as advertised. Sorry if you were expecting a laundry list of problems, but maybe I have a Monday-build AI.....
Up Next:
- Post-trip changes to make the coach even better
|
|
|
07-12-2017, 04:30 PM
|
#24
|
4 Rivet Member
2021 Interstate 24GT
Cordova
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 268
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyFishinRVr
The little "TV" output jacks for the second row of seats (I have the Lounge model) didn't seem to output any audio. I tried switching the "TV Speakers" switch in the media bay on and off but that did nothing for the little audio jack (but it did indeed turn off the TV speakers). Maybe someone here has the magic sauce for how to get those jacks working? It would have been nice to not have to listen to hours of Scooby Doo videos blasting into my ears since the front TV is right behind the front seats and its speakers are aimed right at the driver and passenger's heads.....
|
Our headphone jacks turn on when you switch the TV speakers off with the switch you mention. The TV volume (i.e., using the TV remote) controls the volume of the headphone jacks as well, so maybe you didn't have it turned up loud enough to hear through the headphones?
I wish they had two more of those headphone jacks in the rear lounge. We have found that the TV speaker on the smaller rear TV isn't sufficient to overcome road noise at highway speeds to hear dialogue in movies (although fine for video games). To solve I installed a small Bluetooth transmitter behind the TV that connects to the TV's optical audio out and is capable of connecting to two sets of Bluetooth headphones. But it's more complicated than I would like.
|
|
|
07-13-2017, 12:13 PM
|
#25
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
POST-TRIP CHANGES -
While the AI is very well set up for both touring and camping, there are a few things that I'm going to change to make it better, at least for us.
First up is the bathroom. There's zero storage for anything. This is the one really disappointing area in the coach. I would like to have a cabinet, organizer, mesh netting, SOMETHING on the wall behind the toilet to hold dry clothes and shower products. Post your ideas if you have them. I also intend to remove the soap dispenser. While it's a neat legacy item, at 6'0" and 200lbs, I'm a relatively big guy and gaining 2-3" of width in there will be a big plus. It looks like it comes out with 4 screws, so that one should be quick and easy.
Next, I need to add a 12v socket to the rear of the coach to make pumping up our queen size air mattress easier and provide an outlet for my portable 12v cooler/fridge for extra cold food storage. This should be pretty straight forward as the "business end" of the 12v system lives under the road-side jump seat, so pulling 12v from there to the cargo area should be pretty straight forward. If folks have done this already, a pic of where you installed the socket would be welcomed. I'm thinking road side wall by the compartment light. Frankly I'm surprised Airstream doesn't already have this......
Privacy curtain: I'd like to put something up to separate the front 2 rows of seats where my daughter "nests" from the rear of the coach. This will make changing, etc., easier for my daughter and when we have friends with us. My thinking is to put something like what is in the shower (the string/reel thingy used to hang up wet clothes) on the road side of the coach with the anchor on the curb side and have a curtain that I can fasten to it at night. Thoughts?
Paper towel holder: I've seen lots of ideas on this in Maggie's big thread on Small Space Living, I just need to pick one. I'd like something that drops down from beneath the cabinets when in use but tucks up and out of sight otherwise. I saw something in that thread that had magnets that I liked, but I thought the underside of our cabinets were aluminum so magnets won't stick to it. Were the older coaches made differently?
Waste bin: This one has me stumped. We have 2 big dogs, so putting a waste bin somewhere they can't get to it is imperative. Part of me says to go simple and just place a waste bin in the bathroom when we're not in the coach with the pups (like when we want to take a quick hike where dogs aren't allowed), and set it out when we're "home", but another part of me says there has to be a clever idea that doesn't force us to constantly move a waste bin around. Ideas?
Two more solar panels: This one is easy and just a matter of time and money. Since I already have the new MPPT controller installed, all I need is two more panels, a length of MC-4 cable, and some Sikaflex. I'll place the new panels behind the AC and tie them into the existing panel via a serial connection. The MPPT controller will do the rest, and should provide me with 15A+ and allow the panels to produce energy for a greater part of the day and even partially shaded. While not essential, this is a pretty easy mod to ensure max performance from the solar and batteries. This will also precede a battery upgrade that will come later....
