Our Journey Begins - 2018 AI TB Lounge

[wachuko]

The other minor mod I did was to remove all the CRL stickers from the side windows... It was a pita hitting them while cleaning the windows... Peeled those off and used Goo-Gone to get rid of the glue residue...

Thinking if I should do the same with all the warning labels on the outside...

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

When I saw those pics, I thought to myself, "This is how new companies get started."

In any collaborative exchange, if it persists long enough there comes a breach of critical mass when people realize, "Between you, and you, and you, and you, we've pretty much executed an entire new product."

And then some of them proceed to do just that.

[Titus]

I don't know if I 'should' have removed the warning labels from the outside - but I did. Figured it was just a matter of time until they wore away, and by that time the painted may have faded from where they weren't, leaving a different color where they were. I also removed many from the inside that appeared to serve no purpose but to appease the Airstream legal dept.

[wachuko]

After all the talks about generators and the A/C lately... I decided to do a test with mine... Generator fired up and I let it idle for a bit before turning on the A/C...

Started at 105 degrees and went to 88 degress after 50 minutes... this is the longest that I have had the generator running... I wanted to take it down to 70 degrees, but had to turn it off after 50 minutes since it was getting late and I did not wanted to get in trouble with my neighbors.

All working fine... some peace of mind... but the combination is so frigging loud inside... sleeping like this, no way...

[Titus]

The only thing 'wrong' about your test is that the compressor only had to turn on one time. And that one time was (presumably) after a complete equalization of pressure across the compressor by having it sit off for a long time. I would expect that repeated starts of the compressor, with a short but realistic time between starts (5 minutes?) would be a more severe test. This would happen when (if?) the AC reached the set point. It would have turned off then turned on soon thereafter when the inside temperature increased above the setpoint.

But having said that, our use (non-use) of the generator and AC is much like yours. Our has worked on the generator the very few times that we have tried to, and I do not plan to 'improve' things with a soft start.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Titus

The only thing 'wrong' about your test is that the compressor only had to turn on one time. And that one time was (presumably) after a complete equalization of pressure across the compressor by having it sit off for a long time. I would expect that repeated starts of the compressor, with a short but realistic time between starts (5 minutes?) would be a more severe test. This would happen when (if?) the AC reached the set point. It would have turned off then turned on soon thereafter when the inside temperature increased above the setpoint.

But having said that, our use (non-use) of the generator and AC is much like yours. Our has worked on the generator the very few times that we have tried to, and I do not plan to 'improve' things with a soft start.

looks like I did not think this through when doing the test, lol. All I was thinking about at the time was if the A/C could get down to 70 and how long it was going to take...

I will repeat the test with a higher set temp so that I force the compressor to stop/start a few times...

And yes, I do not plan on installing the Easy-Start any time soon... During all the tests we have done, we have not had issue with the generator running the A/C. And when we have gone to camp sites, we have been connected to shore power when using the A/C.

[wachuko]

Something that I need to add to the check list... and forgot on the last trip

That rubber plug for the shower drain... forgot to plug it. Nothing happened, just that I saw a video the other day where they mention putting it in place to avoid gray tank odors in the AI (not an issue now since the tank is relatively new, but will be after months/years of use)...

Oh, and I also forgot to put some of the Toilet Seal Lube and Conditioner in the toilet... when I checked yesterday, the little bit of water I had left in there had evaporated... no excuse, I had a new/unopened bottle in the AI... so adding this to the list as well for when storing for long periods of time.

[wachuko]

Dometic 320 Toilet should be here Friday...so this weekend I will be working on the install...

The rods that I ordered for the fridge (to keep stuff from spilling/breaking while on the road) are too long. Obviously my fault for not paying attention to the length. Camco 16-28" RV Refrigerator Bar . If anyone here has any use for them, let me know and I will send them your way. If not, there are just going to be lost in the sea of stuff in my garage. PM if you want them.

