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  1. DiploStrat

    1998 Mercedes Benz Actros Project - USA west coast

    Yes. Took the truck to them when we first arrived in UK. First time that the truck got a good worker with people who work on these beasts all day. Have gone back every year since for a "spa day." Heading back now to take care of some rotting air lines and worn out bushings. Great people.
  2. DiploStrat

    1998 Mercedes Benz Actros Project - USA west coast

    We use these cats. A lot. https://www.unimogs.co.uk/
  3. DiploStrat

    Isolated Habitat Box Grounding Question

    Looks like a fun project! I crossed the Sahara in a Blazer, but now that I am older and uglier, I want a bit more long term sustainability. All the best on your build!
  4. DiploStrat

    Isolated Habitat Box Grounding Question

    While you are at it, you probably want to rethink your decision not to charge from the alternator. My experience is that you can't have too many charge sources. It is 105F at 8:30PM and, after about four hours of air conditioning, I am going to have to plug in. I'm down to about 70%.
  5. DiploStrat

    Isolated Habitat Box Grounding Question

    I'll play. Composite box, batteries in the box, inverter/charger mounted outside the box, in an aluminum box. Solar charging works perfectly. Shore power charging works perfectly. Engine/alternator charging was poor, almost nothing. Looked at the batteries - nice big positive and negative...
  6. DiploStrat

    Expedition Camper Layout Concept

    I'll play. The very first, and most important question is, where are you going? -- North America -- Pan Am Highway -- Europe/North Africa -- Subsaharan Africa -- Silk Road/Asia Each of these has different requirements for water, fresh and grey, and power. Examples: -- For North America...
  7. DiploStrat

    DC-DC charger as an alternative to generator?

    FWIW, AEONRV use a variation of this idea. 1kw+ inverter feeding the built in 3kW Victron Inverter/Charger. Been using this for a about 50 campers.
  8. DiploStrat

    Unicorn on the Ocean - 1120AF Coming to Canada

    My current rig has the spare below the garage. As the spare is really heavy, this requires a heavy steel frame and a winch to lift it. Put it at the bottom/front/side of the garage and use a ramp to lower. A simple hand/electric winch will handle lifting. Lay it on the floor and the tie down...
  9. DiploStrat

    Unicorn on the Ocean - 1120AF Coming to Canada

    Actually, internal mounting is much easier and lighter and length is length. Less weight and lower. (Actually, you want the spare up front, as the military do it, but that might interfere with a pass through. But it is your truck and your money. I have a rear mount and know what I would do if...
  10. DiploStrat

    Unicorn on the Ocean - 1120AF Coming to Canada

    Free comment: Don't hang your spare tire on the back. Extend the box and put the spare inside. Your overall length will be the same and you can avoid all the weight of reinforcing the back wall and mounting a winch or similar. Likewise bicycles, etc. - put 'em all inside. The extra panel length...
  11. DiploStrat

    where_the_heffalump_roams 917 AF

    I have found fuel, oil, and air filters to be easy. Take the actual filters into an auto parts shop I used Advance Auto, and they can find the actual filters. (They won't be able to find by vehicle.) The filters come up as made in Mexico filters for Massey Ferguson tractors, etc. Typically not...
  12. DiploStrat

    LiFePO4 Charging: AC to DC Charger: Multiple batteries?

    Since we are spending yer money ... -- Batteries are made up of cells, typically about 3v each. Put 'em together in series, ya get 12v. Need more amps, put groups in parallel. Connecting batteries in series or parallel is not a problem, but, as noted, there are rules and best practices. -- I...
  13. DiploStrat

    LiFePO4 Charging: AC to DC Charger: Multiple batteries?

    The short answer is that two batteries in parallel act as one battery. So your charger only needs one output. The broader question is the wire distance implicit in your setup. -- The batteries in parallel should be charged (and discharged) "diagonally." That means that the charger and the...
  14. DiploStrat

    Sanity check before I run new wire

    So, problem solved?
  15. DiploStrat

    Provan Tiger TX, $120k, Montrose CO SOLD

    Quick scan of the specs ticks all the right boxes!
  16. DiploStrat

    Sanity check before I run new wire

    You have the answer, but, to be a wag, I would say that the only insanity would be to use the 7-pin plug!;) B2B or DC-DC chargers are about 90% efficient, so a 30A charger needs to be fed with wire big enough to provide 35A within the input voltage tolerances. Bigger is ALWAYS better.
  17. DiploStrat

    Is there life without propane?

    I'll play. First some maths: Two of us in an expedition camper with a two door electric refrigerator, toaster, espresso machine, microwave, etc., use about 125Ah to fix dinner and continental breakfast. Up to 150Ah for a really complex dinner and eggs for breakfast. Under 100Ah if we grill...
  18. DiploStrat

    Hierarchy of hard sided campers that handle the snow/winter?

    I'll throw in a ringer. We have a reasonably four season camper, at least down to -15F with no freezing with the heat on. They actually made some bad decisions on placement of the water pump and heater, but with Total Composites panels it still works as long as the heat is kept a bit higher...
  19. DiploStrat

    A Few Auxiliary Battery Questions

    Bravo! I feel your pain. I have been chasing a gremlin in my alternator to camper battery charge for over six years. Used two different products - nothing worked. Turned out that the camper builder never grounded the camper batteries. There were negative cables everywhere, but none connected to...
  20. DiploStrat

    A Few Auxiliary Battery Questions

    The only reason to buy Battle Born, Lithionics, etc., is the known quality control - the BMS will work when you need it to - and the long guarantee. Also, if you are new to this stuff, they are more likely to be plug and play. Lithiums are coming in easy to mount packages these days -...
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