The BIM needs to go. It's time Airstream dropped the legacy flooded battery support and allow full charging and maintenance of the supplied AGM batteries. As-is, the BIM allows the chassis battery to lose roughly 20% of its capacity before it permits a house charging source to replenish it. Back when flooded batteries were used and the problem of overcharging (and boiling off the electrolyte) was greater than the problem of undercharging, this was an appropriate trade off, but today with sealed AGMs, it's no longer correct. I suspect when Airstream releases their version of the RoadTrek EcoTrek (i.e. all electric house operation with 400-800Ah battery bank), they will change their system components to better match the technology being used, and hopefully this will "trickle down" to the rest of their models. In the mean time, it's up to owners to swap out the old and install the new.....
Last will be an upgrade to the battery bank and inverter, but those can definitely wait as the stock Interstate did really well on this trip. Given how we travel the two 80Ah house batteries supply the power we need for a night unplugged, but increasing that to over 200Ah relatively cheaply will allow us to stay in one place for a weekend which will be perfect for those quick getaways to places where generators aren't allowed. Bumping the inverter up to 2kW is just a convenience item that will allow us to use the microwave for a few minutes and will prepare the coach for a possible conversion in the future to DC air conditioning. More on that later.....
|
|
|
07-13-2017, 12:40 PM
|
#26
|
3 Rivet Member
2017 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Small Town TX & CO
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 115
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyFishinRVr
POST-TRIP CHANGES -
While the AI is very well set up for both touring and camping, there are a few things that I'm going to change to make it better, at least for us.
First up is the bathroom. There's zero storage for anything. This is the one really disappointing area in the coach. I would like to have a cabinet, organizer, mesh netting, SOMETHING on the wall behind the toilet to hold dry clothes and shower products. Post your ideas if you have them. I also intend to remove the soap dispenser. While it's a neat legacy item, at 6'0" and 200lbs, I'm a relatively big guy and gaining 2-3" of width in there will be a big plus. It looks like it comes out with 4 screws, so that one should be quick and easy.
Next, I need to add a 12v socket to the rear of the coach to make pumping up our queen size air mattress easier and provide an outlet for my portable 12v cooler/fridge for extra cold food storage. This should be pretty straight forward as the "business end" of the 12v system lives under the road-side jump seat, so pulling 12v from there to the cargo area should be pretty straight forward. If folks have done this already, a pic of where you installed the socket would be welcomed. I'm thinking road side wall by the compartment light. Frankly I'm surprised Airstream doesn't already have this......
Privacy curtain: I'd like to put something up to separate the front 2 rows of seats where my daughter "nests" from the rear of the coach. This will make changing, etc., easier for my daughter and when we have friends with us. My thinking is to put something like what is in the shower (the string/reel thingy used to hang up wet clothes) on the road side of the coach with the anchor on the curb side and have a curtain that I can fasten to it at night. Thoughts?
Paper towel holder: I've seen lots of ideas on this in Maggie's big thread on Small Space Living, I just need to pick one. I'd like something that drops down from beneath the cabinets when in use but tucks up and out of sight otherwise. I saw something in that thread that had magnets that I liked, but I thought the underside of our cabinets were aluminum so magnets won't stick to it. Were the older coaches made differently?
Waste bin: This one has me stumped. We have 2 big dogs, so putting a waste bin somewhere they can't get to it is imperative. Part of me says to go simple and just place a waste bin in the bathroom when we're not in the coach with the pups (like when we want to take a quick hike where dogs aren't allowed), and set it out when we're "home", but another part of me says there has to be a clever idea that doesn't force us to constantly move a waste bin around. Ideas?
Two more solar panels: This one is easy and just a matter of time and money. Since I already have the new MPPT controller installed, all I need is two more panels, a length of MC-4 cable, and some Sikaflex. I'll place the new panels behind the AC and tie them into the existing panel via a serial connection. The MPPT controller will do the rest, and should provide me with 15A+ and allow the panels to produce energy for a greater part of the day and even partially shaded. While not essential, this is a pretty easy mod to ensure max performance from the solar and batteries. This will also precede a battery upgrade that will come later....
The BIM needs to go. It's time Airstream dropped the legacy flooded battery support and allow full charging and maintenance of the supplied AGM batteries. As-is, the BIM allows the chassis battery to lose roughly 20% of its capacity before it permits a house charging source to replenish it. Back when flooded batteries were used and the problem of overcharging (and boiling off the electrolyte) was greater than the problem of undercharging, this was an appropriate trade off, but today with sealed AGMs, it's no longer correct. I suspect when Airstream releases their version of the RoadTrek EcoTrek (i.e. all electric house operation with 400-800Ah battery bank), they will change their system components to better match the technology being used, and hopefully this will "trickle down" to the rest of their models. In the mean time, it's up to owners to swap out the old and install the new.....