I saw a comment from Interblog on a thermometer for the fridge, and since the temperatures here are starting to get higher, wanted to monitor the inside temps in the fridge... after being tempted to go with this one (yes, I am a sucker for gadgets like these):



I ended up ordering the same one as InterBlog (at least I think I did). US$8.95 and it keeps min and max values that I can look at when I get home. This is to determine if I need to install a fan in the back to help circulate air around the coil... or if I go as far as following the suggestion Alex AVI made of finding a way to vent to the outside...



With the thermometer I ordered the correct fridge rods for my Lounge fridge...

Also got the parts needed to route the quick disconnect port for compressed air... lifting the hood to use the compressor got old quickly.



I plan to install the quick disconnect port in the available space next to the LP assembly... I got a "T" just in case I want to run another quick disconnect port to the other side of the AI. Besides using this to fill inflatables, tires, etc. It helps to purge the water lines, just need to make and adapter for that... saw that somewhere here in another thread... hum... maybe I should install one inside that I can use to inflate the mattress (getting rid of the air pump...that would be one less thing to carry)

[Lotus54]

You may be able to use those rods in some of the cabinets.
I tend to overload the lower cabinets (squishable stuff, that can expand and open the door upon occasion). One of those rods may be the ticket to solve that.

I try not to overload the overhead cabinets, since stuff falls all over the place when opening if you do. Although we could do a better job packing those also...

Mark

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Lotus54

You may be able to use those rods in some of the cabinets.
I tend to overload the lower cabinets (squishable stuff, that can expand and open the door upon occasion). One of those rods may be the ticket to solve that.

I try not to overload the overhead cabinets, since stuff falls all over the place when opening if you do. Although we could do a better job packing those also...

Mark

Mark,

We have a running joke... every time we arrive somewhere my wife would start saying "Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the drive"... never gets old

Thank you for the suggestion. Will check if these work there.

[gmillerok1]

Originally Posted by wachuko

Mark,

We have a running joke... every time we arrive somewhere my wife would start saying "Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the drive"... never gets old

Thank you for the suggestion. Will check if these work there.

Gotta love your wife's sense of humor.

[wachuko]

Oh goodness... I cancelled everything I ordered... I think that I just sold the AI...

I have this scary feeling in my stomach...

[BurntAsphalt]

Originally Posted by wachuko

Oh goodness... I cancelled everything I ordered... I think that I just sold the AI...

I have this scary feeling in my stomach...

Dang! I was going to buy yours in a few years when the depreciation curve flattens out. Did Jackson Center or ARV buy it to use as a future prototype?

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by BurntAsphalt

Dang! I was going to buy yours in a few years when the depreciation curve flattens out. Did Jackson Center or ARV buy it to use as a future prototype?

A family was looking for one on Facebook, in the Airstream Interstate closed group section... I open my mouth and told them that I would sell it for 146K and got a message today that they are interested...

Somewhat unexpected but self-inflicted... I really did not think that I would hear from them.

Toilet still scheduled to arrive Friday, so I will just go ahead and install it, if it fits... or I will have an awkward decoration in the family room (or interesting conversation piece)...

If it does goes through, I need to figure out what we will use for the three reservations we already have booked and paid for...

[rmkrum]

Sounds a little bit like what my high school English teacher used to say: "Open mouth, insert foot. Change feet hourly. Be sure to wear your mint-flavored shoes..."

(He was the ONLY teacher I ever had that knew how to effectively teach good writing skills...God rest his soul...he was a WWII veteran as well.)

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Titus

The only thing 'wrong' about your test is that the compressor only had to turn on one time. And that one time was (presumably) after a complete equalization of pressure across the compressor by having it sit off for a long time. I would expect that repeated starts of the compressor, with a short but realistic time between starts (5 minutes?) would be a more severe test. This would happen when (if?) the AC reached the set point. It would have turned off then turned on soon thereafter when the inside temperature increased above the setpoint.

But having said that, our use (non-use) of the generator and AC is much like yours. Our has worked on the generator the very few times that we have tried to, and I do not plan to 'improve' things with a soft start.

