1991 Classic 350LE - continued

[dspaw]

We are in the midst of our first official trip. We drove from Cleveland to Asheville, NC, stopping along the way for a night at Pipestem State Park in WV. Pipestem was an impressive park, and I would not mind going back there for an extended stay. Currently at an RV park called Mama Gerties, and watching the sun go down.

Anyway, the trip down we went 77S to Wytheville, then 81 to Kingsport, TN, and then 26S to Asheville, NC. The moho did as well as could be expected through WV and down 81. No complaints. The last pull on 26 just north of Asheville was about all that the moho could handle. We could go back the same way, but I am hoping for an easier (flatter) route.

So, when heading back home on Monday I am thinking about going 40E to Statesville, NC, and then taking 77N the whole way. I know there are some steep inclines between Statesville and Wytheville, but I am hoping they are less severe or shorter than the ones on 26.

If anyone has a suggestion, please let me know. Thanks for your help.

Dave

[dspaw]

We made the trip home without any drama yesterday - traveling 40E to 77N. I think that this may have been a little easier - only one long uphill pull that I recall between Statesville, NC and Wytheville, VA. Could be that I just got used to slowing down? About 550 miles, with 4 stops for the dogs (and us), took 11 hours.

Overall, a good shake-down cruise. Lots of little things to work on to make the next trip even better.

[mayco]

Nice job!!

[wxbuoy]

Sounds like a great first trip!


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[engineerich]

Dspaw,

Well done...getting my 350 LE ready for the long haul from San Antonio to AK...which will be its new home...seems like every time I fix 2 things, I find another thing that needs to be done...today, I'm tackling replacement of the rear a/c...original 25-year old Dometic Penguin to a new Penguin 2...

Warm regards,
Rich

[dspaw]

I think my house batteries are kaput. They won't hold a charge. Has anyone replaced their house batteries recently - wondering what battery is recommended? I need two of them.

Thanks for your help.

Dave

[wxbuoy]

Originally Posted by dspaw

I think my house batteries are kaput. They won't hold a charge. Has anyone replaced their house batteries recently - wondering what battery is recommended? I need two of them.

Thanks for your help.

Dave

Dave,

I just put the basic sears deep cycle in them since I was doing the reno and didn't want to waste money on the AGMs until we started to travel with them.

That being said, I would check a few things before upgrading to the AGM's like lifeline ( that is what I was going to put in).
I would remove the batteries from the coach and charge them. I would let them sit and hook up a 12 vt fan and a multi-meter and see what kind of amp hour out put you get. Sears, although not top of the line, are still decent batteries and you should get 5 years out of them. I bet there is an isolated ground (probably from the shower, center LEDs, fan circuit) that is killing them.

If you remove them and they hold a charge and work well, it must be a phantom ground or current discharge....... Those MoHo's were made with all these bells and whistles with out much regards towards battery conservation.

V/R
Dave

[Gregsch]

I went with the Lifeline FAM batteries. They are pricey but size for size they seem to be twice as powerful.

[bobmiller1]

I recommend the Exide Neptune group 31 battery x 2 for the house batteries, about $160.00 each from Tractor Supply, good deep cycle battery. Regards, Bob

[dspaw]

Originally Posted by wxbuoy

Dave,

I just put the basic sears deep cycle in them since I was doing the reno and didn't want to waste money on the AGMs until we started to travel with them.

That being said, I would check a few things before upgrading to the AGM's like lifeline ( that is what I was going to put in).
I would remove the batteries from the coach and charge them. I would let them sit and hook up a 12 vt fan and a multi-meter and see what kind of amp hour out put you get. Sears, although not top of the line, are still decent batteries and you should get 5 years out of them. I bet there is an isolated ground (probably from the shower, center LEDs, fan circuit) that is killing them.

If you remove them and they hold a charge and work well, it must be a phantom ground or current discharge....... Those MoHo's were made with all these bells and whistles with out much regards towards battery conservation.

V/R
Dave

Thanks for the information Dave. I am about 95% sure the batteries won't hold a charge, but I will check them out as you suggest before replacing. The build date on the DieHard Batteries is 2012 and 2013, respectively, and I have not been very good about battery maintenance.

I am trying to decide on replacement batteries. The Lifelines seem to be the 'gold standard', and I may go with them, but the cost is up there too. I will have to investigate the batteries Bob suggested - thats less than half the price of the LifeLines.

Thanks for the recommendations on the batteries everyone. I appreciate your input.

Dave

[dspaw]

Its been almost four years to the day since I last posted in this thread.

I've been lurking (and feeling inadequate when reading Bob Miller's posts), but not moho action to speak of.

The 350LE has been out a couple times, but its mostly been waiting. We have recently built a garage for it so it can stay in a heated space in the winter, and renovated the attached building. That, and other hobbies and life, have delayed the work on, and use of, the moho.

Planning to go camping a couple-three times this fall, and then in the winter begin fixing things and chasing gremlins. I will be more active on the forum going forward.

Dave

[bobmiller1]

Any help I can give you just let me know, Regards, Bob

[moodyintx]

that is a sweet rig!

[dspaw]

Back needing replacement house batteries. I don't think I need the best batteries - just wanting a decent battery (or two) that will fit in the drawer.

We don't really boondock and don't expect to need off-grid power - just replacing them for peace of mind.

Has anyone bought replacement house batteries recently?

Dave

[cmadmaxman]

Hey Dave, just put 2 of these in the our 350 this spring after rebuilding the battery drawer.
So far so good, AGM is all I will use from now on! No more leaking batteries!

[dspaw]

Thanks Chris:

That's a clean install. I like the battery post caps - did you do that? Looks like heat shrink. Do you remember how tall your batteries are - as you know height is limited in the drawer.

Dave

[cmadmaxman]

The caps came with the batteries. I used welding cable, and with the kit of back and red, they sent along heat shrink tubing and 3/8 crimp lugs. Would order the 15 ft' kit so your not short on the red.

I did not modify the depth of the box, so they should fit in yours. I did take out the plastic, but you should be able to use it just the same. Ck the post of our Zephyr.

Bought it on Amazon.

I also ordered some 5/16 lugs.

SELTERM 2/0 AWG 5/16" Stud (15 pcs.) UL Marine Grade Wire Lugs, Battery Cable Ends, Tinned Copper Eyelets, Tubular Ring Terminal Connectors [B78]

2/0 Gauge 2/0 AWG 15 Feet Red + 15 Feet Black Welding Battery Pure Copper Flexible Cable + 10pcs of 3/8" Tinned Copper Cable Lug Terminal Connectors + 3 Feet Black Heat Shrink Tubing
by WindyNation

Batteries I bought on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303649750016

[dspaw]

Thanks Chris. Looking through your thread now....

[dspaw]

My wife, Sharon, has a rug hooking camp this week at the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake (Ohio), so we decided to take the 350 camping at the Geneva State Park campgrounds. Its only about 25 miles from home, but its good to be camping. First time out this year. Everything is going well, except for an awning malfunction. And a kitchen sink leak....

Making a list of repairs/improvements. its getting longer all the time.

Dave

[dspaw]

Back home from camping and working through the list...

I need help with a screw identification. These are for holding the fixed window bracket on the window frame. Mine are rusty, and that won't do. I need to replace with stainless steel. Do you know what size these screws are