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I like that there is still a manufacturer that is making the same proven design. I would love to mate my Grandby with a new Ram with a carbureted 318, 5-speed, manual shifting transfer case, manual lockout hubs, wing & crank windows, no computers or other electronic gizmos. Sometimes 'new' and...

My FWC Grandby was built in December, 1977. It is structurally sound (no broken welds found when the interior was gutted 5 years ago). It is weathertight, no leaks. It has the original soft side material (and looks it, but again, weathertight). I just replace the original lift panels this...

All lead-acid batteries should be vented, the smaller the enclosed space the more critical it is to vent. They all can vent hydrogen gas under the right circumstances. If the space is small enough there should be no devices capable of generating sparks in the same compartment, vented or not...

My advice, since you have a working 3 way refrigerator, is to try it. Some people love them, some hate them. You must understand there is a fundimental difference between absorption refrigerators (running on propane) and compressor refrigerators. On a refrigerator running on propane you set...

I spent the odd hour last night searching for an explanation of how GVWR is determined. Nothing of any substance was found. I did find an article that at least gave some idea of how GCWR is determined: http://www.trucktrend.com/news/163-0910-truck-towing-capacity/ At least they talked to...

For the cost (20% cost of Honda) and my use it is a good gamble. I had good reviews from two people I trust that have had them for over 2 years with good performance. I tested mine to 600W; good enough for my 35A charger, which is it's primary use. jim

Lost & Confused

Lost & Confused

I carry a small 1000W Sportsman inverter/generator along with a PowerMax 35A charger to compliment 200W solar and 210AH of batteries. I camp under forest canopy a lot and the generator & charger is used to get the batteries to 80% in the AM and let the solar panels handle the absorption phase...

You cannot change the GVWR of a vehicle. In the US only a NHTSA licensed upfitter can legally make that change and they will apply a new door sticker stating the new GVWR, what was changed and who changed it. The factory sticker GVWR is the legal maximum a vehicle can carry irregardless of...

I'm on my third Dodge/Ram pickup. Got close to 300,000 miles out of the last two with only a blown head gasket, front CV joints, and a transmission output shaft bearing replaced (other than normal stuff like tires, shocks and exhaust). First two were manual transmissions, this last one is an...

xxx A 100W panel will produce 100W under standard conditions BY DEFINITION. The difference is that mono panels are smaller to deliver the same watts. I read somewhere that poly panels are a little more efficient under low light conditions. If your charge controller has an internal temp...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_code jim

Sorry I'm late in replying. I've been off line for a while. I have a 1977 Grandby with a home built interior. To your questions. Refrigerator: There is a thread somewhere on Wanderthewest of fabricating a wind screen for the pilot light of a 3-way that solves that problem. I have a...

The effectiveness of bear spay is in irritating the eyes and nasal passages when hit. Hanging something smelling of bear spray may actually attract bears (smells like food). "Using the spray improperly can have undesirable effects. Because the deterrent effect depends on the bear receiving a...

Anyone who has an open flame in a camper should have a CO detector. They're cheap insurance; so you don't wake up with drain bamage. I think I paid $23 for a battery operated First Alert CO/Smoke detector. jim

Since my bed is down across the front I can sleep without popping the top anytime. I usually do it when traveling and only stoping to sleep. I also do it in cold weather as it is less volume to heat. I have done it a couple of times in high winds and driving rain; the camper doesn't rock as...

I went with 2 x GC2 FLAs. My reasoning: Cheaper - I have less than $180 in my batteries (IIRC paid $86 each in 2015). Easy to find - I bought mine at Sam's Club. 12V deep cycle batteries are harder to find. True deep cycle batteries - a lot of the labeled 12v deep cycle are actually marine...

To give you another data point: I have a 2012 Ram 2500 5.7L gas 4X4 long bed (rear leafs) with a built out Grandby shell. It weighs in at just under 8,000 lbs loaded with 2 weeks supplies, 10 gallons of water, 180 lb me, 30 lb Beagle. Grandby has solar, refrigerator, no water system, no...

I run a stock 2012 Ram 2500 4 X 4 with a FWC Grandby pop-up camper. I can pretty much go anywhere I want to go: forest service roads, some non-maintained roads and single lane roads . . . Places I can't go I really don't want to go anyway. Like ExplorerTom said 'plenty capable for 95% of...