Only talking 2018 setup here, not sure how other MY are setup. I think I have the closest environement to satisfy a 'RIGHT' conditions for SEVERE testing. If there is anything else needed, please let me know

- I am now in Grand Junction, CO, 4,600 ft. asl
- currently sitting in full high sun, temp 104° , humidity 9%
- gen been running 3.5 hrs. now
- gen started earlier today for a 1-time full equalization to go from 98° to 70° interior temp worked flawlessly
- drove with gen on and had it going through multiple start & stops flawlessly to maintain 70 set point, admittedly MB A/C aiding in the process while driving
- sitting in parking lot now chilling while wife & daughter does her normal shopping spree
- set A/C to low, manual and temp holding at 79 attempting to go to 70. Not sure it is realistic for me to expect it to get much lower, esp. on low. But we are talking a 25° differential already, much more if taking heated interior temp into account before firing up gen & A/C.

My conclusion to my arbitrary tests & arbitrary conditions - at over 100° I need to run gen & rear A/C if I have rear passengers. Just no way around this conundrum

[busb2]

Alex you need to come up to Breckenridge, the high today was 72, down to 40 early tomorrow morning. No need for AC, or generator.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by busb2

Alex you need to come up to Breckenridge, the high today was 72, down to 40 early tomorrow morning. No need for AC, or generator.

Funny you mentioned - we are going to Boulder for the triathlon. Was planning on spending few days at Breckenridge, but it all depends on what family wants to do coz they already gave up few days from GJ to allow me to do Boulder triathlon, then head back to GJ. Our trip was only supposed to be LV to GJ and stay here 2 weeks. But since so close, I decided to squeeze Boulder tri AND still hoping Breckenridge. That would be nice to not use A/C. I used up all my propane (though still original dealer fill from 3 mos. ago) from all the gen use to have A/C running in the house everytime we stop somewhere for a few hours. It actually got up to 104° in Rim Rock area today. That's hot even for LV standards.

[Troutboy]

Originally Posted by wachuko

Dometic 320 Toilet should be here Friday...so this weekend I will be working on the install...

The rods that I ordered for the fridge (to keep stuff from spilling/breaking while on the road) are too long. Obviously my fault for not paying attention to the length. Camco 16-28" RV Refrigerator Bar . If anyone here has any use for them, let me know and I will send them your way. If not, there are just going to be lost in the sea of stuff in my garage. PM if you want them.

I saw a comment from Interblog on a thermometer for the fridge, and since the temperatures here are starting to get higher, wanted to monitor the inside temps in the fridge... after being tempted to go with this one (yes, I am a sucker for gadgets like these):



I ended up ordering the same one as InterBlog (at least I think I did). US$8.95 and it keeps min and max values that I can look at when I get home. This is to determine if I need to install a fan in the back to help circulate air around the coil... or if I go as far as following the suggestion Alex AVI made of finding a way to vent to the outside...



With the thermometer I ordered the correct fridge rods for my Lounge fridge...

Also got the parts needed to route the quick disconnect port for compressed air... lifting the hood to use the compressor got old quickly.



I plan to install the quick disconnect port in the available space next to the LP assembly... I got a "T" just in case I want to run another quick disconnect port to the other side of the AI. Besides using this to fill inflatables, tires, etc. It helps to purge the water lines, just need to make and adapter for that... saw that somewhere here in another thread... hum... maybe I should install one inside that I can use to inflate the mattress (getting rid of the air pump...that would be one less thing to carry)

I have one of those sensorpush sensors, the wireless one and it is awesome. I am thinking of getting another one and mount outside so we have constant temp reading in fridge and outside. It keeps history as well.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Troutboy

I have one of those sensorpush sensors, the wireless one and it is awesome. I am thinking of getting another one and mount outside so we have constant temp reading in fridge and outside. It keeps history as well.

Good to know, thank you. I might end up ordering, if only for the ease of reading the temp with my phone and its ability to keep a log. Would be good to see how it behaves during the day and night. Added to the wish list.

Toilet still scheduled to arrive Friday (got an email that the delivery date had moved to Monday, but checking UPS it is still scheduled to arrive Friday)... I will share photos of the install... really hopeful that it fits without mods... I checked again and the back wall gives a little bit... I will place some 3M clear film to protect the wall before installing the toilet. The back of the toilet will no doubt touch the wall.