Recent content by dzzz

Fully featured, professionally maintained 2005 U500 with a 2010 lift roof Alaskan Camper. This truck features most options offered by Mercedes on the U500. The truck was stretched to 190" wheelbase to better accommodate a camper platform. Features added include a multipurpose platform with...

I agree with Scoutn79 that there no need to make this overly complicated. Use standard parts unless you have a very good reason to vary. Marine supply has high quality heater hose to route coolant.

This trend in repackaging batteries with inverter/chargers is interesting. There's one on the front page too.

I've become fond of my electric blanket. 60w draw when on, I figure it averages 30w on a really cold night. So pretty close to a 12v frig. I think this is a good option for campers with decent house batteries with owners who don't want to run a catalytic heater while sleeping. Before, when I...

I agree it's no problem. All of us with installed 12v fridges plug into shore power. Vast numbers of RVs are charged every day with electrical devices running. The situation may not be ideal, but all chargers and 12v appliances have to be designed with this real world use.

I agree. Most people maybe should just skip the diesel unless there's a compelling reason to not use a gas engine (extreme mileage, single fuel, vehicle weight) I get ~9-10 mpg driving 60-65. In my case I think the pop-up helps a lot a higher speeds.

Cheaper to just have a proper alternator with correct connections to the batteries.

Perhaps you're not aware that ER went bankrupt not to long ago. Many businesses can look easy from the outside. But consistently making money in any recreational vehicle business is rare. There must be decent profits in the good times to have any chance of surviving the lean years. GXV has...

I really like this setup. I'm unclear how it locks in the up position.

Yikes. 85mph in a 25000+ pound camper? More power might be nice sometimes when going up a pass, but I would never normally cruise much over 65. I don't think tires would be rated at 85mph either. Hopefully we'll get to see a long 6x6 GXV build on one of these chassis.

From the little published data available all the recent subaru engines appear reliable. I don't even know what engine I have in my 2009 Outback, other than it's the 4. There are very few bad engines anymore. I like the larger displacement four cylinder in these vehicles rather than the lower gas...

Looks great. I have fond memories of the Alaskan workshop. I'll be out in WA next month.

We need pics! I'm an Illinois native. There's a few or us here. Just a few........

Saw the rerun Friday evening. The GXV segment looked great and the company came off very professional and smart. Seeing the high-end featherlite RV segment made me realize how uninteresting I find those vehicles.