Monday, December 9, 2019

Day 29, 30 - Casa Grande, AZ

Sunday - After several weeks of having the wireless repeater for the tire pressure sensors hanging out of a light fixture, I wired it into the back of the curio cabinet and changed the curio cabinet light switch for a duplex switch. That way the repeater can be powered off when not needed.

Plus some other misc activities that seemed to keep me busy all day. Finally went to the pool after dark.

Monday - Today’s “chore” was defrosting the freezer. I think that since this fridge has an ice maker, there is more frost buildup in the freezer. The ice was around an inch thick so it seemed like it was time. I had pretty much used up most of the frozen food over the last week or so there wasn’t much in there. And, I really couldn’t go anywhere since I’m expecting a UPS delivery today. Nothing exciting, just tire covers that I had ordered last month. The heat gun made fairly quick work of the ice and now, I’m just waiting for the freezer to cool down.

Removing the built up ice from the freezer distracted me sufficiently that I had to reheat my morning coffee twice. I would forget that it was there until it was cold. Maybe I should’ve just added some ice.

The tire covers came but to install them, the coach needs to be at “ride height”. Before the slides are deployed, the hydraulic leveling jacks are deployed. Before the hydraulic jacks are lowered by the system, the air is dumped from the suspension to lower the coach. So now that we are set up, the top of the tires are inside of the wheel wells. I suspect that I can remove the covers without refilling the air bags.

I think it may be time to go to the pool before the next thunderstorm rolls in...

4 comments:

  1. I read your adventures with awe. In my next life I want to be a level headed engineer who boondocks using 20 amps per hour and knows how to handle it. Not to mention all the overheating and wiring and stuff that would drive me crazy. I am planning 500 watts of solar, 600 amps of lithium battery, 11,000 btu of air conditioning and a compressor fridge and a much reduced cold water pressure system. No propane, no generator, modest induction cooking and a portable solar shower in the shower cubicle with a cassette toilet. Minimal systems to maintain my Zen. How you cope with all the systems baffles me.

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    1. When the refrigerator didn’t work when we picked this up, I tried to get them to replace the guts of the fridge with a 12v compressor but they wouldn’t do it. They spent a lot more getting the propane fridge working. With 600 ah of lithium, you would be able to run just about anything. Look up the daily power consumption of the compressor refrigerator. You may need more than 500watts of solar to keep up with the daily power use. I have an induction burner that I use in warm weather. Are you installing a mini-split A/C?

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  2. I am baffled about all the chores you need to do to keep your camper van in shape, Richard. Sounds like quite a bit of time and money has been spent on maintenance.

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    1. It’s less a camper and more a second home. Just one that we can move from place to place. We aren’t on vacation but choosing to live in various locations. The maintenance and repairs were expected for something 14 years old. The tire covers are to help extend the life of the tires. Four of them are due for replacements next year...

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