Last will be an upgrade to the battery bank and inverter, but those can definitely wait as the stock Interstate did really well on this trip. Given how we travel the two 80Ah house batteries supply the power we need for a night unplugged, but increasing that to over 200Ah relatively cheaply will allow us to stay in one place for a weekend which will be perfect for those quick getaways to places where generators aren't allowed. Bumping the inverter up to 2kW is just a convenience item that will allow us to use the microwave for a few minutes and will prepare the coach for a possible conversion in the future to DC air conditioning. More on that later.....
|
Really appreciate the helpful info on this thread... some food for thought for us as we begin our adventures!
|
|
|
07-13-2017, 12:44 PM
|
#27
|
Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,076
|
I use strong suction hooks, like those you can buy for Xmas wreaths, to hold my robe and jammies, also toiletry organizers in the bathroom...supplementing the very tiny cabinet in mine.
I also have several suction cup organizers of varying sizes on the walls, the kind that you can find many places, to hold my hairbrush and other small items.
My magnetic paper towel holder attaches to the heat shield over my burners.
Fear not, the paper towels rest about 18" above any flame, and if you are cooking and so producing flame the flame is covered...never had a problem, and mine has been up 5 years or so.
Might suspend a curtain of some sort on an expandable clothing rod with hooks at each end, like you would have in the back of a vehicle.
There is no good place to put a trash bin in mine, and I instead keep a supply of Brawny 3 gallon trash bags, which I use suspended from an over-the-door hook in the galley.
They are black with grey pull straps, so blend in nicely and are much less visually disturbing than a white grocery bag from WalMart or wherever.
Think vertical storage, and get creative.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
|
|
|
07-13-2017, 01:32 PM
|
#28
|
Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
|
Trash can
I have a small (10 litre, I think) black step-on can bungeed to a ring screwed to the pillar behind the driver's seat. The can sits right in the corner. It really does not get in the way of the passenger seat in the second row. It had a plastic liner bucket inside, but I removed that for more capacity and use plastic bags folded over the top to keep the interior clean.
Only problem is I sometimes step on the pedal and end up bumping my head on the overhead cabinet.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
|
|
|
07-13-2017, 01:39 PM
|
#29
|
Rivet Master
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bellevue
, Washington
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 689
|
Our AI came with trash can area and paper towel holder in the cabinet below the sink. Is this only in our two-bunk model and not in other configurations?
|
|
|
07-13-2017, 03:39 PM
|
#30
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by amirm
Our AI came with trash can area and paper towel holder in the cabinet below the sink. Is this only in our two-bunk model and not in other configurations?
|
Those are specific to the GT:
Waste Basket & Paper Towel Holder (built-in under galley top) STD
|
|
|
07-13-2017, 04:48 PM
|
#31
|
4 Rivet Member
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 333
|
|
|
|
07-13-2017, 06:31 PM
|
#32
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
Thanks for all the ideas so far!
@Mcrider, I'm going to order a few of those and give 'em a try. Thanks!
@Pahaska, That's where I was keeping my garbage bag (didn't have the doggies on this trip) so it seems like a logical place to put a step-on bin. I'll give it a try! Let's hope the dogs don't tear into it (think small bears....).
@Maggie, Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll definitely be giving them a try. I agree, vertical is your friend in these small spaces.....
As a P.S. to my CHANGES post, I forgot to mention that I'm thinking about removing the front TV. I'm tired of bashing my head on it and I'd much rather have my daughter and her little friends watch the TV in the back. Has anyone else done this? Any regrets (other than not doing it sooner)?
And speaking of the TV in the back, I need to rejigger a mount for it before I inadvertently rip it out of the wall with my butt. I've bopped it a number of times because the side sticks out into the isle and, well, I'm a doofus and keep hitting it. Any ideas on a solution here would be welcomed.
|
|
|
07-14-2017, 09:42 AM
|
#33
|
2 Rivet Member
2017 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Marco Island
, Florida
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 77
|
It appears the 2018's are going to a 300 watt solar system and a different controller. Please keep the thread informed as you update your solar and BIM. Great information, thanks for all the detail.
|
|
|
07-14-2017, 09:51 AM
|
#34
|
Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
League City
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,139
|
On the trash can vs. dog issue, the best solution I found is shown in this pic. It's one of a pair of hanging organizers from The Container Store. They are sold in sets of two and meant to hang over doors or cubicle walls, one below the other. Unfortunately I cannot find the product on their website because I forget the name of it. But I just bought it within the past year.
I removed Airstream's upholstered trim piece from the top of the rear doors so that I could attach my magnetic rear door screen there. I put the "trash can" up with a 60-pound hook magnet (available at big box hardware stores or Amazon) and can move it out of the way if necessary. In this pic below, it contains a bit of construction waste from our refrigerator installation job. If I'm disposing of food waste, obviously I line it with a small plastic kitchen bag.
Our dog is a real DOG about that trash. If it's not right up at the ceiling, she will find a way to get into it. There really isn't any cabinet space that we could use as an alternative to this.
|
|
|
07-14-2017, 11:39 AM
|
#35
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by InterBlog
On the trash can vs. dog issue, the best solution I found is shown in this pic. It's one of a pair of hanging organizers from The Container Store. They are sold in sets of two and meant to hang over doors or cubicle walls, one below the other. Unfortunately I cannot find the product on their website because I forget the name of it. But I just bought it within the past year.
|
Thanks IB! Clever idea. If lashing a step-on waste bin to the B pillar doesn't work, I'll definitely be looking to move it up and out of reach of the pups....
|
|
|
07-14-2017, 11:51 AM
|
#36
|
3 Rivet Member
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Jacksonville
, Jacksonville, Fla, Sautee, Ga, Boca Grande, Fl, Breckenridge, Co
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 136
|
Seems obvious but we just have a small plastic trash can we put in the bathroom. We line it with small plastic bags, our dog can't bother it, and we take it out for showering. My wife would not go for anything that you can see all the time.
|
|
|
07-14-2017, 01:08 PM
|
#37
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by busb2
Seems obvious but we just have a small plastic trash can we put in the bathroom. We line it with small plastic bags, our dog can't bother it, and we take it out for showering. My wife would not go for anything that you can see all the time.
|
That's basically what I'm going to try first. When we're "home", the waste bin is out and available, but when we're gone and the pups are in the coach, the waste bin goes into the shower. If that proves unsuccessful for some reason, I'll be looking "up"......
|
|
|
07-14-2017, 01:29 PM
|
#38
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwilly.
It appears the 2018's are going to a 300 watt solar system and a different controller. Please keep the thread informed as you update your solar and BIM. Great information, thanks for all the detail.
|
I was under the impression Airstream stayed with the Atkinson controller. Do you have information that indicates they've gone with something else? If so, that would be a very welcome change.
Hopefully some of the info. in this thread will help others, especially those who are just starting out with their Interstate, or those looking to buy but have heard "horror" stories about failures, weaknesses, etc....basically all the "bad stuff" you typically read on boards like this. I wanted to show an unbiased account of what this little beast is capable of (the Interstate isn't perfect, but so far it's been pretty dang good) to give people confidence to get out there and enjoy everything this lifestyle offers. This trip was also a confidence builder for us so we can feel comfortable going even farther and longer.
|
|
|
07-14-2017, 03:52 PM
|
#39
|
Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
League City
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,139
|
Waste bin in the shower idea -
The T1N Interstate has a little jog in the floor template that would be promising to hold a tall, skinny trash can. It could be Velcro'd to the wall to keep it from tipping over while on the road.
Our issue was, before we had the lithium system, we couldn't rely on the coach power staying on (it took LB_3 *months* to figure out what Airstream had done to cause the intermittent failure). For that reason, the little floor space became a permanent home for a one-gallon plastic jug of emergency water, in case we lost the electricity to run the pump. At least with the jug, we'd be able to flush the commode and wash hands.
I like the idea, though, and so I may convince myself that it's now OK to let go of that precious one gallon jug.
|
|
|
07-14-2017, 05:33 PM
|
#40
|
Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Northern
, California
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,299
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by InterBlog
Waste bin in the shower idea -
The T1N Interstate has a little jog in the floor template that would be promising to hold a tall, skinny trash can. It could be Velcro'd to the wall to keep it from tipping over while on the road.
|
You know, now that you mention it, I vaguely remember seeing a "half moon" shaped, tall waste bin (foot lever operated) that might work in the "notch" between the sink and the door. I'll do a search and see what I can find. Thanks for the idea!
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|